Cadott School Board - Not every student can take the same path

By Ginna Young

Although it’s not in place yet, Cadott School is looking into an alternate education program, to give students more options on their path to graduation. The board of education heard a presentation on the matter April 8.

Aleisha Harper spoke about the changes the program can make to graduation pathway requirements, when typical high school doesn’t fit students’ needs. Currently, the district requires 25.5 credits to graduate, but with the alternate program, a student could have 17 credits, plus a work-based mental health awareness option.

In addition, there would be consumer skills and job shadowing. Harper knows that not all students are college bound or have the resources needed to excel as an adult, which is where the alternate program comes into place.

“This gives the option for any kid,” she said. Prior to implementing any plan, the board would need to approve it, along with some other details that need to be ironed out.

“Hopefully, we’re starting to move this direction next school year,” said district administrator Josh Spaeth.

Even though the recent $24 million referendum for improvements to the district failed, the administration is figuring out how to proceed with the previous $9 million referendum that was passed in 2023, to make sure they are being the most responsible on how to spend the money.

Because the wording of the $9 million referendum does not allow for additions, Spaeth knows they need to get creative to make a secure entrance happen at the high school, with remodeling possibly the answer. He also wants to make sure the tech ed improvements are correct.

“We have some work to do on future referendums,” said Spaeth. “Cadott’s not dead and we got to keep moving forward.”

Education is paramount to administration and work continues at the high school on that, including a class grid, which shows all classes offered next year, so they know where the teachers will be, as well as to accommodate the kids with what they want to take.

“Right, now, currently, it sits pretty good, as far as students not missing any of the classes that they selected, with maybe just a couple of them in there,” said middle/ high school principal Nathan Steinmetz.

As for the elementary, staff is working on collaboration and implementation, but state testing hit, putting the brakes on for the time being.

“State testing does put a crimp into that,” said elementary principal Brad Rogers.

During the meeting, members approved the resignation of athletic director Erin Crank; 4K paraprofessional Angie Danielson; elementary reading interventionist Shay Kyes; and junior high football coach Stephen Kelly.

It has been one of my greatest honors to serve the district in this capacity over the last three years, wrote Crank. Cadott athletics is on the rise and I could not be more proud of the progress we have made over the recent years, or be more excited about the future of our programs.

I love the direction the district is heading into and will support the efforts to bring our district up to the level that our children deserve to learn at, wrote Danielson.

Working directly with students as a reading interventionist has been an extremely rewarding job and I am so very thankful to have been able to work with students in a small group setting, wrote Kyes.

The board also approved the hire of 4K teacher Claire Bleimehl; seventh and eighth-grade English teacher Scout Lindquist; and high school paraprofessional Chelsi Lauer.

They also agreed to hold their organizational meeting Monday, April 22, at 7 p.m., for the purpose of swearing in new members and appointment of board positions.