PdC public schools to go five days in person
By Ted Pennekamp
The Prairie du Chien School Board Monday night approved of having the fifth through eighth-grade attend school face-to-face, five days per week; and to also have high school students attend four days per week with Wednesdays as an intervention day for students who are struggling.
The new schedule will go into effect starting on April 5. Families wishing to continue with full virtual learning can remain virtual. It was noted that the new scenario will be flexible for families in order to accommodate a change in circumstances that may arise, but the district wants families to choose either face-to-face or virtual and not to be fluctuating week to week.
Prior to the vote, District Administrator Andy Banasik told the board that 72 percent of the school district staff have been vaccinated. The rest of the staff had an opportunity to be vaccinated but chose not to. Banasik also said the last positive case of COVID in the school district occurred in mid February.
Classes will be held with three feet of social distancing and wearing masks. Three feet of social distancing allows for 21 students per classroom at the high school. There will be overflow classroom areas if needed.
The board also approved of removing the 1 p.m. dismissals at Bluff View beginning on April 7 and for the remainder of the school year.
Banasik also told the board that the district will be receiving $775,000 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds that can go towards employees or equipment. ESSER funds are part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds.
In other business, the board tabled a discussion regarding a possible wrestling co-op with the River Ridge School District.
River Ridge District Administrator Clay Koenig told the board that River Ridge can help the Prairie du Chien wrestling program in many ways, including youth wrestling, and that a co-op will also allow for wrestling opportunities for River Ridge athletes who otherwise won’t be able to wrestle due to low numbers.
River Ridge had previously had a co-op wrestling program with Cassville, but Cassville didn’t have any wrestlers this past season. In addition, it is projected that River Ridge will only have four wrestlers in its high school program next season.
“This may be the only opportunity for my students to wrestle,” said Koenig.
Koenig also noted that the Prairie du Chien wrestling program has been highly successful for the past few years and doesn’t need a co-op, but by having a co-op with River Ridge, the Prairie du Chien program can be extremely successful.
Prairie du Chien wrestling coach Mike Rogge and assistant coach Cory Koenig said they didn’t want to rush into anything and they would like more information. There is an April 1 deadline in order to make a decision per the WIAA, but it was noted that perhaps an extension on the deadline could be granted as has been done in the past. Cory Koenig said Prairie du Chien needs to do its due diligence, and that everybody wants what’s best for both schools. Rogge and Cory Koenig suggested that both parties need to get together to discuss the situation further.
The Prairie du Chien School Board then decided to table the matter. The board then went into closed session to discuss other school district business.
Members of the Prairie du Chien and River Ridge school districts associated with each school’s wrestling programs then met for an informal discussion in the hallway.
A special River Ridge School Board meeting that had been scheduled for Tuesday night, March 30 to discuss the possible wrestling co-op was cancelled Tuesday morning.
