WSD BOARD MEETING REPORT

The Wentzville School District Board of Education held a meeting on Thursday, April 20, that was live-streamed via the WSD Board of Education YouTube channel and can be viewed by visiting YouTube. The agenda and available supporting documents can be viewed online under Diligent Community (formerly BoardDocs).

Dr. Tormala, superintendent of schools, began the business portion of the meeting by providing comments and sharing District highlights. View the slideshow.

The newly-elected Board of Education members were sworn in on April 18 in a special Board meeting. Renee Henke, Jen Olson, and David Lewis took an oath and each will serve a three-year term. The WSD is excited to work with the new Board members to continue providing the community with a premiere District. The Board also elected officers at the meeting. Jason Goodson was elected president, Shannon Stolle was elected vice president, and Katie Lyczak was elected secretary. See the District website for more information on the Board of Education and Board Meetings and Minutes.

Dr. Tormala expressed the District's gratitude to outgoing Board members Betsy Bates, Dan Brice, and Erin Abbott for their service to the District and our students.

Melissa Lamb, coordinator of Parents as Teachers, and Kevin Garcia, principal at Barfield Early Childhood Center, shared an evaluation of their programs with the Board of Education. See the full presentation.

Vanessa Fritsche, director of special education, provided a report to the Board of Education about the WSD’s Special Education Program. See the full presentation.

The Board approved the 2022-23 academic calendar revisions, as presented. With these revisions, the last day of school for all K-11 students has been moved to May 25 this year. The last day for seniors will be May 24. View the academic calendars here.

The Board approved a three-year agreement with Instructure for the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) and Canvas Studio. Read more.

As a part of the curriculum writing process, WSD educators have chosen resources for grades K-2 and 3-5 Social Studies for the next six years. The Board approved the resources, as presented.

Congratulations to North Point High School’s Lori Krug, who was honored with the 2023 MoACTE Teacher of the Year Award. Lori will be officially presented with her MoACTE award at a recognition ceremony in July. Read more.

Congratulations to Holt High School senior Taylor Peterson and Timberland High School seniors Layla Marks, Liv Nash, and Addie Plumb for receiving a Distinguished Student Leader Award from the Missouri Association of Student Councils. This award recognizes Missouri students who demonstrate superior student council leadership skills and knowledge. Read more.

This year, the WSD had five wrestlers take home individual state championship titles. Kudos to Logan Rubinstein and Marissa Sanabria from Holt; Cassidy Benwell and Kaden Purler from North Point; and Kate Cooper from Timberland on your state championship titles this season. Read their stories.

Congrats to Timberland High School junior Isabelle (Izzy) Ackley on her record-setting 100-yard backstroke that earned her a girls swimming and diving State Championship title this season. Read more.

Kudos to the Holt Dance Team who captured first place in Division 4 at the Missouri Dance Team Association State Competition. This is the first state championship title for the team! In addition to the Division Championship, the Holt dance team placed first in Pom and Hip Hop! Read more.

The Timberland High School Dance Team captured first place in Division 5 at the Missouri Dance Team Association (MDTA) State Competition! This is the first state championship title for the team. In addition to the Division Championship, the Timberland dance team placed first in Pom and Precision Jazz. Read more.

Congratulations to Timberland senior Sydney Robison who competed in the Senior Solo competition at the Missouri Dance Team Association State Competition and captured first place! Read more.

This past month, an AC unit on the roof of Green Tree Elementary caught fire after likely being struck by lightning. The fire was isolated to the rooftop unit and was quickly extinguished by the Fire Department. Thank you to the many team members who went above and beyond to get the building restored and repaired so quickly and efficiently.

The WSD Board of Education approved the hiring of Patrick (Pat) Brazill, J.D., as chief general counsel, effective May 1, 2023. Brazill currently serves as an education law attorney for Mickes O’Toole, LLC, where he has advised hundreds of Missouri school districts on various legal matters related to school district operations. These include Boards of Education powers, duties, and elections; student issues such as discipline and special education; parent disputes; Sunshine Law requests; personnel actions and staff misconduct; and contract negotiations. Read more.

The WSD Board of Education approved the hiring of Dr. Katie Brettschneider as assistant superintendent of academic services, effective July 1, 2023. This marks Dr. Brettschneider’s 20th year in education. She currently serves as the principal of Discovery Ridge Elementary. Prior to that, she served as a principal, interim principal, assistant principal, instructional specialist, and third and fifth grade teacher in Northwest, Pattonville and Central Community Unit school districts. Read more.

The WSD Board of Education approved the hiring of Alicia Hooton as principal of Duello Elementary, effective July 1, 2023. Hooton has served as the assistant principal of Duello Elementary for four years. Prior to joining the WSD, she spent 17 years in the Fort Zumwalt School District – 12 years as a classroom teacher, two years as an administrative intern (assistant principal), and three years as head principal. Read more.

The WSD of Education approved the hiring of Jordan Steffen as an assistant principal of Timberland High School, effective July 1, 2023.

Steffen currently serves as a Spanish teacher at Timberland High School, where he is a member of the superintendent faculty advisory committee, the THS scheduling committee, and the National Honor Society faculty council. He also taught in the Francis Howell School District, at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School, and at Duchesne High School. Read more.

Steffen will replace Jason Theodorakos, who will transition to Wentzville Middle School next school year as an assistant principal!

Resignations

This month, the Board approved the resignations, effective June 30, 2023, of Lisa

Salisbury, director of purchasing; Melissa Davis, assistant principal of Holt High School; and Ben Hebisen, executive director of administrative services.

Rehire

The Board approved the rehire of Scott Swift as the building principal of South Middle School for the 2023-24 school year.

Openings

Join Team WSD! Look for these positions posted for hire now and in the coming days! Become our next executive director of student relations, high school or elementary school assistant principal, and more.

Parents, community members, and staff are invited to join Superintendent Dr. Danielle Tormala and District leadership for a WSD Community Engagement Workshop from 6-8:30 p.m. April 27, 2023, at Liberty High School. RSVP here.

The next regular Board Meeting is set for Thursday, May 18, 2023. There will be a Board Work Session on May 3, 2023, and Special Board Session on May 8, 2023.