001to order. This is a meeting of the Winn County Community School District Board of Education. It is February 2nd, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. We are in the Winnick 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 andor 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 rise and join me in the pledge. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for
002which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please. >> Stellner >> here. >> Cowarts >> here. >> Veric Aman >> here. >> Harder >> here. Kundy here. Hansen >> here. Uh recognizing our administrative team. We have Dr. Larson, Mr. Cipper Sippert, Mr. Jerbeck, Mr. Maner, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Pitch. That's it. And now is the time for open forum. Oh, do everyone signed up on the signup sheet back there. Okay. And then open forum, we have Mr. Chris Kitt. All right. Hey, good evening. My name is Chris Kitt. I'm from Winchester, so in the district. Um, looks like item number seven here, the state of school finance 2527 might be discussed in a couple weeks. So, looking forward to that. Um, just a a request. Um, I don't
003know if it's at all possible if we can put some sort of information like on a per [clears throat] student sort of for format like how much are we spending or getting um above and below in a per student format. Um, I'm real curious about also how the uh open enroll portion of that may impact um the bottom line at the end of the day. Um, I guess it's my understanding that a in district student is bringing in approximately like a $12,000ish range or as an out of district maybe like 2 grand less. So it's like 10 >> 11650 for president and I forget the exact number for open enrollment but I feel like it's around 9100. Okay, >> don't quote me on that. I'll definitely get it for you. >> Generally it's less by
004a significant amount and I'm just wondering how that really impacts our district. I know I believe it's a pretty large number like 400 out of 1,700ish kids are open or somewhere in there. >> Yeah. And we'll get that for you in a slide. We have a really cool slide um >> that needs to be [clears throat] updated. It it talks about open enrollment and where we'd be without it and where we are with it. So we'll get that in the next >> Cool. And I do understand like if 400 kids are open enroll at say 10 grand, I mean that's you know $4 million it's bringing in. So that's great, you know, benefit for adding offerings and all that. But then also >> there's expenses with it. >> There are expenses and there's cost, you
005know, and would be >> we'll show you that all on the slide. >> Yeah. So I'm just curious like >> if we come in hard hard conversations, hard decisions at some point like is open enroll opportunities >> and when we get to that section I can elaborate I can answer some of but we'll definitely reo that information for you as well. But once we get to that area I can touch base on it quickly too. I'm just going to make sure we're looking. >> That was actually a key item that was talked about any time that we went to referendum for any kind of building or anything was part of the benefits of some of that programming. >> Yeah. We have a really remember that slide with the two houses on it that we've used.
006>> Okay. >> Yeah. And I guess the way I I see it kind of I'm trying to look at the other side of the coin is, you know, would we have a bursting at the seams problem if we didn't have open and raw? Right. No, maybe we have open space where we need it. Um, would we have to build a new storage facility for things if we had, you know, students here? I'm not saying that's the right thing or the best thing. I'm just saying, you know, are we creating some of our own problems? So, and how do we get past that? So, [clears throat] >> okay. >> Uh, Adam, Adam Erands, town away county. I just, uh, wanted to start out address something from way back in September when I made a speech about
007I said something about turning point. I just wanted to clarify something. I know Peggy, you had said if any student came to me, I I don't I don't doubt that you would have helped them create I just wanted to clarify that. I would not doubt that you would help someone create a group. I did however check in with the whoever was running Turning Point at that at that time and they said we don't know how many teachers were asked. Could have been one, could have been 10, I don't know, but they did not go further than that. They didn't go to you obviously. So, uh, secondly, I want to talk about, um, it's really gotten not much fanfare or media coverage, and hopefully maybe it can. I haven't reached out to any media outlets about
008this, but since we're talking about finances right now going on in the state of Wisconsin after um, act 15, for whatever reason, I'm not understanding in the budget how it got there. I'll figure that out. But Milwaukee County or there's a common fund for school libraries funds. All public schools in Wisconsin and half of all traffic forfeitures go into this fund to pay for school libraries books. I don't know what else it pays for but is it everything? >> So all the all that stuff. I think [snorts] Winnie County got over 100 grand last year or the year before something like that. So, Milwaukee County is taking money out of this pot, but they're not putting money into this pot. So, 71 counties are paying from Walke County um and they're not putting in the
009biggest county in the state. So, um I actually currently have a I filed a lawsuit in Walkshaw County Court um against Milwaukee County and they want to move it to Milwaukee County, which doesn't seem fair. It doesn't seem like that'd be a fair trial, but or a fair venue. So, just wanted to let people know that that that's going on right now. Um, and it's going to hopefully go to state state supreme court. That is against states constitution. So, yeah, I just wanted to make people aware of that. Um, that's pretty much Yeah. So, that's all. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. [clears throat] >> And with that, we will close the open floor. Uh moving into open session, I would entertain a motion for the consent agenda. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion
