Glenwood City announces Class of 2018 top students at school board meeting

GLENWOOD CITY — Three young ladies topped the list of honor students for Glenwood City High School’s Class of 2018 the school board learned at its March 12 meeting.

High school/middle school principal Patrick Gretzlock made the announcement of the top honors students for this year’s graduating class at the opening of Monday evening’s meeting.

Gretzlock was pleased to inform the board of education that Makayla O’Brien, the daughter of Tanya and Chris O’Brien, had earned the rank of class valedictorian while Mariah Voeltz, the daughter of Donna and Joe Voeltz, and Elizabeth Wink, the daughter of Lorelei and Brent Wink, would be co-salutatorians for the GCHS Class of 2018.

The board congratulated the three students and their parents  before making the announcement official by approving the selections during its consent agenda.

The trio will lead the graduation program slated for Saturday morning, May 26.

Erickson Honored

Tammy Erickson, a paraprofessional educator with the school district for the past 21 years, attended the board meeting to present and discuss a video produced by the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) that celebrates the role of paraprofessionals in Wisconsin Public Schools.

Erickson and Glenwood City schools are the subject of the nearly five-minute video campaign that looks to elevate education support professionals as part of WEAC’s strategic goals.

“As a single mother, my mom worked four jobs to make ends meet for my siblings and me,” said WEAC President Ron Martin on the organization’s website. “When she became a classroom aide and formed a union in her school, she was able to earn a better wage and quit her night job. The union literally gave my mother back to us. I’m proud to honor all Wisconsin public school education support professionals who work hard and often go unrecognized.”  

Prior to the presentation, Nicole Brite, Director of Athletics, Pupil Services and Special Education, was pleased to inform the board that Erickson had also recently been recognized as the Education Professional (ESP) of the Year at WEAC Professional Issues Conference held March 3 in Madison.

Erickson noted that she is also eligible for the National ESP of the year in 2019, and said that she will be honored during a ceremony on April 28. She also noted that she will be eligible 

The board thanked Erickson and the district’s support staff for all that they do for the students and congratulated her on the much-deserved honor.

Budget Update

Superintendent Tim Johnson informed the board that the current budget held “no significant surprises” but the district was under budgeted for several impending retirements at the end of the current school year.

Johnson told board members that ten teaching and support staff will be retiring or resigning  with an impact of $330,000 on the 2017-18 budget.

Johnson said the district’s retirement obligations will fall to only $30,000 in next year’s budget and just $3,000 in 2019-20.

A handout that was presented to the board, listed the teaching and support staff members that were retiring or resigning and included elementary teachers Kathy Heim, Sandy Utphall, Joanie Branigan and Lorna Tiberg, middle school teacher Diane Nelson, Spanish teacher Carrie Kjellberg, speech and language specialist Kris Kielmeyer, technology specialist Rick Tiberg and special education aides Carol McCarthy and Mary Mahoney.

With the reduction of one Full-Time-Equivalent (FTE) in the elementary due to projected 4K enrollments, Johnson said the district would be posting for nine new hires for the 2018-19 school year.

Paige Pax, who is currently the district’s Title 1 teacher, has expressed interest in returning to the classroom. Johnson said administration would try to accommodate the request pending a quality replacement for Title 1 can be found and hired.

Open positions include one middle school teaching staff, two elementary school teaching staff, a Spanish teacher, a language and speech specialist, the Title 1 and Reading specialist, a pair of full-time (9 month) special education aides and a technology manager (12 months).

This past year the district made ten new hires – five to the teacher staff and five support staff.

Johnson also asked board to approve, which it did, the CESA 11 services contract for next year. Cost of the agreement, which is nearly identical to this year’s contract, is $115,000. $80,000 of that is unique to special education noted Johnson.

Administrative Reports

Elementary principal Betsy Haltinner said that the Spring parent-teacher conference held last week had 90 percent attendance.

Haltinner also gave a report and showed a video on the new resources that applied learning had received.

Patrick Gretzlock briefed members on the recent academic awards breakfast and the Youth Frontiers Leadership Conference that was held in the Twin Cities and attended by 14 juniors and five advisors including himself.

Gretzlock also informed the board that the senior class trip would be held April 25 and 26 at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. He stated that to date, 45 of the class’s 51 members had paid a $50 deposit to attend.  

During the consent agenda, the board approved the:

• Retirement of teacher Joanie Branigan

• Resignation of teachers Kathy Heim and Carrie Kjellberg

• Resignation of C team track coach Awbria Simmons

• Resignation of Lorna Tiberg as elementary yearbook advisor

• Resignation of Rick Tiberg as middle school boys’ and girls’ basketball coach and head track coach

• Hiring of Carrie Blanchard as C team track coach