The River Valley School District Board has addressed various policy updates regarding cell phone usage and new course offerings during meetings in January and February. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin State Assembly adjourned without enacting necessary education funding reforms, leading to concerns about rising property taxes and budget pressures on local schools.
The River Valley School Board voted to reduce its workforce, cutting ten positions, including teachers and secretarial roles, due to financial constraints from closing the Early Learning Center. The total annual savings from these cuts amount to over $1 million. The board will also hold a referendum to exceed revenue limits for additional funding.
The River Valley School District Board plans to close the River Valley Early Learning Center due to declining enrollment and costs, saving about $1 million annually. A special meeting scheduled for Jan. 20 will address staff reductions and employment considerations related to this closure. The board is set to finalize an operational referendum at their Jan. 9 meeting.
The River Valley School Fair, created 61 years ago by Lawrence Eberle, continues to thrive, set for September 27 in Spring Green, Wisconsin. Initially aimed at unifying the community post-school consolidation, the fair has expanded significantly, promoting agriculture education and showcasing student talents, while preserving its pioneering spirit and tradition.
Sunshine Week is a time to celebrate government transparency and public service, as well as a time to address lapses in the same. In October 2020, shortly after incorporating and shortly before our first edition, we sent out a Wis. Stat. 19.84(1)(b) written request by email from news media to our local governmental bodies asking that Valley Sentinel be sent meeting notices for the respective governmental bodies. Recently, we sent reminder letters by mail to the local governmental bodies in our immediate coverage area that have not been consistent in sending us meeting notices, with several having sent none at all in the past nearly 2.5 years.
On August 12 the River Valley School Board met, in its last meeting before the school year starts, to discuss masking, new COVID-19 protocols and more, before ultimately stopping short of requiring students and staff to wear masks to start the year.
Ten members of the River Valley High School Class of 2021 wrote essays competing for a cash scholarship awarded by Veterans For Peace Chapter 25. Winner of the essay contest was Anna Deibert.
The River Valley School Board met May 13, welcoming a new member, took up changes to the school fair, the high school year book and elected officers.
Occasionally, when perhaps a devil’s advocate is needed or more circumstances should be considered, we find ourselves at odds with our readers in our very unscientific weekly (okay, okay, it’s semi-regular at best) social media poll. This is one of those occasions.
The River Valley School District Board of Education met April 19 for a special meeting in which federal emergency relief funds and a track resurfacing project were discussed. All eight board members were present, with one vacancy still remaining for Area 4 in the Village of Lone Rock.