Cooler nights and quieter streets are a sign of the times that back-to-school has arrived. Area school districts are preparing for the start of the 2026-27 school year.

Northland Pines and Phelps school districts will begin classes Tuesday, Sept. 1, while Three Lakes School District will start Thursday, Sept. 3 — shifting from its original Sept. 1 start date. Three Lakes will host its open house Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 2 to 6 p.m.

In anticipation of those dates, all three districts have been training and welcoming new staff, setting up classrooms and cleaning up construction dust as they prepare to welcome students back.
District officials have shared some of the major changes that occurred over the summer.

Phelps School District

In Phelps, Dr. Delnice Hill is retiring Aug. 31 after 18 years as district administrator. Jason Pertile, currently the director of student activities and learning, will take over Sept. 1.

“Dr. Hill’s years of commitment have made a lasting impact on students, staff and the community,” Pertile said.

Pertile, who has 24 years of experience in the district, said his background will provide continuity while bringing new opportunities and challenges as the school year begins.

Over the summer, the district completed routine maintenance projects, staffing updates and policy changes.
“The district’s maintenance staff has remained busy throughout the summer completing annual projects and preparing school facilities,” Pertile said, noting their work ensures classrooms and common areas are safe and welcoming.

Beginning this year, students in grades 6 through 8 will no longer routinely take district-issued devices home unless a teacher specifically requests it.

“While technology remains an important learning tool, the district believes students do not need to take their devices home every evening, particularly when they may be used for personal activities,” Pertile explained. “The change is intended to encourage younger students to have more opportunities to disconnect from electronics outside of the school day.”

The district will also continue its cell phone policy, requiring students to check their phones in from 7:55 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.

“The policy proved successful during the previous school year, with staff observing increased student engagement in classrooms and fewer distractions,” Pertile said. “Lunch periods also provided more opportunities for students to interact socially.”

Phelps is also welcoming new staff members and making several internal staffing changes.

Megan Mielke has joined the district as a social studies teacher for grades 6 through 12, coming from Bay Port High School in Green Bay. Mielke said she is enthusiastic about joining a small school district where she can build relationships with students and have a meaningful impact on their learning.

“Her experience and enthusiasm will be valuable additions to the district’s secondary teaching staff,” Pertile said.

Additional internal changes will strengthen support for students and families. Laura Andersen will take on responsibilities as special education director, while Lisa Duquaine will work more closely with students in the areas of scheduling and academic and career planning.

“As the district looks ahead to the new school year, these changes represent both continuity and new opportunities,” Pertile said, adding that the commitment remains to work collaboratively with staff, students and families to support the growth and success of every student in the Phelps community.

Three Lakes School District

Three Lakes School District is undergoing a long summer of building upgrades, with construction in full swing at Sugar Camp Elementary, Three Lakes School and the athletic campus. While work will continue throughout the year, District Administrator Teri Maney is confident that disruptions will be kept to a minimum.

“The projected timeline puts completion out into the end of 2027 or spring of 2028, so we are very pleased with what has been already accomplished,” Maney said. “It will be a year of change and some inconveniences, but we are keeping our eye on the prize.”

The start date was delayed to Sept. 3 to give teachers extra preparation time to set up renovated classrooms, Maney explained.

Students and parents at Sugar Camp Elementary will see some of the more noticeable updates, while much of the work at Three Lakes School has been behind the scenes.

All classrooms at Sugar Camp have received updates, including new ceilings and flooring. The new kitchen is complete, and the multipurpose addition — including the new 4K classroom — will be finished later this fall.

At Three Lakes School, internal projects such as HVAC, electrical, ceilings and flooring dominated the summer. Work also focused on the secure entry at the elementary building, featuring a relocated elementary office and expanded elementary parking. Bathrooms in the oldest section of the building have been completely remodeled, and new bathrooms have been added in the junior high wing.

“At Three Lakes, it will include remodeling of the old elementary offices into the school boardroom and other offices. Then the business office and secure entry into that office area will begin,” Maney explained. “In the next phase will be the high school office remodel, featuring our secure entry, which will be scheduled close to the dismissal of the 2026-27 school year.”

With what is already completed, Maney said the updates look and feel “fantastic.”

“The 1956 wing has seen the addition of new bathrooms. The junior high area almost feels like a different school,” she said. “It features new ceilings and beautiful tiled walls. New windows have been placed in the elementary classrooms, and energy efficiency and aesthetics have been greatly improved.”

Meanwhile, athletic campus upgrades include paving the track, completing long jump and pole vault pits and installing field irrigation. A new concession stand, outdoor bathrooms and expanded bleachers were ready for the season-opening football game last Friday, and parking lot asphalt is scheduled for completion by late September.

“The sports complex is looking quite amazing. We now have extended seating and the bleachers tied beautifully into the existing structure,” Maney said, noting that under the new seating arrangements, visiting spectators will sit on the same side of the field as home fans.

Open houses and dedication ceremonies will be held as phases of the project are completed, starting with the sports arena later this fall.

Three Lakes is also welcoming several new staff members: Zoe Quade, elementary physical education teacher; Elizabeth Running, fourth-grade teacher; Michole Hegeman, second-grade teacher; Cindy DeHaan, cross-categorical teacher; and Tyler Wiegman, high school English teacher.

The district also updated its policies to align with state requirements, implementing a drone policy restricting drone use on school property without administrative permission.

Northland Pines School District

Northland Pines School District is welcoming new staff, incorporating community survey results into its goals and wrapping up athletic field projects.

Tony Duffek has taken the reins as district administrator and is enthusiastic about starting his first school year in the position.

“Last year, Northland Pines conducted a community survey and the district is using that feedback to help guide its focus, goals and work for the upcoming school year,” Duffek said. “Some of the goals established with advice from the survey include focusing on providing engaging academics, increasing student attendance, increasing student academic outcomes and recruiting and retaining high-quality staff.”

Staff members have spent recent weeks preparing for the new school year. New certified staff began Aug. 17 with an inservice training, and certified and support staff came together Aug. 19 at Pirate’s Hideaway for a pirate ship ride. All staff returned to their buildings Aug. 20 for building-level inservice, concluding with a district-wide inservice Aug. 21.

One of the most noticeable summer projects took place at the district’s track and athletic facilities. Track improvements began June 8 and are currently on track to be completed within the next few weeks.

While construction was underway, the district’s custodial and maintenance crews worked hard to keep facilities clean and prepared, transitioning quickly from the end of the school year to Eagle Camp and back-to-school preparations.

Maintaining and improving district spaces remains an important priority for Northland Pines, which looks forward to welcoming students and the community back to campus.

“We are grateful to have our staff at Northland Pines as well as the support from the community and look forward to a great school year,” Duffek said.