The Community Connection is published for the residents of the Kewaunee School District D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9

Save the Date Build the Future Wall of Fame Banquet

April 5, 2020

JW’s Place– Slovan

Our Vision

Empowering all students to take

their future by STORM:

Learning, Leading Succeeding

Together.

Our Mission

Through a caring and safe learning

community, we prepare all students

with the knowledge, skills, and

habits to be future ready citizens.

Our Values

We model and promote

collaboration, respect,

inclusiveness, innovation, positivity

and accountability.

Kewaunee School District Looking Ahead

Community Connection

I wanted to take this opportunity to wish

our school community a Happy Holidays!

Thank you for your support of our

children, teachers and staff. The

commitment you show to our school is

paramount to the success of all students.

May the kindness you share with others

help to bring much joy and happiness in

the New Year!

Sincerely, Karen

December 23- January 1:

Winter Break

January 20: No School

Teacher Work Day

February 14: No School

Teacher In-Service

March 13: No School

Teacher In-Service

April 9-13: No School

Spring Break

May 15: No School

Teacher In-Service

May 25: No School

Memorial Day

May 31: KHS Graduation

June 3: Last day of school

Superintendent Note

District News

2019-2020 Tax Levy

The Kewaunee School District approved a total tax levy of $5,854,587 for the 2019 – 2020 school year. The mill rate for the district is

$10.10 per $1,000 of property value. This is a .34% increase from the 2018-2019 mill rate of $10.07 per $1,000 of property value. This

would be an approximate increase of $3.45 for a property valued at $100,000. At the bottom of this article is a chart that outlines

property value and the tax levy history.

Private school vouchers continue to increase annually in our district. The voucher program accounts for $.38 per $1,000 of property

value or $57 on a property valued at $150,000.As was mentioned in the last Community Connection, KSD itself does not benefit from the

voucher program. The cost of the vouchers are, per state statue, included in the school district tax levy. In June the Department of

Public Instruction decreases our final school state aid payment by the amount levied for vouchers thus having a neutral effect of the

district’s bottom line. As we mentioned in the last community connection the district believes that just as a property tax bill shows

how much goes into public schools and technical colleges, taxpayers deserve to know the cost of expanding the private school voucher

program.

You will soon start to receive you 2019 property tax bills. Please keep in mind, each municipality with the Kewaunee School District

can be and will be different than this general mill rate scenario mentioned above. Your school property tax increase or decrease will

depend on if your property was improved, you were re-assessed, if there was property growth within your municipality, and the

amount your municipality receives for the school tax levy credit. All these factors can impact your individual property tax bill.

We hope this helps decipher the school tax levy formula.

Historical Property Values and Levies

Year

2014 2015** 2016** 2017 2018 2019

District Property Valuation $ 491,375,774 $ 937,294,092 $ 961,969,836 $ 549,430,399 $ 559,680,099 $ 579,565,663

District Tax Levy $ 9.68 $ 6.90 $ 6.89 $ 9.66 $ 10.07 $ 10.10

Increase(Decrease) in Tax Levy from Prior Year $ (0.29) $ (2.78) $ (0.01) $ 2.77 $ 0.41 $ 0.03

Tax Increase(Decrease) on a home valued at: 2015 2016 2017 2017 2017 2017

$100,000 $ (29.00) $ (278.00) $ (1.00) $ 277.00 $ 41.00 $ 3.00

$150,000 $ (43.50) $ (417.00) $ (1.50) $ 415.50 $ 61.50 $ 4.50

$200,000 $ (58.00) $ (556.00) $ (2.00) $ 554.00 $ 82.00 $ 6.00

**Years when the Dominion Power Plant was valued at the higher rate.

High School News

Nine students from Kewaunee High School applied to and were

accepted into the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Young

Writers’ Workshop On December 4, 2019. At the conference,

students attended various sessions. In one session, students met

with college writing professors and a published author, Joseph

O’Malley. Students talked about writing, practiced writing and

were able to have their writing evaluated by these experts.

