RIVER FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT

RF School Board: New deal equals taxpayer savings

The school board Monday passed a resolution to refinance just under $9 million in general obligation bonds for a much lower interest rate. The expected savings will go directly to school district taxpayers.

By Phil Pfuehler , January 21, 2010

School board race: Two days left

If you want to run for school board in River Falls, the deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5. There are two seats up for re-election. Candidacy papers can be picked up and filed at the school district’s central administrative office, 852 E. Division St. Ask for Darlene MacBride.

By Phil Pfuehler , January 04, 2010

Montessori workshop successful

Sue Rothberger, left, and Carol Stephan, both teachers at the River Falls Public Montessori Elementary School present a workshop, “Differentiated Instruction in Montessori,” to River Falls School District classroom teachers and specialists during the elementary teacher inservice that took place on Dec. 7, at the River Falls Academy.

December 17, 2009

Your Public Schools: Sharing a ‘wish list’ for the school district

My family is very important to me, and, like many of you, my wife, Betsy, and I are busily preparing for the upcoming holiday season when all of our children will join us for Christmas Eve and extended stays of varying lengths.

By Tom Westerhaus, School Superintendent , December 16, 2009

Meyer honored for lengthy service to city

In the 1990s the school district honored DeWayne Meyer’s many years of distinguished service as a teacher and principal by naming the middle school after him. Last week Meyer was given plaques commemorating his nearly three decades of service to the city as chairman of the Police/Fire and Ambulance commissions.

By Phil Pfuehler , December 14, 2009

Third-graders ponder holiday gift giving

Every year just prior to the end of the year, Journal staff asks school district students in third grade a holiday-related question. The youngsters always reveal most interesting or inventive answers and submit them for publication. This year, students were asked: Pick someone who lives in River Falls and is not related to you, to whom you’d like to give a holiday gift. Who would you pick? What would you give that person, and why? Here are some of the responses from part of Teacher Pam Friede’s class at Greenwood Elementary School. Look for more responses in upcoming issues of the print edition of the Journal and online.

December 09, 2009

Snow storm closes schools, government offices

The K-12 and UW-River Falls students, along with most faculty and staff of both schools, got their first snow day of the year Wednesday (Dec. 9).

December 09, 2009

Your Schools: Striving to always answer that ‘all the children are well’

A few years ago, I read something written by the Rev. Dr. Patrick T. O’Neill that I thought a lot about lately while dealing with accusations of sexual assault by a former employee:

By Tom Westerhaus, school superintendent , December 03, 2009

Update: Woman criminally charged for having sex with student

A 34-year-old River Falls woman has been charged by the Pierce County district attorney with first degree sexual assault of a child. The woman was a special education aide with the school district’s alternative charter Harbor school program. The alleged victim was, at the time of the incident, a 12-year-old 7th grade male student.

By Phil Pfuehler , November 19, 2009

Your Schools: Action Team #2 begins crafting school facilities’ strategic plans

This is American Education Week, a national event that acknowledges the important role of public education in our country.

By Tom Westerhaus, School Superintendent , November 18, 2009

Your Schools: ‘What’s done to children, they will do to society’

Recently I met a parent at a Chamber of Commerce business function who told me that while school superintendents are usually known for being boring and stodgy, I seemed more real and friendly.

By Tom Westerhaus, School Superintendent , October 09, 2009

Your Schools: Hamlet’s words, school’s management have lots in common

While I’m not a highly trained student of William Shakespeare, Hamlet’s words, “To be or not to be…” keep bouncing around in my head these days.

By Tom Westerhaus, School Superintendent , September 24, 2009

Emergency school test call is next Wednesday morning

If you’re a parent of a River Falls School District student, you should get a test call to your home or cell phone at 9 a.m. next Wednesday, Sept. 16. It’s part of the new AlertNow emergency message system put in place by the district.

By Phil Pfuehler , September 10, 2009

Editorial: No, Donna, you’re not nuts

While we can’t all be just like Joyce Walen or Donna Nicholson, we can marvel at the shining work ethic they bring to their labors.

September 09, 2009

District to unveil crisis call system

School closing from heavy, blowing snow. A bus crash. A school lockdown for an intruder. When emergencies like these occur, parents worried about their children want the facts right away. The River Falls School District’s answer: AlertNow

By Phil Pfuehler , September 03, 2009