More on district’s future 3K program, repairs needed
By Steve Van Kooten
The Prairie du Chien Board of Education convened on Aug. 11 for a regular board meeting, where they received their share of good and bad news.
For good news, B.A. Kennedy Principal Laura Stuckey said the 3K program has 15 kids registered and a waiting list started. The program received a substantial grant from Christine and Jeff Panka this past month to cover core costs.
“We’re excited to finish staffing; we were in interviews all day today,” said Stuckey.
“The board and I just want to say, ‘Thank you, Chris and Jeff,’ for the opportunity for the 3K sponsorship and for the opportunity for our little kids,” said District Administrator Andy Banasik.
The Panka’s $300,000 donation will be distributed to the program over three years to cover core costs.
Christine Panka, who served on the Prairie du Chien Board of Education for six years and was part of the decision to start the original 3K program in 2016, referred to their donation as “seed money” for the Growing Minds Initiative, which will help provide an essential service to the city’s youth.
Participating families will be asked to pay $25 per week to help cover 3K costs, but Christine said that the program will not turn away children for any financial circumstances. She suggested the program can also accept donations, sponsorships and other contributions to help with costs.
“It will take all of us —parents, educators, civic groups and local businesses — to nurture and help the program thrive,” she said. “This is about giving Prairie du Chien’s youngest learners a strong, supported start so they can thrive not just in school but in life. It’s about laying the kind of foundation that benefits children, family and our entire community for years to come.”
Christine suggested enrollment in the district has been negatively impacted by the closure of the previous 3K program in 2020.
“When 3K disappeared, the district also lost with it 52 aided students along with approximately $500,000 in state aid in that first year alone,” she said. “And it would seem so did our bridge to our young families because these folks are open enrolling in other places.”
She continued, saying that 3K programs are about more than teaching basic academics. “It’s about building resilience, social skills and the ability to navigate the world with confidence.”
“Together we’re writing a new chapter for our community that our future selves will thank us for,” she concluded.
No air conditioning
During the meeting, Banasik referenced the balmy environment in the school’s resource room, where the meeting took place. He said that the high school building’s chiller failed.
“We’ve had three groups in to figure out what happened. That chiller is only seven years old. We know we lost two motherboards through that, so the expense is anywhere from a minimum of $150,000 to $400,000,” he said.
He added that the school year will start without air conditioning in parts of the high school building. A few areas, including the cafeteria and main office, will still have air conditioning.
The board did not take any action because the district has not been able to establish what caused the equipment to fail.
Grants and donations
The board received some more positive news from Tomi Gebhard-Nice, Bluff View Elementary principal, in the form of two grants acquired through a collaboration with 3M.
The grants are for $5,000 and $6,000, respectively. The grants will go toward the mathematics club and robotics club as well as Destination Imagination, according to Gebhard-Nice.
The district also acknowledged donations made to several school programs by Alice in Dairyland.
The school’s FFA, tech education and school lunch programs received donations, as did the PAAC.
“Because of the success they had, they gave back to those core programs… All of those donations go right back to our kids. We had many people from across the state of Wisconsin here for the Alice in Dairyland,” said Banasik.
In attendance were board members Noah White, Michael Higgins, Jr., Dustin Brewer, Nick Gilberts, Kyle Maahs and Lonnie Achenbach. Lacie Anthony was absent. Banasik and the school’s three principals were also present.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 8.
Hires
Jackie Rodenberg, junior varsity volleyball coach; Breia Cox, assistant varsity volleyball coach; Zach Mezera, junior varsity boys basketball coach; Brooke Marx, substitute custodian; and Veronica Hernandez, Bluff View part-time teacher’s aide.
Resignations
Jennifer Severson, B.A. Kennedy teacher’s aide.
Other business
• Eric Mumm, the middle school principal, said the district sent four teachers to Wit and Wisdom training, and the programming will be expanding to the 7th and 8th grade classes.
• New staff orientation will take place on Thursday, Aug. 21. Other staff will return the following Tuesday.
