Greenwood School Board Approves Several Items in Preparation for Next School Year

Wednesday, June 16th, 2021 -- 9:06 AM

-The Greenwood School Board approved several items in preparation for the next school year.

The Board approved the purchase of an additional set of ARC reading materials, the renewal of the 2021-22 WIAA membership, the 2021-22 Athletic Code Handbook, the 2021-22 Middle/High Student Handbook, and the formation of an eSports team for 2021-22.

The Board also reviewed the 2020-21 AGR Year End Report.  The Board also approved the return to the pre-COVID building use requests and approval process and revisited and approved changing the elementary access drive replacement from 30 feet wide to 40 feet wide.

The Board also approved the bid to repair landscape planter walls and improve drainage at the high school and the bid to complete repointing and caulking of exterior brick at both schools.

The Board also received a financial update from Ms. Zimmer and reviewed financial and grant procedures.The Board also approved the 2021-22 School Breakfast and Lunch prices.  There are no price increases from the previous school year.

The Board also approved the second reading of the NEOLA 29-2 Policy Update, approved resuming participation in student exchange programs, approved the Professional and Support Staff handbooks, tabled the Coaches/Advisors, New Teacher/Mentor, and Substitute Teacher Handbooks until the July meeting, and received an update on current job postings, which includes a K-12 Art teacher, Interventionist, and District substitute teacher.

The Board also accepted $100 for Megan’s Fund in the memory of Ron Kowitz from Pamela Kowitz. They reviewed the donor list for the Annual “Get Your Color on Stampede.”  In employment matters, the Board accepted the resignations of Andrew Gilles as a 1st grade teacher, Hannah Olson as the assistant track coach, Chris Schmitz as the Head Football Coach, and Mary Krause as the K-12 Art teacher.

The Board also approved one volunteer.  They approved the hiring of Paetyn Schmitz as a Assistant Softball Coach, Cheyenne Thompson as the 5th grade teacher, Clint Alexander as a middle school teacher, Rebekah Dorwaldt as a Kindergarten teacher.  Finally, the Board approved the transfer of Taylor Knoeck to the 1st grade teacher position.

The Board also heard the various reports.  For Committee Reports, Board Member Mark Shain reported on the CESA board meeting.  Elementary Principal Joe Green provided an update on Summer School. Currently over 100 students are enrolled.

The Invention Project at the high school is running at maximum capacity. DNR safety courses in ATV, snowmobile and hunters safety are full and underway. Fifty-five students are taking swimming lessons in Neillsville. Breakfast and lunch are being served each day of summer school.

The 4K program will be a full-day, 4-days a week program beginning this fall. Teachers will continue to do curriculum work and training throughout the summer and the Outdoor Classroom is nearing completion.

Athletic Director/Dean of Students Jenni Mayenschein provided an update on spring sports. Baseball, softball and track are all competing in post-season games and meets. The initial registration for fall sports took place prior to the end of school and numbers look solid.

The softball co-op with Loyal will continue for the next 2 years. The proposed baseball co-op with Loyal is pending. The district will feature an eSports team starting this fall.

District Administrator Todd Felhofer provided an update on the 2021-23 State Budget process. The Joint Finance Committee’s initial budget proposal includes no increase under revenue limits a $0 per pupil adjustment, no increase to per pupil aid, and no increase in general state aid.

It appears the JFC expects districts to use federal ESSER money for general operating expenses. This is not the intent of these monies. The JFC’s current plan is actually jeopardizing $1.5B to $2.3B of the federal ESSER funds allocated to the state of Wisconsin.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported this week estimated tax collections for the 2021-2023 biennial to be $4.4B. At a time when the state will collect an unprecedented amount of tax revenue, the JFC proposes to provide no new funding for general operating expenses to school districts.

A recap of the 2020-21 school year was also provided.  Finally, a community member asked if the district had considered using some of the federal relief funds to pay down/off any district debt.

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