Abby school board OKs creation of school forest

The Abbotsford School Board approved a resolution to create a school forest area over 17 acres of land on the school’s northwest end of the property.

Currently, the land has been used to plant crops and money raised from those crops has gone into a separate account from all other agriculture and school accounts. The money was then used to pay for seed and fertilizer for the following year. No money was being made off of the agreement according to Superintendent Ryan Bargender and Finance Director Ashley Dake.

The forest area will include about an acre of land beyond the outfield fence of the east softball/baseball diamond that will contain an outdoor learning space with eight apple trees, four pear trees, a songbird garden and a butterfly garden.

Beyond the outfield fence of the west softball/baseball field is a four acre area that will be filled with trees. The species of these trees are yet to be determined but Bargender and District Accountability Coordinator Dr. Georgia Kraus said the district was looking at planting more mature maple and sugar maple trees to show kids how to tap trees and collect sap. This area will border West Hemlock Street and Hiline Avenue. The remaining 12 or so acres will be used as a natural grass and flower area for the time being.

Kraus and Middle and High School Principal Melissa Pilgrim said the area will be used for numerous learning opportunities for students. The school forest will also feature a walking path. Bargender said the city had some crushed blacktop material available to temporarily cover the path with.

As a part of the declaration of the school forest, the Wisconsin DNR will give the school certain trees for free to get the forest started. Board member Sharon Archambo also mentioned there were other ways to get free or significantly cheapened trees from the Arbor Day Foundation.

Financing for the project came from a grant the city of Abbotsford and school district jointly applied for through Canadian National (CN) and America In Bloom. The $10,000 grant will be used for seeding areas, a sign designating the forest as a school forest and other expenses related to the building of the forest.

The grant is intended to:

n Enhance the quality of life in cities, villages, and townships.

n Promote public health benefits through the proper planting and care of trees and plants.

n Ensure that community landscapes provide ecosystem services – clean air and water, increased property values, reduced erosion and stormwater runoff, wildlife habitat, moderated temperatures, lessened energy demands, and year-round enjoyment.

n Enhance community tree canopy by properly planting diverse, quality trees for long-term sustainability and resistance to future pests.

n Beautify community gateways and create significant landscapes demonstrating the contribution of flowers and plants to growing community pride and economic vitality.

n Leverage CN EcoConnexions From the Ground Up grant support to catalyze strong and enduring community partnerships to undertake and sustain community greening efforts.

n Provide opportunities for CN and its neighbors to work together towards shared goals of environmental stewardship.

n Support long-term community

greening through ongoing involvement in America in Bloom.

Concerns about the forest

Board member Gary Schraufnagel asked if a nine-acre section of land could be kept for crop use until the district knows that the plan for the natural grass and flower areas will work.

Schraufnagel also mentioned there had been nitrate issues with wells located near where the grass would be planted and wondered how the grass area would be affecting the nitrate levels. Nitrate is a chemical that can contaminate groundwater due to fertilizer, manure applications and other agricultural runoff.

Abbotsford City Administrator Josh Soyk said the nitrate issue has been monitored and options have been brought to the table to help mitigate the high nitrate levels of the wells.

“I’ve been working with the school and other people to figure out a way to potentially lower these levels,” Soyk said.

Kraus said the grass and flower areas would help provide a natural filter for nitrates that are located in the soil.

The proposal was ultimately passed unanimously. Bargender will now need to register the area as a school forest with the Wisconsin DNR before it will officially become a designated school forest area.

Bargender said the soon-to-be wooded area was not likely to be used for building improvements as the shape of the parcel did not lend itself to be used for a building. If down the line something came up where the school would need to use that land for improvements, the district would need to simply de-certify the land as a school forest and could then do what would be needed to the land. However, Bargender said that would not be the end goal with the forest.

Other business

n A parent brought up the potential for a hockey coop with Medford. Bargender said he contacted Medford administration and found that the coop would be something that is possible on Medford’s end. Bargender said he will need to gather more information before a coop could be agreed upon.

n Yessica Aguilera, an EL paraprofessional at the High School was announced as the staff member of the month.

n The 2023-24 school calendar was approved which includes a first day of school date as August 28, 2023. Bargender said any start date before September 1 needs to be approved by the state. He said starting earlier will allow the students and teachers to have a week off during March which will serve as a spring break week.