Our kindergarten team is ready to meet their new friends next week! Here’s to an awesome year ahead for our kindergarteners!
In observance of Labor Day, Central Public Schools will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7. Enjoy the holiday weekend!
Looking for a great part time job? Central Public Schools is looking for a Playground Supervisor for 2026-27.
Work 2.25 hours per day (10:50 a.m. - 2:05 p.m.)
Position Description/Qualifications:
1. Minimum qualification: High School Diploma, experience with elementary age students preferred
2. Must have the ability to lift and toilet students.
3. Possess basic academic competencies to provide tutorial assistance to the student(s) as needed.
4. Prior experience working with special needs children is desired but not required.
Apply today: https://www.applitrack.com/central/OnlineApp/JobPostings/view.asp?all=1
Work 2.25 hours per day (10:50 a.m. - 2:05 p.m.)
Position Description/Qualifications:
1. Minimum qualification: High School Diploma, experience with elementary age students preferred
2. Must have the ability to lift and toilet students.
3. Possess basic academic competencies to provide tutorial assistance to the student(s) as needed.
4. Prior experience working with special needs children is desired but not required.
Apply today: https://www.applitrack.com/central/OnlineApp/JobPostings/view.asp?all=1
Help us give a warm welcome to Sarah Norton, a new Special Education Teacher at the elementary school!
She says she chose to work at Central Public Schools because she loves the supportive teamwork. From the early age of 8, Sarah knew she wanted to be a teacher. She would “run” her own classroom with her mom’s daycare kids. Growing up, she enjoyed art, music, and gym.
When she’s not teaching, Sarah enjoys family vacations, the outdoors, and cuddles with her dog Cheddar. Also, she LOVES the state fair!
She says she chose to work at Central Public Schools because she loves the supportive teamwork. From the early age of 8, Sarah knew she wanted to be a teacher. She would “run” her own classroom with her mom’s daycare kids. Growing up, she enjoyed art, music, and gym.
When she’s not teaching, Sarah enjoys family vacations, the outdoors, and cuddles with her dog Cheddar. Also, she LOVES the state fair!
We’re proud to introduce our newest Central Public Schools staff members! We will be featuring them online over the next few weeks.
First up is our newest 6th Grade Teacher, Jenna Watson! We asked her a few questions about herself and why she loves teaching and here is what she said:
Why did you choose to work at Central Public Schools?
“I chose Central because of its strong sense of community and the opportunity to make a positive impact on students!”
What led you to a career in education?
“I was drawn to education because of the teachers I had growing up and the impact they made on me. They inspired me to want to make that same kind of positive impact on my own students.”
What was your favorite subject when you were a K-12 student?
“Math”
What do you like to do for fun?
“I enjoy working out, spending time with family and friends, going to concerts, traveling, and just making memories with the people I love.”
First up is our newest 6th Grade Teacher, Jenna Watson! We asked her a few questions about herself and why she loves teaching and here is what she said:
Why did you choose to work at Central Public Schools?
“I chose Central because of its strong sense of community and the opportunity to make a positive impact on students!”
What led you to a career in education?
“I was drawn to education because of the teachers I had growing up and the impact they made on me. They inspired me to want to make that same kind of positive impact on my own students.”
What was your favorite subject when you were a K-12 student?
“Math”
What do you like to do for fun?
“I enjoy working out, spending time with family and friends, going to concerts, traveling, and just making memories with the people I love.”
The final school board candidate profile is on Emily (Perlbachs) Herring!
City of Residence
NYA
How long have you lived in the district?
10 years
What is your occupation?
Care Coordinator
Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board?
To help ensure the district has what it needs to provide the best education possible for all those who choose to come to Central Public Schools and ensure that we are sending our graduates off ready to be productive members of society in whatever way they choose.
What qualities will you bring to the board if elected?
My background is in grocery retail management so I’ve spent a lot of time working with budgeting, employee retention, building maintenance, conflict resolution and working in large diverse groups to achieve a common goal.
What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today?
Funding, there are many issues facing education today, safety, large class sizes, teacher shortages, limited resources but they all begin with a lack of funding.
Read the full article: https://www.central.k12.mn.us/article/3098251
City of Residence
NYA
How long have you lived in the district?
10 years
What is your occupation?
Care Coordinator
Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board?
To help ensure the district has what it needs to provide the best education possible for all those who choose to come to Central Public Schools and ensure that we are sending our graduates off ready to be productive members of society in whatever way they choose.
What qualities will you bring to the board if elected?
