
MTSD Momentum Newsletter
April 27, 2023

News from the MTSD Board of Education
Congratulations to Kate Barikmo and incumbent Wendy Francour who were recently elected to the MTSD Board of Education for a three-year term. This will be Ms. Francour’s fourth term with the Mequon-Thiensville Board of Education. Ms. Barikmo is a Thiensville resident and teaches 7th grade and ELL at Shorewood Intermediate School, as well as serves the local community as an EMT.
Ms. Barikmo and Ms. Francour formally took office prior to the Board’s regular business meeting on Monday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m. in the Range Line Conference Room.
Dr. Matthew Joynt, re-elected incumbent Wendy Francour, and new member Kate Barikmo
Announcing This Year's MTSD Retirees! 🎉
It is always difficult to say goodbye to cherished friends and colleagues. The ten staff members retiring from MTSD this year represent a total of 272 years of service to the Mequon-Thiensville School District. We are grateful to these retirees for their, loyalty, friendship, expertise, and commitment to the children of Mequon-Thiensville. Their service in their given duties has been beyond admirable!
Flex Day - School Calendar Update 🗓️
As we head further into spring season, we want to provide an update about the Flex Day on Friday, May 26. As a reminder, MTSD builds 2 inclement weather/emergency days into its school year calendar. A Flex Day is a day that is scheduled for instruction, unless the school district only experiences 1 inclement weather/emergency day. If only 1 inclement weather/emergency day is used, the Flex Day will be a day off for students and an inservice day for staff. If both emergency/inclement weather days are used, the Flex Day will remain a regular day of instruction for students.
At this point in the school year, Homestead High School students have missed 2 instructional days of school due to inclement weather (February 16 and March 10) while our 4K-8 students have only missed one instructional day of school (March 10). Since the high school has used both emergency/inclement weather days, and in order to meet the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction requirements for the amount of instructional hours required of Grades 9-12 students, Homestead High School will hold a regular school day on Friday, May 26. At this time, 4K-8 (elementary & middle school) students will NOT have school on Friday, May 26 and this will be a professional learning day for elementary and middle school staff members.
April Severe Weather Awareness & School Safety & Security Reminder
Last week marked Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin. We are grateful for the cooperation of our students in practicing these drills, and to the teachers and staff members who helped facilitate these annual drills. We’d like to take this opportunity to remind our school community about the ways MTSD manages prevention and preparation for school safety and security concerns. Please take a moment to read this overview of Safety & Security in MTSD. Thank you for all that you do to keep our school community safe, secure, and resilient.
Update on WI State School Vaccine Mandates
In the March Momentum newsletter, we shared that following a hearing on immunizations at the state level , the DHS has suspended updates until further notice. Here are MTSD’s updated immunization recommendations for the 2023-24 School Year:
- The TDaP requirement is recommended from 6th grade to 7th grade to better align with the recommended age of administration.
- The meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine requirement has been suspended at this time, however it is still recommended by the CDC at age 11-12 with a booster at age 16.
- A history of varicella (chicken pox) may continue to be reported by parents without documentation by a licensed provider.
WCASS Honors MTSD Autism Specialist During Autism Acceptance Month
From left: Trina Hayden, Michael Mooren, Stephanie Polzar, Tess Tilley, Danielle Ozimek, Sara Boeck, Matthew Joynt, Sara Summ, Tres Mansfield, Monique Porter, Brian Clements, and WCASS Representative, Kaari Olson.
Earlier this month, Danielle Ozimek and Homestead High School senior and special needs advocate Nathan Moldavsky received honorary awards from the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS). WCASS is a professional organization of over 350 members who administer and support special education programs throughout the state of Wisconsin. The WCASS awards recognize outstanding contributions made every day to enhance the lives of students with special needs. Ms. Ozimek has served MTSD for eight years, working with neurodiverse students across all six district schools. Ms. Ozimek's recognition aligns with Autism Acceptance Month, which has evolved away from "Autism Awareness" to promote a better understanding of our neurodiverse students and peers.
Currently, 1 in every 36 children in the United States is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a rate that has increased in recent years. The unique neurology of students with ASD can dramatically impact the landscape of our schools and communities and almost all of our students can now identify someone with autism in their lives. Currently in MTSD we have 90 students receiving special education services under the criteria area of autism, and our numbers only continue to grow. Through several movements in the autism community, we are all encouraged to grow from being aware of autism, to being accepting of the neurodiverse, to being advocates and beyond.
Thank you to Ms. Ozimek for sharing this information, and for the important work that she does and relationships that she builds in our school community every single day!
Destination Imagination Fundraiser
Lake Shore Middle School DI team, The Smartie Salamanders, has qualified to attend the 2023 Global Finals of Destination Imagination in Kansas City, MO from May 20-24, 2023! The team is made up of 8th-grade students with DI experience ranging from 2 - 7 years.
The Smartie Salamanders placed 1st at their Regional competition in the Fine Arts category and then placed 4th at the WI State level competition earlier this month in order to receive an invitation to the Global level competition. MTSD teams have made it to the Global finals in the past, but this is The Smartie Salamanders' first trip. They have "flipped the script" with an exciting new take on Little Red Riding Hood, featuring some "heavy metal knitting" - yes, that is a thing.
The experience of attending Globals will allow them to interact with students from around the U.S. as well as many different countries, showcase their prop designs, share the knowledge they have learned from working on their challenge, and learn from others. Please consider donating to help fund their trip to Globals if you can by clicking the link below.
