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Aug. 20—The doors were opened wide across the Austin Public Schools District on Wednesday morning as the district opened up its 2025-26 school year.
Complete with a celebratory atmosphere, students funneled through the doors of Austin High School on a day that staff sees as always being a happy one.
“The building’s different,” said AHS Principal Matt Schmidt. “When there are no kids it’s quiet. It’s not as fun in the summer. We get a lot done, but it’s so much better when there are teachers and kids in the building. Much different energy.”
Part of the reason for the energy on display for opening day is to create a welcoming atmosphere that students can get into, which of course includes a new class of incoming freshmen.
“We want to make it fun and inviting,” Schmidt said. “That’s what we’re trying to do. You’ve got kids at all different levels. You got kids in eighth grade going into ninth grade. It’s a big building. It can be a little scary so you want to make sure they are feeling welcome. You got seniors that have been here for a few years and kind of know what’s going on.”
“Just creating some excitement,” he added.
This marks a slightly earlier start from years past and that’s because of a pair of things. First, it allows the district to spread more breaks out through the year, especially during long periods of time where perhaps there are no holidays to break things up.
“When it comes to the spring, you have two months without a break. Those are hard,” Schmidt said. “Holiday breaks are a little bit longer (between) and it helps with learning.”
However, it’s also due to construction on Oakland Avenue West as well as work within the district.
After reaching a certain dollar amount in work, districts in the State of Minnesota are allowed to request a waiver from the state to start earlier before Labor Day.
To that end, the district has completed a large number of projects over the summer leading into the new school year.
In Austin High School alone, Hastings Gym received new flooring, Christgau Hall was newly painted as well as the third floor and the outside of the building was power washed.
Looking down the line, Schmidt said that they are eyeing a completion date for the weight room renovation toward the end of October. Funded through the Thielen Foundation, renovation will completely make-over the weight room.
“We’re getting wall wraps in the next couple weeks and then flooring is going in,” Schmidt said. “We’re ready to put that down and really, we’re just waiting on equipment.”
All that was left Wednesday was to get the new year under way.
“Let’s go have some fun,” Schmidt said.
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