001into order. This is a meeting of the Winn County Community School District uh Board of Education. It is Monday, February 16th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. We are in the Winn Winn County Middle 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/winni. Please stand and join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
002for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call, please. >> Stnner >> here. >> Cowarts >> here. >> Veric. >> Hackman >> here. >> Harter here. Kundy here. Hansen >> here. Uh recognizing our administrative team, we have Dr. Larson, Dr. Mashad, Mr. Katy, Mr. Sippert, Dr. Hughes, Mr. Maner, Miss Horvath, and Mr. Jerbeck. And visitors, there is a signup sheet in the back. If you would kindly sign up on the sheet, we would appreciate it. And this is the time then for open forum. Um, and we have Mrs. is Carly Horvath. >> Okay. Can I just stand right here? Is that okay? Okay. Um I just want to give a shout out. I'm speaking um as a community member to everyone who participated in the play
003this last week. It was so incredible. It was so amazing and I'm sure we'll probably hear more about it. Um the turnout was amazing. Um, but on a personal note, um, we have some really I'm going to try to do this without crying, but I was very emotional. Like, we have some really amazing kids in this district. I brought my 10-year-old niece, who has really struggled to find where she fits in. She doesn't go to school here. She lives in Shabboan. And just recently, she um discovered plays and her next audition is for a production of Frozen in Shboen. So, she came to do her homework and she was taking notes the whole time and she just kept going, "Auntie Carly, this is so wonderful. They're so good." Um, but afterwards, we stayed for a
004little bit and she just went to go meet some of the cast members and I introduced her. And when I tell you how awesome these kids are, like they were all surrounded by their friends and doing all the congratulations and their families and everything, but anytime a kid come up, my niece included, um, anytime a child came up to them, they like gave all of their attention to that child. And the way that they would get down to her level, they'd give her a big hug. Um, and she would ask them about their role and like how long they've been doing it. And they just gave all their attention for that whole time that they were talking to her. Um, and they did that with every kid that I saw, no matter how big their
005part was or how small their part was. I asked um the directors today if they like worked with the kids on that and they said no, that was all them. So, huge shout out to our kids cuz it was so incredible and it was really powerful and my niece is just on cloud9 and like so excited for this journey. So, >> thank you. >> I also participated. I didn't participate. I went and I went and watched the play and I I was in awe pretty much uh the complete production. It was I didn't get to see that part, but um it just the talent of the kids no matter what part they played. Um they were all you could tell they were all invested and um from the the orchestra to to the Mr. Phillips
006and Mr. Moore and Mrs. Schmidt. I mean just it was just an amazing an amazing play. So congratulations to all that participated and >> and I think we need to keep in mind that's something that the state report card doesn't measure. >> Yeah. So, and that those everyone shined. >> Also, not to well, we can keep going on and on because it's such a great thing, but >> um at the end too, just watching the seniors take their final bow like it was just so moving like you know a couple of them in particular too who I feel like I've watched through this whole journey. It's just like you just go, "Wow." You know, and this is this is their state championship, you know? This is their thing. And it just >> I love that
007our district is able to offer so many things, not just athletics, but music and theater and all the wonderful things. It just makes for such a well-rounded person. So, um, just kudos to everybody involved. Um, it was just great, >> prideful, very prideful. >> All right. And that I will close the open forum. We will move into the open session and the business of the meeting. I would entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> So move second. >> Motion by Kundi, second by Harter to approve the consent agenda items A through J. Any questions or comments um from the board? I want to go to the Mediterranean coast trip. We should go for a board discount for that one. >> See what we can do. >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Stellner,
008>> I. >> Cowarts. >> I. >> Veric. >> Hi. >> Aman. >> Hi. >> Carter. >> Hi. >> Candy. I Hansen. >> I. >> Approve minutes from February 2nd, 2026 regular school board meeting. >> Some moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Call. Second by Aman to approve the minutes from February 2nd, 2026 regular school board meeting. Any comments or questions? Roll call, please. >> Cowarts. >> I. >> Veric. >> Abstain. >> Aman. >> I. >> Carter. I. >> Candy. I Stellner. >> I. >> Hansen. >> I. >> Approve executive session minutes from February 2nd, 2026. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Harter. Second by Callowarts to approve the executive session minutes from February 2nd, 2026. Any questions? Roll call, please. >> Veric. >> Abstain. >> Eggman. >> Hi. >> Carter. >> Hi. >>
009Ki Stelsner. >> Hi. >> Cowards. >> Hi. >> Hansen. >> I. >> And we have a special presentation tonight um regarding your Girl Scout Gold Award. My name is Gabby Hasta. Um, and I'm a senior this year at Winn County High School. Um, today I'm going to be presenting my gold award project to you guys. Um, a gold award is the highest project or award a Girl Scout can earn. And to achieve the status of a gold award, a Girl Scout must be at the level of a senior or ambassador as a Girl Scout. and must have completed a silver award and one journey. The gold award must address a root cause of an issue, be sustainable, and have a global link to an issue such as um teen mental health, show leadership, log at
010least 80 hours of personal efforts from start to finish is what I did. Um, in my project, my gold award aims to address the issues of creating a supportive and welcoming environment in the Winnani Community uh school district high school band room. Just like my band teacher, Miss Ron, I aspire to help students feel that they have a safe place in school where they can unwind, take a break, or improve their musical abilities. I believe helping a dedic having a dedicated space where students can escape the pressures of grades and social drama is very important. By having this space, I hope to improve their mental health um leading them to feel happy and improve their relationships with others. Additionally, I plan to incorporate music as a key component of this space. Music has been shown
011to reduce stress and encourage students to focus on something positive, helping them navigate their challenges more efficiently. Um, I selected The Problem because I know how challenging high school can be, especially with added stress of academics and other mental health problems. Music has always provided a sense of calmness, and I'm sure it will help my classmates in choir and band. I also want to help band and choir kids enjoy the music and enhance their playing and singing abilities. Within my years of being a high schooler, I've noticed clicks form and students feel excluded or searching for their people. I want the band room to not have as much of this and promote diversity and belonging so we can get through our struggles together and easier. Um I would like to change the issue lack of
