Cadott School Board; District weighs best option for student-athlete training

Cutline: The Cadott School Board heard an update, Feb. 21, on efforts in the elementary school to promote social emotional learning. Elementary school principal Terri Goettl talked about what those efforts look like in the school, sharing photos and videos of the learning in action.

By Julia Wolf

The Cadott School Board heard a strength and conditioning update, Feb. 21, during their regular meeting. Superintendent Jenny Starck explained the update was brought to the board, because it is about half way through the contract period and they are considering not extending with the current contract.

Erin Crank, athletic director, included an overview of student participation in the program, as well as her observations, and her communication with coaches and student-athletes. Crank says she included a list of obstacles she thinks they are facing in their strength and conditioning program.

“If you ever walk down to that weight-room after school, most days, it is not open after school,” said Crank. “Just from an offering standpoint, really, unless students are coming in in the morning, if they are out-of-season, they’re not getting an opportunity to train in our weight room.”

Crank says she also has not seen consistent participation in the morning programming, and has heard frustration from coaches surrounding a lack of feedback with the strength coaches and lack of tracking student progress.

Crank says she would like to see more consistency in the program for students, so they can see progress in themselves.

“I think it’s important that we just revisit what we are offering,” said Crank.

Crank suggested two options the district could consider: explore options for hiring a strength and conditioning teacher, or coach, to conduct workouts with in-season and out-of-season athletes during school hours, or conduct another request for proposals.

Board member Becca Blanchette asked if there seem to be a lot of out-of-season students who would be interested in after school times.

“I think it would be,” said Crank, adding that would really target the junior high students, since their seasons are set up differently.

Starck says, in March, they will start to talk about staffing overall for next year, but said it will be tricky, because they don’t expect any budget increases.

“We aren’t necessarily looking at continuing that contract into next school year,” said Starck.

The CESA 10 service contract was also approved. Starck says CESA provides services to schools in their region, such as special education support, facility services and instructional services.

“All kinds of things that districts kind of purchase and pay for,” said Starck.

Starck says they have reduced the CESA contract costs, since 2018-19, by doing more learning services in-house.

In other elements, such as college and career readiness, and youth apprenticeships, CESA provides a lot of support for Cadott.

“They do a lot with trying to develop business partnerships, helping kids, even in Chippewa County, find more places they could do an apprenticeship,” said Starck.

The contract was approved, as presented. The 2022-23 junior and senior high course books were also approved.

Board members also accepted donations from Citizen’s State Bank for student needs, and a $1,000 donation from the Green Bay Packers and the NFL Foundation, for the football program.

Board members also approved the hire of Tom Stephens, assistant track coach, and Sean Hurt, assistant baseball coach, as well as the retirement of fourth-grade teacher Mary Balko.

Following a closed session, board members voted to use Miron/ISG as the firm for the long-term facility study.

In the information portion of the meeting, board members heard an update on the elementary school’s social emotional learning (SEL) program. Terri Goettl, elementary principal, explained that SEL is tied into the school’s mission and vision, as well as fitting under the goal of increasing student engagement.

“What we know, is when student engagement increases, so does achievement,” said Goettl, adding it also provides soft skills employers look for in employees.

Goettl says SEL also helps students enjoy school more.

Every day, each classroom starts the day with activities to unite, connect, disengage stress and commit. Activities like making banners together helps unite those in the school. Goettl says the idea is that students who feel safe and connected are more able to use their skills to problem solve.

To disengage stress, Goettl says they practice deep breathing and stretching.

“These are done throughout the day,” said Goettl.

Students also work on commitment, where they learn to put things in place so they can hold on to their commitments, using affirmations and positive thinking.

The board also heard the second reading of a number of policies, which will be on a future agenda for approval, likely at the next Committee of the Whole meeting. The changes reflect the discussion on the policies, at the previous Committee of the Whole meeting.