Cadott School Board - Many things in the district are overdue for an overhaul

Kevin Roshell, Cadott School Board member, was engrossed in the administrative reports March 11, during the regular board of education meeting. Members have shared that they like the detailed reports and information that is shared each time. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

As the looming capital improvements referendum approaches, the Cadott School District is asking community members to do their research before hitting the polls this April. The $24.5 million referendum would address not only a larger addition to the tech ed center at the high school, but also a larger gymnasium, and a new community center and early childhood learning center, to name a few of the improvements.

Many of members of the public have weighed in, but district administrator Josh Spaeth is hoping they will reach out to him, so he can walk them through what the process will look like.

“Lot of assumptions, doesn’t mean they’re facts,” he said at a school board meeting March 11. “It’s important to understand what we’re getting with the tech center.”

If Cadott had followed through with the previous referendum that was passed in the spring 2023 election, they would have gotten a 3,000 square foot addition to the tech center, for $4 million of the $9.9 million approved by voters. By restarting and asking for a new referendum to pass, Cadott would see a 14,000 square foot tech addition, for the same $4 million amount.

Last year, the language with the $9.9 million referendum stated the funds, if approved, would be used for capital improvements, such as a remodel of the face room and the high school library, and installing air conditioning. That would not give a secure funneling entrance when people are buzzed in, nor a childcare center or community center.

The new referendum would also allow for modern furniture updates, which are a lot more user friendly, not to mention aesthetically pleasing.

“Slowing down and doing things right really made a big difference,” said Spaeth, who added that the district wants to want to change how they are educating kids, but also the atmosphere of the school. “The goal would be to give the whole school a new, fresh look.”

The final public informational session will take place Monday, March 25, at 6 p.m., in the auditorium, where the Arcadia School District superintendent will be onhand, to discuss the daycare center they have in the school, and can share any successes or things that Arcadia wishes they’d done differently.

“There’s just a lot of stuff we’re overdue for,” said Cadott school Board president Cory LaNou.

As a way to continue with the most efficient learning for students, the board approved the 2024-25 calendar, after a committee was created of elementary and middle/high school teachers, to decide upon what worked and what didn’t. In passing the calendar, there will be two days of summer school in August, which is not the official start of school, but is a good kick-off to another year of learning.

“It will be good for the funding and FTEs,” said Spaeth. Casey Yeager, board member, wants to make sure parents know it not officially the start of school, but that students are highly encouraged to attend. Spaeth agreed that will happen and said that other districts are doing the same thing, with very high attendance, at least in the elementary level.

The extra days get kids off on the right track and allow them to have some fun with learning, early on. Deb Delyea, special education director, mentioned that the summer school days will affect ACT testing, as they cannot test in the first window. Administrators acknowledged that and already planned to begin testing in the second window.

LaNou says he would love to see the calendar line-up spring break with the other area school districts, so that they don’t overlap.

“It’s kind of a weird thing to me that we don’t have more communication,” said LaNou. “It’d be my hope, in the years to come, that the districts can work together, to get that.”

The board also approved the 2024-25 contract with CESA 10, for the same services, except for one, which was taken care of by the district in the hiring of an occupational therapist three days a week, at a savings to Cadott of $20,000. The new position also ensures consistency, with the same person available for the students each time.

“It was a good move,” said Spaeth.

Members also accepted the creation of the Robert “Rusty” Gilles Youth Agricultural scholarship, set up by the family through the Community Foundation of Chippewa County. The scholarship is a designated endowment that bestows $250 to students who take agricultural courses and trainings, and attend seminars or other events.

Also approved, were the resignations of kindergarten teacher Heidi Spilde; assistant football coach Jason Poehls; and junior high girls basketball coach Katherine Lyons.

Spilde made the decision to stay at home with her children for the time being, but hopes someday to return to Cadott.

There is no other school or group of incredible, hard-working and passionate people, that I would rather work with, wrote Spilde.

Peohls gave his notice, because he wants to step back and let the younger generation take over, but wishes to stay on as a volunteer.

I am really proud of where the program is at, he wrote. From when we started to where it is at, is really rewarding.

As for Lyons, she wants to see her younger brother play basketball and is interested in a cross country coaching opportunity.

The board also approved the hire of junior high track coach Autumn Yeager and occupational therapist Megan Tait.

Nathan Steinmetz, middle/high school principal, reported on the new bell schedule that is taking effect, based on what the staff wants to see.

“They wanted more minutes added to the class, so they get to meet with the students more often on a daily basis,” said Steinmetz.

The new bell schedule still has a good chunk of time for intervention and study hall, as well as time for a student to do independent study or online classes. That is all part of making sure the high school is meeting all the students’ needs with the new schedule and course offerings.

Steinmetz also said they are working on Fastbridge progress monitoring, as yet another way to help families stay on top of academics.

“Again, this is a new process this year," he said, “so we’re just trying to find out what the best way is to do it and how we can use it to bring new students in, and graduate students out, as we’re moving along.”

On the elementary side, principal Brad Rogers reported that they are wrapping up the Wisconsin math essential standards conversations outcomes by April 1.

“They need to be fully assessable by the end of this year,” said Rogers.

Elementary staff is gathering evidence by target, then teaching and intervening by target.

“But the biggest question is, what action are we taking,” said Rogers. “The evidence doesn’t really matter, if we aren’t doing anything about it.”