012diversity and unity by promoting more types of music the students have all selected and introduce students to new genres to listen to and play. This will help to develop uh their performance skills and collaboration among the band to boost students confidence and talent. My goals were established to were to establish a dynamic music library where students can explore and discover new music to learn each week. As you can see, here is the music library. Um, this will encourage selfdirected learning, allowing students to practice together or solo, encouraging a fun environment that helps relieve stress while improving their skills as a musician. I plan to offer a diverse selection of music that re resonates with students interests in ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy. Additionally, I will provide books that inspire students about music
013and posters that connect mental health and music. My goal is to inspire every young health every young musician to become a better person and a better musician. to enable connections among classmates. I hope they will engage more in class by getting to know each other through relaxing focus time days and through the music mood board that I created, which can be seen over there. Um, to organize this all and create it, I first started by asking Miss Ron if it would be all right to have a music library in the band room. Um, we went over my proposal together and made revisions to accommodate placing it in the band room. After I got her approval, I went and submitted an application to the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes Gold Award Committee and asked
014for their approval to move forward. Then I fundraised and requested money from grants. I fundraised at Lambo Field, which can be seen in that photo um with other Girl Scout leaders at a taco stand. Next, I requested donations and I also sent out a music survey to the band and choir students so that that I could get their opinions on the music that they would like in my music cart. Finally, I built the cart and shopped for vinyls, records, and CD players and other items to put in my cart. That was probably my favorite part. I went with some of my classmates and they helped me find some stuff. I also will be adding music related books to the library and creating graphic post posters for display on the music board. Um, some challenges I
015faced were having enough time to complete it with schoolwork and a youth imprent and also my other job. Also getting survey results from my classmates that wanted CDs instead of vinyls. Um, so, um, I was able to use some of my parents' collection and buy a CD player, which is here. Also, requesting donations took a while for organizations to get back to me and we had some hurdles with accepting grants, but in the end, we budgeted well and had leftover funds. So tonight I will be giving $250 to the Winnie High School library um for purchasing books related to mental health and music. I'll be working with Dana Jerbeck and making those selections and I have $250 for Bwampa to put towards future uh music purchases for the cart. >> Awesome. >> Um so in
0162020 uh I built this with my troop members. It was for our Girl Scout Bronze Award. It's at um the school forest. And I've been in Girl Scouts since kindergarten as well. And then in 2022, I got together with one of my troop members and we completed my Girl Scout Silver Award. And for that, we assembled and painted a barn for a disabled goat rescue in red granite. We also made made them a playlist to have fun on or a play set. Oh my goodness. And then finally, this year I'm completing my gold award. I'm happy to have given back to my community so much and have found projects that I am passionate about. Um, a huge thanks to all my donors. If not for them, I would not nearly have enough money to fund
017this project, nor would I have had the help or advice that I needed to complete it. Um, I have gifts for all of you guys. So there's one for Dana Jere and then one for the Winnie Area Community Foundation and for Wampa and then lastly Miss Ron who couldn't make it tonight. Um, what I will do next, tomorrow I will share this with my classmates and then I'll write up my gold final report for approval with Girl Scouts, hoping to be awarded my gold award officially in May. I will continue to catalog music as well since some of our most popular selections are on back order. Thank you all for your time tonight. Does anybody have any questions? I like your variety from sting at 101 Dalmatians. >> You're listening to the CDs. >> Yes.
018Uh very nicely done and and I like um kind of the the population behind what you've done in terms of mental health. Um, and I couldn't agree with you more that music is what feelings sound like. That's very true. Very, very true. So, congratulations to you and all your hard work and all that you've contributed to the community. >> Did you has this been rolled out yet or is this >> Yeah, I'll be putting it in the band room tonight. >> Tonight? Yes. >> Okay, >> that's exciting. >> Cool. >> So, what's your favorite decade for music? Oh, probably in the 90s. >> Well, congratulations. I was one of those kids that did not have a place to belong. I wasn't into sports and choir was my where I high school choir especially was where
019I finally found like my spot. So, I think this is fantastic. Music is >> only helpful in my opinion. Great job. >> Thank you. And Donna wants to go to the Mediterranean. I want to go there. >> All right. Policies, Mr. Kundi. All right. Um, we have the two policies tonight for review and approval. The policies that are we're presenting here tonight has been and read over for the recommendation from the committee to the board. Um, these two policies as we've read them through have an awful lot of information and check marks and and so on. These uh policies were uh both reviewed by our business manager as well um our our technology director um for their thoughts and recommendations as well as each of these policies as far as purchasing and digital content and
020accessibility really do uh focus on some of their responsibilities and their daily uh daily responsibilities through the district. So policy 6320 on purchasing revision. This policy outlines the procedures for the procurement of all supplies, materials, equipment and services using district funds, emphasizing compliance with relevant laws and ethical standards. Its important lies in ensuring fair and open competition, responsible financial management and preventing conflict of interest in all purchasing transactions. The key policy revisions include reorganiz reorganization of content as well as clarification on single vendor bills and the timeline for bid delivery to the district. The revision is recommended um but not required. And as I go through this with there being so many checkpoints, if the committee andor the board, if I do miss anyone or anything, please because there's a lot of information to go
021through here. And like I said, these policies were reviewed by both of our administrators within those positions. Policy 6320 on purchasing 9-2. If you go through and start on the third paragraph where it's indicating it is a policy of the board that the district administrator administrators seek at least two price quotations on purchases of more than $25,000 for a single item except in cases of not enough vendors emergency or when materials purchased are such of a nature that price negotiations would not result in a savings to the district. The discussion here surrounded the fact that we wanted to make sure that um we mentioned not enough vendors instead of a single vendor and as well the $25,000 uh increment and not to mix that up with a policy that we currently have where purchases that
