SPRING VALLEY — After open and closed session discussions, the Spring Valley School Board approved administration to carry out a communication plan with the village on why they feel annexation of district property from the Town of Gilman to the village would be mutually beneficial during the March 25 meeting.

The land annexation would be across County Road CC from the school buildings, property that was purchased for the construction of a transportation building. Annexation into the village puts the building under village utility systems. If approved, the village would owe Gilman tax revenue from the property for the next five years, a number that came in around $280 last tax season.

While the district has already requested the annexation and the village has discussed it for multiple meetings, the school board is coming up against the clock and are seeking a decision by April 6. The village has a board meeting April 1, so the school board is looking to provide supporting documentation to show why the village and district would benefit from the annexation.

During a March 30 special school board meeting, the board will see an agenda item to select a general contractor for the transportation building project.

Community Survey Results

Board Treasurer Stacy Schultz spoke to some changes she would like to see from the board after receiving routine community survey results. Schultz said a better system for displaying district financial information on the district website would go a long way to building communal trust in what the district is doing.

The financial reports are available in the posted minutes, but Schultz asked that they be made more easily accessible.

“I’ve been looking at other school districts, and even our previous [website information]. Going way back, it was easier to find them,” Schultz said. “I think we just need to be very transparent. That’s what people want.”

Fellow board members discussed potentially adding a financial tab that includes basic school district financial definitions and information.

Another item Schultz discussed was further advertisement for the vast clubs and activities the district provides or affiliates itself with. Schultz said many parents and students know the sports the district offers, but things like equestrian, trap shooting and a long list of others are not as well broadcasted.

Driver’s Education

Community member David Larson spoke to the board about adding driver’s education opportunities in the village. Larson has encouraged the district to look into the topic in recent months.

Currently, three Dunn-St. Croix Conference schools offer driver’s education, each through summer school. After discussion, the board did not approve a driver’s education program. Spring Valley’s last paid driver’s education teacher was in 2010.

“Most districts dropped driver’s education anywhere between 10 and 20 years ago. The state of Wisconsin ended funding reimbursements for getting a car and paying a teacher in 2004,” District Administrator John Groh said. “Anecdotally, I haven’t heard of Spring Valley or any other community with a spike in traffic issues with students since this has changed.”

Districts also take on liability and insurance costs through driver’s education programs. With a variety of other driver’s education programs in the area, Groh said he has not heard requests from parents to add the option to the district.

With various online options and neighboring community offerings, the board did not move forward with adding a program in Spring Valley.

“Personally, I would not recommend that that’s a financial that we would pick up as a district,” Board Vice President Jennelle Wolf said.