Superintendent’s Corner

District Administrator Mike Endreas

What’s rockin’ in Rocketville?

It is exciting to put the finishing touches on another school year. I am proud of the work our students and staff have done to make this a very successful year. I am amazed by all the accomplishments of our kids as scholars, musicians, artists, athletes and all the other activities our school has to offer. I am proud of the well-rounded citizens we are producing.

Saturday May 21, 2022, not only marked a milestone for the 55 graduates of the School District of Spencer, it also marked the beginning of a new era of commencement ceremonies in our new facility. I wish the future engineers, educators, welders, trades people, business people and military great luck in their endeavors and want them to know Spencer will always be their home and we will always be here for them.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of our retirees luck in their new careers. As a district we have had several staff members who have played a key role in the past success along with the laying the foundation for the future success of our District. In no specific order I would like to thank: -- Jill Schulz - Elementary Principal -- Greg Oestreich- High School Math Teacher -- Mary Buss - Fifth Grade Teacher -- Laura Anderson - Second Grade Teacher -- Judy Barton- Middle School Math Teacher -- Ann Pankratz- First Grade Teacher -- Mary Kolstad- First Grade Teacher -- Randy Veale- Instrumental Music Educator -- Debra Stuttgen- Paraprofessional With a combined 277 years of experience in teaching and guiding our students, they will be greatly missed. I wish them a long and happy retirement.

At our last board meeting the board reorganized and selected a new officer team moving forward: Jordan Buss - President Becky Gorst - Vice President Shawn Lyon - Clerk ` JamesKelnhofer-Treasurer Barb Wesle - Director I am excited about the impact that these five members will have on our district as they represent the community in the decision-making process for our students.

Also, at our last meeting the board approved a resolution to prepay debt in the amount of $1.705 million from the 2019 referendum debt. $1.1 million came from the unused funds left over from the FEMA grant along with $600,000 which was approved at last year’s annual meeting. The School District will be debt free from the building renovation in 2032, reducing the length of the loan by three years with an additional interest savings from prepayment of $307,381.

With the large number of retirements I listed earlier, there will be many new faces in our district which I am sure will accentuate an already outstanding school. I will be announcing all of our new hires in a future article but would like to take this time to welcome Edward Ikert as our new elementary principal. Eddie will do a great job of carrying on the great work that Jill Schulz has done for our District. Mr. Ikert is currently working as a third-grade teacher in the Marathon School District and will officially begin on July 1.

We have a great deal to be thankful for and I am especially grateful for the work of our staff in making the 2021-22 school year a great success.

Have a great summer!