Cornell School Board - Staff member recognized for stellar service

By Ginna Young

There was good news delivered at the Cornell School Board meeting Sept. 23, when it was announced Andrea Hakes, the middle/high school administrative assistant, has been named the Wisconsin Rural School Association Support Staff Person of the Year. Hakes will be awarded the honor in-person, close to the end of October.

Paul Schley, Cornell superintendent, also shared that the district received $150, from Twice Blessed in Bloomer, with a note requesting the money be used to help students in need.

“So, we’re putting it in our Angel Fund (which helps with meal accounts),” said Schley.

He also reported that the head count in the district is the same as last year, but that they are still waiting on open enrollment numbers from Cadott, for full-time equivalents (FTE).

“The FTE is the money count, that’s the important one,” said Schley.

Craig Braaten, middle/high school principal, reported that a former FBI agent will visit the school this October.

“I’ve heard great things about him from the county on this,” said Braaten.

Coordinated by the county, the former agent will conduct an I Can Choose – the Pill Will Kill session, where Cornell has invited a couple other area schools to join them. The event will be for high school age students only.

“It gets pretty intense, I guess,” said Braaten. Braaten’s also been contacted about the annual gun show that is held at the high school building in early spring. The promoter requested the use of the facility again, so they can start planning for it now.

“Unless there are any objections, we’re going to go ahead and move on with the date he proposed, which is March 15 and 16,” said Braaten, adding that there is no school March 17, giving them an extra day to clean up.

In the business portion of the meeting, the board agreed on the hire of Braaten as middle school head football coach; and of assistant middle school football coach Zach Gorham.