Cadott School Board; Scoreboard setup for high school remains undecided

The Cadott School Board approved a bid for work on the high school commons bathroom remodeling project, as well as continued discussion on the gym upgrade, during a regular meeting May 10.

Prior to the regular meeting, the board held an organizational meeting to fill board positions. Al Sonnentag was elected as president; Becca Blanchette, vice president; Donna Albarado, clerk; and Christine Rowe, treasurer.

Board member Cory LaNou was appointed to be the Wisconsin Association of School Boards delegate, with Cedric Boettcher as the alternate. Albarado was selected as the CESA 10 representative.

Once the organization meeting was finished, the board went about their regular business. Members gave their input on what type of scoreboard the district should purchase for the gym.

Jenny Starck, district administrator, says they could keep with the type of scoreboard they have or get one that displays additional statistical information. She noted that there is quite the budget difference between the two options.

“It wouldn’t, probably, always be able to be used,” said Starck, of the additional scoreboard features. “Just because, it would require another volunteer to enter that data.”

Ryan Beachem, director of buildings and grounds, says a scoreboard similar to what is in the gym now, would be about $8,500, while a board with space for the statistics would be about $26,000.

Rowe asked why they want to replace the boards in the big gym.

“Is there something wrong with them?” asked Rowe.

Starck says, one big advantage of getting new boards, is they would be wireless, so they would no longer have some of the issues they currently have. Beachem says they are putting new bleachers in, too, and won’t have to wire the new bleachers, if they go with wireless scoreboards.

“And the ones in the small gym need to be replaced anyways,” said Beachem, so the boards currently in the big gym will be moved to the little gym.

Beachem says the scoreboards in the big gym need to be taken down for the remodel, so it is a good time to switch them out.

Sonnentag says his rationale behind getting scoreboards with additional statistics, is so people will be able to see visible change after the revamping is complete. He says much of the gym remodeling cost is going toward the new HVAC system, which very few people will see.

“I want the wow factor, I guess,” said Sonnentag.

Sonnentag says it looks like a lot of money, but when viewed in the grand scheme of the gym project, it’s really not so much.

Boettcher also asked if Beachem was looking for sponsors for the new scoreboard. Beachem says he has not, because he doesn’t know what to present for it.

Brad Sonnentag, board member, asked if they could look for sponsors and see how much they will cover, before making a decision on what type of board to get. The scoreboard will be discussed more at the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Members did approve Certified Plumbing for the commons bathroom, for $55,388 and Rohm for general contract work in the commons bathroom for $34,885.

A logging bid from Kron Forest Products for the school forest was also approved, for the amount of $26,565.

The board also approved the purchase of an elementary literacy curriculum, as presented at a previous meeting, for $124,663.

In the information portion of the meeting, Starck also gave a graduation update. Weather permitting, the ceremony will be held outside on the football field, Friday, May 28.

“Spectators, this year, will be limited to those with tickets,” said Starck. “Though, we believe, all families were able to get enough tickets for their immediate family.”

She says, since it will still be light out during the ceremony, the student video will not be able to play outdoors, but a QR code for the video will be included in the graduation program.

In the case of inclement weather, graduation will be moved to the gym and tickets will be limited further. Starck says, if the ceremony is moved indoors, the student video will be played as normal.

“We’re not able to necessarily livestream the event, but it would be recorded and posted... almost immediately after,” said Starck.

Rowe asked for the timeline for deciding whether the program will be held outdoors or indoors. Starck says they are planning to decide by that Wednesday, so families have time to plan.

Starck also gave an update on eSucceed. She says she spoke to Wally Leipart, Gilman School superintendent, since that is the authorizing school for eSucceed, about a specifi c procedure to get a monthly report for Cadott students. The procedure will make it so Cadott does not need to individually log in for each student to see their progress.

She says 16 district students have indicated they will continue to learn through eSucceed next year.

Members also approved the hire of Jessica Brown, elementary counselor; Cade Klusendorf, first grade teacher; Rhonda Pederson, junior/senior high school secretary; Alex Rothbauer, high school track; and Kayla Hefti, junior/senior high special education teacher.

The board also approved the resignation of Macey Staab, family and consumer education teacher.

Thank you for the opportunity to work at the Cadott School District, wrote Staab. I have enjoyed my time, and wish the staff and students the best.

The resignation of Marcus Thompson, junior/senior high school support staff and junior high boys basketball coach, was also approved.

I greatly appreciate the opportunities that this school has provided me, as well as the professional guidance that has allowed me to grow within my chosen field of education, wrote Thompson in his resignation letter.

Members also approved the retirement of Paula Lockbaum, elementary secretary.

My career as an elementary secretary has been rewarding, due to the wonderful colleagues and my employer, wrote Lockbaum. I am now ready to start a new chapter in my life, but will certainly miss you all.

As a reminder to the public, there will be a strategic planning meeting Wednesday, May 19, 6 p.m., at the Cadott High School.

“They’ve come up with kind of a draft plan, that we will ask the community for input on,” said Starck.

Starck says the meeting will center around what the priorities are and the best action steps to meet those goals over the next five years. The meeting will also be an online option available, for those who want to give input on more areas or are unable to make the meeting in-person.