Superintendent’s Corner
Greetings from TAPS!
TAPS and Milroy Public Schools will officially finalize our mutual consolidation on June 30, 2026. July 1, 2026, will be the first day the two schools become one.
As we celebrate this exciting milestone in the history of our schools, it is important to think about the strong tradition of collaboration and community that has brought us to this moment. In 2009, the communities of Tracy and Balaton came together to form a partnership focused on providing outstanding opportunities for students while preserving the values and traditions that make our communities special.
Today, we continue that proud legacy as we welcome Milroy into our school family.
The consolidation process began in the fall of 2025 when Superintendent John Willey approached Tracy Area Public Schools to discuss the possibility of consolidation. Facing challenges related to declining class sizes, facility needs, and staffing shortages, Milroy’s leadership demonstrated tremendous foresight and commitment to ensuring the best educational opportunities for their students and families.
From the very beginning, the Tracy Area Public Schools Board of Education unanimously supported exploring the process.
Throughout the past 18 months, board members from both districts have met regularly, often twice a month, to carefully evaluate opportunities, address concerns, and ensure decisions remained centered on students, staff, and communities. The professionalism, transparency, and mutual respect demonstrated throughout this process have been remarkable.
A key priority has been supporting the people who make our schools special. Every Milroy staff member was offered the opportunity to continue their career within Tracy Area Public Schools. Throughout the discussions, both districts remained committed to being thoughtful stewards of taxpayer resources while ensuring fairness to both communities. Financial analyses demonstrated positive impacts for many taxpayers while maintaining a focus on long-term educational stability.
We have also remained mindful of the strong connection that already exists between our communities. For many years, a majority of Milroy students have chosen to attend Tracy Area Public Schools beginning in seventh grade. These students have been valued classmates, teammates, musicians, performers, and friends. In many ways, they have already been an important part of our school family.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Superintendent John Willey, the Milroy School Board and the Tracy Area School Board for their outstanding communication, leadership, and dedication throughout this process. It has been a privilege to work alongside John, the Milroy School Board and the Tracy Area Public School Board. Together, we have sought to honor Milroy’s proud history while building a strong foundation for future generations.
As we move forward, we do so with tremendous excitement and optimism. The traditions of Tracy, Milroy, and Balaton are rooted in academic excellence, athletic achievement, community pride, and a deep commitment to students. By bringing our strengths together, we are creating even greater opportunities for current and future generations of learners.
This is not the end of anyone’s story — it is the continuation of a proud legacy. Together, we will preserve what makes each community special while building an even stronger future for our students.
Thank you for your support to the communities in the Tracy Area School district, which will be #2913 as of July 1, 2026! Our consolidated district will be 436 square miles and include the communities of Tracy, Milroy, Balaton, Currie, Amiret, Garvin, Lake Shetek, Lake Sarah and Bloody Lake. Together, we are Tracy Area Public Schools, District #2913, home of the TMB Panthers! We are proud to continue the legacy of the Tracy-Milroy-Balaton schools and communities. The future is bright, and the best chapters of our story are still ahead.
The first combined school board meeting consisting of three board members from Milroy (Adam Snyder, Ashley Christianson, and Scot Bowman) and seven board members from Tracy (Rod Benson, Jody Bauer, Nicole Swanson, Jay Fultz, Jeff Knott, Taylor Hoffbeck and Ryan Verlinde) will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, starting at 4:30 p.m. in the Tracy Area Public Schools Media Center. We will have a short board meeting followed by a team building workshop conducted by the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA), followed by dinner together at the Tracy Caboose!
Once a TMB Panther, Always a TMB Panther!
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