Colfax schools “exceed expectations” on Wisconsin state report card
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — With a score of 78.9, the Colfax school district is listed in the “exceeds expectations” category on the state report card.
Colfax Elementary had an overall score of 80.7, and Colfax High School had an overall score of 74.9, said William C. Yingst Jr. at the Colfax Board of Education’s November 18 meeting.
A score of 83 is categorized as “significantly exceeds expectations,” and with an elementary school score of 80.7, “we are starting to approach that level,” he said.
The school district started Response to Intervention (RTI) three years ago and has contracted with DeeAnn Thompson, an educational consultant with Cooperative Education Service Agency No. 11 (CESA), for 20 to 25 days per year, Yingst said.
“I would like to commend our staff for their hard work,” said John Dachel, principal at Colfax High School.
The overall school district score of 78.9 for 2018-2019 compares to a score of 74.2 in 2017-2018 and a score of 65.6 in 2016-2017.
The overall high school score of 74.9 for 2018-2019 compares to a score of 72.2 for 2017-2018 and a score of 63 for 2016-2017.
The overall elementary school score of 80.7 for 2018-2019 compares to a score of 81.8 in 2017-2018 and a score of 68.1 in 2016-2017.
Golf
Colfax and Elk Mound are considering a cooperative program for girls’ and boys’ golf.
A cooperative girls’ and boys’ golf program with Elk Mound would be beneficial for both schools, Yingst said.
According to a proposal from Michael Hodel, athletic director, that was distributed to the school board, the Colfax girls’ golf team numbers are declining, and Elk Mound is interested in adding a girl’s golf program and would be interested in a cooperative agreement with Colfax since Colfax already has an established girls’ golf program.
Right now, the Elk Mound girls golf on the boys’ golf team, and if a girls’ team were established, the Elk Mound boys’ team would lose a significant number of golfers.
Colfax is proposing being a cooperative team for boys’ golf as well, and by combining both programs, it would ensure golf will still be offered at both schools, according to Hodel’s proposal.
Colfax would be the host for girls’ golf, and Elk Mound would be the host for boys’ golf. Each school would pay their own golf coach, and Colfax would supply the girls’ head coach, and Elk Mound would supply the boys’ head coach.
The agreements, which would have to be approved by the Dunn-St. Croix Conference, would have to be turned into the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) by February 1, 2020, for girls’ golf and by June 1, 2020, for boys’ golf.
Yingst said the Colfax Board of Education has time to think about it and could take action at the December meeting.
The school board could wait to take action at the January meeting, too, but action could be no later than the January meeting, he noted.
Members of the Colfax Board of Education indicated they were interested in pursuing a cooperative agreement with Elk Mound for boys’ and girls’ golf.
Yingst said the girls’ and boys’ cooperative golf agreement would be on the agenda for the December meeting.
Clark estate
The Colfax school district has received another check from the estate of Dolores Clark in the amount of $25,000.
The school district received a check for $50,000 from the John and Dolores Clark Trust in July.
Dee Clark, as she was known, started teaching in the Colfax school district in 1970 and retired in 1991. She began by teaching reading for two years and then taught fourth grade for the remainder of her career at Colfax.
At the time the school district received the check for $50,000, Yingst said he nearly fell off his chair when he opened the envelope.
Yingst also was surprised to get yet another check from the estate.
“It’s kind of shocking to receive this kind of money,” he said.
The Colfax Board of Education unanimously approved a motion to accept the $25,000 from the John and Dolores Clark Trust.
No decisions have yet been made about how the money will be used.
In response to a question that was e-mailed to him, Yingst replied, “The board plans to have a long range planning meeting session in the next few months and that will be a topic of discussion.”
Other business
In other business, the Colfax Board of Education:
• Accepted the resignation of Marilyn Dehnert as a teacher’s aide. Dehnert has served as a teacher’s aide for 33 years, and she is interested in retiring, Yingst said. Her retirement will be effective at the end of the November, he said.
• Approved hiring Ally Heidorn as the C-team girls’ basketball coach.
