Education Connection

• A Message From Superintendent Hirsbrunner
• Steering Our Schools: Recapping the Board's Work
• Lindsey Kedrowksi Honored with Mandana Bliss Award for Staff Excellence
• We Welcome Nancy Leggett as our New Spanish Parent Partner
• WPCN/WSPT Radio and Scotty K. Recognized with WASB Business Honor Roll Award
• Lowe’s Community Project Brings New Enhancements to Boston School Forest
• Inside The SPAPSD and UWSP Collaborative P.E. Teacher Practicum
• Little Learners, Big Hearts: 4K Students Practice Gratitude at Excel Preschool
• Appreciating our Substitute Teachers
• Building Bridges to Belonging: SPAPSD's Commitment to Special Education
• Computing, Coding, and Creating: Celebrating Computer Science Education Week
• Cartwheel Resources | Support for Your Family This Holiday Season
• Camera Roll

• Upcoming Events and Community Information
• 2025-26 School Year Calendar

SPAPSD Families,

As the calendar year draws to a close, I want to share my sincere gratitude for the partnership and trust you place in our schools every day. It has been an impressive and productive start to the year, and we are thrilled with the learning and growth your children are experiencing.

This December, our focus is on ensuring a joyful and supportive end to the semester. Your student's success reflects our commitment to high education. We want to assure you that the community's investment, supported by the recent referendum, directly funds the quality programs and resources in your student’s school. We remain dedicated to financial transparency regarding these resources; for answers to frequently asked questions about the budget and tax bill, please visit our Budget Information page.

We also want to reinforce the importance of connection and rest over the upcoming break. Taking time together helps students recharge and prepares them to return ready to learn in the new year. Thank you for continuing to support consistent attendance until the last day before break.

We are proud to partner with you to ensure every student feels they belong and has the care and support to learn and thrive. We wish your family a restful and peaceful holiday season.

With appreciation,

Cory Hirsbrunner, Ed.D. Superintendent

The Stevens Point Area Public School District School Board held its Regular Board Meeting on Monday, December 8, 2025.

The Mandana Bliss award was presented to Lindsey Kedrowski. Lindsey is the school secretary at the Charles F. Fernandez Center (C.F.C.) and was presented the award by 12th grade students Akayla Jones, Lauren Page, Amelia Hageness and Hailey Caldwell.

Consent Agenda
The board approved the minutes of the November 10, 2025, Board Meeting, the schedule of monthly bills and employment recommendations as presented.

Business Services

The board approved the full-day 4K proposal as presented.

Educational Services

The 2026-27 district calendar was approved as presented.

An overview of the 2024-25 district and school report cards was provided for information only.

General

2026 WASB Resolutions were provided to the board for review and discussion at a future board meeting.

Director Mlsna and Facilities and Safety Manager, Chris Budzinski, provided the annual safety and security report for information only.

Assistant Superintendent Nyman provided a budget and evaluation process update for information only.

A resolution to request municipalities place voucher tax levy information on property tax bills was tabled for discussion at a future meeting.

Future Meetings

• January 12, 2026 - Regular Board Meeting
• February 9, 2026 - Regular Board Meeting
• March 9, 2026 - Regular Board Meeting

The Educational Services and Business Services/HR Committees will meet on the first Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.

The entirety of the meeting can be viewed online.

My name is Nancy Leggett. I was born and raised in Mexico (Acapulco) and have proudly called the United States home for the past ten years.

I hold degrees in Psychology and Communication from the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP) and Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero (UAG) in Mexico, and I currently serve as the ESL Educational Assistant at McDill Elementary.

I’m thrilled to share that I will also be stepping into the role of the Stevens Point District Spanish Parent Partner. I’m genuinely excited for the opportunity to support our Spanish-speaking families and help them stay connected and engaged in their child’s educational journey.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mi nombre es Nancy Leggett. Nací y crecí en México (Acapulco) y, desde hace diez años, tengo el orgullo de llamar a los Estados Unidos mi hogar. Tengo una Licenciatura en Psicología en la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero (UAG) y una más en Ciencias de la Comunicación en la Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP) , y actualmente trabajo como Asistente Educativa de ESL en McDill Elementary.

