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Cadott School Board; Long-range ideas revised for meeting

Cadott School Board; Long-range ideas revised for meeting Cadott School Board; Long-range ideas revised for meeting

By Julia Wolf

The long-range facility planning process is continuing to move forward, as heard during a regular Cadott School Board meeting Aug. 8.

Superintendent Jenny Starck said ISG Architects revised the drawings, after feedback from the July Committee of the Whole meeting, where different options and costs were discussed. Starck also reported that postcards inviting the public to the community meetings Tuesday, Aug. 30, and Thursday, Sept. 8, were mailed out.

Starck says the August community meeting is slated to be a facility overview, and will cover capital maintenance, along with the long-range ideas for the facilities. The September meeting will have a briefer facility review, and look into the financial pieces more.

“You can go to both meetings,” said Starck, adding people do not have to attend the first community meeting, if they want to attend the second.

A community survey will go out, following the community meetings. Starck says, whether sixth grade is moved to the junior and senior high building, or not, seems to domino other decisions, so that will likely be one of the first questions on the survey.

Another option around that, is deciding whether sixthgrade would be only moved for space reasons or if they would have more extracurricular opportunities. Starck says more career/ tech ed positions would likely be needed, if the district wanted to offer those to sixthgraders.

Brad Sonnentag, board member, pointed out that capital maintenance and continuous improvements are necessary, otherwise, the district will eventually need a new building.

“If we don’t go this route and strategically, somehow, improve, grow, we’re going to, at some point, need a new school,” said Sonnentag.

Board member Becca Blanchette thought it would be a good idea to show community members the capital maintenance items they have on their list anyway, and how those are rolled into the bigger proposed projects.

In the business portion of the meeting, the board approved making a donation to go toward an Eagle Scout project, led by Kyle Seiberling, for the construction of picnic tables outside the high school commons area.

“It’s not something we’ve typically done, but I don’t know of a time before that an Eagle Scout has done something that has benefitted us this way,” said Starck.

Board members also approved a van replacement purchase, if a suitable vehicle is found. Starck said the purpose of approval ahead of time, is so the purchase can be acted on before the vehicle is sold to someone else. She says approval does not mean they will necessarily purchase a van, but gives them the opportunity to, if one becomes available in the ballpark price.

Ryan Beachem, director of buildings and grounds, said they have one van that is aging and will need about $5,000 in repairs.

“We’re kind of looking at replacing it in the near future anyways,” said Beachem, adding he is looking at another Kia, similar to the one they recently purchased, as people seem to like that van.

Starck also shared the educational requirements with the board, as required annually. Members were provided links to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and Common Core standards, which are also available on the district website.

“Those haven’t really changed, in the last few years,” said Starck.

Sonnentag asked if the district is notified, if something in the standards changes from one year to the next. Starck says they do and the changes come through a comprehensive process, so they typically do not happen quickly.

Later in the meeting, board members approved the educational standards.

The board also heard a staffing update. Starck says one change they could consider, would be an additional 0.75 paraprofessional position, which would be advertised as a full-time position, if approved.

“We have a current paraprofessional who would like to reduce her day,” said Starck.

Together, the additional 0.75 position, plus making up for the other person’s reduced hours, would add up to a full-time position. The paraprofessional would assist with breakfast, lunch and recess supervision in the elementary school, along with special ed support in the junior/senior high school in the afternoons.

The board approved the additional paraprofessional position.

Board members also approved the hire of Ashley Doro, elementary paraprofessional, and Brandon Geist, head baseball coach.

The board also accepted a $1,500 donation, from American Made Properties, to the girls basketball program.

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