Hudson School Board Kicks Off 2025 Strategic Plan

The graduating class of 2025 has not yet enrolled in  kindergarten but the Board of Education had the youngsters on their minds at the regular June 14 meeting at when members approved a plan to alter the instruction approach at the high school.

Unanimously approved were two components to Hudson School District 2025 Vision strategic plan at the high school level: approving “high school learning for the future conceptual plan” and the go ahead to start implementing the five-year plan starting this school year.

“Great work, well done everyone,” Barbara Van Loenen, board president, said after the approval.

The conceptual plan has four components; including having small learning communities, or focused areas of instruction and learning, like Science, Engineering, Technology and Math (STEM), performing arts, health and human sciences or a potential local theme; project-based learning where students design their own course and lessons; advisories and transitions.

Hudson High School Principal Laura Love explained to board members they were approving a plan to implement a five-year plan with the promise of high school administrators to come back annually to update members on budgets, changes and progressions for approval.

Board Member Dan Tjornehoj said he supported the aspects of the plan and was excited about it, but was concerned emphasis on the arts was in jeopardy under the new plan.

Love explained all students will still have access to all electives with the small-learning communities approach.

The upcoming school year will be the first year of the plan and advisories will be set up for all freshman, staff will be required to take additional professional  development courses on the change cycle, a freshman academy small learning community will be planned, traditional classes will be taught with project-based learning principles embedded into the curriculum and a complete project-based learning course will be developed.

Love said the total cost for the first year is $28,275 for all four components with the majority going toward professional development.

Sarah Krier, who just finished her sophomore year at Hudson High School and serves on an advisory committee, said she was excited to see the plan start coming together.

“I look forward to this because it will create individual challenges and students will work harder because they’re interested in what they’re learning about,” she said. “It would help be better prepared for college … I’m just sorry that I won’t be there to see it all happen – I’ll be graduated by then.”

Mother of three district children, at all school levels, Theresa Spaight said she liked the approach high school administrators are taking to a challenging budget to providing top-notch learning opportunities for district students.

“I don’t see a downside … it’s not just about a diploma, but what happens after,” she said. “Despite severe budget cuts they still want to be innovative and prepare students.”

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Other board news

• A contract addendum with for student transportation was unanimously approved. The addendum, Director of Human Resources Nancy Sweet explained, is part of the outsourcing of busing to “save money and eliminate duplication of services.” Tim Erickson, financial services director, said the transition to Safeway would cumulatively save the district about $25,000 over the first three years, “a substantial savings.”
• Erickson said the latest developments regarding the state legislature’s budget work remains uncertain. The Joint Finance Committee approved a bill which is currently in both houses for review and approval. The Assembly was tossing around ideas about putting WiscNet, a program to bring broadband internet into schools and libraries in rural areas, including Hudson, on the chopping block – which could raise the district’s internet costs two-three times, Erickson said. However, it appears the program may be spared for a few more years.  The other education  piece coming from budget talks right now, charter expansion, stirs conversation in proposed towns Racine and Green Bay. The finance director said he and the finance department are continually watching budget developments happening at the Capitol.
• Superintendent Mary Bowen-Eggebraaten said this year’s was a slightly smaller than others in the past few years with 391 new alumni, but the class grew by 49 percent since kindergarten when they started with 262 students. She also congratulated Love on her first HHS graduation.

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Recognized at the meeting

• Spring athletes, including state competitors and Big Rivers Conference champs from the teams as well as the ; Paige Ommen, the girls conference player of the year and the girls team,  which claimed the regional championship title, were all honored and congratulated at the meeting.
• Cindy Mitchell, STRIVE coordinator, gave a presentation on the successful year the STRIVE program, which had with 75 students this year. Of the programs 17 seniors, 16 graduated –a 94 percent graduation rate which Mitchell said was  something to be proud of for both students and staff. Due to budget cuts the program is scaling back despite being named the University of Wisconsin -Madison 2011 Careers Conferences Showcase Program Award winner.
• social studies teacher Jody Gabriel is the softball coach at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and was named the Wisconsin  Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. Gabriel said she was proud of her team and honored by the recognition as it was voted upon by her coaching peers.