Congratulation Star Grant Recipients

Recipients of the Ed Foundation star grants pose with their awards.

The Education Foundation of Hudson awarded Star Grants in December for innovative classroom projects and curriculum training. The foundation awarded grants totaling over $15,000 for seven projects involving several educators and touching many schools in Hudson.

Foundation Board President Lynn Krueger, and other board members, presented the awards during ceremonies at Hudson High School on December 8. He told recipients that the foundation and community are proud of the educators’ efforts to bring innovative ideas to the classrooms of local schools.

The foundation is funded by private donations, mostly coming from local and area businesses, individuals, and foundations. Star Grants offer financial support for innovative classroom projects and also projects furthering the education of teachers — all items that would not typically be funded in the normal budgeting process. The foundation awards Star Grants twice each year. Application deadlines are November 1 and April 1. The foundation also selects winners of the Star Excellence Award each year. The award is presented to outstanding educators in the spring. Those individuals are nominated by the public and nominations are due April 1 of each year.

The foundation, founded in 1990, is a private organization established to strengthen community participation in local schools and inspire both teachers and students. With this recent distribution of grants ($15,522), the foundation has funded just under $2,000,000 in local education projects and awards since the organization’s inception.

Start Grant Recipients

  • Test Drive Personal Finance Reality Fair Simulation submitted by Trevor Verdon from Hudson High School. The day-long fair will involve 80 community volunteers at 22 stations. Students will visit stations and simulate adult monthly expenses, debts and purchases based on career choices and potential income. The fair will help students learn to manage a monthly budget in the future. The foundation awarded $1,024.00.
  • Core Word and AAC Supported Communication through the use of books submitted by Marcia Krier and Kelsey Osten from North Hudson Elementary School. The proposal is intended to increase the level of participation for learners who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. Augmentative is a strategy/tool that supports speech. Alternative is a strategy/tool that is used instead of speech. The foundation awarded $1,000.00.
  • Celebration of Nations submitted by Samantha Thrane and Melissa Miller for a community-wide event. The day-long celebration is scheduled March 9, 2023 at Hudson High School. It is intended to share information about the many different cultures in the community. The event will include the sharing of information through displays, personal stories/information, entertainment, food and local businesses. The foundation awarded $2,500.00.
  • Imagine Learning Language and Literacy submitted by Liz Halama from EP Rock Elementary School. The goal of this special education project is to increase academic vocabulary and reading proficiency with the purchase of the Imagine Learning Language and Literacy program/license. The program engages students in phonics and sight-word practice, oral reading fluency, academic vocabulary comprehension and grammar. The foundation awarded $1,500.
  • National Retail Foundation – Rise Up Certification submitted by Carrie Hentz from Hudson High School. The program provides an opportunity for business students enrolled in the Raider School Store to earn retail industry recognized certification through the National Retail Foundation. The certificate can be added to the students’ resume and job applications. The foundation awarded $5,000.
  • Get Your Wiggles Out – Kindergarten Flexible Seating submitted by Lora Bovy from Houlton Elementary School. The program involves the purchase of several different seating options and tables. It will help students increase focus abilities. The foundation awarded $1,000.00
  • Building Strong Decoders and Life Long Readers submitted by Jenna Weiland for a district-wide elementary focus. The program involves purchasing books that have decodable, phonics skill-specific texts. They will be used in grades Kindergarten through fifth at all six elementary schools. The foundation awarded $3,498.00.

In addition to Krueger, current foundation board members are Dr. Ron Bernth, Jodell Krause, Doug Stohlberg, Marian Schultz, Joan Thompson, John Kromer, Heidi Gilbert, and Scott Snyder. Steven Keller is the organization’s volunteer executive director.

Long-term Facility Maintenance and Operational Budget Remain a Challenge

Capital Maintenance and Declining Student Enrollment

Long-term Facility Maintenance and Operational Budget Remain A Challenge

On November 1, 2022, the Board of Education hosted a community meeting to seek input on Elementary Facilities Planning. Approximately three hundred (300) community members came to learn about potential options and financial considerations. The community was presented with ten (10) long-term facility maintenance options. These options included variations of maintaining all six elementary schools, closing two elementary schools, and reconfiguring grade levels that moved 5th grade to the Middle School and 8th grade to the High School. 

