Photo by Kaitlin Longhauser
Caledonia Area Public School board members met Monday, June 17 at Caledonia Elementary School in room #162. Council member Mike Peterson called the meeting to order at 6 p.m., led with the Pledge of Allegiance, and conducted roll call. Council members present included Derek Adamson, Tim Gunn, Leigh King, Melissa Marschall, Daniel Small and Spencer Yohe. School district employees present included Middle/High School Principal Nathan Boler, Elementary Principal Sue Link, Dean of Students John Wahlstrom, and Community Education Director Gretchen Juan. Superintendent Craig Ihrke was absent.
Board member Yohe moved, seconded by Adamson, to adopt the agenda. Motion carried.
No Warrior Pride, Board Showcase, or Public Comment took place.
Brief discussion took place prior to the Consent Agenda’s adoption. Two minor changes were made to Caledonia Middle/High School’s Handbook earlier that day. Board member Gunn questioned what department the resignations listed on the Consent Agenda came from. Gunn then asked, “Do the students take a Constitution test?” Principal Boler responded no, however, the Constitution is utilized throughout the high school’s current Civics course. Gunn inquired how the school’s cell phone policy went this last year. Boler stated, “The intent is to get the phones out of the classroom.” Boler acknowledged the cell phone issue drastically improved.
Board member Small moved, seconded by King, to adopt the Censent Agenda. The resignations for Caitlyn Hoppe, Georgene Davy, Breanna Hahn, Georgina Steele, Susan Link and Megan Browns were accepted. Molly Stemo was hired as a part-time special education paraprofessional. The Local Literacy Plan and the Middle/High School Student-Parent Handbook for the 2024-2025 school year were approved.
In a 6-1 vote, the council approved to discontinue the K-12 Dean of Students position. Board member Gunn commented, “I thought it was good getting a dean in.” Gunn expressed that with the Dean of Students position discontinued, this puts more pressure on Principal Boler. “I think this is a step back in the school district,” Gunn said.
Board member Peterson stated, “John has done a fantastic job. I’m not against bringing it back some day (the position).”
Board member Adamson moved, seconded by Gunn, to approve the hiring of John Wahlstrom as the elementary principal/curriculum director beginning the 2024-2025 school year. Motion carried.
• Principal Link shared her last board report pertaining to Caledonia Elementary School;
The elementary school will be hiring additional paraprofessionals for the upcoming school year.
• Teacher’s schedules are being revised to coordinate with the school’s interventionists.
• Saturday, May 25 both fifth grade promotion and the awards program took place.
• Kindergarten Academy was held the first two weeks of June. This gave students who are entering kindergarten the opportunity to get to know their teacher and classmates.
At the end of Link’s board report, she said what an honor it had been to serve with Caledonia Area Public Schools. She was grateful to have worked with amazing students, parents, teachers, staff, and board members. Board member Peterson added, “Thank you for you years of service!”
Principal Boler presented his board report;
• The last week of the school year had been a busy one with Senior Awards getting rescheduled and graduation.
• Boler thanked the class of 2024 for the supply of golf balls.
• Student grades have been finalized for the 2023-2024 school year with report cards sent home.
At the end of each school year, high school seniors are asked about their plans post graduation. Their senior picture and responses are then run in the local Argus newspaper. Board member Peterson compared student responses for graduating classes of 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, and 2024 for those either pursuing a four-year institution, technical school, the workforce, military enlistment, or undecided. Peterson commented, “The thing that caught my eye was the undecided. It seemed concerning to me.” In 2014, 6% of high school seniors stated to be undecided. For the class of 2024, 26% of high school seniors stated ot be undecided. “I think it reflects the world we’re living in right now,” responded Gunn.
Board member Yohe added, “The one that disappoints me is the military.” In 2014, 6% stated to be enlisting in the military. For the 2024 class, that number dropped to 0%. Wahlstrom brought up that the push for students to pursue college has changed. Students were once pushed to attend college even if they were undecided. Board member King shared that 10-plus years ago, one needed to be enrolled in college in order to remain on their parent’s health insurance policy whereas now one can remain on their parent’s policy until they are 26 years old without being enrolled in college.
The board meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m. Caledonia Area Public School board meetings can be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@CAPSSschoolBoardMeetings.
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