Central Public Schools - Education Is Central

Some Snow Week dress-up fun with this teacher trio! Can you guess which game they challenged the students to play?

Lucas Conser is a senior in the Class of 2025! His favorite memory is making it to state for football. He plans to head into the workforce after graduation. His advice for younger students is, “Do your work.”

The Booster Club gifted some money to the teachers/classrooms that provided a donation to the Raider Rally last Fall. Mrs. Curson’s students brainstormed, price-shopped and voted for what they wanted. They chose a bluetooth mouse to be paired with their chromebooks, markers, pencils, LED lights and Lane Walker books about hunting and fishing.

Lily Howe is today’s senior spotlight! After high school graduation, Lily plans to head into the workforce and explore her options. Her favorite teacher was Mr. Rome and her favorite high school memory was having fun in foods sweets class. Her advice for underclassmen is, “Sometimes stuff gets tough, but you have to push yourself to try your best.”

American Legion Edward Born Post 343 Scholarship has been added to the Support Services website. Thank you to the organization for supporting our seniors! https://www.isd108.org/o/central-public-schools/page/scholarships

Central Public Schools needs a spring coach. If you are interested please reach out to Joe Kley (jkley@isd108.org) for more details. Application: https://www.isd108.org/page/employment Spring Openings : 7th Grade Softball

Public Schools Week 2025 is here! 🎉 Central Public Schools is proud of the role that public education plays in shaping the future of our children, our community, and our world! This week is dedicated to honoring the incredible teachers and staff who work tirelessly to ensure every student has the academic, social, and emotional support they need to thrive. Thank you for all that you do!

The Girls Basketball Team kicks off their post season tonight with a home game against MVL. Tip off is set for 7 PM. Since this is a playoff game, Section 2AA requires that all people have a ticket to enter. Hope to see you there. Ticket link: https://www.vancoevents.com/us/CYQX

The Central School Board will be interviewing the four candidates who applied to be considered for the open seat on Monday, Feb. 24. The four applicants are Elroy Latzig, Barbara Woida, Anthony Bentz, and Jayson Read. We will be sharing a brief introduction to each candidate for the next four days. Entries were provided by each candidate and were edited slightly for content and clarity. We will be posting these updates in the order that they submitted their applications. Today we will share information about Candidate Jason Read: My name is Jayson Read and my wife, Katie and I have been living in Cologne for over 17 years. We have four daughters; Maddy graduated from Central in 2023, Tenley is a Sophomore at Central, and our twins Maisey and Hathaway are in 2nd Grade. Since graduating from Minnesota State University, Mankato, my career has been in the Software Development space and for the last 18 years I’ve been in a leadership capacity by either managing projects as a Project Manager or as a Manager managing teams of either engineers or other Project Managers. I enjoy watching football, soccer, and baseball and we, as a family usually, try to visit at least one new Major League Baseball stadium each summer (we’ve been to 15 so far as a family). I’ve also rekindled my appreciation for music and the arts and have attended some plays, musicals, and concerts with my two older daughters.

Senior Korrin Widmer is today’s senior spotlight! She will be attending a technical college to study child development. While in Central Public Schools, her favorite teacher was Ms. Shurmann. Her favorite memories include being with friends and participating in FFA. Her advice for younger students is to, “Have fun and take as many Ag classes as you can!”

The Central Boys Basketball team has their final home game of the regular season tonight at they host the New London - Spicer Wildcats. C and JV tip off at 5:30 with Varsity to follow at 7:00 PM. We hope to see you there! Ticket Link: https://www.vancoevents.com/us/CYQV

The Central School Board will be interviewing the four candidates who applied to be considered for the open seat on Monday, Feb. 24. The four applicants are Elroy Latzig, Barbara Woida, Anthony Bentz, and Jayson Read. We will be sharing a brief introduction to each candidate for the next four days. Entries were provided by each candidate and were edited slightly for content and clarity. We will be posting these updates in the order that they submitted their applications. Today we will share information about Candidate Anthony Bentz: I have been a Financial Services Officer at Citizens State Bank NYA for 3 years and a community member for over 45 years. I live in the Preserve with my wife (Gwen) and three children who currently attend Central Public Schools- Ethan (3rd), Quinn (2nd) and Cora (Pre-K). I am a Central High School Graduate from the class of 1996. I worked for over 20 years as a retail store manager in the MSP market including at Kohls, Target, LL Bean and Duluth Trading Company. I have been a board member and vice president of the NYA Chamber of commerce, a member of Carver County Ag Initiatives and have volunteered for PTA food events, participated in the Renovation for Innovation session and have represented CSBNYA at the CHS job fair for the past three years. I love the NYA Community and have a strong knowledge of Central Public Schools. I am active in several local organizations and volunteer at many local events including Stiftungsfest. I would bring my excellent communication skills, both verbal and written and ability to collaborate with many different people and organizations to find solutions to the board.

