Stratford K-12 hires new boys basketball coach
The Stratford Board of Education last Wednesday approved the hiring of Drew Jorgensen as a middle school teacher and varsity boys basketball head coach. He replaces Curt Schmidt, who retired with a 438-187 record during his 27 years as Stratford boys JV and varsity boys and girls basketball coach.
Superintendent Nathan Lehman informed the school board that Jorgensen had been working for the Appleton School District and previously played basketball at Ripon College. Both his father and brother have coached high school football teams in the Fox Valley to state championships. Jorgensen played football, basketball and tennis at Fond du Lac High School.
The board also approved the hiring of Stratford High School graduate Jamie (Garrigan) Kaiser as a special education teacher. Kaiser had been working for Marathon County Special Education.
Other business
■The board approved FBLA student Sophia Delo’s trip to the national competition on June 28-July 2 in Anaheim, Calif. FBLA advisor Lynne Johnson and one of Delo’s parents will chaperone the trip. Johnson’s son, 2021 graduate Zachary Johnson, will also attend the trip as a judge for the FBLA national competition.
â– Board members approved the Achievement Gap Reduction (AGR) report. Lehman said the district is required each year to have the school board approve the AGR report, which normally happens in June.
“We once again had a lot of success in math and reading,” Lehman said regarding the AGR report.
Stratford Elementary School principal Amy Schmitt said AGR helps maintain an 18-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio for students in kindergarten through third grades.
Board president Chris Dickinson asked whether the district is receiving federal funds for AGR. Schmitt said the federal funding the district receives does help a little.
“It would be sad if we ever lost that,” she said.
â– Lehman said this is the third straight year that the district had over 400 students attend summer school.
â– The district held its retirement/excellence banquet on May 28. Lehman said over 50 people attended the ceremony to recognize staff who have worked for the district for 10,15, 20, 25 and 30 years. The district also recognized retirees Scott Adank and Bridget Christopherson.
â– The next board meeting has been moved up one week to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, in the school library so there is enough time in between the meeting and the July 28 budget hearing and annual meeting.
