Bonduel schools trying to help neighbors

BONDUEL — The recent announcement from Gov. Tony Evers that his stay-at-home order is being extended through May 26 is not impacting existing plans in the Bonduel School District, according to Superintendent Joe Dawidziak.

However, the news that schools will not be getting back to normal anytime soon is prompting officials to take extra steps to help the community that has helped to support the schools in the month since they were ordered to close down.

“Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen and felt and heard the overwhelming wave of support from our parents, our students and our community during these interesting times,” Dawidziak said.

In a Facebook video post on the district’s website last week, Dawidziak said he saw a report that said 50% of non-essential businesses that remain closed for the time being might not reopen their doors. He also mentioned the reports of farmers having to dump milk because, while the cows still keep producing, the pandemic shutdown has cut off a lot of the demand from restaurants and other businesses.

“These are concerning issues to us, as well,” Dawidziak said. “To that end, we’ve seen so much support from you that we’d like to turn the tables and give some support to our community.”

The support starts with a committee of educators being formed to research and write grants for those in need, according to Dawidziak. He noted that some small business owners and farmers aren’t comfortable navigating the grant writing process, but some Bonduel staffers have both the experience and willingness to help their neighbors.

“Dairy farmers and small businesses are continuing to struggle,” Dawidziak said. “We talked about putting together a task force of teachers who are familiar with the grant writing process, and we’re going to be reaching out and offering voluntarily our services to small businesses and farmers specifically.”

Although many grants have a lengthy process to go through, there is a program being offered through the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce providing $5,000 grants to small businesses that appears to have a minimum of red tape, according to Dawidziak.

As for other grants, “at multiple other levels, they’re removing some of the red tape that might typically be involved … in order to get help sooner to those entities,” Dawidziak said.

Another measure in the works has the Bonduel FFA and Bonduel FFA Alumni purchasing signs that ask people to “Support Dairy,” according to Dawidziak. The signs will be sold in the community, and the proceeds will be used to purchase dairy products in order to help those farmers.

Dawidziak said the FFA organizations bought 100 signs initially, but it’s possible that more could be purchased if there is enough interest in the community.

“It’s tough times now, but we are working on plans not only to help our students but extend our efforts and potentially help out some other people, as well,” Dawidziak said.

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com