022are out of scope or out of the prospective budgets they come to us for approval. Um as an example when Mr. Katie came to us on some of those windows or the skylights at that time that um those dollars were out of scope as far as his budget goes. So those kinds of u you know acquired policy changes are not part of this policy. That's a separate policy just so we keep that that straight and understanding. um competitive bids. As we go on through um the second paragraph, we will have a check mark where it states when the purchase of and contract for single items of supplies, materials or equipment are reasonably anticipated and they reach the amount of 250,000 or more. The director of business services shall obtain competitive bids. The next one, as
023we check, we we are recommending a check mark where it states, "Bids shall be sealed and shall be opened by the director of business services in the presence of at least one witness. A bidder may be required to submit a sworn statement regarding the other thing I want to mention is when we did these policies, we did check with surrounding school districts, whether it was Ashkosh and or Amro um with these and we found that some districts do have, some districts don't. Um this one here um when I'm looking at competitive bidding as an example, Ashkosh did not go along with this but Amro does. So um differences are out there within school districts and yet we as a committee are bringing our recommendations as we thought and felt was best for our district for
024your board discussion and or recommendation for approval. Um the other thing as we go down towards the bottom part, uh one thing that I'm always concerned about that we understand when there's dates and times that are within policies. Um such statements shall be delivered to the district no later than five business days prior to the bid opening. Um so I want to indicate and point out the five days. Any further question on 9-2 9-3 under general provisions that particular area we are not going to take and put anything within the parameters of that language. We're going to go down to where it says the end of option where the first check mark is under the district administrator is authorized to make emergency purchases without prior approval of those goods and or services needed to keep
025the schools in operation. Such purchases shall be brought to the board's attention at the next regular meeting. So, we will have a check mark there. As we read read down, before the employee places a purchase order, the district business services shall and as we're going down through, we're going to choose the option of the check mark being in the interest of economy, fairness, and efficiency in its business dealings. The board requires that A. We will have a check mark in a items commonly used in various schools or units thereof be standardized whenever consistency with educational goals can be maintained as well as letter B opportunity to be provided to as many responsible suppliers as possible to do business with the school district. C and D we didn't feel as though were relevant to check at
026this time. Any further questions on 9-3? As we continue in 9-4, um, we work down through when we get under debarred contractors excluded. There was one check mark that I noticed and the committee members as well. Um, correct me if I'm mistaken, but we did decide to come through and recommend a check mark to be in option number three where it states include a provision in the contract or as a condition of any subcontract award the contracting party and so on through that language. Correct. >> Yes, I have a check there in my packet. >> Okay, good. Um, and so I just wanted to make sure when I I spoke with Peggy and went to review these that I was under the same thought. So, >> Yep. Okay. Anything further on the policy of 6320?
027Any other questions? The next policy 7540-02 digital content and accessibility. The policy provides digital equity and legal compliance by mandating that all district web content and mobile apps adhere to accessibility standards like Winnie County Community School District administrative guideline 2-1 level doublea. This adherence provides individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to access information programs and services preventing discrimination as required by section 504 of the ADA. Furthermore, the policy maintains the professionalism and educational integrity of the district's digital presence, controlling content for appropriateness, security, and alignment with the district's mission. This replacement policy is a a replacement new to the district now reflects the US Department of Justice final rule provisions under title two of the Americans with Disability Act requiring state and local government entities including public schools to make web content and mobile applications
028accessible to individuals with disabilities. There are statutory timelines relative to the technical standards compliance that are addressed in the notes of this policy template. Adoption is recommended for a legally compliant guideline. Policy 7540 replacement for the digital content and accessibility. Um on 9-5 creating digital content um we have not recommended a check mark to be in the very first paragraph where it indicates the board authorizes staff members. No check mark in that particular area. >> Excuse me. I believe it's uh and students. I believe that's the check mark. >> Yes, and students. But we didn't put a check mark there. >> I not we did not. Yes. I'm sorry. Board authorizes staff members and students and and students is where the check mark would not be placed. >> Uh drafting note, >> just a quick
029question. I mean, do we have any and this might be more toward to Peggy or even uh Dr. Mashad. Do we have any classes that that might go against if we had, you know, students creating something? >> Not currently, but we have had video production in the past that may have made I mean, they helped Peggy make some videos that were posted on our website. So, I don't know if that would count if they were working in collaboration. >> I think you'll see as you come up later though, you can do it with approval. The >> director, it's the next paragraph. >> Yep. Okay. >> For the next. >> Yes. >> Oh, I see. If we look under the drafting note, choose one, both, or none of the following options. And we have chosen to
030put a check mark in school related student created content for the board's website or district approved affiliated app services are subject to policy 5722, school sponsored publications and productions. and as well a check mark under creation of school related content by students for the board's website or district approved affiliated apps and services must be done under the supervision of a district staff member. Is that >> Yeah. Yeah. And yeah, perfect. >> Okay. Uh 9-5 um anything further a question as we move forward? 9-6 under no circumstances will be the paragraph that we start with. We will and recommend a check mark. Under no circumstances shall a staff member post on their personal web pages, websites, or private digital accounts, non-district approval, affiliated apps and services, student progress reports, grades, class assignments, or other similar class
031related material. Employees are required to use the board's website or district approved affiliated apps and services which is Skyward for the purpose of conveying information to students and or parents. The next paragraph, we are recommending a check mark to be there as well. Staff members are prohibited from requiring students to go to the staff members personal web pages, websites, and or private digital accounts. As an example, nond district approved affiliated apps and services including but not limited to the staff members personal accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube channels or Tik Tok sites to check grades, obtain class assignments and/or related materials and or turn to assignments and uh with the language also indicating unless approved by the district uh director of technology. This next one, uh, we are also recommending a check mark. If a
