Addressing needed capital expenditures for the 2024-2025 school year figured prominently on the Big Foot Union High School Board of Education’s April 15 agenda, as board members approved two capital expenditure proposals.
The Board of Education approved acceptance of a $42,600 quote from Germantown-based IT Savvy for the purchase of 30 Mobile Precision Workstation 3581 CTP laptop computers for the Big Foot High School art department.
The board also approved acceptance of a $176,125 quote from Madison-based Wisconsin Greenhouse Company to replace the district’s aging 24-year-old greenhouse facility with two new 10x27-foot greenhouses in support of Big Foot’s agriculture department. The planned installation is set for this summer.
The Wisconsin Greenhouse quote includes removal and disposal of the hold greenhouse facility.
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“We’re keeping up with technology and keeping up with the times,” said Big Foot Union High School District Administrator Doug Parker. “We want to offer our kids the best facilities and equipment and everything that they need to learn, and we’re happy that we’re able to do it.”
Shared services agreements
In other news, the Big Foot Board of Education approved three shared services agreements for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year with two neighboring school districts, two agreements with Grades PreK-8 Sharon Joint School District No. 11 (Sharon Community School) and one with the Grades Prek-12 Williams Bay School District.
The renewal shared services agreement with Sharon Community School calls for Big Foot Union High School to continue to provide Sharon with the services of Big Foot Business Director Laura Long and Human Resources Specialist Jenny Skemp at a set cost of $80,888.
Big Foot’s intergovernmental agreements with Sharon Community School and the Williams Bay School District under the provisions of Wisconsin Statute 66.0301 call for the Big Foot Union High School District to pay related employee salary and benefit costs on a pro-rated basis for the amount of time contracted from Sharon and Williams Bay for the as-needed services of occupational therapist Stephanie Farnham, and the contracted part-time services of Spanish teacher Mary Kavanagh respectively.
“It depends on our needs once the fall hits,” Parker said of the scope of the as-needed occupational therapy shared services contract with Sharon Community School.
In the case of Spanish instruction, Parker said Big Foot will cover 37.5% of Kavanagh’s annual salary and benefit costs for two Spanish language classes five days a week, noting the district’s “Spanish numbers have grown.”
“It allows up to provide necessary services to all students without us having to have a full-time person,” Parker said of contracting for as-needed services with neighboring districts like Williams Bay and Sharon. “It’s cost effective. It’s timely — when we need them we have access to them. And everybody wins. The kids win. They get a very experienced, high quality staff member. And we’re not trying to find work for people because we don’t need full-time people.”
Teaching contract awarded
The Board of Education awarded a 2024-2025 teaching contract to new special education teacher MaKenzie Lueck, a Class of 2018 Big Foot High School alumnus.
Lueck currently teaches special educaton at Brookwood Middle School in Genoa City and volunteers with Big Foot’s track program.
“As a Big Foot grad, we are super excited to have her back as a Chief,” Parker said. “We’re really excited to have MaKenzie on board. We always like to hire Chiefs when we can. That’s how you build small town culture and relationships and we’re proud she’s a member of our community.”
Other news
In other developments at the April 15 meeting, the Big Foot Board of Education:
Approved a $17,098 annual membership with Whitewater-based Cooperative Educational Service Agency No. 2 (CESA 2). Additionally, the district will contract to provide as-needed professional resource center testing materials for special needs students, as well as educational audiology services for hearing-impaired students.
Approved 2024-2025 contract renewals for 35 certified teaching staff members.
Approved Girls Softball Coach Troy Hummel’s request for a Spring Break 2025 spring training team trip to Orlando, Fla., as coordinated by Windermere, Fla.-based KSA Events.
Thanked outgoing Board Vice President Jim Brost for his nine years of service to the district and the community. Brost, defeated in his April 2 bid for re-election, will be succeeded by challenger Barb Nordmeyer. Incumbent Board Clerk Jane Palmer was unchallenged for re-election on April 2.
Upcoming dates of interest
Upcoming dates of interest at Big Foot High School include:
Wednesday, May 15 — Spring Pops Concert, 6 p.m.
Monday, May 20 — All-School Awards Assembly, 9:09 a.m.
Saturday, June 1 — Senior Honors Night, 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 2 — Class of 2024 Commencement, 1 p.m.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the Big Foot High School Board of Education will be held on Monday, May 20, 7 p.m., in the library board room at Big Foot Union High School, 401 Devils Lane in Walworth.
Persons needed special accommodations should call 262-275-2116 at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.