Creating the Conditions to Build the Future

As the Building Our Future construction projects come to fruition – with the Early Childhood and Transition Education spaces at Sunrise being finalized to welcome those programs in the fall – it is a meaningful time to pause and reflect.

This transformation has been a massive undertaking. It began with the vision of former, and several of our current, School Board members. Over the course of this journey – from developing the plan to supporting the informational campaign and guiding the initial implementation – district and community leaders have played an essential role.

I remember sitting in my office shortly after joining the district when two of our coaching and teaching legends, Don Glover and Jim Galvin, stopped by. They asked when we were going to begin the facilities work that was so clearly needed. They were familiar with my work in a previous district and were energized by what might be possible here. As I recall, Mr. Galvin was ready to start knocking on doors that very day!

That shared vision – and the tireless efforts of nearly 100 community and staff members who served on our facilities planning committee – has been inspiring. To everyone who participated in those early meetings, reviewed blueprints, and shared their hopes for our schools: thank you. You helped lay the foundation for everything we see today.

The centerpiece of this entire vision is, of course, our unified White Bear Lake Area High School. For the first time in decades, our students in grades 9 through 12 are learning together under one roof. This milestone is about far more than a 375,000-square-foot addition or a stunning new student union commons area inspired by our community’s sailing heritage – it is about the student experience. By bringing our students together, we have eliminated transitions that once fractured the high school journey. This unity allows for deeper relationships, expanded academic and extracurricular opportunities, and a stronger sense of “Bear Pride” that begins on day one of freshman year.

Beyond the high school, the projects have revitalized 15 campuses across the district. We have done this work strategically – utilizing multiple revenue sources and maximizing every dollar of the 2019 bond – to ensure that the benefits reach every corner of our district, from our earliest learners to our senior citizens.

We know that work of this scale requires a deep level of public trust. That is why we were especially heartened by the results of our 2024 community survey, which affirmed a high level of confidence in our efforts to steward tax dollars responsibly. We were proud to see that 86% of our residents and 91% of our parents rated the quality of our district favorably. These results are a testament to the partnership we share. We take our fiscal responsibility seriously, and we believe these modernized, sustainable facilities are clear evidence of that commitment.

This project has been truly transformational. We haven’t just renovated buildings; we have reimagined what learning looks like in White Bear. Together, we have created spaces that foster student agency, support career pathways, and ensure that every child who walks through our doors feels safe, welcomed, and inspired.

To our families, our staff, and the entire White Bear Lake Area community: thank you for your support, your patience during construction, and your unwavering belief in our students. Together, we have built a future that will serve this community for generations to come.

Dr. Wayne Kazmierczak, Superintendent