My background is in grocery retail management so I’ve spent a lot of time working with budgeting, employee retention, building maintenance, conflict resolution and working in large diverse groups to achieve a common goal.
What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today?
Funding, there are many issues facing education today, safety, large class sizes, teacher shortages, limited resources but they all begin with a lack of funding.
Read the full article: https://www.central.k12.mn.us/article/3098251
The next school board candidate profile is on Josh Kroells!
City of Residence
NYA
How long have you lived in the district?
My entire life
What is your occupation?
Vice President of the USA Clay Target League
Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board?
I want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board because I care deeply about our community, the quality of education, and the opportunities we provide for our students.
What qualities will you bring to the board if elected?
I will bring a true commitment to our community and our schools. I will be a board member who is engaged, dependable, transparent, and willing to do the work necessary to help ISD 108 remain a strong district for our students and families.
What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today?
Schools are being asked to address more academic, social, and behavioral needs than ever before, while also recruiting and retaining quality teachers and staff. At the same time, districts must be responsible with taxpayer dollars and make difficult decisions about where resources can have the greatest impact for students.
Read the full article: https://www.central.k12.mn.us/article/3098251
City of Residence
NYA
How long have you lived in the district?
My entire life
What is your occupation?
Vice President of the USA Clay Target League
Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board?
I want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board because I care deeply about our community, the quality of education, and the opportunities we provide for our students.
What qualities will you bring to the board if elected?
I will bring a true commitment to our community and our schools. I will be a board member who is engaged, dependable, transparent, and willing to do the work necessary to help ISD 108 remain a strong district for our students and families.
What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today?
Schools are being asked to address more academic, social, and behavioral needs than ever before, while also recruiting and retaining quality teachers and staff. At the same time, districts must be responsible with taxpayer dollars and make difficult decisions about where resources can have the greatest impact for students.
Read the full article: https://www.central.k12.mn.us/article/3098251
Our E-5 Transition Days are tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 2 and Thursday, Sept. 3! Conferences and open houses are individualized by appointment. Families should have received an email with a sign up link.
Central Public Schools is proud to share our 2026 Hall of Fame Honorees! We’ll be featuring one honoree each week up until the Raider Rally on Oct. 3.
First up is long-time Central Public Schools teacher and coach, Darroel Dammann. Coach Dammann taught physical education, health and industrial arts at Central HIgh School from 1976 to 2005. In his final three years of teaching from 2006-2008, he taught physical education at Central Elementary School.
For 28 years, Coach Dammann led the Central High School wrestling team. Not only did he make a significant impact on the wrestling program, but also the student-athletes and their commitment to the sport which earned state recognition.
Dammann coached five teams that earned their place at the Minnesota State Team Wrestling Tournament in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987(4th Place finish) and 1998. He led teams to five undefeated dual regular seasons (1979, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986) and nine Minnesota River Conference (MRC) Championships (1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988). Also, Coach Dammann guided the program to the school's 200th dual meet victory in 2000.
Coach Dammann coached 16 different wrestlers who had 24 individual state tournament appearances. Two of these wrestlers earned an individual medal at the state tournament: one as the state runner-up and one as third place. Coach Dammann is ranked #91 on the Minnesota High School Coaches Career Records.
Coach Dammann is a graduate of Glencoe HIgh School’s class of 1968, where he played football. He went on to attend Winona State University and earned his degrees in Industrial Arts, Physical Education/Health and Coaching and graduated in 1973. He was married to Nancy Opitz for 51 years. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Thank you to Coach Dammann for his time serving our students and our athletes at Central Public Schools!
The third Annual Raider Rally and Hall of Fame Induction will be on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. at the Hamburg Community Hall. Help us celebrate our Hall of Fame honorees - purchase your tickets to the Raider Rally now: https://108raiderrally.com/
First up is long-time Central Public Schools teacher and coach, Darroel Dammann. Coach Dammann taught physical education, health and industrial arts at Central HIgh School from 1976 to 2005. In his final three years of teaching from 2006-2008, he taught physical education at Central Elementary School.
For 28 years, Coach Dammann led the Central High School wrestling team. Not only did he make a significant impact on the wrestling program, but also the student-athletes and their commitment to the sport which earned state recognition.
Dammann coached five teams that earned their place at the Minnesota State Team Wrestling Tournament in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987(4th Place finish) and 1998. He led teams to five undefeated dual regular seasons (1979, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986) and nine Minnesota River Conference (MRC) Championships (1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988). Also, Coach Dammann guided the program to the school's 200th dual meet victory in 2000.
