Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 VOL. 120 NO. 19 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Osceola girls basketball splits two contests. PAGE 15
Library’s winter clothing exchange a hit BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Winter’s cold arrived early — and suddenly — this October. But it didn’t take the Osceola Public Library long to offer help for those caught unprepared. The library launched its Take a Coat, Leave a Coat initiative in early November, with a coat rack stationed in the entryway, stocked with a few starter coats. The idea is as simple as it sounds: Those who need a coat take one, those who have coats to give leave them. To launch the exchange, McBride brought SEE COATS, PAGE 2
Meet the candidates, cast your vote Voters must choose a party for December 19 primary BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Youth Services Librarian Rebekah Palmer and Library Director Kelly McBride with coats from the Take a Coat, Leave a Coat rack in the entryway at the Osceola Public Library.
School report card shows Osceola rising BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
The Osceola school district showed improvement on Wisconsin’s latest school report card, rising from a score of 82.4 to 84.6 and outranking nearby school districts. The report cards, which rate districts and the individual schools within them, were issued November 21 as evaluations of the 2016-17 school year. “Our district score is the top score of 39 Schools in CESA 11,” said Superintendent Mark Luebker referencing an expansive area that includes larger districts such as Hudson, River Falls and Menomonie. “We are one of 44 districts (of the state’s 422) to significantly exceed expectations.” He noted that the Osceola school district was “top 25 in the state” and that the middle school was ranked eighth in the state.
The 2015-16 school year was the second year the state has used the Forward Exam to evaluate schools. The new system bal-
‘The day-to-day clasroom instruction from teachers and support staff, supported by district and building administration, is the key reason our students did well.’ Mark Luebker Osceola Schools Superintendent ances raw achievement on test scores with student improvement, closure of achievement
gaps and readiness for graduation. Education officials have cautioned against comparing results from the Badger Exam (used before 2015) with results from the Forward Exam. No school report card data was issued for the 201415 school year as the state transitioned from the Badger Exam to the Forward Exam. Osceola’s intermediate, middle and high schools all showed improvement from the 2015-16 school year to 2016-17. For the last two years the elementary school has used a qualitative rating instead of a numbered score and has received a “satisfactory progress” rating. Luebker chalks up the district’s success to day-to-day instruction and hard work. “Our school’s system is focused on academic success,” Superintendent Luebker said of the
Six candidates have raised their hand to represent voters of Wisconsin’s 10th Senate District—the seat vacated by former Senator Sheila Harsdorf. A primary to narrow the field of candidates will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 19, with the election scheduled for Jan. 16. Voters must choose one of four ballots on which to cast their vote on December 19: Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Constitution/Green. But in theory, only two ballots matter this month—the republicans and the democrats. Voters may select any party ballot regardless of their party affiliation—but only one. That choice has no bearing on the vote they choose to cast in the Jan. 16 election. Whoever has the most votes on each ballot moves forward to January 16. Several forums featuring all of the candidates will take place between now and December 19. Wisconsin Public Radio’s ‘The West Side’ will feature candidates on their program on Monday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. The program can be heard on 88.3 FM. The League of Women Voters will also host a Candidate Meet and Greet on Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Milltown Community Center.
Republican Ballot Adam Jarchow—Balsam Lake, Wis. Please share a little bit about your personal background (50 words or less): “I live near Balsam Lake with my wife, Barbara, and our four-year-old twins Bo and Megan. I am a business attorney, small business owner, and a volunteer firefighter in Apple River. In my free time I like to hunt, go water skiing, and spend time with family.” From your point of view, what are the two largest issues facing the district, and how do you intend to address them? (200 words or less) “First, the size and scope of government is growing too rapidly. On top of this, Northwestern Wisconsin doesn’t seem to be benefiting as much as other parts of the state. More government is never the answer and throwing money at a problem hardly ever solves it. If elected, I will continue to only vote in favor of
SEE SCHOOL, PAGE 2 SEE VOTE, PAGE 8
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