Summertime
in Wisconsin can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Swimming, camping,
fishing, and biking are just a few of the many outdoor activities that
our wonderful state has to offer both residents and visitors. Enjoying
time on the water, watching ball games, and grilling dinner are three of
my favorite summer pastimes. For many of us Wisconsinites, the weekends
between Memorial Day and Labor Day are jammed packed with one activity
after another as we enjoy the beautiful weather.
Having
worked as an educator for nearly two decades, I have often been asked,
“Since the kids don’t have school in the summer, does that mean that you
have the summers off?” While the summer provides a break from some of
the more routine managerial responsibilities, there is much work being
completed by the staff in and out of the school district. Like many
other organizations, several staff members in the School District of the
Menomonie Area are spending much of June, July, and August hard at
work.
Custodians
and maintenance staff members have been quite busy this summer cleaning
up after last school year and getting ready for a fresh start in
September. Rooms and hallways are cleaned, waxed, and, in some cases,
painted, and many maintenance projects are completed to keep our
facilities safe and efficient. In order to provide an environment for
student success, our custodians work to prepare the facilities to serve
as a “home away from home” from September to June for many students,
teachers, and staff members. This summer our custodial crew has been
tasked with additional work related to the construction projects.
Administrators
and support staff members spend much time during the summer creating
schedules and updating policies and procedures to ensure that children
in Menomonie are provided with an educational experience that will
prepare all our students for their futures. With several facilities
under construction this summer, school leaders are also tasked with
making temporary, and, in some cases, permanent changes to room
assignments and safety plans. Figuring out how to best serve hundreds
of students breakfast and lunch while supervising playgrounds, hallways,
and other parts of the building can sometimes be a complex puzzle.
Principals are also busy hiring and providing training for new staff
members, participating in professional development opportunities, and
helping to supervise summer school programs.
Many
teachers in Menomonie have continued to stay involved with students
this summer by teaching summer school, coaching, or advising student
activities. Others have continued to expand their knowledge and skills
through master’s degree programs or other professional development
opportunities. Some of these professional development opportunities have
been facilitated by specialists in our district, and on July 29-30
several Menomonie teachers participated in the second annual “Summer
Teacher Academy.” Sessions held at Wakanda Elementary School, but
available for all district teachers, focused on several topics,
including new accountability measures, creating student learning
objectives, using iPads in the classroom, and uploading content to the
school district website.
At
the Administrative Service Center (ASC), we are busy updating policies
and procedures, tracking changes in enrollment, and working on other
tasks such as managing the building projects. ASC staff members have
been applying for grants, and working with auditors to close the books
on the 2013-2014 budget year, which ended on June 30. We are also
putting the finishing touches on the 2014-2015 budget, which will be
presented at the Annual Meeting on August 25. (More information about
the Annual Meeting will be shared in the next edition of School
Crossings.)
Whether
it is cleaning classrooms, teaching summer school, hiring new staff
members, or attending conferences or seminars, staff members in the
Menomonie Area School District are spending much of the summer dedicated
to the mission of our school district. With this commitment and
continued dedication we will continue to strive toward preparing ALL
students to become lifelong learners, caring individuals, and
responsible citizens.
If
you have questions or concerns about the school district, I invite you
to visit the Administrative Service Center on Pine Avenue or contact me
at 715-232-1642. I will also continue to monitor email, maintain a blog
on the school district website (www.sdmaonline.com), and regularly post school-related information on Twitter (www.twitter.com/joezydowsky).