Schools

Fri
21
Jul
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School Hosts ‘Drive a Bus’ Event in Search for Drivers

MIDDLETON–Kevin Schaefer was dismayed to learn last year that his son couldn’t attend an out-of-town athletic event because the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) didn’t have a bus driver available.

That’s why Schaefer, a commercial driver, attended last week’s “Drive a Bus” school bus driver recruitment event.

“I couldn’t help out before because I was an over-the-road driver and logged too many hours during the week that I didn’t have the hours remaining to drive on weekends,” he said.

“Now, I’m more of a ‘yard dog’ and I don’t have to keep track of hours so, I’d like to be able to drive occasionally,” he said as he entered the district’s transportation office. 

Sat
01
Jul
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Consultant: Get Some School Sports Off the Grass

MIDDLETON–Recommendations from the first-ever comprehensive assessment of the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) athletic facilities included changing playing fields at the high school and Kromery Middle School to artificial turf.

John Kneer, of the Rettler Corporation, told the Board of Education Monday that the converting the high school’s existing baseball and practice fields to a full synthetic surface would increase its utilization by opening it to physical education, adaptive physical education and other uses.

“It’s a huge facility. Baseball facilities are four to four and a half acres. They take up a lot of room. This happens to be right out the door from the high school and has the potential to cater to the other needs of the district,” Kneer said.

Sat
24
Jun
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Title IX Investigation Complete, Anti-Bullying Measures Added

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) announced last week that they had concluded a IX investigation into alleged football bullying.

On June 15, a message signed by MCPASD Board of Education President Sheila Hibner and Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue informed parents of the completed investigation:

As the school year comes to a close, we hope you are looking forward to a relaxing summer break.  We want to provide an update regarding the bullying and harassment situation that we have been addressing at our high school campus within our athletics program.  After an expansive and detailed process, the investigation has come to a conclusion.

We know how difficult this has been, specifically for the members of the football team and their families. We believe in them and will support the players, coaches, and administrators at the high school campus to make sure they receive the support and resources they need to move forward. 

Thu
15
Jun
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District Announces Conclusion of Title IX Investigation

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) sent a message to families on June 15 letting them know the Title IX investigation into alleged football bullying had concluded.

The correspondence was signed by MCPASD Board of Education President Sheila Hibner and Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue and reads as follows:

As the school year comes to a close, we hope you are looking forward to a relaxing summer break.  We want to provide an update regarding the bullying and harassment situation that we have been addressing at our high school campus within our athletics program.  After an expansive and detailed process, the investigation has come to a conclusion.

We know how difficult this has been, specifically for the members of the football team and their families. We believe in them and will support the players, coaches, and administrators at the high school campus to make sure they receive the support and resources they need to move forward. 

Thu
08
Jun
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Football Program Indicates Deeper Problems at MHS

Football Program Indicates Deeper Problems at MHS

By Lauren Lamson & Mawuenam Dossa

MIDDLETON–Four months have passed since the Middleton High School (MHS) administration received a report of sexual harassment in the football program. Within that time, head coach Jason Pertzborn resigned from his teaching and coaching positions at MHS, the Middleton Police Department completed an investigation and MHS sent the findings of their own investigation to an unbiased outside party for review. 

The investigation has divided MHS students and families over the quality and integrity of the football program as they wrestle with what expectations should be set on its athletes, whom to hold responsible and how to move forward. To confound the issue, students, staff and families have been left to wonder about the details of the misconduct while the investigation remains confidential. 

Fri
02
Jun
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Friends of Pheasant Branch Photo Contest Winners Announced

MIDDLETON–Winners of the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy (FOPBC) Photo Contest were honored at a reception and gallery opening at Middleton High School on May 23. The contest is open to high school photography students and winners of the competition will be included in the FOPBC 2024 phenology calendar.

Winners of this year’s contest were, First Place: Samuel Bauch–Fawn; Second Place: Danica Nolte Oenothera–Gaura; and Third Place: Madilyn Vander Sanden–Sunset. Honorable Mention Awards went to: Jade Huemmer–Sky; William Anderson–Winter Flower; Zachary Maron–Moon; Marcel Teber–Path; Easton Harris–Ant on Fallen Tree; Zachary Maron–River; Zander Endres–Vine; Natalie Liegel–Ink Cap; LeAnn Aschkar–Flower; and Jackson Rankin–Robin.

Fri
12
May
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Program Bridges Gap Between Students, Families and Mental Health Care Services

MIDDLETON–Dane County Executive Joe Parisi took some bows at Monday’s Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) board meeting for the success achieved in the Building Bridges program, now in its 10th year.

The program assesses and coordinates services for 4K through eighth grade students who need additional support for the mental health challenges they are facing in school.

Building Bridges became an alternative to involving law enforcement in some behavioral problems students exhibited at school. It’s described as an intense 90-day experience where social workers engage with up to 12 MCPASD students and their families per semester.

The county and MCPSD equally fund the program which is staffed by Catholic Charities. This year, Cassie Ranum and Adrienne Blow have worked in the district and described to the board of education what they do.

Thu
27
Apr
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School to End COVID-19 Testing

 

 

MIDDLETON – Covid testing at West Middleton Elementary will cease on Friday, as federal funding for school-based testing sites is ending nationwide, Dana Monogue, superintendent of Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District announced Monday.

MCPASD staff and families can access community testing sites through Public Health Madison & Dane County. The list of local testing sites is found on PHMDC's website: https://publichealthmdc.com/coronavirus/testing.

Testing is available to all persons and the cost for testing will vary depending on their health insurance. It is likely that free community testing will also end when the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration ends on May 11, but each remaining community testing site will inform the person about testing costs and insurance copays since it will be unique to each person. 

Fri
14
Apr
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School Board Hears Recommendation for 6% Salary Increase

MIDDLETON–A six percent salary increase was recommended Monday for all Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) teachers, staff and administrators for the 2023-24 academic year.

The increase was presented by the district’s finance staff which said it was needed to remain competitive and reach the 75th percentile for salary and wages paid by Dane County schools.

The cost to the district would be $4.33 million, according to information the district supplied.

Teachers and staff received a 5.5 percent total compensation package increase for the current school year, which school board and Middleton Education Association members said was the first significant wage bump in some time.

Under the salary proposal, annual pay for teachers with a bachelor’s degree increases from $45,126 this year to $47,500 in 2023-24. Salary for teachers with a master’s degree would increase from $51,126 to $53,500 in the same period.

Mon
06
Mar
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School District Offers Support After Student Suicide

MIDDLETON–A letter was sent out to Middleton High School parents, and an announcement made by MHS Principal Peg Shoemaker at Saturday’s varsity basketball ball game regarding a student’s death by suicide. 

The letter begins by saying that it is being sent to announce the loss of the student as well as provide resources for parents to help their children process the loss. Provided are the following links: How to help a grieving teen, https://www.dougy.org/resource-articles/how-to-help-a-grieving-teen; How to support children and teens after a death from suicide, and https://www.dougy.org/assets/uploads/Supporting-Children-Teens-After-a-Suicide.pdf.

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