Gilman considers continuing co-op

District will seek WIAA OK to continue baseball co-op with Thorp

SHAWNA KONIECZNY

REPORTER

During the citizens input at Monday’s Gilman school board meeting, Gilman’s baseball coach, Dave Kroeplin, approached the board asking to continue the team’s co-op with Thorp’s baseball program.

“Our numbers did not go up like we had hoped for our baseball program. We have 8 committed right now and trying to get some more, and we just cannot get numbers this year,” said Kroeplin. “With that being said, we will not have a baseball program, and the kids who do want to play baseball won’t be able to if we will not be able to get a co-op with Thorp.”

Kroeplin suggested that they continue the co-op for two more years so they can build the program back up by getting more players and letting the current players get experience. Doing the co-op again would increase the number of players so they play at their own level, whether that’s varsity or junior varsity (JV). Board member, Chris Skabroud, expressed that having players play at their own level is key to keeping players in the program. This sparked a conversation about the options available for the future of the baseball program. The WIAA’s deadline to get co-ops approved was June 1 and at that point in time, there was no discussion between students, parents, and the board so Leipart couldn’t sign off on the co-op by that deadline.

Gilman’s Superintendent, Wally Leipart, explained their options for next baseball season. The baseball program could do a JV-only schedule, co-op on the JV level and keep two separate varsity schedules, or they could go through with the varsity co-op, but they would not be eligible for the state tournament because it’s after the deadline. It was brought up that it wouldn’t be fair to Thorp’s team to skip the playoffs this next year because of the co-op with Gilman.

Leipart said that they could appeal to the WIAA to get the co-op and be eligible for playoffs, but there’s an extremely low chance that it would get approved. “We should pursue trying. The most they can say is no and we are in the same spot we are now,” said board member, Bruce Ewings. The board approved to make an appeal to the WIAA to see if they could co-op with Thorp and still be able to play in the playoffs.

A number of reports and updates were given throughout the remainder of the meeting. Leipart gave the end of year Achievement Gap Reduction report, saying that while they didn’t get as much growth as they had hoped, they were still excited with the growth they were able to make. Gilman’s new reading program, Success Makers, got underway during the spring and Leipart expressed excitement for how it has helped the students.

Because of some extra revenue the school received last year, they were able to move some of their own funding to this year’s budget, giving an increase the projected revenue fund. There were some minor changes to the budget because of the state funding they had received so some expenses were lowered. “We anticipate an actually surplus to be around $355,000 for this year,” said Leipart. The board approved to relocate that surplus to Fund 10, their undesignated general fund.

The school district is looking at 10% or greater increase on their health insurance rate. Leipart also explained the possibility of school districts being put into an exchange traded funds (ETF) pool for insurance. If this were to happen, the district would have to choose between three different plan options that are available in Taylor County. Leipart said that each provider has a very narrow network so employees would have to make some changes to their health care plans.

“When we go into these large pools, it’s very difficult for us to make adjustments because we are in the pool. So when we maybe want to tweak a little bit, add a benefi t, maybe redefine a benefit, it’s much more difficult because we don’t have that say,” said Leipart.

Due to a large injection of state funds into education, Leipart told the board that there will be a direct reduction in taxpayer responsibility. With this state funding, the school district will see zero increase in their revenue limit. “Good news is that we can lower local property taxes, bad news is that we don’t have any additional revenue limit,” said Leipart. He said that they’ll have to go to a referendum for the 2022-23 year.

During the 2021-2022 budget forecast, Leipart talked about how the district’s budget and finances will look in the upcoming years. “If we continue as is, if we don’t try to do things differently, if we continue to provide education the same way we always have, by the time we get into the 2024-25 school year, you would be at a $1.2 million deficit at least,” said Leipart. He said that that number can change. The district is just getting out of their final year from the last referendum they passed in 2017.

Leipart suggested that they have to reevaluate and change the way the district uses money so that going into the next referendum, they are not asking for a million dollars. Structural engineers and an insurance adjuster have come to the recently damaged track. They are waiting on American Asphalt to connect with Leipart to come and take a look at the track. The track was damaged by a lift that was used to replace lights. The accident is making the board question how to replace lights for the track in the future so something like this won’t occur again.

The board approved the replacement of the main pump and water filtration system for $62,745 as well as seven classroom ventilators for $86,596.

The District’s Technology Governance Committee will be meeting to prepare a training for students and parents for when the school starts using the large amount of iPads the district purchased. Leipart gave the annual seclusion and restraint report, saying that one student from the elementary and one student from the middle school were involved in restraints.

The board recognized bus drivers Dan Schmitt and Debra James who are retiring after 29 and 28 years of service, respectfully. Kitchen staff, Sharon Hughes, also retired. Kayla Vara was hired as an elementary success and intervention teacher and Jeanie Drier was hired as the fitness center coordinator.