Schools

MIDDLETON–Despite increases in state aid and proceeds from last year’s successful referendum, revenue for the 2023-24 Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) is expected to rise by just $66,915, according to preliminary numbers released Monday.

Property taxes, including the addition of funds from the fall 2022 referendum, are expected to increase by $5.9 million, plus $3 million more in state aid. However, those increases are offset by corresponding decreases in federal aid, donations to the Otto Breitenbach Stadium project and proceeds from sale of lots near Pope Farm Elementary School.

MIDDLETON–First term school board member Todd Berry was on the short end of a vote Monday, which sought proposals for upgrades to outdoor athletic facilities at Middleton High School (MHS).

Renovating the tennis courts, constructing a softball field and converting the existing baseball field to artificial turf, previously recommended by an independent consultant that have drawn interest from board members of the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District.

The three projects have an estimated cost ranging from $4.58 million to $5.32 million, according to a consultant from the Rettler Corporation, who addressed the school board in June.

The money could come from the $6 million in available interest earned from the 2018 referendum proceeds. 

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) has had a robust program that protects students from harmful internet content and monitors student Internet activity on district-supplied devices, according to Brian Miles, Director of Technology Services.

Qustodio software provides parents or guardians with daily or weekly reports that show the websites their child has visited, movies they’ve watched, searches made and the amount of screen time they’ve accumulated, Miles told the MCPASD Board of Education Monday night.

“Parents have been asking me about this since last spring,” when Miles was appointed MCPASD’s IT director. “It’s important because it creates a connection between the district and families.”

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Cross Plains Area School District Board of Education is considering revisions to the student conduct code to reflect expanding types of illegal drugs, hate speech and inappropriate use of technology.

The revisions are intended to better “support the safety and learning of our students” and address the “changing nature of our world,” Shelia Hibner, board president said last week in opening remarks.

The reasons for the changes included:

• Families requesting clearer consequences and supports at each infraction level.

• Accessible essay-writing software including ChatGPT and Bard AI.

• A shift in grading practices from the 0-100 scale to a 40-100 scale.

• Increased inappropriate use of technology, often in sexual ways.

• Added marijuana-alternative substances like Delta-9 THC products.

• Increased use of hate speech and race-related infractions.

MIDDLETON–The state budget giveth and taketh away from the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD), Finance Director Erin Wheeler told the Board of Education Monday.

The recently signed state 2023-25 biennium budget adds $3.025 million in district revenue but also increases expenses linked to changes in open enrollment policies and tuition vouchers.

Revenue increases are led by a $2.3 million increase in the tax levy limit authorized by the state. A slight increase in state aid for special education instruction adds about $500,000, and mental health aid adds $225,000, Wheeler said.

Expenses due to changes in tuition voucher and open enrollment policies increases spending by a combined $400,000 in voucher tuition, independent charter school tuitions and special education tuition.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.