• Strength in Community: Successful Campaign for Mankato Area Public School Board

    Running for and winning a seat on the Mankato Area Public School Board was far more challenging than I anticipated, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’m incredibly grateful for this journey. I often think, “If you can’t write, you can’t think,” while my husband tends to the type where, If you can’t…

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  • Empowering Every Student, Every Day: Elizabeth Hanke for Mankato School Board

    Elizabeth Hanke Committed to Excellence in Education. Every Student. Every Day. Voting Early? First day to vote early: Friday, September 20 View the list of voting locations before election day for upcoming elections, or contact your county election office. Hello, Mankato! My name is Elizabeth Hanke, and I am a dedicated business owner and mother of three wonderful daughters.…

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  • Endorsements: Hanke for Mankato Area Public Schools

    VOTE ELIZABETH HANKE FOR MANKATO AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD Hanke’s dedicated to our schools, students I am writing to enthusiastically endorse Elizabeth Hanke for the Mankato Area School Board. Having canvassed alongside Hanke, I have witnessed firsthand her deep commitment to listening to the community’s concerns and genuinely engaging with the issues that matter most…

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  • District 77 Enrollment Shifts: Growing Open Enrollment and Private School Choices Impacting District Numbers

    The district has seen a steady rise in both open enrollment numbers and the number of students opting for private schools, resulting in a decline in student market share. Detailed insights on these trends are available in the district’s demographic booklets, with the 2024-25 edition anticipated for release this winter.

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  • Teachers on the Frontline: Addressing Accountability and Literacy at ISD 77

    In 2022, teachers expressed concerns about students reading below grade level and called for remedial support, facing pushback. In 2024, a teacher highlighted that cuts to literacy support and library staff clash with the district’s value of “accountability for results.”

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