For the Gazette

STEVENS POINT — The Stevens Point Area Public School District School Board held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, March 11, 2019. The Consent Agenda, including previous minutes, the approval of monthly bills and employment recommendations were approved.

Student and Staff Recognitions

Charles F. Fernandez Center students Corbin Boldt and Cheyenne Cummings presented the Mandana Bliss award to volunteer, Tom Ness.

Jefferson Elementary students Lydia Johnson and Sophie Durkee presented the Mandana Bliss award to teacher, Renee Oestreich. (Photo/Stevens Point Area Public School District)

Jefferson Elementary students Lydia Johnson and Sophie Durkee presented the Mandana Bliss award to teacher, Renee Oestreich.

Charles Fernandez Center principal, Jen Knecht, presented the Charlie Awards to students: Cheyenne Cummings, Elijah Kluck, Christian Lochner-Zanon, Samantha Miller, Caleb Stroik, Ryan Wilcox and Dominique Williams. The Charles F. Fernandez Center for Alternative Learning (Fernandez Center) created a way to reward students that demonstrate the resiliency, positive attitude, and drive to succeed regardless of obstacles or hurdles that they face in life. This year we are proud to announce the fourth annual “Charlie” awards that will be awarded to five qualifying students that embody these characteristics. These students have truly exhibited the skills required to face challenges and adversity while maintaining focus on his/her educational path.

SPASH principal, Jon Vollendorf recognized SPASH Student Senate members for receiving the Wisconsin Association of School Councils Spirit of Excellence Award.  SPASH was one of six regional winners in Wisconsin. The Spirit of Excellence Award requires that schools submit a thorough application showcasing their school’s achievement, student activities, and other unique things that connect the school to community. Students Natalie Hintz, Anne Marie Hintz and Mackenzie Hintz were present to accept the award.

Business Services

Representatives from Nexus Solutions provided the board an update on referendum projects including building renovation plans for Washington Elementary, Plover-Whiting Elementary, SPASH and the Ben Franklin Junior High entrance.

The recommendation for a sale of bonds to raise the $75.9 million approved by voters in November to occur in two phases was approved. The first phase, currently taking place, consists of the sale of $60 million in bond. The second phase consists of selling the remaining $15.9 million bonds in the spring of 2022.

Educational Services

Charles F. Fernandez Center student Cheyenne Cummings presented the Mandana Bliss award to volunteer, Tom Ness (not pictured). (Photo/Stevens Point Area Public School District)

Four-Year-Old Kindergarten Program and Site Agreement contracts for 2019-2022 were approved as presented.

Student Services
Recommendations determining general education open enrollment space, special education space availability and open enrollment for Project Search for the 2019-20 school year were approved as presented.

The School Board received a report from Portage County Health and Human Services Kathy Reynolds, School Nurse Coordinator on nursing services in the District.

Human Resources

Beth Bakunowicz, Director of Human Resources provided an update regarding Teachers on Call including district substitute statistics, requests and fill rate.

Policy

The district is currently working with school district policy experts, Neola to update all district policies. Remaining policies that had not been addressed were presented for review and eventual approval by the School Board for implementation once all policy series have been reviewed and approved.

General

Charles Fernandez Center principal, Jen Knecht, presented the Charlie Awards to students: Cheyenne Cummings, Elijah Kluck, Christian Lochner-Zanon, Samantha Miller, Caleb Stroik, Ryan Wilcox and Dominique Williams. (Photo/Stevens Point Area Public School District)

Superintendent Gerlach presented a Mid-Year Strategic Plan update to the school board with an end of the year report to be presented in June.

The Board moved to designate Karlyn Krautkramer as Deputy Clerk to assist the Board Clerk in administering the responsibilities of Board Clerk to the extent permitted by law, and remain as such until replaced by the Board.

Closed Session

The board voted unanimously to move into Closed Session per State Statute 19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session specifically for the purpose of discussing bargaining for the July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020 contract agreements and to review the administrative contract for the superintendent.

The next regular meeting of the school board will take place on, April 8, 2019, at the  Bliss Educational Services Center.

The entirety of the school board meeting can be viewed online, www.PointSchools.net.