SASD e-Newsletter: February 2024
Meet Camilla, the certified therapy dog who visits Cleveland Elementary School every Wednesday to help students improve their reading skills! Learn more about Camilla and how she helps students here.
Students in Jana McDonough's class at Farnsworth Middle School recently participated in a discussion and sampling of Cooper Street Granola Bake Bars and Jack Links Chicken Bites, both of which were a huge hit! These items are now being considered by the SASD as potential items for future breakfast kits. The students were engaged and excited to share their feedback with Nutrition Department staff to help enhance their breakfast selections.
The SASD continues to provide free breakfast for all students.
SASD schools will be in session on Monday, February 19 to make up for the second snow day. The first snow day is built into the school calendar, but any additional snow days need to be made up.
If a third cancellation is called, Monday, April 1 is designated as the next make-up day.
View the SASD website for the most up-to-date calendar: https://www.sheboygan.k12.wi.us/calendar
Lisa McClurg, Special Education Teacher at Pigeon River Elementary School, is an SASD Difference Maker! β
βLisa has given me more peace of mind than I have ever had since my autistic daughter started school last year. She takes such amazing care of my daughter and has worked with us as a family to meet her needs. She has been kind, patience, informative, and everything I prayed my daughter would find in school. She puts love and care into the children she works with, and I have had the cry-worthy pleasure of watching my baby succeed beyond my dreams. There is no person alive more worthy of this nomination than Lisa.β -Megan Spurgeon, Pigeon River Parent
Thank you for all that you do, Lisa! Nominate an SASD staff member here.
The Sheboygan Area School District (SASD) has a long history of being fiscally responsible and has taken excellent care of our school facilities. However, Farnsworth and Urban Middle Schools were built in the 1930s and are in need extensive repairs and/or upgrades.
Over the last several years, much work has been done to evaluate the needs of these buildings. A Citizens Facility Advisory Committee was convened in 2021, and in 2022 this group made a recommendation to the Board of Education to rebuild both middle schools. A new Farnsworth would be built on the south side of the current campus. Due to space constraints at the current Urban campus, it was recommended to rebuild Urban at a new location. The potential location is near Mill and Najacht Roads.
Bray Architects presented an updated overview of the potential referendum projects and timeline. View the full presentation here.
Two open community meetings to learn more will be held on:
- February 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Urban Middle School
- March 4 at 6:30 p.m. at Farnsworth Middle School
In spring, a community-wide mailer and survey will be sent to all SASD residents. This mailer will provide all of the details about the rebuilding projects and ask for community feedback. Additional meetings and site tours will be held later this year as well. Based on the survey results, the Board will make a determination in July or August to place the referendum resolution on the November 5 ballot.
Information will be posted on the SASD website at: https://www.sheboygan.k12.wi.us/middle-school-building-projects
Preliminary Approval for the Acquisition of Property
The Board of Education gave preliminary approval to purchase property located at the intersection of Mill and Najacht Roads in Sheboygan. This parcel of land would be used for the potential rebuilding of Urban Middle School as part of a possible November referendum. The funds used to purchase the property will come out of the $2 million fund balance designated for future land purchases. This preliminary approval will be returned to the Board for final approval later this spring.
The original recommendation from the Citizen's Advisory Committee was to rebuild Urban Middle School on a new site. As the District worked through due diligence on donated property located on North 15th Street, it became apparent that this land was not the best solution - due to the placement of wetlands, the water table, and the constraints on where a building could be placed on the property.
The property located at Mill and Najacht Roads is 19 acres larger and has the potential for a better site layout and room for expansion in future generations. This parcel of land is within the current Urban Middle School boundary and is about one mile from the current Urban building.
Discussion of Interest in District Sale of Property
Because the property located on North 15th St between Grand Avenue and MacArthur Ave will not be used for Urban Middle School, the Board will consider strategies for selling that property.
If you are interested in reviewing the full agenda or reading the meeting minutes, information is posted on our Board of Education website at www.sheboygan.k12.wi.us/about/board-of-education. All of the meeting attachments are posted on the website following the agendas. Please note the minutes from the Board meetings are approved at the next monthβs meeting and then posted online.
Board of Education meetings are streamed live on the SASD YouTube channel. All meetings are saved under the 'Live' tab.
Are you or someone you know looking for a part time job? Do you want to help students get to school safely? The Sheboygan Area School District contracts with Prigge's School Bus Service to provide yellow school bus transportation for students and Prigge's is hiring drivers!
Driving school bus is a great job for a parent with flexible hours - and you can bring your own children on the bus. Prigge's provides paid training and will reimburse fees needed to earn a CDL after 90 days of employment.
Learn more on Prigge's School Bus Service website or call Christopher Faust, SASD Transportation Supervisor at (920) 459-3568 to learn more about this important and needed role.