Superintendent’s Corner

By Cari Guden

As we find ourselves already immersed in the second semester, it’s a fitting time to reflect on some notable achievements from the first half of the academic year.

Within our business program, we are delighted to announce the successful relaunch of the Edgar School Store. This venture not only provides invaluable hands-on marketing experience for our business education students but also serves as a platform for approximately 21 students (43 total since last year) who have dedicated 60 to 70 hours to learning essential skills in merchandising, sales, and inventory management. What a great way to support our district — buy your Edgar spirit gear here!

We are proud to announce that our middle school has been recognized by US News and World Report as one of the best in the nation. This honor is a credit to the dedication of our school district, the hard work of our families, and the commitment of our students. Together, we continue to strive for educational excellence.

In terms of operational improvements, we have recently secured a bid to replace sections of the roof. Thanks to the additional financial support resulting from the successful 2022 referendum, we are now able to address long-overdue maintenance projects and ensure the safety and integrity of our facilities.

Looking ahead, two critical areas of focus for the upcoming year are staff retention and student enrollment.

Recognizing that high-quality educators are crucial to maintain Edgar’s standards of excellence, we will keep a pulse on compensation so that we are competitive in the current environment of educator shortages.

We extend a warm invitation to families with children who will be four years old by Sept. 1 to join us for the preschool screening and 4-year-old enrollment event on March 15. This event provides a wonderful opportunity to interact with our staff, assess your child’s readiness for school, and enroll them for the 2024-25 academic year.

In response to parent feedback, we’ve made adjustments to our 4-year-old kindergarten program, reallocating resources to introduce a .6 full-time equivalent certified teacher for a three-day week option alongside the existing five-day week option. Families will receive detailed information about these offerings during the preschool screening event to help them make informed decisions.

Lastly, we remind families that open enrollment in Wisconsin is currently underway. For any open enrollment questions pertaining to the 2024-25 school year, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Amy Thuot in the district office.

As we progress through the academic year, the Edgar School District remains committed to fostering a dynamic and enriching learning environment for our students.

Cari Guden