Altoona 4-K Committee Chairperson Susan Hintgen

  The 4-K Planning Committee is moving forward with their plans to have a 4-year-old kindergarten program available in the Altoona School District by the 2009-2010 academic year, according to committee coordinator Susan Hintgen. She presented a program update to the district’s board of education on Monday, August 18.

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   Thanks to rising enrollment rates in the Altoona School District, the property tax levy for the 2008-2009 school year is projected to decrease for the first time in four years. This year’s estimated tax levy is $4,637,405, which is a 3.46 percent drop from last year’s levy of $4,803,628. This means that a resident who owns a $130,000 home will likely pay $1,179 in levy taxes, while that same homeowner paid $1,221 last year.  

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   Students in the Altoona School District exceeded Wisconsin’s Adequate Yearly Progress goal of 74 percent in reading and 58 percent in math, as reported by Director of Pupil Services Karen Henry at the district’s board of education meeting on Monday, July 21.

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   At the Altoona School District Board of Education meeting on Monday, July 7, the board announced that it will bring forward a recommendation of approval for the boys’ tennis program and its cost projection for the 2008-2009 school year at the next meeting on Monday, July 21.

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   The Altoona School Board unanimously voted to approve the proposed contract of a 4.8 percent salary and benefits increase for teachers for each of the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 school years during their regular meeting on Monday, June 23.

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   The Altoona School Board discussed and approved various agenda items during their regular meeting on Monday, May 19.

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   On Monday, May 5, the Altoona School District Board of Education officially welcomed the members who were elected in the April 1 spring elections. As determined at the meeting, Ed Bohn will continue his position as board president, Helen Drawbert will return as vice president, Sheila Lehnen will continue her position of treasurer, and Red Hanks will step into the board clerk’s position.

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On Monday, April 21, the Altoona School District Board of Education met to an induct new member and say good-bye to an  old one. Former secretary Kristen Dexter received a farewell from the entire board, while the newly elected Robin  Elvig took the Oath of Office as the newest member of the board. She joins Helen Drawbert as a returning member.

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   The Monday, April 7 meeting of the Altoona School District Board of Education featured entertainment by two student groups. The Destination Imagination team from Pedersen Elementary School, whose members are traveling to state competitions on Friday, April 18, performed their routine, followed by a presentation from seventh- and eighth-grade students who participated in the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s National History Day.

   Director of Pupil Services Karen Henry then gave a report on the remedial summer school program. The report defined the purpose of the summer school curriculum and its popularity as a separate program outside of the Real Adventures in Learning program. When asked by school board president Ed Bohn if there might be a problem with the resources available if too many students use the program, Henry answered, “That is a problem we would like to have.”

   Following this presentation, Altoona Middle School principal Jack Wagener proposed a school schedule change. Representing the Responsive Education for All Children program, Wagener was looking for more flexibility within the fourth-period study hall and music time. The proposal would allow for certain students to have quality time to focus on their targeted problems. In his proposal, study hall time would be renamed “Resource Hour,” which would more accurately define the goal.

   District superintendent Greg Fahrman then presented the superintendent report. He discussed the Altoona Public Library board meeting, after which district fiscal manager Kathy Dahl presented the 2007-2008 preliminary budget update. According to Dahl, the school is on track with its budget so far this year; it is up five percent from last year and even has some extra finances that are being saved to help lower future expenses.

   Finally, the school board discussed the staffing needs for the 2008-2009 school year. An administrative team gave a list of staffing priorities; these included middle school guidance, an English Language Learners teacher, a special education teacher/coach, more technology support, and elementary-level “special” teachers, which include art, music, physical education, and language. Although the board acknowledged these overall needs, it was stated that necessary finances might not be available to hire the neede staff.

   However, Fahrman was quick to point out the positive: “Enrollment is up and the more students we get, the more funding given to Altoona.” According to Fahrman, this fact might provide the district with more room for such needs.

   The next meeting of the Altoona School District Board of Education will occur at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 21.