001my role on this. Okay. Call to order this meeting of the Stoton Area School District Board of Education. Miss Durham would call the role. Mr. Tambon here. Miss Mia Croy here. Mr. Jim Moser is excused. Miss Don Garcia here. Mr. Zach Masa here. Miss Lisa Pew, Miss Allison Sorg here, Dr. Sharon Milin Bartlett is going to be late. Um, student rep Michaela Becker here, and President Joe Patterson here. All right. Um, second item on the agenda is public comment. I don't believe there was public comment submitted prior to the meeting this evening. And seeing no one in the gallery or the doorway, uh we will move on to item 2B, the legislative update. I have a really long legislative update tonight. Um the federal government shutdown as of just after midnight on October 1st. You've
002probably heard the federal government entered a shutdown. Senators are failing to come to an agreement on appropriations. Um uh DPI is communicating to school districts the impact on Wisconsin schools. Four key points. DPI will remain in operation during the federal government shutdown. Uh most federal education funds that are granted to school districts other than what's called impact aid, which is for um uh school districts that are impacted by their property taxes are impacted by federal um federal property, which would not be us, and school meals. Uh that those uh school districts should continue to draw down draw down their funds. um the impact aid school districts are impacted differently. Again, that's not us. And then the fourth point is that um DPI will be able to pay September claims on school meals and will await
003further information from the US Department of Agriculture. As you might know, child nutrition programs and school school lunch, breakfast, and snack programs are reimbured 30 days after the end of each service month. So DPI anticipates funding for these programs will be available through the first quarter and then we'll go from there depending on what happens with the shutdown. Uh the state is seeking feedback on what are called model early learning standards. Those are the standards used for education of infants, toddlers, and young children. They're currently being updated by the Department of Children and Families in collaboration with DPI and the Department of Health Services. There's a statewide feedback survey that's currently open through October 21 24th and you can find that on the Department of Children and Families website which is at dcf.wisconsin.gov. So look
004for the Wisconsin early model early learning standards at dcf.wisconsin.gov. Uh, school districts were due to provide their annual reports on seclusion and restraint to school boards by October 1st. Our board received those um a couple of weeks ago. That's according to state statute. You might remember that the use of seclusion or physical restraint by school staff is prohibited except in very limited circumstances where students behavior presents a clear present and imminent risk to the physical safety of students or school staff and is the least restrictive intervention feasible. And I know the data that came to us show that our um incidents of seclusion and restraint are going down, which is good news. Uh the WASBY is putting uh the Wisconsin Associated School Boards is is putting together a legislative agenda. They're looking for feedback. We
005all received an email about that. On no on November 7th, the Wisconsin School Board Board of Directors will set the 2026 legislative agenda. So that's an agenda that guides how the schoolboards association advocates in the capital what their lobbyists say when they meet with uh legislators. During even numbered years it's less about fiscal components because it's not a budget year. So these are a lot of times more policy oriented asks around issues like staffing shortages or local control um sharing of services things like that. So, if you feel there is uh a policy concern facing our district that you think you want to make sure is on that legislative agenda, there is a link on the um WASBY website, WASB website, where you can look at their draft legislative agenda and make a suggestion. In
006the legislature, the Assembly Education Committee had a hearing on October 2nd and they voted on a couple of bills uh that will be up for vote in the full Senate or assembly soon. Uh there are two bills that regulate and require access to school buildings for federally chartered school youth or for youth organizations such as Scouting America and Girl Scouts of America as well as military recruiters. There's also a public hearing in that assembly committee around three bills. Uh one that included allowing summer school to count as a semester of required student teaching. another pro providing an expo explanation of pregnancy and prenatal development as a part of human growth and development instruction and requiring DPI to certify a school district that has met all financial reporting requirements prior to allowing the school district to
007uh authorize a referendum. Uh we will be talking more about those bills and the schoolboard association's position on those in the future, I'm sure. Uh there's also we all received an email from the schoolboards association today I think where that bill we've been talking about that would allow the rehiring of retirees continues to be stalled in the legislature. Apparently there are concerns being raised that the bill would cause double dipping by retirees or uh turn into mass early retirements. So, the school boards association is asking for help for uh school districts and schoolboard members and other interested parties to contact the leg our legislators and tell them specifically how this would help our school district. Um, so that's something we can talk about or you can go to that email. There's a direct link in
008there where they provide a sample message for you to just easily uh send that on to your legislator. Uh finally I want to throw it over to Mia who has an update on some new guidance concerning transincclusive educational policies. Yeah. So there's actually a new document um was released the end of September um that is a collaboration between the WMadison and G-Safe and it's a policy brief um that outlines the precedents in law in the state of Wisconsin around various um inclusive practices for transgender students as well as um other LGBT um inclusive practices. Um of particular note is they talk about the Wisconsin state law and the court case um which affirmed the transgender students right to use the bathroom aligned with their gender identity. Um, and the, you know, the the brief was
009designed particularly for educators, schoolboard members, um, and other school leadership because there's some concern now that, um, people, districts are making changes to their policies based on the current political rhetoric and, um, that they're, you not um looking at the the legal framework around that. So, it's nothing, you know, our district is aligned with what the case law supports. Um but it's just a a clear um brief to have, you know, sort of in your pocket. If anyone is interested in that and they have not seen it, I can send you the the policy brief. Um, just wanted everyone to be aware that that exists now and it's another, you know, if there ever were a question about some of our policies, we have that backing what we're doing currently in terms of inclusive practices.
