GFW Schools explained

GFW Schools
Motto:Fostering Lifelong Learners in a Caring Environment
Location:Gibbon, Minnesota (district office)
County:Sibley County
Country:United States
Zipcode:55335
Type:Public
Grades:PK12
Established:1987
Superintendent:Jeff Horton
Schools:Elementary (1),
High (1)
Us Nces District Id:2712580
Students:788
Teachers:58.56
Staff:49.23
Ratio:13.46
Conference:Tomahawk (most sports),
Gopher Valley AA (football)
Mascot:Thunderbirds
Colors:Red, black, and gold
Free Label:District Song
Free Text:Notre Dame Victory March
Free Label2:MDE ID
Free Text2:2365
Free Label3:MSHSL ID
Free Text3:520
Website:http://www.gfw.k12.mn.us

GFW Schools is an independent public school district in south central Minnesota. Originally formed to serve the communities of Gibbon, Fairfax and Winthrop, the district has expanded over time to encompasses large portions of other surrounding communities, including:

Schools

The district consists of two schools (before 2020, one was in each of the original three communities):

The middle school in Fairfax, Minnesota was closed following the 2019-2020 school year where the 6-8th grades were brought to Winthrop.

School Board

The district's school board consists of six members (two from each of the three communities). The term of office is four years.

Technology Initiatives

Interactive Cable TV (ICTV) System

Launched in 1985, the Sibley County Interactive Cable TV System was a groundbreaking form of distance education using interactive television that drew national media attention.[3] [4]

iPad Initiative

Launched in 2010, the iPad Initiative made GFW one of the first schools in the nation to provide all of its high school students with iPads. Because of this, it became known as a pioneer in making the switch from physical textbooks to electronic textbooks, and consequently gained local and national press coverage.[5] [6] [7] [8]

For its trailblazing efforts, GFW was awarded the Apple Distinguished School award by Apple for the 2010-2011 school year.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ProMusica Minnesota announces New Ulm series.
  2. Web site: The death of a school district. Minnesota Public Radio. June 8, 2009. Minnesota Public Radio News. May 20, 2016.
  3. Web site: Just The Fax. November 5, 1989. The New York Times. May 20, 2016.
  4. Web site: Fax and TV team up in remote classroom learning program.. thefreelibrary.com. May 20, 2016.
  5. Web site: GFW students to get iPads. Tanner KentFree Press Staff Writer. April 11, 2010. Mankato Free Press. May 20, 2016.
  6. Web site: ProMusica Minnesota announces New Ulm series.
  7. Web site: At GFW, it's iPads for all. Tanner KentFree Press Staff Writer. September 16, 2010. Mankato Free Press. May 20, 2016.
  8. Web site: ProMusica Minnesota announces New Ulm series.
  9. Web site: Winthrop News  March 2, 2011 Page 9. stparchive.com. May 20, 2016.