010by Harter, second by Kellowarts to approve the consent agenda. Um any questions or comments from board members. >> Okay. Roll call, please. >> Stellner. >> I. >> Calartz. >> Hi. >> Aman. >> Hi. >> Harder. Hi. >> Candy. I Hansen. I um number six is policies. Going to discuss a few policies. I'll turn that over to Mr. Kundy. All righty. At our last policy meeting on January 19th, we reviewed the four policies that are in your board packet with the recommendation for approval. Policy policy 1210 board [snorts] district administrator relationship. The policy defines the relationship between the board and district administrator emphasizing the board's role in establishing policies and the district administrator's responsibilities in administering them is important for ensuring clear lines of authority and efficient operations of the school district with the district administrator
011serving as a primary professional adviser to the board. >> [snorts] >> The policy revisions focus on including the district administrator's authority to delegate duties to staff members who are then accountable to the administrator for their performance. In turn, the board holds the district administrator accountable for the overall administration of the district, including their actions and personal behavior. These revisions are recommended but not required. Policy 1210 [snorts] board district administration relationship. As you see in the second paragraph, the district administrator as the administrative head is the new language of the district is primary professional advisor to the board and as well the new language as such the district administrator is responsible for the development, supervision and operation of the school program and facilities including the development of administrative guidelines consistent with policy 1230-01 development of administrative
012guidelines. The board shall retain oversight of any administrative guidelines established to implement board policy. [sighs] Uh new language. As we continue down in the third paragraph, you'll notice >> [snorts] >> um the district administrator shall report to the board president any information regarding board member conduct in violation of policy 33-01, policy 43-6201, threatening behavior towards staff members or bylaws in 144-5 board member behavior, communications, and code of conduct. If such a report involves a board president, then the vice president shall be notified. Um, the last paragraph of new language, as the administrative head of the district, the district administrator may delegate duties and responsibilities, including those contained in board policy to appropriate uh members of the staff. Those staff performing such duties and responsibilities shall be held accountable by the district administrator for [snorts] their
013performance as employees of the district. As you see, there's a box that we will have a check mark in is recommended. The board shall hold the district administrator accountable for the administration of the district actions taken by the evaluation of the district administrator. And the next page is individual. Yes, we will also on the next new language paragraph have a check mark in the area where it states individual board members who receive communications regarding matters within the purview of the administration including but not limited to personal concerns or student parent concerns shall immediately refer concerns to the district administrator or if the concern relates to the district administrator to the board president. Any further questions on that particular policy? All righty. Policy 1240, evaluation of the district administrator. I'm sorry, was there any further? No.
014The policy emphasizes the importance of periodically evaluating the district administrator's performance to assist both the board and the administrator in their responsibilities and to ensure effective leadership. It is crucial for making informed decisions regarding contract renewal salary, identifying strengths and weaknesses and establishing objectives to advance the district goals. This policy revision includes new options to allow the board to make decisions regarding district administrator contract renewal, determin salary and performance-based incentives, and assesses progress towards district strategic goals. The policy revisions provide new optional topics and revisions are not required. Okay. Um, policy 1240, evaluation of district administrator. As we read through and just pass the first full paragraph, the board shall annually evaluate the performance of the district administrator C. Policy 1110, assessment of district goals. Such evaluation shall include an assessment of the progress toward
015the educational goals of the district. The board working relationship, I'm sorry. B the board working relationship between the board and district administrator. C the board's own effectiveness in providing directive to the administrator. Do we have a mark? And C we have decided as a committee not to put a mark in C in the area of the board's own effectiveness in providing direction to the district administrator. Such assessments will be based on defined quality expectations developed by the board for each criterion being assessed. The board an area there for a check mark. We will have a check mark there. The board and the district administrator jointly shall at the outset of each evaluation determine the method by which the evaluation shall be conducted. Such method may include um as we're going down through all of the
016check mark areas of what we see listed there. A the district administrator's own self analysis of the current status of the district. The active participation of each board member, D, E, and F. Um we do not uh have a check mark or recommend there be a check mark within those areas. And as the last paragraph, as an outcome of the evaluation, the district administrator's performance, the board shall be prepared to judge the advisability of retention of the district administrator and be prepared uh better to letter A determine a district administrator's salary. And we did decide to put a check mark in the area and performance-based incentives. Um, as of now, we um do not have uh any of those inclusive um performance-based incentives within contract. Letter B, C, or D. Any questions? Who are we
