Homecoming, construction addressed

Homecoming was a central topic of discussion at the JWP School Board meeting Tuesday, October 17.

Senior student council representative Zach Groh reported that homecoming went well. He gave a brief description of the events during Friday’s pep fest and spirit walk. “We did a spirit walk instead of a parade with floats this year,” he explained. “We handed out candy to the elementary kids. They really liked it.”

Groh added they brought back a tradition started last year: lunchtime karaoke performances. “We did it last year and the kids thought it was funny, so we decided to do it again this year. Wednesday during homecoming week worked so well that we did it again on Friday. It was so loud that you could hear it from the library.”

When school board member Tim Burke asked about who won the spirit jug, Groh replied that the student council decided not to award a spirit jug due to the logistics involved with choosing a winner.

Superintendent Jeremy Erler stated that the Bulldog Backers, an organization that organizes fundraisers for the school, expressed interest in nostalgia. “They volunteered to help out,” he added. “They want to bring back traditions such as having the past homecoming king and queen do the crowning and the queens passing down a cape year to year. Maybe we can start looking at doing that during Snow Week this school year.”

The board approved eight policy changes after a final reading, which included public hearings, school board officer policies, and employee background checks among many others. Nine other policies dealing with the school’s code of ethics, drug and alcohol testing, and more received the second of three readings. Policies will be available for the public to read on the school website when the changes are implemented.

Board members made three separate motions and approvals to allow the Janesville city government to move forward with the “Safe Routes” project. The three items were the authorization of both temporary and final easement, a temporary construction easement, and a trail easement.

Board Chair Laura Seys shared a summary of Superintendent Erler’s mid-year evaluation. The board had three specified goals: Complete all four phases of the Minnesota School Board Association workshop series, implement a Covid-19 preparedness plan for the 2021-22 school year, and work with the school administration team for the onboarding process for school employees. New goals discussed for 2022-23 included the implementation of the onboarding process, policy implementation, updating job descriptions, and superintendent board communications including weekly updates.

Erler reported that he talked to local superintendents about their schools’ Human Resource programs. He also sought advice from former JWP superintendent Kurt Stumpf.

“We need to rewrite job descriptions which haven’t been looked at in 12 years,” Erler said. “We also need a work study not only across our district but in other districts to make sure we’re equitable with pay.”

Erler updated the board on the status of the school’s main chiller. The ship date is now November 14. The air handling unit in the gym is running at 60 percent until the school receives the thermal duct for it. “It will be a couple weeks before we’re at 100 percent,” he said.

The school is closer to completion with its weight room, finishing tiling work, grouting, placing rubber, and dropping in lights.

Other items approved at the board meeting were a seniority list of JWP staff and a $123.34 donation (accepted with many thanks) from the Bulldog Backers for school supplies. The meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m.