Boyceville School Board approves final four million for referendum projects
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By Renee Bettendorf
BOYCEVILLE — At their meeting held on November 20 the Boyceville school board voted to approve the final four million dollars in general obligation promissory notes to pay the remaining portion of the cost of the referendum projects.
Back in January the board adopted an initial resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount of $18,000,000 for the purpose of paying the cost of a school facility improvement project.
This initial resolution was approved by district residents in a referendum election held in April. The district issued $14,000,000 of the $18,000,000 in July.
According to district administrator Nick Kaiser, the reason the district is taking out a second bond now is because this is the best time for the district to maximize that amount of money with the current interest rates. The board unanimously approved issuing the bonds.
Later in the meeting Kaiser updated the board on work and planning being done with the referendum money. He said the plans for renovations for the science wing and offices are wrapped up and ready to go to bid. Exterior and interior doors, the P.A. system and some repairs to brickwork are also being looked into.
Reports
In his report to the board, elementary principal Jerim DesJarlais spoke about a Veteran’s Day ceremony that was held at TCE on November 11. He said the event was well attended and the fourth graders did an excellent job providing the narration and all students played a part in the singing of songs.
“It was a fantastic ceremony,” he said.
DesJarlais updated the board on preparations for Act 20, a new piece of legislation enacted to enhance early literacy across Wisconsin that will take effect in January. He said staff continues to plan and has set assessment dates and targeted times for diagnostic testing to follow. Additionally, staff will receive training as part of the in-service days on November 26.
Lastly, DesJarlais reported on the penny war fundraiser that took place at TCE over the week of November 18. During the fundraiser, students bring in pennies and classrooms compete for prizes. All money raised goes into the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) account for students.
“We have a very exciting penny war that’s going on,” noted DesJarlais.
In her report to the board special education director Rebecca Hanestad thanked school psychologist Bonnie Barker in honor of School Psychologist Week.
“She does a fabulous job,” said Hanestad.
Hanestad also reported that two students were exited from special education services and the recent Little Bulldogs Playgroup had the highest attendance ever with 29 attendees.
Middle/high school principal Pat Gretzlock also spoke about Veterans Day, saying the program at the middle/high school was organized by high school paraprofessional Laura Harnisch.
“Laura Harnisch really spearheads it and works great with the student body,” he said of the Veterans Day program.
Gretzlock went on to speak about the two pep assemblies that were held at the high school for fall sports teams that went to state. One for the girls cross country team and another for the football team.
“It’s been a fun experience,” he said of the teams’ state success.
According to his report, the results from the fall administration of the ACT/PreACT are already available. Staff will be looking at the results and coming up with ways to help students prepare for the ACT, scheduled for March and the PreACT which will take place in the Spring of 2025.
Gretzlock noted that attendance on the day of fall ACT/PreACT testing was at 98%. He thanked the entire high school teaching staff for their flexibility and willingness to serve as proctors at the fifteen testing sites throughout the campus.
Gretzlock also reported that he and high school science and math teacher Andy Hamm continue to work with UW-Stout in an effort to provide a dual-credit chemistry class. They anticipate finalizing the agreement with the university before the end of the calendar year.
With the new chemistry class, BHS will have eight college-level classes available to students. They plan to add even more college level classes within the agriculture education and business/marketing departments for the 2025-2026 school year, according to Gretzlock.
In other business the Boyceville school board:
• Learned from Kaiser that the fall school play was well attended.
• Accepted the resignation of Suzanne Lombardo as football and wrestling cheerleading advisor.
• Heard that the Science Olympiad team did well at their first meet.
• Approved the hiring of Laura Debee as Quiz Bowl advisor.
• Approved the hiring of Taryn Score as middle school boys basketball coach.
• Accepted donations made to WESTCap for the district’s Angel Food Fund of $1,204.