017going to for the performance-based incentives? How will those be determined? they going to be determined by a committee or the board as a whole or >> the discussion um that we had with that since we we don't have um that would probably uh be determined through the committee and then then brought to the board the HR >> okay >> committee or the finance committee um that would be a responsibility to come forward as far as as we do other contract incentives throughout contracts >> okay >> that would be what we had discussed if I'm not mistaken Yeah, I believe so. >> Could we go back to F? Um, I don't really understand that the district administrator's assessment of board efficiency and effectiveness. >> Does that [snorts] have to do with the administrators? Um, >> We're
018not checking that. >> Okay. That was just a recommendation. All right. >> That's the new language. Um, I'm sorry. D, E, and F are is new language within this policy, and we're not recommending to include the the uh new language within >> our policy. >> Good. That wasn't clear. >> All righty. I have a question about a >> Oh, I see. Here's the X. >> It says, um, determine the district and their salaries with a check mark by and performance-based incentives. Now, does that mean we have to give a performance-based incentive or can it be zero or do you say a performance-based incentive if any? >> It's actually in my contract, but as you know, I've never expected that nor do I. I mean, >> I I know it's already in my written contract as
019well. >> Make sure that you know if we wanted to say zero, it was zero. No offense against you pay. >> No, not taking No, I understand. It's I am just clarifying the fact that >> absolutely >> because it says and so >> and it does say to determine whether we're going to or not is how I read that. >> Okay, >> I'd agree. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> There I missed the two up there. I see. >> Okay. Um any further questions? Otherwise on 6B2 um B C and D the new language would be E. make decisions related to the district administrator's contract renewal and F determine progress toward district strategic goals as outlined in policy 1110 assessment of district goals and we would have a check mark in each of ENF. Any further questions
020on that policy? Okay. The next policy 2431 interscolastic athletics. This policy recognizes the value of intercolastic athletics emphasizing maximum student participation, good sportsmanship, team play, and fair competition over winning. It's important for providing students with opportunities to develop athletic abilities, and fostering school loyalty and community interest. The policy revisions include adopting name, image, likeness compensation standards. Okay. Policy 2431 intercolastic athletics. If we go down to the fifth sixth paragraph where the full new language is, the board adopts eligibility criteria that meet or exceed the [clears throat] Wisconsin Intercolastic Athletic Association standards. The first place for a check mark. The board further adopts the name, image, likeness, compensation standards set by by the WIAA and directs the district administrator to provide intercolastic athletics for students in accordance with the WIAA constitution, bylaws and rules of eligibility.
021Okay. Any further questions on 6C-1? As we head through the rest of the policy on 6C-2, um the language is what the current language is. No additions andor areas for check mark. Any further questions on policy 2431 intercolastic athletics? Okay. Policy 1210, excuse me, policy 5136. And I just turned the wrong page. Here it is. Personal communication devices. Policy 5136, personal communication devices. This policy regulates the use of student personal communication devices to protect the students, staff, and the learning environment from disruption. It establishes clear rules to prevent academic dishonesty, safeguard, and the privacy of individuals and address harmful behaviors like cyber bullying and harassment. Ultimately, this policy is intended to establish a safe and focused educational setting by managing when and how these devices are used on school property. This policy revision is a
022result of 2025 Wisconsin Act 42 requiring each school board to adopt by July 1st, 2026 and submit a copy of this policy to the department no later than October 1st, 2026. A policy generally prohibiting students from using wireless communication devices during instructional time. Each school board must define such a device as portable wireless device capable of voice messaging or data communication, including cell phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices. The policy must allow exceptions for emergency health management, individualized education programs, or 504 plans, and they determine they benefit student education or well-being. Finally, the policy acknowledges that Wisconsin statute 120-1229E allows school boards to adopt policies more restrictive than the 2025 Wisconsin Act 42. Okay, starting with policy 5136 on personal device communication, personal communication devices. As you see the first part of new language here,
023the board is aware that personal communication devices are used by students and parents to communicate with each other. However, the use of personal communication devices on school grounds must be appropriately regulated to process I'm sorry to protect students, staff, and learning environment. Personal communication devices, also referred to as wireless communication, provide voice messaging or data communication between two or more parties and include the following. Before we go through the following, just to mention, of course, when this came through as a mandate, we've had already had our personal device communication policy in place and as you recall, um, we had a number of devices listed. So on this policy here in is inclusive to our policy as well as bringing in the actual policy together to include some of those that are considered personal communication devices.
