OK ISD #203 residents. You’ve been waiting two years for this. Hayfield Community Schools will host a Community Open House on Saturday September 25th from 4-5 PM. Come see all of the improvements done during the construction project. We are looking forward to seeing everyone. Please spread the word !!
Dear District 203 Families,
As we continue planning for the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year we want to share with you our Return to School Plan that has been developed and approved by the Hayfield School Board. Please click the link below to view the Return-to-School-Plan.
Dear Hayfield families and staff,
I hope everyone had the opportunity to enjoy some well-deserved free time this summer. I look forward to seeing our buildings full of students again on September 7th (Middle and High School) and Sept. 9th (Elementary School). I know many of them are also excited to return. Again, I would like to thank everyone for their understanding last year, as we had students in-person more than any other school in southern Minnesota.
With the school year being less than 4 weeks away, we are getting questions regarding vaccination, masking, contact tracing/quarantine, and other COVID-19 protocols. Please know that the safety of our students and staff is a top priority, and we will continue to make it a priority. We will continue our rigorous disinfecting and cleaning schedules, and our upgraded HVAC filtration is still in place in each building. Each school building received a deep clean over the summer thanks to our outstanding custodial staff.
As you may know, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has provided updated information regarding COVID-19. We are taking this opportunity to look at the data and want to be patient in sending out final decisions to our families and staff. The District will continue to monitor the situation and make required adjustments as details evolve.
This school year is going to be different from last year. Last year we were working under a number of executive orders; this year, there appears to be even more local control, but that does not make it any easier.
There is no question; we are still very much in a shifting landscape of realities and challenges for COVID. We continue to monitor the situation around the United States, Minnesota, and Dodge and Mower Counties. We appreciate your patience through this situation and know we will keep you consistently updated.
At this time, I plan to make an updated “Return to School plan” recommendation to the school board during the last week of August. It will be released to the public upon their decision. I believe it makes the most common sense to wait at least a couple of more weeks before making a final decision for the start of the school year on the above mentioned topics.
Again, I appreciate the support and understanding from the members of this great small knit community.
Thank you
Gregg Slaathaug
Superintendent
Hayfield Community Schools
Many of us have either read The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper ourselves, or read it to our children or grandchildren. This is the story of the Little School District that Could.
This little school district is a small rural school district located in Southeast Minnesota, a geographically large district with a somewhat small population. It encompasses the communities of Brownsdale, Hayfield, Oslo, Sargeant, and Waltham, as well as several townships across two counties.
This little school district believes whole heartedly in itself. The students, teachers, staff, administration, food service providers, bus drivers, and everyone else involved with this little school district believe they have what it takes to succeed in today’s educational environment. In addition, the citizens, taxpayers, and the local business leaders also believe in this little school district.
In 2017 this aging little school district went to the taxpayers with a bold plan: The 65+ year-old building needed to be renovated, they explained. Major changes were needed to bring the educational facility into the 21st century.
So, the brand-new superintendent gathered his team and went to personally talk with voters to explain the current conditions and future plans. Meetings were held, tours were given, and questions were answered. In September of 2017, just 2 ½ months into the new superintendent’s position, a special bonding referendum election was held. Thankfully, the voters of this special little school district agreed renovations were indeed necessary. And so began a multi-year plan to modernize this aging little school district.
One focus item of the renovation plan was a completely new Heating and Ventilation (HVAC) system. The unit would circulate fresh air multiple times per hour throughout the day, oxygenating and purifying classrooms, offices, gyms and hallways.
In just a few months, a novel virus would hit the country. The new system would become vitally important.
Equally important was the new investment in technology the little school district made just prior to the virus. In March of 2020, the Governor of Minnesota shuttered all schools in the state due to Covid-19. Students in the little school district did not lose instructional time; new technology meant the majority of students had devices they could use for Distance Learning.
As the little school district moved through the remainder of the 2020 school year and into the summer months, it quickly became clear that distance learning did not reflect the best the little school district had to offer. Students missed their peers; teachers missed their students; lessons and learning were not the same. The little school district students were struggling. It was time to prepare for another uphill journey: the superintendent knew face-to-face learning in the fall of 2020 would be of paramount importance. It was time to get back to work.
At that time, much was reported about the importance of updated HVAC systems in schools. A clean air exchange would go a long way in protecting students. Fortunately, the little school district was ahead of the game, with a state-of-the-art HVAC system.
Along with this was a wonderfully renovated facility, an enthusiastic staff and eager students. The little school district knew it could successfully resume face-to-face education, but would the virus thwart all plans? There was only one way to find out.
On the Tuesday after Labor Day, 2021, the little school district reopened for in-person, face-to-face learning. While many other districts struggled with remote learning challenges, this little school district brought its kids “home” to the classrooms! Pre-K through the 6th grades were able to spend the entire school year in face-to-face learning. Grades 7-12 were face-to-face except for a 6-week hybrid period. Throughout all of the challenges, the primary focus was to “Keep the kids in school!” Once again, the little school district proved it could.
Not only did this little school district keep the kids in school, they kept all of the programs going as well. For the first time in history, there were virtualized concerts, streamed events, and in-person sporting events with limited spectators. Creativity abounded as technology kept spectators in touch with district events.
Was that enough for the little school district? No! It would finish this spectacular year by sending athletes to compete at the state level. For the first time in school history, “I think I can” morphed into “I know we can.” In April, the boys basketball team brought home the State Championship. In June, the baseball team brought home a second State Championship!
This little school district surpassed all expectations, all year long. Not only does it believe in itself; it believes in its students. It will go the extra mile because it believes students deserve the very best educational, enriching experiences possible.
If you are looking for a School District for your children that believes in putting kids first, offers small class sizes for optimal learning, and enlists teachers, staff and an administration that care, this little gem of a school district in a state-of-the-art facility is for you.
Hayfield Community Schools in Hayfield, Minnesota, the Little School District that Could!
Here is your 2021 Class A State Champion Baseball Team. Finishing the season with a perfect 26-0 record. 
Residents of ISD #203, WE MADE IT!! P-K 5 was Face-to-Face 100% of the school year and the High School was Face-to-Face almost the entire year with a short Hybrid time in November & December. Thanks go out to the entire staff here at Hayfield Community Schools for the flexibility they demonstrated throughout the year. Special thanks goes out to our Superintendent Gregg Slaathaug for his unwavering belief that “Keeping the Kids in School” was the right thing to do, the Principals Grant Klennert & Jeff Snider for their focus and determination, our building secretaries Jess Meek & Tanya Rieken for all of the extra work with seating charts and multiple levels of attendance and of course our School Nurse Michele Nelson for all of the nights and weekends spent contact tracing and keeping the District safe & healthy. 2020-2021 was a challenging year. BUT WE MADE IT! Congratulations everyone.
The Hayfield High School Class of 2021!
Exciting day in Hayfield as Senior Ethan Slaathaug signs a letter of intent to play Basketball next year at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. Congratulation Ethan!!!
