Dialogue
Neenah Joint School District Newsletter - February 2024
Proposal Reviewed for Elementary Boundary Revisions
The Neenah Joint School District Board of Education has reviewed a proposal for elementary boundary changes. The Board is expected to vote on the changes at its February 20 meeting. The proposal adjusts school boundaries primarily on the south side of the District and includes the closure of Hoover Elementary School. It would go into effect for the 2024-25 school year.
The process began with community meetings in October and December that solicited feedback to help guide the final boundary proposal. It is the first extensive revision of the District boundaries since 2007 and is part of the District's overall facilities improvement plan that began in 2018. Lakeview Elementary is currently over capacity, while Coolidge Elementary and Horace Mann Elementary are both under capacity. Many of the Hoover students would be transitioned to Horace Mann with others moving to Coolidge and Tullar, under the proposal. Some Tullar students would also move in the plan. Horace Mann would host four classes at each grade level, while Coolidge and Lakeview would each have three classes per grade level.
All Hoover staff members would be assured of positions in the District at their same job classification for 2024-25. The closure of the school is estimated to save between about $473,398 and $613,398 annually in staffing costs and about $45,350 annually in building maintenance costs. The building would be retained for potential future use.
If the proposal is approved, all students would be assigned to their "home" school for 2024-25, including those currently on forced District transfers and boundary exemptions. A boundary exemption window would be open from March 1-15 for all students to apply. Students entering fourth grade would be guaranteed of receiving a boundary exemption to remain at their current school for 2024-25, though busing would not be provided. Boundary exemptions would still be accepted after March 15, but in the order they are received.
The District plans to hold virtual meetings on Thursday, February 22 at noon and 5 p.m. to assist families in understanding the boundary exemption process. A link will be provided via email and on the District website.
For more information on the boundary changes, including the proposed map, please check out the boundary revisions page on the District website.
Superintendent Search Survey Now Available
A survey has been made available for community members, parents and staff members to submit their input on what they would like to see in Neenah's next superintendent.
Please take a few minutes to provide your insight. All results are collected anonymously by Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates. Surveys must be completed by Monday, February 19 at 11:59 p.m. The survey is available at: https://hyasurvey.com/neenah.
Applications for the superintendent position are due on March 1 and the Board of Education is expected to conduct first-round interviews on March 11-12. The final candidates are scheduled to visit Neenah the week of March 18. The position is open due to Dr. Mary Pfeiffer's announcement in November that she will be retiring on June 30 after 15 years as superintendent.
What's Happening in Our Schools
English Learners Bond with Positive Experiences
Students in District's English Learners program have participated in several events with each other throughout the school year, including a recent visit by a magician to the middle school and Horace Mann. A family night is planned in the spring.
Lakeview Holds "Book Tasting" Event
Lakeview third graders participated in a "book tasting" event. Students and parents made reservations and then tried all different genres of books to expand their reading interests.
Hoover Students Parade in "Walk of Fame"
Hoover fourth graders researched an historical figure and then dressed up as their person and paraded down the hallways in front of other students in a "Walk of Fame."
Jones Honored Among Top Fox Valley Educators
Neenah Middle School teacher Chris Jones has been named a recipient of an Excellence in Education Shining Star Award by the Fox Cities Chamber. Jones is in his 29th year teaching middle school science in Neenah.
The 10 awards each honor a Fox Cities educator who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to supporting students in and outside of the classroom to enhance the educational experiences and outcomes of students.
Jones was the founder of the middle school Velocity program, providing a project-based approach to learning for students. He also started the Neenah fishing program that has been highly successful at the state level and active with events in the Neenah community. Jones was the District's Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2013.
Jones was notified of the honor in his classroom with a visit from Chamber Director of Events Aimee Herrick. He and the other recipients will be recognized at an awards program on March 21 at Butte Morts Country Club. One of the 10 honorees will be selected as the Fox Cities Educator of the Year.
Kindergarten Registration is Open for 2024-25
Kindergarten registration is open for children that will be five years old on or before September 1, 2024. Those families with students currently in the District's 4K program do not need to register.
Placement priority will be given to those currently in 4K OR enrolled online before February 12. Enrollments received after this time will be placed in order received. To enroll, please visit the enrollment page on our website. Families will be asked to provide proof of residency and a birth certificate. For those unable to enroll online, computers are available in the school office or the administration building. Enrollment is available anytime during the year online or in-person.
Ziebell Selected to National All-Star Basketball Games
Neenah High School senior Allie Ziebell has been selected to participate in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American girls basketball game on April 2 at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Ziebell is the seventh Wisconsin female athlete selected to participate in the game’s 23-year history. Eight Wisconsin boys have been chosen in the 45-year history of the boys’ game. The game is set for 5:30 p.m. Central Time on ESPN2.
Ziebell has also been selected to participate in the Nike Hoop Summit on April 13 in Portland, Oregon. The game pits the top 12 senior athletes from the United States against 12 top high school-aged players from around the world and will be televised nationally at 6:30 p.m. Central Time on Fox Sports 1.
Last summer, Ziebell was one of two current high school players nationwide selected to the USA women’s under-19 national team that won the gold medal at the world championships in Madrid, Spain. She will attend the University of Connecticut next fall and play for Huskies, who have been the nation’s most successful collegiate program with 11 national championships since 1995.
As of February 8, Ziebell has scored 2,592 career points in her four seasons for the Rockets. The total ranks fifth in Wisconsin girls basketball history and is nine points away from fourth place. Neenah is currently 19-3 overall and ranked sixth in the state.
Board of Education Primary Set for February 20
Eight individuals will be running for three seats on the Neenah Board of Education this spring. A primary election will be held on February 20 to narrow the field to six candidates for the April 2 election. Incumbents Brian Epley and Kristian Sahr will be challenged by Alex Corrigan, Chari Long, Tom Hanby, Susan Garcia Franz, Jeb Pfeifle and Roxanne Schwandt-Knutson. Incumbent David Williams is not seeking re-election. Those elected will serve three-year terms.
The League of Women Voters hosted a candidate forum that will be posted at https://sites.google.com/site/lwvwinnebago/. Profiles of each candidate also recently appeared in the Appleton Post-Crescent.
Literacy Tip of the Month
When a child comments while reading a book, expand on what he/she says by adding a new idea. For example, if he/she says, "He made a snowman," you could say, "Yes, he's making a snowman and look! He used a carrot for the nose!"
Upcoming Events at NJSD
Here's a sampling of some key events at Neenah schools over the next month:
Feb. 10 - WIAA Boys Swimming Sectional, Noon (NMS Pool)
Feb. 13 - High School Choir Concert, 7:30 p.m. (NHS Performing Arts Center)
Feb. 16 - WIAA Boys Hockey Regional Final, 6:30 p.m. (Fox Cities Champion Center)
Feb. 16 - Boys Basketball vs. Oshkosh West, 7:30 p.m. (NHS Gym)
Feb. 23 - WIAA Girls Basketball Regional Semifinal, 7 p.m. (NHS Gym)
Feb. 23 - WIAA Boys Hockey Sectional Final, 7:30 p.m. (Fox Cities Champion Center)
Feb. 24 - WIAA Girls Basketball Regional Final, 7 p.m. (NHS Gym)
March 1 - WIAA Boys Basketball Regional Semifinal, 7 p.m. (NHS Gym)
March 2 - District Solo/Ensemble, 8 a.m. (NHS Fine Arts Area)
Click here for a calendar of NJSD fine arts events