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The White Bear Lake Area School District is pleased to announce that Julian Stanke has been chosen as the future principal of Birch Lake Elementary, a position that opened when current principal Jonathan Luknic announced he would resign at the end of the current school year. Stanke will begin his role at Birch on July 1, 2023.

White Bear Lake Area Schools has been awarded a grant of $122,000 through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety for the installation of stop arm cameras on all 36 school district buses.

The district’s most recent four-year graduation rate, released by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) this week, shows the district’s rate tops the state’s graduation rate of 83.6% by almost 5.5 percentage points, with 89.1% of 2022 seniors earning their diploma within four years in White Bear Lake Area Schools.

On Friday, March 17, 2023 Governor Walz signed a bill into law providing free school breakfast and lunch for Minnesota students beginning next school year. Specific details on the implementation of this new law are not yet available. The District will communicate the details to our families once we have clear direction from the State of Minnesota. In the meantime, see some key points that might be helpful to those who have questions.

The White Bear Lake Area School District is pleased to announce that Russell Reetz has been chosen to lead in the role of principal for the unified White Bear Lake Area High School. 

Reetz comes to the district from Eden Prairie High School, where he currently serves as an associate principal. Throughout his career, he has also served in director of activities roles. He began his career teaching physical education, health and DAPE, and he spent 12 years coaching football and track and field

The indoor walking track, located in the newly built field house at White Bear Lake Area High School - North Campus, is officially open for free public use. The track is open from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday through Thursday each week. Find information here.

At the February 13, 2023 School Board Regular Meeting, the White Bear Lake Area School Board approved a committee’s recommendation to change the name of Sunrise Park Middle School when it moves from the Sunrise Park neighborhood to the current White Bear Lake Area High School - South Campus building in the fall of 2024. The new name, Mariner Middle School, is a nod to the District’s past.

Senior community members (age 65+) who live in the District are invited to participate in the Senior Activities Pass program and enjoy complimentary admission to school activities.

Upcoming 2022-23 “Coffee with Dr. K” events:

• May 2, 2023 from 4-5 p.m.

The district recently received the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The district also recently received the Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO). These two awards are the highest form of recognition a governmental agency can receive and represent a significant accomplishment for the finance department and its staff. This year’s recognition marks the 22nd consecutive year the district has received both awards.

The 2022 Annual Update is currently available on the website. Print versions of the report will be available in January. The Annual Update information is also included in the Bear’s Bulletin flip-book portion of the Winter Community Services Catalog that will be shared electronically with the community soon.