Cadott School Board; Next steps plotted in referendum project

Tech ed teacher David Goodman (front) agreed touring other school’s tech ed facilities would be useful in deciding what Cadott should do when updating their area, during a special Cadott School Board meeting April 24. He says he is willing to give input on what would benefit students the most, and says his main focus for the area is on the safety and functionality of the spaces. Photo by Julia Wolf

By Julia Wolf

The Cadott School board held an organizational meeting, following the spring elections, April 24, where they voted on yearly business, before discussing the next steps for the referendum, in a special board meeting.

During the organizational meeting, Cory LaNou was voted to be president; Kevin Roshell as vice president; Karen Winchell as clerk; and Casey Yeager as treasurer. LaNou was also selected as the WASB delegate, with Roshell as an alternate for that position. LaNou was also named the CESA 10 representative.

Superintendent Jenny Starck shared information from Baird about the financial next steps for the referendum. Board members were supplied with two borrowing plans. The first one shown had a zero impact on the mill rate.

“It happens to do with the interest rate and the current valuation,” said Starck, which she added was the option recommended by Baird. Starck also reminded board members the levy is set during every annual meeting, so each year, they could decide to pay extra principal, if they feel the constituents could do that.

“It gives you the flexibility each year, to adjust it, based on your state aid, based on your valuations, all of those things,” said Starck.

The other option is a 3-cent increase to the mill rate. That option locks the district into a higher debt payment, every year. That plan does reduce the amortization schedule, but does not offer the same flexibility as the first option.

Roshell asked if it was possible to see a hybrid of the two options, where they structure it like the first option, but make payments on the principal and interest like the second option.

“Just to see what the overall debt would be against it,” said Roshell. “Because, you’re talking about a $3 million difference between the two.”

Starck says they can ask to see that. Board member Rod Tegels says his concern, is how much would be spent on interest payments, before principal payments begin.

Starck also reminded board members of the conversation at the last meeting, where Debby Brunett from Baird talked about the unique situation, where the district would be able to long-term borrow, at a lower interest rate than short-term investment rates.

No decisions were made on the financial aspects of the referendum, during the meeting.

The board then turned their attention to the next steps, when it comes to the construction portion of the referendum.

“To be blunt, I don’t feel that we’ve done a great job exploring all the options for the main part of this, which is the tech ed and ag part of it,” said LaNou.

He also says he wants to make sure they plan for the future needs of those areas and have space for that.

Board member Brad Sonnentag asked how they get multiple opinions to decide what they need.

LaNou says he would like to see a few different tech ed areas, and decide what they like and what they don’t. He also asked tech ed teacher David Goodman, who was in attendance, what he would like to see in the area.

“My biggest focus is going to be on what is going to be best for students and safety, you know, the functionality of all the spaces,” said Goodman.

He says he has some ideas on what that would look like, such as a centrally located classroom, so all the spaces can be used a little bit better. Goodman also agreed touring other tech ed facilities would be helpful.

The board tabled the discussion until after a closed session, later in the meeting, where they directed incoming superintendent Josh Spaeth to put together a team, tasked with getting a clearer idea of the district’s needs and wants.

The expected report-back date for the team was tentatively set for September.

Some initial staffing changes for the 2023-24 school year, were also approved during the meeting. The potential first change is an early education special education teacher, which was added as a temporary position after the start of the school year for additional help, would be continued as a position next year.

Starck shared the second change up for consideration, which is moving a 4K teacher up to kindergarten and only having two sections of 4K, since a smaller than usual 4K class is expected in the 2023-24 school year. The board already approved a one-year leave for a kindergarten teacher, so the 4K teacher would cover the year.

“If, come September, we have a glut of four-year-olds come in, we would revisit this,” said Starck.

Elementary principal Terri Olson says it looks like the smaller 4K class will only be a one-year thing.

Yeager asked what the paraprofessional who works with the 4K teacher will do, when the teacher moves to teaching kindergarten. Olson says her recommendation is the paraprofessional also moves to helping with kindergarten.

Another potential change is adding a full-time literacy coach. Spaeth says the person would do direct interventions at the elementary level and coach teachers district-wide in intervention practices.

Spaeth also talked about whether they would like to keep a dean position or change the title to an assistant principal position.

“I think we can utilize that position more, as far as doing classroom observations and working directly with the principals,” said Spaeth.

Board members approved the staff changes, as presented, so the district can begin advertising the positions.

The hire and contract for elementary principal Brad Rogers was also approved, following the closed session, along with updates to Spaeth’s contract for the superintendent position.

The board members also decided to move forward with interviews for two candidates and possible selection, for the vacant school board position. A special meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 4, at 6 p.m., in the high school library.

As a notice to the public, the May Committee of the Whole meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 22, because of the Memorial Day holiday.

[caption id="attachment_176955" align="alignnone" width="300"] Newly elected board members were sworn into office, April 24, as part of the Cadott School Board organizational meeting. Rod Tegels (left) and Casey Yeager stood to take their oaths. Photo by Julia Wolf[/caption]