Howard-Suamico School Board Goals

“Our goals can only be reached through the vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act.  There is no other route to success.”   Pablo Picasso

As the Howard-Suamico School Board prepares for the 2021-22 school year, we will continue to focus and develop our two primary goals; communication within our community and advocacy for our students locally and at the state level.  

Perhaps the most comprehensive method of communication is found on our District website (www.hssdschools.org). This website was vital in providing the community with COVID-19 information and data, as well as providing referendum information prior to our April 2021 elections.  With the passing of the two referenda, this website will remain a source for facility updates and operational expenditures.  We will continue to develop the social media resources of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to present information on Board meetings, classroom activities, and extracurricular events.  At our Board meetings, stakeholders may comment during our Community Input session, receive copies of our agenda, request copies of our Board packet and PowerPoint presentations, and watch our meetings being streamed.  This past year, community and staff input was also requested through various surveys on COVID-19 and the referenda with the results being posted on the website.  With the start of a new year, we will continue our linkage meetings with students, staff, civic organizations, local officials, state legislatures, senior citizens, local businesses, and institutions of higher education to develop our partnerships.

The Board continues to promote our goal of student advocacy with the topic of school funding recently discussed by the Governor and State Legislators.  Through our communications with Senators Rob Cowles and Eric Wimberger, Representatives David Steffen, Jim Steineke, and Elijah Behnke, we encouraged bills favorable to public schools and shared “our story” of student success and achievement despite being a low revenue school district.  On April 22, 2021 Board members Garry Sievert and Teresa Ford testified at the Joint Finance Committee at UW-Stout, along with other school boards, providing their thoughts on K-12 school funding.  Vanessa Moran, our Public Policy Correspondent, communicates with our Legislators and keeps the Board appraised of legislative actions. The Board had emphasized the following state budget priorities for our school system: 1- providing relief for low revenue districts ensuring equitable resources for all students, 2- increase the amount of aid for special education students, 3- allow for an inflationary increase in general revenues, and 4- a plan to mitigate the detrimental three-year fiscal effects of the COVID-19 declining enrollment this school year, which is linked to the amount of school funding.

The Board encourages your assistance in the continuous advocacy of our students by being informed of the key financial priorities for our District and knowledge of the legislative process.  We will continue to expand our methods of communication to enhance partnerships for all aspects of the educational process within our District as we continue to renew and invest for all of our students.

For more information about the Howard-Suamico School District, please visit our website at www.hssdschools.org.