024As you see the whole new language A through um S indicates a whole lot of present day. It could be it could be also some of um uses from some timelines ago but are still out there but ways of communicating. Okay. Um, >> yes. >> Could I ask a question before we get too far? Um, just for learning purposes, [clears throat] why not for an after school activity? I don't want to guess. Is it to promote more interaction between themselves or for safety or >> is that further in the policy? Um, after it lists all the devices, that first line, >> are you saying the policy policy should say we shouldn't allow them to be used in >> I really don't know what to think. I'm just curious why don't can't kids use it um
025at an after school function. >> Can I reread that to you, Dean, because it does say >> they can. It says students may possess personal communication devices in school, on school property, during, after school activities, and at school related functions. However, they must be powered off completely off. >> Oh, I read stored out of sight during school hours. >> I'm sorry. >> Okay. And that was a discussion. >> Yeah, we all were reading that one. >> We actually we actually did put in after school. So that was new language that we put in as a um as a committee cuz it had not had that in. Okay. [clears throat] Um 6- 6D-2 [sighs] as well as you go down through that policy. The new language um is students may not use a personal communication device
026in any way that might reasonably create in the mind of another person an impression of being threatened, humiliated, harassed, embarrassed, or intimidated. See policy uh-01 on bullying. In particular, students are prohibited from using personal community communication devices to transmit material that is threatening, obscene, disruptive, or sexually explicit, or that can be constructed as harassment or disparment of other based upon any protected class consistent with board policy 2260, non-discrimination, and access to equal education opportunity. Is that new language? Okay. Anything further on that particular page? 6D-2. Um 6D-3. As we see, the new language starts with the drafting note. The language below is required per Wisconsin statute 120-1229. Student use of personal communication devices in the following circumstances will not be considered a violation of this policy. Emergency or threat. Student use of a personal communication
027device is allowed in the event of an emergency or perceived threat to address the safety and security of students and staff. Healthc care management. Student use is authorized as necessary to manage or support a specific student's health care needs. Um the first area there is a check mark as approved by the district nurse. We will have a check mark there and not have a check mark as defined in the individual student health plan. Letter C, individualized education plans. Student use is authorized consistent with the students indivi individualized education program IEP or a [clears throat] plan developed under section 504 of the federal rehabilitation act of 1973. D. Educational purposes. Student use is authorized by a teacher for legitimate educational purposes during the instructional time as described above. Letter E. We did not check that um
028because at this time we as a board have no other exceptions that we would put in writing uh to this policy and we don't know of any as of this time that the board when our discussion took place that we would want to put in. It basically has stated some of the questions on emergency areas and healthcare as well as following the whole list of devices that are are not allowed to be used at the certain period of times. duty to report student responsible for their personal communication devices and annual notice. The annual notice is new language and no later than October 1st of each year, the Department of Public Instruction shall be notified by the district of whether any changes have been made to this policy and if so, the updated policy shall be
029submitted to the DPI. Any further questions on on 6D-3 of policy 5136? Otherwise, the recommendation um from the policy committee is to approve uh what was listed and reviewed here at the agenda item for policies. I'll make a motion to approve policy 1210 for district administrator relationship 1240 evaluation of the district administrator 2431 intercolastic athletics and 5136 personal communication devices as presented. >> Second motion by Hansen second by callowarts to approve the uh policies as presented. Any other questions, comments from the board? >> Roll call, please. >> Cowards. >> Hi. >> Eggman. >> Hi. >> Harder. >> Hi. >> Kundy. Eiselner. >> Hi. >> Hansen. >> Hi. >> Next is the state of school finance which was a fun read. Um 2005 through or I'm sorry 2025 through 2027. My understanding this was just to
