Loyal School Board News

Saturday, January 15th, 2022 -- 7:10 AM

The Loyal School Board heard a presentation at their meeting.

Mrs. Fitzl and several fourth graders gave the Board a wonderful presentation on their hydroponic gardening project. A big “Thank You” to Mrs. Fitzl and the kids for doing such a great job. Two NHS officers were at the meeting to ask permission for the NHS to take a four-day trip to St. Louis, Missouri in March of 2021. The Board gave their approval for the trip. The Board approved the number of regular open enrollment spaces and the number of special education spaces that will be available for the 2022-23 school year. High School Principal Doug Dieckman reviewed the revisions/additions to the 2022-23 Course Description Handbook. The changes and additions were approved by the Board. The Board President reviewed the ten WASB resolutions that will be brought up to the delegates in their session at the State School Board convention. The Board agreed with all ten of the resolutions and she will cast a vote on behalf of the Loyal School District on these resolutions at the State School Board convention next week. The Board held a very lengthy discussion on the School Operational Plan. The CDC/DHS/CCHD has issued new Isolation and Quarantine guideline recommendations. After much discussion, the Board decided that COVID Positive individuals will be required to isolate for five days (down from 10) from the onset of symptoms and must be fever free without medication for 24 hours and symptoms improving before returning to school/work. The Board recommends masking from days 6-10; but it will not be required. They also decided that household contacts need to quarantine for five days; and if they are symptom free can return to work/school on day six. The Board recommends masking from days 6-10; but it will not be required. For close contacts at school who are symptom free, a five day quarantine is optional; the Board recommends masking for the ten days, but it is not required. The Board realizes that there are staff and students who are very concerned about their safety; if you feel as an employee that you would like more safety measures taken in your classroom or work area; please talk to your building administrator or the District Administrator. The Board reviewed three new playground equipment options; and approved a new playground slide/climbing apparatus for the elementary playground. The Board selected Option 1 (Friends of High Cliff State Park.)

They also reviewed the Candidates for the upcoming Spring Election. They are Member from the Area at Large Jennifer Kadolph and Holly Lindner (vote for 1); Member from Area North of Highway 98 David Clintsman, Jr. (vote for 1); Member from Area South of Highway 98 Dennis Roehl and Cara Prior (vote for 1). The Spring Election will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Elementary Principal Nancy Popp reported on the Holiday Concert held on Thursday, December 16th. The attendance was good, and the audience enjoyed the performance. She also reported on other holiday activities. For team meetings, they focused on Student Learning Objectives and Professional Practice Goals; used data from the District Report Card, Fastbridge assessments, and first trimester grades; 4K-2 nd grades are focusing on English/Language Arts goal; 3 rd -5 th grades are focusing on Math goal; building assessments to show mastery of the standards; plan methods for teaching all levels of students; ACCESS Testing, which is for their English Language Learners (ELL) to assess their growth with the English Language and the assessments are for all students K-12, with the goal being the as students move through the grades they will eventually test out before they graduate; and Mrs. Dieckman administers tests in four areas: reading writing, speaking, and listening. Also, Parent/Teacher Conferences are on January 20 th from 3:30 to 7:00. Sign up Genius will be used again and the window for that will stay open until January 18th. After that time if you need a time slot, parents will need to call the elementary office to request a time. They also are continuing Educator Effectiveness training for DPI pilot program and continuing study of UDL practices. For curriculum, they did a State Report Card analysis and that involves looking at trends in groups and the breakdown of ELA and Math categories to match to SLO’s. They are continuing study of UDL practices and ways to incorporate technology and reviewing ARC Reading curriculum They also heard some thank yous.

High School Principal Doug Dieckman reported course description book updated for 2022-23 school year; EE pilot program training at CESA-Jan. 11; UDL book study with CESA (finished Jan. 5); continue to work through the EE pilot program with CESA and our team; FCCLA “treats for troops” drive was a huge success. 17 boxes were shipped and arrived in Kuwait on Jan. 4th; conducted another Managing Challenging Behaviors workshops with a group of staff members for professional development; winter choir and band concerts went very well with great attendance; and kicked off the MS Little Caesar’s Pizza fundraiser for the DC trip. Over the next 30 days, District leadership team will work on district goals and vision-Jan. 15; have a team of four teachers attending the Wisconsin Youth Mental Health Train the Trainer workshop (3 Days); coordinating a time for ELA teachers to review curriculum for K-12 (American Reading Company); parent teacher conferences coming on Jan. 20 (3:30-7:00 p.m.); Fastbridge mid-year screening for those 25% and below; scheduling for the 22.23 school year will begin UDL book study with CESA completed now shifting towards teacher group; continue work on Managing Challenging Behaviors workshop with a group of staff members (flowchart, teach/model expectations, collect data); planning for Jan. 21 Professional development day; planning for Feb. 11 Professional development day(state report card/UDL) Challenges; continue to look for ways to educate our families on internet safety/technology use/social media; and technology use/abuse/restrictions.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.