Greenwood School Board Hears Election Update, Discusses Football Coach, and More

Tuesday, December 5th, 2023 -- 11:00 AM

The Greenwood School Board heard some election updates on their recent meeting.

Board Member Jerome Krempasky handed in his Notification of Noncandidacy and Dean Lindner’s position is at large. They also approved the change from semesters to terms in the High School Student Handbook.

Dean Lindner was approved as Greenwood co-head Football coach. Loyal co-head Football coach will be determined by Loyal. The Board also heard an update on coaching assignments. It is the recommendation of the Greenwood and Loyal Athletic Directors that both Head Coaches, Chris Lindner and Dean Lindner, remain in their current positions for the 2024 season.

This will allow both districts to work through the transition period and allows for a point of contact at each school to communicate with parents, players, etc. Currently there is a good working relationship among the coaching staff of Greenwood and Loyal.

The athletic directors feel confident that by building this co-head coach relationship and allowing the current coaches to work together it will be what is best for the future of the football program.

The Board also approved the Academic and Career Planning Portfolio Graduation Requirement (ACP) as presented. The Board also approved Business Education to be added to the High School Course Handbook for 2024-2025.

Business Education helps students build their knowledge in personal finance by learning the ins and outs of investing in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds in order to build wealth for their future along with planning and preparing for retirement.

Through this course, students will gain a fundamental understanding of investing and how they might get their money to work for them through The Stock Market Game (SMG).

The Board also approved Direct Admit Wisconsin. Universities of Wisconsin are launching a new initiative to increase access and enrollment in higher education. Direct Admit Wisconsin will make it easier for Wisconsin high school graduates to enroll at a UW university to attain a degree.

The Direct Admit Wisconsin, participating UW universities will proactively admit high school students who opted in based on their high school GPA, academic coursework, and graduation from participating Wisconsin high school.

Direct Admission will streamline the admission process and eliminate barriers for students. The first letter will be sent to rising seniors in July 2024. This program works with Skyward and is no cost to participating high schools.

The Board also heard about the District Report Cards. They received charts that showed elementary exceeds expectations, high school meets expectations, and the district as a whole meets expectations.

The Board also heard an update on the District’s financial situation. They want to keep the mill rate under 9.00, show what the future holds, and want to keep a healthy fund balance. The Board also heard an update on the Eau Claire Academy and future budgeting.

Students they have transferred to Eau Claire for schooling needs are sharing costs with other districts, so they discussed a transfer of services. The Board also updated their Procurement Policy.

It was updated to ensure all bids documents and contracts included all Davis-Bacon and Related Acts compliance information with the federal guidelines. Also, changes were made to food services procedures.

The Board also accepted a donation from the Do Good Dash for the amount of $1,150 towards Summer Rec Program and the Car Show for the amount of $580 towards Summer Rec Program.

In employment matters, the Board approved the resignation of Jenny Mayenschein as the Head Volleyball Coach and approved the hiring of Brittany Lotzer as a 5th Grade Teacher, Mary Brey for a Sub for Middle/High School, Jacob Lambrecht as a Teacher Aid, and Dave Denk as a Substitute Teacher.

The Board also approved students attending the Rodeo trip on February 3rd at the Xcel Energy Center at MOA and for students attending the Dorian trip to Luther College, Iowa January 7th-9th.

The Board also heard the Administrators’ Reports. Elementary Principal Shane Lilly reported on:

• Looking at ways to improve the sound of absorption in the outdoor classroom;
• 16 Staff members just finished the healthy challenge, thank you Carey Bryhn;
• Big Buddies is a huge success, 5th grade partnered up with 4K to help get them ready to go outside;
• Morning routine is going well, great seeing the kids getting energy out prior to school starting;
• Mrs. Green ran the annual pumpkin decorating contest and there were some amazing entries;
• Great turnout for the Veterans Day breakfast at the Elementary, at the High School Carl Rossow was honored with the memory stone;
• Welcome Brittany Lotzer as the new 5th grade teacher;
• This month the 5K celebrated 50th day of school by dressing up as they did in the 50’s;
• Amanda Schlough started a reading committee under ACT 20;
• They are now on the second round of Fastbridge which will show them how the kids are progressing;
• December 8th there will be a book exchange and Bingo;
• Christmas program will be on December 15th;
• And read with your kids will be on December 21st at 2:45.

Dean of Students and Athletic Director Jenny Mayenschein reported on:

• First trimester is complete;
• RVA students are doing well;
• NHS/FCCLA had their Halloween party;
• Veteran’s day Program was on 11/10/2023;
• Student Council will start working on holiday planning;
• Santa Project started and have received generous donations for our students;
• Cloverbelt Leadership Conference includes Jaren Cullen, James Durrstein, Marshall Schultze, Tysen Lindner, Liv Lucas, and Tatym Travis;
• East gym bleachers are installed;
• And Football All Conference: Levi Lindner.

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

• Elementary HVAC – Air handlers are delayed due to one of the units not being able to be shipped until January, project is on hold until summer;
• Report Cards – Were publicly released on November 14th, the district is exceeding expectations, there is still work to be done to help improve and increase learning opportunities for our students;
• Combined Board Retreat -Took place on November 13, 2023, both districts would like to send out a survey regarding our shared efforts and potential collaboration down the road, please bring any thoughts to Mr. Green so they could be added;
• Daycare – Provide meals to 7 C’s daycare;
• Calendar – Starting to look at the calendar for the 2024-2025 school year, asked for some feedback from staff and looks like the start date will be August 26, 2024, hoping to have the calendar finalized in the January meeting;
• End of Trimester 1 – November 17, 2023 was the end of our first trimester, proud of their students and staff on how well they managed, shared some classes with Loyal, opened the weight room for students, included a morning nutrition break, and adjusted the class periods to 63 minutes;
• 7 Mindsets – Social emotional learning work with 7 Mindsets started this week, it helps students and staff focus on dreaming big, owning creativity, and being positive, letter was sent home district-wide explaining the implementations of 7 Mindsets to parents;
• Band Lessons – Mrs. Croxall started band lessons during 6th hour for our High School students, once this is up and running we will look at when to start Middle School lessons;
• Proposal to make school libraries communicate with parents what students check out.

A Board Member also reported that they met in Abbotsford about lead paint analyzer. The Board also heard a presentation about Educators Rising with Mrs. Jaenke. The goal is to inform and inspire students to go into teaching career after graduation.

Possible monthly field trips for students to job shadow different areas such as CESA, neighboring school districts, and colleges. Jo Elmer also said the Act 1 Play went very well with the co-op, but would like more practice time.

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