032staff member creates digital content related to their class, it must be hosted on board's website or a district approved app and service. The additional language that we are also recommending to be put on this is not listed, but we are also looking to put the same language on the end of this check mark as we did the one prior unless approved by the district director of technology. Okay. And I believe that we did mention that and talked on that. >> I think so. >> Unfortunately, it just didn't get put in there. And then the last one there um a check mark where it indicates the board's website including a school specific websites shall be generally open and available to the public unless specific digital content is unique to a specific child and/or include student personally
033identifiable information in which case the information must be password protected or access to it must be otherwise restricted. When digital content involving students personally identifiable information or information concerning coursework, particularly a specific student's classes and assignments is password protected. Access is otherwise restricted, the students parents, guardians will continue to have access to that digital content. Um, if we skip over the next one single paragraph sentence there down to words indicated the district administrator shall prepare administrative guidelines defying the rules and standards applicable to staff and students. Um, we are not recommending a check mark being put there prior to the district administrator and or prior to and just before and students. We are not recommending a check mark to be put into those areas. Any other question on 96 9-7? If we go down to
034the first full paragraph, probably just halfway, just further down than halfway. Um, when a person in a disability cannot access district generated or affiliated web content or mobile apps that meet Winnie County Community School District administrative guideline 2-1 levela standards. The district will number one provide alter alternate means of access to the same information and functionality, make a reasonable modification to policies, practices or procedures. Number three, ensure effective communication through appropriate auxiliary aids and services and respond to accommodations. requests within five business days, such as accommodations may include alternative document formats, large print, braille, audio, and b telephone or in person assistance for online services andor see email or or mail delivery of trans or information typically assessed online. the discussion we had on that circled around 2, three or 5 days and the time
035of information and communication to get from A and B and to get the outcome that we were looking for or at any given time may need. We felt as though 5 days would probably be the most appropriate. 2 and 3 days we thought maybe there would not be enough time given if we we restricted it to to those two or three days. digital accessibility coordinator. The board designates its uh people services and director of learning section four 504 ADA compliance coordinators. Those are our compliance coordinators for section 504 ADA compliance. >> So, do they both act together or is it one or the other? I guess >> they both act together. They're just that role that we just had them be together. So, I should just note too, this policy, the reason why like we
036don't have admin guidelines and it's new to us is it we don't have to have this fully implemented for several years yet. So, that's why we're just kind of feeling everything out cuz like our district website we can't access or somebody can't use braille or anything yet, but we know isn't it 2027 we have to >> April of 2027. So, some of like the PDFs that we have on our website you can't use just an online reader. So some of those documents we have to trans transfer into a different format to be totally compliant. So if a person with some visual impairment can't read a document um they would have the tools on their computer to be able to have it read to them. >> Right. And thank you Dave for that clarification because we
037did ask you um while we're going over this policy for that clarification. Thank you. um as well uh the check mark um technology director and then as we go through the check mark that individual those individuals um no check marks in them uh in in those in that area. Um but as we go through this we would have a check mark in the area of are responsible for coordinating and implementing this policy. So the the it would read the board designates both the pupil services and director of learning um for and are responsible for coordinating and or implementing this policy and a check mark under um option one where it states Cabboard policy 22-01 for section 504 ADA compliance coordinators contact information um as our policies when we do put them online and so on
038it is indicating the job area of responsibility title, not the individual's name. Any other questions on 9-7 9-8? As we go down through about halfway under number four, regular audits, the district will under the direction of digital accessibility coordinators, as we've stated, and/or designate at a regular intervals audit the district's digital content to ensure it meets the required technical standards. And the check mark that we're looking to um recommend is as we go through all of the indicators, this audit will occur quarterly, semianually, at least annually, you know, less than every two years with quarterly monitoring of high prioratory uh content and newly published materials. Right after materials, we are recommending a check mark being put just so that would indicate annually with quarterly monitoring of high priority content and newly published materials. So how
039I mean like you said this doesn't have to be fully meanted or implemented. Any idea on what this audit is you know I think audit and I think of what we have to go through what Mr. Sippert has to go through. Do you know what that entails? >> You can have a third party service that will basically implement this tool that can scroll through your entire website and identify documents or materials on there that aren't easily accessible and then they'll like say you need to fix these documents. So that's what we're kind of planning on. It's about $1,000,000 to $1,500 to partner with a company that can do that. So, we'll probably be doing that within the next six months. It's kind of a summer project. >> Okay. Thank you as well, dude. As we
040go on through here, um, with option number two, again, we're indicating the check mark to be and recommended for option two. If problems are identified through the audit, such problems will be documented, evaluated, and if necessary, uh, remediated within a reasonable period. And that's what uh we had indicated based on any findings within an audit. As we go down through 90, just before the very end, um, option number one, uh, the board requires the district administrator, director of technology. We will be putting a check mark where it's indicating the directory of technology. To preapprove each app services that a teacher intends to use to supplement and enhance student learning. To be approved, the app service must have a FURPA comp compliant privacy policy as well as comply with all requirements of of COPA, SOAPA, SIPA,
