After discussion, surveys, and community meetings, the Fennimore School Board approved at their Monday, Jan. 15 meeting to proceed with a referendum on the April 2 ballot for a general obligation bond not to exceed $17,000,000 towards school facility improvements.
Some of the aims should the voters approve the referendum would be district-wide capital maintenance, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility updates and renovations, building systems, technology and site improvements.
Additional the proposed funds would also go towards construction of an addition for career and education, renovations at the middle/high school, lighting updates to the athletic field, and acquisitions of furnishings, fixtures and equipment.
Fennimore School District Administrator said the district does plan to hold two community meetings on the referendum before the April 2 election.
Those meetings will be Feb. 19 and March 5, both at 6 p.m. at the middle/high school gym.
In other school board matters, the board accepted the resignations of Jena Kite, a paraprofessional, who is choosing to reenter the health care field.
With a new baby on the way, Macy Wanek is stepping down as middle school volleyball coach.
Quite a few donations were approved by the board at Monday’s meeting.
A donation of $10,000 towards the purchase of a new vision and hearing machine was made by LaVona Fry on behalf of her husband, David, who was a graduate of Fennimore High School.
$179.30 was given to the school by Community First Bank as part of their debit card program towards the annual Washington D.C. trip fund.
Maroon and Gold Athletic Boosters donated $500 towards pom poms for the dance team.
Jerilyn Cleveland donated an alto sax for band use, while the Fennimore Music Boosters donated $7,100 towards the purchase of bells, and $1,200 towards choir folders.
Fennimore High School Principal Boone Tollefson presented to the board the list of spring sports volunteers for the upcoming seasons, who were all unanimously approved.
Tollefson also presented to the board the co-curricular policy updates that as he stated “is a summary of the handbook itself, but the board policy gives broader issues coaches/advisors should know such as season/offseason duties, fund raising, student communication, travel, etc.”
Board member Margaret Sprague pointed out the policy stated that all concerns should be forwarded to the athletic director, but noticed it didn’t state who address concerns regarding non sport co-curriculars.
Wonderling stated that would be the high school principal, and that would be added in.
The board approved the policy update with the contact amendment.
Lastly, the board voted to keep accepting students from other communities through open enrollment for the next school year.
The district currently has 113 open enrolled students for the 2023-2024 school year.
Board member Adam Jackson, asked if there was an “open enroll limit,” and Wonderling informed the board that although grades can be capped student wise, that 113 student total is “spread out,” and keeps the student/teacher ratio balanced.
Some of the aims should the voters approve the referendum would be district-wide capital maintenance, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility updates and renovations, building systems, technology and site improvements.
Additional the proposed funds would also go towards construction of an addition for career and education, renovations at the middle/high school, lighting updates to the athletic field, and acquisitions of furnishings, fixtures and equipment.
Fennimore School District Administrator said the district does plan to hold two community meetings on the referendum before the April 2 election.
Those meetings will be Feb. 19 and March 5, both at 6 p.m. at the middle/high school gym.
In other school board matters, the board accepted the resignations of Jena Kite, a paraprofessional, who is choosing to reenter the health care field.
With a new baby on the way, Macy Wanek is stepping down as middle school volleyball coach.
Quite a few donations were approved by the board at Monday’s meeting.
A donation of $10,000 towards the purchase of a new vision and hearing machine was made by LaVona Fry on behalf of her husband, David, who was a graduate of Fennimore High School.
$179.30 was given to the school by Community First Bank as part of their debit card program towards the annual Washington D.C. trip fund.
Maroon and Gold Athletic Boosters donated $500 towards pom poms for the dance team.
Jerilyn Cleveland donated an alto sax for band use, while the Fennimore Music Boosters donated $7,100 towards the purchase of bells, and $1,200 towards choir folders.
Fennimore High School Principal Boone Tollefson presented to the board the list of spring sports volunteers for the upcoming seasons, who were all unanimously approved.
Tollefson also presented to the board the co-curricular policy updates that as he stated “is a summary of the handbook itself, but the board policy gives broader issues coaches/advisors should know such as season/offseason duties, fund raising, student communication, travel, etc.”
Board member Margaret Sprague pointed out the policy stated that all concerns should be forwarded to the athletic director, but noticed it didn’t state who address concerns regarding non sport co-curriculars.
Wonderling stated that would be the high school principal, and that would be added in.
The board approved the policy update with the contact amendment.
Lastly, the board voted to keep accepting students from other communities through open enrollment for the next school year.
The district currently has 113 open enrolled students for the 2023-2024 school year.
Board member Adam Jackson, asked if there was an “open enroll limit,” and Wonderling informed the board that although grades can be capped student wise, that 113 student total is “spread out,” and keeps the student/teacher ratio balanced.
The next meeting of the Fennimore Community School Board will be on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m. at the Fennimore Elementary School Cafeteria.
