Wage increased approved for next school year

ELLSWORTH – As people filed into the Ellsworth High School Cafetorium for the Monday, May 10 school board meeting, about 10 people out of 50 were not wearing masks. School Board President Doug Peterson asked those not masked to grab one from the school board table and wear it, per the school district following Pierce County Public Health’s mask advisory.

Seven minutes of dead silence ensued, as Peterson refused to start the meeting until people complied with the request. One woman abruptly left, saying “I’m not wearing a mask, that’s ridiculous.”

Peterson told the audience that the district is following PCPH Department’s mask advisory until June 4. Parent Thia Rewolinksi asked the board if children will be required to mask next school year. Superintendent Barry Cain said the district is requiring students to mask through the end of this school year and waiting for county guidance after the advisory expires June 4.

Another couple walked out the door, presumably because of the mask requirement. The others complied with Peterson’s request and the meeting began at 6:08 p.m.

“We are not doing this on our own as a power play,” Peterson said. “We are just doing what the county is telling us to do.“ Rewolinski spoke first during public comment, reading a prepared statement that a woman named Angie Krause also read later in the week at the May 12 Pierce County Board’s health committee meeting. The statements were identical, opining that “the majority” of Pierce County residents have returned “back to normal” and to “their unmasked lives,” hosting sleepovers, play dates and sports celebrations. Rewolinski did not provide a source for that information, though she said she had a petition signed by 170 people.

Rewolinski’s beliefs on why children should not be masked:

•The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers’ mask mandate; therefore, it is not lawful for the school district to require masks. She cited Article VI of the Constitution.

•Children’s lungs don’t fully mature until ages 20-25; it’s harmful to obstruct a child’s breathing while they’re developing. Bacteria and mold spores are growing in masks which can cause fungal infections in the lungs, throat or mouth.

•Decisions to mask are being made without evidence, which is detrimental to children’s health and education.

•All kids have complied with masking and struggle with focusing due to headaches, in spite of the 99 percent recovery rate.

•Masks are pointless since all teachers who want to be can be fully vaccinated; children under 16 cannot and are not “the problematic” population.

“We the parents of Ellsworth School District are asking that the masks should be made optional and not required,” she said.

Rewolinski also read a letter from parent Tricia McGrath, asking that middle school children be allowed to go to their lockers between classes, alleging they have to carry 15- to 20-pound backpacks.

Cain explained again the June 4 county mask advisory and added the district is mirroring “the vast majority” of districts in CESA 11. He dismissed a comment that the district could be sued for requiring masks, and said the board will discuss summer school masking requirements upon receiving county guidance.

Unrelated to masks, retired Spring Valley School District teacher and Ellsworth district resident Ned Hilliren and his wife, a retired teacher from Plum City district, offered their assistance in addressing harassment / bullying issues at Ellsworth.

Harassment can cause “a lifetime of scars” or end in a mass shooting or suicide, Hilliren said.

“Kids aren’t dumb,” he added. “They’ll do it when administration isn’t around. How do we make all kids feel welcome?”

He and his wife would like to help create programs, as volunteers, to give kids the confidence to stand up for others.

Wages

The board unanimously approved a 3 percent wage increase for all employees, and a 2 percent wage increase for co-curricular contracts.

The base wage total that the district will pay for the 2020-2021 school year is $6,497,009. Multiply that amount by 3 percent, and you get $194,910.27. Subtract the alternate compensation amount of $128,000, leaving an amount of $66,910.27. If you divide that by 124.7 full-time employees, each employee will see an increase of $536.57 annually.

Alternative compensation can be earned by staff in three ways:

•Advancing to a different professional level after an effective rating evaluation demonstrating continued growth, best practices and reflection on performance.

•Initial educator – First one to three years of teaching

•Professional teacher – Additional $2,000

•Teacher leader – Additional $2,000 (takes on additional responsibilities such as mentoring other teachers, serving as a building leader, leading learning opportunities and community outreach, demonstrating risk-taking by creating unique opportunities to advance learning

•Master teacher leader – Additional $3,000

•Earning an advanced degree or certification (courses must be pre-approved)

•Yearly professional achievement: Teachers must complete 12 hours of approved community involvement or professional activities. Employees can receive compensation for a maximum of two of these elements in one school year.

The board also approved raising the initial base wage for teachers from $41,208 to $43,000, to remain competitive with area districts. Currently, area districts’ base wages are:

•Hudson: $45,000

•New Richmond: $43,274

•Somerset: $42,540

•Baldwin-Woodville: $42,000

•Osceola: $41,886

•St. Croix Central: $41.350

•River Falls: $40,670

•Prescott and Amery: $40,000 The board approved a Health Partners dental and health insurance contract, which will have a 0 percent rate increase for 20212022; a 7 percent increase in 2022-2023; and a 9 percent increase in 2023-2024. The district is saving about 9 percent this year over the previous contract, which equates to $279,000.

Personnel report

The school board approved the following personnel changes:

•Hiring Ty Griffith as EES third grade teacher for the 20212022 school year; Riley Radtke as EES fifth grade teacher for the 2021-2022 school year

•Resignations of John Groh as EES principal effective July 2, Heather Hines as EMS custodian, and Krista Quinlan as EES kindergarten teacher

•Transfers of Jeff Fahrendorff from fifth grade long-term sub to fifth grade teacher for the 2021-2022 school year, Nash Gilles from .67 EHS science teacher to .67 EHS science teacher/ .33 EMS Spanish teacher, and Travis Logslett from math specialist to EES principal

•Abbie Green as seventh grade level chair The following individuals and groups received recognition during the board’s acknowledgements portion:

•Valedictorian CeCe Groh, who will attend UW-La Crosse to possibly study English.

•Co-salutatorians Sophie Vogel, who is undecided but interested in political science, and Brianna Giese, who will attend UW-Platteville for pre-physical therapy.

•EHS dance team coaches Amy Hill and Casey Oricchio, plus the 12 dancers.

•Delaney Huff, Matthew Jenkins and Reanna Smith, who work on the new student newspaper, the Panther Press.

•The senior lock-in committee, led by Lisa Elsen.

•Virtual talent show held at EES that featured 36 students.

•Physical education teacher Chad Whalen, who leads Boys R Us, a life skills group teaching accountability, grit, kindness and steadiness at EES.

•Katie Deiss, who is creating a mural from plastic bottle caps collected by EES students.

Other business

•The board approved the purchase of a Grasshopper mower/sweeper to replace a vintage 1980s John Deere sweeper with homemade cab and a Toro mower. The net cost after tradein will be $22,500.

•The board heard an update on the school district’s new website and app, which should launch July 1.

•The curriculum committee met April 21 to discuss controversial topics in human growth and development class content. No details were given.

•Building principals gave updates on the district-wide ALICE drill.