ELA curriculum selected, maintenance projects approved

As the close of the year approaches, the seniors have their countdown posted with 30 days left for them. There has been a lot of activity at our school.

I would like to start off by thanking our English and language arts (ELA) curriculum selection committee for all their hard work and effort on selecting the ELA curriculum, Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA). This was a daunting task, as school districts need to follow the new regulations of Act 20, the new reading initiative that the state is working on for all Wisconsin school districts to follow. The committee includes Doug Dieckman, Amy Humke, Pam Smith, Sandy Haselow, Jessica Kurz, Mary Ellen Johnson and Autumn Ninke.

The district has approved several maintenance projects that will take place during the summer months. These projects include: two condensate tanks for the boilers, boiler tubes in both boilers being replaced, replacing boiler burners, updating the HVAC software programming, replacing the 1997 addition roof on the main building, updating LED lighting in several rooms and outside lights, and getting the outside concession stand completed for the fall season. These upgrades will be a major improvement to our building.

We continue to collaborate in many ways with Greenwood. The joint drama department performed an excellent rendition of “Peter Pan” for their three-act play. Congratulations to all involved in such a strong performance. There are also two classes of Greenwood students coming over to Loyal for College English 11 and both (Greenwood and Loyal) tech ed teachers are teaching two separate classes, carpentry and welding, in the Loyal tech ed lab. We are also co-oping middle school track and field this spring as a new co-op. Mr. Green (Greenwood District Administrator) and I will be meeting with Baird Financial Company to start the logistics of the consolidation feasibility study and get that process started.

Congratulations to all our student organizations on earning a trip to your respective state competitions and good luck to all of you.

I would like to welcome our new board members, Matthew Kubista and Kirk Haslow, to the board and to thank Carrie Becker and Harlan Hinkelmann for their years of service on the School District of Loyal Board of Education.

We are looking forward to finishing the school year strong and are excited for seniors and graduation.

Thank you to our staff for all they do for our students and families. I would especially like to thank them for the time, effort and expertise they bring to school each day. All their efforts help our students become the best they can be.