School District recieves praise for

" Montello Idea"

Monday’s meeting of the Montello School Board began with Mr. Mark O’Connell, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Counties Association, pledging support for the “Montello Idea.”

In his address he pledged both his personal support and the support of his friends in the transportation, realty, and construction industries saying that Montello was “on the right track” and with a little help from seemingly uninterested parties could lead the state and nation with its “exciting” and “visionary” ideas.

Later in the meeting, when the Board was discussing revision of the school’s grading policies, O’Connell again praised the school community, saying that someone must have spread some “pixie dust” as the climate and discussion was like no other he had seen in the hundreds of School Board meetings he has attended.

Under updates on past business, Roger Feucht, Director of Building and Grounds presented a cost business analysis regarding cleaning equipment.  Currently studies on state facilities show that a single custodian is responsible for cleaning 20,000 square feet, while custodians at Montello Schools clean 37,000 square feet per day.

The analysis compared a walk-behind unit and a 28” rider to the current 18” vacuum cleaners that the custodians use and came up with significant reductions in the time to clean hallways.  Because the custodial staff was reduced in 1997 the savings would not allow for further reductions, but would bring the area cleaned in line with state averages, presumably allowing for extra attention in areas already being cleaned.

Another past business item was the continued discussion on the district’s current grading policy.  One side of the discussion dealt with leveling the playing field, so that Montello students were not at a disadvantage when applying for college, while the other side set the bar higher so that students at Montello were motivated to achieve more.  Although the two are very different facets of the grading policy, a third was added concerning the move from a norm referenced criteria to a more progressive standards referenced criteria, reflected in the thinking that went in to the Montello Idea.

Other reports and informational items included Elaine Linke’s slide show of the Junior High trip to Washington D.C., a presentation by Kathleen McGwin, who represented the county Rural Development and Park Committee, and an update on the K-8 Science curriculum.

Under consent resolution items, the Board approved an adult education proposal, which targeted 18- to 21-year-olds but would include an alternative education component for seniors at-risk of not graduating. The Board also accepted a $50 donation to the IMC from the Thyme Shares Master Gardeners and $200 to the Drama Club from the Montello Women’s Club.

Under personnel matters, the Board accepted the resignations of: Marsha Walejko, High School English and National Honor Society Advisor; Robert Kutz, Assistant Football Coach; Sara Bowman, Assistant Volleyball Coach; and Yedda Sheller, Assistant Volleyball Coach. The Board also approved the hiring of Alison Prise as the Head Volleyball Coach and Tonia Wadding as an advisor for the class of 2014.