The Owen-Withee School Board held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, March 16. The minutes and payment of bills were approved under the Consent Agenda.
The board approved Valedictorian Jack Wendler and Salutatorian Kayla Rasmussen for the Wisconsin Academic Excellence Higher Education Scholarship and Carmen Frese for the Technical Excellence Scholarship. Middle/High School Principal Nate Johnson said all three were excellent role models.
The district’s strategic plan was approved. District Administrator Randy Bergman said the committee had a meeting to finalize the plan that they started working on in January 2025. The elementary and high school have set goals based on the plan and Bergman felt it would be good for five years. He said they would evaluate a different area each year. They will have to make sure everyone follows the plan and that all staff are on board. Some staff do have issues with testing. An example given was that in the middle school 86% of students didn’t know the answer to some math questions. They need to understand why that is happening and correct it.
Dylan Kaae was approved as the Assistant Varsity Track Coach and the resignation of music teacher Tamara Barth was accepted. Former coach Brian Lewison is willing to help a new coach at the middle school level, a position which Bergman said they might have someone interested in. Barth is retiring. The music position will be posted and might have to go to full-time. It was noted that the person hired for the position needs to be more involved in the program.
Bergman laid out some discussion items for the 2026-2027 budget. He said that will be the last year of the current referendum. They will have to start discussing a new referendum by October or November and look at the type of referendum they want to do. He said that three years is too short, five years would be better. He said the legislature doesn’t want to put money into schools. They were told they would get 42 to 45 percent and actually got 35% this year. Bergman said the district can go back to just making it or ask for more in a new referendum. It will cost $4,000-$5,000 to have Baird forecast out what they will need. This will also help with the new bookkeeper learning more about her job. Bergman said that federal and special education is being funded at about the same amount. Bergman said they will have to tighten the budget. It is almost time to talk about wage increases for next year.
Under the Defeasance Report, Bergman said they have put in $300,000 for the last two years for loan payments. They will make these payments in June and the board will have to decide if they can do it again next year.
Under Administrator Reports, Elementary Principal Julie VanArk reported that they had a staff in-service day on March 13. They were trained in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention. They are planning a Family Math Night. It is testing time. The third quarter is ending and report cards will soon be mailed out. They had parent-teacher conferences for parents they needed to speak to. They are piloting science curriculums and will be having discussion on how it is going so far. Summer school class registration will be going out to families shortly. They will not have swimming lessons as there are no pools available this year. VanArk is looking at other options for later in the summer.
Middle/High School Principal Nate Johnson reported that those who made the honor roll were recognized. He reported on solo and ensemble results. Two band students and two choir students will be moving on to state. The Middle School Archery Team hosted a tournament and took 1st place in 3D and 2nd place in Bullseye. There were also three individual medal winners. Four students place in the top five at the Wisconsin FBLA Middle School State Leadership Conference. The Middle School FBLA Chapter also placed 1st in the Market Share Award. Juniors took the ACT exam. On that day, middle school students went bowling and freshmen and sophomores visited CVTC. High school track practice has started, with softball and baseball practice to start soon. Golf will start March 30. The Middle School will be holding a dance.
District Administrator Randy Bergman reported that all sensors and lights have been changed. In April work will begin on the furnaces in the elementary.
The board went into closed session for about an hour. When they came into open, they announced that Peggy Goerlitz would be going to a 50% position for the next school year and will still get health insurance for a maximum of one year.