The Ellsworth School Board approved the creation of an elementary/middle school math coach position at the March 11 meeting, with Steve Mark abstaining. He said he needed more information before voting and would be setting time up to observe math classes at the elementary school.

Elementary Principal Mary Zimmerman said the funding for the first year will be completely covered by carryover and new allocated grant funds. The position’s salary will be $65,000 per year with $30,000 in benefits.

Going forward, some funding can come from special education funds, Zimmerman explained.

“Fifteen percent in special education can be used to intervene early to prevent kids from going into special education,” Zimmerman said.

She added that Nick Foley, who was hired for the 2023-24 school year as a general instructional coach to provide support to new staff and others regarding quality instructional practices in all areas, does well but a content-specific math coach is needed.

“We need all hands on deck and we need to get someone in it soon,” she said. “Kids do not get this time back. There is no do over.”

Superintendent Barry Cain noted the district is speeding up the posting process so it doesn’t miss out on quality internal or external candidates. The position’s purpose will be to provide leadership, coordination, collaboration and innovation in math curriculum and instruction, according to the job description.

Personnel

The school board approved the following personnel changes:

Hires: Kevin Bruesewitz, EHS science teacher

Retirements: Lynne Hamilton, EES third grade teacher; Mary Hanson, EHS special education teaching assistant; Anita Peterson, EES third grade teacher

Extra/Co-Curricular: Owen Matzek, EHS JV assistant baseball coach; Spencer Schlutz, EHS assistant track coach; Derek Staley, EHS boys assistant golf coach

Resignations: Samantha Dunbar, EHS math teacher; Ronald Francis, EHS English teacher; Courtney Langer, EES fourth grade teacher; Peter Senti, EHS science teacher

Cain confirmed many teachers are leaving education to pursue other professions.

Election

Mark Stoesz, former Ellsworth High School teacher and principal, will join incumbent Steve Mark on the ballot for two open school board seats. Katie Feuerhelm is not seeking re-election.

Stoesz said he was in education for 32 years, 17 as a teacher and 15 as a school administrator. He is currently serving as an interim assistant principal in River Falls School District during his retirement.

“I’m retired, not dead,” he joked. “I feel passionate about this community and this school. I’ve lived in this community for 32 years. My passion is for our students, first and foremost, our staff, our parents and our community.”

He said he “speaks the language of those who spoke tonight” and was always appreciative of past school boards. He wants to continue that legacy.

Building goals

Principals from each school went over progress made on the 2023-24 building goals determined at the beginning of the school year.

Elementary School

1. Students will increase their ability to reason mathematically in order to increase their ability to problem solve.
2. Students will increase their ability to work at higher Depths of Knowledge (DOK) in order to increase their understanding of vocabulary and ability to summarize a tex.t

Middle School

1. Literacy: Informational Text Focus: Students will be able to use evidence (textual, numerical, visual, symbolic) to analyze information and make logical inferences. Goal: By June 2024, all grade levels will demonstrate 4% growth in proficiency in the ELA portion of the Wisconsin Forward Exam.
2. Achievement Gap: Special education students will narrow the gap with their regular education peers through Behavior Intervention Plan Training and work

High School

1. Ellsworth High School will increase their ACT college readiness in Reading score by 3% or more. The current score is 45.9%.
2. Ellsworth High School will increase their ACT college readiness in Math score by 3% or more. The current score is 35.7%.

Other business

The board approved school district residents Raynee Farrell and Tracey Hines to canvass the school board election results, along with Clerk Kurt Buckner, at 4:15 p.m. April 8 in the Ellsworth Elementary Community Room.