Thank you Brad Hurtig and his entire team for an amazing experience!
Stephen site High School session begins at 10:00AM
Argyle site Elementary session begins at 2:00PM
Parents are welcome to attend and hear this great message.
"Find a Way!"
From Amputee to All-State
Within months of losing both of his hands, Brad rejoined his high school football team. Within a year-and-a-half, Brad regained his starting linebacker position, led his team in tackles, and earned First-Team All-Ohio honors.
How was Brad able to quickly overcome such a devastating obstacle? Even more, to navigate a loss into a win by going from amputee to all-state?
The Message
Brad’s message is centered around an influential story that took place between himself and his football coach. Brad would often rely on others to pick up a water bottle when he was thirsty. At the end of practice, Brad asked his coach for a drink. Instead of picking up the bottle, his coach said something that would ultimately change Brad’s life. He said, “If you’re thirsty enough, you’ll Find A Way.”
That day Brad successfully got a drink and that challenge became the catalyst in learning what it takes to overcome. Brad would soon learn a powerful strategy that enabled him to move past his fears and reach his goals. He now shows students how to do the same.
Brad’s story has commanded national attention. He has been featured by media outlets including ESPN and The New York Times. Most recently, he was featured as a TEDx speaker. Now Brad travels the country sharing his message of Find A Way.
Please take a moment to look at some information regarding the Permanent School Fund ballot measure.
Thank you!
The Permanent School Fund has been supporting Minnesota schools since statehood. It is built largely from lands that were set aside generations ago for the benefit of public education, along with the investments and revenues generated from those assets.
The fund itself is intended to last forever. What is being proposed does not change that fundamental responsibility. Instead, the amendment would modernize the way annual distributions from the fund are calculated while requiring that the fund continue to be managed as a perpetual resource for both today's students and future generations.
If approved by voters, Minnesota would distribute 4.5 percent of the fund's three-year average value annually to schools. This approach is similar to the way many long-term endowments are managed because it provides a predictable annual distribution while seeking to preserve the purchasing power of the fund over time.
One of the most important things for taxpayers to understand is that this proposal does not create a new individual income tax or local property tax. Instead, it changes how an existing public education trust fund distributes resources to Minnesota schools.
It is also important to recognize the strong bipartisan support this proposal received at the Legislature. When the Minnesota House initially passed the legislation in May, the vote was 133–0. After the House and Senate reached agreement on the final legislation, the House again approved it unanimously, this time on a 134–0 vote.
At a time when many issues divide Republicans and Democrats, the Permanent School Fund proposal brought legislators from both parties together. The legislation was led in the House by Republican Rep. Spencer Igo and in the Senate by DFL Sen. Mary Kunesh. Legislators from across the political spectrum supported putting the question before Minnesota voters.
For school districts, the Permanent School Fund revenue matters. Rural schools face many of the same increasing costs as larger districts while operating with fewer students over which to spread those costs. Transportation, utilities, insurance, special education, technology, staffing and other necessities continue to become more expensive.
Additional funding from an existing state resource can help schools address those pressures without asking local property taxpayers to carry the entire burden.
There is also an important long-term principle behind this proposal. The Permanent School Fund belongs not just to today's students, but to generations of Minnesota students who will follow them. Any change must protect that legacy. The amendment specifically calls for the fund to be managed in a way that provides annual distributions while preserving its purchasing power and balancing the needs of current and future students.
This November, Minnesota voters will make the final decision.
We encourage residents to learn about the Permanent School Fund, understand what the proposed constitutional amendment would do, and participate in the election. Regardless of political affiliation, we believe there is tremendous value in having an informed conversation about how Minnesota can responsibly use the resources entrusted to us generations ago to support the students sitting in our classrooms today — and those who will sit in them decades from now.
Our communities have always understood that strong schools and strong communities go hand in hand. The Permanent School Fund was created with that same long-term vision. Our responsibility today is to make sure Minnesotans understand the choice before them and the long-term role this fund plays in supporting public education.
Thank you!
Stephen-Argyle Central Schools has a new app available in the both the Android and Apple Stores.
The app has all the same features as the full website. Push notifications are available for community members looking for school information and weather-related school details.
In the coming week, parents and students will receive information on the feature called Rooms. This feature is run through the app and school JMC to provide access to information provided by teachers on important dates and class materials to keep families more informed of the classroom happenings. Teachers are currently establishing their accounts and will be providing periodic updates and information throughout the school year.
When available, we recommend parents log into the Rooms portion of the app to connect directly to the classroom pages of their students. This will provide better access to information and class details directly from the teachers. This is a secure and safe place for our teachers to post information for students and parents.
What is Rooms?
Two-way communication between families and teachers/staff
Rooms is the official two-way communication tool for SAC. Located within the new SAC mobile app, Rooms allows for teacher updates, announcements, and one-on-one messages to be securely shared for easy access.
Rooms will allow families to:
• Stay informed: School updates, announcements and classroom news directly to you.
• Communicate: Secure messages received and sent to your child's teachers.
• Stay connected: Text notifications on your child's classes and activities.
• Use preferred language: Send and receive messages translated to your preferred language.
How to access rooms:
1. Download the SAC mobile app
Rooms is available through the SAC app or web browser
Rooms can be accessed from any web browser at https://stephenargylecsmn.id.thrillshare.com/
2. Login to stay connected
The first time you log in to access Rooms, follow the prompts to verify your email address or phone number and complete account setup. Accounts can be set up using the email or phone number on file in JMC.
Need Help?
Quick Start Guide for Families
3. Stay connected
Once your account is set up, you will be able to use the app to:
Receive periodic classroom updates and announcements
See important class dates and events
SAC Storm Fans!
Here is a link to the Storm Clothing store. The link directs to the main page where individual sports can be selected.
https://shop.game-one.com/minnesota/stephen/stephen-argyle-central-schools
Roll Storm!
Minnesota voters will see a proposed constitutional amendment related to the Permanent School Fund on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Official Ballot Question:
“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to increase the funding going to all school districts from the permanent school fund, which is a fund that supports school districts without raising individual income or property taxes, effective July 1, 2027?”
What is the Permanent School Fund?
Minnesota has a permanent school fund dated back to 1858 when the Federal Government granted millions of acres of land to the state for the use of public schools.
Today, Minnesota has approximately 2.5 million acres of school trust land and an additional 1 million acres of severed mineral rights. From the sale of some land, from timber sales, mining, land leases, interest earned, and other revenues, the Permanent School Fund has grown from approximately $675 million in 2010 to approximately $2.3 billion in 2025.
Currently, the Minnesota Constitution generally limits distributions from the fund to net interest and dividends. The proposed amendment would change how distributions are determined. If approved by voters, state law provides for an annual distribution equal to 4.5% of the fund’s average net asset value over the previous three fiscal years, beginning July 1, 2027.
The amendment would also establish constitutional principles for managing the fund as a perpetual financial resource for Minnesota schools while preserving its purchasing power over time.
Important Voting Information
Under Minnesota law, constitutional amendments must receive approval from a majority of all voters participating in the election. Leaving the constitutional amendment question blank has the same effect as voting “No.” Voters may vote “Yes” or “No” on the question.
This post is being shared for informational purposes to help our community understand the question appearing on the 2026 ballot.
For additional information about the Permanent School Fund:
Short Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phL5OtEg5no&t=10s
Website: https://www.mnpsfamendment.org/
Information Sheet: https://bit.ly/3GJqiA1
Secretary of State Office Amendment information: https://bit.ly/4gndnX7