School leaders report positive start to different school year

They weren’t accepting an Academy Award, but Cedar Grove-Belgium School District leaders spread around the thanks last week for the way the school year started.

 First-year Supt. Chad Brakke credited the principals for preparing over summer for the return of students.

“I want to publicly acknowledge the work that’s been done the last couple of months,” he said. “It’s impressive work because it’s never been done before.”

Brakke also thanked department directors for their work.

High School Principal Josh Ketterhagen said freshman orientation was the first normal event held at the school in five and a half months.

The start of school, he said, had an empty feel since students went directly to their homerooms instead of congregating in the commons or gym.

But when he walked into several teachers’ rooms, “there was a normalcy to it. It was just neat to see kids interacting,” Ketterhagen said, adding students were maintaining their space during group work.

Elementary School Principal Jeff Kondrakiewicz joked that students’ masks are “sometimes halfway on their face” but teachers are handling it well.

“After the first few days,  a lot more felt normal than didn’t,” he said. “Yes, the stress level is a little high.”

One challenge has been the parents’ pickup line after school. Last year, the school worked to stop cars spilling into the street.

This year, the typical line of 25 to 30 cars has grown to about 50, and the line is back into the street.

“Holy man, we’re standing there and there are cars — I can’t even see the end,” Kondrakiewicz said.

Middle School Principal Kelly Dzurick couldn’t attend the meeting but sent Brakke her report. While the scenario isn’t ideal and students are sad they are in cohorts and don’t get to spend downtime with their friends, she said she is proud of their mature approach.

Director of Special Education Tamra O’Keefe said she can see joy in kindergartners.

“You can tell they’re happy by their body language. They’re just so glad to be back in school,” she said.