Students also were also to share their work and listen to each

other in an open microphone session. Our students made a lot of

new friends at this session. Finally, the keynote speaker, Joseph

O’Malley spoke to the entire group about his experience as a

writer, and walked the audience through his process. Students

had many questions, and the energy in the room was electric.

One of the highlights of the day was the awards ceremony. We had nine students attend this event including: Abbigail Kittleson,

Antwan DeGrave-Anderson, Bailey Kinjerski, Elizabeth Lamack, Lizzie Meier, Margaret Riemer, Michaela Czech, Vanessa Guillen, and

Zowie Dellemann. Of these nine, five of them were recognized as top writers in their categories. Margaret Riemer and Abbigail

Kittleson were runners up for the senior $1000 scholarship. Elizabeth Lamack, Lizzie Meier, and Bailey Kinjerski earned recognition at

top underclass writers. Most importantly, the students had a fabulous time.

On November 20, about 15 members of the FBLA chapter toured St. Norbert College and Seroogy’s Chocolates. While at St. Norbert,

tour guides were current students who showed KHS students around campus and told them about the college and their experience

there. KHS students were greeted by their admissions counselor who talked with them about the college and what makes them

different from other schools. Students then traveled to Seroogy’s and learned how to effectively display items in order to increase

sales, and how a display can leave a lasting impact on all who pass by.

FBLA Experience

Young Writers Workshop

Middle School News #REELKIND As a school we are focusing on kindness and respect for

ourselves, others and school.

A Season of Giving—Pennies for Patients

The Middle School Student Council held a collection during the month of November for Pennies for Patients this ensures that

no child has to take on cancer alone.

As a science-based service-learning program, Pennies for Patients connects schools with local blood cancer patients, provides

tangible life skills to participants, and allows students to see the impact they’re making in the lives of others. The Leukemia

and Lymphoma Society’s mission is to Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of

life of patients and their families.

This year students in grades 4K-8 raised over $2000 for Pennies for Patients!! The winning elementary classroom was Ms.

Siudzinski’s class and the winning middle school class was Mrs. Krohn’s homeroom. The classrooms may choose from a pizza,

doughnut or sundae party. Thanks to all that collected.

We also took part in the Warm Hands Warm Hearts mitten and hat collection. As a school community we were able to collect

over 350 cold weather items to be distributed to children in need of warm winter gear. Thank you to all that helped out!

Warm Hands

Elementary School News

Students in 5th grade have been participating in a 13-week resiliency course called, COREMatters, during their physical education class.

The COREMatters Project is based on research in the areas of bullying prevention, competency, and social emotional learning (SEL), and

is connected to the SEL and physical education standards. Together, Amber Binney, Ryan O’Brien, & Liaison Officer, Scott Szydel, are

leading them through physical activities that provide coping skills for different types of adversity that they may face in the future. We

would like to thank Sheriff Joski for providing us with this opportunity via a grant he had received this past summer. Our students and

staff are enjoying it, and have learned a lot! For more information regarding The COREMatters Project, please visit this link,

https://www.coremattersproject.com.

The COREMatters Project

We have adopted a new math program this year, K-5, called Bridges in Mathematics. We had

piloted the program in a few grade levels during the 2018-19 school year, and were very

impressed with what we were seeing and hearing. Students appeared to be more engaged in the

lessons, and could explain their thinking aloud. Our district benchmark assessment scores

indicated that the students who received this program had performed at a higher level than

previous years, and the same was true after reviewing our state test scores.

The Bridges in Mathematics Program provides play based activities, which guides students to

make connections with the standard math algorithms. Through these hands-on activities,

students are able to explain their understandings by solving complex and novel problems. We

are excited to improve the instruction for our students in such a fun way, and cannot wait to see

the results in the future. If you would like additional guidance or suggestions for participating in

your child’s learning, please contact your child’s teacher or visit the following links,

https://www.mathlearningcenter.org/sites/default/files/documents/family/family-

orientation.pdf and https://www.mathlearningcenter.org/families/bridges2.

