By Press Times Staff
DE PERE – An unusually high number of retirements were approved by the De Pere school board Monday, Feb. 3.
Nine retirements effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year were approved, a stark increase from the norm.
“It’s a bubble,” said Superintendent Ben Villarruel. “I think in the next four or five years you’re going to see one or two, but there’s just this bubble of people.”
The nine who filed for retirement are: Jennifer Bake, James Boyd, Kathy Grawien, Debra Higgins, Carrie Knutson, Lynn Liddle-Drewiske, Nancy Schofield, Steven Warner and Teresa Zeggers.
“This is one of the biggest (groups) I’ve been involved in,” Villarruel said. “Really a great group of people.”
The board also approved extended leaves of absences for Haleigh Doyle, Mark Valentine and Brittany Schuh.
In other news, the curriculum committee heard a report from Pam Pirman, communications director.
Pirman said the district has seen an increase in Facebook followers of 25 percent, the district’s Twitter account had 346,000 impressions from the end of October to the end of January, and the district’s Instagram account has 275 followers.
“There’s not a day that goes by where something new and interesting doesn’t come up for me to share,” Pirman said.
Finally, the district approved an agreement with CESA 8 for $211,173 for the 2020-21 school year for services for students who are hearing impaired, vision impaired, or who have orientation/mobility issues.
The services are required to fulfill the individualized education programs of several students who attend the district.
The district will use federal funds to pay for the services.