Sauk Prairie School District Receives SCIL Leadership Award

At the graduation ceremony for each cohort, SCIL awards its “Excellence in Leadership” award to either an individual or leadership team that exemplifies the character and principles that you have been studying during the past 9 months.  As you are now well aware, there are many examples of great leadership in Sauk County and beyond and it is our desire to call attention to such an example in our county on an annual basis. This year’s recipient of the award is Superintendent Jeff Wright and the leadership team at Sauk Prairie School District.  The Sauk Prairie School District has demonstrated great leadership in many, many ways. For decades, they have been responsible and transparent stewards of the district’s tax money.  This has been consistently demonstrated by their ability to pay back referendum approved funds, early and continually focusing on how to best invest in the future.  That stewardship and vision casting, combined with excellent communication & community outreach, translated into passing a $65 million referendum in April 2020.  This referendum financed updates for the High School pools, Indoor sports facilities for volleyball, weightlifting, athletic fields, Arts Facilities, and as if that wasn’t enough, significant improvements to Merrimac Charter School.  The results are stunning and will give Sauk Prairie and Sauk County facilities to be proud and meet the growing needs of our community for decades to come.  

Another stellar example of their creative stewardship and problem solving was evidenced throughout the challenges every district faced at the outset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. That global health crisis created vast amounts of uncertainty, hardship and virulent discourse regarding the challenges it introduced in our educational systems.  The Sauk Prairie School Districts leadership team and faculty looked at the health concerns and restrictions caused by the pandemic, as well as the unprecedented classroom challenges it required and carved out their own path through that miasma.  They did so by utilizing a hybrid model that provided in person learning every other day for all the families that wanted or needed that.  They also provided virtual learning options for families that needed or wanted that option.  Weekly updates showed the spread of illness within the district and each school campus so that all stakeholders were informed in a timely and meaningful way. As the data and circumstances changed, so did the safety protocols with an explanation of the decisions.  People who disagreed were listened to and given opportunity to speak at board meetings.  Other districts visited and learned how they could implement similar approaches in their communities.  In short, they made smart informed decisions that benefit everyone in the school system.

And now, as a result of the ongoing impact of that pandemic, this same team of educators, in observing the growing psychological and physical challenges caused by the pandemic was proactive in seeking assistance for dealing with those challenges. As a result of those efforts, The Sauk Prairie School District was recently awarded a $5 million grant for Mental Health programs.  This will run for 5 years with an option to renew.  It’s further testament to the advocacy and leadership demonstrated by the Sauk Prairie School District.