T-Bird Times

The Iola-Scandinavia School District hosted its second Strategic Task Force planning meeting on the evening of Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Task force members discussed the question: "If Iola-Scandinavia could invest in five key items, what would they be?" Responses to that question, along with the questions from the first planning session on September 16, were used to identify emerging themes.

District Administrator Chris Nelson then gave task force members an overview of the non-recurring operational referendum, including information on student achievement, district finances, and the history of state education funding.

Following Mr. Nelson's presentation, participants prioritized the themes that emerged from both planning sessions. The six top-ranked themes were:

Academic Excellence and Student Achievement
Educational Staff and Leadership
Student Opportunities and Experiences
Facilities, Technology, and Operations
Career, College, and Future Readiness
Financial Stability and Resources

The district planning team will now develop a strategic plan that reflects the priorities set by the community task force. A draft of the plan will be presented at the third Strategic Planning Task Force meeting on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

So Many Exciting Changes Happening!

Hello, everyone! Mrs. Sroka (aka Ms. Danielson) here!

I wanted to share some exciting changes coming to our music program this year. As some of you may know, I am now the 4K–6 Elementary Music Teacher for I-S. With this change comes a wonderful opportunity to add some new experiences and make changes we haven’t had the chance to do before! I have had such a great experience so far this year working with all different levels of students and while getting to know them again, I thought these changes fit best!

🎵 First up: Our K–3 Winter Program!
Our K–3 students will perform on December 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the ISHS Gym. This will look familiar to those who have attended in the past, but there will be one big change: the K–3 performance will stand on its own and will no longer be followed by the 4–6 program.

🎭 And that brings us to our second exciting change!
Our 4–6 students will be part of a musical revue in the spring! This performance will take place during the first week of May. We will possibly have two performances and sell tickets so that everyone has a chance to attend, and of course, all are welcome!

I am so excited about these changes and the opportunities they will give our students to perform, grow, and share their love of music. I can’t wait to see what they create!

Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to each performance!

Mrs. Sroka

srokac@iola.k12.wi.us

A school district leader standing in a hallway, smiling, with students walking in the background.

What’s on the Ballot November 3

On Tuesday, November 3, Iola-Scandinavia voters will decide a four-year, non-recurring operational referendum. This is the last newsletter before Election Day, so here is what you need to know.

What happened since April

In April, voters did not approve the district’s first referendum request. Since then, the district has made reductions to balance its budget:

Two teaching positions eliminated (high school Physical Education and Business)
An educational assistant reduced
Some coaching positions reduced
A pay freeze for teachers, administrators, and support staff
Fewer field trips, no updates to student technology, and delayed maintenance projects

Why the district needs it

Wisconsin sets a revenue limit that caps what a district can raise through state aid and local property taxes. Costs for special education, mental health services, transportation, utilities, and technology keep climbing, and the state does not fully fund them. If state aid had kept pace with inflation since 2009, a district like ours would receive about $3,571 more per student each year, which is roughly $2 million in the current school year alone.

You may hear that falling enrollment should mean lower costs. Some costs, like buildings, bus routes, and minimum staffing, don’t shrink when a few students leave. At the same time, student needs have grown more complex.

Meanwhile, the district has cut where it can. Since 2016, it has reduced regular education staff through attrition, consolidated administrative roles, partnered with CESA 5 and RVA for shared services, and moved all staff to higher health insurance deductibles. The district’s school levy rate also fell from $11.05 to $6.98 per $1,000 between 2019-20 and 2025-26.

What it supports

Referendum funds help pay for everyday operations: staff, utilities, maintenance, supplies, curriculum, and transportation. Here is what that supports for our students:

Academics: On the 2024-25 state report card, Iola-Scandinavia outperformed 307 of Wisconsin’s 367 districts and was rated “Exceeds Expectations.”
College and career credit: Students earned 401 college and technical college credits last year, up from 171 in 2023, tuition free through programs like Start College Now, Youth Apprenticeship, and Early College Credit.
Arts: Our band and choir have earned state-level recognition, and this year’s musical, Frozen, involves 50+ students on stage and behind the scenes. You can hear our musicians at the Veterans Day program on November 11.
Athletics and activities: Students compete in Central Wisconsin Conference sports and take part in FCCLA, Educators Rising, Quiz Bowl, Forensics, and more.
Service: Our National Honor Society chapter recently earned the National Overall Award of Excellence from the National Association of Secondary School Principals, for work that included supporting local veterans through Old Glory Honor Flight.