041and section 504 ADA, including the Winnie County Community School uh administrative guideline 2-1 level doubleA accessibility standards. As we work our way down through 9-9, the next under option two, of course, we are not going to be put anything in there as we did um select option one. And as we go down through end of option two, the board further requires uh we will have a check mark there where the board further requires the use of a board issued email address and login process for district approved affiliated app services. We're not suggesting or recommending a check mark prior winter prior written parental permission for a student 17 years of age or younger to use a student's personal email address in a login process for district approved affiliated apps and services. As we go down through
042under training, the district will provide periodic training for its employees who number one create web content documents and multimedia materials, manage the board's website and digital services, select and contract with technology vendors and or work on online communication. And uh the check mark that we're recommending is as periodic. All righty. Any further questions on that area? Otherwise, we'll work our way down to end of option one and option two. Um, option two, we are recommending a check mark this policy and responsibilities associated with the specified staff members roles related to the implementation of this policy and ensuring the district's digital content is appropriate and accessible. We will have a check mark there as well. As we work our way down, we'll have a check mark on such training shall be facilitated by qualified individuals with
043demonstrated knowledge, skills, and experience concerning accessibility standards and ADA compliant as well. The next uh we will recommend a check mark. New employees and covered positions must complete accessibility training within 30 days time frame of hire, which they currently are working on as they uh need to comply with 30 days that are in the policy. Any further questions on 9-9? 9-10. As we start on the top of the page, we will and recommend a check mark to be included in this approval is the use of short message services texting for official district communications. the district um shall I'm sorry the district short message service shall or will include as we're indicating consent and privacy for short message service communications as you see the listing there of AB C and D any questions in that language
044and as well um number two types of short messaging service communications of the ones listing there. We are recommending a check mark being in C, general reminders, deadline schedule as an example changes. Uh D, district and school events, E attendance notifications, and F transportation updates. Um going down through standard messaging disclosure, message and data rates may apply, message frequencies may vary. Um, users can opt out at any time by unsubscribing at this particular point in time. I believe that's our technology that allows us to opt out is by um hitting unsubscribing. And any further questions on 10-10 and 10-11 is just all the legal with the statutes. So at this time the presentation I know there was a lot as we looked through this. Thank you to our business uh manager as well as uh
045Dave director of technology with the help and recommendation with a lot of the check marks and so on with policies that may not even be yet needed or or so um we are recommending uh them for approval all within one one motion. I move to approve policy number 6320 and policy number 7540.02 as presented. >> I'll second that. >> Motion by Bar, second by Harter to approve policy 6320 purchasing and policy 7540.02 digital contact content and accessibility. Any other questions or comments from the board? >> Roll call, please. Aman. >> Hi, >> Harter. Hi, Kundy. I Stelsner. >> Hi, >> Calartz. >> Hi, >> Veric. Hi, >> Hansen. >> Hi. >> All right. School finance 101. >> Well, it's not going to be as interesting as talking about musicals. And >> I know you're going
046to say policy, but you know, that's exciting, too. >> Probably will rival that. All right. So, the uh PowerPoint or the PDF of the PowerPoint is attached. And so last time the the WBO deck which was much more inclusive uh was pres was uh given out to you and this one I'm going to present a little more in detail. This is more the Winnotti version of school finance. It doesn't hit everything but it kind of hits a lot of the recent talking points and I can certainly come back anything I don't cover or can't answer on our question uh type of question tonight. So slide two is revenue limit. Um when we get to September, October, that's when we start getting a lot of the big pieces that are revenue related uh that are on
047this uh page. At that point, you've already had 6 months of already starting now talking about the expenses side, you know, wage increases, other uh increases to your budgets, any changes within personnel. So this is just kind of rounding out the other side of the column on the of the accounting page and going by what state law is. So you get the starting point of district membership which I'll remind everybody is not kids in seats but it's uh students who reside in your district in the district who attend a public school district meaning it includes open enroll kids as well as your resident district kids who come to your school district. It does not include open enrolled in students and we'll get to that later on the deck. So and that is also a three-year
048average. That's why it's called membership and not count. So that's going for a FTE or full-time equivalency. It also factors in summer school minutes get rolled into a number of equivalency. So that all gets boiled down to a number. This year the three-year average was 1454. The second number uh which we have very little control over come to more from Madison is your per pupil amount which is what can you have a revenue per membership on the first number and this year it was 11650 which was up 325 from the previous fiscal year. Next year it will also go up 325. You multiply those two together which gets you just a little bit under 17 million. And then you add to that exemptions which this also comes from the revenue worksheet. And this year's exemptions
049were just under 700,000. The biggest bucket is um private school voucher aid, which is over 50 55% of that 700,000. Um the other large one in that category was also declining enrollment exemption. That happens if your current year is less than the previous year's membership number. And ours was down 18. So that's how that declining enrollment gets factored. Um on the other side of the worksheet, Add that together with the product and you get your revenue limit authority. Now that's not your total revenue. If you remember what the the budget was in October, it was more like 22 23 million. This is a majority of it. And I'll talk about the other pieces that aren't listed here on the next slide. Any questions about revenue limit though? Yes. >> I just think it's important to
050point out that um that per pupil amount we as a district that's the lowest amount that districts get around the state. There are some districts that get a lot more than that. Um, and we've talked about the uh voucher system. The high school voucher schools in our district get more than we get for our high school students. So, that's just something to really point out. um that you know I think Winnie can be proud of not having to go to referendum with the little bit amount they get per student at least today >> um and that uh the greater community should be made aware of >> we're considered a low spending district >> and M can you explain how the 4kers are counted in the membership >> yes I believe they are now6 >> Mhm.
