Lake Holcombe School Board; Strides made with Plan to Win efforts to reach students

Kurt Lindau, Lake Holcombe School District administrator, explains how referendums work, during a March 21, school board meeting. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

The work continues at Lake Holcombe School to help students reach their potential, with the Plan to Win strategy, in an effort to respond to student needs. During their regular meeting March 21, the Lake Holcombe School Board heard an update on how things are going.

In the elementary part of the school, interventionists are dividing time in the classroom, with smaller groups, to add more curriculum support.

“What that does, is give each student more contact time with teachers, rather than having some of their ELA time being independent,” said interventionist Juli Maciosek.

Maciosek actually sat down with the younger students and showed them what happens with data from the tests they take. The students were astounded that not only do people see their results and answers, but the data also gets used to calculate scores.

“I’m hoping to see some of that thinking transferred over to our state testing – that it does mean something, that someone looks at it,” said Maciosek.

At the middle/high school level, teachers are offering extra time to help with studies, where educators can see the improvement.

“Students who want the help, they can come get the help,” said high school math teacher Heath Hill.

Chris Clark, middle school math teacher, said they can see at-risk kids moving out of the red area with the extra help.

“We’re seeing improvements with the group,” said Clark. English teacher Beth Meddaugh said in working with students for their reading, they are getting to the core of where they’re struggling.

“We have seen big strides,” said Meddaugh. On a special education level, teacher Todd Senoraske says by inclusive practices, they empower kids, when they can raise their hands and make contributions in class.

“It’s important to expose all students to high levels of learning,” he said Special education teacher Shane Sanderson says the teachers are working more, but no one is grumbling, because they can see it’s what’s best for the kids.

“Everyone’s trying,” he said. “It’s really nice to work in a school district that isn’t just waiting for something to change.”

Included in something that is good for the students and staff, is the School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement with the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department.

One of the SROs, Deputy Brad Altman, said when he was approached about serving in the school capacity, that he wasn’t sure it was for him, but he thought he’d give it a shot for a year.

“I’m not giving it up,” said Altman. “I’ve been really glad to have this role here in this school.”

Altman says it’s nice to have the opportunity to help care for the county and build relationships, with the 10-15 hours/week outside their normal case load. At first, students were apprehensive and thought they were in trouble when the officers were there, but over time, have come to the conclusion that officers are just part of the staff.

“Our main role up here is not to be disciplinarian…I think so far, this has been going excellent, as far as the staff not expecting us to do that,” said Altman. “I’m excited to build this program.”

In the business portion of the meeting, the board agreed on a BMO purchasing card (P-Card), which keeps track of gift cards purchased and makes everything easier on the financial end. They also approved a resolution, authorizing a land sale by CESA 10, for a piece of property purchased with a potential need to expand a decade ago. Now, there is not a need for that.

“They’ll take the funds that they will receive from that sale and put it in their long-term capital improvement fund for maintenance,” said district administrator Kurt Lindau.

Members also approved the hire of Karlie Antczak as the assistant softball coach and the resignations of head girls varsity basketball coach Jennifer Lechleitner; assistant girls varsity basketball and varsity assistant volleyball coach Allison Golat-Hattamer; and assistant football coaches Kaden Crank and Bryce Plummer.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the team through

the years, wrote Lechleitner, however, am ready to be a parent in the stands and cheering from the stands.

Golat, Crank and Plummer said they enjoyed coaching, but are unsure of their schedules for the next school year.

The board also accepted $52.10, from Eastbay Lodge, to the music department; $1,585, from the Dennis & Jeanne Boisvert Family Endowment Fund through the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, for elementary classroom needs; $2,500, from Give Chippewa County Giving Circle through the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, for the greenhouse improvement project; and $280, from the Camaraderie Club, for elementary classroom needs.

During his report, Lindau mentioned that the Northwest Health Cooperative met and voted to remain with Security Health Plan, Lake Holcombe’s current health insurance provider. The three-year deal, would have a maximum 9 percent cap in years two and three, with Lake Holcombe’s share 8 percent (projected 5 percent budgeted), so Lindau is working on a different option.

If the district goes with a high-deductible plan, they can reduce rates by 12.8 percent.

“We could use the premium savings to fund the additional deductible for the employee,” said Lindau.

Lindau also talked about the upcoming referendum vote April 5, where the district is asking for $857,000 a year, for three years, to keep the school open and operating, with the low aided district set at a certain levy limit. Lindau says there have been numerous ways to try to come up with a new funding formula, but nothing has come of it so far.

“Operating costs are continuing to increase,” he said. The last state budget saw a zero dollar increase per student on the revenue limit, no per pupil aid increase and state aid reduced by 15 percent for Lake Holcombe.

“Eventually, we are going to be at zero,” said Lindau, adding Lake Holcombe is not alone, as 85 school districts are set for referendums this year.

Previous boards, as well as the current board, said if they are going to have a school, they have to have a good selection of offerings, which comes from the referendum. Lindau says Lake Holcombe has been able to accomplish a lot through Fund 46, so projects don’t pile up and have to be taken to the taxpayers.

If the referendum fails, dissolution would occur and students would be reassigned, as would tax dollars.

“You will pay taxes somewhere, whatever district you land,” said Lindau.

If dissolution would happen, the Boundary Appeals Board would redraw the lines. Lindau hopes that won’t happen and looks to taxpayers to support their school.

“There are a lot of cool things happening here and everyone needs to be proud of it, proud of the work that’s being done here,” he said.

As a notice, the next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 25, at 6 p.m.