Coach Dammann coached 16 different wrestlers who had 24 individual state tournament appearances. Two of these wrestlers earned an individual medal at the state tournament: one as the state runner-up and one as third place. Coach Dammann is ranked #91 on the Minnesota High School Coaches Career Records.
Coach Dammann is a graduate of Glencoe HIgh School’s class of 1968, where he played football. He went on to attend Winona State University and earned his degrees in Industrial Arts, Physical Education/Health and Coaching and graduated in 1973. He was married to Nancy Opitz for 51 years. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Thank you to Coach Dammann for his time serving our students and our athletes at Central Public Schools!
The third Annual Raider Rally and Hall of Fame Induction will be on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. at the Hamburg Community Hall. Help us celebrate our Hall of Fame honorees - purchase your tickets to the Raider Rally now: https://108raiderrally.com/
Central Public Schools ISD 108 will have three school board seats on the ballot during the Nov. 3, 2026 election. As a way to introduce each candidate to the community, the district has collected responses on questions from each candidate and will share one candidate a day on social media.
You can view all candidate responses on our website: https://www.central.k12.mn.us/article/3098251
Responses have been minimally edited for formatting and clarity and all content and viewpoints are of the respective candidate.
First up is Cassy Vos!
City of residence:
Cologne
How long have you lived in the district?
17 Years
What is your occupation?
As a strategic operations and financial leader, I partner across Tax, Finance, IT, and Operations to improve client financial outcomes, optimize business processes, and drive enterprise-wide initiatives. With over 18 years of experience in professional services, I leverage collaboration, analytics, and technology to increase profitability, strengthen accountability, and deliver sustainable business results. My leadership approach centers on developing people, simplifying complexity, and creating a culture of continuous improvement that empowers teams to perform at their highest potential.
Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board?
I believe strong schools are built through responsible leadership, fiscal accountability, community partnership, and a commitment to student success. My experience leading teams, managing financial performance, and driving meaningful change has prepared me to help guide our district's future while keeping students, families, and educators at the center of every decision.
What qualities will you bring to the board if elected?
My professional background has centered on helping organizations achieve better outcomes through strategic leadership, financial stewardship, collaboration, and continuous improvement. For more than 18 years, I have led complex initiatives, managed financial performance, and built strong partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups. These experiences have prepared me to serve as a thoughtful, accountable school board member who will listen to the community, make data-informed decisions, and advocate for students, educators, and families while ensuring responsible management of district resources.
What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today?
I believe two of the most important issues facing the education industry today are funding and teacher recruitment and retention. Balancing increasing student and operational needs with limited financial resources. School districts must provide high-quality instruction, attract and retain talented educators, support student and teacher well-being, invest in technology, and maintain facilities, all while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. Effective governance requires thoughtful financial planning, transparency, and a focus on ensuring every investment contributes to teacher and student success.
You can view all candidate responses on our website: https://www.central.k12.mn.us/article/3098251
Responses have been minimally edited for formatting and clarity and all content and viewpoints are of the respective candidate.
First up is Cassy Vos!
City of residence:
Cologne
How long have you lived in the district?
17 Years
What is your occupation?
As a strategic operations and financial leader, I partner across Tax, Finance, IT, and Operations to improve client financial outcomes, optimize business processes, and drive enterprise-wide initiatives. With over 18 years of experience in professional services, I leverage collaboration, analytics, and technology to increase profitability, strengthen accountability, and deliver sustainable business results. My leadership approach centers on developing people, simplifying complexity, and creating a culture of continuous improvement that empowers teams to perform at their highest potential.
Why do you want to be a member of the ISD 108 School Board?
I believe strong schools are built through responsible leadership, fiscal accountability, community partnership, and a commitment to student success. My experience leading teams, managing financial performance, and driving meaningful change has prepared me to help guide our district's future while keeping students, families, and educators at the center of every decision.
What qualities will you bring to the board if elected?
My professional background has centered on helping organizations achieve better outcomes through strategic leadership, financial stewardship, collaboration, and continuous improvement. For more than 18 years, I have led complex initiatives, managed financial performance, and built strong partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups. These experiences have prepared me to serve as a thoughtful, accountable school board member who will listen to the community, make data-informed decisions, and advocate for students, educators, and families while ensuring responsible management of district resources.
What do you believe is the most important issue facing education today?
I believe two of the most important issues facing the education industry today are funding and teacher recruitment and retention. Balancing increasing student and operational needs with limited financial resources. School districts must provide high-quality instruction, attract and retain talented educators, support student and teacher well-being, invest in technology, and maintain facilities, all while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. Effective governance requires thoughtful financial planning, transparency, and a focus on ensuring every investment contributes to teacher and student success.
