Boyceville school board swears in incumbent, hears of staff resignations

By Cara L. Dempski

BOYCEVILLE — The Boyceville school board made the April election results official by swearing in the only member on the ballot April 4, and learned of two staff members stepping away from district positions at its most recent meeting.

The April 17 board gathering saw clerk Pete Score swear in incumbent member Steve Bird for another term in his seat.

The district board also learned during the meeting that Jamie Olson, one of the assistant football coaches, has elected to resign his position with the team. He cited his desire to spend more time with my family and his health as reasons for stepping away from coaching football.

“I love all sports and working with kids,” Olson’s letter read. “My oldest daughter will enter high school next year, and I feel it is important for me to have the opportunity to watch her volleyball games, along with being home more in the evenings with my family.”

Olson expressed gratitude for the many memorable Friday nights he spent with the team.

Maintenance worker Lionel Kegen also wrote a letter to the board announcing his desire to retire from his position as of the last day of school, June 6. The board unanimously approved both resignations.

Superintendent Kevin Sipple informed the board that April 17–21 is Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week, and both school buildings have drills scheduled for later this week.

Sipple also told the board all indications point to the Wisconsin legislature using the governor’s proposed budget as the starting point for the 2017-2019 biennium. He said that likely means Wisconsin legislators are taking seriously the public’s desire for better funding for public schools.

The superintendent is in the process of completing employee listening sessions and anticipates being finished by April 21. He said he has learned a lot and is hoping to present a summary of his findings to the board at the May meeting.

In the same vein, Sipple informed the board Educator Appreciation Week will be held the week of May 8 this year. The district administrators will honor all staff members as educators.

“We believe all staff have a role in helping educate the children in our schools,” Sipple’s report read. “We are in the process of making plans for a luncheon for the staff during the week.”

In other open-session business, the board:

• Completed a first reading of several board policy changes. The alterations will be read a second time at the May meeting before the board votes on them.

• Learned the results of state competition for the Visual Arts team, FCCLA STAR events, and Science Olympiad.

• Learned Max Engel will be presented his Herb Kohl Scholarship April 30 at Eau Claire’s North High School.

• Learned the student numbers for sports in the next few years will hold steady for the upcoming years.

• Learned girls basketball player Madysn Riek had been selected to play in the WBCA all-star classic game June 16 at JustAgame in Wisconsin Dells.

The board then adjourned to closed session. Sipple later reported no action was taken during the session.