Board honors volunteers, students and Act 20 team; names new student board representative

The Merrill Area School District Board of Education on May 14 opened its meeting with a series of recognitions and student reports, honoring volunteers, student athletes, forensics competitors and staff who led the district’s Act 20 early-literacy implementation.

Chris Austin of Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Central Wisconsin presented awards and recognized Merrill High School volunteer Noah Klug as “High School Big of the Year” and a 17-person district team with a Community Partners Award for raising mentor matches from 24 to 53 in one year. Austin described Noah’s additional volunteer work and commended the district team’s role in expanding pilot programs at the high school and at Washington Elementary.

The board also recognized the forensics team’s state competitors, listed students who received awards, and lauded the district’s Act 20 implementation team — Jamie Vargas, John Hagenmeister, Heather Carr, Megan Koutser, Ryan Martinovich, Danielle Schulz and Rachel Sippel — for supporting K–3 teachers with assessments and reading plans. "We are really excited to see that show up in our work," a staff speaker said of the Act 20 rollout.

In student reports, departing student representative Max Black and returning representative Parker Wagner gave updates on recent student events, and Patricia Dieter introduced the incoming student board representative, Eric Grudenwald, a sophomore and three-sport athlete who the board said "rose to the top of his peers for this position." Eric addressed the board briefly and said he looked forward to serving.

The recognitions and student reports were non‑action items and intended to highlight community partnerships, student achievement and district program work heading into the summer.