Gilman School Board gets an update on curriculum
The Gilman School District is getting a curriculum update of both the Social Studies and the 4K Curriculum.
Middle and High School Social Studies teacher Brad Kozaczuk will be presenting a curriculum update to the school board at the November meeting. Subjects of this update include curriculum requirements such as primary and secondary sources meaning that there is both a digital and a physical textbook available. The lessons in the new curriculum are set to be both engaging and interactive for all students. The update will also include a review of both 6th and 7th grade courses.
Administrator Walter Leipart said “Brad is thinking of introducing U.S. History in middle school then in freshman year, possibly doing a field review where you would look at all components of social studies in your freshman year and then go into American History and War Studies in the sophomore and junior year.”
The proposal will be brought to the board in November with the anticipated cost for this new curriculum being $5,000/grade level or $200/student for a 6 year license. The funding for this curriculum will be taken from Federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds. The change in this curriculum will happen gradually, with the first part of the change happening as soon as this upcoming semester, and the complete curriculum changed within two and a half years.
Another curriculum that will be changing its gears is the 4K curriculum. A new teacher was brought in this year to teach the 4K class. The previous teacher had several self-created materials to work with, so in an effort to help out the new teacher this year, the district has already purchased some new curriculum material to give her a good foundation to work from.
Curriculum changes for 4K include Language Arts and Phonics. The next piece of the puzzle would be to include programs such as Creative Curriculum and Al’s Pals. Creative Curriculum is a play based learning technique that ties in with academic standards and skills with academic play. While Al’s Pals teaches kids how to work with others and make positive choices to be able to move on to Kindergarten. This again will be paid through ESSER funds.
In other business:
The annual budget was finalized with a tax levy of $2,338,305 this is slightly higher than what was presented at the annual meeting at the beginning of the month due to getting the finalized state aid amount. The tax rate is $8.27 per $1,000 of equalized value this is down $2.38 per $1,000 of value from last year’s tax rate.
Third Friday count counted 301 students in the district this year. The pupil count becomes 344 due to summer school programs and E-Succeed students. A declining enrollment trend is still projected to happen in the upcoming years.
The district received a $1,000 donation from the Jump River Lions Club to help pay for warm clothing for students in need.
Two funding requests were submitted through the Fulcrum Foundation to install new primary playground equipment that would be more age appropriate for the two through 5-year-old students. The amount requested is $100,000. Leipart said, “Studies have found that when children have age appropriate playground equipment it can really help to develop their gross and fine motor skills.” The second grant requested would be a multi-year funding in the amount of $400,000 to purchase equipment to help with the design and production of various projects. They are also looking into working with Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) and other industry equipment dealers that would provide students certifications to be workforce ready if they choose that career path.
Vikki Noonan has resigned as middle school girls basketball coach. Candace Grunseth has accepted this position.
Some of the flooring repair projects will be completed this week with the final part of the first phase being completed over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Nine students are planning to attend the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Conference in Indianapolis from Oct. 26-Oct. 30. Heather Orth will be the chaperone for this event.
After much consideration the board approved the purchase of the ball field finisher. Considering various donations from both the community and the baseball and softball programs, it was renegotiated as a need for the district not just a want. Funding has not come through but when it does, the finisher will be purchased.
