Gilman schools approves job duties for 4K-12 principal
Gilman is moving forward with plans for hiring a 4K to 12 principal.
At Monday’s school board meeting, board members approved the job description for the position. On March 23, the board is scheduled for a closed session meeting to review the candidates for the position and select those they wish to interview.
In the past, administrator Walter Leipart had done double-duty as both elementary principal and district administrator with a separate middle and high school principal. With the previous principal leaving the district, for the past year the district has done a trial of using a three-person dean of students model with the job split between three existing veteran staff members to see if it was workable and a potential cost savings for the district.
Earlier this school year, board members and administration decided that it wasn’t working as intended and the decision was made to seek a 4K-12 principal with Leipart as district administrator.
Reports
Leipart gave an update on the Community Economic Analysis for Rural Wisconsin Communities Program.
The goal of this strategic plan is to help the Gilman School District area take the next steps in revitalizing the community with the aim of creating a thriving, family-friendly community. Through the CEA-RWC process, Gilman stakeholders identified priority concerns for their community and set strategy for forward momentum. As a group the following priorities were identified: Vibrant Main Street: Revive Downtown Gilman by creating a thriving local shopping hub that is attractive to and ideal for residents and visitors, current and future.
Volunteering & Community Engagement: Improve community capacity and engagement by supporting robust opportunities for community members to volunteer and engage through civic participation.
Growth Mindset & Quality of Life: Maximize and celebrate the qualities and opportunities of the GSD area as a rural community to improve the quality of life.
During the teacher collaboration day Leipart reported that the Elementary Teachers did a fantastic job on creating 45 day action plans focused on teacher practice that will support student academic achievement and Middle and High School Teachers created a Portrait of a Gilman Graduate Report Card that identifies how a graduate can be Life, Career, and College Ready.
As part of Teen Dating Awareness Month, the school invited individuals from Stepping Stones to conduct a presentation for high school students on March 9. Topics included Stepping Stones services; Healthy, unhealthy & abusive relationships; Trauma and some of its effects; Consent and boundaries; and, Bullying and bystander intervention.
Leipart reported that UW-Eau Claire is offering an accelerated online pathway to become licensed in both Special Education 4k-12 and Elementary/Middle Education 4k-9.
In other business, board members:
Approved the CESA 10 contract to include a part time School Psychologist and not to include Speech and Language Pathologist services.
Approved Speech and Language Pathology services from Dot Com Therapy for the 2023-2024 school year. Dot Com Therapy will provide a high level of services in a virtual setting similar to the delivery of services we received this year from CESA 10.
Approved the 2023-2024 High School Academic Course Handbook.
Reviewed the 2022 Audit Report which indicates the District is in a sound financial position with effective accounting practices found in districts of similar size.
Approved the Aquatic Science Class trip to the Sea Life Aquarium in Minnesota.
Discussed conducting exit interviews of employees who resign or retire from the District. This topic is being sent to the Policy Committee for further review and recommendations.
Approved the resignations of Roger Halida as Assistant High School Softball Coach, Marcie Boie as Custodian (retirement effective June 1st), Sam Ewings as Paraprofessional, Jenny Tallman as Paraprofessional.
Approved the hire of Kasee Rosemeyer as Assistant High School Softball Coach
