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Dear Glendale-River Hills Community,As we begin a new school year, we are proud to share thetremendous progress the Glendale-River Hills School Districthas made. Over the past year, our business office has workeddiligently to reduce spending and increase revenue. This isplacing our district on a stronger, more sustainable financialpath. While school funding challenges persist statewide,Glendale-River Hills stands in a healthier position today, withsteady growth in resident enrollment and continuedimprovement in student achievement.Our success is made possible by the ongoing support of ourcommunity. Thanks to the recent referendum, we continue tooffer the exceptional programs that define our schools suchas band, orchestra, choir, world languages, art, and STEM.These experiences not only enrich learning but also help ourstudents grow as thinkers, creators, and citizens.Looking ahead, we are moving with purpose into our 2029Strategic Plan, which lays out a bold vision for the future of ourschools. With clear goals, measurable performanceindicators, and focused improvement plans at both Parkwayand Glen Hills, we are aligning our efforts to ensure everystudent thrives.With the strength of our community behind us we are buildingon a proud foundation, preparing all students for success, andshaping a bright future for generations to come. In partnership with you, Anna Young SuperintendentOur VisionA communitythat pursuesequity, whereeach personbelongs andthrives. Our MissionEmpoweringgrowth,connection, andsuccess for allmembers of ourlearningcommunity. Glendale-River Hills School District Community NewsletterFall/Winter 2025 Our MissionOur Vision Message

Whole Child Growth & SuccessRigor & Challenge: By 2028–29, 75% of students willmeet high growth expectations in Math and Reading. Gap Closure: Achievement gaps among subgroups willbe eliminated by 2028–29. School Environment: Student survey scores will reach4.5/5.0 on safety, warmth, and belonging. Participation: More students will be engaged in one ormore school activities. High School Readiness: 100% of Glen Hills 9th graderswill be on track to graduate by 2028–29. Exceptional Staff Exceptional LeadershipStaff Retention: Retain 95% of staff annually by 2028–29. Staff Satisfaction: Achieve an 8.5/10 satisfaction scoreon annual staff surveys. Professional Growth: 85% of staff will report havingopportunities and training for improvement.Empowered Community Parent Satisfaction: Achieve an 8.5/10 satisfactionscore by 2028–29. Parent Involvement: 95% of families will agree schoolsprovide meaningful opportunities for engagement. Public Awareness: Increase agreement that the districtkeeps the community informed to 68% by 2027–28. Resident Enrollment: Reduce open enrollment out ofthe district to below 5%. Fiscal Stewardship Transparency: Maintain up-to-date monthly financialreports online and hold bi-annual community budgetmeetings. Fund Balance: Sustain a fund balance of 10% or greaterof the prior year’s annual budget. Balanced Budget: Maintain balanced budgets withreserves each year.Strategic Plan PIllars &Key Performance Indicators

22% of staff have 10 ormore years of servicein our district. Celebrating Student Learning Parkway’s K-5 readers areup for any literacy challenge.They are Super Readers!Glen Hills studentshonor Korean Warveterans by bringingtheir stories to lifethrough the NationalHistory Day SilentHeroes project The Glen Hills Forensicteam takes hometrophies on their way tothe StateChampionship.Parkway 2nd graders createdTrees of Hope, inspired by theJane Goodall Institute’s Roots& Shoots program, illustratingthe roots that support theirgrowth and the shoots thatrepresent their hopes anddreams. Glen Hills Studentsexplore real-worldscience andengineering throughpartnerships with localbusinesses anduniversities.AwardsAccomplishments45% of our staff hold amaster’s degree orhigher

Do you want your Business or Organization represented? Last years event attracted over 300 participants.If you are interested in hosting a table sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/32e3ynhsParent University Today’s students face morechallenges than ever, andparenting can often feeloverwhelming and isolating.Parent University is designedto help form genuinerelationships, shareexperiences, and build acommunity of support.Each Parent University beginswith dinner from 5:30–6:00p.m. providing a time to relax,connect, and sharefellowship. After dinner from6:00pm-7:00pm, parents andcaregivers have theopportunity to engage withschool staff, guest speakers,and one another inmeaningful discussions andactivities centered onsupporting children’slearning and well-being.Any families living in theGlendale-River Hills SchoolDistrict are welcome toattend. Scan the code for upcomingdates and topics We hope tosee you soon! Everyone Belongs After the Bell The Glendale-River Hills School District is proud tooffer a vibrant array of after-school clubs, activities,and athletic programs that are open to all school-aged residents of our community, including thosewho are homeschooled, attend private schools, or areenrolled in schools outside the district. To learn morecontact Gus Kaufmann, Athletic & Activities Director at414-351-7160.

The Glendale-River Hills School District has mademajor progress this year in strengthening financialstability and transparency. Both the 2022–23 and2023–24 financial audits are now complete, and thedistrict is on track for timely completion of the 2024–25 audit, which provide a clear picture of the district’sfinancial health.In fall of 2024, voters approved a two-year, $4.5million annual operational referendum to maintainreasonable class sizes, update curriculum materials,support student programs, and fund essentialbuilding maintenance. With the previous 2020-2025referendum now concluded, taxpayers will see onlythe current 2024 -2026 referendum reflected ontheir tax bills. This will result in a lower mill ratecompared to last year.Under the leadership of Director of Business andOperations Michelle Brown and Superintendent AnnaYoung, new systems have been implemented toensure financial accuracy, accountability, andtransparency. Detailed monthly revenue andexpenditure reports, which are reviewed by theboard are also available to the public in the meetingagendas. Through strategic fiscal planning, the districtincreased revenues by nearly $9.9 million andreduced expenditures by $2.3 million from theprevious year. This demonstrates a strongcommitment to using every dollar wisely.Ongoing Public SchoolFinance ChallengesEnrollment -Changes inenrollment and voucherpayments. Staffing Pressures –Remaining competitivewith staff compensation .Inflation and RisingCosts – Increasingoperational expenses andinflation reduce purchasingpower across all areas ofthe budget.Legislative and PolicyChanges – State-levelpolicy adjustments createuncertainty and requireflexibility in budgetplanning.Maintaining FundBalance – A healthy fundbalance is essential forfinancial stability and toprepare for unforeseencircumstances.Making Every Dollar Count Finance Questions?Contact Michelle Brown,Director of BusinessOperations atmichelle.brown@gdrh.org

2600 W. Mill Rd. Glendale, WI 53209 I'm really excited about the work we're doing to stay tirelessly focused onstudent success and wellness. This past summer, working closely withSuperintendent Anna Young, the School Board established metrics ("keyperformance indicators" or KPIs) to improve transparency and monitorDistrict growth -- and it's "EVERYBODY ALL IN" as we hold ourselves andDistrict staff accountable. Together, we're building a strong future for our children and our community,and I'm so grateful for the support you bring to that effort. I invite you toattend some of our many events throughout the year, so that you can see foryourself how our students and staff are proudly thriving, shining, andleading. I welcome your questions, comments, and feedback. In community, Carla Pennington-CrossSchool Board Presidentcarla.pennington-cross@gdrh.org