051>> of an FTE. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, they're not 100% there. Yeah. >> And they're not talk even talking about doing it cuz some districts are moving to full days and they're still not giving them one full >> Yeah. They did take away also the um requirement for the outreach. So, I think everybody gets 6. It used to be 6 if you did outreach. Otherwise, it's 0.5. So, yeah, a couple changes. Which is interesting because if you have a student coming to high school just for a class or two that gets prorated for that class or two but when you bump up 4K or two full day it didn't at least not in the current language. So >> yeah. >> All right. Second slide is equalization or titled equalization aid is kind of talking
052about all revenue as a comparison. So, uh, equalization aid is given out to districts on on or around July 1st as an estimate. At that point, DPI doesn't know what your final number is going to be because they're still kind of waiting for all districts to report their fiscal year. And you have basically 60 months to or 60 days to close your books after June 30th. And then once that's all done, then they update the estimate to a final number in October. And that's why annual meetings or tax levies aren't set until late October because you don't really know your equalization aid final number until then. Usually they're about 95 to 98% on their final number, you know, because they're kind of guessing for all the districts at once when they give out that July
053estimate. So we kind of know as you budget throughout the summer what your equalization is going to be within 2 to 3%. When you think about that revenue limit number from the previous slide of 176 once you get your equalization aid number you can back that out of your revenue limit and that's your fund 10 tax levy maximum was the remaining amount. So this year um it was 17 million 635 936 the equalization aid also called general aid was just over 7.25 25 million which meant that the uh general operating fund 10 um property tax part was just under 10 million three of 380,000. So that's kind of your total uh big bucket pieces that allow you to set your budget. Well, now like you'll see on the graph here, you've got other pieces. You've
054got federal revenue coming from title. um this year. That's I have my uh budget up here on a separate spreadsheet that is um sorry just under 200,000 and then your other is your uh student revenue and your athletics admission and other things that you may get that are fund 10 categorized. Um any question about this slide? I guess the other thing that's in state revenue is non-general aid. So you got your transportation aid, your common school fund, your pre p per pupil aid, which is like a million. Um, and a few other state aids that don't get factored into your revenue limit, but it's not not by any means the biggest part of the pie here. >> And like Mike just so like other districts, the state revenue and property tax might be reversed where
055the state's picking up more of their bill >> versus our bill. So in our case, people always will sometimes say, "Oh, you got more equalization aid this year." It doesn't change the pot. It just changes who's picking up more of the bill, the state or the taxpayers. So in our case, since workers are property wealthy, our taxpayers are picking up more of the bill. So even when you heard about the 325 increase per student, we get next year as well, they did increase our equalization aid. So the whole 325 fell on our taxpayers >> for 400 years. Correct. >> Um, >> is that the one? >> But it it won't it just that shifts. Like sometimes we've been I'll say closer to um where the state has picked up more of our bill than our
056taxpayers. It just always shifts, but it doesn't change our whole dollar amount. >> I think the last big bump was a year or two after CO. >> Yeah. >> They bumped up equalization aid. I'm going to guess 5600. So that really affected your property tax values that or levies that year because it took away from that priority or from that allocation. Okay. Uh the next slide is kind of a summary of what came out of the last summer's state budget. Kind of what Peggy was just saying. Uh there was no increase in equalization aid. uh there was no increase in school levy tax credit which meant that that 325 became more the responsibility of homeowners you know taxpayers kind of gets shifted back as we were talking about on the previous slide >> and I
057don't know if this is the time to mention this at all or not but I had talked with Peggy today and if you remember a few months back when Peggy presented to us a continuous cost factor as an example example. Yeah, the limit increase is $325, but our projected continuous cost is $170 about or so more than that. So around $475 when you take a look at our continuous increase in costing. So there again um to show what we're doing as a district when it gets all said and done as far as our operations to still stay within um the fact of not having to go for referendum for operations. We are occurring more cost besides the reduction in equalization aid for continuous use of each student in the district. >> You kind of read
058the next slide for me. Sorry. That's great. And I just stole this one from the watchless slide. It just basically shows that over the last 20 years, you know, the increases we're getting um in revenue are not keeping up with inflation. I'm sure that's not surprised to anybody here. It does kind of look like at the last 5 years it's keeping more pace and we were more losing ground on that differential say in the early teens, early to mid- teens. So, it I thought that was just in important to kind of bring back in the discussion here cuz, you know, we hear increases from the state and that's great. There's also talk now of more coming into special education aid um out of the out of the state uh people uh the governor and the
059the leader of the Rob Robin Boss was talking about last week. So, that will help. It certainly doesn't shore up a lot of the inflationary increases that, you know, we deal with every year. Any questions on that one? >> Um, I was actually I had one about specifically the special ed funding. Could you or if you don't and aren't prepared for this, my apologies. >> That's okay. >> Um, but could you I think if I'm if I'm correct, over the summer last year, we had special ed funding go from 30 to 45% increase. Correct. >> I think that sounds right. >> But that does, if my numbers are, don't quote me on my numbers. I think they're correct. Um, but could you explain a little bit how that that does not like it's not general
060aid so it doesn't correct. >> Correct. It helps. So that's fun 27 and it helps in the bigger picture at the end of every year anything that we don't have covered by federal special ed money. So that's your flow through in your um early childhood or by your state um special ed aid basically gets done in a transfer out of fun 10. So that could be a million dollars, it could be more. It depends on the side your district and the size of your special ed department needs, right? um that at the end of every year, fund 27 is zeroed out and the costs that haven't been covered by other um aids or funds are paid for essentially by the district's fund 10. What the governor and the house leader are suggesting are more of
061that state aid, more special ed state aid getting um sent out to districts, I believe in next year's >> aid. I don't believe there was any talk about including in this year like a retroactive edition. So that would help the year-end kind of what we call the transfer the fund 27 transfer at least business managers call it that. So it just reduces what the uh responsibility from fund 10 is >> but one thing and Peggy helped me out it wasn't 45%. Because of was it some certain however I can't >> yeah there's some certain some um sufficient and I will say it's very confusing. I think I've talked to our legislators several times about this because we were supposed to get 42% Katie. So close enough. >> Sorry. Yeah. >> And that's okay. And I
