District News
The Ripon School Board approved Seth Meinel as the next Ripon High School and Lumen Charter High School principal at a special meeting on Monday, July 28, 2014. Mr. Meinel was one of two finalists invited back on July 23, 2014 to participate in additional interviews, a community tour, lunch with Board members, and a meet and greet with community members.
The selection committee and administrative team processed feedback from the students, staff, and Board members that interacted with the candidates throughout the day. The selection committee and administrative team unanimously recommended Mr. Meinel noting the differences in style between the two candidates and their belief they could work with either candidate.
Seth Meinel, a native of Green Bay and former high school social studies teacher, is the assistant principal of Portage High School and principal of the Portage Academy of Achievement where he has been an administrator for three years. A graduate of Lawrence University, Mr. Meinel played two years of college football before becoming a high school football coach. Subsequently, he received his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from UW-Madison. As the Portage High School assistant principal, Mr. Meinel’s responsibilities included developing curriculum, co-directing Career and Technical Education, evaluating staff using the CESA 6 model, and providing discipline and attendance support. He worked with teachers to create learning labs and modify courses to personalize instruction for students needing academic assistance.
References noted Mr. Meinel is highly regarded as a great communicator, a quick learner, and a person with integrity. His current supervisor described him as “intuitive and very professional,” then noted his strong curriculum knowledge and willingness to make tough decisions and stand behind them. A former supervisor stated, “Seth knows education, kids love him, and he is a hard worker.”
Mr. Meinel was present at the School Board meeting when the Board approved his contract. He said he was "honored and humbled to be chosen as the next high school principal." Mr. Meinel's first day in Ripon will be August 4.
District Administration along with CG Schmidt Construction and Plunkett Raysich Architects presented a facility planning update at a joint Community Engagement Session and Board of Education Workshop on Monday, July 14. This seventh Community Engagement Session covered survey results with comments analysis, feedback from Ripon city staff, budget verification, scope of work with schedule milestones, and the roadmap to referendum on November 4, 2014. The facilities planning update was then shared at a joint School Board and City Council meeting on Tuesday, July, 15.
Refining Plan C is a continuous process, and during the pre-design phase the Board, administration and staff will continue to make decisions relative to the educational model; size and capacity; number of education spaces; large system upgrades; site layout and viability; and programming adjacencies. Should a referendum pass, six to eight months of actual design work would occur before any construction would start.
As the process continues, the District will be meeting with city officials, staff, and hosting additional Community Engagement Sessions and buildings tours. If the Board votes to proceed to referendum, the deadline for the Board to approve the resolution is August 18. The Board encourages the entire community to participate and offer feedback during this exciting process.
District News
Two finalists for the Ripon High School and Lumen Charter High School principal position have been announced today by Dr. Mary Whitrock, Ripon School Superintendent. Community members are invited to a Meet-and-Greet Reception for each candidate on Wednesday, July 23. These public receptions are scheduled back-to-back at 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., in room 167 of Ripon High School. (Read more)
