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Saint Croix students, teacher describe popular after-school ski club at board meeting
Summary
At the Jan. 15 Saint Croix School District board meeting, sixth-grade teacher Kirsten Boeseniler and several students described the district's middle-school ski club, its schedule, costs and inclusive partners and asked about possible expansion and staffing support.
Kirsten Boeseniler, a sixth-grade literacy teacher, told the Saint Croix School District board on Jan. 15 that the district's ski club has grown this winter and provides regular extracurricular opportunities for middle-school students.
Boeseniler said the club meets every other Friday, began Dec. 6, rides a district bus that departs the middle school at 3:30 p.m. and returns around 10:45 p.m., and typically skis at Trollhagen. She said the club is aimed at students who already have some skiing or snowboarding experience (not a learn-to-ski program) and noted that the district's sixth-grade learn-to-ski trip brings more students into the program later in the year.
Why it matters: Board members heard students describe how the club supports social connections, physical activity and inclusive interactions across grades; staff said cost and staffing limit how frequently the club can run and whether it can be expanded to include high-school freshmen.
Boeseniler described logistics and costs: the mountain charges a discounted Friday-night lift ticket (reported to the board as $23) and rentals run about $25; with the bus fee she said the total for students who both rent equipment and buy a ticket is "right around $50" (she used a figure of about $50'$53 in remarks). She said the district receives a free chaperone pass for every 15 students who buy lift tickets.
Students who attended the meeting spoke about their experiences. Case Holmes said ski club offers independence and time with friends; Bella Waters said it lets students ski with peers from different grades; a student who identified herself as Stella said the club is fun and inclusive. Boeseniler also noted that the group often skis alongside a Special Olympics team (referred to in the presentation as the mountain'movers/Special Olympics crew), which she said contributes to student inclusion and multi-age friendships.
Boeseniler said school staff help with transportation and equipment: a school staff member loads and transports gear and a staff driver operates the van; she asked whether additional staff could help so the club could run every Friday and possibly include high-school students who do not drive.
Board members asked a few logistical questions from the dais; no board action was taken on the club during the meeting. Boeseniler and the students thanked the board for the opportunity to present and left the meeting after taking questions.
The presentation highlighted extracurricular access, out-of-school supervision and the cost barrier for some families; Boeseniler said she hopes for more staff volunteers if the program is expanded.