Based on community feedback, the Board of Education decided they would not close any elementary schools at this time. Many in the community believed additional time was needed to see if the enrollment projections presented by UW-Madison Applied Population Laboratory would continue to trend downward. For many years, it has been the experience of the Hudson School District to have growing student enrollment. It is a significant shift in thinking to see the enrollment numbers trending down or, at best, holding steady. The combination of declining student enrollment, capital maintenance needs, and state aid that has not kept up with inflation has forced the Board of Education to discuss a potential capital and recurring operational levy increase referendum.  

The School District has worked with Baird financial services to review budget projections based on enrollment and general assumptions related to various state aid scenarios. Depending on these general assumptions, the School District would likely see a budget deficit ranging from $2.6 million – $3.6 million in 2023-2024. Extending these assumptions to 2026-2027, the School District could face a budget shortage as high as $9.4 million. 

The challenge of long-term maintenance needs, operational budget shortfalls, and declining student enrollment are not unique to Hudson. That said, Hudson is uniquely positioned to address this challenge with its strong financial footing. Unlike some school districts that need to rely on short-term borrowing or who have no room left other than to cut staff and programs, Hudson is financially secure. We will continue to engage the community in planning the next steps. The Board of Education will need to decide before the end of January 2023 if they plan to bring an operational levy increase and or capital maintenance referendum vote to the community on April 4, 2023. You can follow the Board’s discussions on long-term maintenance by clicking on the ELEMENTARY FACILITIES tab on our School District website, hudsonraiders.org. 

As we close out the calendar year and head into Winter Break, I wish you peace, wonder, and joy. Take time to slow down and create memories with family and friends.

Sincerely,

Nick Ouellette, PhD

Join Our Team

Now hiring call 715.377.3706703
Helping children learn and grow is a big job and it takes hundreds of dedicated and caring staff to make it happen. The Hudson School District is proud of our amazing staff who serve students, families, and the Hudson community every day. There are many different jobs but one thing is the same – – our shared passion to have a meaningful impact on the lives of children.
If you are looking for an exciting, challenging opportunity to grow your career, don’t wait — apply today! Create an account in WECAN (https://wecan.waspa.org) OR support staff can choose to apply using this simple google form https://bit.ly/3PVBzB0
We’re here to help! If you have questions regarding position qualifications or application procedures, please give us a call at 715.377.3706

Celebrating Our Retirees and Honoring Years of Service

Staff recognition banquet program.

On May 11, 2022, Hudson School District Board of Education, Administrative Leadership Team, and Education Foundation of Hudson members held a banquet to celebrate School District retirees and recognize staff years of service.

2021-2022 Retirees

The group of retirees stand together.

Jodi Magee, 35 years Hudson Prairie; Becky Bevers, 23 years HMS; Marie Roe, 17 years HHS; Laurie Harmon, 21 years HHS;  Lisa Kein, 18 years HHS; JoAnn Augustin, 19 years Houlton; LeAnn Stein, 21 years HMS; Sheila Mullally, 26 years HHS; Jane Branson, 18 years HHS; Celeste Nelson, 26 years HMS; Tim Erickson, 16 years Administrative Office; Chloe Brine, 30 years Hudson Prairie/River Crest; Tim Scharfenberg, 28 years HMS; Mary Glasbrenner River Crest. (Not pictured: Becky Brooks, 21 years Hudson Prairie; Jill Germain, 21 years HHS; Thomas Hellmers, 19 years HHS; Shari Pearson, 14 years EP Rock; Bridget Schuett, 24 years, EP Rock; Julie Weinberg, 24 years North Hudson)

2021-2022 Honorees

(Not all staff were present for photos below. Those being honored are listed in alphabetical order.)

10 Years of Service

Staff who have served for 10 years.