030basically kind of give us a flavor of what's to come next week when it's winized. >> Yeah. If that's a word, but that's what you want to use. >> Um, we won't go I guess the the expectations. Here's an overview of how schools are financed >> in general and where we stand as far as Wisconsin and school finance. We're just going to give you win county numbers the next time around. Like here's we get 11650 per student. That's our resident students. here's our enrollment trend and talk through it that way. Definitely add stuff about open enrollment. Um uh and just a little bit about that. Essentially, I just looked at our old slide. The impact for us on open enrollment is a gain of $2,436 million. If we didn't have open enrollment, we'd be in
031the hole. So, we also account for about $600,000 in expenditures. Again, this is last year's data. Mike and I will definitely update this with this year's numbers. Um, and then more recently, um, the January board meeting, the board approved open enrollment seats. So, we don't have open enrollment cart blanch everybody come. We set limits. So, if there's a class like I believe it's the incoming fifth graders are a little bit or is it incoming sixth graders? I always forget. There's a sign they don't have as many student is it fifth graders, Todd? >> Thank you. I appreciate that. This that's a really small class. So we can take some more students, but special ed's closed, two grades in high school are closed. So you'll see that was a document in the last board session. So
032if we don't have space, they can't come. So just a little bit about that. So but we'll update that slide on open enrollment. Again, we've always noted to the board that open enrollment um keeps us out of an operational referendum. I think you've heard that word operational referendum across the state quite a bit recently. Again, we are one of the few districts who are not in that situation. Um, and I'll say it's due to open enrollment. Open enrollment is not going to we can't count on that. It's it's not a reliable um steady income. So that's important to note as well. But we go into that more. So again, we'll just win a county it for you. We can't I think the hardest part for me about school finances, we only know our uh what
033we're going to receive from the state every two years. We can't predict out further. Now, we do that with our bear forecast model, that 5-year forecast. But it's doom and gloom because we always are so conservative in those numbers. But we'll try to get into that a little bit more, but if there's anything else specifically you want to know about Winn County, just feel free to email me and then Mike and I will make sure we cover that. But again, just wanted to give the board and anybody looking at these documents, here's how schools are financed. Here's where we're at in the state of Wisconsin. Um, I found one of the slides particularly interesting. if if we had been funded at the rate of inflation where we'd be today versus where we are. >> It
034is what it is. We do our best to get by. Again, open enrollment is our saving grace. Right, wrong, very indifferent. But we'll give you more information. So, >> and you'll have information on the vouchers. >> Vouchers is really interesting. We're trying we're working with um municipalities to actually get the voucher cost on our tax bill because I don't think people recognize the cost of vouchers. And I gave there's an article in I emailed you. It was it's um >> Adam, I think I gave it to you as well, the cost of two systems. So that's >> interesting as well. >> Um I I I like saying this. I have nothing against vultures at all. I think it's a wonderful opportunity, but there needs to be the same accountability. There's very limited accountability within that
035system. Again, I'm all for it. I think it's great, but then we all have to be held to the same standards. what you're telling is that you're referring to special education um all of it there's teacher teacher licensing um following all the rules about everything from school calendar to again special education so it's just a >> different and I know it would be a slow process right you can't demand those things overnight as well but it's interesting conversation with the legislators >> yeah that that article that that Ann Chapman, you know, that's a new job. She has a research director for WBO, that just um that was not accurate. I mean, what she said about raising concerns that voucher programs do not generally improve student achievement in many cases. >> I don't want to talk
036too much about this because it's not really an agenda item. >> Finance, is >> Well, school finance. >> Yeah. I mean, I spend $20,000 a year instead of my two grandchildren. >> Yeah. >> Public schools also, >> right? So, when we talk about state assessments, that's what we're talking about. We're not comparing apples to apples. If you try to look at I let's just say I don't want to say the name, a school district maybe that is in um the Fox Valley area and try to find their report card, they don't have one. So, there's no accountability piece because they're not taking the Ford exam. they're not all taking the ACT. Um, so there's no way to compare the education. So that's the point. So, um, they're saying to parents, and again, I I know
