The Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce for years has hosted a State of the City event, where members and the community can come together and hear from leaders on the many projects underway in the busy community. This year, the Hastings School District was added to the presentation, making it the first State of the Community event. It was held over lunch at the Hastings Public House on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau President Kristy Barse took the podium to start the event.

“The chamber has been a longtime host of the State of the City, as our business members value the ability to stay connected and up to date on the good work that’s happening at our local government. We also know that strong schools lead to strong communities, which in turn support the strong business community,” she said. “We’re happy to incorporate the State of the School District as part of the event.”

She said both the city and school district are partners in the growing, successful chamber.

“The work we’re most proud of oftentimes is qualitative in nature and relies on the partnerships created with our school district and with the City of Hastings,” Barse said. “Examples of these include our local employer panels and the Business and the Classroom curriculum which piloted at the Hastings High School this past year. With the city, we have the ability to have a business voice through partnerships with the Hastings Public Works Department on important infrastructure projects like Hwy. 316.”

Barse introduced Hastings ISD 200 Superintendent Dr. Bob McDowell, who walked the audience through the strategic plan the board finalized last year.

“We put together a strategic plan to try to help give us a direction of where we want to go,” he said.

There are three components of the plan: engaging learners, effective district operations and communication and collaboration.

“We’re really trying to lean into how we collaborate with the community more and more,” he said.

ISD 200 is one of the largest geographical school districts in the state, overing 170 square miles, five communities and seven townships.

“It really is a unique district,” he said, noting there are about 4,000 students, 600 staff members and six sites were there are eighth different programs, such as at Tilden, which houses both the early childhood program and the senior center. He noted there are 24 languages spoken across district buildings.

The district is facing declining enrollment. “The birth rates in Hastings just have not kept up. We’re no different than anywhere else right now, and Hastings as a school district is getting smaller,” McDowell said. “However, what is important to notice is our diversity has almost doubled inside of our school building. We have more free and reduced lunch. We have more special education. Actually, this school year, one of our elementaries has hit the 20 percent mark in their kindergarten class for students needing special education services. Our English learners are staying the same, and we continue to capture about 80 percent of the possible students in the district, so we don’t lose any more students to other schools than we typically have in the past.”

He said 99 students open enroll their students into ISD 200 from elsewhere.

A community survey undertaken by the district told school leaders that the community wants the district to focus on helping struggling kids, as well as preparing students for college and careers, as well as to take students’ mental health into account.

“Those have been the big areas we’ve been focusing on,” he said.

The district has worked in partnership with local law enforcement and emergency personnel on emergency planning and keeping students safe.

It’s also important to note that the district’s levy referendum needs to be extended with a renewal vote scheduled for November.

“We have a funding gap. The biggest part of that funding gap is because since 2003, the state hasn’t kept up with inflation,” McDowell said. The district is forced to fund special education and the amount the state isn’t funding in per pupil aid out of the general fund budget to the tune of about $8 million a year.

He said since a COVID slip, student performance is “making the trend back up.”

“Through the system, we’re doing really good work with our kids,” McDowell said. “We still have things to improve upon.”

Mayor Mary Fasbender kicked off the State of the City portion. Fasbender was voted in to her second term at the helm of the city in November.

“I am so excited to be here today in-person, because as well know, we haven’t been her for a couple years,” she said. The last two addresses were done strictly via video because of the pandemic.

“I think this is the perfect time for us to come together and share our partnership and what is going on with our community and with our school district,” Fasbender said to McDowell. “Hearing the update from your program makes me think, ‘How can we as a city be doing better?’ You said it perfectly. We’re great partners, and we’re going to continue to be that way.”

She recognized and thanked event sponsors and local dignitaries at the meeting.

“It’s been a very busy and productive year in our fine city,” she said. “I am proud of our staff and the diligence to get work done.”

And with the large number of projects – city, housing and commercial underway – there’s a lot of work to do.

“200 laid the foundation for unprecedented growth in Hastings, with new residential and commercial developments. While driving around the city, I can see growth in all directions,” Fasbender said.

She pointed to senior housing being developed and single family and apartments that will attract younger families. She noted expansions by key businesses Intek Plastics and Quality One Woodworking. And, don’t forget the ultimate coupe of 2022: Fleet Farm opening in the former Target store.

“I’m thrilled to have our newest retail partner, Fleet Farm, which is an amazing asset to the city in so many ways,” she said.

Hastings has become a hot destination in the metro area. “You families, visitors and businesses are increasingly attracted to our city, which offers excellent schools with strong academic, music and sports programs, an abundance of well-maintained parks and trails, historic homes and buildings and numerous other tourist attractions,” said Fasbender. “Our collective programming and assets are setting new visitor records, especially with our riverfront entertainment options and collaborations with our Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Association. Hastings is on the map and frequently featured in tourist blogs and news stories.”

Like the community, Fasbender is excited for the prospects The Confluence hotel, restaurant, event venue and apartment facility will bring when it opens this year.

“Bringing it all together – residential, commercial, tourism and hotel – is a building taking shape along the river. You may have heard of it. The Confluence hotel, banquet center and apartment are scheduled to open this spring,” she said. “This long-anticipated development will begin a new chapter in Hastings history.”

All those things are the result of important collaborations. “I want to highlight some of the important collaborations that started last year that will pave to way to our future,” she said, highlighting the work with MnDOT on the Hwy. 316 project and on planning for the Hwy. 61/Vermillion Street project slated for 2026 “which will look at ways to improve access and safety in the heart of the city for years to come.”

Through the Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority, the city has worked to help business owners, offering grants and loan programs.

“These collaborations will improve the city’s infrastructure, jobs, outlook and aesthetics,” she said.

The community also worked with the United Way of Hastings and Hastings Family Service to address things like the fentanyl crisis, hunger and homelessness.

“Our willingness to tackle tough issues is something we should all be proud of,” she said.

She touted the city’s new Arts & Culture Commission and the city’s Community Investment Funds that put money into the hands of organizations doing projects on city property.

The city is in excellent financial shape and looking to the future.

“The city’s financial picture is strong, with minimal tax increases in our property tax levies compared with other cities. Strong financials will allow us to continue to invest in road, utilities and park improvements,” she said. “In fact, in 2023, nearly all of our parks will have some sort of update.”

Mayor Fasbender

Fasbender credited the work of city council members – present and past – as well as local lawmakers and Dakota County officials for helping make for a great year.

“I want to thank my fellow city councilmembers, city commissioners, city staff and community partners for this amazing year of growth and work to come in 2023,” she said, leading into a Hastings Community TV production featuring city staff members.

Hastings ISD 200 Superintendent Dr. Bob McDowell (left) and Hastings Mayor Mary Fasbender addressed the crowd gathered for the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau’s State of the Community address, held Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the Hastings Public House. Photos by Bruce Karnick