Discussion of further capital improvement projects to the North Crawford building and grounds was postponed to the board’s December 20 meeting.
At their November 15 meeting, Superintendent Brandon Munson shared a document containing completed and approved projects, ranked from ‘one’ to ‘four’ in order of priority, with a ranking of ‘four’ being higher priority.
“Eric Hady is transitioning into the role of facilities director, and has a lot on his plate, with possible referendum projects and our current water main issue,” Munson told the board. “We are still getting estimates, and have met with the building and grounds committee – we’ll probably meet again before the next meeting.”
Munson told the board that fortunately, the water main issue does not involve the line back to the well. For this reason, he said, the cost of the repair will be less. He said work to repair would take place over the three-day Thanksgiving break. He said the work would take two days, with the third day to let the repairs sit for 24 hours.
In the updated capital improvement projects spreadsheet presented to the board at the meeting, the projects with the highest ‘four’ rating were as follows.
• Energy Management and Controls: energy management and DDC (the automated control of a process by computers and microprocessors with sensors), miscellaneous electric equipment power management, pneumatic/electric controls – recommissioning
• Life Safety Systems: install sprinkler system (not mandated)
• Mechanical Systems: add condensing boiler, add destratification fans in cafeteria, boiler plant enhancements, boiler plant replacement
• Facility Enhancements: daycare facility, wrestling room
• Ventilation and Dehumidification Systems: elementary new central AHUs (air handling unit), add VAV (variable air volume) boxes, add VAV and dehumidification, the same three options for the high school, install reheat coils in classrooms.
Board member Cody Brockway asked Munson if one option with the estimated remaining $400,000 in referendum funds and investment income would be to pay down debt, and asked him for a scenario.
“This year, we have levied $500,000 and conservatively allocated $400,000 to projects,” Munson responded. “It is possible we could knock a year off the debt schedule.”
Victoria Strauser from the Vernon County Energy District attended the meeting. The group has been consulting with the district on the capital improvements process and laying much of the groundwork for a possible solar electricity project. She was asked to delay her remarks to the December meeting.
Recognitions
There was a lot of congratulations and satisfaction following successful athletic seasons and co-curricular activities expressed in the ‘District Showcase’ portion of the board’s agenda. The football, volleyball and cross country teams were recognized, as were the playhouse and e-sports teams, and Athletic Director Jeff Murphy.
“With two juniors and one senior out, North Crawford Football was 8-0 this year in conference play,” head coach Jeremy Fradette observed. “We took conference this year for the first time in a long time, and made improvements throughout the season – we hope to repeat it next year.”
Fradette said that seven of the team’s athletes were named to first team all conference this year.
Cross Country head coach Liz Bransky discussed all the fun things the team had been able to do, in addition to running, at their fall trip. She said that running on River Road and at Sidie Hollow County Park had also been highlights of the team’s season.
“Liam Elton took first place at the conference meet, and was named ‘Runner of the Year,’” Bransky said. “Agnes Carstens took second place at the conference meet.”
Bransky said that in total, members of the team had logged 3,536 miles. She said Agnes had run in nine meets, and medaled in eight, while Liam had run in seven meets, and medaled in six. Last, she said that six athletes had personally run over 200 miles, and 18 had run over 100 miles.
Head volleyball coach Jill Bender described fall play as a “good season,” with some tough games against Kickapoo and DeSoto, leaving them 10-4 in conference play. This earned them the number three spot in the conference, with two team members – Nora Swenson and Alex Bender named to first team all conference. This made the team the only team in the conference to have two players so recognized.
Derrik Junker reported on the competition of the district’s e-sports team this fall. He said that in the second year of video game competition, the team has focused on the Super Smash Brothers game. The team practiced three times-per-week, and participated in competitions all over Wisconsin. Junker said the activity attracts students who might not otherwise participate in co-curricular activities.
“We finished second overall in our division, and were 6-1 in division play,” Junker told the board. “We ended our season by winning 17 consecutive sets.”
North Crawford Playhouse Director Brandon Bankes was riding high on the success and acclaim of their recently concluded production of the musical ‘Newsies.’
“The play represented more than 3,000 hours of combined production time, with more than 1,000 audience members, more than 130 hours of rehearsal, more than 50 meetings, and six performances,” Bankes told the board. “We are grateful for the generous showing of community support for the cast and crew – our students learned so much, and will cherish this memory for years to come.”
Bankes said he is proud of the program’s success, for the hard work of cast and crew, and for the hard work of the technicians, the back room crew, and for the help with the stage and ensuring the safety of the lights.
Munson recognized athletic director Jeff Murphy as the “brains behind the operation” of the district’s athletic team’s successes.
“He does a great job, with lots of hard work, and I appreciate the work he does,” Munson said. “Jeff is organized and proactive.”
Board president Terry O’Donnell commended the district for the Veteran’s Day observance at the school. He noted that the first grade had contributed music, and the fifth grade had provided a history lesson, with a dozen veterans in attendance.
In other business
In other business, the board:
• heard that the elementary school is wrapping up the first cycle of ‘What I Need’ (WIN) groups, meeting kids where they are, reviewing the data, and making plans
• heard that the grades 4K-2 Winter Concert will take place on Monday, Dec. 11, from 2-3 p.m., and grades 3-5 on Monday, Dec. 18, from 2-3 p.m.
• heard that the North Crawford Middle School Winter Concert will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., followed by the high school performance from 7:30-9 p.m.
• heard that there had been lots of collaboration around the math and English language arts (ELA), and that the elementary is evaluating their current math curriculum, with the next step to talk with representatives of programs and other schools around the state; and with ELA, taking a deep dive with a focus on writing, mapping out what writing skills look like for grades K-6th
• heard that in the second half of the year, there will be a literacy campaign focusing on family and the community, with the goal to have every student reading well by the 3rd grade
• heard that high school students had been engaged in ‘College and Career Ready’ activities, with visits to Viterbo University, UW-LaCrosse and Southwest Technical College, and a trip to Coloma to experience a heavy equipment operation training facility
• heard that all freshmen and their parents will receive a list in development of career ready training options for high school students available in the area.
