Verona Press The
Thursday, November 23, 2017 • Vol. 53, No. 27 • Verona, WI • Hometown USA • ConnectVerona.com • $1
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City of Verona
Mayor won’t run JIM FEROLIE
Verona Press editor
Photo by Scott Girard
Cassidy Hempel signs out the letters in a name during a class activity to practice the alphabet and asking questions.
‘Hope for the deaf culture’ Sign language class begins after large interest in club SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
Room C135 was nearly silent while Sue Whooley taught her lesson to the class. Whooley was, too. She stood at the front of the classroom, nodding her head forward or tilting it back slightly while moving her hands, explaining to the 20 students how the two postures differentiate what type of question they’re asking in American Sign Language. It’s the first semester for the class
at Verona Area High School this fall, but it’s likely only the beginning of a program that will grow in the coming years, given that 87 students requested to be in it this year. Though it was limited to one section of around 20 students for its first year, Whooley – who came to Verona as a teacher for students who are deaf two years ago – said the interest was overwhelming. “We put in for ASL 2 next year; we could have a couple sections of ASL 1,” Whooley said. “It’s so exciting, because it’s something I never dreamed of when I took this job.”
Whooley credited the class’ existence to the students from a summer class she led two years ago. She eventually turned it into a part of the school day. “They were amazing,” she said. “This (class) was just for fun.” Senior Denisa Rasmeier said she’s “always been interested in sign language” since she was young and was excited when it was added as a class at the high school like other languages.
Turn to ASL/Page 13
Mayor Jon Hochkammer will not run for a seventh term as mayor. He made the emotional and bleary-eyed announcement Monday night several minutes after the city unanimously passed the budget and immediately after Ald. Mac McGilvray (Dist. 1) announced that he would be stepping down because of he is moving out of his district. H o c h k a m m e r, w h o faced a challenge from Ald. Luke Diaz (D-3) next spring, assured those in attendance that the decision was a surprise to everyone other than his wife, Debbie. He said he
made the decision immediately after burying his father last month and that it was easy once he saw how much his father meant to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “(Next spring), I will have spent 20 percent of my life as mayor of this city, and for over 40 years I’ve gone to local meetings as an elected official or appointed on some committee,” he said. “So when I saw how much (my father’s death) impacted his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I knew I needed to take a break.” Previously, no mayor in Verona’s history had
Turn to Mayor/Page 3
‘Opportunity 34’ fund over $120,000 so far Former VAHS hoops ‘It is the only thing star Kellerman died that is getting us out of bed.’ in a car crash Nov. 4 Kristin Kellerman, mother of Will Kellerman
ANTHONY IOZZO
With waiver, VAHS could work like EA Board might ask state to exempt from credit, hours requirements SCOTT GIRARD Unified Newspaper Group
Verona Area High School could soon function like its charter counterpart, the Exploration Academy, if Verona Area School District
officials get approval for a waiver from state requirements. While the more traditional school operation would still be in place at VAHS, the waiver would allow flexibility for students in how they demonstrate their learning. It would also pave the way for EA to become a program within the high school and not seek renewal of its charter agreement, which is up at the end of this school year. The
Verona Press
The school’s governance council has been considering its options to renew or phase out its charter since this spring, but the potential for a waiver would likely have a large effect on their decision. The Verona Area school board approved waiver request Monday night after the curriculum, instruction and assessment committee discussed the idea Friday, Nov. 17, and the three school board members at
that meeting all indicated they were in favor. The waiver would exempt the district from state requirements, including students take a specific number of courses in certain subject areas to graduate high school, get a minimum number of instructional hours and that the school board establish rules for scheduling hours in a normal school day.
Turn to Waiver/Page 3
Assistant sports editor
It started as an idea to raise $5,000, but in less than two weeks, more than 800 supporters have donated over $120,000 for the Opportunity 34 Scholarship Fund. O p p o r t u n i t y 3 4 wa s started after the tragic death of former Verona Area High School basketball star Will Kellerman, 21, in a car crash Nov. 4 and is meant to represent his spirit to help VAHS basketball players further their education after high school.
Will’s parents, Brian and Kristin, came up with the idea to help them through a difficult time, with the idea of seeing many students helped in the name of their son. “It is the only thing that is getting us out of bed,” Kristin Kellerman said. “There are a lot of different ways that Will’s name and his passion for the sport and passion for his teammates, so many different ways that can be
Turn to Fund/Page 12
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