Summer curriculum work, professional development approved
The School Board approved nearly $50,000 of summer professional development and curriculum work that includes:
- Grades K-12 curriculum team – Planning for fall K-12 English – language arts curriculum work and preparing for report card changes in reading K-6;
- Willow Springs – Rubric work and report card alignment;
- Grades 9-12 science – Curriculum planning and professional development to support implementation of Wisconsin Standards for Science;
- Elementary special project – Integration and alignment of science, social studies and literacy;
- Silver Spring special project – mathematics and writing rubric work;
- Fastbridge progress monitoring and screening next steps training;
- Learner behaviors – Identify and create rubrics aligned to the district’s social-emotional wellness tactic;
- World language – Attend summer WAFLT conference to prepare for upcoming curriculum cycle;
- Social studies – Leadership team planning to prepare for social studies curriculum cycle;
- Special education – Developing rubrics aligned to essential elements;
- Equity Institute; and
- New Teacher Orientation.
School Board gets update on Strategic Plan
The district Strategic Plan focuses on initiatives that support high student engagement and achievement in every classroom. Following is the progress since the last School Board update.
Systems of Assessment for Learning – All students will be challenged and supported to maximize their learning and achievement.
- PreK-8th grade teachers engaged in professional learning conversations Feb. 26 around reading and science assessments that align to the identified priority standards. Teachers in grades 9-12 will do the same in March and April for English-language arts and science.
- Administrators will gather parent and staff feedback on communicating and reporting changes in grades K-6. A survey will be sent in mid-March and the Communicating and Reporting Committee will reconvene in April to review survey data and discuss recommendations for next year.
- Administrators will continue the Association for Wisconsin School Administrator’s Professional Learning Communities Academy addressing the issue of schedule adjustments to increase teacher collaboration time.
Social and Emotional Wellness – All students will be supported to develop social and emotional wellness as it relates to academic, career and life experiences.
- Silver Spring Intermediate School finished Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) training. All district schools have now completed Tier 1 training. Next will be Tiers 2 and 3 professional learning.
- Grades 5-12 staff received Youth Mental Health First Aid training Feb. 26, and a second training is planned for April 6.
- Social and emotional screening for students in grades 3-12 will take place in late April through May.
- Administrators reviewed the crisis response process after the loss of a staff member. This included reflecting on planning, intervention and postvention services provided directly to students.
Workforce and Organizational Wellness – Staff will engage in continuous professional learning and have opportunities to improve personal wellness.
- Human Resources is implementing and monitoring the district’s COVID vaccination plan.
- The first meeting of a districtwide Wellness Committee will be March 4 to discuss a staff survey designed to gather feedback on wellness activities.
Facility and Technology Long-Range Planning – The district will provide adequate classroom learning space, maintaining existing buildings and infrastructure and provide optimal access to technology to enhance student learning.
- Remaining 10Gb fiber projects at Templeton, Woodside and Marcy were evaluated and proposed.
- Evaluation of network security and remediation continues to reduce potential pathways of instruction.
- Core infrastructure planning was evaluated.
- Building control system and lighting upgrades continued.
- Facility maintenance and improvement needs were evaluated and prioritized.
- The 10-year capital improvement and replacement plan was revised.
Contracted CESA services for at-risk students will continue
The district will continue using CESA #1 services for students who are at-risk or not succeeding in a traditional school environment or who have specialized needs. They include special education and credit attainment services. Those used in the 2020-21 school year were:
- Learning Center West, previously known as Empower Academy – SOAR. Thirteen Hamilton students enrolled in this program for at-risk high school students which is also targeted toward students who have behavior or academic challenges that interfere with credit attainment.
- Turning Point – Two district students enrolled in this alternative school that serves elementary‐aged children with emotional behavioral disabilities
- Project Success ‐ One high school student enrolled in this alternative program designed for students with emotional-behavioral disabilities in grades 9‐12.
- Distinguished Scholars Academy ‐ Two district students enrolled in this program that provides highly qualified and experienced staff in the area of autism. The setting is designed to address the unique needs of students on the spectrum and stabilize their emotional regulation.
Three paraprofessionals hired
In personnel business, the School Board appointed:
- Alexandra Loper as a Marcy special services paraprofessional, effective March 1;
- Danielle Kulibert as a Willow Springs paraprofessional, effective March 1; and
- Kristen Roubik as a Willow Springs paraprofessional, effective March 3.