Naming Committee Appointed by Shakopee Public Schools Board

During the November 21, 2022 School Board Meeting, a Committee was formally appointed to explore the naming of the West Middle School Pool Complex per School District Policy 908. 

The Naming Committee, which is led by School Board Treasurer Joe Aldrich and includes three community members, Shakopee Athletic Director Matt Hanson and Superintendent Mike Redmond, is requesting community feedback on the naming of West Middle School’s Pool Complex after former Shakopee High School Swim & Dive Coach, Kathy Carlson. 

Community input can be provided by submitting feedback via the below link by 5pm on March 10, 2023. All community members, students, staff and stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback. Additional information on Kathy Carlson can be found below.

Click here for the community input form

After the community input period closes, the Naming Committee will review feedback and provide a recommendation to the Shakopee School Board in April (2023). 

Questions can be directed to communications@shakopee.k12.mn.us.

Additional Information: Kathy Carlson 

The below information has been attained from the Shakopee High School Swim & Dive Team website, Shakopee Activities Office and Shakopee Valley News/Southwest News Media

The Shakopee High School Swim & Dive team was founded in 1979 and Kathy Carlson set the groundwork for the team during her 32 year coaching career that led to multiple individual State Champions as well as a State runner up finish in 1997.  

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the sport, Carlson was inducted into the Minnesota Swim Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003.  Following in Carlson's footsteps, the team continues to focus on the involvement, improvement and importance of each athlete on the team. 

Carlson was raised in Hector, Minnesota and graduated in 1972 from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.  Her first teaching job was in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, where she was instrumental in starting a sports program for girls.  In 1974, she started teaching in the Burnsville School District and the following year she accepted a volleyball coaching job at Shakopee High School.

In 1979, she was asked to start a girls swimming team at Shakopee High School.  Carlson was also the Shakopee High School head girls track coach (1984 -2011).

Carlson has also been Vice President and President of the High School Girls Swimming Coaches Association, and as a parent, served as the USS Minnesota Zone Team Manager in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

For additional Swim & Dive accomplishments, click here for a Southwest News Media article on her induction into the Shakopee High School Athletic Hall of Fame.