Spring Valley School Board adopts five-year strategic plan, approves transportation building contract

SPRING VALLEY, Wis. — The School District of Spring Valley Board of Education on June 17 adopted a five-year strategic plan, approved a contract to build a transportation facility and completed several personnel and report approvals during its regular meeting.

President Stacy Schultz called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the board approved the agenda. Two community members addressed the board during public participation and requested that the district name the Spring Valley football field “Bob Thomas Field,” asking that the name move with the field if it is ever relocated. The commenters described Coach Thomas’s positive impact on students and community members; the minutes record the request but show no board action on the naming at this meeting.

The board approved routine consent items, including the May 20, 2026 meeting minutes, the May 2026 financial report and the district’s 2025–26 Annual Report from the school nurse. Superintendent John Groh gave an update on ongoing referendum projects and said the district will update progress trackers and photos on its website every two weeks via the referendum logo on the homepage.

Elementary Principal Nicole Lamb and MS/HS Principal Chris Segerstrom presented year-end results for the district’s 2025–26 “Wildly Important Goals.” For the Connections goal, Spring Valley Elementary’s baseline was 97.7% in the fall and rose to 99.0% in the spring; the middle/high school baseline was 79.9% in the fall and rose to 85.2% in the spring. Principals described new monthly collaboration meetings and an instructional walk-through system at the elementary level and monthly individual collaborative meetings between the principal and teachers at the MS/HS level.

There was a motion by Monica Shafer, seconded by Emily Collins, to accept the year-end Achievement Gap Reduction report presented by Principal Lamb; the motion carried.

Principal Segerstrom presented information about a proposed high school band trip to Nashville, Tennessee for the 2026–27 school year; the minutes indicate the presentation was informational and do not record board approval of the trip at this meeting.

The board adopted the district’s proposed five-year strategic plan after Superintendent Groh’s presentation and a discussion about the district’s role in partnering with families and the community to accomplish its goals. The board’s discussion emphasized Pillar 2 of the plan, focused on engagement between the district and families, and the board directed staff to study options for expanding district childcare offerings as a potential way to increase student enrollment. The adoption motion was made by Monica Shafer and seconded by Jennelle Wolf and carried.

The board approved the Monthly Budget Update and Referendum Project Budget Report in a motion by Shafer, seconded by Ryan Glaus. Later in the meeting, the board approved a transportation building contract with Meyer Buildings in a motion by Jennelle Wolf, seconded by Monica Shafer; the motion carried.

At 7:59 p.m. the board moved into closed session under Wis. Stat. 19.85(1)(c); the motion carried by roll call. The board reconvened at 8:51 p.m. and announced personnel actions: hiring Audrey Mathison as Middle School Cross Country coach and Michael Bauer as Middle School boys basketball coach, and accepting the retirements of Brad Linse (high school math teacher) and Jeff Brooke (bus driver). The board also approved the 2025–26 annual evaluation of the superintendent. The meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.

The board noted upcoming meetings: Policy Committee (June 24, 2026, 4:30 p.m., Spring Valley Elementary Room W205), the Annual Meeting (July 15, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Spring Valley Elementary Room W205) and the next Regular Board Meeting (July 15, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Spring Valley Elementary Room W205).