Me emociona compartir con ustedes que también estaré desempeñando el rol de Parent Partner en Español como parte del Distrito Escolar de Stevens Point.

Estoy encantada ante la oportunidad de apoyar a nuestras familias hispanas como parte de la comunidad escolar, para mantenerse correctamente informadas y comprometidas en el desarrollo y formación educativa de sus hijos.

Scotty Krueger has been an exceptional champion for our district. Whether he is courtside in the SPASH fieldhouse, live in the studio, or out in the community, his support helps shine a light on the experiences of our students and staff.

His athletic coverage is a must-listen for SPASH Panthers fans. Scotty brings accuracy, enthusiasm, and deep respect for our student-athletes to every broadcast. He sees their hard work and accomplishments and lifts up the pride we feel for our teams.

Beyond sports, Scotty consistently creates space for conversations that help our community understand the work happening in our schools. Through Portage County Live, he invites thoughtful dialogue, asks meaningful questions, and builds trust by giving our district a platform to share stories that matter. These include student achievement, the arts, innovative programs, and updates on school board work.

For his dedication to balanced, community-centered coverage and his commitment to amplifying student and district voices, we are honored to celebrate Scotty Krueger and WPCN Radio as 2025 WASB Business Honor Roll recipients.

We are grateful for this partnership and for the meaningful ways Scotty helps us share our story.

The Stevens Point Area Public School District is proud to share the impact of a recent partnership with our local Lowe’s team, whose annual community project brought meaningful improvements to Boston School Forest.

Each year, Lowe’s stores across the country receive funds to support a nonprofit project in their area. Employees nominate organizations that make a difference in their community, and this year, several associates recommended Boston School Forest based on their own positive childhood experiences there. After the nomination was selected, Lowe’s staff reached out to explore how they could support outdoor learning for our students.

Working closely with district staff, Lowe’s associate Barry, an architect and master tradesman, created plans for two new additions. The first was a sturdy, weather-protected bus stop structure for visiting classrooms. The second was a set of custom-built photo risers designed to support hands-on learning and group instruction. Students and staff are already using the new risers for outdoor lessons, demonstrations, and class photos.

On installation day, eight Lowe’s associates volunteered their “give back time” to bring the plans to life. Team members donated their skills, materials, and energy to complete the project in just one day. Their work reflects a strong commitment to giving back and building relationships within the local community.

“We want Lowe’s to be a part of the community,” one associate shared. “This project gave us an opportunity to support students and a place that means a lot to many of us.”

The district extends its sincere gratitude to the entire Lowe’s team for their generosity and partnership. Their contributions strengthen outdoor learning opportunities at Boston School Forest and help ensure students continue to learn, explore, and grow in a rich and engaging environment.

Thank you, Lowe’s, for your continued support of our students and schools.

Did you know that over 30 future physical education educators from UW-Stevens Point are getting invaluable, hands-on training right here in our district every semester? We highlight the powerful partnership between SPAPSD and the UWSP School of Education that is equipping new teachers with the real-world skills to make P.E. engaging, inclusive, and fun for all students.

The hands-on practicum experience is crucial for building their professional skills. As UWSP practicum student Danika Lindgren explains:

“We get to come and actually have the experience teaching before we get into our own classroom. It helps us build our tool boxes with different teaching strategies and different methods that work in the classroom.”

Meet the dedicated mentor teachers who are shaping the next generation and learn why this "learn-by-doing" approach is paying huge dividends for everyone involved!

Read more in this issue and take a peak inside gym class!

What are our youngest students grateful for? Hugs, pets, and teachers, just to name a few! We stepped inside the Excel Preschool 4K classroom where students are proving that big concepts like gratitude are perfectly suited for little minds.

