001April 6th, 2026. This is a meeting of the Winona Area Public School District Board of Education. We are in the Winona Area Public School Library. Meeting notices were sent to members of the press, members of the school board, and were posted on the front doors and or in the vestibules of district school buildings. This is a meeting of the board in public for the purpose of conducting the school district's business and is not to be considered a public hearing. There may be a time for public comment as indicated in the agenda. The meeting will also be available to watch live at www.youtube.com/winonaarea. Please stand and join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,
002with liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please. Stolzner. >> Here. Calverts. Here. Berich. >> Here. Ackman. Here. Harter. Here. Kunde here, Hansen. Here. Uh recognizing our administrative team, we have Dr. Larson, Mr. Gerabek, Mrs. Dodd, Mr. Munir, Mr. Schrader, Dr. Mushaid. That's it. Curley. Oh, I'm sorry, Curley. I didn't see you. I'm so sorry. Oh, and Mr. Dabner. Sorry. I have your names all wrote down, I promise. And visitor recognition, we do have a sign-up in the back. I'm hoping that you all have signed uh your name on the visitor sheet. And at this point, we will move into open forum. Um I have Chris Cabott. I think you can just sit right there with the microphones. Yeah. Or you can sit there. Or I can stand right here with the camera. Stand up
003front. I just wanted to speak to uh admin reports. So, if I read it correctly, I believe the middle school principal is retiring. Um So, I just wanted to say thank you, Todd Trader, for your years of service as middle school principal. I've had two kids in your middle school, and I appreciate everything you did for them. So, thank you very much. Thank you. I'm Andy Kabbit. And I want to um just thank the committee of people that were involved in determining eligibility for academic awards because um I got an email, and um I just really want to specifically thank them for their thoughtful decision to include all of Solomon's grades um that he's been working on. That includes his ECCP and special student classes at UWO because I think that sends a positive um
004message to students that to always do their best, and I appreciate that. That's um Leah decided that, you know, just for background. So, whichever way worked better for our student, either including them all or not, we picked the most favorable. Like, they can pick the most favorable way. Okay. We're good with that. So, fair to say. Thank you. Thanks, Leah. All right. Cindy Auten. All right. Just wanted to address everybody and thank everybody so much. We've been having some wonderful visits with the towns and the villages over the past few weeks, and actually a couple of month and a half about now. And uh had the great opportunity to meet so many wonderful fellow neighbors. Um I know there's a lot to be said about the sense of community that we've had within our district,
005and it's something to be extremely grateful for. And I appreciate being able to experience that firsthand on a personal level by speaking with so many one-on-one. Um it's really something I've been able to cherish. And I appreciate Carly and Mike in being able to be able to one-on-one with you guys so much. Love you guys. Really do. Um I know change isn't easy, and um but it's the only constant that we have and we truly want to grow and we want to dedicate to our children like the posts that we're seeing circulate these days that have been out there. Um, then we need to embrace it. And I'm just going to close today with a bit of advice that if you don't like certain facts or earning the voters in our district are unhappy with
006current track record and the course with which our policies and decisions are taking, we don't get to come to a board meeting as an elected official and cry about it and wave the proverbial misinformation flag that everyone these days jumps to. Thank you. Adam Ahrens I Thank you for the opportunity to address the school board. I'm just going to say it would be beneficial to the school district to post the two principal positions publicly on the school's website and other content appropriate platforms. Often as the school year is ending, people begin looking to explore other employment options. Public posting will broaden the spectrum of candidates from both within and from without outside the district. The school board has an obligation to the residents and students to seek as many high qualified applicants for consideration as
007possible. While the current staff holds institutional history and would provide change with the least disruption, new hires could invigorate and bring us thoughts and ideas to our district. Historically, these positions are are held for decades in Winneconne and as such, the retirement of the current principals provides a rare opportunity to broaden the spectrum of possibilities for our students. Um, it may well be that Mr. Menear and Ms. Horvath are the best choices going forward. However, without exploration of other potential candidates, we will never know. Thank you. All right. And with that, I will close the open forum and move into open session entertaining a motion to approve the consent agenda. I move so moved. Second. Motion by Barrick and second by Kelworts to approve approve the consent agenda. Um any questions, comments from the board?
