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Upcoming Dates
Oct. 7: Sparta Area School District Food Pantry open, 4 to 6 p.m., Meadowview School, room A120, for families with students who are enrolled in the Sparta Area School District.
Oct. 13:
Finance & Facilities Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m.; Personnel & Educational Initiatives Committee meeting, 6:30 p.m., both at AEC.
Oct. 14: Sparta Area School District Food Pantry open, 4 to 6 p.m., Meadowview School, room A120, for families with students who are enrolled in the Sparta Area School District.
Oct. 15: Meadowview Middle School Picture Retake Day
Oct. 19: Parent Teacher Conferences, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Sparta High School
Oct. 21:
Sparta Area School District Food Pantry open, 4 to 6 p.m., Meadowview School, room A120, for families with students who are enrolled in the Sparta Area School District.
Oct. 23: Parent Teacher Conferences, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., Sparta High School
Oct. 27: Parent Teacher Conferences, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., Sparta High School
Oct. 27: Board meeting, 7 p.m., AEC Conference Center
Oct. 28:
Sparta Area School District Food Pantry open, 4 to 6 p.m., Meadowview School, room A120, for families with students who are enrolled in the Sparta Area School District.
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The Sparta Area School District is always looking for ways to increase communication with students, staff, parents and community members. To do so, we use social media to tell the stories and share photos of the great things happening in our elementary, middle, high and charter schools as well as staff initiatives. On our school district website, Facebook page, Twitter account, and Blog, you'll also be able to find highlights from our fantastic co-curricular offerings. Check out the links when you get a free minute. Our Spartans are always up to something! For more information, contact Communications Coordinator Autumn Grooms at [email protected].
    
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Non-Discrimination Statement The Sparta Area School District does not discriminate against persons on the basis of sex, race, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability or handicap in its education program or activities. It is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on any basis prohibited under state or federal law.
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District Administrator
John Hendricks
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The start of a new school year calls attention to the many positive assets and resources that benefit students in the Sparta Area School District. Our school buildings are in good shape. They are well-maintained, safe, clean and comfortable (in all but the hottest days). Students are fortunate to have access to modern educational technology, which is always expanding. Staff are continually updating curriculum and instructional methods to reflect best practices. In Sparta, children and families can choose from a variety of educational options to meet the diverse needs of students. A wide range of extra-curricular offerings motivate students and enrich their school experience.
However, the most important asset for any school district is the quality of the people working there. In Sparta, we believe that good people make great schools. Good facilities and adequate support matter, but most research shows that personnel make the difference. And we are fortunate to have dedicated, skilled and caring people in our schools, including secretaries, educational assistants, custodians, cooks, administrators, and teachers. Everyone contributes to the success of our students.
A Harvard University study, published in the American Economic Review, traced one million students from grade four to adulthood. They found that students with high quality teachers were more likely to attend college, earn higher salaries, live in better neighborhoods, and save more for retirement. They were also less likely to have children as teenagers.
Teachers' impact on earnings had a similar effect on students from low and high income families. The study's authors found that on average, having a highly rated teacher for even one year raises a child's cumulative lifetime income by $80,000. Having an average teacher in place of a poor teacher raises a lifetime income by $50,000.
Much is being reported about the teacher shortage in Wisconsin. Several factors contribute to this problem, but the long-term effects of not having a high quality teacher in every classroom should make this an important issue for all of us. In Sparta, we are instituting a new teacher compensation model and a new employer sponsored TSA plan with the goal of recruiting, recognizing and retaining high quality staff. We are in the second year of implementing the state's Educator Effectiveness System, which seeks to evaluate and improve the quality of educators and administrators.
Most importantly, if we want all students in Wisconsin to have access to high quality instruction, we cannot continue to allow politicians, education profiteers, and the media to denigrate the work of public school educators, and devalue the teaching profession. We all need to work together to reverse the trend which discourages many of the best and brightest from entering the teaching profession. Parents should be able to insist on a good teacher in every classroom, but they also need to support district efforts to recruit and retain these valuable professionals.
-- Originally published in The Monroe County Democrat, Sept. 17, 2015
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A new food pantry will open this month to meet the needs of families with students who are enrolled in the Sparta Area School District. It will be located in Meadowview School in room A120.
Pantry hours are from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning Oct. 7. Volunteers from Gospel Baptist Church will help with food distribution and stocking. Donations of food and bags are appreciated. The pantry is a partnership between the school district, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin and Gospel Baptist Church.
"The District understands that many of our students and their families face severe economic challenges. We are pleased to partner with other organizations to help address these basic needs," Superintendent John Hendricks said.
