Glenwood City school board hears results of student ACT performance

By Cara L. Dempski

GLENWOOD CITY — If parents in Glenwood City think their students are some of the smartest in the state, they now have proof.

David Popko, an English teacher at Glenwood City high school who also coordinates ACT preparation, provided information at the September 25 school board meeting indicating not only are the Hilltoppers’ ACT scores from 2016 higher than the state average, but indicate a high level of achievement when combined with results of state testing and compared to other districts within a 70-mile radius.

Glenwood City students achieved an average composite score of 21.1 for the most recent exam, which is .6 higher than the state average of 20.5. The 2017 results also indicate Hilltopper students scored an average of 20.5 in English, 21.3 in math, 20.5 in reading, 21.6 in science, and 7.1 (on a 12-point scale) in writing.

Popko indicated the scores, combined with the most recent DPI report card indicating Glenwood City schools exceed expectations in all areas, are an indication the district is on a good path when it comes to providing a well-rounded education.

“I do believe if we continue this, we will move from being a small school that does great things to a school that does great things,” Popko finished, paraphrasing a quote from former board member and president, Dr. Charles Rasmussen.

Other business

The board also heard updates on a variety of school programs and issues during the meeting.

Nicole Brite indicated the fall sports seasons are off to a good start, and detailed some of the success seen by the teams so far this school year before informing the board about a co-teaching workshop several district teachers participated in recently.

Elementary principal Betsy Haltinner informed the board the Glenwood City and Boyceville schools participated in the Food Fight Challenge leading up to last Friday’s Hilltoppers/Bulldogs football game at Boyceville. She indicated the trophy might go back to Boyceville this year, since the Glenwood schools were not informed the challenge was on until a day or two before the football game.

She also informed the board there will be a new process for parents to schedule parent/teacher conferences this year, and walked board members through the information collected and stored in the school’s new EduClimber computer system. The program pulls student data from computerized tests, attendance data from Skyward, and other information regarding student progress.

Middle and high school principal Patrick Gretzlock presented a graphic representation of the landscaping planned for the high school entrance. Staff from Bobolink Nursery near Menomonie will give the entrance a new, more inviting look.

Superintendent Tim Johnson then told the board the 2017-2019 biennial budget finally received approval late last week, letting schools around the state breathe a sigh of relief about current budgets. He indicated the funds for Glenwood City were very similar to what was approved during the budget hearing and annual meeting.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the retirements of Diane Nelson, Sandy Utphall and Lorna Tiberg at the end of the 2017-2018 school year.

• Approved a $1,000 donation to the school store, Summit 58, from the St. Croix Economic Development Corporation. The store is run by the Glenwood City DECA chapter.

• Approved a $988.94 donation from the Knights of Columbus’ Tootsie Roll sales for the special education department.

• Approved Amy Dopkins as the C-team girls’ basketball coach.

• Approved Austin Sandow as the assistant boys’ basketball coach. He replaces David Popko.

• Approved Kaitlin Konder as an FFA volunteer.

• Approved Amber Janson as a substitute paraprofessional.