District expects to see significant growth
Business Services Assistant Superintendent Bryan Ruud and Human Resources Director John Roubik presented community and enrollment growth information that had been presented at the Community Facilities Advisory Committee meeting.
District enrollment was at an all-time high of 4,718 on the third Friday in September, the day the state uses for the official school enrollment count. Since then, the district added another 43 students. Without additional subdivision growth, the district can expect to reach 4,900 students by 2021, but Ruud and Roubik pointed out that the development of residential lots in the community will see significant growth.
In a chart, they showed projected growth due to the district’s average yearly growth trend (in blue) along with enrollment increases that are expected to come from new residential growth (in red). While the district continued to see slow growth during a stagnant economy of the last 5-10 years, municipalities are seeing an uptick in housing starts that will likely affect school enrollment. In addition to new housing, mature neighborhoods are expected to turn over with younger families moving into homes.
Unlike many other school districts, Hamilton has experienced almost continuous enrollment growth for the past 25 years. Referendums passed for additions and a new school in 1992, 1994, 1997 and 2002. In the last 10 years, the district has seen a 1.2 percent average annual growth, and since 2011, it has used its operational budget to put $13 million of building additions onto Woodside, Marcy and Hamilton High School.
A study of the capacity at each school showed that schools are at or near capacity.
The Community Facilities Advisory Committee will present a final report to the School Board later this spring. Before then, the district will reach out to the community to provide information about district growth projections, facilities needs, potential solutions and the impact on taxpayers and community members.
Willow Spring paraprofessionals recognized
Willow Springs Learning Center paraprofessionals Michele Luebke, Karen Ludin and Stephanie Christofferson were recognized for their contributions to the school. Principal Erin Steiner highlighted the many varied responsibilities of the paraprofessionals.
Steiner said the paraprofessionals were the “glue that holds our school together.” She recognized them for their support of the “Book in a Bag” program that sends books home with students twice a week and their involvement in the “Willow Fit Kids Challenge,” an indoor obstacle course for students that has been a major fundraiser for the school.
Student fees to go up
Some student fees will be going up in the 2017-18 school years including:
- elementary (grades K5-5) student fees from $60 to $65;
- middle school student fees from $70 to $75;
- high school student fees from $85 to $90;
- middle school athletic fees from $45 to $50 per sport;
- high school athletic fees from $55 to $65 per sport;
- middle school club fees from $20/$10 to $25/$15;
- high school club fees from $30/$15/$0 to $35/$20/$0; and
- student parking fee from $125 to $150 per year.
School lunch fees will not go up, unless the federal government determines that a fee increase is necessary.
Middle and high school teams recognized
School Board members recognized the Hamilton and Templeton teams that took first and third places, respectively, in the Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association Battle of the Books. Both teams competed in the senior high school division. Krystal Fedie, Molly Hubred, Mabel Jankowski, Harper Rhoades and Dorothy Palmer (alternate) comprised the Hamilton team. Eighth-graders Maja Pechanach, Nikhita Nair, Ellie DeCleene and Athena Wenger represented Templeton.
The senior high level reading list includes 20 books and incorporates award-winning literature such as Golden Archer, Newbery, Printz and Siebert.
Personnel matters
In personnel business, the School Board:
- accepted the resignations of Hamilton Spanish teacher Danielle Kempf, effective the end of the 2016-17 school year; and Marcy associate kitchen employee Heidi Hopfinger, effective April 7; and
- approved the appointments of Marcy special education paraprofessionals Maria Sfanos and Lindsey Mork, and Woodside mathematics support teacher Susan Schramka, effective Aug. 23.