School Board Approves Activity Fee Increases

At the June meeting of the Whitehall School Board, held Tuesday, June 11th, in the Elementary Library, one topic was brought up, but it was shut down, so all the things left unsaid hung in the air throughout the remainder of the meeting.

At the start of the meeting, during public comment, freshman Kadie Chadwick approached the school board with a formal complaint against a teacher and provided copies to each board member. However, Superintendent Hannah Nieskens reminded Chadwick that Policy 1085 required a specific chain of command for submitting a complaint and that nothing could be discussed at this meeting. Chadwick notified Nieskens that the chain of command had been followed and had not yielded any results, so the next step was taking it to the Board. Nieskens said a formal hearing would be scheduled to address the matter.

The evening focused on activity fees and the current deficit of over $35,000 as the Board considered several options for eliminating or lessening the growing deficit.

Elementary Principal and former athletic director Kurtis Koenig gave a presentation on Snap! Raise is a crowdfunding app that allows students to source funds for their activity fees from family and friends through text messages and emails, much like a GoFundMe. Koenig said that the crowdfunding route could earn 2/3 of the current deficit of activities.

The board voted to raise activity fees to $100 per season (fall, winter, spring) and to utilize Snap! Raise for crowdfunding.

The elementary school handbook was approved with the following main changes: wheeled footwear and items are not allowed in school, no tag games are allowed on the playground tower, and no kicking while using the zip line.

The activity handbook removed family passes due to increased activity pass prices.

HIRES:

• Jason Salvagni will move to the assistant clerk position, with Breanna Ostrander taking over his former position as high school secretary.

• The following coaches were hired: ATHLETIC DIRECTORS: Jeff Vial, Jason Salvagni; HS VOLLEYBALL: Josie Jenkins, Gayle Walter, Sammie McLean; MS VOLLEYBALL: Britta Oliverson, Meagan Johnson; HS FOOTBALL: Jarrod Miotke, Dawson Hoerauf, Kurtis Koenig; MS FOOTBALL: Britt McLean, Paul Larsen, Justin Clements; HS/MS CROSS COUNTRY: Cori Koenig; CHEER: Deidre DuBois; HS GIRLS BASKETBALL: Kelly Nieskens, Zach McLean, Josie Jenkins; HS BOYS BASKETBALL: Tanner Neumann, Lincoln Leary; MS BOYS BASKETBALL: Justin Clements; HS WRESTLING: Ryan Hansen, Dawson Hoerauf; DRAMA: Liz Pullman; HS TRACK: Gayle Walter, Casey Norbeck, Justin Clements; MS TRACK: Britt McLean, Sarah Bates; GOLF: Lincoln Leary, Kerry Sacry

IN OTHER NEWS:

• The school’s two parking lots will be under construction by the end of June.

• Whitehall will add co-ops with Willow Creek for wrestling, golf, and cheer.