Superintendent Article
Posted March 29, 2026
March certainly kept us on our toes! From spring-like temperatures to winter reminders, the weather had a little bit of everything. Through it all, one thing remained constant—the dedication of our staff and students to teaching and learning. That consistency is what makes South Hardin such a special place.
As we turn the page to April, it’s hard to believe we are down to the final two months of the school year. These months are some of the busiest and most exciting of the entire year—filled with track meets, golf meets, soccer, trap shooting, Prom, and of course, Graduation for the Class of 2026. There is truly something happening almost every day in Tiger Nation!
Calendar Updates
To ensure we meet the state-required 1,080 instructional hours, we will be making a couple of adjustments:
- April 6 will now be a full student day (previously scheduled as Professional Development)
- April 29 will be changed to a full day of school
- May 26 will be a full day and our last day of school, as the high school will be finishing semester tests
We appreciate everyone’s flexibility as we make these adjustments to keep our school year on track.
Important Dates to Remember
- April 6 – I-JAG Impact Night (High School)
- April 18 – Prom
- April 30 – Fine Arts Festival at South Hardin High School
- May 17 – Graduation for the Class of 2026
April is absolutely loaded with events, and while it’s impossible to list them all, I encourage you to check out our new district website at www.southhardin.org. The site is designed to be your one-stop shop for everything South Hardin—from calendars and activities to news and updates. If there’s something you’d like to see added, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at cfenster@southhardin.org.
Better yet—find a free evening, check the calendar, and come out to support our students. Your presence makes a difference and means a lot to our kids!
District Financial Update
Many of you recently received property tax statements in the mail. These provide an early look at proposed school tax rates. I want to reassure you that, as always, our goal is to keep tax rates as low and stable as possible while continuing to provide a high-quality education for our students.
School districts operate under funding set by the legislature, meaning we cannot increase revenue through tuition or per-student rates. With declining enrollment, we must continue to be thoughtful in aligning our staffing and resources to best serve our students.
We’ve had some staff transitions this year, and we are also partnering with the AEA to provide IT services, which will help us operate more efficiently. I’m proud to say that both districts remain in a strong financial position, thanks to the leadership of our school boards and administrative teams who work hard to be responsible stewards of your schools.
Energy Savings & Looking Ahead
We are excited to share that our wind turbine at South Hardin High School is on track to be back online soon. After being offline since March 2023, it is currently being serviced, and once operational, we expect:
- 10–15 more years of use
- Close to $1 million in long-term savings
Additionally, our solar panels at Hubbard-Radcliffe and LED lighting upgrades are already helping reduce energy costs across the district. These efforts allow us to be more efficient and keep more resources focused on student learning.
South Hardin Schools continues to be a place where students are supported, challenged, and given opportunities to succeed both in and out of the classroom. If you are looking for a district where your children can thrive in a first-class learning environment, Tiger Nation is the place to be.
It is always a great day to be a Tiger!