037this just cuz I simply asked, um, >> nope, you don't you don't want to take the forward exam. Sign off on that. You don't have to. But then there's no report card, so you can't compare that. There's also an article in the Post Crescent recently um about how many students are not tested in I'll just say area vulture schools and then there's some that are. So it's just an interesting thing. So that is accurate. There's no way to compare. >> Yeah. I don't think people are spending that kind of money for no results. I don't spend 20 grand for nothing. >> Okay. I mean again there's just no >> I don't think the point is that there aren't results. I think there there They're not com they're not comparable. Public school versus I I'm not
038saying that there aren't or I don't think they're saying that there aren't results, >> but they're not it's hard to compare public school to private school. >> They don't get a report card. They don't have the same standards. >> They don't have the same standards. Yeah. >> Well, they're they're doing very well. >> All right. Anything else? >> No. Okay. >> So, email me if there's other things you want on that school finance, but we'll get it rolling. >> [snorts] >> um fiscal year uh the audit report. So this was also in your packet very lengthy um a lot to read and digest I think um the communication letter is probably uh summarizes it fairly well um and kind of brings it all together. So I don't know who >> just any questions for Mike
039or I about >> the audit. Keep in mind this was from last year. >> Yeah. >> Mike is not ultimately responsible for this. >> I don't want to bore everybody with a whole bunch of questions. Um what caught my eye here? Um for unearned revenue um oh no here we go. What is the difference between charges for services and user fees? >> Do you have a page giving reference? >> Uh, I don't have the page number on that. >> Would that be contracted services? >> Uh, I don't know what he's referencing. Like >> that's what I thought it was. >> Is there a page number at the bottom of your page? [clears throat] >> Some areas in the packet didn't have page numbers, so I couldn't write anything down. >> I I did have the
040same question as I read through it and I looked at it as contracted services. when you're saying that that's what I thought it was. >> Oh, >> because we always review our cost of contracted services. Okay. >> I was thinking revenue, but now I I understand now what you're what you're explaining. So, [clears throat] >> do you know all the pages are labeled? So, if you find it later, just let us know. So, >> Whiply has their own numbering system, too. I think came through on the PDF. >> Okay. cuz I wonder if it's related to unearned revenue. Um, that's what I was getting at. Money received related to food deposits. Is that talking about our food program? >> Yeah. >> That have not been earned. Is that is it lunch accounts or >> if
041it's referring to food service? Yes. But >> food seemed like a weird term. >> I [clears throat] don't know. I'm seeing >> that's page 23 by the way. That one had a page. >> Oh, >> okay. See if my laptop. >> Oh, okay. So, student balances end in June all over the place, right? Some families are going to have two bucks. Some families are going to have a 100, maybe more. We have not earned that money >> because we have not charged them for use of that money. So at the end of every year we run a a run report that shows the total balance that is concerned unearned revenue that we have in our account rolls forward when they do the rollover for the new fiscal year. You have your same balances. Now it's
042put into [clears throat] the new account or into the new year financials >> so that they can use it and it's fluctuating all the time but you know they have to have that kind of look at it on June 30th. It's not going to change that much from year to year unless you have a really a lot of people leaving it low. But I don't think most parents pay attention, especially when you're just kind of your kid is still going through the system, you're probably just aware when it gets low and that's about it. So, >> do we still reimburse the senior students that have left over? >> Yep. Um any unpaid fees are probably reconciled in that last month with seniors as part of the graduation process and then close out the account if
043they're the last most district if they're the last child in the family. >> Okay. So that must be that's kind of related then to when somebody donates to a club. >> It's non-earned revenue. Well, I don't know that an auditor would call it that same because a club balance would be something that you can use at any point for the purpose it's given and that can sit for a month and then be used. It could be sit for 6 months, it could sit for a long time and you know maybe you're building towards a bigger project. So that's a different type of revenue. Um, plus that's fund 21, which isn't necessarily reflecting all of the, [snorts] you know, pages that have page upon page of columns of of balances. So, that has its own category.