Debra Amundson, Garret Belisle, Brandon Bock, Colleen Boissonneault, Beth Buckmaster-Dulon, Jodi Campbell, Tammy Cochrane, Suzanne Dettmann, Susan Erickson, Sarah Grossenbacher, Colleen Gullickson, Aaron Harker, Jennifer Johnson, Susan Judge, Anne Kalsow, Erin McNish, Alissa Miller, Laura Mlynarczyk, Laura Murphy, Edward Schiltgen, Erin Schiltgen, Heather Solie, Amanda Sumser, Amy Weikel

15 Years of Service

Staff with 15 years of service.  Clinton St John portrait

Michelle Beer, Toni Bendlin, Brian Burbach, Guadalupe Castrejon, Mandy Cummings, Teresa Hagar, Joshua Halvorson, Stephen Kennedy, Daniel Rock, Charmaine Lindberg, Tamara McKenzie, Pamela Rohde, Patrick Sahli, Heidi Shimon, Clinton St. John, Kristen Weaver

20 Years of Service

Staff with 20 years of service

Steve Gaffer, Corey Rogers, Kristen Clemmens, Amy Gallick, Lynn Elsenpeter, Paula Willi, Neil Hatfield, Traci Wolfe, Cheryl Klanderman (not pictured)

25 Years of Service

Staff with 25 years of service

Stephen Uhls, Lisa Wasson, Krista Anderson, Stephanie Chukel, James Peterson (not pictured), Amy Davis (not pictured)

30 Years of Service

staff with 30 years of service

Chloe Brine, Jonel McGee, Mary Jo Graetz, Michelle Hagan, Paula Feyereisen (not pictured)

35 Years of Service

Two staff with 35 years of service.

Jodi Magee and Veronica Guzman

Arial view of the banquet.

Nikki Benson hugs retiree Laurie Harmon.  Diane Schofield recognizes Becky Bevers  Nick Ouellette and Tim Erickson

Jim Dalluhn, LeAnn Stein, Celeste Nelson and Tim Scharfenberg

Thank you to the Education Foundation of Hudson for their support and collaboration in hosting this year’s Staff Recognition Banquet. 

Members of the education foundation

Board of Trustee members Lynn Krueger, Scott Snyder, and Ron Bernth.

Click here to learn more about the Education Foundation of Hudson.

Thank You to the Amazing Hudson School District Staff!

Thank you in a heart.
As Staff Appreciation Week draws to a close, we want to take this opportunity to give a public shout-out to the amazing individuals who serve our students, families, and community in the Hudson School District each day.
Our custodial team works around the clock to ensure our schools are clean, safe and comfortable. Each custodian is responsible for approximately 30,000 square feet of building space each day. More than the spaces they clean, they provide a welcoming smile to students and staff.
By 6:00 AM, the School Age Care team opens our elementary doors to children who need care before the school day starts. They greet the child who just wants another hour of sleep with compassion. They enthusiastically engage the child who is wide-eyed and ready to shoot hoops.
Before the schools come alive with student voices, our Nutrition Services staff are busy preparing breakfast and planning for lunch. They serve an average of 1,400 breakfasts and 2,600 lunches each day. When you are running on empty and need a brain break, the Nutrition team is ready to serve.
As the students arrive, support staff are busy answering student and parent questions. They assist with finding and delivering classroom resources, logging absences and connecting students with the items they forgot at home that were delivered by parents. Payroll, accounts receivable, employee benefits, bussing, interviews, background checks, distribution of classroom materials, registration of students – an endless list of job duties that support over 800 staff and 5,400 students. It’s a whirlwind of responsibilities that are calmly managed.
The day’s main event is the learning and connections developed in the classroom. Dedicated teachers, paraprofessionals, Instructional Technology staff, and administrators serve students in concert with each other. Their goal is to empower all students to cultivate their talents, embrace their passions, and leverage their learning to impact the world around them.
The learning and activities do not end when the last bell rings for the day. Some elementary students return to School Age Care, and students across the District participate in club and athletic activities. There are Community Education classes, community youth sports fill our gyms and fields, and those who want to get in a workout enjoy the Raider Fitness Center. These activities could not occur without the coaches, advisors, and support staff who work evenings and weekends.
And when 10:00 PM finally arrives, there is a small but mighty crew of custodians once again preparing schools for the next day.

Exciting achievements for our Hudson DI teams!

DI Seniors

Exciting achievements for our Hudson DI teams!

This year seven teams have qualified for DI Globals. Hudson had 15 teams complete at the state tournament earlier this month.  A special red tie is given to recognize senior teams who compete at the state level.

