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Cross Plains superintendent praises student achievements, strong finances and new sustainability plans
Summary
The Cross Plains school superintendent told the Village Board on Jan. 27 that student extracurricular teams won state championships, the district holds an above-target fund balance and is pursuing sustainability projects including planned solar arrays.
The Cross Plains school superintendent updated the Village of Cross Plains Board of Trustees on Jan. 27, reporting strong student performance, stable district finances and planned sustainability projects including solar arrays.
The superintendent told trustees the district’s marching band won first place at state for the first time in its history and the color guard earned its third consecutive state title. Boys soccer and girls swim & dive teams recorded state championships, and the fall musical at the performing arts center sold out every performance for the first time since 2016.
The superintendent said the district ranks first in Dane County and second in the state among about 430 districts. He also reported eight consecutive years of clean external financial audits and a fund balance above the district target: “We have a target of keeping the fund balance of 30% as an organization. We’re at a little over 36% right now,” the superintendent said.
The superintendent described ongoing operational priorities: implementing a new state literacy law that changes reading instruction and assessments, responding to recommendations from an external audit of special education services, and pursuing staff retention in a tight regional labor market. The district has a strategic target to retain 90% of employees; the superintendent said the district’s retention rate is 91%.
On sustainability, the superintendent said the district will ask its board to approve initial projects, including several solar arrays and other energy measures; he mentioned a planned array at Glacier Peak. Ten district schools were recently named “climate champions,” he said.
The superintendent also noted that four board seats are up for election in April and that four candidates have filed for those positions.
Trustees did not take formal action on school items at the village meeting. The superintendent encouraged residents to consult the district’s website for audit reports, budgets and a data dashboard.
The village board’s acceptance of the superintendent’s report completes the evening’s agenda items and sets no new financial obligations for the village related to the district.