010Mia, can you send it to Dan and then he can send it to the board? Yeah. You want me to resend it to Dan? You already have it. I'll I'll find it and forward it on. Okay. I can just send it so it's right at the top of your box. You don't have to dig. Thank you. Yep. Okay. Any questions for Lisa or Mia? And I'm looking online, seeing no hands. Okay. Uh item 2 C is workg groupoup reports, but no workg groupoups have met since our last board meeting. So that takes us to item 2D, Michaela. Okay. I have a lot more to talk about since there's been a lot going on in the schools since the last meeting. Um, it's okay. There it is. Okay. Okay. So, so far at the high school,
011we have had uh two assemblies this year. Um, but one of our assemblies was the no hate tour. Um, and so basically it was a group of guys who are BMX bikers and they were also talking about uh the importance of bullying and mental health in schools. And I thought it was really interesting because a lot of kids seem to be be very interested in it. It was a really fun assembly that no one was expecting. We all thought we were going down to get a boring speech and then we got this. So, it was very fun. Um, and then the middle school had their reality maze which was uh put on by the Stoen Wellness Coalition and we've had that at the high school for a few years now, but now they're bringing it
012down to the middle school level. So, basically um they can go through different stations which we'll talk about. Um, I'm not sure exactly what they changed for the middle school level, but like peer pressure, different things like that. Um, different resources. And then, um, all the link crew leaders made signs for our freshmen. So, all the freshman lockers are decorated with messages from all of us. And then, um, at Keansza, they just started a community garden for their students, which is run by a combination of volunteers and teachers and students. So, it looks like a very cool project that they're adding this year. Um, and then some more activities. We had um our prehomecoming assembly last Thursday, which was really fun. Um, student council put it on and they did basically how it worked is
013you had four students, one from each grade, and they could run into the middle and find costumes that represented each day and then they were voted on by teachers and best score in grade one. So, that was very fun. And then there's also a new class offered at the middle school this year which is similar to kind of like a STEM class. And the project that they're working on there is they were making um I think it said like chicken themed catapults or something like that. I don't know. It looked interesting from the pictures. And then um DECA is having a food drive, the Scareway hunger food drive which will be starting at the homecoming tailgate this Friday. And I believe that that'll be going throughout the month of October. And then for homecoming, um
014the parade will be starting at 4:15 and will be the same route that it has been, so between like the two parking lots. And then the tailgate will be directly after and the football game will be at 7:00 p.m. Um and then for athletics, uh Meadow Sawiki advanced to girls golf sectionals, which will be tomorrow. Um, Elijah Jud placed sixth in the Midwest Invitational, which is very impressive. There were 253 runners, I think, and he set the new school record in the 5K. And then boys soccer won over Whitewater um on 9:27. And then they have two home games this week, Tuesday and Thursday. And then girls tennis placed ninth in the Badger Conference tournament. And they had sectionals today. And I believe they had one girl in singles today. I'm not sure how she
015did. Um and then for the arts, so um marching band, oh no, that's actually Sunday. Marching band had a field show yesterday, their first one of the season, and then they'll be having another one this Sunday in Sock Prairie. Um the Stoen Orchestra traveled to see the Chicago Symphony Orchestra um last week, uh Friday. And then um there's a fall choir concert on October 13th and that will just be in the PAC and I think it starts at 6:30. Um and then the eighth graders went to see a Midsummer's Night Dream at the outdoor theater because they are reading it in their language arts classes. And that's everything I have. Wow. Lots of stuff going on. Are there any questions for Michaela? Um, Mia, go ahead. Who do we play at homecoming? Uh, Sock Prairie.
