Greenwood School Board Discusses Baseball and Track Co-op and More

Friday, April 21st, 2023 -- 10:00 AM

The Greenwood School Board discussed the High School Baseball and Track Co-op at their meeting this week.

Discussion was held on the high school Baseball and Track Co-op options with benefits of how it would be strengthening the programs. Timeline for submitting to the WIAA is June 1st for co-op in 2023-24 for High School Baseball and Track programs.

Greenwood and Loyal school districts will need to take formal action at their May board meetings. They also approved the purchase of the SEL Programming and 7 Mindsets program for K-12 students with funding from the Get Kids Ahead Grant funds.

The also approved sharing cost with Loyal School District to purchase the High Reliability Schools Training, Professional Development, and Avanti three-year program from Marzano Resource.

The Board also approved a bid for $8,800 from Lucas Zwaschka for cement work at the middle/high school on the front sidewalk of the main office entry, the rear office entry, and the lower patio area.

Updates were also shared on the Health & Dental Insurance 2023-2024 package. District is making a switch to Aspirus Health Plan and offering two different plan options to employees of the School District of Greenwood.

They approved Certified Staff Contracts and Support Staff Letters of Intent as presented. Certified staff contracts will be issued by May 15th with the deadline for return being June 15th. They also approved coach and advisory contracts for 2023-24 as presented.

Discussion was also held regarding the Athletic Trainer Contract. Marshfield Clinic has eliminated providing free Athletic Trainer services to area school districts. Discussed looking into and waiting to see if other options may be made available.

Discussion was also held on the consideration of student/co-curricular drug, alcohol, and nicotine testing policy. This policy would only be for co-curriculars and allows the district to test randomly.

After their executive session, they approved certified staff wage increase, approved support staff wage increase, approved $3,500 annual payment to employees in lieu of taking a health insurance policy, and approved staff retention bonus as presented.

The Board also approved the resignations of Kaitlyn Raine as a Long Term Substitute Teacher, Kaitlyn Keech as a School Counselor, Taylor Hand as a Kindergarten Teacher, and Amanda Smagacz as a Elementary Special Education Teacher.

The Board approved the hiring of Maree Felt as a Kid’s Club Student Assistant, Lisa Hinker with a Board Meeting Contract, and Casey Susa with a Board Meeting Contract.

The Board also approved several volunteers including John Becker, Jennifer Becker, Cherrylyn Flick, Jamie Gardner, Tasha Higgins, Perry Oestriech, and Charles Susa.

The Board also approved the FMLA request by Stacia Jacoby as presented and approved the FFA Washington Leadership Conference trip June 27th – July 1st approved.

In organizational matters, the Board approvedForward Bank and LGIP as the official depositor, the TRG (Tribune Record Gleaner) and school district newsletter as official publications and set the regular school board meetings for the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm, to be held at Greenwood Middle/High School Board room.

Also, they approved district legal advisor of Weld Riley, S.C., Jessica Wolf as the WASB Delegate, assign Jamie Gardner as WASB Alternate, assign Dean Lindner as the CWETN Representative and the ESEA Representative, and Assign Eliza Ruzic to the Buildings and Grounds committee and leave all other positions as previously assigned.

The Board also approved the officer positions including Jamie Gardner as President, Jerome Krempasky as Vice-President, Dean Lindner as Treasurer, Jessica Wolf as Clerk, and Eliza Ruzic as Trustee.

The Board also heard the various reports. Elementary Principal Report Lily Shane reported on:

• The April 5th Easter Egg Hunt was planned and coordinated by Carey Bryhn, appreciation for her efforts were shared;
• School Climate Survey results received from staff were shared;
• A few teachers have attended training conferences through CESA 10 and attended Statewide conferences;
• Elementary grant funds have been used to purchase fidgets, calming strips, flexible seating and calming decals for the elementary building;
• Forward testing will be completed on 4/20/23, thank you to Michele Green for coordinating schedule and logistics and to our staff for their flexibility;
• Final round of data meetings are complete;
• Stacia Jacoby & Penny Wehrs will be honored on May 4 at the Crystal Apple Awards program held at Hotel Marshfield;
• And a thank you for the opportunity to continue to grow within this position.