Kaiden Oelfke is a senior in the Class of 2025! She plans to go wherever the wind takes her after graduation. One of her favorite memories was taking a mental health day and laughing with friends last year. Her favorite teacher was Mr. Rome. Her advice for younger students is to, “Just go with the flow and don't take yourself too seriously and do what's best for you.”

Hello Raiders! A quick reminder that registration is currently open for all of our SPRING sports: baseball, softball, track and golf. Please go to RevTrak (https://isd108.revtrak.net) to select your activity and complete the required forms. Once your student's sports physical has been confirmed the fee will be assigned. The Athlete/Parent meeting will be on SUNDAY, MARCH 2 in the auditorium at 7:00 PM. Please plan on joining us! Mr. Kley will be presenting important information about the season schedules, transportation, etc. Coaches will also be on hand with additional information and to answer questions. Registration for all spring sports will close on Friday, March 7, 2025. Please contact Kari Crown at kcrown@isd108.org with any questions regarding registration and/or payments.

Check out some of the 100th day themed activities that our creative first graders did!

The Central School Board will be interviewing the four candidates who applied to be considered for the open seat on Monday, Feb. 24. The four applicants are Elroy Latzig, Barbara Woida, Anthony Bentz, and Jayson Read. We will be sharing a brief introduction to each candidate for the next four days. Entries were provided by each candidate and were edited slightly for content and clarity. We will be posting these updates in the order that they submitted their applications. Today we will share information about Candidate Barbara Woida: I grew up in Bloomington, and my husband and I have lived just outside of Norwood Young America for 22 years now. Our 12-year-old son Huey has attended Central Schools since preschool. I am passionate about education and graduated 13th in my class at the Academy of the Holy Angels in Richfield. I have a BA degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from St. Cloud State University where I graduated Summa Cum Laude. Although currently between jobs, I have been a Human Resources Manager for various manufacturing and health care companies for the past 17 years. I also was the Glencoe Area Chamber of Commerce President. I liked working with the Chamber Board to attract new members, grow event attendance, and promote all the community had to offer. I enjoy volunteering and being active in the community. Some of my volunteer experience includes: -District 108 Community Education - Coaching Huey’s Fall and Spring Soccer teams for 8 seasons -PTA Volunteer - Huey and I have been selling books at the Central Elementary Book Fairs for several years -NYA Boy Scout Troop 3361- Adult Leader -Minnesota Astronomical Society - Eagle Lake Onan Observatory Keyholder -One Good Deed - Non-Profit including Annual Scarf Bombing Events - Collecting and distributing warm clothes to the homeless and Annual Free Will Offering Garage Sale - Organizing and running a free will offering garage sale to raise funds for a teenage drop-in resource center Before moving to this area, I researched the local schools, and was pleased to find that the schools in NYA had above average standardized test schools, especially the elementary (Although I have to admit that I drove past the elementary school for several months before I finally figured out where it was – hidden underground). I believe education is the great equalizer and believe that everyone deserves to attend a great school. I want to contribute to the future success of our children. Student engagement, education, and creating well rounded young adults are key parts of our children’s success whether they decide to go to a trade school, a 4-year college, take over the family business, or enter the workforce directly after high school. I want to help increase our test scores to prepare our children for success. It is also important to do what we can to attract new students to District 108. Through increasing our student enrollment, we will be able to get more funding for our schools and important programs. I want to help make our community stronger by preparing our children for all the challenges of life and their future career choices, no matter what that may be. I would be excited to have the opportunity to be on the School Board and play a part in continuing -- and even improving on the traditions of District 108. We can do more together than any one person can do on their own. Go Raiders!

Playoff Basketball has arrived! The Central Girls Basketball team has received the #5 Seed in Section 2AA and will host the #12 MVL Chargers at home on Monday, February, 24th. The game will start at 7:00 PM. Being as this is a playoff game NO PASSES will be accepted.

It is hard to believe that the Class of 2025 is only months away from graduation and stepping into new adventures. Whether they are heading to college, the military, technical school or into the workforce, we are proud of what they have accomplished at Central Public Schools and we look forward to seeing where their future takes them! As a way to celebrate our graduating seniors, we will be sharing several senior spotlights! Congratulations to senior Jack Paumen! Jack will be attending Gustavus Adolphus College in the fall to pursue a degree in nursing. During high school, his favorite teacher was Mr. Hunt and his favorite memory was having fun in Ms. Erickson’s class each day. His advice for underclassmen is to, “Have fun even when your homework isn't done.”

The Knights of Columbus Council #12140 and the Plato Fire District scholarships have been added to the Support Services website. Thank you to the two organizations for supporting our seniors!

WIth the short week this week, we have updated Snow Week Schedule to next week