062think now they're saying it's coming in I'm just at 35%. But >> Oh, sorry. >> But it's not as simple as that. >> Yeah. >> And I don't know, Mike, if you can elaborate a little bit. It's just all about the big pot of money kind of when they look at it. >> So confusing. >> I know. People were saying, "Oh, we're going to get 42% versus the previous dollar amount, but now it's coming in at 35." Lots of people were already figuring in that based on whatever pot they knew. So, but it's just really >> confusing and I apologize for not explaining it very well, but anything that we can get to help because we're literally taking from our general money to pay for special education. And I figured what the transfer was last
063year's >> I I if I saw it and >> I know it's over it's it's millions of dollars. >> Yeah. And from that money in fund 10 >> Yeah. Sorry to interrupt. >> No, you're good. When I talked to Monica in the past, I remember her saying that that like what even if it were to increase that it wasn't it would not be enough >> because we were having to pull from other funds to cover the special ed fund. Correct. >> Yeah. And and that's the frustrating thing because they make it look like, oh, here's this big increase, but in reality it was peanuts if that. So >> So it says some certain sets a fixed dollar amount for special education reimbursement, while some sufficient would commit the state to funding a set percentage of
064actual special education costs. So when they say, "Here's our whole pot of money. Now we're going to give you 42%." And it just doesn't come out that way because they're using a some suffic or some >> sufficient and we'd rather have it certain. So we know I think it's the other way, isn't it? >> I don't know. It's really confusing. >> I think it's some certain. >> Yeah, I feel we need more here. >> Makes sense. >> Yeah. So I think some certain is where the government has uh the fed or I guess it would be state government has easier time tracking the money because they know how much they are going to be paying. >> It's a fixed dollar amount. Some sufficient means they will cover us no matter what. And that makes our
065job easier at the at the school level. >> Some sufficient would commit the state to funding a set percentage of actual special education. >> That's what we would want. >> Yes. Yep. And the big concern was because we heard so much talk on the state surplus that why are we hearing such big surplus numbers and then a reduction in the ask for support for you know fund 27. >> Yeah. Yes. And that is then you're right because then that allows for reimbursement to increase as our expenses were were to increase. Yes. >> Okay. The next kind of last big slide is impact of open enrollment. So I know this has been a discussion in the past. Um I uh Peggy and I kind of sat down and thought what were the big pieces. So I
066started with what this year's budget is at the top in the top box. Also reminded you that we actually have 779 students as of the third Friday account which includes the 340 enrolled in the revenue that was approved for fun was just over 23.1 million. The expenditures on the final adjusted budget went up to 23.85 because of um the increase in the health insurance premiums. That was a deficit just under 750,000. at 741316. Not bad. You know, within two 3% of your of your revenue or expenses expenses is is okay, especially if the next year or like last year you had a a surplus. You kind of hope when you get one, you maybe don't get two of the other. Um the next box on the left shows you the revenue that is tied to
067those open enrollment kids. So this year's um regular education amount set by DPI is 10,102 per child who is open enrolled into any district. For us at 349 that's 3,525,598. If you want to put into dollars what those 349 kids might cost us. Um it's kind of the equivalent of nine teachers. And then the consumables that a student might cost a district is probably no more than $200. To be honest, it's probably no more than $100. I was thinking things like tech, utilities, consumables, etc. Yeah, they're going to use the bathrooms, but you're not going to heat any less. You're not going to cool any less. So, not every utility is going to be a dollar for-doll savings. You add that up and you're not even on a million dollars. Probably more like $800,000 in
068this scenario. So on the bottom I take out the revenue just for comparison of the open enrollment uh in students and you get under 20 million. You get to 19,586. The expenditures would only go down about 790,000. You then turn your de your deficit at the top from just under 750,000 to almost 3.5 million. Um you really haven't added a great deal to a teacher's load. I don't even think teachers think about it in that term. Um I know when I was a teacher, I didn't know who an open enrollment kid was and who wasn't. Um you also get that factor of people want to come here and that's a good thing and we should always kind of want that. Not that we're out there promoting hey come to win county if you don't live
069here but it is an option because of the final slide which is that it's state law. We do everything that we do with purpose and you know ethically but the other thing we do around here is you have to do it by state law whether that's food service or Steve's department or my department. We have to follow the law and you know open enrollment is current law and it's a very popular um feature in most school districts. It's becoming more and more popular uh countrywide and Wisconsin's probably got one of the better reputations about parents using open enroll more. So, I just kind of uh gave that as a summary at the end that, you know, we can only do certain things when it comes to limiting it and opening it up, you know, setting
070cap sizes once a year and then sticking to that. And then, you know, other than that, we really don't have much control other than making this the best district for the kids who currently come here and those who want to come here. Um, I kind of covered a lot in those last two slides. Any questions on the open enrollment finances you want to talk about? I think the main thing that the take away from this is um as we looked at our capacity of our buildings and we looked at the section counts and capacities um what this open enrollment has done for us for a district if we look at these numbers have certainly kept us from going to operational referendum and the other thing that I have always spoke on is the maintaining of
071our fund 10 balance. I know that fluctuates through the years, but a lot of these school districts, if you talk with them, number one, they don't have the open enrollment numbers like we do, but number two, they've also used up a number of their dollars out of their fund 10 balance. They have no other choice now but go to operational referendum. So, I applaud our board or our district um for the excellence that we have to maintain our open enrollment numbers as well maintain our fund balance as much as we can. And I think that was some of the questions um that was asked a couple meetings ago as far as the costs were occurring when we have this from other students coming in comparable to the savings andor the dollars of revenue that are
072saving our district. And we've we've said that over and over year after year. We applaud the excellence, our staff, our opportunities for these students and families to move in because it's it's been been doing good for us as a district and in return they're getting good an excellent excellent education >> and every January we set our limits and I work with the principles to say what are our limits in each building and Lisa and I like you often hear elementary is overcrowded due to open enrollment. That's just not accurate cuz we know we can have six sections at every grade level. we have enough room to have the six sections at every grade level. And as if you recall, some grade levels are closed cuz we we're not going to open a seventh classroom cuz
