Schools

Football Program Indicates Deeper Problems at MHS

By Lauren Lamson & Mawuenam Dossa

MIDDLETON–Four months have passed since the Middleton High School (MHS) administration received a report of sexual harassment in the football program. Within that time, head coach Jason Pertzborn resigned from his teaching and coaching positions at MHS, the Middleton Police Department completed an investigation and MHS sent the findings of their own investigation to an unbiased outside party for review. 

The investigation has divided MHS students and families over the quality and integrity of the football program as they wrestle with what expectations should be set on its athletes, whom to hold responsible and how to move forward. To confound the issue, students, staff and families have been left to wonder about the details of the misconduct while the investigation remains confidential. 

MIDDLETON–Winners of the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy (FOPBC) Photo Contest were honored at a reception and gallery opening at Middleton High School on May 23. The contest is open to high school photography students and winners of the competition will be included in the FOPBC 2024 phenology calendar.

Winners of this year’s contest were, First Place: Samuel Bauch–Fawn; Second Place: Danica Nolte Oenothera–Gaura; and Third Place: Madilyn Vander Sanden–Sunset. Honorable Mention Awards went to: Jade Huemmer–Sky; William Anderson–Winter Flower; Zachary Maron–Moon; Marcel Teber–Path; Easton Harris–Ant on Fallen Tree; Zachary Maron–River; Zander Endres–Vine; Natalie Liegel–Ink Cap; LeAnn Aschkar–Flower; and Jackson Rankin–Robin.

MIDDLETON–Dane County Executive Joe Parisi took some bows at Monday’s Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) board meeting for the success achieved in the Building Bridges program, now in its 10th year.

The program assesses and coordinates services for 4K through eighth grade students who need additional support for the mental health challenges they are facing in school.

Building Bridges became an alternative to involving law enforcement in some behavioral problems students exhibited at school. It’s described as an intense 90-day experience where social workers engage with up to 12 MCPASD students and their families per semester.

The county and MCPSD equally fund the program which is staffed by Catholic Charities. This year, Cassie Ranum and Adrienne Blow have worked in the district and described to the board of education what they do.

MIDDLETON – Covid testing at West Middleton Elementary will cease on Friday, as federal funding for school-based testing sites is ending nationwide, Dana Monogue, superintendent of Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District announced Monday.

MCPASD staff and families can access community testing sites through Public Health Madison & Dane County. The list of local testing sites is found on PHMDC's website: https://publichealthmdc.com/coronavirus/testing.

Testing is available to all persons and the cost for testing will vary depending on their health insurance. It is likely that free community testing will also end when the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration ends on May 11, but each remaining community testing site will inform the person about testing costs and insurance copays since it will be unique to each person. 

MIDDLETON–A six percent salary increase was recommended Monday for all Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) teachers, staff and administrators for the 2023-24 academic year.

The increase was presented by the district’s finance staff which said it was needed to remain competitive and reach the 75th percentile for salary and wages paid by Dane County schools.

The cost to the district would be $4.33 million, according to information the district supplied.

Teachers and staff received a 5.5 percent total compensation package increase for the current school year, which school board and Middleton Education Association members said was the first significant wage bump in some time.

Under the salary proposal, annual pay for teachers with a bachelor’s degree increases from $45,126 this year to $47,500 in 2023-24. Salary for teachers with a master’s degree would increase from $51,126 to $53,500 in the same period.

MIDDLETON–A letter was sent out to Middleton High School parents, and an announcement made by MHS Principal Peg Shoemaker at Saturday’s varsity basketball ball game regarding a student’s death by suicide. 

The letter begins by saying that it is being sent to announce the loss of the student as well as provide resources for parents to help their children process the loss. Provided are the following links: How to help a grieving teen, https://www.dougy.org/resource-articles/how-to-help-a-grieving-teen; How to support children and teens after a death from suicide, and https://www.dougy.org/assets/uploads/Supporting-Children-Teens-After-a-Suicide.pdf.

LACROSSE–The Middleton High School Dance Team marked Feb. 4 by placing fourth and sixth place and a team member making the All-State Team.

The team placed fourth and brought home a trophy in the D1 Pom category. In the D1 Hip Hop category Middleton placed sixth. Neva Hinsey made the All-State team, and four teammates, Aleide Achenbach, Elizabeth Elsner, Neva Hinsey, and Hadley Maher were All-State Finalists. This is the second time Hinsey was name to the All-State Dance Team.

“This was our first top 5 finish and State Trophy in D1 Pom in program history!! We have come close to placing top 5 in D1 Pom multiple times, so this has been a long time coming. I choreograph our pom routine, so this trophy means a lot to me personally. The amount of hours put into this routine and late nights spent re-working choreography is immeasurable, and the pressure felt has been immense,” said Head Dance Coach Jackie Rehberg.

MIDDLETON – The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) has responded to parental concerns in the wake of a police investigation alleging bullying at the high school by increasing supervision in all locker rooms and training football coaches and students to recognize and report unlawful harassment.

On Feb. 13, the Middleton Police Department (MIPD) forwarded a request to the Dane County District Attorney to review information it collected while investigating a report of a potential sexual assault occurring last month in the high school shower room.

While the police stopped short of recommending charges be brought against four male students, stating it didn’t develop sufficient evidence, the information it released cited students being urinated on and subjected to other indignities after early morning workouts.

MIDDLETON-Middleton High School (MHS) Theatre is will present William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” as part of the 2022-2023 season.

Directed by Tim Gittings, with set designs by Zane Enloe, “Much Ado About Nothing” is widely considered one of Shakespeare’s best comedies and has been challenging actors and delighting audiences with its wit and warmth for over four centuries.

MIDDLETON–Looking to lessen the teacher shortage situation, the Middleton Cross Plains Areas School District (MCPASD) has begun the Future Teachers Program, an introduction for students to the teaching profession.

“It’s giving everyone an opportunity to see what the field is like, take courses, and perhaps expedite a pathway to an education career,” said Keith Schneider, director of secondary education.

Ten Middleton High School (MHS) students are currently enrolled in Intro to Teaching and Education where they not only learn teaching methods but see them in action. 

Students spend 50 hours in elementary classrooms watching teachers teach. So far, they’ve observed at Elm Lawn, Sauk Trail and Northside elementaries.

Next year, Education in Pluralistic Society will be offered.