Staff photos by Fritz Busch New Sleepy Eye Public School staff from left, high school special education instructor Dakota Rolling, high school counselor Noemi Vazquez-Cruz, Title 1 para Jon Kopacek, office assistant/security receptionist Alisa Mangen, speech-language pathologist Amanda Fuchs, and K-4 counselor Anna Whooley. Not pictured, 5-12 instrumental music instructor Riley Huppert, superintendent administrative assistant Idalia Martinez, high school art instructor Dan Janke, high school special ed para Laura Saari, elementary special ed para Brittany Scharpe, ESCE special ed/Discovery Time para Marissa Prieto, 2nd grade student teacher Mackenzie Helget, kindergarten student teacher Sara Craig and Dashir maintenance worker William Triggs.

SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye Public School has a dozen new staff members for the 2023-2024 school year.

New staffers include high school special education instructor Dakota Rolling, high school (9-12) counselor Noemi Vazquez-Cruz, Title 1 para Jon Kopacek, office assistant/security receptionist Alisa Mangen, speech-language pathologist Amanda Fuchs, and elementary counselor Anna Whooley.

In addition, new staffers are 5-12 instrumental music instructor Riley Huppert, superintendent administrative assistant Idalia Martinez, high school art instructor Dan Janke, high school special ed para Laura Saari, elementary special ed para Brittany Scharpe, and ESCE special ed/Discovery Time para Marissa Prieto.

Rolling, a Tracy native who lives in New Ulm, said she enjoys spending time outside.

“Pretty much anything outdoors. I like to go fishing, camping, hiking and spending time with friends and family,” said Rolling. “I’m excited to start here and work with the students.”

Vazquez-Cruz, a Puerto Rico native, lives in Mankato. She recently graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

“I play the piano and also like reading, fishing and spending time with my family and friends,” said Vazquez-Cruz. “I’m excited to start the new school year here with staff and students and collaborate with everybody.”

A Janesville native, Whooley said she enjoys traveling and reading. She earned a masters degree at Minnesota State Mankato and undergraduate degree at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.

“I’m excited to be here,” said Whooley.

Mangen, a Sleepy Eye native, earned a degree in family life/child development at MSU Mankato. She is on the Brown County Fair board.

“I like to garden and spend time in 4-H,” she said.

Kopacek, a Sleepy Eye native and St. Mary’s High School graduate, said he likes all sports including hockey, baseball and football. He’s a member of the Stark Longhorns that advanced to the state amateur baseball tournament this year.

Fuchs, of Sleepy Eye, was a speech therapist at New Ulm Public Schools before joining the Sleepy Eye Public School staff. She studied at MSU Mankato.

“I like spending time at the lake,” said Fuchs.

Facility management and contractors were busy at the school in August.

Last year, District 84 was awarded two $60,000 Solar for Schools project grants with Minneapolis-based Ideal Energies. Solar project equipment was placed on the high school and elementary school roofs with a crane.

The roof solar projects are designed to save the school district about 20%, $7,579 in annual electrical costs. The project is designed to be fully owned by the school district in 20 years.

“I’m excited about the solar projects. It’s great to get the grants,” said Superintendent John Cselovszki.

After rooftop installation, the contractor will help monitor electrical production and usage to optimize performance plus be available for field services if needed.

A digital display in the school will help students and staff observe energy generation in real time as part of the monitoring process.

Other solar project benefits include site-specific learning opportunties and information on clean energy and skilled-trade, green jobs.

Other schools receiving first round Solar for Schools grants were Redwood Falls, Marshall, St. James, St. Peter, Windom, Fairmont and other Minnesota school districts.

Schools were awarded up to $114,000 (25-95% of project costs) to buy and install solar energy systems on school roofs or grounds

Elementary roof repair supplies were also placed on the Sleepy Eye school roof this fall.

Sleepy Eye High School offers college-level courses through the College Now Program at SMSU. The program allows us to offer college credits at SEHS with our faculty acting as assistants to the professors from SMSU. Students that successfully complete a College Now course with a C- or better can be assured course acceptance at any of the MNSCU system public colleges and universities. SSMSU credits have also been successfully accepted at private institutions in Minnesota and the U of M system. The weight grading system for these courses is set at 5.0 (instead of 4.0) at SEHS.

The curricula for these classes are the same as those taught on a college campus; therefore, it is important that students understand that a College Now course is significantly more difficult than a high school course.

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students to earn both high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college nonsectarian courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online.

For students with disabilities, there is an alternative option to demonstrate reading proficiency.

For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.