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.
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.
The River Valley School Board moved forward and narrowly approved the sale of 120 acres of school forest property in Arena at their March 11 meeting, along with continuing the equity, diversity and inclusion conversation that was started at last month’s meeting.
The River Valley School Board was asked to reckon with equity, diversity and inclusion issues at its Feb. 11
meeting, as a district parent brought
concerns of racial harassment to the
board, leading to an apology from the school board president and a promise to do more.
The River Valley School Board met for a regular meeting at the Middle School library and virtually Jan. 14. At the meeting, the board heard several policy changes, including shortening the required direct exposure COVID-19 quarantine to 10 days, from 14.
The River Valley School Board discussed the impact of COVID-19 on teachers, students and families, the potential sale of school forest property and the district’s policy for facilities naming rights at its board meeting Dec. 10.