June 20, 2026
By ANASTASIA PENCHI
DE SOTO, Wis. – The De Soto Area School District is trying to better prepare its middle and high students for the future – no matter if it involves college, technical school or employment.
Principal Tim Fergot updated the school board on changes being made to the district’s 2026-27 Academic Career Plan/Education for Employment Plan during the school board’s regular May meeting.
Those changes include adding a “business world” experience for eighth graders; at least two different campus visits for sophomores; a final project for seniors; and more personal reflection requirements.
“I think this was really thorough,” said Holly Nickelatti, board president, after the presentation.
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction requires that districts have an Academic Career Plan, and it encourages them to use Xello software. The state has a long-term contract with the software company, and Wisconsin students could end up using it for life-planning purposes until at least 2035. De Soto students use it now, Fergot said.
Xello allows students to explore their options in a way that “puts the student at the center of their planning experience,” according to the company’s Website. Students complete specially-designed lessons and create a portfolio, which collects their thoughts on experiences during their middle and high school years. Additional information like ACT scores can be included in student files, too.
Fergot said the district held its second annual Career Day earlier this year, and it went “really well.” Students participated in mock job interviews, learned about resume building and explored different careers.
That Career Day experience was created a year ago “to bridge classroom learning with real-world career opportunities,” according to the district’s plan. Future staff development will include student academic career planning as a topic, Fergot added, and more information will be shared with parents, too.
Military recruiters and community service requirements for students will also continue to be part of De Soto’s Academic Career Plan.
Fergot also said student totals for 2025-26 in De Soto were:
- 11 students did work study; one did nursing assistant training
- 211 college credits were earned
- 7 students took AP classes
- 16 students took technical college courses and their average GPA was 3.95
- 97 students were in the FFA program
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