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I-S School Board approves club soccer

A two-year contract for boys’ club soccer was approved by the Iola-Scandinavia School Board at its March 10 meeting.

The board received a petition signed by more than 70 people in favor of the program.

The club sport will include athletes from I-S, Amherst and Rosholt. Participating in the co-op program is at no cost to the school district.

Last fall, two I-S boys participated in the Amherst-based soccer program.

“Having those two boys helped us immensely,” said Jake Barnes, who coached the 2013 team. “This is a win-win for all three schools.”

The program is sponsored and supported financially by the Jensen Center in Amherst. Each player pays a $50 fee to the Jensen Center.

The season runs from Aug. 15 through the first week of October.

High School Principal Sara Anderson was concerned WIAA rules may not allow I-S to participate if the Tomorrow River School District (Amherst) has enough boys for a team.

The motion was passed, contingent on WIAA approval.

In other business, District Administrator David Dyb presented a plaque from the Wisconsin Association of School Boards to Board President Charles Wasrud.

“The WASB recognizes school board members through an achievement program based upon years of service and participation in board member development programs, workshops and attending board member delegate meetings at the state education convention,” Dyb said. “Charlie was recognized for reaching an achievement level.”

The board discussed the false rumors concerning the I-S Community Fitness & Aquatic Center.

The policy is that the facility will be closed when the school is closed during inclement weather. The ISCFAC will not re-open on those days even if the weather improves.

It was noted this is the policy of other like facilities in the area.

Director Molly Vold said the ISCFAC is open all summer, during the school’s spring and Christmas breaks and for several hours on weekends.

After conducting a staff survey, I-S administrators chose Friday, March 13, 2015, as a day off of school. Dyb said that date could also be used as a snow make-up day, if necessary.

Elementary Principal Tess Lecy-Wojcik announced that elementary art instructor Jill Willems has been chosen to receive a Kohl Fellowship Award on March 22.

The board approved a 25-cent per hour raise for support staff for the 2013-14 school year. The cost increase for the district will be about $7,600.

There was discussion concerning allowing 50/50 raffles at school events. The board agreed to gather more information prior to making a decision.

The cleaning contract with Service King was renewed for a three-year period. The contract includes a 3 percent increase, with weekend services subject to $25 per hour with a minimum of two hours.

Field trip conflicts

The board discussed expanding the guidelines for scheduling field trips. They noted that field trips sometimes conflict with student commitments for sporting and other school related events.

“Earlier in the year, an extended field trip conflicted with a football game,” Dyb said. “It was decided that the athletes not go on the field trip.”

He noted that an upcoming field trip will also conflict with a co-curricular activity.

“It sounds like athletics are taking priority,” said board member Kirstin Hoyord. “I want to make sure academics are the priority.”

“We can’t allow one to differ from the other,” Dyb said, noting that guidelines need to be established for level of priority.

He suggested the guidelines state that practices and rehearsals should not have priority over a scheduled event. Also, he suggested the final decision should not be made by a coach.

Dyb asked the board to remember that the school district is “providing opportunities for learning,” and suggested students only be exempt from field trips for “safety or academic responsibilities.”

“We need to do a better job of not putting students in a compromising position,” he said. “There are enough open days on the calendar.”

It was suggested that field trips be scheduled earlier in the school year when the extra-curricular calendar is more stable, and that some field trips could be scheduled on Saturdays.

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