First graders visit GC Board of Education
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By Amber Hayden
GLENWOOD CITY— Students from Paige Pax and Carly Kittilson’s first grade classes visited the Glenwood City Board of Education this past Monday, January 7, to demonstrate the Osmo Learning Tool that was made available to them after the recent donation from Xcel Energy.
The Board was given a brief run down on what the Osmos allow students to accomplish via applications on the Ipads in each room.
“It is improving digital literacy and teaching new skills to the students,” said elementary principle Betsy Haltinner.
Both Pax’s and Kittilson’s classrooms have two Osmos and a specific time is set up for students to use the programing, said Kittilson.
“It helps to fine tune their motor skills,” Pax and Kittilson said in unison.
The Osmos are outfitted with basic word, math, coding, and drawing applications for students to use in order to work on their use of physics and motion, problem solving, angles and facial recognition.
Nicole Brite explained to the board that the Hilltopper Hangtime program is stepping forward in getting a license exempt status in order to list the program as a daycare.
“We will then have to be part of Wisconsin Shares which allows families to find the daycare online,” Brite said.
Wisconsin Shares supports low-income working families by subsidizing a portion of the cost of quality child care while the parents are working or participating in another approved activity. It is also implemented locally by counties and tribes.
Brite also posed the desire to have the three year old Tiny Toppers students in the building for more than just the early learning program in the morning.
The ballot order was set for the upcoming April 8 election via a drawing, three seats are currently available for the Board of Education.
The order is as follows: 1. Steve Davis, 2. Lori Klinger, 3. Danielle Unruh, 4. Matthew Main, and 5. Sally Standaert.
On December 12 the Glenwood City School District held their annual safety drill. Afterwards the middle and high school were given specific times to discuss with the administrative staff their thoughts and concerns on the process.
“It gave the students a sense of what we are trying to do, and it allowed us to know where our kids’ mindset is during the drill and the conversations after,” middle/high school principal Patrick Gretzlock stated.
Gretzlock further explained it gave a sense of calming to know that students are more aware and understanding of how simple it can be for any crisis situation to occur.
“It was an eerie quietness that came over the building as we were walking the halls and checking on doors and making sure lights were off,” Gretzlock explained.
The Building and Grounds committee brought two action items to the table asking for approval of the purchasing of a 15 passenger van for $25,000 and a different bus to add to the fleet with a price of up to $12,000. Both of which were approved during the reading of the action items.
During the meeting the Board of Education:
Approved Nathan Hoffman as C-Team boys’ basketball coach.
Approved Julie Anderson as volunteer cheerleading coach.
Approved Ben Bartz as volunteer middle school wrestling coach.
Approved Steve Duerst as a substitute teacher.
Approved Jessica Hager as a substitute paraprofessional.
Approved the 2019-20 open enrollment seat parameters.
Approved the purchase(s) of transportation vehicles.
The Glenwood City Board of Education will meet again on January 28 with a committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. followed by a board meeting at 6:30 p.m.
