Colfax School Board hires new football coach

by Marlys Kruger

COLFAX — Hiring a research firm to help the district with a survey and hiring a new head football coach were two of the proposals approved by the Colfax School Board during the monthly meeting held November 16 in the board room.

The school district is interested in conducting a survey to gather input and feedback from parents, staff and community as they develop options to update school facilities. Conceptually, the survey development would occur this fall and deployed early in 2016. If the survey identified support for any of the proposed projects the district would consider referendum in the fall. With this in mind, the board voted to hire “School Perceptions, LLC” which is a Wisconsin based, independent educational research firm that works with school districts, regional service agencies, as well as state and national organizations. The firm helps educational leaders gather, organize and use data to make strategic decisions. Cost for the company would be around $9,600 and would include strategy development, survey design, survey administration and online results access/written report/plan of action.

Finding a new head football coach didn’t take long and the board didn’t have to look far as Matt DeMoe, an assistant coach for many years for the team and a physical education teacher in the district was chosen to lead the Vikings next fall. DeMoe has been involved in coaching since 2005, either with Colfax or New Richmond and has been the defensive coordinator for Colfax the past three seasons.

The board also approved the second readings of several high school courses for weighted status, and Alternative Diploma options, along with hiring two new food service workers and some teaching assistants. Applications are still being looked at and interviews are being set up for the positions.

Anyone wishing to be a candidate for the Colfax board can pick up the paperwork in the district office and should have them filed by January 5, 2016 by 5:00 p.m. Board president Joel Hilson  and Todd Kragness are the board members up for re-election this year.

Administrators’ reports

Middle school/high school principal John Dachel announced basketball for girls and boys and wrestling was now in full swing with games and meets starting in the next couple of weeks. There are seven wrestlers at the high school level competing in wrestling as a co-op with Bloomer again this year. Music programs next month include the high school concert December 7 at 7:00 and grades 5-8 December 15 at 7:00. The student council and American Red Cross will have a blood drive Wednesday, December 9 in the Martin Anderson Lobby and there will be no school for students December 23-January 3 due to the holiday break.

Elementary principal Trevor Hovde updated the Accelerated Reading program and said one student, Jeannette Hydukovich has read over two million words while Catherine Zons and Ella Peterson have both read over one million words. He also stated the elementary music programs include JK December 15 at 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., KG also on December 15 at 10:30 and grades 1-4 on the same date at 1:30.

Special Education Director Polly Rudi presented all the assessments coming up this year including English Language Learners testing which will have seven students taking it this year. ACT testing required for all juniors will be March 1-2 and state assessments for students in grades 3-8 will occur between March 28 and May 20 of 2016.