We're Hiring!
Position: Band Lesson Instructor (Part-Time)
Date Posted: 5/22/26
Location: Pine Island Public School District 5-12 building
Date of Availability: Starting 2026-2027 school year
Date Closing: Open Until Filled

Job Summary: Pine Island Independent School District No. 255 is seeking a part-time Band Lesson Instructor to support middle school students through small group and individual music instruction. This position offers flexibility and the opportunity to help students grow their musical skills and confidence in a supportive school environment.

Position Details
Schedule: 2 days per week
Hours: Approximately 4 hours per day
Pay: $112 per day
Days: Flexible based on candidate availability and school schedule
Instruments: Flexible, based on candidate strengths and student needs

Responsibilities
Provide band lessons for middle school students under the direction and guidance of the band director
Support student growth in musical skill development aligned with band program goals
Communicate positively with students, staff and band director
Help foster student engagement and confidence through music instruction

Qualifications
Experience working with student musicians preferred
Ability to teach one or more band instruments
Strong communication and organizational skills
Passion for working with middle school students

Why Pine Island School District?
Pine Island is more than just a great place to work—it’s a great community with many offerings, including:
A safe, welcoming small-town atmosphere with a strong sense of community.
Easy access to big-city amenities while enjoying affordable living.
Beautiful parks, trails, and the Zumbro River for outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and biking.
Fun community events, including the Pine Island Cheese Festival and local sports.

A prime location just one hour south of the Twin Cities and 12 miles north of Rochester, home of the world-famous Mayo Clinic and IBM.
If you’re looking for a school where you can make a difference, grow professionally, and be embraced by a fantastic community, Pine Island School is the place for you!

Candidates with questions about the position are encouraged to contact MS Principal Katie Schafer at katie.schafer@pineisland.k12.mn.us. Apply today and become part of a district that values you and your passion for teaching.

Application Procedure: Applications are available through Applitrack: Click www.pineisland.k12.mn.us to review all current postings for the Pine Island School District.

Graduation Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 29th at 7:00 pm in the Gold Gym.

Doors open at 6:15 pm.

For the 2026-2027 school year, ALL families must complete either a Transportation Request Form or an Opt-Out Form. This applies to both in-district and out-of-district families. Please complete a form for all new AND returning students by June 15th, even if they were previously assigned to a bus route.

​​​​​​​In-District Families
To help us maintain accurate transportation information, all families needing bus transportation for the 2026-2027 school year must complete the Transportation Request Form.
If your family — or individual students within your family — will not need transportation services, please complete the Opt-Out Form.

Out-of-District Families
To request transportation for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the Transportation Request Form. The form will open June 1st.
Students who are currently riding the bus will be assigned first. Additional requests will be processed based on the timestamp of the submitted request form. Students may be placed on a waiting list if capacity is reached and it is requested.
Families will be notified in early July if their student(s) have been assigned to a bus route. Final bus routes and stop times will be completed in early August.

Please reach out to the transportation department (tquintero@pineisland.k12.mn.us) with any questions.
Thank you!
Tammi Quintero
Director of Transportation
Pine Island Schools

Dear Pine Island Families,
As we approach the end of another school year, we are sending this quick alert first and foremost to thank you. Your incredible support, partnership, and dedication to our students have made this a fantastic year for the Pine Island School District. We couldn't do it without you!

We Value Your Input
Looking ahead, our district has spent the past several months developing a new Strategic Roadmap. This plan will guide our continuous improvement and shape the daily experiences of our students, staff, and families for years to come.
Before the School Board finalizes this plan during the summer, we want to hear from you. Your feedback is essential to ensuring our mission, vision, and core values reflect the needs of our community.

How to Participate
Please take a few moments to review the roadmap and complete our short survey:
Deadline: Please share your feedback by Wednesday, May 27 at 11:59 p.m.
Survey Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwkYf2XX9py5jRvPQ2rg4K-T3AXhplWzodiMaEJHYtc3jfXA/viewform

Document Review: You can view the document https://drive.google.com/file/d/10ra5ak823SqdIji_1ZseuwgKcpXpN89W/view Strategic to help inform your answers.

