A Message from Superintendent, Dr. Dana Monogue
Dear Staff,
I hope you were able to find time to rest and rejuvenate on February 14th and 15th. You deserved the time off, and I want you to know how much community support I have received for making this decision. This is the time of year when we see some of the most significant progress with our students, and it is also the time of year that can be the most tiring.
Please know how much you are appreciated, respected, and valued as vital professionals in our community! The hard work you are doing with and for students is increasing achievement and engagement. I recently visited several schools with one of our School Board members, and we were both completely impressed by what we observed in classrooms.
The level of engagement and on-task behavior is a direct result of your care, compassion, planning and facilitation. Thank you for all you do each and every day for our students, their families, and your colleagues!
2022-23 MCPASD School Year Calendar
We officially have our 2022-23 school year calendar!
Approved
Thank you to all our staff that provided their input We considered all the feedback sent to us to ensure our district provides more common planning and collaboration time, just as requested by many of you.
We have increased the number of Professional Development/Collaboration days from 6 to 9, with almost all landing on Mondays
February will have two PD /Collaboration days (a Monday and Tuesday) Our PD days become PD & Collaboration days (½ PD, ½ Common Planning/Collaboration)
The feedback on asynchronous learning at the 9-12 level was also considered At this time, Asynchronous learning days at the high school level have been removed from the calendar for the next school year
“While we believe that the asynchronous model at the 9-12 level is a considerable step forward in both student programming and agency, as well as a vehicle for increased staff collaboration and planning” said Superintendent of Education, Sherri Cyra, "we also recognize that an additional year of planning for implementation would be beneficial."
Hereareafewotherchangesthathavebeenenactedinourfinalschoolyearcalendar:
All-staff days in August have moved (back a week) to August 29-31 New Educator Induction moved to August 22-25 August 31 becomes:
Ready-Set-Goal or PD/Work Day at Elementary WEB (Where Everyone Belongs Orientation for 5th Grade)/Work Day at Middle LINK (Orientation for 9th)/Work Day at High
September 1st is the first day of school for students in all grades K-12th
Secondary students will have independent learning on three of the PD/Collaboration days (March, April, and May) 11th and 12th-grade students will have independent learning on April 11-12, 2023 (for 9th & 10th grade) state testing days
Staff Only | Referendum Engagement Session
If you live in our district, then you have received our referendum postcard with information on how to sign up for one of our six engagement sessions
Not included in our postcard, is a STAFF ONLY session that will be held on March 14, 2022 at 4:14 p.m. at the Middleton High School Black Box Theater.
This will be a safe space for staff to discuss the state of our district and what this operational referendum can do to benefit you
Our Superintendent and Director of Finance will facilitate a 30-minute presentation on the District budget and the challenges MCPASD faces in the coming years. After the presentation, you will be placed into small groups for a breakout session to process and identify questions
We hope you can join us!
STORY | https://bit ly/3LITv0w
District Services Team (DST) Restructures for 2022-2023
We are making some changes at the district office for the 2022-2023 school year. We want to communicate these changes in the spirit of full transparency so that everyone in our district understands what is happening, why it's happening, and that the end result of these shifts does NOT include any additional positions at the district office.
2021-2022 - # of Current District-Level Administrators = 14 FTE (with .4 FTE unfilled) 2022-2023 # of District-Level Administrators = 14.3 FTE
Net reduction in District-Level Administrators = .1 FTE
2021-2022 Information: Last school year, we attempted to hire a .4 FTE Safety and Security Coordinator. We did not attract any applicants and therefore, left the position unfilled. However, the FTE allocation has remained in our budget as a placeholder. As we mention below, Jim Blodgett, currently our Director of Technology, will be moving into a new role as Safety and Security Coordinator. This is a position that will be shared with Monona Grove. We will own .5 FTE of this position. This means a new Director of Technology will be hired.
2022-2023 District Service Team Information: The following changes will be made to the DST. Positions not mentioned below will remain status quo heading into next school year.
Important Note on new hires: These DST shifts result in our need to hire an Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning and Director of Technology. These positions will be posted soon and are scheduled to come before our School Board for approval on April 25, 2022.
Sherri Cyra
Cyra's role will move out of Educational Services and she will lead system-wide departments and efforts.
