District Administrator Update

Dear HJT1 Families,

We hope this email finds you and your family in good health and high spirits as we complete our first few weeks of summer break. 

After an extensive search and selection process, we are thrilled to announce the appointment of Tara Villalobos, Ph.D. as the new District Administrator for the School District of Hartford Jt. 1! 

Dr. Villalobos comes to us from the Holy Hill Area School District in Richfield where she has served as District Administrator since 2018. She brings with her a wealth of experience, a strong educational background, and a profound commitment to empowering students to reach their full potential. Included with this email, we are including a copy of the press release which includes more information about Dr. Villalobos and her background.

Dr. Villalobos will officially assume her role as District Administrator in July. Her leadership and expertise will further enhance our commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience for your children.

As we celebrate the transition from one leader to another, we want to take a moment to recognize the contributions of Dr. Mark Smits, who served as our District Administrator for 20 years. We extend our deepest appreciation to Dr. Smits for his service and wish him a fulfilling retirement.

As we celebrate this new era of educational excellence, we extend our gratitude to each of you for entrusting us with your child's education. Your ongoing support, involvement, and dedication to their learning journey are invaluable. 

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Tara Villalobos on her appointment. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, and we are confident that together, we will continue to make a positive difference in the lives of our students. Please watch your email for future communication and Meet & Greet opportunities with Dr. Villalobos. 

For the Board of Education,

Greg Erickson

Board President

NONDISCRIMINATION AND ACCESS TO EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

The School District of Hartford Jt. 1 Board of Education is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity for all students in the District. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including transgender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability ("Protected Classes") in any of its student program and activities. Federal laws Title IX, 34 CFR 106.9, Section 504, 34 CFR 104.8, Title II, 28 CFR 35.106; Student Policy 2260, AG 2260D & Form 2260 F2; Staff Policy 1422, 3122, 4122. The Board designates the following individual to serve as the District’s "Compliance Officer" – Alex Kenealy, Director of Pupil Services, School District of Hartford Joint #1, 402 W. Sumner St, Hartford, WI 53027, 262-673-8042, [email protected]. Students, parents and all other members of the School District community are encouraged to promptly report suspected violations of this policy to a teacher or administrator. The complaint procedure will follow Board Policy 2260. 

The Board of the Hartford Jt. 1 School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), in its education programs or activities and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and its implementing regulations not to discriminate in such a manner. The requirement not to discriminate in its education program or activity extends to admission and employment. The Board is committed to maintaining an education and work environment that is free from discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment. The District’s Title IX Coordinator(s) is: Alex Kenealy, Director of Pupil Services, School District of Hartford Joint #1, 402 W. Sumner St, Hartford, WI 53027, 262-673-8042, [email protected]. Any inquiries about the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations to the District may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator(s), the Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. The Board has adopted a grievance process that provides for the prompt and equitable resolution of student and employee complaints alleging any action that is prohibited by Title IX and/or its implementing regulations. The grievance process is included in Policy 2266 – Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities, which is available at: https://go.boarddocs.com/wi/hfj1/Board.nsf/Public?open&id=policies. The grievance process specifically addresses how to report or file a complaint of sex discrimination, how to report or file a formal complaint of Sexual Harassment, and how the District will respond.