"The Sparta Area School District is very fortunate to be partnering with the Second Harvest Foodbank and
Gospel Baptist Church on the Food Pantry located at Meadowview School. This new venture will help ensure that our district families who need a little extra help getting good nutrition on their tables receive it with no strings attached," said Cindy Thesing, Nutrition Services Supervisor for the Sparta Area School District.
Families with children enrolled in the district are invited to come to the pantry every Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. Families are still able to receive groceries on the third Monday of the month when the Second Harvest truck comes to Sparta. Read more
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| Members of the Lawrence-Lawson staff |
Lawrence-Lawson Elementary School was among 10 schools across the state that received $25,000 Wisconsin Spotlight Schools grants to showcase successful practices that improve student achievement.
"I am very proud of the work that is being done at Lawrence-Lawson Elementary and in all of our schools. Their efforts truly reflect our 'Good people, great schools' theme," Superintendent John Hendricks said. "We are happy and honored to be able to share our practices with other schools in Wisconsin through the Spotlight Schools grant."
"We are honored at Lawrence-Lawson to have received the Spotlight grant for the third consecutive year. Our students and staff benefit in many ways. Having the opportunity to share our best practices and building connections with school districts throughout the state is a powerful approach to reciprocating learning in a collaborative way. The professional development staff participates in allows for new learning," Principal Melissa Herek said.
Each of the 10 schools was a previous Title I Spotlight School. They received the 2015-16 grant for success in the area of teaching and learning as well as one of the other five areas of effective schools practices: decision making and accountability; family, school and community partnerships; leadership and governance; professional development and teacher quality; or vision, values, culture and climate. Schools receiving grants are eligible for Title I funding, a federal grant program designed to give educational assistance to students living in areas of high poverty. Read more
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A Sparta Area School District elementary art teacher has been recognized by the Council for Art Education for her work with the state-wide 2014-15 Youth Art Month program.
Lakeview, Maplewood and Southside art teacher Tiffany Beltz received an Award of Merit for her work as the Chairperson of the Wisconsin Youth Art Month.
To be eligible for an award, state chairpersons submitted documentation of their Youth Art Month Programs. Documentation was evaluated across a variety of key categories, based on predetermined criteria.
Awards will be presented at the 2016 National Art Education Association Convention March 17-19 in Chicago.
Read more
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Credit Union opens at Sparta High
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| Ribbon cutting at 1st Community Credit Union Student Branch |
Sparta High School students have the opportunity to learn about finance through a credit union located in their school.
Students are able to access the services of 1st Community Credit Union during their lunch hour at the Sparta High School branch that opened Sept. 10 with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
"We are proud of this new partnership as it will give our students another avenue to prepare them for sound financial literacy for the present and future. The educational component will prepare our students for college, career, and the community," Principal Sam Russ said. Read more
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Two Sparta Area School District schools were selected to participate in a five-year project to improve students' emotional well-being and mental health. Meadowview Intermediate and Middle schools are among selected schools from across the state that will participate in the Wisconsin School Mental Health Project.
Goals for the project are to train more school-community teams to develop policies, programs, and practices that support students with mental health challenges and to integrate those activities into the schools' existing behavior and discipline systems so they work together to improve the overall climate for student emotional well-being.
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There is an increasing emphasis on school districts' need to assist with students' well-being so that they can be successful learners in the classroom. We are glad to be part of this new effort," Superintendent John Hendricks said.
Project evaluation will gauge improvements in student engagement in learning, positive school climate, and attendance and behavior.
Participating public school districts were assigned to two cohorts for 2015-18 or 2016-19. Meadowview Schools were assigned to the 2016-19 cohort. Read more
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Board of Education Vacancy
Notice is hereby given that the Sparta Area School District will be accepting applications to fill a vacancy due to a resignation on the Board of Education. The 2016 term of this position will be approximately three months, ending with the school board election of April 2016. Applications received will be reviewed and candidates will be asked to attend a Special Board of Education meeting for interviews, at a time selected randomly by the clerk. Candidates will be given 2 minutes for an opening statement, followed by questions from the Board and a 1 minute closing statement. The Board will vote in open session with signed ballot and the vote will be entered into the minutes by the clerk. Selected and non-selected persons will be notified by mail from the Board of Education President. The selected candidate will be sworn into office after five days by the Board Clerk, and placed on a committee by the Board President. Interested applicants should contact the School District Administrative & Educational Center at 201 E. Franklin, Sparta, WI 54656, or call (608) 269-3151, or contact the School Board Clerk, Joan Cook. All applications are to be received by the District Administrative & Educational Center by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 23, 2015.
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