Thursday, March 8, 2018 • Vol. 53, No. 42 • Verona, WI • Hometown USA • ConnectVerona.com • $1.25
Verona Area School District
Wisconsin's PRIVATE PRACTICE OF THE YEAR RECIPIENT
adno=561714-01
Verona Press The
NEW LOCATION! LOCATION! NEW
608.848.6628 608.848.6628
Spring election 2018
Candidates go head to head in debate JIM FEROLIE
If You Go
Verona Press editor
Photo by Scott Girard
Sofia Ruder, left, talks with an attendee about her personalized learner profile, which is run through Epiphany Learning software. Students and teachers presented to community members about personalized learning Feb. 27 ahead of the district’s rollout of personalized learning plans for every student next school year.
Public personalization
Jason and Heather Cooper had heard the “buzzword” of personalized learning over the past few years in the Verona Area School District. But they weren’t really sure what it meant for their two children — one each at Savanna Oaks Middle School and Stoner Prairie Elementary School.
nating a mayoral forum, which will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March
district showing off their personalized learning plans and discussing what the concept has meant for their education in recent years. Personalized learning is the idea of finding how each individual student learns best and fostering an environment in which they can exercise those interests. Initiatives like having an iPad for every student have helped
Turn to Personalized/Page 8
Security concerns prompt design review Amount of glass has led to questions from staff, parents SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
NCS teachers recognized for environmental work USRWA ‘Candle on the Water Award’ presented this weekend
to the Press. “ T h ey g o a b ove a n d beyond to make environmental education a cornerWhat: Upper Sugar River stone of their curriculum, Watershed Association and are unbelievable at annual meeting including the community in When: 12:30-3 p.m. that mission,” he said. Sunday, March 11 Konop said it was “humbling” to be honored with Where: Epic Systems an award they “had no idea Delphi Room we were even in the mix Info: uppersugar.org of.” Lohr said it was good to have their work recognized “for doing something a little unique.” weekend. USRWA executive direc“(It’s) nice to get a little tor Wade Moder called the appreciation for what we decision a “no-brainer” and “long overdue” in an email Turn to USRWA/Page 14
If You Go
SCOTT GIRARD
Konop
Lohr
Unified Newspaper Group
New Century School has had an environmental focus since its 2011 charter agreement. Last year, fourth- and fifth-grade teachers Lee Lohr and Heidi Konop took it to a new level with weekly outdoor field trips – even
in the dead of winter. And just a year later, their effort is receiving recognition from an area environmental group, as the teachers will accept the “Candle on the Water Award” from the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association this The
Verona Press
Turn to Forum/Page 5
Beres
As the Verona Area School District continues to push up against some of its deadlines to get started on the new Verona Area High School, officials are
asking architects to take another look at the interior design. The district announced in an email and website post Friday, March 2, that it was specifically asking the project architects to reconsider the “amount of glass” in the building, citing concerns about safety and security. Those concerns, which the letter said
Turn to Security/Page 12
Inside Find activities for your children, youth trends and a summer sports schedule in our annual “Kids” section A 2018 spec
lement
ial supp
on-area A Madis guide parent’s ing to everyth kids!
by
Verona Area Performing Arts Series The Lettermen
presents
Tony Butala, Donovan Tea and Bobby Poynton entertain you with their first hit in 1961 “The Way You Look Tonight” through current hits of today, the sound is undeniably Lettermen!
Sat., April 21, 2018 • 7:30pm VAHS Performing Arts Center 300 Richard St., Verona
Tickets available at www.vapas.org, State Bank of Cross Plains-Verona, Capitol Bank-Verona or call (608) 848-2787
adno=553251-01
Unified Newspaper Group
After the district’s first community personalized learning event Feb. 27, they felt better about that. “We like that it really helps the students become responsible for their learning,” Jason Cooper told the Press. “That was the best thing we learned tonight.” The event, attended by about 100 people, featured teachers, students and administrators from around the
Diaz
What: Verona mayoral forum When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 14 Where: Verona Senior Center, 108 Paoli St. Info: Call (608) 8459559 or email veronapress@wcinet.com
New VAHS
Community gets inside look at personalized learning initiative SCOTT GIRARD
Both candidates for Verona mayor are set to take part in an election debate next week. The Verona Press a n d Ve r o na Area Chamber of Commerce are jointly coordi-