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Federal stimulus funds could help Onalaska schools with important building improvements. The Onalaska Board of Education Monday night agreed to apply for an interest-free loan of up to $1 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Proposed projects include lighting retrofits in the Eagle Bluff and Irving Pertzsch Elementary gymnasiums, heating and air conditioning improvements at the middle school and a heating and air conditioning project at the high school.
Federal stimulus money is granted to certain educational programs, such as reading, and interest-free loans are available for certain “shovel ready” capital improvements. The Onalaska work could start as early as July 1, if approved.
Going for the money will help prepare Onalaska for budget cuts expected in state aid, said Larry Dalton, the district’s finance director.
“Some of the projects are on our capital assets program list. When district revenue decreases, as it could from less state aid, CAPS funding is usually one of the casualties,” Dalton said. Federal money would give the district the opportunity to keep the projects going.
The project list is predominantly energy-related and has a payback in reduced energy cost.
Onalaska would like to borrow about $1 million. Dalton said the district’s financial consultant recommended not to go for less than $500,000 and going more than $1 million would be difficult to pay off under state revenue limits.
There are other projects in the district but their cost would be too much for the schools to handle now. “It’s just not feasible under our present budget process,” Superintendent John Burnett said.
There must be a legal notice printed in this newspaper regarding the borrowing and the entire issue could be subject to a referendum if citizens gather enough signatures, according to Dalton.
Miracle field supportA baseball field for children with disabilities got school board endorsement. The YMCA-North branch in Onalaska plans to develop the western part of its property into a Miracle League Ball field. A small portion is adjacent to the district’s Riders Club Road athletic fields property, and the YMCA asked permission to re-grade a portion of the land.
YMCA Executive Director Bill Soper received the district’s cooperation.
Soper said the $420,000 project should be under way in July. He said the field should be “like a Major League ball park, except smaller.” The field will be hard rubber so it is accessible for children with disabilities.
Scholarship successAlmost half of Onalaska High School’s graduating class applied for scholarships and most of them received at least one at the May 20 award assembly: 106 students applied and 88 received scholarships.
About $925,000 was awarded to Onalaska students.
Word kidsFive Onalaska kids are among the top word people in the nation, an accomplishment honored by the Board of Education. The students scored in the top 2 percent in the nation in the WordMasters Vocabulary Contest. Students honored include: Aditya Ailiani and Spencer Runde at Eagle Bluff Elementary; and Ruth Hallstead, Jessica Ni and Sarah Wood of Northern Hills Elementary.
“This is quite an accomplishment because they are competing with other gifted and talented students from across the country,” said gifted and talented teacher Karen Keil-Arellano.
Honorable mentions — students in the nation’s top 10 percent in the contest — include Madeline Goethel of Northern Hills and Brooke Richardson and Zach Honadel of Eagle Bluff.
Bids awardedSchool district fire extinguisher service for the 2009-10 school year was awarded to A-1 Fire Protection of La Crosse. It was the low bidder, being substantially below the two other firms.
Lawn fertilizing service for the 2009-10 school year was awarded to Tru Green Chem Lawn for $13,625.
Physical therapy services will again be provided by Nancy Reithel next year at the same rate; occupational therapy is also at the same rate. Greg Skolaski and Eva Ma are the contractors.
PeopleThe board hired Kelly Schaller as district school psychologist. Mary Beth Bilskemper will transfer to the high school secretary position.
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