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WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021
Novy thrives on connections with students and staff Albrecht principal takes over as superintendent on July 1 By Margaret Plevak CORRESPONDENT
BECKY MALKOW The Independent-Register
Prom goes on at Brodhead High School
Brodhead High School prom was held outdoors on Saturday, May 1, at the high school. In the front row are paiges Aubrey Gulden and Dustin Moe. In the second row from left are Cora Hafen, Kyleigh Raupp, Ellie Yates, Kiarra Moe, Jersey Medenwaldt and Madisyn Kail. In the third row from left are Gage Boegli, Brady Malkow, Owen Leifker, Brady Bruns, Seyler Weeden and Josiah Engen.
BECKY MALKOW The Independent-Register
The Brodhead senior prom court is all smiles. In the front row from the left are Nataley Bump, Kassy Berget, Jenna Ils, Madelynn McIntyre, Bailey Matthys and Hailey Elmer. In the back from left are Connor Green, CJ Kamholz, Christian Wilkins, Braden Cook, Devon Anderson and Grant Gretebeck.
BECKY MALKOW The Independent-Register
VOL. 161 • NO. 20
BECKY MALKOW The Independent-Register
Gage Boegli and Kyleigh Raupp were named ju- Connor Green and Madelynn McIntyre nior prom king and queen. were named senior prom king and queen.
Earlier this year during a typically busy day, Albrecht Elementary School Principal Dave Novy was wrapped up in his office — literally. Children and teachers alike got to wind plastic wrap around Novy in his chair as a reward for their reaching a goal in the school’s annual reading program. And it wasn’t his first time serving as an incentive to students. “I love showing our students that I can have just as much fun at school as they do,” Novy said in an email conversation. “One of our ultimate goals for our students is to develop a love of reading books. If I can help students develop that love and enjoyment by getting taped to the wall or having my hair shaved into a Mohawk, I’m all for it!” Though he admits there are days he can’t seem to get out of the office, Novy is a familiar face in the hallways, classrooms and playground at Albrecht, talking with children. He believes it’s as important for students to see their principal during the day as it is for him and teachers to get to know students and families.
“The most important thing we can do is to develop positive relationships with our students. They need to know we care about them and want them to succeed,” he said. “If the students Dave Novy know the adults in our school care about them and know what they enjoy outside of school time, they will want to work for their teachers and want to make them proud.” Come July 1, Novy will be leaving Albrecht to take over as Brodhead School District superintendent, replacing current Superintendent Leonard Lueck, who’s retiring after eight years in the position. The school board approved Novy’s new contract last month. “Dave is very knowledgeable and on top of the latest trends in education. He is also very creative when problem solving issues,” said Lueck, who’s worked with Novy for 16 years. “Dave has been a fantastic educational leader. His building is always at the forefront of the district initiatives.” Novy has been in education for 28 years, 19 at Albrecht. He also served three years as an elementary school principal in Owen, Wisconsin. His wife, Kirsten, is the director of Brodhead School
See NOVY, Page 4
School board OKs middle school lighting, gym projects Improvement projects totaling $137,991 are slated at Brodhead schools as board members recently OK’d several buildings and grounds proposals. The biggest ticket item is $78,000 for improved lighting at Brodhead Middle School. “They are energy-efficient lights that will save the district money, reduce work load and are better for the environment,” Superintendent Leonard Lueck said in an email. Lighting at Albrecht Elementary School and all exterior lights already were replaced last summer, Lueck said. The middle school gym also will see several improvements, including $15,200 to redo the gym floor, $12,000 to repaint and take down old sports signs, $8,664 for four new glass basketball backboards and $12,255 for six new electric winches for lowering and raising the basketball hoops, according to information Lueck provided. “The middle school gym is sorely due for an upgrade,” he
said. “All equipment in there is severely out of date. … The floor surface is very slippery and needs to be resurfaced. The baskets have old metal backboards and the mechanical lifts do not work well.” At Brodhead High School, projects will include cleaning and recoating the gym floor ($3,950) and residing the baseball dugouts ($6,000). At the elementary school, projects will include connecting the sidewalks between 4K rooms ($900), a cement pad for the bike racks ($700), and walling off the west section of the computer lab ($322). The buildings and grounds projects are being paid for “with surplus budget money and must be completed/paid for by June 30,” Lueck said. Several additional projects could be undertaken, if there are funds available, Lueck said. Those projects include cabinets for classrooms and replacing older blinds at the elementary school and exterior doors at the middle school and high school.