SDMA Update- February 17, 2023

SDMA Update- February 17, 2023
Posted on 02/20/2023

Dear SDMA Families and Staff,

Thank you for your continued support of the School District of the Menomonie Area. It has been a busy start to the second semester in the school district, but with many sports and activities beginning to wrap up winter seasons, spring is only a few weeks away. Here are a few informational items for this month's update:

School District Calendar- due to the snow days we've already had this year, the school board approved a change to this year's district calendar to provide students with an additional day of learning. Monday, April 10 will now be an instructional day for all students and staff instead of a professional development day. This change should also help us avoid needing to add any extra school days in June.

Highlight on Youth- there are so many great things happening in the SDMA. Please click this link to view the February Highlight on Youth Report.

MHS Musical- the MHS musical begins next week with six shows scheduled over two weekends. Opening night of "The SpongeBob Musical" will be held on Friday, February 24. Please click this link for more information.

District Budget- on Monday the Board reviewed initial budget projections for the 2023-2024 school year. With the way that our state handled federal COVID funding, the potential for a big fiscal cliff for Wisconsin schools has been created. Please review this letter from the school superintendents in our region, and please consider providing feedback for our state legislators to consider as discussions about the next biennial state budget are already underway. One easy way to do this is to take the very brief survey that Representative Clint Moses included in his most recent legislative update.

Spring Primary Election
- please be reminded that the spring primary election for the SDMA school board will be held on Tuesday, February 21. The top six vote getters will move on to the spring election on April 4. This year's candidates for the three seats up for election are Dale Dahlke (i), Amy Riddle-Swanson (i), Scott Parker, Amber Kersting, Stephen A. Machesky, Charlie Schneider (i), and Brittany Weiker. The League of Women Voters of the Greater Chippewa Valley and the Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce held a school board candidate forum on Feb. 6, 2023.WisCommunity was the media sponsor and live-streamed this event. Please click this link to view the forum, and please be sure to vote!

 That is it for today.........have a great weekend!

Joe Zydowsky