Bridges In Mathematics

Learning, Leading, Succeeding Together

Bringing Joy To The Community

Learning, Leading, Succeeding Together

Bringing Joy To The Community

Build the Future Wall of Fame Nomination Form Nomination of:

Name:

Address:

Phone:

Nominated by:

Name:

Address:

Phone:

Criteria for selection:

Must have been a graduate of the high school in Kewaunee.

Graduates must have graduated at least 20 years prior to year of the award.

Must:

a. have done something to better humanity, or

b. have attained a high achievement of some sort, or

c. symbolize those qualities students are desired to emulate

Must be willing to attend the award dinner, speak to students, and be willing for the foundation to post a photo in the high school.

Nominees can be deceased. A relative would need to be willing to accept the award in his/her honor.

Reasons for nomination:

___________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Please return this to the District Office, 915 Third Street, Kewaunee, WI 54216, by January 3, 2020. Thank you for participating in the

selection of candidates for this award. The selection will be made by a committee of the Build the Future Foundation Directors.

The selection will be made early January, 2020.

Learning, Leading, Succeeding Together

REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

KEWAUNEE SCHOOL DISTRICT

COMMUNITY ROOM

September 23, 2019

7:00 P.M. Regular Session

PRESENT:

BOARD MEMBERS

Ms. Chase Pagel

Mr. Brian Vogeltanz

Mr. Paul Jirtle

Mr. Tom Stangel

Mr. Dennis Shimanek

Ms. Deanne Schultz

ADMINISTRATION

Karen Treml, Supt. /Sp. Ed. Dir.

Michael Bennett Prin.

Kacy Rohr, Prin. /Curr. Dir.

Tracy Ledvina, Prin

Kim Dax, Bus. & Human Serv.

Jason Karnopp, Bldgs/Grounds Dir.

President Brian Vogeltanz called the Regular

School Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Meeting notices were posted according to WI

State Statutes 19.84(1)(b). A Quorum was verified

as six Board members were in attendance.

President Brian Vogeltanz called the Regular

School Board meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

Meeting notices were posted according to WI

State Statutes 19.84(1)(b). A Quorum was verified

as six Board members were in attendance.

Tom Stangel motioned, Dennis Shimanek

seconded to approve the agenda as organized

with the modification of tabling major topic

number one. The motion passed unanimously.

There were no comments for Public Forum, or

concerns for the Board.

The meeting began with KHS student Vanessa

Guillen addressing the Board regarding creating a

debate team. Vanessa explained the expectation

of students who would participate on the team,

and the cost to the district if the team was

created. Paul Jirtle motioned to approve the

creation of a Kewaunee High School Debate Team

as presented, the motion was seconded by Chase

Pagel and passed 6-0 on a roll call vote.

Superintendent Karen Treml then presented an

update on the Lakeshore Alternative Program.

She shared the application process, existing

student needs, and expectations of the program.

Currently the program is serving only high school

students, middle school students will be

supported in the near future.

Next President Vogeltanz read the Consent Agen-

da Items as follows:

1. Minutes of August 19, 2019

2. Payment of the bills in the amount of

$334,971.92

3. Resignations of Casey Kudick as Elementary

School Counselor, Joseph Brachmann as High

School Choir Teacher, Megan Gleason as Middle

School Counselor, Lucas Neitzel as Freshman Class

Advisor, and Dan Spranger as Sophomore Class

Advisor.

4. New hires of Bailey Derenne as Elementary

Counselor, Casey Kudick as Middle School

Counselor, Kali Hermans as Special Education

Paraprofessional, Meg Schlender as part time

Speech and Language Pathologist, Rebecca Hall as

part time Food Service Worker, Greta Bloniarz as

full time Food Service Worker, Tom Berger as

High School Musical Director, Vocal Musical

Director and Musical Choreography Director, Dave

Wesley as 7th Grade Football Coach, Scott

Bortolini as Varsity Softball Coach, Fran Patek as

Freshman Class Advisor, Lucas Neitzel as

Sophomore Class Advisor, Dan Spranger as Junior

Class Advisor, Jackie Pionek and Jenny Tuesburg

as Senior Co-Advisors.

