Community Invitation: Facilities Informational Meeting – May 28

Blue Earth Area Schools is committed to keeping our community informed as we continue addressing the significant facility challenges facing our district. We invite all community members to attend an upcoming informational meeting on Thursday, May 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the Pemberton Gymnasium.

At this meeting, district leadership will share key findings from the comprehensive third-party facilities assessment completed last spring. This study provided an in-depth look at the condition of our buildings, including mechanical systems, indoor air quality, safety needs, accessibility concerns, and overall learning environments.

As outlined in our recent district newsletter, the assessment identified substantial needs—particularly within our PreK–7 building, where critical repairs alone total over $42 million, and long-term needs exceed $55 million. These figures do not include additional investments required to improve safety, accessibility, and modern learning spaces. In comparison, the estimated cost to build a new elementary school is approximately $63 million, raising important questions about the most responsible long-term solution for our district and community.

In addition to reviewing the data, the May 28 meeting will provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions, share feedback, and engage in open dialogue about the challenges and paths forward. Following the presentation, guided building tours will be available to give community members a firsthand look at the current conditions of our facilities.

Over the past several years, our district has experienced increasing maintenance issues, including failing boilers, aging infrastructure, and ongoing emergency repairs. While our staff works diligently each day to maintain safe and functional learning environments, it is important that our community fully understands both the scope and urgency of these challenges.

Your voice is an essential part of this process. We strongly encourage all residents to attend, learn more, and be part of the conversation as we work together to determine the best path forward for Blue Earth Area Schools and future generations of students.

We look forward to seeing you on May 28.

Mandy Fletcher
Blue Earth Area Superintendent of Schools

about 7 hours ago, Blue Earth Area
Supt Scoop
At Blue Earth Area Schools, we have so much to celebrate, especially our incredible seniors! As we head to the end of the school year, we’re excited to highlight one outstanding BEA senior each day, showcasing their unique contributions and achievements.
#seniorspotlight
#beabucpride
about 10 hours ago, Blue Earth Area School
Senior Spotlight - Madison Warmka
At Blue Earth Area Schools, we have so much to celebrate, especially our incredible seniors! As we head to the end of the school year, we’re excited to highlight one outstanding BEA senior each day, showcasing their unique contributions and achievements.
#seniorspotlight
#beabucpride
1 day ago, Blue Earth Area School
Senior Spotlight - Addison Prescher

Join our Team!

Blue Earth Area High School is seeking a Long Call substitute for a High School FACS Teacher position for the following dates within the 2025/2026 school year: April 14, 2026-May 29, 2026

Interested Candidates:
Must hold a Long Call substitute license before the start date of the assignment.

Please submit the following documents:
Resume

Please email your information to:
cshaffer@beas.blueearth.k12.mn.us
Conan Shaffer, High School Principal
Blue Earth Area Schools
1125 US-169, Blue Earth, MN 56013
(507) 526-3201

Located in Blue Earth, Minnesota at the junction of Interstate 90 and US Highway 169, the Blue Earth Area School District ISD 2860 serves the Southern Minnesota communities of Blue Earth, Frost, Winnebago, Delavan, and Elmore. The district’s mission is to invest in students so they succeed and excel in an ever-changing world.

2 days ago, Blue Earth Area
Position Opening
The Blue Earth Area Robotics Team attended the 2026 FIRST Robotics Competition at the University of Northern Iowa from March 26–28, where they competed in the game REBUILT. The team competed alongside 52 other teams from , using engineering skills to complete a variety of tasks in order to score points. These tasks included scoring “fuel” by shooting balls into designated bins, crossing obstacles, climbing a tower, and earning match bonuses as part of a three-team alliance.

Teams must collaborate with their alliance partners to achieve shared goals and maximize their scores. However, in the next match, those same teams may become competitors. This dynamic is why the competition emphasizes “gracious cooperation.”

Our team encountered some hardships, as we were unable to fully compete in a couple of matches due to mechanical breakdowns. However, we persevered with borrowed parts and ultimately placed 42nd overall. One of the most valuable aspects of U.S. FIRST Robotics is that it is not solely about winning, but about the learning, growth, and experiences gained along the way.