Dean of Students and Athletic Director Jenny Mayenschein reported on:

• Spring sports were in full swing but have been paused due to recent weather, currently indoors for practices and waiting for fields to be ready for use;
• FFA Banquet held on April 17th;
• FBLA State Participant, Destiny Durrstein finished 8th at conference;
• 3-Act play was held on April 14-16 and students did a wonderful job;
• Elks Awards honoring seniors will be held on May 3rd in Marshfield;
• Pops concerts coming up at end of May (HS – May 15, MS – May 22);
• Prom will be held off campus at Rustic Occasions on May 6, 2023;
• Speaker on Internet/Phone safety will be presenting to 4-12 grade students on May 15, 2023;
• And east gym bleachers will be removed and replaced with new bleachers in early-mid September, Middle school matches will be held in the West Gym until project is complete.

District Administrator and Middle High School Principal Joe Green reported on:

• The Annual Legislative dinner held on April 10th, in Medford was attended by Krempasky, Wolf, Shain and Mr. Green, discussions included vouchers, licensing, testing and the state budget, next year the event will be held in Medford on April 1, 2024;
• Attended Joint Finance Committee meeting on April 11th, at UW-Eau Claire, where local Wisconsin superintendents stood in support of the message delivered by John Gaier who spoke with the joint finance committee, message was the need for the state to level the playing field for low revenue districts as well as the need for special education funding;
• Alice Drill held at middle/high school last week, required to be done annually, ent very well with summary of event discussed with Chief Bock, procedures will be updated;
• Marshfield Clinic has eliminated providing free Athletic Trainer services to area school districts, Neillsville, Loyal and Greenwood administrators met to discuss the possibility of sharing cost of an athletic trainer;
• State Testing is wrapping up, concern was shared at the Legislative dinner on the absurdity in how we test students and the lack of validity and usefulness with the results;
• DPI had notified us that we are eligible to participate in the CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) reimbursement option, district wide, beginning 2023-24, to participate we would agree to serve both breakfast and lunch at no cost to all students for up to four consecutive years;
• Alice Drill was held on April 13 in the middle/high school building with the help of Chief Bock, results from this drill are reviewed and procedure changes were noted;
• We hosted Mock Interviews where Greenwood and Owen-Withee juniors participated with the assistance of CESA 10 and local business partners, thank you extended to Mr. Werner for coordinating this event and to our local business partners for participating;
• The Clark County Sheriff’s Department will be here on May 15th providing our students in grades 4-12 with internet/phone safety training;
• MACCI was contacted in regards to rising cost of the banquet, shared that the purpose of the event is to celebrate teachers and the rising cost being prohibitive for many to attend.

Board member Jamie Gardner attended his first CESA 10 Board Meeting. Updates included: new hires, refacing of building, and wage increase for employees was discussed. Mark Shain was presented with certificate and appreciation as an outgoing board member.

Employee Relations Committee reviewed supplemental pay was finalized and presented to employees for the 2022-23 school year. Buildings & Grounds Committee met and reviewed summer maintenance projects which included east gym bleacher project, concrete work at the middle/high school and baseball field.

The Board also heard some presentations. Students, Breanna Rowe and Rogan Travis presented to the board of education a summary of the NHS trip to Washington DC and New York City that members attended March 28 – April 1st.

Greenwood students traveled along with Owen-Withee, South Dakota, Wyoming students together on the bus and with the tour. Favorite moments for both students was visiting the 911 Memorial.

The Board of education wishes to thank our students for representing the School District of Greenwood. Board and Administration extend their sincere appreciation to Jeni Raese and Tonia Wuethrich for chaperoning this field trip.

Mark Shain addressed the board and shared highlights from the board of Legislation meeting that he attended. He shared presentation topics and indicated good discussions on the funding of special education was held. Mark thanked the board for the invite to attend. He was also very proud of the FFA students that earned scholarships at the FFA Banquet on April 18th.

Mary Denk addressed the board on the following topics including elementary classroom discipline issues that occurred with concerns how to address/plan for future issues. Request for code of conduct/written consequences for discipline to be available in student handbook.

Concerns over the co-op school mascot and colors decision process. Request that both communities (Greenwood and Loyal) be involved with input towards cooperative sports logo/colors moving forward.

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