Wakefield-Marenisco board votes to create fab lab

By P.J. GLISSON

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Wakefield - The Board of Education for the Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School had a busy Monday meeting agenda that included three presentations in the school's life skills room.

Don Sidlowski promoted a school-based fab lab, Russ Maki recalled the school's 1960 football state championship, and student Alex Sheehan offered his senior project.

Based on a slide show pitch from Sidlowski, of Three Lakes, Wis., the board later voted to approve a contract for him to consult toward the creation of a fab lab in the Wakefield school.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Sidlowski represents the Northwoods Broadband and Economic Development Coalition and has been labeled as "the Father of the Fab Lab" after helping to inspire fab labs in more than 150 Wisconsin school districts. He also has helped to write related grants.

"Why are we doing this?" he asked. "Because we're sending more kids to university than there are jobs."

By instead exposing boys and girls to "experiential learning," Sidlowski said they can prepare for numerous other lucrative careers that do not necessarily require a college education.

"In this model, we let the kids think critically," said Sidlowski, who said instructors are well trained, but also encouraged to be "less a sage on the stage than a guide on the side."

Sidlowski's slide show presentation included an illustration of a 25- x 40-foot fab lab, to be integrated within the current school layout.

His rendering included several types of tables that he designated for "inspiration," "discovery" and "rally." The lab also would include a variety of equipment, including a 3-D printer, a Tormach Tech router, vinyl/laser cutters, and even a "jamboard" that Sidlowski called a "white board on steroids" that allows for high-tech collaboration via an internet cloud.

Sidlowski said fab labs can be used by all student levels in any given course of study. "There isn't a subject area in the school that can't go in there and collaborate on an assignment," he said.

He also emphasized that even the room's aesthetics will play a role in rousing users. "It's got to look great to stimulate the imagination," he said, while displaying images of wall décor that included colorful and surreal art.

Sidlowski also emphasized the importance of involving the general public, area industry and government at all levels. "You want your local and state officials to know what's going on because they can connect you in ways you can't imagine."

He said an initiative of this sort typically takes 12 to 18 months to create, and Superintendent Jason Gustafson added that he already has received staff interest in the project.

Board President Brad Dalbec, a former CAD designer who attended a more in-depth presentation with Gustafson in advance of the meeting, said, "I can't see how it wouldn't be successful."

Remembering the Cardinals' 1960 state football win

According to a follow-up report from Gustafson on Tuesday, the board also heard Russ Maki, who graduated from Wakefield High School in 1971, explain that Wakefield's 1960 Cardinal football team won football championships for the U.P. and for the state.

Maki offered to purchase two pennants to honor the team. He also will work with Mark Lane, the school's athletic director, to arrange a short ceremony to acknowledge the accomplishments of the 1960 team.

Finally, the board also heard student Alex Sheehan deliver his senior exit project. According to the superintendent, "Sheehan is on pace to finish his high school requirements by the end of the first semester." Sheehan then plans to join the United States Marines.

Before the meeting, Dalbec thanked Sheehan for his potential service to the country.

Before the meeting, board members gathered in the school garage to see the 2020 Thomas bus that was purchased recently with funds from a 2015 millage.

In a related statement, Gustafson said, "We are thrilled to add this new bus to our fleet."

According to business manager Tina Trevarthen, the bus bond has financed four of the school's six buses. She and Gustafson said that just over $31,000 still remains in the bond fund, which will be used to reduce taxpayer debt.

Gustafson, who is grateful for public support on the bond, also reported Tuesday that the board voted to put Bus No. 8 out for bids, which must be received by Dec. 3.

The board also:

-Heard the first-quarter grade reports from Gustafson, who told the board, "The policy you adopted last summer, which exempts students from semester exams if they earn an A- or above in all classes, is really motivating a lot of our students to strive for better grades."

-Voted to update NEOLA policies.

The board's next regular meeting will be on Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. in the school's new first-floor board room.