COBRA CONNECTIONS - September 29, 2025

SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE

Triton Families,

The first few weeks of the school year are behind us, and the students and staff are off to a strong start. Everyone is settling into new routines, schedules, and expectations, and the energy throughout our PreK-12 facility has been extremely motivating and inspiring.

I would like to provide additional information on the upcoming Capital Projects Levy, scheduled for November 4, 2025. The details below are responses to questions that I have received from taxpayers, and I hope they will provide clarity for all voters.

Please feel free to reach out with any comments, questions, or concerns.

Thank you!
Together #WeAreTriton

Luke Lutterman - Triton Superintendent
llutterman@triton.k12.mn.us
(507) 418-7530

HOW DO I VOTE?

🗳️ Absentee Voting
📅 September 19 – November 3
⏰ Weekdays (when school is in session) from 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
📍 Triton District Office
813 W Hwy St
Dodge Center, MN 55927
Door #35 (north side by the flagpole)

🏛️ Election Day Voting
📅 November 4
📍 Dodge Center City Hall
35 East Main Street
Dodge Center, MN 55927

HOW DOES THIS TAX IMPACT DIFFERENT PROPERTY OWNERS?

The Capital Projects Levy affects property owners in different ways depending on property classification. The complete tax impact information is listed on the Capital Projects Levy website. I recommend property owners with questions visit the website, or if you are not comfortable with technology, call the Triton District Office, and we will make sure you have a complete understanding of the tax impact for your property. Triton currently has one of the lowest tax impacts among area districts. While the levy would increase taxes, we would remain below several neighboring school districts.

Residential Homeowners - Are taxed based on the property’s taxable market value. Homeowners pay a share of the levy in proportion to their home’s value. For example, a $250,000 home would see an increase of $72.00 per year or $6.00 per month, and a $200,000 home would see an increase of $54.00 per year or roughly $5.00 per month.
Businesses & Commercial Property - Are taxed on the direct value of their property. A $250,00 business would pay an increase of $135.00 per year or $11.00 per month.
Agriculture - Tax rates for agricultural landowners are broken down in a different manner. Farmers would pay the same amount as residential homeowners on the value of their house, garage, and one acre. Then, the remaining property valued under $3.8 million would fall into the agricultural homestead category. The remaining portion of land over the $3.8 million threshold would be taxed at the agricultural non-homestead rate. Agricultural Homestead (average value per acre of land and buildings valued at $11,500) would see an increase of $1.82 per acre per year or $0.15 per month. Agricultural Non-Homestead (average value per acre of land and buildings valued at $11,500) would increase by $3.65 per acre per year or $0.30 per month.

WHERE DO I FIND MORE INFORMATION?

I want to ensure our school district voters have all the information they need to make an educated vote. Recently, I was informed that the Capital Projects Levy website may be difficult for some to find. As a result, if you visit the Triton Webpage at www.triton.k12.mn.us, you will now find a header at the top of the website with a direct link to the Capital Projects Levy Website https://www.triton.k12.mn.us/page/levy.

PICTURE RETAKES

TES: October 28 | ES Gym | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
TMS + THS: October 9 | HS Gym | 8:00 AM - Finished
DO NOT WEAR GREEN!

PROFILE OF A GRADUATE

The Triton Profile of a Graduate defines the essential skills and competencies students need for success in college, career, and life. Created through a community-driven process, it serves as a guide for educational planning and a shared vision for student, parents, and staff.

This fall, we begin with a focus on COMMUNICATION, emphasizing clear classroom expectations, modeling, and activities that help students strengthen this essential skill.

👩‍👩‍👧 PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

We’re starting a brand-new Preschool Advisory Council and looking for 5–7 members who are:
👶 Parents of preschool-aged children
🏡 Triton community members who value early childhood education

✨ What you’ll do:
✅ Share ideas & help plan preschool events
✅ Help guide future program needs
✅ Attend 2–3 meetings per year (Zoom option available 💻)

💌 Interested? Inquire about joining today!
📧 Contact: Mindy Knutson – mknutson@triton.k12.mn.us

CASH 4 KIDS PROGRAM!

TEAM has enrolled Triton Elementary in the Hy-Vee Cash 4 Kids program! This program goes through May 2026.

🛒 Shop at Hy-Vee Kasson or Rochester
🧾 Save your receipts
📍 Turn them in:

To a Triton Elementary student
Library drop box
Dodge County Golf Course drop box

Every receipt = $$ back to our school!

🌏EXPLORE JAPAN!

📣 Attention Grades 7–10!

Join Mrs. Wheeler on Triton’s FIRST EVER trip to Japan in June 2028!
🏯Tour Buddhist & Shinto shrines and temples in Kyoto
🗻 Visit lakes, bamboo forest, wind & ice caves near Mount Fuji
🚄 Ride a bullet train to 🌆 Tokyo
🍜 Tour the Tokyo Ramen Museum & explore “Electric Town” ⚡
…and so much more! 💮

📅 Informational Meeting
🕢 Wednesday, October 1st at 7:30 PM
📍 Room 127 (Mrs. Wheeler’s room) in the high school

📧 More info: owheeler@triton.k12.mn.us

BIG IDEAS MOBILE LEARNING LAB

Workforce Development and Dodge County hosted the Big Ideas Mobile Learning Lab and Career Exploration Day at Triton for all sophomores and juniors on Friday, September 26.