This isn’t a new program. Our community first approved this funding tool in 2016 and renewed it in 2020. The most recent one expired at the end of the 2025-26 school year.

Get your questions answered

You’ll find FAQs and more at Iola-ScandinaviaReferendum.org.

Whatever you decide, please vote on November 3. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Chris Nelson, District Administrator

Thank You for Clearing Our Students' Lunch Balances

Thank you to the community members who generously donated to eliminate negative lunch balances for Iola-Scandinavia students. Your gift means that no student has to worry about an unpaid balance, and families have one less thing to carry.

A special thank you to Barb Nelson and ScandiHus for organizing this effort. Your leadership brought neighbors together and made this possible.

This is what makes our community special: people who see a need and step up for the kids. On behalf of our students, families, and staff, thank you.

One of the things that makes a school special is the community that surrounds it. Our students have much they can learn. Not only from their teachers, but from the people who live, create, and serve right here in our community. We are looking for more ways to bring our community into our school.

During the school day, our students have a designated time when they can participate in interventions, study, or enrichment activities. We call this time TREK which stands for Towards Rigor/Relevance, Enrichment and Knowledge. It occurs each day from 2:51 - 3:21 pm. Interventions give students additional support in areas where they may need it while enrichment activities provide opportunities for students to explore interests, learn something new, dive deeper into classroom content, or discover talents not yet known.

Do you have a skill, hobby, talent, career, or passion that you would enjoy sharing with students? Maybe you play an instrument, know how to quilt, garden, cook, build things, draw, take photographs, fix engines, work with animals or simply have a topic you are passionate about and would love to talk about with young people.

We are looking for people who are willing to share what they know during this time and help our students see the possibilities that exist beyond the walls of the classroom. Your involvement could be as simple as sharing your hobby with a small group of students, teaching a skill, talking about your career, helping with a project, or working with students on something you are passionate about.

We believe that connecting students with community members helps them understand that learning happens everywhere, regardless of age, and that everyone has something valuable to teach. If you have a skill, talent, hobby, career experience, or simply an interest in spending some time with our students we would love to hear from you. Please contact Jan Bue-Wells, MS/HS Principal, at (715)445-2411 if you would like more information.

New Kobussen Bus App

The Iola-Scandinavia School District in coordination with Kobussen Buses will be using a new parent app, Stopfinder, for the upcoming school year. Stopfinder is the easy-to-use, all-in-one app that allows you to have the most accurate information about your students’ bus schedule at anytime from anywhere. The email address that is currently on file with the district in Skyward will be used for Stopfinder setup. Please login to Skyward to update your email address or contact your school’s main office to make a change to your primary email address. Stopfinder can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play. Stopfinder will require an invite and registration through the district prior to accessing your student’s transportation schedule. Please look for a Stopfinder invitation, which will be sent to your primary email address in the coming days.

Please contact Kobussen Buses with questions.

Thank you, Kobussen Buses Ltd. Manawa/Iola Terminal (920) 389-1500

📠Business Manager's Message

Finance Update

Fall 2026

The Iola-Scandinavia School District is proud of the instructional gains we’ve made over the last several years. These achievements were highlighted in our most recent state report card, which showed noticeable growth and improved scores in both of our school buildings and across the district as a whole.

We want to thank our staff, students, and families for the daily hard work and commitment required to achieve these results. We also want to thank our community members, whose financial investment in our schools provides the necessary resources to make these learning gains possible.

Business Office & Financial Planning Updates

Fall is also a busy time in the Business Office as we complete enrollment counts, prepare budget updates and await state aid certifications to finalize the budget and set the tax levy.

This October, the school board will set a conditional tax levy that will depend on the outcome of the November 3 operational referendum question on the ballot.

If approved: The district will maintain essential funding to continue investing in our students and academic programming.
If not approved: The district will face a $1M budget deficit for the 2026–27 school year. This will require significant budget reductions in future school years, directly affecting our educational offerings and student opportunities.

Learn More & Stay Informed

We recognize that family budgets are tight, and we remain dedicated to serving as responsible stewards of the community's investment in our schools. The projected impact of a successful referendum is $21/year for a home or property valued at $100,000 and will last over the 4-year term of the referendum.

