Owen-Withee School Board Discusses District Committees

Monday, June 21st, 2021 -- 10:00 AM

The Owen-Withee School Board heard a presentation regarding district committees.

Board President Rick Eloranta presented the list of 2021-22 Board Committees. Members will serve on the Transportation, Buildings and Grounds, Support Staff Negotiation, Teacher Negotiations, Technology and Policies committees.

The Board also discussed the Class of 2020 funds. After discussions with the firm that does the district audit each year, it was determined that the funds remaining on the class’ account should be moved from Fund 60 (Student Activity Account) to Fund 21 (Gift Account).

This will buy some time to determine what will be done with these funds. The class has nearly $4000 in their account because they did not spend it on a Senior Banquet or Graduation due to COVID-19.

The Board also heard an update on Building Projects.  District Administrator Bob Houts brought the Board up-to-date on the building projects. It is kind of a quiet time between the design phase and bidding phase of the projects. Bid information was sent out on June 1st. Bids are due back on June 22nd.

A bidders meeting was held on June 10th, with some two dozen companies attending. Thanks to Brett Weber and Travis Engel for leading bidders on tours of the building/worksite.

Mr. Houts also presented the Board two building schedules. One that will start work in July of 2021. The other schedule starts work in the spring of 2022. Start date will be determined by how the bids come in and the impact of the cost of building materials on the project.

The Board also heard the AGR End of Year Report. Elementary Principal Julie Van Ark presented to the Board how the students in grades K-3 did meeting the goals for 20-21.

As part of the AGR requirements, each year the school is required to report to the Board progress on goals set in the fall of the school year. Overall, results were mixed, but showed improvement after the closure of school last spring.

The Board also discussed the 2021-22 Budget. The most recent budget approved by the Board is set to expire on June 30th. In order to keep the business open, the Board approved a preliminary 2021-22 budget that matches the 2020-21 budget.

This will allow them to keep paying the bills over the summer. The final 21-22 budget won’t be approved until October after they receive their state aid and property tax information. The Board voted unanimously to approve the preliminary budget.

The Board also discussed the 2% Settlement with OWEA. In April the Board approved offering the OWEA and Administration a 2% pay increase for 21-22 (1.23% on base wage and .77% in supplemental pay.) In May, the OWEA accepted the offer. The Board voted unanimously to approve the agreement.

In employment matters, the board accepted the resignation of Julie Kodl as the Business Education Teacher, the resignation of Brian Lewison as the Social Studies Teacher, and approved the resignation of Ben Gruetzmacher as the Physical Education Teacher.  The Board thanked them for their service to the District at 21 years, 20 years, and 10 years, respectively.

The Board also approved the contract for Brandi Young as a Kindergarten Teacher.  This two year contract will be funded by ESSER III funds. They also approved the contract for Caleb Green as the Business/Ag Ed Teacher. This will be a ¾ contract unless enough classes can be offered to make it full time. Caleb will work this summer to get his Business Education certification through the DPI.

They also approved the contract for Trent Klemm as a Social Studies Teacher and approved the contract for Ben Martin as the Physical Education Teacher. They also approved hiring Caleb Green as the MS Football Coach, FBLA Advisor, and Middle School Track Coach.

The Board also approved hiring Josiah Goerlitz as a Middle School Football Coach and approved offering a contract to Zach Feind to be an assistant football coach this fall.

High School Principal Matt Cihlar and Mrs. Van Ark presented to the Board the 21-22 Student Handbooks. No changes were proposed for the elementary handbook, while the only change for the MS/HS is the Cell Phone Policy. The Board unanimously approved the handbooks, which will now be sent to the printer for preparation for the August return to school.

The Board also reviewed and approved the changes to Policy 443.5 and 443.5-Rule. Other than some clerical revisions, the major change is that students are not to use cell phones or other student-owned devices during the school day.

Cell Phones are to be kept in their locker from the start of the school day until the end of the school day. The Board also discussed the future of the Driver’s Education Program. With the resignation of Brian Lewison, the future of the Driver’s Ed program is up in the air.

Brian will continue the program through June 30th of this year with the summer school classroom portion and finishing the behind-the-wheel portion for students who took the class last summer. The Board expressed interest in keeping some kind of Driver’s Ed program available to their students. Investigation into more options will continue.

The Board also heard the Administrators’ Reports. Mrs. Van Ark stated that Report Cards have been finalized and will be mailed out this week. Summer School is up and running. Students have adjusted to the routine and things are running smoothly.

A big thank you to the Colby School District for allowing them to use their pool for their swimming lessons this summer. Summer rec has made a return to the District after a 10 year absence. This is run Tuesdays and Wednesdays after summer school for kids in grades 3-8.

Thanks to Julie Van Ark, Shelly Carpenter, Hailey Kadolph, Jenniffer Slowiak, Denice Poetzl and Larry Van Ark for volunteering to work with the kids and keep them active this summer.

Mr. Cihlar stated the 2020-21 school came to a quick end. Semester 2 grades have been finalized and report cards have been sent out. Baseball, Softball, Track and Golf seasons are winding down. Teams are either in or have completed their WIAA tournament series. Summer school is up and running with credit recovery classes and driver’s ed.

Finally, Mr. Houts reported that the 100Kw solar project that was planned for this spring has been delayed until late-summer. The project, a $100,000 donation from SpeedSolar and former OW student Cal Coulliard, will provide enough solar energy to save the District an estimated $20,000 per year.

The future of ESSER III funds, the federal COVID relief to schools, are in jeopardy due to wrangling at the state level on funding and budgets. Until the state biennial budget process is completed, the funds, approximately $1.65 million for Owen-Withee, are in doubt.

The Board will move their meetings back to the IMC beginning with the July 12th meeting. Finally, Rick Eloranta passed around a thank you note from Sara Thorson which expressed appreciation for the gifts given in honor of her retirement.

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