Below are photos of our robot in competition and our team receiving grant funding from the Gene Haas Foundation, which will help cover the cost of replacing components that failed during the competition.
2 days ago, Blue Earth Area School
BEA's Robotic Team
At Blue Earth Area Schools, we have so much to celebrate, especially our incredible seniors! As we head to the end of the school year, we’re excited to highlight one outstanding BEA senior each day, showcasing their unique contributions and achievements.
#seniorspotlight
#beabucpride
3 days ago, Blue Earth Area School
Senior Spotlight -Zane Schachhardt
At Blue Earth Area Schools, we have so much to celebrate, especially our incredible seniors! As we head to the end of the school year, we’re excited to highlight one outstanding BEA senior each day, showcasing their unique contributions and achievements.
#seniorspotlight
#beabucpride
4 days ago, Blue Earth Area School
Senior Spotlight - Dane Sohn
It's week 2 of Mr. Johnson's Choir VIP awards! Each week 4 students will be honored, and they get to wear a custom CHOIR VIP chain, get a treat, and a picture for social media. Some of the awards are peer nominated.

Concert Choir:
Musical Excellence: Natalie Schiltz
Effort and Focus: Elaena Schiltz
Most Improved: Logan Rademaker
Leadership and Teamwork: McKinley Hanson

Intermediate Chorus
Musical Excellence: Avery Asmus
Effort and Focus: Kenzi Eckmann
Most Improved: Juan Romero
Leadership and Teamwork: Elizabeth Koestler

Thanks for helping us celebrate these students!

#beabucpride
9 days ago, Blue Earth Area
Weekly Choir VIP Awards
Weekly Choir VIP Awards
We are excited to share that 114 Dairy Queen coupons have been given out so far to our Rider of the Week recipients—great job to all who have earned this recognition! There is still plenty of time to earn yours, so keep demonstrating safe, respectful, and responsible behavior on the bus. Keep up the great work, and a big thank you to Dairy Queen for generously providing these rewards!
#beabucpride
10 days ago, Blue Earth Area
Bus Rider of the Week
At Blue Earth Area Schools, we have so much to celebrate, especially our incredible seniors! As we head to the end of the school year, we’re excited to highlight one outstanding BEA senior each day, showcasing their unique contributions and achievements.
#seniorspotlight
#beabucpride
10 days ago, Blue Earth Area School
Senior Spotlight - Grace Hanson

✨ BEA Middle School’s Amazing Students for Quarter 3!
Congrats to our students showing what BUC Pride is all about!

(Missing from the photo Leo and Henry)

10 days ago, Blue Earth Area School
✨ BEA Middle School’s Amazing Students for Quarter 3! Congrats to our students showing what BUC Pride is all about!
✨ BEA Middle School’s Amazing Students for Quarter 3! Congrats to our students showing what BUC Pride is all about!
Testing Our Patience (and Our Plumbing!)

Our stacked bathrooms have decided to take an unscheduled break today. We aren’t quite sure why they’ve gone on strike just yet, but we are working hard to find the cause.

In the meantime, we want to give a massive shout-out to our maintenance team. They were on the scene the moment the news broke and are working tirelessly to rectify the situation.

