Support staff personal day approved

New Holstein Board of Education members approved adding a personal day off to the benefits of support staff personnel when they approved the Support Staff Handbook at Monday evening’s meeting of the board.

District Administrator Dan Nett said there were not a lot of changes to the Support Staff Handbook but that the additional of a personal day—above and beyond allowed sick time—was the most notable. He also said the district is looking to do the same for teaching staff when their handbook comes up for approval.

A pay increase for student helpers also was part of the approved Support Staff Handbook, district officials said.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board announced the top 10 seniors for the Class of 2024 led by valedictorian Natalie Ziebell, daughter of Steve and Tina Ziebell of St. Cloud; and salutatorian Natalee Kraus, daughter of John and Brooke Kraus of Malone.

The remaining top 10 students are Alexander Roers, #3, son of Randall and Jennifer Rose of New Holstein; Danika Turba, #4, daughter of Donald and Jane Turba of Elkhart Lake; Jack Schwarz, #5, son of Stephanie and Charlie Schwarz of Elkhart Lake; Matthew Steier, #6, son of Gary and Tammy Steier of Chilton; Keegan Bohn, #7, son of Heath and Nicolette Bohn of New Holstein; Alyssa Schneider, #8, daughter of Todd and Julie Schneider of Chilton; Evangeline Niemczyk, #9, daughter of Keith and Jennifer Niemczyk of Malone; and Carli Thome, #10, daughter of Larry and Jennifer Thome of Mount Calvary.

The board unanimously approved purchasing 170 iPads for New Holstein Elementary School at a total cost of $49,980. District officials said they will replace existing iPads which are old and can no longer be updated. Board President Craig Sesing said it seems like the district is regularly spending a significant amount of money to upgrade technology but he added, “We are following the (replacement) schedule.”

Also approved Monday was a bid from Feldner Construction of St. Cloud to tear out old and worn concrete under the canopy at the front of the High School and replace it with new concrete.

Board members removed an item from the consent agenda and sent it back to committee for re-evaluation. The item was the purchase of a new van discussed at a previous board meeting, but the model of van delivered is too large to be covered by the district’s insurance company as that type of van has a history of tipping over more easily in an accident. Board members said the committee may have to consider a mini-van instead of the full-size van.

Prior to getting into the business of the meeting, Middle School teacher Corbin Thompson spoke about writing projects at the school and other English/Language Arts activities. He said students just took the Forward Exam and efforts were put into preparing students for the writing portion of the exam. Thompson also read a poem at the meeting and two students shared their thoughts on how the poem connected to their lives.

A donation of $1,000 from the New Holstein High School Class of 1997 was accepted. The money will be used for replacing a computer used by the school’s Theatre Program. A donation of $800 from Marc and Krystal Stephanie of New Holstein to the school’s girls soccer program also was accepted.

Upcoming school events include the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C. next week; High School Prom on April 27; no school on April 29; the spring band concert on May 8; the spring choral concert on May 13; and Senior Awards Night on May 19.

Board member Virginia Ortlieb agreed to represent the district at the CESA 7 Convention in May in Green Bay.