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Greenwood School Board Discusses COVID Update, Drug Testing, and More

Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 -- 11:00 AM

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The Greenwood School Board heard a COVID update at their meeting last week.

The National COVID emergency ended May 11th. The District’s safe to school return plan needs to be reviewed and updated every 6 months due to the ESSER Funding process. The Board also heard consideration of student/co-curricular drug, alcohol, nicotine testing policy.

District Administrator Joe Green shared the information received from the school’s lawyer in regards to recommended language changes regarding “Reasonable Suspicion” with the Board.

Mr. Green shared current procedures/practices that they have in place and indicated that more training on devices is needed. There was a request from the board that Mr. Green will collect more information on “what qualifies as reasonable suspicion.”

A discussion was also held on the consideration of the timeline for full athletic cooperative for 2024-2025 school year. This cooperation may include co-curricular actives as well, such as play, pep band, etc. Mr. Green indicated that by establishing a timeline for 2024-25 each district would be able to plan with transitions being more thoughtful.

The Board also approved the 2-year renewal of the Softball Coop with the Loyal School District and approved the Joint Board training through WASB. The Board also approved a two-year administrative contract for Noah Werner, as the Director of Teaching and Learning / CTE Coordinator and approved the purchase of a three-year subscription to the Fastbridge program which will replace the iready program.

The elementary sidewalk project was approved, 2022-23 Budget Adjustments were tabled until the June board meeting, approved the 2023-24 Preliminary budget, and approved the basic and catastrophic student accident insurance policy for all students as presented.

Mr. Green also gave a progress update on finding an RFP Audit Services provider. No bids received as of yet, so the action was tabled until next month’s board meeting. They also approved co-curricular contracts for the 2023-24 contracts as presented.

The Board also approved a few donations including:

  • A $35 donation received from Elise Jacobson in memory of Darrel Horn with funds applied to the FFA activity account;
  • A donation received from Jessica Wolf / City of Greenwood Museum, of various Greenwood High School yearbooks dated from 1956 to present which were placed within the library archives;
  • And a donation received from Marilyn Horn of various Greenwood High School “Quiver” yearbooks dated from 1910—1917, which were placed within the library archives.

In employment matters, the Board approved the resignation of Taylor Knoeck as the 1st Grade Teacher and Jami Hodowanic as the 3rd Grade Teacher. The Board approved the hiring of:

  • Ron Gotter as MS Football Coach,
  • Matt Castle as MS Football Coach,
  • Vincent Morales as HS Assistant Football Coach,
  • Luke Plechacekas a Summer Custodian,
  • Kynton La Mont as a Summer School Teacher Aide,
  • Paige Beyerl as a Summer School Teacher Aide,
  • Maree Felt as a Summer School Teacher Aide,
  • Katie Liebzeit for Summer School – T-Ball,
  • Emma Schlough for Summer School – 8U Girls Softball,
  • Amanda Bogdonovich for Summer School – 10U Girls Softball,
  • Carey Bryhn for Summer School 12U Girls Softball,
  • Tragen Bogdonovich for Summer School 10U Boys Baseball,
  • Justin Friedel for Summer School – 12U Boys Baseball,
  • And Hanna Rakovec for Summer School – 14U Boys Baseball.

The Board also approved a long list of volunteers including:

  • Mary Behrens,
  • Craig Bolf,
  • Sadie Borntrager,
  • Danny Bravener,
  • Beverly Brey,
  • John Davidson,
  • Bianca Fischer,
  • Erin Gardner,
  • Jennifer Green,
  • Matt Hoffman,
  • Danyal Klabon,
  • Kayla Klahn,
  • Shawn Kolano,
  • Michael Lynn Larson,
  • Brenda Learman,
  • April Lucas,
  • Audrey Milz,
  • Brittany Morales,
  • Jill Niemann,
  • Stephanie Opelt,
  • Trista Pozega,
  • Jennifer Raese,
  • Eliza Ruzic,
  • Emma Schlough,
  • Erin Schlough,
  • Sonja Schlough,
  • Jana Schmitz,
  • Amber Schoepflin,
  • Elizabeth Smith,
  • Candy Turnquist,
  • Douglas Van Cuyk,
  • Karen Vetterkind,
  • Carolyn Volovsek,
  • Michelle Walde,
  • Jason Williams,
  • Trisha Williams,
  • And Tonia Wuethrich.