Director of Middle School Education
Director of Secondary Education
Keith Schneider
Keith Schneider currently works solely at the middle school level Next year, he will lead both middle and high school efforts.
Percy Brown
Director of Equity and Student Achievement
Director for Systems Improvement
Director of Technology
Safety and Security Coordinator
will own 5 FTE of this position
Tocommunicatethatequityisthe responsibilityofallinourdistrict, PercyBrown'stitlewillbechanging ThisissomethingPercyhimselfhas requested.Hehasalsorequesteda contractreductionto80%fornext schoolyear
Jim Blodgett, currently our Director of Technology, will be moving into a new role as Safety and Security Coordinator This is a position that will be shared with Monona Grove We
James Blodgett
Get to know our District Services Team
We receive consistent questions from staff about the roles and responsibilities of district-level leaders. We hope the information here will foster understanding of the vital and important work being shepherded by this team of leaders.
DrLauraLove|DirectorofHighSchoolEducation llove@mcpasdk12wius|608-829-9028
9thyearatMCPASD
28thyearineducation
HSPrincipalSupport&Supervision
HSRedesign&Visioning-currentlyworkingonlearner-centered systems&pedagogicaldesign
LauraisthedesignedTitleIXDecision-MakerDistrictsarerequiredto identifyastaffmemberforthisrole
ThoughLauraisretiringattheendofthisyear,herheartwillalwaysbe inPublicEducationandRacial&SocialJustice
JamesBlodgett|DirectorofTechnology jblodgett@mcpasdk12wius|608-829-9007
Startedteachingmath,scienceandpre-engineeringstudentsin1990at EauClaireMemorialHighSchool
Attheendofthe20thcentury,heleftteachingtobethenetwork engineerandmanagerforEauClaireSchools
BecametheDirectorofTechnologyServicesatMCPASDinOctober2012 Mostmorningshedoesyogawithhiscats
KeithSchneider|NewtitleinFall|DirectorofSecondaryEducation kschneider2@mcpasdk12wius|608-829-9058
Principalsupportandsupervision,levelmeetingsupport,learningwalk visits,specialistsupport,neweducatorinductionsupportandothers Districtassessmentcoordinationofdistrict-widetestingplatforms includingStarReading/MathandWIForward/DLM(co-coordinationfor ACCESStesting)
CoordinatestudenttransitionsfromGrade4to5andGrade8to9with otherdistrictandbuildingleaders 1yearwithMCPASD,28yearsineducation Lovesworkingon/detailinghisvehicles
MarybethPaulisse|DirectorofElementaryEducation mpaulisse@mcpasdk12wius|608-829-9025
21styearatMCPASD 22ndyearineducation
ElementaryPrincipalSupport&Supervision ElementaryCurriculumCoordination&Renewal NewEducatorInductionSupport ProfessionalDevelopmentSupport&Coordination OversightofElementarySpecialists,Encore,andInstructionalCoaches TitleI,II,IV/ESSACoordination/Oversight HastwoadorablecatsaTabbynamedMittensandaCaliconamed Grace!
CynthiaMalcheski|DirectorofSecondaryStudentServices cmalcheski@mcpasdk12wius|608-829-9021
StartedworkingatMCPASDin1998hasservedinthefollowingrolesas aspecialeducationteacher,studentservicescoordinator,assistant directorofstudentservices,andnowdirectorofsecondarystudent services
Servesasthedistrictliaisoninallmattersconcerningsecondary specializedservices
TitleIXCoordinator
CollaboratearoundSocialEmotionalLearning(SEL)andoverseemental healthgrantimplementation
Develop,Monitor,supervise,andmanageallaspectsoftheannual budgetsforspecialservices
Interviewandhirestaffmembers;superviseandevaluateassignedstaff Interpretandremaincurrentonallfederal,state,andlocalmandates forspecialeducation
GraduatedfromMiddletonHighSchool!
