GFW Schools

GFW Schools
Location
Gibbon, Minnesota (district office)
Sibley County, 55335
United States
Coordinates44°32′4″N 94°31′19″W / 44.53444°N 94.52194°W / 44.53444; -94.52194
District information
TypePublic
MottoFostering Lifelong Learners in a Caring Environment[citation needed]
GradesPK – 12
Established1987
SuperintendentJeff Horton
SchoolsElementary (1),
High (1)
NCES District ID2712580
Students and staff
Students788
Teachers58.56
Staff49.23
Student–teacher ratio13.46
Athletic conferenceTomahawk (most sports),
Gopher Valley AA (football)
District mascotThunderbirds
ColorsRed, black, and gold
     
Other information
District SongNotre Dame Victory March
MDE ID2365
MSHSL ID520
Websitehttp://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):

  • GFW Elementary School (also the district office) - K-5
  • GFW High School - 6–12

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]

References

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