An additional teacher will be joining the staff at the Iola-Scandinavia Elementary School.
In an effort to keep class sizes small, the I-S School Board approved splitting the 4th and 5th grade classes, and agreed to hire another teacher for a combined fourth and fifth-grade classroom.
The board acted on the recommendation of the Personnel & Nominations Committee, which met prior to the monthly board meeting.
A high number of students are enrolled in fourth through sixth grades this year, according to Elementary Principal Tess Lecy-Wojcik. Each grade level is split into two classrooms.
“I would prefer to have fourth and fifth grades smaller,” Wojcik told the board. “We need to do what is best for the students and the staff.”
She noted that the district has seen success with multi-age classes in the past.
“I think it’s very important to move forward with this and keep the class sizes smaller,” said board member Kristen Hoyord.
According to Wojcik, parents will be given the option of placing their child in the split classroom.
The additional teacher will add about $60,000 (in wages and benefits) to the district’s 2014-15 budget.
District Administrator David Dyb reminded the board that the budget previously had an $80,000 deficit.
In other business, the board approved:
• Purchase of two speakers, a mixer and an amplifier for Thunderbird Field not to exceed $2,000.
• Natatrium Environmental Control and Communication system for the I-S Community Fitness & Aquatic Center for an estimated cost of $130,400 before rebates and incentives. This project includes upgrading the HVAC air handling system and adding a ultra-violet water conditioning unit to the facility. The project was approved for a $20,000 Focus on Energy rebate.
• Salary incentive for ISCFAC director Tim Welch to encourage maintaining and increasing membership.
Three elementary teachers received STAR Awards at the school meeting.
Cari Honken and Kathy Meyer-Blum were honored for their efforts with the Summer Slide Reading Program.
“It is a fact that student’s reading declines over the summer,” Wojcik said. “These teachers took it upon themselves to keep children reading all summer long.”
To accomplish this, Wojcik said the two teachers purchased books, organized volunteers and provided book exchanges at area events.
Linda O’Day was nominated for recognition by Mike and Brenda Koles for providing positive learning experiences for their daughter Clara.
“She went above and beyond the typical classroom curriculum to help her student learn more than just classroom subjects, but life experiences,” they stated in their nomination letter. “This cannot be unlearned, and has not gone unnoticed.”
After discussing the Krause property project at the board meeting, District Administrator David Dyb talked to Lee Meyerhoffer from ATC on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
“Things are on track and progressing with the road project and looking good,” he reported. “We seemingly have resolved most of the planning obstacles preventing the project from moving forward.”
According to Dyb, the Waupaca County Highway Department is in the process of “finishing up some additional documents for ATC that address some of the finer details of the project plans that are required.”
“Meyerhoffer indicated (they) had to do with some elevation markings, road bed depth, and the relationship next to the gas main,” Dyb said.