To learn more about the referendum or to ask questions before casting your vote:

Visit our Referendum Information Page on the district website.
Attend the Referendum Information session on October 21 at 6:00 p.m. in the MS/HS Auditorium.
Check your registration or review sample ballots on the MyVote Wisconsin Portal.
Contact the district with any questions.

🏊🏻‍♂️Iola-Scandinavia Fitness and Aquatic Center

Iola-Scandinavia Community Fitness and Aquatic Center Offers Something for Everyone

The Iola-Scandinavia Community Fitness and Aquatic Center is a great place for individuals and families of all ages to stay active, get fit and enjoy the water. With a variety of membership options, fitness equipment, group exercise classes and aquatic amenities, there is something for everyone.

New Membership Pricing Now Available

New membership prices are now in effect for both District and Non-District members. Members can choose the option that works best for their needs, with memberships available on a daily, monthly, six-month or annual basis.

Memberships can be purchased for the pool only, the Fitness Center only, or as a Combo Membership, which provides access to both the pool and Fitness Center.

Whether you are looking for a place to swim, exercise, stay active with your family or work toward your personal fitness goals, the Iola-Scandinavia Community Fitness and Aquatic Center has an option for you.

Group Exercise Classes

Looking for a little extra motivation? Our Group Exercise classes are a great way to stay active while exercising with others.

Group Exercise class packages are available at:

8 classes – $40
16 classes – $72
24 classes – $102
32 classes – $128

We also offer Strong Bones and Melt classes at separate pricing. For more information about these classes, please contact Cheryl Ziemann at ziemannch@iola.k12.wi.us.

Fitness Center

Our weight room is open 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., giving members plenty of opportunities throughout the day to fit a workout into their schedule.

The Fitness Center features a variety of equipment to meet a wide range of workout needs.

Our cardio area includes:

Treadmills
Stationary bikes
Ellipticals
Spin bike
Stair stepper

The weight training area includes:

Selectorized machines
Cable machines
Free weights
Plate-loaded weights

Whether you are just getting started or have been working out for years, our Fitness Center offers a variety of options to help you stay active.

Aquatic Center

The Aquatic Center features a six-lane lap pool, complete with a diving board, as well as a zero-depth-entry leisure pool that is perfect for families and recreational swimming.

The leisure pool includes:

Water geysers
Water slide
Whirlpool
Zero-depth entry

The lap pool opens at 6:00 a.m. Monday - Friday,.making it a great option for early-morning swimmers and those looking to get their workout in before starting their day. Please look at our monthly schedule for other swimming options.

Accessibility is also an important part of our facility. Both pools are equipped with chair lifts and easy-entry access, helping ensure that people of all abilities can enjoy our aquatic amenities.

Come Check Us Out!

The Iola-Scandinavia Community Fitness and Aquatic Center is proud to provide our community with a place to exercise, swim, relax and connect with others.

With flexible membership options, a variety of fitness equipment, group exercise classes and aquatic activities, we invite District and Non-District residents alike to find the membership or program that works best for them.

Stop in and see what the Iola-Scandinavia Community Fitness and Aquatic Center has to offer!

🎶MS/HS Band

We just finished up another Homecoming which means the High School band was marching through Iola! The theme this year was Holidays and each grade level had a different Holiday to represent. So in line with that theme, the band played the theme from Ghostbusters (Halloween) and Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Christmas). The band has also been working on some new tunes to play at upcoming athletic games this year as well. So keep an ear out for something new maybe!

All the other students in 5th grade, 6th grade, and Middle School are hard at work as well. These students play an important role! They are the future of the band program and our district as a whole! So these students are busy building important skills on their instruments and preparing to be successful middle school and high school students/musicians. They are all working towards our Veterans Day program and/or our Winter Concert. Info about those are below.

Being involved in music is such a benefit for students. Students are learning life long skills like problem solving, teamwork, perseverance, and much more. All the work they do will help them be successful no matter what they do later in life. There are also such strong social and emotional benefits which are so important for students. Each year graduating seniors share how they wouldn’t be the person they are today without the years of being involved in band. So thank you for supporting our music programs!

Our annual Veterans Day Program is on Wednesday, November 11 at 9:00am in the High School Gym. We will be honoring local veterans, featuring performances by the middle and high bands and choirs, and having a guest speaker. Our guest speaker this year is Mike Richberg. Mike is an Army Veteran and a member of the village board, fire department, and American Legion. This is open to the entire community and school district so please plan to attend if you are able!

