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School board receives updates on COVID, finances, and more
Seneca School District
Seneca School District

SENECA - The Seneca School Board meeting last Wednesday, Jan. 20, was largely focused on reports.

The board approved the 2021-22 open enrollment numbers as presented by the administration. Open Enrollment capacity for general education was placed at a total of 50 students and for special education the total was 38 students.

Seneca School District Administrator Dave Boland told the Independent-Scout after the meeting, that districts usually go with high numbers, so they will be able to accept as many open enrolled students as possible.

During the district administrator’s report, Boland updated the board on a variety of subjects.

In a financial update, the district administrator noted that the Covid-19 relief package passed at the federal level in December provides $54.3 billion dollars for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. 

“An early estimate for us in Wisconsin comes to approximately $830 per student,” Boland told the board.

A furnace stopped working in the basement of the elementary school on December 29, the board learned. It was replaced by Mezera Heating from Prairie du Chien before the students returned from the break. It’s the same type of furnace as the one that was replaced this past summer.

In school news, the board learned thatthe District Spelling Bee was held Tuesday, Jan 19, and it was broadcast on the internet. Seneca’s winners were: first place, Lilly McCullick; second place, Kylie Chambers; and third place, Nick Liedtke. The three winners will represent Seneca at the West Sectional Spelling Bee that takes place in January.

Both incumbent board members up for election, Tyler Aspenson and Charles Clark, filled out the paperwork to run for the two board vacancies and their names will appear on the spring ballot.

Seneca school bus drivers met with the Seneca Township snowplow drivers on January 6, in order to be proactive with communication heading into winter weather, according to the district administrator.

To end his report, Boland also provided the board with a COVID update.

“Crawford County Health is doing preliminary preparations for vaccinations of school staff,” the district administrator said. “We have polled staff to see who would be interested in getting the vaccine, and let Crawford County Health know of our numbers. School employees are in group 1B for vaccinations. We expect things to move forward in the near future.”

After a brief discussion, school board member Chad Sime moved and Brittany Joy seconded the motion that the Seneca Area School District Monthly Recognition Award should go to Leroy Peterson and Erika Clark. The board unanimously approved the motion.

Leroy Peterson has been responsible for running the clock at Seneca basketball games for 34 years and has done an excellent job, according to all reports.

Erika Clark, the Seneca Schools Athletic Director, has done a masterful job of scheduling, rescheduling and rescheduling again in a difficult situation brought on by COVID-19 cancellations.

The Seneca School Board adjourned to closed session for a discussion of employment considerations and the administrator evaluation. The board reconvened in open session and adjourned without taking any action on the closed session agenda items.