008Just a thank you to Tad Schrader for his service to this district. Um just piggybacking on Mr. Cavett, I'd he had five of my kids. Tremendous middle school um and highlighting the blue the blue ribbon honor. That that is really special. A roll call, please. Stelsner. Aye. Kelworts. Aye. Barrick. Ackman. Abstain. Harder. Aye. Kunde and Hansen. Aye. Uh approve minutes from March 17th, 2026 regular school board meeting. I also move. Second. Motion by Kunde, second by Harder to approve March 17th, 2026 regular school board meeting minutes. Any questions? Roll call, please. Kelworts. Aye. Barrick. Aye. Ackman. Abstain. Harder. Aye. Kunde and Stelsner. Abstain. And Hansen. Aye. Uh Um approve the middle school handbook. That was in your packet. Um no changes this year to the handbook was my is my understanding. Other than dates, yes.
009So any questions or comments from the board? Um yes, I would I would like some clarification on it'd be page 27 when we're talking about um, formative assessments and summative grade. Um, it's paragraph one. Um, it starts out with homework practice is not part of the student's summative grade. Um, and then it goes on. So, where it says not graded or it says not part of the grade, this is not graded. And then further down we go on to the formative definition. So, my question is how do you get to the formative if you don't record anything in the summative work? How does a teacher look back and decide if, um, you know, if Bart is behind on something? Do you want to take a stab at it, Todd and Leah? I think it's it's
010in both handbooks, so. >> Yeah, no, I I can comment. So, the the formative assessing formatively happens daily in a classroom. It's everything from teacher interacting with students and groups of students. They might give, um, feedback on pieces of writing, they might give feedback on assess or not assessments, but assignments that are being done. All of that is is formative in the in the child's learning. They are they are taking the journey from starting at point A in their learning journey, and then the summative assessment is what goes in the gradebook. And really, if a teacher has done a really good job of formatively assessing, the summative assessment is just a validation of that learning because by then the teacher should have a pretty good idea of where their kids are in their learning and
011in all honesty that the child should also. Um as far as that that learning journey. So, the summative assessment is is is really just a validation of uh of uh all the learning that has taken place. Does that help? And as far as as far as not grading um assignments, you know, assignments are the place to make mistakes. We want to encourage our our our students to make mistakes. We want to encourage our teachers to give feedback based on those mistakes of how to correct those and how to close learning gaps. And um uh it's sort of like it's sort of like taking the driving test. You might have hit the curb a bunch of times when you were in the car with your mom or dad, but when you uh and you practice a
012lot and but you don't get penalized for that when you go in front of the DMV and finally park your car and hopefully by then you've practiced enough where you're not making those mistakes. So, we don't want to penalize kids during their practice. We want to um use that as a place to make mistakes and learn from those. And And Dean, just to piggyback on that, um the PAW grade, you know, if they're not doing their homework, their PAW grade is going to go down. So, that's kind of how it gets graded to or that's where they're going to know to get it done and and be responsible for that. So, they can't just slide through >> Right. without getting their homework done. That's still expected to be done and completed. Okay. works to do
013your best is what's that is under and teachers often you use that as to hold kids accountable for for that piece. Okay, so the power grade would really help you keep track of the student even if they were floundering. I mean, you wouldn't get to the um the formative stage and not know. I mean, it'd be too late then. They'd be behind. Well, if they're not doing their work, it's hard to give feedback on nothing. You are correct. Right. So, that'll be reflected in the power school. >> so yeah, doing the work along the way is important. Absolutely. Okay, I think that clears it up. Anything else? I would entertain a motion to approve the middle school handbook. So moved. Second. Okay. Um motion by Verrich, second by Harder to approve the middle school handbook.
