Romig selected to fill vacancy on Gilman School Board

At the school board meeting in Gilman on Monday evening, May 19, the board voted to appoint Derrick Romig to the vacant position left by Joshua Mann.

“We have one interested candidate, Derrick Romig did submit his letter in a timely manner,” said district administrator Walter Leipart.

Romig was sworn in at the beginning of the meeting and sat with the remainder of the board for the duration of the meeting.

Board members also signed diplomas for seniors graduating next week.

In other business, the board:

• Heard from Leipart that Tuesday’s track meet held in Gilman moved to today, Thursday. As a result the early school release scheduled for Tuesday was also moved to today. Children will also be released at 2:30 p.m. next Tuesday, May 27.

• Learned from Leipart that the iPad lease agreement was processed and the new ones will be at the school shortly. Leipart plants to start collecting the old iPads from students on June 6. Those iPads will be returned to Apple and in exchange the school will receive new iPads with a 0% finance lease.

• Heard that Leipart is continuing to work with the Design Gilman committee to look for more opportunities to enhance the village. There is discussion about working with Wisconsin REV, or rural entrepreneurial venture, to promote entrepreneurial spirit within the community.

• Heard that next week the district will be planting white and blue spruce out behind the ball field. They have the option to let the trees fully mature or sell them as Christmas trees. “We can show kids how to plant trees and in a couple of years show them how to prune Christmas trees,” said Leipart.

Learned that the gym floor will be resurfaced the week of June 2.

• Heard from principal Phil Tallman who reported that standardized testing was complete and that senior awards were successful. EMS were in the school on Wednesday, May 21, to talk with some of the elementary grades about 911 and show them the emergency vehicles. Tallman also reported that the same Wednesday the first family literacy night was held, hosted by kindergarten teacher Kim Quinnell, who reported that she had 42 people signed up to attend as of Monday’s meeting.

• Heard from Leipart that Bailey Rosemeyer will fill the position of girls basketball coach. The district is still looking for a middle school girls volleyball coach for next the next school year. Leipart reported that he hasn’t had any candidates for the open band and general music position and middle school math teacher Ellen Grunseth expressed an interest. Grunseth has taught music in Gilman before. Leipart and the board plan to move Grunseth to that position, though she will still cover some math classes. The district has hired Mikayla Waichulis as the 612 math teacher. Waichulis will have her license in mathematics before the start of the year and has been teaching science for a year.

• Learned that school fees will increase for the 20252026 school year. Driver’s education will go from $225 to $325 to cover costs. Class dues and sports fees will remain the same. Food service meal costs will also increase by 10 cents except for reduced lunches which will stay the same at 40 cents.

• Discussed and voted into place a new policy, policy 5411 for third grade promotion and retention for at-risk students, which will not be enforced until September 1, 2027, but the board is required to have on record by July 1 of this year. The policy regards whether or not a student who is on a personal reading plan is able to move from third grade to fourth grade. Leipart reported that the policy is “nearly word-for-word” the same as the state statute.

“We’re not going to retain individuals based on one data set,” said Leipart. The district’s goal is to get the child’s team involved in the decision, which could include parents/guardians and school professionals, who will provide support and interventions, and to decide how to continue those services if the child is promoted to fourth grade. The board waived a second reading and adopted the policy as presented.

• Learned that there are five new applications for students coming into the district, seven applications for eSucceed, and five applications to open enroll out of the district.

• Discussed and voted to accept as is Fund 46, the long range facilities plan, and some improvements the board could be looking at, such as possibly repairing the roof piece by piece or replacing some of the piping, some of which is over 25 years old. Leipart recommended not repairing the elementary gym floor at this time as the deficiencies are only aesthetic and not a safety concern.

• Discussed open meetings law and what the members are able to talk about during closed sessions as part of board development.

• Approved an overnight FFA trip for the convention in Kentucky which will take place Tuesday, June 10 through Thursday, June 12. FFA will cover cost of the trip.