Fergus Falls ISD 544 School News • Volume 43 • Issue 1 • August 2026 • 218-998-0544 • www.fergusotters.org
What’s Inside: Note from Superintendent Drake..........1 Contact Info / Phone Numbers.............2 Locations...............................................2 Fergus Falls School Board....................2 Student Handbook (link to)....................2 What School is My Child Attending?.....2 Kindergarten Orientation.......................2 Open Houses........................................2 Teacher Assignments...........................2 School Supplies Lists............................2 ParentVUE.............................................2 New Students........................................2 2026-2027 Calendar (and link to).........3 Chromebook Information......................3 Superintendent’s eNewsletter...............3 Bus Information & Rules.......................3 Activities Information.............................4 Child Health Insurance..........................4 Curriculum Review Committee.............4 544 Education Foundation....................4 Otter Pride Night....................................4 Annual Parent Notice............................4 Notices...................................................5 Weather-Related Information................5 Meal Rates.............................................5 Suicide Prevention Information.............5 Peanut & Tree Nut Free Policy.............5 Fergus Falls Area Adult Education.......5 Special Education Services..................5 School Age Child Care..........................5 Payment Options...................................5 Community Education...........................6 Early Childhood Program/ECFE...........6 School Polices/Notifications............. 7-8 Educational Benefits/Application.... 9-10 Classroom Wish List & Form.........11-13
Fall 2026 School Begins: Kindergarten: Wednesday, September 2 Grades 1-12: Tuesday, September 1
2026-2027 School Times:
Lincoln.................... 8:25am – 3:07pm McKinley................ 8:25am – 3:07pm Adams.................... 8:25am – 3:07pm Cleveland............... 8:25am – 3:12pm Kennedy.................8:20am – 3:20pm ALC........................8:20am – 3:20pm
Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year Dear Otter Students, Families, and Staff, It always catches me a little off guard to compose a back-to-school letter in mid-July, but the summer weeks roll by quickly! Before we know it, fall sports practices will be in full swing, with the start of a new school year following shortly thereafter. As I picked up the mail a couple of days ago, a flashy school brochure from a neighboring district caught my attention. It was a clear reminder that schools find themselves more and more in the marketing business these days. Because Fergus Falls stands as the county hub and boasts a higher population density, our students and families are heavily courted. The brochure was well done, which came as no surprise. There are many fine school districts in our region. However, our goal is to stand apart—even among high-quality area schools. The evidence suggests that we continue to meet that goal. We are blessed to be large enough to offer a wide variety of opportunities to meet the unique needs of every single child and small enough to cultivate strong personal relationships. We know our students. Learning Environment: We feature the traditional, high-quality learning environments you expect to find in a premier public school system. We also offer the unique Prairie Science Classroom experience for students in fourth and fifth grades. In addition, we provide an Alternative Learning Center (ALC) for students in grades 9–12, and the iQ Academy, which offers 100% online learning opportunities for students K–12. Our School of Jeff Drake Choice offers dedicated support for Superintendent of Schools families who choose to homeschool their children, and the quality of our Special Education Department remains well known and respected throughout the region. Curriculum: Our academic curriculum is unrivaled in the area. We are now within just two courses of our high school students being able to complete a full Associate of Arts degree before graduation. We are widely recognized for outstanding music, visual arts, and theater programs. Furthermore, our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs stand out regionally, and our student
connections with the local business community continue to thrive through our work-based learning program. Activities: We offer an abundant list of extracurricular activities. On the sports side, we field nearly every program that the largest schools in the state offer, with the only exceptions being a few specialized metro sports like lacrosse. Beyond athletics, we offer plays, musicals, robotics, Envirothon, e-sports, Knowledge Bowl, FFA, speech—the list goes on. If a student has an interest, we likely have a way for them to get involved. Philosophy: Our vision for an Otter education is a meaningful mix of knowledge, skills, and real-world experiences. We are deeply invested in the development of the whole child, which means we focus intentionally on character development, leadership, and service. Ultimately, our students are engaged members of our community who consistently make positive contributions. Outcomes: The outcomes speak for themselves. Our students are leading the way in regional academics, athletics, and the arts! Notably, each year our teams receive more sportsmanship awards than any other school in our conference. That is a true testament to the character of our student-athletes and our coaching staff. Choosing the right school district to educate your children is a deeply important decision. Thank you for placing your trust in us! While we want to enjoy these remaining weeks of summer, we also look forward to welcoming you back for another school year. It’s going to be a great one! Warm regards,
Jeff Drake, Superintendent Fergus Falls Public Schools
2026-2027 Classroom Wish List on pages 11-13 1