073we'd have to put it on the roof. >> And for sure, >> but we know that. But we know that. So when you see those numbers, there's x amount of spaces and various grade levels or some grade levels are closed. It's because we can't fit any more students. Then the same with the um middle school and high school. We work with the principles on setting those numbers. But so that's often one thing I hear is that the elementaryaries overcrowded due to open enrollment. And yes, it's crowded, but I would say they utilize their space very well and create creatively. >> Creatively, I like that word. >> Yeah, there's no more space. >> So, Mr. Sebert, um I want to commend you on that page 106. The I've never seen a financial sheet laid out so
074simple and nice, those four blocks. Now, I purposely didn't call you during the week cuz I want to for an educational experience for myself and anybody here at my expense. Maybe I'll look foolish here, but I did the math four times longhand and uh what I get is totally different and maybe I'm just not looking at it right. I ended up coming up with a million694 profit. So, I took the surplus deficit and um subtracted that from our right off your charts um our OE revenue. Uh that's 10,000 times 349 students. So, we got that 3,525. Then I subtracted the 790 which is OE expenditures, teacher salary, student costs. Um, and then oh and then I came down at the bottom and subtracted the surplus deficit. So 2,735 minus 741,000 the surplus deficit. And that's
075where I came up with my 1,694. And I mean I went through this four times. I don't know. I don't understand how we can have a deficit. >> So Dina, you're saying the 2735 598 and 741 316 should add up to 3476914. And I looked at it like you did as well, but those numbers do come together. >> Huh. because I mean there's two um if you want to call them surplus deficits you got to subtract off of our profit from u the OE revenue um 741,000 and the 790,000 and you know the income from the OE students was 3,525 and then I subtract the 790,000 741,000 and I at 1,694 profit. >> But you have to take the the OE revenue, the 3.5 million, subtract that from the revenue in the top box of
07623.1 million because that the the OE revenue what Mr. recip is saying in the bottom he doesn't include that in the revenue because if we didn't have open enrollment we wouldn't have that additional $3.5 million. So that you're not accounting for that. >> Well the chart doesn't say that. So >> well it says budget without open enrollment students. >> Okay. So that should have been added onto our total revenue for that year. What I'm what I was presenting was in the top the 23 million includes the 3.5 million right in the bottom all I did was I took the 23 million112 subtracted off the open enrollment revenue to get to that 19 million 586 and change. >> Okay. Well, I'm going to explain it then. >> Okay. >> So, our total yearly revenue already included
077the OE revenue. >> Yeah. >> From 349 students. >> Yeah. That explains it. >> And then the other change is I reduced the expenditures because of the right the box on the right. So that also went down. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Any other questions for Mr. Slipper? >> Thank you very much. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um can I just throw out there I know we had some questions at the last meeting. I think it was from Chris Kavitt maybe. He was asking about the excuse me about the open enrollment. Um, if you guys want to look that up, it is state law for us to have open enrollment. Like we don't have the ability to not have it. And if you want to look
078it up, it's state statute 118.51 full-time open enrollment. And it was created in 1997 under act 27. I don't know if this was linked for everybody or not. So, but it was in our packet. >> And if we didn't set our limits in January, we'd have to take everybody. >> Yeah. >> And we've had we've um Lisa and I have done lotteryies especially in 4K like so there's been lot we have a wait list. So, if we did not set those limits and that's what Mike and I was actually Mike said at first. He's like I don't know why we're having this conversation about open enrollment because we have to do it. We have to let our 77 leave and we have to set our boundaries for how many students we can take. >> Yep.
079I just thought I would read that off so people >> I think it's on his last slide too. >> Yeah, it is for us. I wasn't sure if it was >> is linked in the agenda. >> Perfect. I think I don't want to say misconception but I know that when we went to referendum this question came up numerous times because the thought is by bringing all these students in it's it's a big expense for us and to understand yes the part that's expense also has the part of what we're gaining. And so once you go through all of this and you start to realize, you know, like anything you have an expense, but when they take the dollars um away that's going or coming, it's absolutely a benefit for us. And that's the main thing
080to understand um when you take a look at this. And just for I also we can't bank on open enrollment, >> right? >> There's going to come a time that likely we don't have as many students that are open enrolling. Um, so I think that's important to note too. It's not a consistent number for us and we can't bake on it. All right. Anything else? Okay. Um, admin reports. Um, those are in the packet. Um, any additions or from the administration questions from the board? I just want to compliment you, Mike, um for putting in the reports that you did that I've asked for as far as our budget, our monthly ins and outs and as well um I think the September was maybe the last as far as the remodel cost and so on
081detailed and I appreciate that. Um so we do have an understanding where that was at. So thank you. >> I just have a request. Um, I noted noticed that the WBA came to do a special on Mrs. Manure's seventh grade leadership class that um I mean I don't watch the news so uh but it'd be nice if we could maybe get like a little snippet to show at a board meeting or tie it to our website. >> It's going to be March 5th, I believe. >> Okay. On small towns. >> On small town. Yeah. I just think it I mean just like Gabby's presentation tonight that'd be nice to to showcase our students again. >> Yeah, that's a good idea. >> All right. And board reports, any communications? >> Um, yes, I have just one.
082I want to thank everyone for the thoughts and prayers and the loss of my mother-in-law. It's very appreciative for the messages and the cards and so on that my family's received. So, thank you. uh committee reports um HR and finance. >> We met on Friday. Um we have one item for tonight's uh close session and then the other item we'll be discussing at our next meeting. >> Okay. Marketing and public public relations. We have not met policy. Uh we presented what we had and so we're good right now. Okay. All right. Little break. I just love the >> I love policy. >> I was going to say you're probably disappointed all bummed out. >> Um and with that I would uh entertain a motion to move into executive session. >> So move second by second
083by Harter to move into executive session pursuant to Wisconsin statute 19.85 85 sub1 subg to receive legal advice concerning a dispute with a contractor and pursuant to Wisconsin statute 19.85 sub1 subc to consider employment promotion compensation evaluation data of employees over which the district exercises jurisdiction specifically to review specific employee evaluation and performance data relative to potential human resource position. The board will reconvene in open session and may take action on items discussed in executive session. Roll call, please. >> Carter. Hi. Candy. I Stellner. Hi. Calartz. Hi. Veric. Hi. Aman. Hi. >> Hansen. Hi.