Students had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by completing immersive, industry-level simulators and personalized instruction from a team of skilled trades professionals as well as explore a variety of careers using VR headsets. There was also a chance to network with local industry partners.

FINANCIAL AID NIGHT

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who: Seniors & their families

🗓 When: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 — 6:00 PM

📍 Where: Triton High School PAC

💰 What: Learn about Financial Aid, FAFSA, & the Minnesota Dream Act + get on-the-spot application help

📞 Questions? Contact Mrs. Vander Waal at 507-418-7520 or ✉️ lvanderwaal@triton.k12.mn.us

🌏EXPLORE JAPAN!

📣 Attention Grades 7–10!

📅 Informational Meeting
🕢 Wednesday, October 1st at 7:30 PM
📍 Room 127 (Mrs. Wheeler’s room) in the high school

📧 More info: owheeler@triton.k12.mn.us

🌏TRIP TO EUROPE!

📣 Attention Grades 9–12!

Join Mrs. Wheeler on an unforgettable adventure in June 2026!
✨ 10 overnight stays in hotels 🏨
🥐🍝 European breakfast & dinner daily
🚌 Comfortable motorcoach
🧭 Professional tour guides

📍 Explore:
🇩🇪 Berlin
🇨🇿 Prague
🇵🇱 Auschwitz
🇭🇺 Budapest
🇦🇹 Vienna

🧳 Still openings for you and your family to join!

📧 Contact Mrs. Wheeler: owheeler@triton.k12.mn.us

TRITON LIVE STREAMING

Live-streamed games and activities have changed for this year. We will now be streaming through Hudl Fan and not YouTube. All Triton home events that are streamed can be accessed via the link HERE or by visiting www.triton.k12.mn.us and clicking on the Activities tab.

Thank you to the Triton Booster Club and our sponsors for making streaming a free service for our community and Cobra supporters.

Thank you for tuning in and for supporting our athletes and activity participants.

MY ASCENSION

FREE Suicide Prevention Event
🎬💬 Documentary & Panel Discussion
⭐ Featuring Emma Benoit – My Ascension
📍 Triton High School Auditorium
📅 Wed, Oct 8

🆓 Suicide Prevention Event (teens & adults welcome!)
🕠 5:30 – Mental Health Resource Fair
🕡 6:30 – My Ascension Documentary
🕗 8:00 – Q&A with Emma Benoit

💜 Resources + Hope + Awareness

GETTING CRAFTY WITH THE GREEN SHACK

✨🎨Join Brittany Wilcox and find your new (or old) passion! All levels of experience are welcome.

🧶 Learning to Knit
📅 Oct 7–10
⏰ 3:15–5PM
📍 TES Art Room
👥 Limit 8
💲 $49 (materials included)

🌻 Fall Porch Pot Making
📅 Oct 24
⏰ 3:15–5PM
📍 TES Art Room
👥 Limit 10
💲 $36 (materials included)

🐢 Crochet a GIANT Turtle (not for beginners)
📅 Nov 11–14
⏰ 3:15–5PM
📍 TES Art Room
👥 Limit 5
💲 $105 (materials included)

CANVAS ART PAINTING WITH SUNSHINE + ROSES

Grades Entering 1-5

Join Sunshine and Roses Traveling Art Studio to paint and create a canvas. Classes are open to all ages (adults too) and you do not need any painting experience! (Ages 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult). Choose Class 1, 2 or both!

** Classes are back-to-back and students taking both classes will stay in the room in between.

💲 $28 each
💲 $50 for both

📅 Monday, Oct 13
🎃 Stacked Pumpkins
⏰ 3:15–4:15PM
📍 TES Art Room

🌙✨ Glow in the Dark Moon
⏰ 4:15–5:15PM
📍 TES Art Room

ANNUAL COMMUNITY

HALLOWEEN PARTY

🎃 Annual Community Halloween Party 👻
📅 October 24
🏫 Triton Public Schools

🚗🍬 Trunk or Treat
🕠 5:30–6:30PM
📍 Triton Bus Corral Lot (by the playground)

🕺🎶 Family Halloween Dance & Costume Contest
🕡 6:30–7:45PM
📍 Triton South Gym (enter through Main Elementary Doors)
✨ Sponsored by Dodge Center Lions & Triton Community Ed

💖 Donations being collected for:
🧥🧣 Dodge County Salvation Army’s Winter Wear Clothing Drive
🥫🎒 Triton Student Council’s Trick or Canning Food Drive

🎉 ALL activities are FREE!
👨‍👩‍👧 All kids must be with an adult
👕👗 Costumes must be family-friendly