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For 75 years, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools has been shaped by the students, staff, families and community members who have been part of our schools. As we celebrate 75 years of excellence, we’re looking back at the people, moments, traditions and memories that have made us Lakers — while also celebrating the stories being created today.

And we want to hear from you!

Were you a PLSAS student or staff member? Do you have a favorite school memory, photo or tradition? Is there a teacher, coach, classmate, staff member or community member whose Laker story deserves to be told?

We invite Lakers past and present to help us capture and celebrate our district’s history. Share a memory or photo, tell us your Laker story, or nominate someone whose story we should hear.

Throughout our 75th anniversary year, we’ll feature stories that highlight the people and experiences that have helped make PLSAS what it is today.

Share your Laker story here: www.plsas.org/lakerstories

 

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (PLSAS) welcomed students back to classrooms this week as the district kicked off the 2026–27 school year. From kindergarteners experiencing their first days of school to returning high school students reconnecting with friends and teachers, schools across the district were filled with excitement, energy and a renewed focus on learning.

“It was exciting to see the energy from our students and staff and the overall sense of community pride across our schools,” Superintendent Dr. Jim Wagner said. “There is a real excitement for the year ahead.”

Five Hawks Elementary Principal Lisa Manders said the first few days have brought excitement as students reconnect and settle into the new school year.

“We have had a great first couple of days at Five Hawks and are excited for what will be a great year ahead! It has been so fun to see our students back in the building, building relationships and settling into new school and classroom routines,” Manders said.

PLSAS began the 2026-27 school year with 8,357 students enrolled across its schools and programs. The district also welcomed 23 new teachers for the school year.

Follow PLSAS below for more photos and highlights from the first week of school.

https://www.facebook.com/PLSAS/ 

https://www.instagram.com/isd719/ 

 

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (PLSAS) was recently recognized by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) for its sustained commitment to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). The state recognition highlighted the district’s ongoing commitment to creating supportive, encouraging, and positive learning environments where every student could feel safe, connected, and ready to learn.

PLSAS implemented PBIS strategies beginning in 2010. PBIS is an evidence-based framework that helped schools create consistent expectations for student behavior, strengthen positive relationships, and support students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs. By focusing on prevention, positive reinforcement, and consistent responses to behavior, PBIS helped schools reduce disciplinary incidents while fostering greater student engagement and a stronger sense of belonging.

At Hidden Oaks Middle School (HOMS) and Twin Oaks Middle School (TOMS), staff worked to create systems that provided students with clear expectations, predictable routines, and positive opportunities to be recognized for their success. This work helped build a school culture where students were supported not only academically, but also socially and behaviorally.

On August 12, Deans from Hidden Oaks and Twin Oaks, Rachel Loftus-Jungwirth and Zach Haught, presented at the 2026 PBIS Summer Institute. They shared what their middle schools had learned about building a positive school culture, supporting student behavior, and creating safe, positive, and predictable learning environments. The presentation gave them an opportunity to share their experiences and practices with educators from across Minnesota.

“At HOMS/TOMS, we were proud to continue a strong tradition of fostering a safe, positive, and predictable learning environment for all students,” said Dean Zach Haught. “While we were honored to receive this recognition from the Minnesota Department of Education, we were continuously working to improve our systems to meet the needs of every kid who walked through our doors.”

The recognition from MDE reflected the ongoing work of teachers, administrators, support staff, students, and families who contributed to a positive school culture every day. Building a strong school community was a team effort, and PBIS provided schools with a framework to make those efforts consistent, intentional, and focused on student success.

The opportunity for Rachel Loftus-Jungwirth and Zach Haught to present at the 2026 PBIS Summer Institute was another example of how PLSAS educators learned, led, collaborated, and shared their work with others across Minnesota.

We were proud to celebrate the work happening at Hidden Oaks and Twin Oaks and the commitment of the staff who continued to make positive school culture a priority.

Congratulations to Hidden Oaks Middle School and Twin Oaks Middle School on this well-deserved recognition!

At its July 20 meeting, the Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools Board of Education voted unanimously (7-0) to place two school funding questions on the November 3, 2026, general election ballot.

The Board’s action finalizes the ballot language and is the official step required for the questions to appear on the November ballot.

Question 1 asks voters to consider a new operating levy to help fund day-to-day school operations and programs.

Question 2 asks voters to consider a capital projects levy to support school safety improvements, curriculum and textbooks, replacement of aging technology infrastructure that supports learning, and ongoing maintenance and upkeep of district schools. A YES vote on Question 2 is only effective if Question 1 is also approved.

Over the coming weeks, PLSAS will share factual information about the ballot questions through community presentations, mailings, the district website, social media and other communication channels leading up to Election Day.

Click here to view a sample ballot.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. PLSAS will continue to provide factual information to help community members understand the questions that will appear on the ballot.

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievement of Elizabeth Cibuzar, an incoming fifth-grade student in the SAGE program at WestWood, who earned 1st Place in the Freshman Division at the 2026 International Braille Challenge Finals held June 26–28 in Los Angeles, California.

The Braille Challenge is the only international academic competition of its kind for students who are blind or visually impaired. More than 2,000 students from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States competed in regional events, with only the top 50 students advancing to the international finals.

Elizabeth qualified for the international competition after winning the Minnesota Regional Braille Challenge in February. At the finals, she competed in reading comprehension, spelling, proofreading, speed and accuracy, and interpreting tactile charts and graphs before being crowned the International Braille Challenge Champion in her division.

This was Elizabeth's third appearance at the international finals, having previously qualified in 2023 and 2025. Her 2026 victory marks her first international championship.

Now 10 years old, Elizabeth enjoys reading, swimming, jumping on the trampoline, and spending time with friends. She will begin fifth grade this fall in the SAGE program at WestWood.

Congratulations, Elizabeth, on this incredible accomplishment! We are proud to celebrate your hard work, perseverance, and dedication to learning.