016I just want to say I think you're doing like an awesome day. I love your updates. They give us so much information. I try to get a little bit from everywhere. I think it's so great. I can't see Zach and Sharon. Do they have any questions? No. Okay. Thank you, Michaela. All right. We are on to item 3A, Dr. Keyser's report. Yeah, I'll echo. I think Michaela, you're doing an excellent job giving us updates and it's great to see all the activities that we have. Um, every year it seems like we add a few more activities, which is a good thing. Um, we know that students who are engaged with the community outside of the classroom, um, better attendance, better grades. Um, so hats off to our students and to kick off this week, hats
017off to the board members here in the room online. Um each each year you come, you um listen to lots of different perspectives and you weigh in as elected representatives of our community um to help us move our students forward and grow young minds. And so I can't um say enough from myself and the um hundreds of educators and all staff um and our students and our families. How much um we thank you for the service that you're that you provide each and every month. As a token of um thank you, we had some um blankets to help keep you warm on Friday when when we play sock prairie at our homecoming game because it is going to be a little bit cooler than it is right now. Um and and then a thank you
018card and then our some of our students took some time out to um sign their names on um some banners. So, thank you all for for your service. In preparation for our next meeting, which is going to be a busy night, just a reme reminder that we will start at 5 instead of 6:30 here with um a tour of our buildings. Um we'll have representatives from each of our building leadership teams to talk about their school improvement plans or their sale plans. Um and for those of you who have forgotten sale is an acronym for school administrators institute for transformative learning. Um and it really is the whole idea around this is coherence. The relentless pursuit of coherence around our goals is what of all the things we could be doing around the table what
019we choose to focus in on. And with that, we have a couple of guiding um parameters within within that that our staff will talk about. So during that during that um time where we will each spend about 10 minutes with each school, you'll be hearing about what they are focused in on this year of all the things that they feel is best aligned to their work that needs to happen so that they can continue to move forward on our three goals. That's that shared understanding and focus. In that they will talk about what strategies they are using align to those skills that will be aligned to our goals. That's the deep learning and these are iterative cycles. So we break the year up into three 100 day cycles. So in this um first iteration you're
020just going to be hearing about what they are intently focused in on these first 100 days. So up until about the end of November and then they will either continue to deepen their focus in on those strategies or they may find themselves shifting or modifying those strategies and they will report that out the next time. All of that being said, we can say it very succinctly this way. of all the things we um stay and do, we want to focus in on cons constant strategies and routines that will lead to interim indicators that will result in improved state measures. So, at 5:' you'll hear the strategies. At six o'clock, we will have our annual meeting where um Erica Picket will share our our budget um and um our our projections for for this year and
021and the community will weigh in. Right after that, we will have a board meeting where we will adopt the budget, adopt the levy, and um Kate Algrren will talk about those interim measures. So that's where we will have an update on the actual data. So at 5 you'll hear the strategies from the schools. At um after the annual meeting, Kate will fill in the rest of the story with the with the interim measures. In November, the school report cards come out which will take take a look back at last year and we can see how we've been doing on our academic goals and see if we are still trending in the direction that we um are hoping to achieve around our goals. So that is the primer. Um that will save us about 5 10
022minutes on in two weeks. So questions that people have, you'll see those slides again at the beginning, but I'll go a little bit quicker through them. Any questions for Dan? Lisa, go ahead. Will Kate be sharing any of the interim indicator data in like executive content or anything before the meeting just so that we might have a chance to understand it before she talks about it? Is that a possibility? I will talk I will talk with Kate Kate about that. We are just wrapping up our fall testing right now. So, we're grabbing the last few students. So, yeah, we're as soon as um we get that wrapped up, I will talk to her about that that question and email the board. Any other questions for Dan? Are there questions from Zach and Sharon? Nope. Okay.
023All right. We are on to item four, the consent agenda. I need a motion. I move approval of the consent agenda as presented. Second. Moved by Buba and seconded by Pew. Is there any discussion? I just wanted to point out it's, you know, once again our amazing community and the things that they they do for our students in our district. Um, seeing no questions from Zach or Sharon, I'll call the question. All in favor? I I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? Consent agenda is approved. And we are on to item five, which also needs a motion. Move to Go ahead. Move to approve action taken in close session on September 2nd, 2025. Second. Seconded by Bubon. And I assume there's no discussion. How we could have discussion. All right. All in favor? I do. We need
024to do this roll call. Okay. All Any opposed? Any abstensions? All right. Motion carries. That takes us to meeting closing. For action items, I have um if you would like to provide input to the or Wisconsin Association of School Boards regarding their legislative agenda, please uh see the email they sent and provide that input prior to November 7th. Um it's recommended that board members reach out to their legislators regarding the um proposal to allow districts to rehire retired teachers. And Dan is going to talk to Kate about getting interim indicator data to board prior to our development sessions. Anything I missed Dan's gonna send out the legal brief. send out the email that Mia sent to and I will do that with in conjunction with the WSB information as well. Okay. So, both together. Do
025you do you have any talking points that we could include in a message to legislators about how rehiring retirees would help us specifically? Have we rehired retirees? Do do we have shortages in certain areas where retire where retiring would be helpful? Uh the short answer is yes. We have um hired retirees because we are using a third party ESS. We are able to hire retirees outside of that the um process because they are being hired by the third party. Um is that a good talking point? So for us it's less of an issue but for districts who hire um directly yes that um 75day break in service does pose pose an issue. So I will find some talking points that we areas where we typically have shortages where it would be helpful to have more
026strategies such as this. Okay. Any other action items on this? being none. Um item 6B is future meetings. So we have our board development meeting we just talked about at 5:00 pm on the 20th. That will be followed directly by the annual board meeting at 6 pm. And then immediately following that will be our regular board meeting um including the approval of our tax levy and budget. October 22nd, we have a governance workg groupoup meeting scheduled and I don't believe there's anything else. So I would entertain a motion for adjournment. So moved. Second. Moved by Sorg and seconded by Croyle. Any discussion? All right. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? Meeting is adjourned.