Order a Grad Greeting by May 1!
The Homestead High School PTSO is thrilled to be able to continue to offer Grad Greetings for our Senior Class. Grad Greetings are a fun Homestead tradition! Family, friends, teachers, employers, neighbors, and even pets can purchase messages of congratulations and best wishes for Homestead graduates at $3 each.
The messages are then assembled into a personalized printed booklet unique to each graduate, serving as a keepsake that will be treasured for years to come. The more messages, the bigger the book! The books will be distributed the day seniors pick up their graduation tickets, cords, and yard signs (approximately 1 week before graduation).
To order a Grad Greeting go to:
https://homesteadhsptso.membershiptoolkit.com/store
If you have an account, once logged in you will be taken to the PTSO store where you will choose the "Grad Greetings" menu option (be sure to click the correct BUY option (eg. "Grad Greeting - for students' last names A-B", C-E, etc..). Once in the store, click on Grad Greetings and follow the instructions. All Grad Greetings are due May 1st!
If you have any questions, please email Homestead High School PTSO at homesteadhighschoolptso@gmail.com Thank you so much for your support of our Senior Class!
Last Call to Buy Tickets for the MTEF Derby Bash!
M-T Recreation Department News
Register Now for Summer Programming!
Registration is now open for summer program opportunities through the Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department. Course registrations are filling fast, so don't wait! There are so many great options across all types of interests, and for all ages! Whether you are looking to finely tune a skill, take up a new hobby, learn something new, or stay active, there is something for everyone!
Click here to browse the guide and register for a great program (or two!)
Board Briefs
The Mequon-Thiensville Board of Education held three closed sessions and one regular business and reorganizational meeting this month.
April 3 Closed Session
The Board of Education convened into Closed Session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) for the purpose of discussing the annual Superintendent’s Evaluation.
April 17 Closed Session
The Board of Education convened into Closed Session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) to consider the employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility (preliminary notices of nonrenewal) as well as consideration of an administrator resignation.
April 24 Closed Session
The Board of Education convened into Closed Session pursuant to Wis. Stats. 19.85(1)(c) to consider the employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility (preliminary notices of nonrenewal).
April 24 Regular Business & Reorganizational Meeting
The Board completed a public signing of the Code of Conduct and Ethics per Policy 0123.
The Board heard the Treasurer’s report, Superintendent’s report, and a PTO report from the Steffen Middle School parent Kim Theune.
The Board approved base wage increase for positions within the Mequon-Thiensville Education Association for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023
The Board to action to approve preliminary notices of non-renewal of individual teacher contracts
The Board approved an overnight field trip for the Lake Shore Destination Imagination Team, Smartie Salamanders, to attend Global Finals
The Board approved member Andy Hopkins as Board of Education Representative for the Annual CESA #1 Convention
The Board held its annual Election of Officers of the Board of Education. Shelley Burns was re-elected as Board President, Jason Levash elected as Vice President, Paul Buzzell was re-elected as Board Treasurer, and Andy Hopkins was elected as Board Clerk.
As a reminder, all Board of Education meeting agendas and video recordings of past meetings can be found on the MTSD Board of Education website.
Employment Opportunities
Like many organizations both locally and nationally, the Mequon-Thiensville School District and some of our contracted services providers are experiencing challenges related to staffing shortages. Please take a moment to review the employment opportunities below and spread the word about working at MTSD!
Bus Drivers
Access to consistent and timely bus transportation is extremely important to the success of our student academics, athletics, and co-curricular activities. Please help to minimize transportation disruptions for our students and consider applying to become a bus driver for MTSD and GO Riteway. Spread the word about how important this career is to our entire school community!
Substitute Teachers
Everyone knows a teacher or someone who loves children. Do you love working with kids? Become a Substitute Teacher and start making a difference in the lives of children! Teachers On Call is a substitute staffing company specializing in recruiting and retaining qualified staff who are willing to step into a classroom with minimal direction. There are many opportunities to sub at the schools in our district.
Featured Opportunities
Rental Coordinator - Districtwide
Drama Director - M-T Recreation Department
Assistant Girls' Swim Coach - Homestead High School
Substitute Teachers and Paraprofessionals - flexible job!
Connect With Us! 💻
Throughout the school year, be sure to check out the great things going on at your school building by following your school's page on Facebook, as well as the MTSD Facebook page, the District Twitter and Instagram accounts, and by finding us on LinkedIn.
Follow us on Facebook:
Follow us on Twitter:
Find us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Instagram
Please note: The accounts linked above are the only official social media presence managed and moderated with support from MTSD Communications.
Important Dates 🗓️
MTEF Giveback @ Colectivo Mequon
Wednesday, May 3 - All Day
Mention MTEF and 20% of your purchases will be donated to MTEF
MTEF Off to the Races Derby Bash
Saturday, May 6 - 4:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Shully's Watermark & East Lawn - Thiensville
Board of Education - Working Meeting
Monday, May 8 @ 6:00 p.m.
Range Line Community Center
Homestead Gallery Night
Friday, May 19 @ 6:00 p.m.
HHS Collaboration Zone West
Board of Education - Regular Business Meeting
Monday, May 22 @ 7:00 p.m.
Range Line Community Center
NO SCHOOL/Professional Learning Day (Grades 4K-8)
Friday, May 26
REGULAR SCHOOL DAY (Grades 9-12)
Friday, May 26
NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
Monday, May 29