Stanley-Boyd Schools is an AP Pacesetter, recognized as such by the Wisconsin Advanced Placement Advisory Council and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
Started over a decade back to recognize high achieving schools, the Pacesetter Awards recognized schools on three levels, defined in turn as Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.
District Superintendent Jeff Koenig shared more with the school board at the January school board meeting.
“DPR just released the 2024 Pacesetter Awards and Chippewa Falls and Stanley-Boyd were the only two schools in Chippewa County that were recognized,” he said. “We were both recognized as Level 3 Pacesetters, which means 10 percent or more of students have taken at least one AP exam and 60 percent of those students earn at least a ‘3’ or above on the exam. It was an accomplishment for our AP teachers and high schools students for doing well on those exams.”
Other school districts on the list for 2024 Pacesetter Awards from the larger area were Altoona (Level 3), Eau Claire North High (Level 3) and Eau Claire Memorial High School (Level 1), there being three possible levels in the distinction.
Also covered at the Monday, Jan. 19 school board meeting was district enrollment, which has seen a drop at Stanley-Boyd this year, down 38 students in the most recent count, coming out to 1,003 students total. Enrollment is measured twice a school year, the drop in January enrollment coming from high school and attributed in part to early leaving of a large sophomore class to things like homeschooling.
“ We just have students that are leaving not enrolling in other schools,” Koenig said, saying it was more accepted than even five years ago. A CESA comparison given later the same evening showed virtual academies to potentially boost district enrollment for those which hosted them, enrollment factoring into school district budgets. Other things affecting the student budget were a $256,000 declining enrollment exemption used this year to offset, as well as higher health insurance costs.
Also covered this month meanwhile were upcoming staff vacancies, with two retirements next year and one resignation this year. The district plans to only hire a replacement for one of the positions unless a dramatic increase is seen in high school enrollment over the summer. Enrollment is tracked on a three-year rolling average, with Stanley-Boyd affected by a large transient population moving for work.
Following enrollment an update was given on the annual audit, with segregation of duties listed among possible improvements moving forward. Segregation of duties is the practice of requiring multiple people to complete certain tasks such as finance, thereby reducing risk. Smaller districts often have only one person on this due to staffing, with budget affecting feasibility of hiring more than one person.
As for student council news, the monthly report to the school board by Student Council Advisor Kayleigh Steinmetz and Erin Hager highlighted efforts on the winter formal dance, Polar Plunge, and student blood drive.
As for the Winter Formal Dance Jan. 17 it had two dance courts (freshmen and sophomore) and over 70 kids in attendance. The decision was made to try to tie the dance to an event next year in hopes of increasing attendance.
“The 70 kids who were there had a really good time,” Student Council Advisor Kayleigh Steinmetz said.
As for the Polar Plunge, it will take place during spring break March 14 at Loopy’s Bar and Grill, meaning no students will take the Plunge with the school. Fundraising efforts however will still take place via concessions stand Friday, Feb 13, proceeds going to benefit the Special Olympics of Wisconsin.
Other locations for the Polar Plunge this year in Wisconsin include the Milwaukee County Zoo in Milwaukee, Thom Field in Wausau, Waverly Beach in Fox Cities, and the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, as well as an “alternative” option for those wishing to make the plunge their own way, with more information available at https://specialolympicswisconsin.org/plunge/.
Closing out with the student blood drive, it saw over 39 units collected, another drive scheduled for April 17 from noon to 6 p.m. Donors from the January student blood drive will receive an email reminding them of the April event.