5. Donation of welding safety equipment valued

at $7000 from Kewaunee Fabrications

Dennis Shimanek made a motion to approve the

Consent Agenda items, seconded by Tom Stangel.

The motion carried 6-0 on a roll call vote.

Superintendent Treml presented her report next.

She provided a summary from a conference she

attended, and updated the Board on the current

status of the administrative guideline process.

Mrs. Treml concluded her report by sharing with

the Board an upcoming Manufacturing Career Day

Event being held in Kewaunee County which our

ninth grade students will all attend.

Business and Human Services Director Kim Dax

provided her update next. She shared a summary

of the Risk Manager training she attended,

updated the Board that the audit is complete, and

that she is currently working on the third Friday

student enrollment count.

Following Mrs. Dax, Buildings and Grounds

Director Jason Karnopp presented the Board with

a facilities update. Mr. Karnopp reported on

scheduled upcoming trainings, current projects

underway as well as upcoming projects planned

for the near future.

Last on the agenda was the Principals report. Mr.

Bennett, Mrs. Rohr, and Mrs. Ledvina shared with

the Board events happening in their respective

schools, as well as an update on their School

Learning Plans.

President Vogeltanz read important upcoming

dates to the Board.

Tom Stangel then motioned to adjourn to closed

session per WI State Statute 19.85(1)(c) to discuss

personnel issues. The motion was seconded by

Chase Pagel and passed 6-0 on a roll call vote.

At 8:08 Tom Stangel motioned to return to open

session and adjourn, the motion was seconded by

Deanne Schultz and passed unanimously.

Administrative Assistant

Cara Delebreau

REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

KEWAUNEE SCHOOL DISTRICT

COMMUNITY ROOM

October 21, 2019

7:00 P.M. Regular Session

PRESENT

BOARD MEMBERS:

Mr. Dennis Shimanek

Mr. Brian Vogeltanz

Mr. Tom Stangel

Mr. Paul Jirtle

Ms. Deanne Schultz

Ms. Chase Pagel

ADMINISTRATION

Karen Treml, Supt. /Sp. Ed. Dir.

Michael Bennett Prin.

Kacy Rohr, Prin. /Curr. Dir.

Tracy Ledvina, Prin.

Kim Das, Bus & Human Serv. Dir.

President Brian Vogeltanz called the Regular

School Board meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Meeting notices were posted according to WI

State Statutes 19.84(1)(b). A Quorum was verified

as six Board members were in attendance.

Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Dennis Shimanek motioned, Tom Stangel

seconded to approve the agenda as organized.

The motion passed unanimously.

There were no comments for Public Forum, or

concerns for the Board.

The meeting began with a request by Randy

Charles to create a KHS Trap Club. Mr. Charles

shared that surrounding schools have established

Trap Clubs, and he would like to allow KHS

student the same opportunities. Mr. Charles

shared that the KHS Trap Team would always

shoot at the Kewaunee Trap Club, all scores

would be entered into a database along with

surrounding schools. The Trap Club would

fundraise to cover expenses, there would not be a

cost to the district. Tom Stangel motioned to

approve the creation of a Kewaunee High School

Trap Club, the motion was seconded by Chase

Pagel and passed unanimously.

KHS Principal Michael Bennett then presented his

recommendations for the Start College Now/Early

College Credit applications. Discussion was held

regarding offering some of the classes applied for

in the Kewaunee School District, Mr. Bennett

shared that currently there is not a staff member

that would be certified to teach the classes

students are applying to take via these programs.

Paul Jirtle motioned to approve the applications

as recommended, Deanne Schultz seconded with

the motion passing 6-0 on a roll call vote.

Superintendent Karen Treml then recapped the

Policy Committee held on October 7th 2019.

