North Crawford kindergarten teacher Amy Anderson has served as the coordinator of the district’s ‘Beyond the Bell’ after school program for 15 years. At the school board’s December 18 meeting, Anderson shared a report on the program for the 2023-2024 schoolyear, and a snapshot of the current year’s program.
“We were the first district in our area to receive grant funding for an after school program, and even other districts that had a program have not continued with it like we have,” Anderson told the board. “One thing that really sets our program apart from other districts is the fact we have regular classroom teachers staffing the program.”
Teachers who staff the program include Bethany Seiser, Liz Bransky, Emily Patti, Sarah Haefer, Amy Dull, Terra Knoble, Chris Wettstein, Erick Wilson and Jen Kapinus.
Anderson explained that the district is in year two of its most recent five-year Nita M. Lowery 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. The grant provides the district with $100,000 per year to help pay for the program. This is the third time the district has been awarded the grant.
“The fact that so many of our kids attend the program most of the time documents that our families need this service,” Anderson explained. “Also, of the kids enrolled, 52.5% qualify for free or reduced school meals, which is another indicator of the need this program is fulfilling. It’s so nice that the district is able to provide a nice, safe place for them to be.”
Anderson said that the program operated 128 days last year, and two kids in the program attended 128 days, and ten kids had participated more than 120 days.
The program operates Monday through Friday, from 3:30-5:30 p.m., and offers a diverse range of activities, such as math and literacy enrichment, STEM, science experiments, scavenger hunts for different age groups, culinary sessions, lego building, a wide selection of physical education games, interactive storytelling, exploratory nature walks, reader theater performances, creative arts and crafts projects, crafting cards for nursing home residents, and numerous other engaging experiences.
“We expand upon the learning in the regular classroom, using fun games as a learning tool,” Anderson explained. “In addition, we also offer tutoring for students for their regular classroom work, which is one of our goals.”
Anderson said the program has four goals:
• ensure that all programs provide a stable, safe and supportive environment tailored to meet the needs of the target population
• programs will challenge youth to develop as learners
• programs will support the development of other skills necessary for success
• programs will engage families and the broader community in support of student learning.
“Measurements revealed that 63% of children enrolled met the English Language Arts growth target (the goal was 70%), and 81% of students enrolled did meet the math growth target,” Anderson said. “Meeting another goal, we saw a large reduction among enrolled students in major and minor behavioral incidents, which I attribute to good communication and support.”
“Are we on track this year?” board member Judy Powell asked.
“Yes,” Anderson responded. “Our attendance has been very good this year.”
Anderson told the board that favorite activities for the Beyond-the-Bell program include recess, STEM activities, and swimming and bowling field trips.
“We have special toys and equipment housed in our ‘Beyond-the-Bell shed on the playground, with equipment that is only used for our program – making it very special,” Anderson explained. “Kids get to use scooter boards, seated bikes, hula hoops, balls, bats, jump ropes, and outdoor games. In the winter, we have sleds and snow brick toys to build forts with.”
“Amy has been the coordinator of Beyond-the-Bell since day one, 15 years ago, and the consistency of her leadership has been crucial in the program’s success,” Superintendent Brandon Munson said. “Thank you.”
Electric buses
According to ‘School Transportation News,’ “The Lion Electric Company, a leading manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, announced today that the company and its subsidiaries have applied to the Superior Court of Quebec (Commercial Division) for an initial order to seek protection from their creditors under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. The company and its subsidiaries also intend to seek recognition of the CCAA proceedings in the United States under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code.”
Lion is the company the North Crawford School District was working with to acquire its two new electric school buses.
“I have been in communication with Blue Bird about shifting our electric bus purchase to them, and those talks are ongoing,” Munson explained. “We will discuss this in the Transportation Committee in January, but I’ve heard from other districts impacted by the news about Lion that the EPA will honor the agreements with districts that have been approved for funding, and I’m pretty confident that we’ll be able to move forward – it’s just going to take a little extra time and work.”
In other business
In other business, the board
• heard from parent Kelsey Ziegler in public input that she, along with other parents, would like to see North Crawford move forward with an ‘alternative learning’ option for elementary students so she can avoid open enrolling out of the district
• heard about a pilot with the first grade in implementing the requirements of Wisconsin Act 20 to shake out the kinks and prepare for full implementation of the English Language Arts learning requirements in 2025
• learned the district has received a $5,000 grant to help Social Studies conduct a review of civics programming for grades 6-12
• learned that 4K screening will take place on Monday, Jan. 27, from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Approved a two-year extens• aon of the North Crawford-Seneca wrestling co-op
• approved four overnight field trips for wrestling athletes to participate in bigger meets, helping them to achieve better rankings for state competition
• approved staff resignations for Shianna Schultz and Stephanie Roth
• approved Jessica Kasinkas as middle school girls basketball coach.
Special meeting
At a special meeting of the board held on November 25, according to the minutes approved at the board’s December 18 meeting, the board met extensively in closed session. Upon emerging into open session, the board voted 4-3 to terminate the contract of Tyler Olson. Terry O’Donnell, Jerry Coleman, Charissa Richter and Judy Powell voted ‘yea,’ and Ed Heisz, Mark Fredelake and Cody Brockway voted ‘nay.’
