SPASD In Focus Newsletter | 5/28/25
Highlighting important issues with clarity and transparency.
Dear Families and Community Members,
As we close out another school year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you—families, staff, students, and community partners—for your unwavering support and partnership.
This year brought many moments of pride and celebration: student achievements, inspiring teaching, and continued growth across our schools. At the same time, like any year, we faced challenges that required resilience, collaboration, and understanding. Through it all, your continued trust and engagement made a meaningful difference.
Thank you for standing with us, for championing our students, and for being part of a community that believes in the power of public education. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and look forward to building an even stronger future—together.
With gratitude,
Dr. Brad Saron, Superintendent
We are seeking feedback from families about how they would like to receive the Back to School Newsletter in the summer. We have traditionally printed and mailed copies to all homes in Sun Prairie. We want to learn if your preference is a printed version or an online version that you can print and/or view on your device. There are just two questions - please take a moment to complete the survey.
Measles is a viral infection that causes fever, cough, rash, and sore eyes. It can lead to serious complications. Measles spreads very easily, so it is important to protect against infection. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles.
Two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine provide the best protection against disease. These doses must be separated by at least 28 days. The first dose of the MMR vaccine is routinely recommended around age 12–15 months, and the second dose before entering school, around age 4–6 years. Waivers for school requirements are available for religious, health, and personal conviction reasons.
In the event of an outbreak of measles, students who have a waiver or have not received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, like MMR, may be excluded from school until the outbreak is declared over.
For more information about measles, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/measles/.
Debbie Brown – Elementary District Nurse, 608-318-8106
Elizabeth Feisthammel – Middle/High School District Nurse, 608-318-8107
QUESTION: Why was there confusion about prom tickets this year?
ANSWER: SP East and SP West’s proms ended up on the same night this year due to venue availability. Building principals have collaborated to prevent this in both 2026 and 2027. This year, SP East and SP West worked together to align timelines, communication, and processes for prom—especially around guest forms and ticket sales—since the events would be happening on the same date for both schools. Guest forms are an important part of keeping prom safe, especially when guests from outside our school community may be attending. Deadlines for these forms are set by working backward from the event date to allow time for processing and approval before tickets go on sale. Tickets are then made available as close to the event as possible to ensure that all safety measures, like chaperone planning and ticket distribution through GoFan, are in place.
While we always try to be flexible when we can, guest form deadlines must be consistent to maintain fairness and ensure student safety. Making exceptions can create confusion and feelings of unfairness. Each year, including this one, we see similar challenges with permission slip deadlines, and we stay committed to holding clear and consistent expectations.
Both schools work hard to communicate early and often in a variety of ways so that every student understands the process and has the support they need to participate.
In our video series, Like No One Else: Student Stories, students from across our District share their unique experiences and opportunities, offering a personal glimpse into their journeys. Watch our Facebook page for a new student each week!
🌟 Aleena is a sophomore in the Black Student Union (BSU) at Sun Prairie East. BSU has provided Aleena with opportunities to connect with others, grow as a person, and succeed.
Sadie Brown Announced as the Next Associate Principal of Royal Oaks Elementary
Sadie Brown is already a familiar and valued leader in our District, known for her student-centered approach and passionate advocacy. She played a key role in launching the Adapted Sports League in Sun Prairie, helping to create more inclusive opportunities for students.
Brown shares: “Our students will continue to be at the heart of everything we do, and I look forward to partnering with each of you to ensure that they thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. With such a dedicated team of educators and a supportive community, I know we will achieve great things together. Thank you again for the opportunity to be part of this incredible community. I am proud to become a member of the Royal Oaks family and look forward to all the moments we will share.”
Brown will replace Joan Bartel, who will be joining Creekside Elementary.
A 2025 Graduate with a Nursing Career Starting in High School
Benjamen Buie, a senior at SP West, will graduate with more than a diploma. He is completing the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) dual-enrollment course and will earn his CNA certification.
The dual-enrollment program brings Madison College instructors to Sun Prairie High Schools. Students can earn credit at both their high school and the technical college. All CNA tuition, materials, and testing costs are covered by the District upon successful completion.
“I am incredibly proud of Ben and his classmates for taking the initiative to enroll in the college CNA course,” says Jordan Leider, a family and consumer sciences teacher at SP West.
This program allows students to complete college coursework early and start working in healthcare. Buie plans to continue in nursing at St. Thomas University, where he has also committed to play football.
The CNA course includes theory, labs, and clinical experience in a healthcare facility.
“At UW Rehab, I enjoyed watching patients recover really well and seeing smiles on patients’ and families’ faces. This class has given me basic skills to become a CNA and has given me the life skills needed to be compassionate towards others,” Buie says.
Additional sections were added to the CNA course this year and next due to its high success rate.
“Students like Benjamen are exactly why Sun Prairie Schools offer the Nursing Assistant course. For students who have a career plan and have taken classes that relate, Sun Prairie Schools wants to give them opportunities to work in a professional career setting,” says Greg Granberg, Career and Technical Education Coordinator for the SPASD.
A Future in the Trades with a Passion for Welding
Alanah Wilson, a senior at SP East, is taking advantage of Madison College’s dual-credit program and excelling in their welding course. The dual-credit program allows students to take college courses at their high school with a certified SPASD teacher. When a student successfully passes the course, they earn high school credit and credit from the technical college.
Wilson knew she wanted to go into the trades, but she didn’t know what exact profession. This class exposed her to a new opportunity and helped her gain experience in the field. After graduating, she plans to continue with welding at Madison College.
“For me, the best part of the class was just being able to truly experience the different kinds of welding options, as well as the different skills needed to weld,” Wilson says.
Her class, Metal Fabrication 2, is taught by Kyle Bliefernicht.
“Alanah is a great student and the type of hard-working and determined young person that, when given the opportunity, will thrive in technology education classes and understand the importance of being prepared for life after high school,” Bliefernicht says.
In April, students from Sun Prairie’s Adult Transition Program received a Community Service Award from the Sun Prairie Public Library. They were recognized for their kindness, positive attitudes, and hard work helping at the library all year—greeting visitors, cleaning toys, dusting shelves, and more. Their efforts made a real difference, and both staff and visitors are grateful for their help.
We are proud to partner with the Sun Prairie Public Library to give our adult students meaningful volunteer experiences that build skills they can use in future jobs.
Coffee with the Superintendent
As we continue to offer ways to seek two-way communication with our staff, families, and community, we have hosted a series of Coffee with the Superintendent events at the District Support Center. Several parents/caregivers and community members have stopped in with questions.
On our last Homeroom with Brad Saron, Anna-Lisa Dahlgren, SP West High School forensics coach, and Leela Bourenane, a senior at SP West, talked about forensics and winning the 2025 state competition! You can listen to the program HERE.
You can also listen to a recent podcast with Phil Frei, our Director of Business and Finance. He reflects on a 27-year career with our District. You can listen to the program HERE.
Work continues on the turnaround plan at C. H. Bird Elementary School. A poster event will be held on June 2nd for families to learn about the work that has been happening since January. You can continue to follow along with the communications HERE.