MandiSersch-Morstad|DirectorofBilingualServices msersch-morstad@mcpasdk12wius|608-829-9060
Providessupportandcoordinationforthefollowingprograms/services andteams:EnglishasaSecondLanguage/TransitionalBilingual,Two-Way Immersion,SpanishLanguageArts
Collaborativelydesign/coordinateprofessionallearningopportunities relatedtolanguageacquisition,bilinguallearners,andeducationalequity
HasheldvariouspositionsatMCPASDincludingbeingastudentteacher atKMSandMHSinthefallof2000
BecameadogmomtoaShihpoonamedLarryduringthepandemic
ErinWheeler|DirectorofFinance ewheeler@mcpasdk12wius|608-829-9052
Budgetforecasting&development
BusinessInsurances(property,liability,auto,etc)
Annualfinancialauditmanagement
Annuallongtermdebtmanagement
Oversightoffiscalservicesteammembers&functions
Dr.SallyKellman|DirectorofElementaryStudentServices skellman@mcpasd.k12.wi.us |608-829-9054
1yearatMCPASDand17yearsinEducation ReviewFederalandStatelegislation/regulationstoensuredistrict complianceinTitleIX.
Servesasthedistrictliaisoninallmattersconcerningspecialized services.
ServesasthedistrictHomelessChildren&YouthProgramLead. Develops,Monitors,supervises,andmanagesallaspectsoftheannual budgetsforspecialservices.
Interpretsandremainscurrentonallfederal,state,andlocalmandates forspecialeducation.
Mediatesdisputesbetweenparentsandschools.
MonitorsIndicator12:TransitionfromPartC(Birthto3)toPartB(3-21) Guidesthedevelopmentandimplementationoflong-rangeandshortrangeplansforachievingspecialservicesmodels. Facilitatesand/orparticipatesinallmattersofdisputeresolution. WorksCollaborativelytorefineandenhanceprogramsandservicesfor studentswithdisabilities. Managesnursingservices. Canwiggleherearsandcrosseyes.
BarbBuffington|DirectorofEmployeeServices bbuffington@mcpasdk12wius|608-829-9043
4yearswithMCPASD
Over14yearsofdistrict-leveladministrativeexperienceand7years asacoordinatorandeducator
Handlesemployeematters,staffconcerns,handbook,compensation, teacherlicensing,Boardreports,etc
StartedatMCPASDastheDirectorofStudentServicesinJuly2018
Recentlyfoundouthergreat-grandfatherwaspresidentoftheBank ofthePhilippinesandhisnamewasprintedonpesos,whichisthe currencyinthePhilippines
ShannonValladolid DirectorofInformationandPublicRelations svalladolid@mcpasdk12wius|608-829-9014
4yearsinEducation
4yearsintelevisionnewsasaformerreporter/anchor Overseesallinternalandexternalcommunicationforthedistrict throughemail,socialmedia,voicecalls,text,etc
Managescrisiscommunication,includingemergencyresponse strategiesandimplementation
HandlesStrategiceventplanning,includingexecutivepresentation materialsandvisualpresentations
Implementspublicrelationsandpromotionalprogramsto strengthentheMCPASDbrand
Enhancingexposureopportunitiesandcontrollinglarge,strategic messagingwithmediaoutlets
ProudHispanicborninSanAntonio,Texas,andraisednear Guadalajara,MexicowithherfirstlanguagebeingSpanish
PercyBrownJr.|DirectorofEquityandStudentAchievement pbrown@mcpasd.k12.wi.us |608-829-9024
10thyearatMCPASD 18thyearineducationand24yearsworkingwithyouth Professionaldevelopmentcoordinationandfacilitation. K-12curriculumrenewalandsupport. Recruitment,hiring,andretentionofadiversestaff. Communityengagement Studentvoiceandleadershipdevelopment MinorityStudentAchievementNetworkRepresentative DaneCountyEquityConsortiumRepresentative LovesStarWarssomuchthathetrulybelievesheisaJediKnightin Education!
Board of Education Moves Forward with High School Stadium Complex Improvement Project
During the regular Board of Education meeting on February 14th, the board unanimously approved to contribute funds to the Otto Breitenbach Football Stadium project.
In total, the stadium could cost between $8 - 12 million.
A generous MHS alumni pledged to donate $5 million towards the project. MCPASD will give up to $2 million from one-time monies regenerated from the sale of lots near Pope Farm Elementary. The Middleton-Cross Plains Education Foundation will raise the remaining funds.
Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue mentioned it would cost the district $1.5 million to get our existing restrooms at the stadium to ADA compliance, which we need to update regardless. It's important to note that the district will be approving the project in phases as the Education Foundation raises funds.
This partnership with the Education Foundation will support the efforts of the community and the school district in creating a stadium complex that is accessible to all and a centerpiece of athletic and activities performance excellence.
MCPASD Board President Bob Hesselbein and Area IV Board Member Annette Ashley acknowledged that without the $5 million donation, our district would not be able to build a new stadium to this capacity without a referendum.
These improvements to Otto Breitenbach will help us retain and attract families to our community, benefit our students and faculty, and create athletics and activities spaces that match our newly renovated high school campus.
A NOTE FROM BARB A NOTE FROM BARB
Thank you for the positive feedback on the employee services department restructure. As a reminder, I have linked the email communication that went out last month.
Employee Roundtables meet monthly to discuss and give feedback to a variety of topics. This linked document lists the employee roundtable participants. This month we gathered feedback from paraeducators on culture and climate and staff wellness.
Read more
February 1st was the deadline for certified staff to notify the district that they were retiring. Congratulations to the 23 teachers, administrator, and supervisors who are retiring at the end of this school year. We are so grateful for over 575 years of collective service to education! All staff who have submitted retirements notices for this school year, will be recognized in May at the retirement ceremony.
And lastly, I see you. I see you working hard. I see you trying to find balance and pitching in when needed. I see you working even when there are many factors out of your control. I see you and I value and appreciate your service to MCPASD.
REALiving Monthly Newsletter and Friday Facts
February EAP Newsletter: Heart Health
Friday Fact: Breaking Down the Symptoms, Part 1
Friday Fact: Breaking Down the Symptoms, Part 2
Friday Fact: Reduce Your Risk
Friday Fact: Did You Know? Click here for past REALiving articles
February Wellness Care Package from Dean
Take a look at upcoming events as well as new Living Healthy Rewards activities in the February Wellness Care Package.
Employee Services
FEBRUARY FEBRUARY
WELLNESS CHALLENGE WELLNESS CHALLENGE
Take a look at upcoming events as well as new Living Healthy Rewards activities in the January Wellness Care Package.
Yoga will continue to be offered along with Saturday Zumba classes through March. View the sign up here and specific classes below:
Slow flow yoga on Tuesdays 66:45am @ DSC or virtually Restorative vinyasa yoga on Thursdays from 3:15 - 4:15pm @ Elm Lawn Zumba on Saturdays from 10-11am virtually through March
View the sign up here
EMPLOYEE EMPLOYEE
BENEFITS BENEFITS
Annual Health Risk Assessment (HRA)
It is time for MCPASD’s annual Health Risk Assessment (HRA) process.
Click here to learn more!
UPDATES IN SKYWARD UPDATES IN SKYWARD
The beginning of a calendar year is a great time to review your employee profile data in Skyward and make any necessary updates.
Click here to learn more!
Thank you staff for finding fun and creative ways to celebrate and promote education and acceptance during Black History Month!
Staff Spotlight
Two of our staff members have been featured in online community publications!
Late last month Jamie Sims wrote an article that was published in the monthly edition of "Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association!"
Check out his article on pages 5-6 linked here.
Best of luck to Jamie on his new position in Sun Prairie! Thank you for being a valued member of the MCPASD family!
Jill Gurtner sat down for an interview with 'Education Reimagined' which is a foundation rooted in learner-centered education.
During the interview she explained why she founded Clark Street Community School and its exciting plans for the future.
Read the article here!
Celebrations
Join us in celebrating the big and the little wins
Wisconsin Bus Driver Appreciation Week
Here at MCPASD, we are proud to have amazing and talented school bus drivers who provide a positive experience to our students every day. They are the first hello and last goodbye, one of the most vital positions in our district.
Last week was National Wisconsin School Bus Driver Appreciation Week.
Join us in celebrating our Transportation staff for all that they do!
National School Counselor Week
From February 7-11, we celebrated our awesome school counselors during "National School Counselor Week"! Our staff works hard year-round to create a safe and welcoming environment for our students.
Join us in celebrating our school counselors for all that they do!