014Any other questions or comments? Roll call, please. Verrich. >> Aye. Ackman. Aye. Harder. Aye. Kandiyohi Stelsner. >> Aye. Calwitz. Aye. Hansen. Aye. Uh high school handbook. Um a lot of that was the same um with the middle school. Um some other um subject areas are hit on high school. Um any questions on the high school handbook? I did have a question um unless I missed it. Is are we approving the calendar for next year as part of the handbook? We already We already did that. We did. That's what I thought. Okay, cuz I only saw it in the the high school handbook and not the middle school, so I just wanted to clarify. I'm not tech savvy enough to get it in there, so I sent it I sent it as a PDF to the
015to the company and then I wrote, "Please put the uh PDF right here." So, >> I feel you. It will It will go in. I'm not tech-savvy either. So I'm getting a funny look from Mr. Gerbec right now. He'd be really proud of Mr. Gerbec. He made a QR code himself. >> I did. That I did do. Yeah. Just one quick quick comment on the both the middle school and the high school, the expectation is that the student and the parent um both digitally sign the handbook. Yep. Okay. Um I have just one question. Um and that it has to do with Excuse me, the electronic device, cell phones, and headphones. Um so there's just in the high school there's just that one paragraph. Um where in the middle school we kind of outlined the
016consequences of using your cell devices, and I'm wondering why that's not a little more in-depth in the high school handbook. The page number is what? I'm sorry. I am on um it's the it's 8-7 of the handbook or 61 of 89 in the packet. And it's the third paragraph on page 8-7. Yeah. >> make any changes to that section, so that's what we had last year. We can certainly put more information in there if you would like. Just speaking for myself, I think it would be good if we had the the consequences to the I If I recall I think what I did is I just basically copied and pasted the district policy >> policy in there and and so that was just But in the past, I mean Dan's been wonderful and so has
017Leah. We've tried to streamline the two handbooks as much as possible and and get the verbage the same or very very similar except in in spots where I mean advanced placement doesn't apply to a middle school. Right. Right. And some of those types of things. Yeah. I just think given that this is somewhat new um people are still kind of getting acclimated to it that maybe we want to add a little bit more. And I wouldn't have a problem. Um if you can put that cut the the section in there so they they both echo each other since it is the same. I wouldn't have a problem with it. How does everyone else feel about that? Is that That would be >> either way. Okay. All right. Any other questions regarding the uh high school
018handbook? Okay. I would entertain a motion. So moved. Second. Can I question? Yeah. What is your motion? What are you >> The motion is to approve the high school handbook. To change the cell phone policy or not? With the addition of the paragraph that is inclusive with the cell phone policy as far as the consequences for the device being used. >> Okay. So you're going to mimic the middle school. >> I Yes. >> I didn't get that in your motion. I had mentioned that earlier but sorry. Are you okay with that, Katie? That's the second. Okay. Motion by Condie um second by Kellaworts to approve the middle school handbook with the addition of the policy for cell phone devices. Any other questions or comments? Roll call, please. Ackman Hi. Harder Hi. Kandiyohi Stelsner Hi. Calverts
019Hi. Varich Hi. Hansen Hi. And administrative reports available in your packet. Any questions from the board or additions from administration? Just remember Latin's this week. Starting with our middle school play Thursday evening. And then we have academic awards on Wednesday. And probably something every Wednesday till the end of the year. It's a good time of the year. >> Good time of the year. Um Okay. Maybe for the April 20th meeting with What do we have left? We have the National Honor Society and >> Oh, I'll put it all in the next board packet. Thank you. That's what I That's kind of what I was getting at. All right. Uh board reports, any communications? Um yes, I do have a a few here. Um from the family of Mike Meyer uh letter of appreciation for the
020loss of Mike Meyer. And Joan Meyer was a secretary elementary Was it? Yes. Joan Meyer uh prior secretary at the elementary school. And there's the son of our head baseball coach. >> Yep, Kevin Meyer, yes. Yep. Thank you for that. Um from Jamie um Van Kirk, the family of Mary Van Kirk. And Jamie is a high school social studies teacher. Winn County Community School District Board and Administration, a sincere thank you for the condolences for the loss of Mom. Mom always taught my sisters and I the proper way of education, and I carry that in my heart today and daily. Thank you, Jamie Van Kirk. And from Julie Van Hulzen, HR specialist. Dear Winneconne Community School District Board Members and Administration, thank you so much for the generous gift of money in memory of my
021brother, Jeremy Mulvey. Jerry was the first of six Mulvey siblings to graduate from Winneconne High School, and our family has always had strong ties to the Winneconne Community School District. My husband, his siblings, and our daughters also graduated from Winneconne High School, so the district has has been a long and important part of our family story. Your kindness and thoughtfulness during this difficult time means such a great deal to us. It's comforting to know that Jerry is remembered in a community that has meant so much to our family over the years. Thank you again for your generosity and support. Sincerely, Julie Van Hulzen. That's what I have. Okay. All right. Um and before we before we get into the committees, I just wanted to um highlight all of our success with the solo and ensemble
022in our schools on both the vocal side and the the band side. We have quite a list of um folks that participated and were very successful. So, congratulations to our music department. Um okay. Committee reports, HR and finance. This is Verch. Uh we met on Friday, and our recommendation will be on our next meeting on April 20th for the full board to consider. Okay. And marketing and public relations, we did not meet. And policy. Uh yes, we met tonight to go over a policy on open enrollment, which we will have that up for the recommendation of approval on the April 20th meeting. All right. And with that, I would entertain a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. Motion by Kalaher, second by Harder to adjourn. All in favor, say I. I. I. I. Opposed? We
023are adjourned.