Thanks for sticking with us—we’ll have everything back in working order as soon as possible!
11 days ago, Blue Earth Area School
Testing Our Patience (and Our Plumbing!) Our stacked bathrooms have decided to take an unscheduled break today. We aren’t quite sure why they’ve gone on strike just yet, but we are working hard to find the cause. In the meantime, we want to give a massive shout-out to our maintenance team. They were on the scene the moment the news broke and are working tirelessly to rectify the situation. Thanks for sticking with us—we’ll have everything back in working order as soon as possible!
Testing Our Patience (and Our Plumbing!) Our stacked bathrooms have decided to take an unscheduled break today. We aren’t quite sure why they’ve gone on strike just yet, but we are working hard to find the cause. In the meantime, we want to give a massive shout-out to our maintenance team. They were on the scene the moment the news broke and are working tirelessly to rectify the situation. Thanks for sticking with us—we’ll have everything back in working order as soon as possible!
Testing Our Patience (and Our Plumbing!) Our stacked bathrooms have decided to take an unscheduled break today. We aren’t quite sure why they’ve gone on strike just yet, but we are working hard to find the cause. In the meantime, we want to give a massive shout-out to our maintenance team. They were on the scene the moment the news broke and are working tirelessly to rectify the situation. Thanks for sticking with us—we’ll have everything back in working order as soon as possible!
At Blue Earth Area Schools, we have so much to celebrate, especially our incredible seniors! As we head to the end of the school year, we’re excited to highlight one outstanding BEA senior each day, showcasing their unique contributions and achievements.
#seniorspotlight
#beabucpride
11 days ago, Blue Earth Area School
Senior Spotlight - Ava Petersen
At Blue Earth Area Schools, we have so much to celebrate, especially our incredible seniors! As we head to the end of the school year, we’re excited to highlight one outstanding BEA senior each day, showcasing their unique contributions and achievements.
#seniorspotlight
#beabucpride
12 days ago, Blue Earth Area School
Senior Spotlight
Don't look too closely if you're squeamish!

Mrs. Volz’s Plants & Animal class is wrapping up their animal dissections with fish and frogs. Today, they jumped right in and studied the internal anatomy of a frog.

Students were able to see the liver, heart, lungs, stomach, and small & large intestines. Some students were able to open the stomach to see if any insects had been eaten, and other students were able to remove the mesentery and discovered just how long the small intestine is!
14 days ago, Blue Earth Area
Plants & Animals Class
Plants & Animals Class
Plants & Animals Class
Plants & Animals Class
Plants & Animals Class
Plants & Animals Class

Mr. Johnson, BEA Choir Director, is starting a new tradition to build connection, comradery, and to celebrate students in choir. Each week 4 students will be honored as Choir VIP's. They get to wear a custom CHOIR VIP chain and get a treat. Some of the awards are peer nominated.

Concert Choir:
Musical Excellence: Ava Petersen
Effort and Focused: Molly Eastvold
Most Improved: Gibson Haase
Leadership and Teamwork: Berkley Wielenga

Intermediate Chorus:
Musical Excellence: Dulane Olson
Effort and Focused: Clara Backstrom
Most Improved: Sakura Harding
Leadership and Teamwork: Lonnie Nelson

14 days ago, Blue Earth Area
Weekly Choir VIP Awards
Weekly Choir VIP Awards
Meet our TERRIFIC third graders! The 'I' in TERRIFIC stands for 'inquisitive', and we celebrate these students for their insatiable thirst for knowledge and boundless curiosity. Never stop learning!

Thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Blue Earth for sponsoring this program; it is a joy to see how proud the students are when they are chosen for this award!
#beabucpride
15 days ago, Blue Earth Area
Terrific Third Graders
At Blue Earth Area Schools, we have so much to celebrate, especially our incredible seniors! As we head to the end of the school year, we’re excited to highlight one outstanding BEA senior each day, showcasing their unique contributions and achievements.
#seniorspotlight
#beabucpride
15 days ago, Blue Earth Area School
Senior Spotlight
BEA is proud to announce that Grace Hanson signed with Luther College in Decorah, IA and will be part of the Tennis team for the Norse next year.
16 days ago, Blue Earth Area School
BEA is proud to announce that Grace Hanson signed with Luther College in Decorah, IA and will be part of the Tennis team for the Norse next year.
BEA is proud to announce that Grace Hanson signed with Luther College in Decorah, IA and will be part of the Tennis team for the Norse next year.
At Blue Earth Area Schools, we have so much to celebrate, especially our incredible seniors! As we head to the end of the school year, we’re excited to highlight one outstanding BEA senior each day, showcasing their unique contributions and achievements.
#seniorspotlight
#beabucpride
16 days ago, Blue Earth Area School
Senior Spotlight