Cadott School Board; Coaching positions added to meet student interest

Kyle Seiberling proposed building picnic tables for outside the high school commons, as his Eagle Scout project. The Cadott School Board approved the plan May 9. Photo by Julia Wolf

By Julia Wolf

Additional coaching staff is a go for the 2022-23 school year, after Cadott School Board members heard how predicted student participation numbers show extra coaches will be needed.

The news of growing numbers came during a regular school board meeting May 9, when athletic director Erin Crank proposed a girls wrestling coach and a girls C-team basketball coach positions.

For the girls wrestling coach position, Crank says the past season was the first, where the WIAA sponsored girls individual State wrestling.

“The push now, is to grow that sport within the state of Wisconsin,” said Crank.

She says they know they have one returning female wrestler, one eighth grader moving up and has heard interest from parents at freshman orientation, whose daughters are interested in going out for the sport.

Crank says there are several WIAA girlsonly events planned across the state, some of which overlap with weekends where the boys would be at other events. She says the schedule is still to be determined, as the girls team will likely go to competitions with the boys, as well. However, with the potential for the girls to go to girls-only competitions, Crank says she would like to see a paid coach go with them.

“The salary that I’m proposing, is one that we pay to assistant coaches,” said Crank.

She says the wrestling head coach will continue to take the lead with the administrative part of the program.

“It lines up with our five-year goal, so it makes sense to me,” said Cory LaNou, board president.

For the girls basketball position, Crank says they are estimating as many as 32 girls out for the sport next year.

“I think it warrants that we would have enough for a third team,” said Crank.

She says the interest in basketball speaks volumes of the program and the coaching staff that kept the girls engaged through the years. She says the C-team’s schedule may differ from the other teams, as there aren’t many girls teams, especially within the conference, with three levels.

“It’s nice to see it grow,” said Christine Rowe, board clerk.

Both positions were approved in the action portion of the meeting.

Members also approved Kyle Seiberling’s Eagle Scout project. Seiberling, Troop 72, said he would like to construct picnic tables for outside the high school commons.

LaNou asked how many picnic tables Seiberling had in mind.

“I would like to do anywhere from three to five, depending on how much funding I can receive from the community and from other sources,” said Seiberling.

He says he and his troop plan to build the tables, and do most of the fundraising themselves, adding the school board is welcome to sponsor one or more tables, if they would like.

Board vice president Becca Blanchette asked what the estimated cost of each table is. Seiberling says he is figuring $200-$225, per table.

“I hope to do them sometime over the summer,” said Seiberling.

Brad Sonnentag, board member, asked how they could secure the tables, so they don’t go missing. LaNou pointed out the tables will be heavy and they could chain them together, as further deterrent.

“If you guys have any specifications you want added to them, any words, any spots for chains to be attached, I can work that into the design,” said Seiberling.

Rowe said it would be nice to have a couple handicap accessible tables, to which others agreed.

Seiberling also says he is willing to come back and give the board an update, if they would like.

“It sounds like a great idea,” said Blanchette.

A new scholarship fund was also approved, during the meeting. The “All Dreams are Possible/Oh the Places You’ll Go” scholarship fund was proposed by Deb Harding, former Cadott English teacher.

Jenny Starck, district administrator, says, like the other scholarships, it would be managed through the Community Foundation of Chippewa County and set in a pass-through fund, specifically for Cadott students. The $1,000 scholarship would be non-renewable.

“So, every year, it would be a different student,” said Starck.

The hire of Russ Nelson, junior and senior high counselor; Gabby Werthwein, firstgrade teacher; and Hannah Hawkins, fifthgrade teacher, were also approved.

The resignation of Hannah Graff, fifthgrade teacher, was also accepted.

I have felt nothing but support from the administration and leadership during my time at Cadott, and am grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been presented with during the last four years, wrote Graff, in her resignation letter.

Board members also approved the resignation of junior and senior high social studies teacher Jeff Trunkel.

I have enjoyed my time here at Cadott and have learned a tremendous amount about teaching, because of the improvementfocused environment fostered here, wrote Trunkel.

The resignation of Kris Bejin as the Destination Imagination coach was also approved.

I have very much enjoyed my roles as team manager/teams coordinator for the past thirteen years, wrote Bejin. This dual role has been incredibly rewarding and inspiring.

The board also approved updates to the Academic and Career Planning (ACP) plan, during the meeting.

Katelyn Stanton, junior and senior high guidance counselor, shared a few highlights for what they would like to add to the plan. She says they did a career fair for the high school and would potentially like to include the eighth graders in the future.

“Another thing we wanted to add to [the plan], is setting up drivers education here in Cadott,” said Stanton.

She says they have noticed kids who do not get their license when they are eligible, because they do not have the opportunity.

“Part of having a driver’s license is being able to get to work,” said Stanton, adding it also gives students extra opportunities to build their resumes with volunteer activities.

Keith Becker, agricultural education teacher, says their goal for the current year, was to improve parent communication.

LaNou says he likes the idea of bringing drivers ed back. Starck says it is not funded anymore and they are not certain the program will be ready for this summer, but the district would be able to count that time as summer school minutes, if they use a certified teacher.

Starck also shared additional information about employee drug testing, if the board would decide to go that route. She got pricing information, with a $24 collection fee. A five-panel screen would cost $24 and a 10-panel screen would come in at $31.

“What happens is, anytime there is not a negative result, there’s a medical review officer, that contacts the person, and works with the person and their physician,” said Starck. “Maybe they have a prescription.”

That would cost an additional $55. She says the attorney is able to draft a policy for the district and said she would begin to work with the attorney to draft a base policy for annual drug testing for those driving school vehicles.