044>> Did you say that was a donation? >> Yeah, I was wondering a donation to that group. If you donate to a group, you normally don't get that donation back. So unearned revenue [clears throat] >> the one question I had for Mike this morning or this afternoon when I spoke with Peggy, of course I'm always concerned about where our fund balance is at. And if you look through this and I was trying to find the page, there's an understanding of our facility fund balance compared to our district fund balance. And if you remember reading through this audit, the original fund balance was 31 million and it ended up that our fund balance was also between 14 and 17 million less than it was at the end of the year. And specifically the reason why that
045is is because that was our building referendum and when our bonds came in and went out and we paid for the facility of the middle school here. So that took me a little bit to find when I spoke with Peggy as well and Mike, thank you. Um because I was concerned about why we had such a loss of fund balance. [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> And the reason is because of course when the bond the first bond that we approved was at 20 million and the last bond was at $18 million but end of the year remember was June 30th. So that money variation in and out was the reason for the different of the fund balance. >> Yes. Um basically by putting 13 some million into this particular space you've converted cash into fixed
046asset now which has its own increase on I'm trying to find which page it is and I'm not but that has gone up almost directly the same amount as you would think because you've increased what this is now worth or insured at or whatever and you've reduced the amount of cash that has been borrowed since the 23 million in 2023. I want to say that first bond issue. So yeah, [clears throat] >> so that was one thing I wanted to point out because of the understanding of actually our fund balance is so variable but that particular was facility fund balance and that's where I had the question. So I got it got the answer from you. >> Yeah. >> Anything else? All right. Uh, request to purchase handrails for the gymnasium bleachers in the high
047school. >> Okay. This is probably the most exciting thing that's happened to me and I I'm really seriously as far as school and >> it's long overdue. >> Yes. And we couldn't find them. We searched high and low to um find something to retrofit to fit our current bleachers. We couldn't find it. We couldn't find it. People were looking between Steve and his crew and Tyler. We were looking at tons of different vendors. Steve finally stumbled upon this vendor. Um, so there's a picture. These are actually our middle school bleachers in the packet so that they'll look very similar to this. It still allows us to push our high school bleachers in. Um, but again, we just really excited. I feel like I've watched too many people, young, old, and in the middle struggle in
048our high school bleachers. Now, granted, this will only go down like the kind of the middle sections, but at least it's a safety guard for people to have. >> Yeah. >> So, um I am really hopeful that the board will allow us to uh get these purchased and installed as soon as possible. Again, this is outside of Steve's budget. This wasn't something he necessarily planned for. That's why also it's coming to you because it's over that aotted amount. But, um we just feel like it's just a safety issue. I kind of chuckled at the the contractor's estimate. He lined out that that second estimate. >> Yeah, we don't need that. >> It was probably too big of a dollar amount. >> Well, and it wasn't something we need. So that's what I actually Steve and
049I lined that out. So >> So it went down from 50 grand to 36 404. >> Yeah, it's still expensive, but I you know, if you think about people's safety and >> Yeah. [snorts] >> All those things. >> It's money well spent. >> And I I do think it prevents some people from coming to our gym. just I've watched people go up and down and I you know they're shuddering like you know >> I I told Steve just at the last basketball game I was helping a lady she had a cane and to get down and her husband was trying to help her too and and I just said hey our next school board meeting we're really hoping to get rails and she's like that would be phenomenal. >> So I'm really hopeful that you
050will approve this >> and that's a regular comment that I hear at a number of the games from visitors as well um from other districts. It's like, you know, that really is a safety hazard. And it really is. And it hasn't gone unseen. We finally found something that can work according because those bleachers all shove up. >> You know, they all So to make those uh handrails to fit and and to work was the main thing. >> Maybe it'll lower our liability payments for insurance. Well, we haven't had an accident that I'm aware of, but let's And now I'm like, um, [snorts] >> um, I'll move to request or to approve the request to purchase handrails for the high school gymnasium bleachers. >> Second. >> Motion by Kawart, second by Aman to approve the request
051to purchase hand rolls handrails for the high school gymnasium bleachers. Any other discussion? >> [clears throat] >> Roll call, please. >> Atman, hi. >> Harter, hi. >> Candy, I Stellner. Hi, >> Cowarts. Hi, >> Hansen. >> Hi. >> Thank you. >> Um, yeah. Do you um time frame to have those? >> Um, I don't know, but I know he's going to order them as soon as he's at the hospital convention. He's going to get on it and get them going. >> Good. Uh, request to lease staff laptops and elementary student Chromebooks. Um, >> as you see in your notes, this is a planned expense. We're just locking in the price now because like we discussed at the previous board meeting, prices are on the rise. So again, locking in the price and then they'll be
052um ordered after um July 1. >> We could potentially order them now, but the first lease payment won't be due until next school year. >> Thank you, David. >> Okay. And so just to make sure, this is a lease, not a purchase. >> This is a lease, but we purchase or the lease agreement. We own them at the end of the term. So, like currently this year, we're using laptops that were paid off last year. So, we saved approximately $80,000 in lease payments this year by not entering into we got basically another additional free year out of the laptops that we're currently using. [snorts] >> So, and hopefully that'll be the case with these two at the end of this leasing 5-year term. We can get one more additional year out of them, too. So,