Thank you for your time and for being a vital part of the Panther community!

Dear Pine Island Families,
As we approach the end of another school year, we are sending this quick alert first and foremost to thank you. Your incredible support, partnership, and dedication to our students have made this a fantastic year for the Pine Island School District. We couldn't do it without you!

We Value Your Input
Looking ahead, our district has spent the past several months developing a new Strategic Roadmap. This plan will guide our continuous improvement and shape the daily experiences of our students, staff, and families for years to come.
Before the School Board finalizes this plan during the summer, we want to hear from you. Your feedback is essential to ensuring our mission, vision, and core values reflect the needs of our community.

How to Participate
Please take a few moments to review the roadmap and complete our short survey:
Deadline: Please share your feedback by Wednesday, May 27 at 11:59 p.m.
Survey Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwkYf2XX9py5jRvPQ2rg4K-T3AXhplWzodiMaEJHYtc3jfXA/viewform

Document Review: You can view the document https://drive.google.com/file/d/10ra5ak823SqdIji_1ZseuwgKcpXpN89W/view Strategic to help inform your answers.

Thank you for your time and for being a vital part of the Panther community!

Final Reminder!

Join us for the Nature Play Trail Open House this Saturday, May 16 from 4:00–6:00 PM!

Come explore the trail, enjoy hands-on activities hosted by community businesses and organizations, and celebrate this incredible space created for kids and families to connect with nature.

Mud Kitchen Raffle Drawing at 6:00 PM
You do NOT need to be present to win the custom-built mud kitchen! We’ll also be raffling off other awesome prizes for those attending, thanks to generous donations from ROCA Climbing, Scheels, and Hardware Hank. Tickets can be purchased at the Open House!

A huge thank you to all of the volunteers, students, families, businesses, and community organizations who helped bring this project to life. Two years ago this area was overgrown with buckthorn — now it’s a beautiful place for adventure, imagination, and outdoor play.

We hope to see you there for one last celebration of this amazing project!

18 Days until the discount ends!

We want to remind everybody who may be interested in enrolling in the Spain and France trip for 2028 that the "Early Bird Discount" of $300 will end on June 1, 2026. Registration continues to be open until early 2028. We're registering students currently in 7th-12th grade, parents, and students younger than 7th grade if accompanied by a parent.

Register using this link: https://my.passports.com/login?g=KSTAI2028-6

Highlights include:
- Tours of Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Burgos, and Valladolid
- Tapas and beach time in San Sebastian
- High speed train to Paris
- Visit to Versailles, Disneyland Paris, the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower
- Dinner cruise on the Seine River

Please reach out if you have questions or want more information.
- Srta. Stai and Profe Wernau

WEATHER UPDATE!

Due to the forecasted thunderstorms, the Nature Play Trail Open House has been rescheduled to: Saturday, May 16 from 4:00–6:00 PM

We want everyone to be able to safely enjoy the trail, activity stations, and outdoor fun! Thank you for your flexibility and support of this student-created community space.

Come explore the trail, connect with local organizations, and celebrate all the amazing work our students in the Roots and Shoots environmental club have done to transform this space into a community treasure.

The Mud Kitchen raffle drawing will take place at 6:00 PM. You do not need to be present to win! We’ll also have other awesome prizes that will be raffled off throughout the event for those in attendance!

We hope to see you there — and hopefully with sunshine!

Take a virtual walk through the Nature Play Trail with this amazing 360° video created by Thornlive Productions! If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Nature Play Trail yet, join us for the Open House on Sunday, May 17 from 1–3 pm and experience it in person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RPB-_UUljw

It’s incredible to think that just two years ago, this area was overrun with buckthorn — and now it has been transformed into a beautiful space for play, learning, and exploration.

Pine Island Trap Team- Week 3 Top 10