Luverne Public Schools
- By Mavis FodnessJanuary 07, 2026In the first four months of Luverne Public Schools’ fiscal year, expenses are down and revenue is up. From July 1 to Nov. 30, Luverne’s expenses have dropped $495,166 while revenues have increased by $388,080, according to Superintendent Craig Oftedahl. He delivered the news during his Dec. 18 report to board members. In four months, the district spent $6.46 million and received $7.49 million…
By Mavis FodnessDecember 30, 2025Hardwick native Sam Hansen spent his 78th birthday (Nov. 12) transporting Luverne Public School students to and from school, a job he’s done for the past 60 years, and he’s not giving it up anytime soon. “I just got my license renewed,” Hansen said. “It’s for four years, so I’m planning on driving for another four years.” Hansen first passed the necessary chauffeur licensure tests in 1965 after…- By Mavis FodnessNovember 19, 2025Enrollment at Luverne Public Schools grew by seven students, better than what was predicted this spring. As of Oct. 10, K-12 enrollment for Luverne was 1,091 students. Predictions had enrollment numbers at 1,084 for the 2025-26 school year. Superintendent Craig Oftedahl told school board members Oct. 23 the additional seven students mean additional per-pupil funding for the district of $52,353…
By Lori SorensonNovember 19, 2025Luverne Elementary teacher Laura Louwagie is this year’s Teacher of the Year and was honored Monday afternoon during a kick-off celebration for American Education Week. She was introduced at a gathering in the middle school-high school commons by last year’s Teacher of the Year, choir director Seana Graber. “It is great to see fellow teachers and retired teachers here to recognize the great…- By Jason BerghorstAugust 06, 2025Parents of children enrolled in the FamilyU child care program at Luverne Elementary School were notified last week that the program will close Oct. 15. Luverne Community Education Director Lisa J. Nath told parents in a July 29 letter that Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC) would be withdrawing its support of FamilyU. “Due to the loss of our fiscal host, this program will be ending…
- By Mavis FodnessJune 25, 2025Luverne School Board members unanimously agreed June 17 to terminate the district’s transportation supervisor Brad Goembel. Seven items were listed on the resolution for Goembel’s termination. (Items in parentheses were costs associated with the items and were provided by the district office.) The seven issues included: •Five days between March 18 and May 7 in which Goembel left the workday…
By Mavis FodnessJune 18, 2025Lots of tears were shed on the last day of the 2024-25 school year in third-grade teacher Pam Christensen’s classroom. “My students and I were all sobbing, which led to a heartfelt class hug,” she said. “I said a few final words, but no one would leave the room. It is a moment that I will always remember.” Her last day of teaching is among many memories created during the 25 years she spent at…
May 07, 2025The Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom at Luverne Community Education was on the list for Luverne High School seniors who were performing community service work Friday for their Senior Service Day. The senior class worked on various tasks around Luverne and ended with lunch at the Luverne City Park. Instead of a Senior Skip Day, students who volunteer to complete a service project had an excused…- By Lori SorensonNovember 13, 2024Luverne history teacher Tom Rops has agreed to complete anti-bias counseling and additional training on American Indian History after referring to a unit of a class as “cowboys and Indians.” That’s according to an order filed Sept. 20 with the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. The action stems from a complaint filed with the board’s Ethics Committee accusing Rops of…
- By Mavis FodnessAugust 28, 2024Both Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek school districts have adopted cell phone and electronic device policies as the 2024-25 school year gets underway Sept. 3. The policies are intended to limit distractions for students during the school day. Luverne Middle School students will have the more restrictive cell phone policy, according to principal Jason Phelps. He updated school board members as…
By Mavis FodnessAugust 28, 2024Luverne Education Association 2024 Teacher of the Year Becky Runnoe decided not to return to the classroom for the 2024-25 school year. She retires from a career after 40 years and never graduated out of the Luverne early childhood special education program. “I think I was always geared to be a teacher,” said Runnoe. “I started teaching a 3-year-old Sunday school class when I was 14. I still…
By Mavis FodnessAugust 28, 2024Luverne Public Schools will have 11 new teachers on staff when school opens Sept. 3. Seven of the new teachers are at the elementary school. Irma Williamson will teach Response to Intervention (RTI). She comes to Luverne Schools after her husband, Jason, retired after more than 25 years in the Navy. The couple has two boys, an eighth-grader and a sophomore, at Luverne Middle-High School, and…
By Mavis FodnessAugust 28, 2024Three LHS alumni currently teach at Luverne Public Schools alongside their teacher parents. Kira Degerness joins her mom, Seana Graber, in teaching vocal music, in the elementary and middle-high school respectively. Madi Oye joins her dad, Todd Oye, dean of students-athletic director, as she enters the classroom as a kindergarten teacher. A year ago, Skyler Wenninger joined his dad, Mike…- By Jason BerghorstAugust 14, 2024Fans attending Luverne High School games and events this school year will need to pay with the online GoFan app or website. No cash will be accepted for tickets. The first event using online tickets will be the home varsity volleyball game with Southwest Christian Aug. 27. “This is a system that has been used at state and section tournaments for a few years now, and more conference schools are…
By Jason BerghorstJuly 24, 2024The Luverne Public Schools Hall of Fame Committee has announced the 2024 alumni inductees as well as first-time inductees to the new Luverne Educator Hall of Fame. The committee inducted the first class of the Luverne Alumni Hall of Fame last year, and the first members of the Luverne Educators Hall of Fame will be inducted in September. Both ceremonies will take place Sept. 27 during the…- By Mavis FodnessJuly 10, 2024Principals with Luverne Public Schools received salary increases, approved by board members June 20. Each will receive salary increases of 5 and 3 percent respectively for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. The district’s match to their 403(b) retirement plan will also increase from $3,500 to $4,000 annually. The percentage increases are in line with the recently approved contracts with…
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