Mankato begins new school year

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - After another summer break has come and gone, an new school year has arrived.

Monday saw students at Mankato east and West report to class, and everyone else will be gradually starting throughout the week.

There’s a lot that can change year-to-year, and the district said that getting everyone acclimated is the number-one priority as students trickle back in.

“There’s a lot of logistical things that we try to get figured out for families and students as far as schedules and where to be and what time,” explained Prairie Winds Middle School principal Jason Grovom. “Once we get through that we can start talking about things that are going to make a difference in the school year.”

Buildings around the district have seen changes of their own since students last walked the halls.

Elementary schools got new secured entrances and Mankato West will be the site of ongoing construction through the school year and next summer.

An open house for the school was postponed last week due to parking lot concerns and concerns over air quality due to mold found in the auditorium.

Despite that, classes began at west as planned, and the district said that they hope to do all they can to make things feel as normal as possible.

“There’s always new construction projects and things of that nature happening in certain buildings,” said Grovom “As far as us as a district it’s pretty much the same as it was in the past where we just want to be there and have friendly faces as they walk through the door and they know that this is a safe place for them to be in.”

While Mankato and some other schools begin this week, everyone else will begin next week after Labor Day.

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