The Board also approved a handful of field trips including:

  • Spanish Club trip to Puerto Rico during 2023-24 school year, through either EF Tours or Explorica;
  • FFA State Convention, June 13-15, 2023, in Madison;
  • End of summer school trip to the Science Museum of Minnesota, on June 21, 2023;
  • And a FFA Retreat, July 17-19, 2023, at Rock Ram Campground.

The Board also heard a presentation. Mrs. Rebekah Dorwalt, second grade teacher, gave a presentation on SEL and Sensory Integration Activities and shared benefits of the program and samples of sensory items that are used in classrooms along with alternative seating for children that are currently utilized within elementary classrooms.

The Board also heard the Administrators’ Reports. Elementary Principal Shane Lilly reported on the following activities that have taken place:

  • Stuffed animal story time and sleep overnight;
  • Teacher appreciation week;
  • 3rd Grade cosmic bowling;
  • Three different groups had field trips;
  • Summer ARC Training, June 27-28 at elementary school for teaching staff;
  • 6th Grade classes have a survival day on the last day of school with outdoor adventures and skill training;
  • Summer school will consist of two, two-week sessions starting June 5;
  • Fifty students signed up for swimming lessons;
  • All students have made at least one field trip this year with a final group visiting Thorp next week.

Dean of Students and Athletic Director Jenny Mayenschein reporting on the following school events:

  • May 15 – Speaker on Internet/Phone Safety for students;
  • May 15 – HS Pops Concert;
  • May 21 – Senior Awards Night;
  • May 22 – MS Pops Concert;
  • May 22 – Senior Class Trip;
  • And May 27 – Graduation;

Ms. Mayenschein reported on the following athletic/activities:

  • May 16 – Tract Conference Meet;
  • May 22 – Regional at Stratford;
  • May 25 – Sectionals at Marathon;
  • May 18 – Softball Regional at Bangor (JV & MS successful co-op);
  • May 25 – Baseball Regionals (JV co-op) went well.

Finally, District Administrator and Middle/High School Principal Joe Green reported on:

  • Ultimate Sandbag Training with several staff and coaches was recently held, this new workout program is geared to providing strength and conditioning tools with a focus on functional movement, this system will be incorporated into our PE courses and athletic workouts;
  • State Budget update was shared with anticipated increase per pupil allocation;
  • Special Education funding updates have not been received;
  • Summer School/Summer Rec updates where shared with discussion of co-op of some of the rec programs with Loyal.

Finally, the Board heard the CESA 10 Report from another Board member. Jamie Gardner attended CESA 10 Board meeting. Presentation was given by Tonia Anderson, Executive Director of Special Education and Pupil Services.

CESA board approved the reskinning of the outside of the CESA 10 building in Chippewa Falls. Dean Lindner shared an update on the Joint board committee meeting that was held on May 9, 2023. Below are discussion topics shared:

  • Received a copy of the Chippewa Valley Agreement which may be used as a template to create the Loyal/Greenwood Cooperative, at this point of time, they are just reviewing agreement;
  • Discussed transportation waiver;
  • Discussed shared Board Training through WASBO;
  • Handbooks were discussed to review and compare so they don’t conflict with both districts;
  • Logo discussion was held with process moving forward on receiving samples, inviting public to give feedback on the logos, this feedback would be shared with the joint board committee and then taken back to each district to act on at their board meetings;
  • Coaching, advisors, hiring, procedures were discussed so that they follow the same procedures, moving forward any coaching position for coop positions will be a joint posting/hiring position;
  • Payment of coaches was discussed to equally share expenses for the coop program.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.