The Wautoma Area School Board heard an update from District Administrator Tom Rheinheimer on how the current school year is going and the ways in which COVID-19 has been affecting the District during the monthly meeting on Oct. 11.
Rheinheimer stated over the past six weeks since the start of school there have been approximately 600 COVID-19 tests administered. Each school office has been working alongside WASD Nurse Cari Pronschinske to identify close contacts, quarantining and getting the students tested. According to Rheinheimer, most of the cases they have found have been associated with household or community contacts.
When the number of positive cases and close contacts increased at the high school, Rheinheimer moved to mandatory masking on Sept. 30 in order to prevent further spread as many of the close contacts were in sports as well as other high school extracurricular activities. The other schools in the District have not observed as quick of a spread as the high school, which has been expected due to the fact that high schoolers socialize outside of school more often than the younger students. “We are a direct reflection of what is going on in our community,” he said. “We are doing the best we can. Our ultimate goal is to keep kids in school.”
Of the students who were identified as closed contacts to a positive case in youth soccer, youth football, varsity volleyball, varsity soccer and the musical over the past two weeks, not one of the close contacts tested positive.
Rheinheimer added that as of Oct. 12, there will be only four positive cases at the high school, which will allow for a discussion on relaxed and situational masking for certain classes to occur. Classrooms with students seated across from one another or with increased student numbers that cannot physically distance may be required to mask. Other areas students would be allowed to take off their mask, include the hallways or classes where physical distancing is possible.
About 99.5 percent of parents would rather mask their students, who are considered close contacts, in order for them to stay in school, with Rheinheimer expressing gratitude to families for their continued cooperation. At this time, the District has not received any phone calls or email complaints surrounding the COVID-19 masking protocol.
Although the District hopes to not have to go back to remote learning, teachers will have a unique option for those needing to learn virtually if the need arises. The original quote for installation of hard-wired cameras for remote learning in each classroom was quoted at $500,000 and was a more permanent system.
During the meeting, WASD Technology Director Eric Highlander presented a camera system that can easily be installed in 15 minutes within each classroom with existing equipment. Teachers can interact with remote learners live and have full control over the system. Quarantined students will be able to watch and ask questions along with those attending in-person synchronously. Google Meet has been utilized by the school in the past and will continue to be used along with the live stream for those needing to be quarantined.
Director of Instruction Sierra Steuerwald presented ACCESS scores and data on the English Language Learner (ELL) program to the board as well. The ELL Program is provided to students whose primary home language is one other than English. Students typically enter the program in Kindergarten and are instructed in listening, reading, speaking, and writing. The students are then tested on these subjects with the ACCESS (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State) test. Listening is the strongest category for students, while speaking tended to be the weakest topic.
Steuerwald presented the results of the ACCESS test as a district overall and also by individual school. She also gave the board information on how many students are participating in the program in each school.
The program has been making improvements with more targeted learning for each student and increased staff. There has also been more communication with parents through TalkingPoints, an application that assists ELL Teachers to write text messages in English that are then translated to Spanish for parents and vice versa. Along with these improvements, students will be able to take a trip to Moraine Park Technical College in November and in-person family night will hopefully return this year. The ELL Program will continue to evolve to best serve their student’s needs.
The Board went on to have a brief discussion on a possible Midwest Softball fieldtrip. The Board is requesting more information on funding for the trip along with making sure each student will have a fair chance to participate. The first consideration of the trip was approved, but more information will be needed prior to second consideration. The Wisconsin State FBLA Leadership Conference at UW-Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh on the Water Wrestling Tournament were also approved but will be continued to be looked at as circumstances may change.
Business Manager Cindy Reilly also brought a proposal to the board on the creation of an Accounting Clerk position for the business office. The position is much needed as the workload with the federal and state grants has greatly increased. The job description was put together and would include tasks such as filing and keeping up with payroll paperwork. Originally Reilly thought the position should start at part-time, but after some discussion it was recommended it be a full-time position in order to make the offer more appealing. The board went on to approve the new position.
The following agenda items were approved by the board: the resignation of Andrea Braatz, Cheerleading/Spirit Squad, Middle School Advisor-Basketball and Destiny Dahlke, A+ After School Enrichment Leader; the employment of Jenna Simacek, Cheerleading/Spirit Squad, Middle School Advisor-Basketball, Harold Hansen Jr., Transportation Dispatcher/Substitute Driver, and A+ After School Staff; and October 2021 – September 2022 Fundraisers.