Learn how our dedicated team, including teachers and specialists, are collaborating to adapt curriculum and ensure every child, regardless of their communication style, can participate and thrive. This intentional approach is setting students up for success in kindergarten.

As 4K Teacher Talen Wilharm notes:

“I think it's the coolest thing to listen to them use big words that you wouldn't expect a four-year-old to use in natural conversation.”

Read the full story and see the gratitude in the classroom.

Recently, we celebrated the dedicated professionals who ensure learning never stops in our classrooms. Our substitute teachers and educational assistants, working in partnership with Fidelis Consulting Service, are crucial to our students' success.

Learn why these professionals love the job and why they feel so supported by our district staff. For aspiring teacher Missy, subbing has been an invaluable learning experience:

“I've had the opportunity to learn a lot of classroom management... I've seen so many different teachers handle things differently that it gives me a bigger toolbox.”

Read the full story to see why our substitutes are calling the experience "amazing".

The Stevens Point Area Public School District (SPAPSD) is deeply committed to supporting the nearly 1,100 students served by its Special Education program, ensuring every child achieves their full potential and feels a strong sense of belonging.

This commitment starts with staff: SPAPSD's robust mentoring program has been highly successful, helping to reduce special education teacher turnover from 16% to just 9% in recent years.

The district provides personalized growth opportunities through innovative programs, including:

• Project SEARCH: A 9–12 month, total immersion workforce program.

• Special Sports: Year-round athletic competitions for students.

• Child Find: Free developmental screenings for young children

Read the full story to see how we're preparing students for their future.

Did you know our students can design websites, create virtual games, and build computers from scratch? With 11 computer science electives starting in seventh grade, our program is equipping students with essential 21st-century skills through hands-on, real-world projects.

We celebrate the innovative learning happening across our computer science courses. As SPASH Computer Science Instructional Leader Kate Kaster explains:

“Computer science isn’t about computers. It’s about problem-solving, creativity, and learning, one line of code at a time.”

Read how our students are breaking down big challenges and view the hard work!

The holidays can be wonderful—and sometimes overwhelming—for kids and teens. If your child could use someone to talk to, or if you'd like guidance navigating a tough moment, we're here to help.

Through Cartwheel, your family has access to teletherapy, family check-ins, and psychiatric care with licensed clinicians. No waitlists, no hassle—just support when you need it.

Reach out to your child’s school counselor or get started here: https://www.cartwheel.org/families

🖥️ Telehealth sessions from 8am to 8pm, whenever is most convenient.

🗣️ Care in several languages, including English, Spanish, and others.

✅ Completely free care for families who have Medicaid or are uninsured and considered an in-network provider for families with private insurance (standard co-payments and deductibles may apply).

Grief is something every family faces at some point—and the holiday season can make these emotions feel even stronger. In this session, Dr. Mekel Harris, a pediatric and family health psychologist, will share age-appropriate ways to talk with children about death and loss. She’ll offer simple language to help kids name their feelings, understand big emotions, and find comfort in honest, caring conversations.

Families will walk away with tools and scripts they can use at home to support healing—especially during this time of year.

*See the attached flyer for details and register here.*

The Stevens Point Area Public School District is working to ensure that all of our digital services — websites, newsletters, documents, videos, and more — are fully accessible to every family and community member.

By April 2026, federal law requires all public schools to meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 Level AA). We are auditing our materials, training staff, and working with vendors to meet this requirement.

If you encounter barriers accessing district information, please let us know.

Learn more about: www.pointschools.net/departments/communications/title-ii-digital-accessibility

Yog xav tau kev pab txhais cov lus no, thov hu rau Mai Kou Yang ntawm 715-343-7139 los 715-340-0656 lossis sau email rau: myang@capmail.org

Si necesita ayuda traduciendo información que se encuentra en el correo electrónico, por favor, contacte a Nancy Leggett al correo nleggett@pointschools.net o llame al 715-498-1976.