Our Secondary Open House is coming up this week on Wednesday, Sept. 2! We encourage students and families to stop by to meet your teachers, tour the school, and bring school supplies. We can’t wait to see our 6th-12th graders very soon!
Our teachers are preparing for our students’ arrival! Teachers will be joining us next week, Aug. 31-Sept. 3, for their teacher workshop. We look forward to having everyone back in the buildings!
Welcome new teachers! We’re excited to add new members to our Central team. They’ll be joining us tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 27 for our new teacher workshop.
Head cook wanted! Central Food Service and Taher, Inc. is looking for a head cook for the High School, starting this school year. Duties include preparing Main Entrees and Limited Time Offer Meals from the menu, unload and organize grocery items, clean and sanitize all equipment and surfaces used by the cook, help with monthly inventory, learning which groceries to order, along with assisting the food service director with activities like back to school meal, kids in the kitchen, etc.
Previous experience in food service is preferred, but not required. If interested, you can go directly to Taher, Inc. and apply under careers. You may also reach out directly to Chantelle Eshleman, Central Food Service Director at 952-467-7147 or email at ceshleman@isd108.org. Can’t wait to hear from you!
https://myjobs.adp.com/taherjobs/cx/job-details?reqId=5001216058506
Previous experience in food service is preferred, but not required. If interested, you can go directly to Taher, Inc. and apply under careers. You may also reach out directly to Chantelle Eshleman, Central Food Service Director at 952-467-7147 or email at ceshleman@isd108.org. Can’t wait to hear from you!
https://myjobs.adp.com/taherjobs/cx/job-details?reqId=5001216058506
Hello Raider Fans -
If you ordered a Fallen Heroes t-shirt, they will be available for pick up on either of the following days:
Tuesday, September 1 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at the Central Stadium football field
Wednesday, September 2 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm in the Commons area during the Open House
Thank you for your support of this amazing event and we look forward to seeing you at the game on September 3rd!!!
If you ordered a Fallen Heroes t-shirt, they will be available for pick up on either of the following days:
Tuesday, September 1 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm at the Central Stadium football field
Wednesday, September 2 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm in the Commons area during the Open House
Thank you for your support of this amazing event and we look forward to seeing you at the game on September 3rd!!!
Hello Raider fans!!
Welcome to another year of football! Below find the link to order football apparel. This will stay open all season with individual orders shipping as they are ready.
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/NdDrrte6xT
Please let us know if you have any questions and THANK YOU for supporting our Raider athletes!!
Raider Touchdown Club
Welcome to another year of football! Below find the link to order football apparel. This will stay open all season with individual orders shipping as they are ready.
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/NdDrrte6xT
Please let us know if you have any questions and THANK YOU for supporting our Raider athletes!!
Raider Touchdown Club
Hello Raider Community!
Registration for 7th and 8th grade FOOTBALL and VOLLEYBALL is CLOSING TOMORROW, Friday, Aug. 21. Follow this link for information on how to register in Bound.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ASVb3E04Nn0JEA-kLsMdvv-QhnHhMzZDfHpgDGctyNM/edit?usp=sharing
Let's go Raiders!!!
And just like that, the fields, courts, and tracks are alive again! 🍂🏆
Our student-athletes are putting in the sweat and dedication during these crucial first days of fall practice. Huge shout out to the coaches, parents, and volunteers making this season possible. Let's make it a great year!
Our student-athletes are putting in the sweat and dedication during these crucial first days of fall practice. Huge shout out to the coaches, parents, and volunteers making this season possible. Let's make it a great year!
Secondary Department and Grade Level leaders spending the day meeting and planning for the upcoming year
St. John’s Church is partnering with Love INC to host a FREE School Supply Store to support District 108 students and families on Friday, Aug. 21.
Families can register online to receive a free backpack and school supplies to help students start the school year ready to learn.
Take a look at the flyer for more details and information on how to register or use the link:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=XmI0Gvbnx02uwcI9yFzj94ZAzr4_zzdPiqVTKgdYDu1UNkhVMUk3U1BWTkVaOEQ5WUNRMFRQWlpOUy4u&route=shorturl
Families can register online to receive a free backpack and school supplies to help students start the school year ready to learn.
Take a look at the flyer for more details and information on how to register or use the link:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=XmI0Gvbnx02uwcI9yFzj94ZAzr4_zzdPiqVTKgdYDu1UNkhVMUk3U1BWTkVaOEQ5WUNRMFRQWlpOUy4u&route=shorturl