 

Human Growth and Development Advisory Council Application

Human Growth and Development Advisory Council
The Hudson School District is looking for parents and community members interested in joining the Human Growth and Development Advisory Council. The council will work to advise the Board of Education in considering applicable statutes, School District policies, standards, and community perspectives. The council will begin meeting in April and continue to meet throughout the following months.
If you are interested in applying to be a member of the Human Growth and Development Advisory Council, please click here to complete the application. 
Hudson School District Teaching & Learning Department
715.377.3705

Data Privacy & Security for Families – April 27 @ 6:00 PM

The Hudson School District IT Department is hosting a Data Privacy and Security workshop for families on April 27 at 6:00 PM at Hudson High School.

Why does data privacy and security matter?

  • Protecting your personal devices allows you to better protect your children.
  • Knowledge is power.
  • Cybercrime is up 600%.
  • Detect possible identity fraud.
  • Learn parental control security options.

Our Instructional Technology staff will be available to help you determine what works best for you family’s home needs following their presentation.

 

Questions? Email us at connections@hudsonraiders.org.

2022-2023 School Year Registration Now Open

2022-2023 school year registration now open

Families wishing to enroll for the 2022-2023 School Year

Kindergarten Registration:

  • Children must be 5 years of age on or before September 1st of the year they plan to attend school in order to register for Kindergarten.
  • If your child attended the Hudson School District Community 4K program, you can register online using Skyward Family Access (click here).
  • If you have not already registered with the Hudson School District as a 4K student, please call an elementary school or click here to begin the online process.
  • Please bring proof of residency (i.e. a utility bill, rental lease, driver’s license with current address).

4K Registration:

School Age Care and 4K Wrap Care Registration:

  • Registration for summer programming will begin March 7, 2022
  • Registration for the 2022-2023 School Year will begin June 1, 2022

National School Counselors Week

Three school counselors pose with award.

Shout out to the our elementary school counselors who were recently recognized as WSCA 2022 Equity in Action Award recipients.

Elementary School Counselors Sarah Flier, Anna Lurndal, Chris Strop, Aria Krieser, Kristen Ziebol, and Kelly Curtis have been recognized as the 2022 Equity In Action Award winners.  This award is meant to recognize school counselors who have made significant contributions to the advancement of equity in education for students in Wisconsin.  The Hudson Team was recognized in November 2021 at the Wisconsin School Counselor Association’s Annual Conference, which takes place each November in the Wisconsin Dells.

The Hudson counselors are data driven- looking for gaps in academic and behavioral performance. They address these areas with targeted interventions to help make school more equitable and accessible for all. The Hudson counselors serve as building leaders in Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and equity teams. By creating district-wide empowerment practices such as ‘Peaceful Playgrounds’ and ‘Stop/Walk/Talk’ the Hudson counselors have helped all students know what to do when faced with disrespectful situations. The Hudson counselors lean into the uncomfortable and are not afraid to have the tough conversations. As a team they have facilitated two parent conversations about race, one in the summer 2020 and one as a book club in spring 2021. Additionally, the team’s commitment to data informed work has earned them a total of eleven Program of Promise Awards from the Wisconsin School Counselor Association.

Every year the Wisconsin School Counselor Association recognizes individuals within the school counseling profession who demonstrate profound impact on the school counseling profession and lives of students. Nominations for the Equity In Action Award are submitted to the Wisconsin School Counselor Association Professional Recognition & Scholarship Committee and are rated by a committee of active and retired school counselors. Award recipients are determined based on their demonstrated leadership, advocacy, and collaboration to achieve systemic change to create equitable practices in their school community. The organization selects one school counselor or counseling team to receive this award.

About the Wisconsin School Counselor Association

School Counselors are essential to the lifelong learning and success of all students. Our vision is for Wisconsin to be the model for excellence in equitable school counseling practice, exemplified by the advocacy, leadership, and expertise of the members of the WSCA. Focused on providing quality professional development opportunities, supporting comprehensive school counseling programs, and giving one voice to professional school counselors, WSCA is dedicated to empowering school counselors throughout the state. For additional information about WSCA visit www.wscaweb.org