Dennis Shimanek motioned to approve the first

reading of Neola Policy updates, Chase Pagel

seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Next on the agenda was the approval of the

2019-20 tax levy. Business and Human Services

Director Kim Dax spoke to the Board regarding

the proposed numbers, providing a document

which she explained all line item numbers in

detail. She shared with the Board that the line

item regarding school vouchers continues to

increase as this year she is budgeting for

$219,000 in vouchers, an increase of $18,000

over last year. She explained to the Board that

although KSD needs to budget for the voucher

program, tax money received by the district is

passed directly to the private schools, as the

Kewaunee School District serves as a pass thru

for the voucher program. A motion was made by

Tom Stangel to approve the 2019-20 tax levy as

presented, under levying $450,000 in the debt

service fund, and setting the mill rate at $10.10.

The motion was seconded by Chase Pagel and

passed 6-0 on a roll call vote. Immediately fol-

lowing, Paul Jirtle motioned to approve the

2019-20 Budget as presented, motion was second-

ed by Deanne Schultz and passed 6-0 on a roll

call vote.

Next President Vogeltanz read the Consent

Agenda Items as follows:

1. Minutes of September 23, 2019

2. Payment of the bills in the amount of

$645,607.92

3. New hires of Dan Spranger as Gifted and

Talented Coordinator, Jen Bran and Kevin

Gaedtke as 8th Grade boys Basketball Coaches,

Michael Halada as JV Boys Basketball Coach, Fran

Patek as Debate Advisor, Lisa Golda and Tom

Berger as Long Term Music Substitute Teachers.

Dennis Shimanek motioned to approve the

Consent Agenda items, seconded by Chase Pagel.

The motion carried 6-0 on a roll call vote.

Superintendent Treml presented her report to the

Board next. Mrs. Treml provided a general

update which included multiple activities occur-

ring in the District. After her general update, Mrs.

Treml shared the progress on the Administration

Guidelines and Distinguished Educator

application submissions.

Business and Human Services Director Kim Dax

recapped the proposed budget for the 2019-20

school year, and shared that the school level

reports will be available at the November school

board meeting.

Superintendent Treml presented a facilities

update sharing that there are many projects

underway. It was decided there would be a

Facilities Committee Meeting held in January

where the 10 year plan would be reviewed.

Last on the agenda was the Principals report.

Mr. Bennett, Mrs. Rohr, and Mrs. Ledvina each

provided a general update on their respective

schools.

President Vogeltanz read important upcoming

dates to the Board.

At 8:04 Chase Pagel motioned to adjourn, Dennis

Shimanek seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Administrative Assistant

Cara Delebreau

Empowering All Students To Take Their Future By STORM:

Learning, Leading, Succeeding Together

Learning Leading Succeeding

The Kewaunee School District shall not discriminate in admissions to any school, class, program, activity or facility on the basis of sex, race, national origin, ancestry,

creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability. Discrimination complaints shall be processed

in accordance with established procedures.

Superintendent/ Special Education Director:

Karen Treml

Administrative Assistant:

Cara Delebreau

Business & Human Services Director:

Kim Dax

KHS Principal: Michael Bennett

KMS Principal/Curriculum Coordinator:

Kacy Rohr

KES Principal: Tracy Ledvina

Food Service Director:

Tammy Swanson

Buildings, Grounds, Transportation and

Security Director: Jason Karnopp

School Board President: Brian Vogeltanz

Vice President: Tom Stangel

Clerk: Dennis Shimanek

Treasurer: Paul Jirtle

Members:

Chase Pagel

Deanne Schultz

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid

Kewaunee WI 54216 Permit No. 35

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

BOXHOLDER

District Office: Superintendent Karen Treml (920)388-3230

Kewaunee Elementary Principal Tracy Ledvina (920)388-2458

Kewaunee Middle School Principal Kacy Rohr (920)388-2458

Kewaunee High School Principal Michael Bennett (920)388-2951

Happy Holidays from the

Kewaunee School District