Special annual meeting slated April 15
A special annual meeting will be held April 15 at 7 p.m. for residents to cast their votes concerning the purchase of property. School administrators are recommending purchase of 40 acres in the Town of Lisbson. The land, known as the Weinhandl property, would be used for future school purposes.
At the special annual meeting, residents will get a detailed description of the proposed land purchase. All school district land purchases must be approved by electors at a special annual meeting.
Marcy reconstruction, demolition options outlined
The cost of providing similar classroom space is higher if the oldest section of Marcy Elementary School is renovated as compared to demolishing the old building and replacing it with a new addition. Business Director Bryan Ruud compared the two options that showed that renovating the old section into two classrooms and creating an additional classroom would cost $854,130 compared to $737,000 to raze the old section and replace it with a new addition.
The information will be an important factor as the School Board and the Community Facilities Advisory Committee decide on potential referendum projects. The School Board will decide the fate of Marcy’s oldest section at its April 9 meeting.
School Board Member Gabe Kolesari, who attended Marcy School as a child, is opposed to saving the old section because it is not in its original appearance and there will be extra costs associated with maintaining the building. He pointed to Sussex Village Hall, which is a renovated brick schoolhouse. Kolesari said that because insulation will deteriorate the brick, the poorly insulated Village Hall is always cold and drafty in the winter.
Jennifer Rude Klett, who worked on Marcy History Day with several older residents who attended the school, said she got a mixed response when she called three of the older citizens.
“The bottom line was that they had such pride in going to Marcy School that they wanted to see Marcy look nice and they were disappointed that the old section looked run down,” Rude Klett said.
After discussion from School Board members about the potential of incorporating some of the old material into a new addition, Ruud said that the architectual firm would look at ways to do that if a Marcy project were recommended for a referendum.
Pepsi gets soda contract
The district will switch its five-year soda contract from Coca Cola to Pepsi. A representative from Coke spoke at the beginning of the meeting asking School Board members if they personally reviewed the proposals from each company. School Board President Gerald Schmitz said the adminstration’s role was to study these types of matters and present recommendations to the School Board. A comparison of proposals between the two companies was presented that showed Pepsi offered a more attractive offer. School Board members voted unanimously to approve the Pepsi contract that will take effect in July.
High school honors courses reviewed
Responses from students in Hamilton’s newly implemented honors courses show the courses get high marks. Student in Citizenship, Integrated Science, Communicaiton Arts 9 and World Cultures had mostly positive comments concerning motivation, challenge, technology, high standards, interest and variety of ways to learn in the honors courses.
Hamilton High School Principal David Furrer said the initial data are baseline and the school also will use PLAN, ACT and WKCE test results to assess student growth.
Next year students will be offered Biology, Communication Arts 10 and 20th Century U.S. History honors courses.
Youth Options Program courses approved
Requests from Candice Andrychowicz to take three WCTC courses and Richard Kasper to take five UW-Waukesha courses under the Youth Options Program were approved. The program offers juniors and seniors in good academic standing who have no disciplinary problems the opporunity to attend a college or university. The high school pays tuition for the classes.
NCA accreditation process approved
The School Board authorized participation in the North Central Accreditation (NCA) process at Templeton Middle School for a cost of $700 and at Hamilton for a cost of $850. The accreditation process helps schools focus on school improvements related to student outcomes. It aligns with the district’s site planning process and responds to the public’s demand for greater accountability. Hamilton has been a part of the NCA accreditation process since 1966 and Templeton since 1997.
Personnel matters approved
In personnel matters, the School Board approved the resignation of Willow Springs Learning Center kindergarten teacher Lee Ann Robinson at the end of the school year.