A crane lifts a new heating unit onto the Natatorium at Verona Area High School last Friday. The unit it replaced was about 30 years old, and the routine summer maintenance project came at a cost of about $85,000.
A new charter school, tight restrictions on class sizes in grades K-3 and the perennial battle over budget cuts are sure to be big stories for the 2010-11 school year, which officially begins today in the Verona Area School District. But before more than 4,700 kids hit the books in the district’s 10 schools, officials had some cleaning up to do.
Two weeks ago, staff found patches of mold inside several classrooms at Country View Elementary School and Badger Ridge Middle School, prompting a hurried clean-up last week in 60 rooms, superintendent Dean Gorrell said last week. Fortunately, what was found wasn’t a “black mold” that can pose health problems. But the white mold – aspergallis penicillium, to be exact, which is similar to what forms on old food in your refrigerator – can still irritate people with respiratory problems.
Ava Bachhuber, of Fitchburg, paints a colorful mask in the Kids Art Yard put on by the Lulu G. Lemery Foundation Saturday, Aug. 21 at the Agora Art Fair. The Fair, which showcased 70 area artists' work as well as live music, food and beer, started at 10 a.m. at the Agora Grounds at 5500 East Cheryl Parkway. See our photo gallery of the event.Click here.
Fitchburg police apprehended one suspect and identified two others who may be linked to a residential burglary Aug. 24, according to a news release issued by the police.
Gunderson Funeral Home held a grand opening and ribbon cutting Ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 5. at their new Fitchburg location is at 2950 Chapel Valley Road.
The VASD survey of district residents last fall asked if the district should spend nearly $200,000 annually to boost programming for gifted and talented kids. In the comments section, more people said schools should increase gifted programming, but many argued there was too much already. Some examples follow:
