Loyal School Board Selects Officers and More

Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 -- 4:00 PM

The Loyal School Board selected their officers:

• Tom Odeen was selected as President,
• Harlan Hinkelmann as Vice President,
• Carrie Becker as Clerk,
• Dave Clintsman as Treasurer,
• Kim Bremmer as Director,
• Holly Lindner as Director,
• And Dennis Roehl as Director.

The Board appointed Citizens State Bank of Loyal as the Depository, the Loyal Tribune Record Gleaner and the Clark County Press as the official newspapers, and Kirk Strang as the School Attorney. The regular monthly meetings were set for the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. for closed session and 7:00 p.m. for open session.

The District’s committees were set:

• Buildings and Grounds include Hinkelmann, Clintsman, Roehl;
• Finance includes Becker, Clintsman, Odeen;
• Personnel and Policy is the full Board;
• Recruit/Retain includes Bremmer, Lindner, Roehl;
• Student Success/Curriculum includes Becker, Hinkelmann, Bremmer;
• Athletics include Bremmer, Becker, Lindner;
• Communications include Odeen, and Hinkelmann;
• And Technology includes Odeen and Hinkelman.

The administrative team recently conducted the interviews for the Title I position and have offered the position to one of the candidates. The Board also discussed the Administration Salary Increases for 2022-23. This item was tabled until next month.

The Board heard an update on the 2022-23 School Budget.  All of the teachers and staff have turned in their budget paperwork for 2022-23.  The administration team is currently looking through the requests and will forward the elementary items to be ordered on this year’s budget to Eva Froeba to process the orders.

Letters of resignation from Title I teacher Heidi Michaelis and Vocal Music teacher Josh Ognenoff were accepted by the Board. Kathy Dillenbeck and Brady Robida were approved for two of the three summer maintenance positions. The Board approved longevity payment for teaching staff of $1,750 for 2022-23.

Elementary Principal Nancy Popp reported:

• That Grades K-4 went on a field trip to the LuCille Tack Center to see a play titled Spaghetti on a Hot Dog Bun. This was a play that focused on how our differences make us special and to appreciate that uniqueness;
• Data Meetings were held on May 4th. These meetings will be used to create the Title I groups that will begin in the fall. This way we will be able to service learners as soon as they come back to school. Huge thank you to all the teachers for doing all the assessments and thank you to the Title I team for compiling the data. The gains that were made by the students were great thanks to all the hard work;
• After waiting 2 year for things to open again grades 4th, 5th, and 6th went to Madison on May 5th . The students toured the capitol building, the museum, and Cave of the Mounds. The trip started a bit bumpy with a flat tire, but the staff at the capitol were very helpful and rearranged the tour that was planned. The students had a great time and learned a lot that day;
• A Dance Camp was offered to elementary students after school on May 10th by Mrs. Tietz and Mrs. Shafto. Both girls and boys participated and had fun learning a dance that they performed for their parents at the end of the session;
• Friday, May 13th was Ag Day. All students had a chance to look at the tractors and pet the animals that were brought in for the day. Students in grades 3rd-6th also had short trips to area locations to find out more about the agricultural industry. Thank you to Mrs. Donnerbauer and the FFA students;
• Finishing observations and end of the year conversations with the teachers. Working in goals for next year;
• Budgets have been completed and are now ready of administrator review. Staff is excited to have orders placed early so that classroom supplies will be ready when we start early this fall.

Special Education Director Megan Dieckman reported to the Board that, in the past 30 days:

• Job Olympics was a huge success. Our students really enjoyed their day. It was filled with learning new job skills, reinforcing team building through activities, meeting new students from other districts, playing games, and enhancing positive mental health. The Loyal School District was well represented at the Job Olympics event through the implementation of two learning stations (proper way to change a tire & beginning construction skills). Brandon Jakobi, Mitchell Rinehart, Walker Luchterhand and Ashtin Pagenkopf did an absolutely outstanding job with all students. They were thorough and very patient. Many adults at the event were impressed and gave lots of compliments to the boys. A big THANK YOU to all four boys and Mr. Montalvo for getting it all together;
• Met with ARC reps with the MS/HS English Department to choose themes for the upcoming school year;
• Completed data day with K-5 grade;
• Currently determining students in need of interventions through the FastBridge Screener;
• Hoping to implement more diagnostic data within the classroom setting to better determine more precise needs of students. This can be accomplished through the IRLA system, which coincides with ARC. Of course, professional development is a necessity before any implementation;
• Also looking at adding some math interventions;
• All state testing has been completed.

In the next 30 days:

• They will continue reviewing all budget packets with the Principals for 2022-23;
• Meeting again with ARC reps and English teachers to continue the process of choosing themes and getting a better understanding of how to implement ARC in eleventh and twelfth grades. Setting up ARC professional development days for the 6-12 English department, special education and Title;
• It will be Loyal’s turn to host the Early Childhood teaming meeting among Greenwood, Granton and Neillsville. These meetings happen twice a month, all year, as part of a consortium;
• Finishing up FastBridge with MS/HS students. Data day to come.

A challenge they face is to continue to find new and innovative ways to meet the unique needs of each and every student in the general education setting through a team teaching approach.

Principal Doug Dieckman reported that, in the past 30 days:

• They reviewed all budget packets for 2022-23;
• Looking to start a Principal Advisory Committee (PAC) to consist of parent, teacher and support staff reps;
• Finishing up all Forward and ACT aspire testing;
• Finished end of the year FastBridge screening;
• Held their final professional learning day with staff on May 6. This also closed out our UDL book study and Behavior Management workshops for the year. Appreciate the work and time of those staff members who took part in these groups;
• Held a meeting with our ARC rep to pick out unit themes for reading instructional materials. Follow up meeting scheduled for May 12;
• Held HS honor roll and academic awards ceremony. Were able to catch up on these from the beginning of the year. Will have a better plan for next year;
• Final MS/HS band concert, Ag Day on May 13th, and Drivers Education meeting on May 15th.

In the next 30 days:

• Final MSHS Choir concert on Friday, May 20;
• Finalize all budget packets for 2022-23;
• Data day for end of year screening;
• Wrap up for morning collaboration;
• Senior Banquet May 18;
• Host first Principal Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting on May 22 at 6:30;
• Senior Trip, May 25;
• Senior Graduation, May 28;
• Memorial Day celebration May 30th;
• HS Academic awards during GIT on June 1 and/or 2;
• MS academic awards and 8th grade celebration on June 2;
• MS REACH trip on June 3;
• Last day with students on June 3, afternoon activities planned by the student council for HS students;
• End of the year close out for students and staff;
• Choir singing the National Anthem on Friday, June 3 at Brewer game.

The challenges they face include continue to look for ways to educate our families on internet safety/technology use/social media and technology use/abuse/restrictions.

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