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Superintendent of Schools announces changes for upcoming school year
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By Andrew Kuehl
akuehl@kewaskumstatesman.com
EDITOR’S NOTE- Many changes are slated for students heading back to Kewaskum Schools this September. As the district’s official newspaper we felt it was appropriate to announce those changes and other news pertinent to the return to classes on Tuesday September 4. Please watch the editions leading up to the start of classes for information regarding the return to school.
8/16/07 KEWASKUM- Superintendent of Schools Mike Krumm has been on the job for a little over a year. So far one of his biggest accomplishments has been finding a way to get a theater for Kewaskum High School, but if things go to plan, a recently approved change in the direction for the district may prove to be his greatest achievement.
“This year promises to be an exciting year. Many changes are occurring in terms of facilities, materials, and opportunities for students and staff. At the elementary schools, students will be using new reading, language arts, and general music materials. Classroom meetings will be held on a regular basis providing students with opportunities to improve their relationships with their peers,” remarked Mike Krumm.
In addition to the changes of teachers, textbooks, building improvements a significant change will see the implementation of a mentoring program the district is calling “advisements.” Each school will have a period in their week where students will meet in small groups of about 15 led by a teacher leading discussions.
However, to take the program a step forward, the district will build off a mentoring program that was started last year where senior teachers began mentoring freshman teachers, with less experience. That program will now be directly connected as the staff as a whole has been broken down into various “advisories”
At the elementary level, advisements will be done as weekly classroom meetings. Students will meet informally and talk about various topics including character development, bullying and values with their teachers.
At the secondary or middle and high school level students will be broken down into groups of about 15, those groups will be paired with teachers in those buildings and will meet daily. It is here where the district is hoping the advisement program shows success.
Krumm states the mentoring program will help improve student-to-student relationships and help communication between teachers to students. He expects to see links between student government and the advisement program.
The second largest change would be the start of a new early release program where students in the district will be released from classes early each Wednesday. During this time teachers will be working on 17 collaborative projects that will hopefully result in curriculum improvements, staff development and faculty meetings.
Programs for students are already in place for the first early release day.
Krumm says the revamping of the district’s mission statement was completed to show staff, students and the community that exciting, positive changes are in place. He says, “Kewaskum Schools will set itself apart as an institution of learning.”
The mission statement now reads: “The Kewaskum Community Schools ignite a passion for learning.” The district’s vision is to see all learners prepared for their next challenge.
School begins for Kewaskum students on Tuesday, September 4.
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