The bands and choirs will also be having their winter concert on Wednesday, December 16th. 5th and 6th grade bands will perform at 5:30pm, followed by the Middle Band and High School Bands at 6:00pm. Choirs will perform at 7:30pm. If you have only ever heard the band at a sporting event then please come hear them at a concert! This is where the students truly shine. This is where you will truly see them playing to the best of their abilities and I think you will be surprised by some of the great music you will hear. Also come check out the updated lights, sound, curtains, and more in the High School Auditorium thanks to many generous sponsors/donors.

🍎 Elementary School Message

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. The colors, the temperatures (when it’s not 90 degrees), and the anticipation of winter and snow are what I look forward to every year. We have been hard at work making some adjustments to communication and also to some of our processes and procedures, and our parent newsletter each week is a great way to make sure that you are up to date with happenings and communications from school.

In our classrooms, staff have been hard at work watching students’ skills and assessing where they are. We have completed most of those assessments and have started to work with student groups and individual interventions. Teachers are also hard at work digging into their data to set goals for students and for themselves as well. We continue to monitor progress in not only academics, but also behavior. So far, students have been doing a great job with expectations and while there are always a few bumps in the road, for the most part, I am pleased with where we are as a school. I am always looking for ways that we can grow as a team, and I know our work moving forward will help us do just that!

I am also excited to work with the re-formed PTO! This will definitely be a benefit for our school. Watch for more information about what they are up to in the coming weeks. In addition, our “Knowledge Lunch” is coming up in November and sign ups are due by October 28. Please see the communication in the parent newsletter, or the paper version that was sent home with your student.

I am looking forward to continuing to learn and grow here in Iola-Scandinavia. Our students at the elementary level are doing great things, and keeping that momentum going is a priority as we get into those long winter days. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don’t ever hesitate to reach out or stop by. I am always willing to talk or meet to discuss concerns or questions you may have.

As I always tell the students at the close of school, “Have a great day!”

Happy Fall!

Jeremy Fritz

Elementary Principal

FCCLA

The ISHS FCCLA Chapter is off to a great start this school year! FCCLA’s slogan this year is “Where Leaders are Made!” So because of this we have a lot of events planned that are allowing our members to get involved and learn next-level leadership skills!

Our 2026-27 officers met in August to plan out our events for the whole school year. Our officer team is Co-Presidents: Jenna Kurki and Natalie Koss, Secretary: Maddie Karolus VP of Public Relations: Sydney Bestul, Creative Director: Braelyn Jueds, VP of Community Service: Revyn Schrank, VP of Fundraising/Organization Chair: Cayleigh Woyak and Makayla Manske. Our officers will keep our Instagram page updated, follow us @ishs_fccla. Officers and advisor, Mrs. Bestul are ready for a full year of success in FCCLA!

In September, the FCCLA leaders decided it would be a good idea to welcome back our teachers with a treat! So we brought in various dips and snacks to thank them for everything they do for us! Also on September 29th we hosted a teddy bear toss during a varsity volleyball game against Manawa. We had a very successful turn out and all the stuffed animals will find their new home at the Ronald McDonald house in Marshfield.

We have a lot of events coming up this month and the next few months. On October 19th FCCLA and NHS decided to take over Trick-or-Can since DECA can not run it as of now. Students can create a group to dress up and go door to door in our community asking community members if they want to donate non-perishable food items to our local food pantry.This has been very successful in the past so we hope to have a good turn out this year! On October 22nd, FCCLA Leaders and members will travel to UWSP to attend the Fall Leadership Conference. There, attendees will participate in workshops, discussions, and learn about how to improve our local chapter. Also we will be running our family first campaign offering FREE child care while parents attend elementary parent teacher conferences on December 3rd and 7th. Our chapter will have fun activities for kids to do during this time.

Dates to Remember:

October 19th- Trick-or-Can

October 22nd- Fall Leadership Conference

October 26 - Nov.13 - Kwik Trip Car Wash and Gift Card Fundraiser

December 3rd & 7th - Family First at Elem PT Conferences

February Date TBD - Regional Competition

April 5-7 - State Competition

Sydney Bestul

T-Bird Times