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District administrator outlines enrollment growth, 'Grow Your Own' training and youth apprenticeship expansion
Summary
District Administrator Tom Tarnett reviewed enrollment trends, new calendar features and multiple district programs on March 3, and said the district plans to expand youth apprenticeship and staff development offerings.
Tom Tarnett, the McFarland School District administrator, delivered the district report at the March 3 board meeting and highlighted rising enrollment, calendar changes, staff development, and multiple student and staff programs.
Tarnett said elementary enrollment is increasing faster than middle and high school and that the district projects ongoing growth. He noted the 2025–26 school year calendar was approved with a two-week winter break and five flexible summer staff-development days.
On marketing and enrollment, Tarnett reported the district hired a marketing firm, Fin Partners, and that family survey results showed parent satisfaction at about 85 percent. He said virtual school WIVA (WIVA/WIVA referenced in transcript) reports higher instructional days than minimum requirements and that the district is watching statewide virtual schooling developments.
Tarnett outlined several initiatives: standards-based grading work across grades 6–12, an expanding Grow Your Own program to help staff and students pursue teacher certification (including tuition support for special education assistants and an Edgewood College partnership), and plans to move assisting students into the youth apprenticeship program. He said vaping settlement funds will be used to compensate students participating in youth apprenticeship assistant roles.
He also recognized staff and community partners: McFarland Education Foundation scholarship work, Angie Bizon selected to attend a Holocaust Educators Workshop in Poland, CTE partners supporting youth apprenticeship, and school social workers during School Social Work Week.
Tarnett described local events and extracurricular highlights — orchestra and family events, robotics teams advancing to states, state wrestling and hockey celebrations — and thanked staff for open house and family learning night organization. He closed by noting several upcoming dates and by asking board members for any recognitions.
Tarnett said the district is reviewing health insurance proposals and co-curricular compensation to better align workload and pay. He also described efforts to remove barriers in hiring practices to improve recruitment and retention. The report was informational; no board action on these items was taken at the meeting.
