By Daniel Schoettler
Correspondent
Several donations to the district were topics of discussion at the latest Whitewater School Board meeting. Among the big donations was a $50,000 donation from DLK Enterprises for tech purchases at the high school and the middle school.
“They’ve been great supporters of education throughout the community,” District Administrator Mark Elworthy said. “This allows us to upgrade our project, Lead the Way, technology at the high school, as well as update the iPads at Lincoln Elementary.”
There were two donations to the district for under $1,000. One was to the robotics program at the high school by Larry Kachel, Dick Maroske and First Citizens State Bank.
The other donation for under $1,000 was to the McCulloch Memorial Fund by Lynn and Cheryl Binnie, Bob Johnson and Badger State Action.
There were also several donations to the Family Emergency Fund that were accepted by the board. This included $1,000 donations from First English Lutheran Thrift Shoppe and the UW-Whitewater Community Optimist Club, a $1,350 donation from Pay It Forward, a $1,359.46 donation from First United Methodist Church, and two anonymous donations of $5,000 each.
Elworthy said the district is fortunate to have so many donations.
“(There are) a lot of generous community members contributing to help make our district a welcoming as well as student-center in terms of education,” Elworthy said.
Among the other topics discussed was an overnight field trip request to Washington D.C. for 50 Whitewater middle school students. This is a typically an annual field trip, and this school year it will take place from April 24 to 29.
Elworthy said it’s a huge undertaking and he is thankful to district staff members for advocating for the trip and to plan it for students.
“What a great experience to go to the nation’s capital,” Elworthy said.
There was also an update on the design and construction project process. This primarily focuses on the libraries, all the building entrances, and various focus groups related to the projects purposed in the referendum.
“Dec. 6 and 7 were our major dates where we met with several staff groups to get things kicked off,” Elworthy said. “We continue to meet with people and inform them in terms of what is planned.”
