Equity

School District of Onalaska - Equity & Inclusion

The School District of Onalaska’s mission is Working Together to Ensure High Levels of Learning for All. As a district, we are continually striving to ensure each and every student and staff member is accepted, embraced, and valued as a member of our community. We work as collaborative teams in a Professional Learning Community to guarantee each student is learning at grade-level or above. We honor and celebrate the diverse student and staff population within our community. We strive to be a model school district by building and sustaining a culture of equity and inclusion.

In the School District of Onalaska, equity and inclusion are not separate work; but instead it is ingrained in all the work we do through our District Strategic Plan and as a Professional Learning Community.
For more information, please reach out to our Director of Educational Programming and Equity, Kelly McMahon by email: mcmke2@onalaskaschools.com or phone: (608) 781-9700, ext. 8123.

District Equity Committee

Our District Equity Committee consists of a diverse representation of staff from each school building within our district. We meet regularly to disaggregate data, reflect, and plan professional development based on the needs of our staff, students, and community. Our District Equity Committee Leaders teach about different topics of equity and inclusion at each of our building staff meetings throughout the year. They present data, the implications, and recommended strategies to support staff with their ongoing efforts to ensure a culture of belonging and acceptance within the classrooms and schools.

Our Equity Committee Visions:

2022-2023 Equity Committee Continuous School Improvement Board Report

Meet the District Equity Committee Leadership Team:

Kristy Schellenger, Jennifer Zep, Domonique de la Rosa
Eagle Bluff Elementary Irving Pertzsch Elementary Northern Hills Elementary

Taylor Kidd, John Horman, Carrie Werkheiser
Onalaska Middle School Onalaska High School Family School Liaison

Kelly McMahon
Director of Educational
Programming and Equity

Professional Development

WI First Nations

The School District of Onalaska occupies the ancestral lands of the Hoocąk (Ho-Chunk) People. The Hoocąk thrived along the rivers and the region until the 1830 Indian Removal Act. The school district respects the survival, resistance, and resilience of the Hoocąk and their descendants in the region. Please take a moment to honor the first peoples and the land we stand upon.

Within our instructional services department, we are working together to guarantee that every student learns about indigenous people and groups within our community and surrounding area each year they attend school within the School District of Onalaska. We value the importance of learning about and honoring the Ho-Chunk Nation and all Indigenous People.

Please visit our WI First Nations website to learn more

Community Partners and Resources

Student Clubs

Onalaska Middle School and Onalaska High School offer multiple student clubs to support the interests and needs of our diverse student population.

Onalaska Middle School

Student Leadership - This is a community project program, where students work together to support and engage in community projects throughout the school and larger Onalaska community.
Web Leaders - Middle school transition program that welcomes 6th grade students and makes them feel more comfortable throughout their first year of their middle school experience. Built on the belief that students can help other students succeed, WED crew trains 8th grade mentors to be Student Web Leaders.
Acceptance Club - A safe place for open-minded people to come and discuss topics related to identity and diversity.

Onalaska High School

ASL - We offer opportunities for students with IEP's to participate in 3 different adapted sport seasons (Soccer, Floor Hockey, and Wiffleball).
Spectrum/GSA - A safe space to belong and an educational club that discusses the LGBTQ+ community and the issues they face. Whether you are a part of the community or just want to learn more about the community then feel free to join a meeting anytime.
Spanish Club - An extension of Spanish class, including culture and language. We also volunteer and give back to the community!
French Club - An extension of French class, the club is an opportunity for students to taste French foods, play games from the French speaking world, and give back to the community.
LINK Crew - Link Crew is a high school transition program that welcomes freshmen and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their high school experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, LINK Crew trains mentors from the junior and senior classes to be Link Crew Leaders
Rotary Interact - A high school-based Rotary organization focusing on community and global projects..
Latinos Unidos - A club for Latino/Latina/Latinx students or any student to learn and celebrate Latin culture. We are focused on community building through games, food, and educational opportunities. All students are welcome. Un club para estudiantes latinos/latinas/latinx o cualquier estudiante para aprender y celebrar la cultura latina. Estamos estableciendo una comunidad en OHS con juegos, comida y oportunidades educativas. Podemos hablar español e inglés, y todos los estudiantes son bienvenidos.
Ujima - Open to all students at OHS. Ujima focuses on teaching and learning about diversity and acceptance of everyone, regardless of differences, in our school and community. This student-led club is a forum where OHS students can promote and engage in respectful discussions regarding a wide variety of topics and take on social action projects.

BSA (Black Student Association) - A safe place for students of color to belong, share concerns, learn about Black history, volunteer, and connect to the community. Goals for the organization include Black Empowerment, Equality, Breaking Stereotypes, Connecting to the Community.

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