053>> oh, is that what you mean by um I read the contract um end of lease. So, we actually have [snorts] value on in those those devices. >> It's built. Yeah. >> They help us find a buyer. >> Well, if we want to resell them, it's sometimes more valuable to the district to just hold on to those devices. So if one like say one of these new laptops breaks, we still have the old ones that we can like give that teacher in the meantime. We're using them as sub laptops or >> it's just there's value in it. Like our old Chromebooks that we had about 4 years ago, we resold them to the community at a discounted rate so [snorts] students and parents could buy those back. >> I just assumed they were junk. I
054thought with technology they're they're no good after 4 years or whatever. It's not as reliable certainly anymore, but um for families that just want to like surf the internet at home, like they can still probably get a year or two out of them. So, [clears throat] I'll make a motion to approve the request to lease staff laptops and elementary school um student Chromebooks. I [clears throat] second that. [cough] >> Motion by Hansen, second by Kellowarts to approve the request [snorts] to lease staff laptops and elementary student Chromebooks. >> Any other discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Aman, >> hi. >> Harder. >> Hi, >> Kandy. Ei, [clears throat] hi. >> Hansen. >> Hi. >> Uh, WB convention recap. Um there were a group of us that went down to the WASB annual convention in Milwaukee
055um toward the end of January and if anybody wants to comment on sure some sessions they went to >> uh I can start. So one of the more interesting ones I went to was AI in the classroom. Um the big thing the big takeaways is to make sure that we are disclosing any use of it to uh in the class and the administration. Um, also no live demos. If you're just entering things into chat GPT, there's no guarantees what you're going to get out, and that could be very exciting for everybody involved. Um, if you are going to be doing live uh examples, you should have a prompt preset out that you've already tested. That will most likely get you the same result as you did before. Um, let's see. Uh, we want policies to
056dictate the usage of it. We do have some policies, but it's mostly in academic honesty right now. And then the other interesting one that we discussed is local servers running AI. So that way you don't have to deal with student student information potentially getting out. [snorts] Um and then the other one that I went to that was really interesting was the third educator in the room. That one was talking about how the building helps with education. And some of the big things that that are often not discussed is how does your building look in the winter? That sounds like a silly thing, but we spend most of our time in a white out condition. and we have white and brown colors and things like that. So, the kids, we want the building to be inviting
057and stuff like that. Um, the other one they were talking about is trying to add different fixtures to make sound better. The thoughts that kept coming to my mind is, is there a way for us to use our own students to produce, you know, sound dampening, let's say, sculptures for different areas. So that way we're showcasing student art and doing something that would be less expensive and the students could come back in 5, 10, 15 years potentially with their own kids and say, "Hey, I I helped build that fixture that is in the school." So those are the main takeaways I have. [clears throat] >> Okay. >> Um I sent you an email. I don't know if you all saw it or read it of >> I haven't got to read it yet. I'm looking
058forward to it. >> Ones I went to. Um, one of the main takeaways I got from the several of them that I went to is the school board needs to speak in a unified voice regardless of your position. So, we have to support each other and make a unified front to the community. Um, I went to one called empowering school communities and um, that's listed there. It was setting up kind of committees and stuff to um support the board and kind of strategic planning for the school district is basically I kind of took it like that. Um there are my notes there on the schoolboard role and financial oversight which dean if you read that those are just my notes but it might help you with with what they discussed at the convention and looking
059at that audit on things that school board should do. And then um as I said, my personal favorite is the um the law one. I like to read that. And um it did did talk about um the personal devices and things like that. And I kind of put on there what they um passed was prohibiting devices during instructional time. um requiring a parent to be notified if they have if their child was in a victim a victim of some sort of assault or misconduct and then I um listed the ones that they're looking at now and then ones that they're mandates that they're hoping to approve. So if you have any questions on any of my notes, just reach out to me and I'll try to help you. >> Thanks Jackie. Mhm. >> Okay. I
060as well attended um sessions. I'm going to just talk on a couple things as well because I was a delegate representing the district. The first session I wanted to talk on is the one that I attended is um attaching students to employers. Um and I found it kind of interesting. uh you sat in there and you listened and as you listen to a lot of these different uh uh presentations, it is not always hard to pick out whether it's being uh reinforced by another outside entity or if it's by the district or not. As an example, the one that I attended attaching student to employer school perceptions was fully behind that. We have the youth apprenticeship program very strong in our district and it's working very well. these two districts that were represented did not
061have that particular program. So, I found it for our district to utilize our CISA program for youth apprentichip. And I'm not putting a sales pitch in at all um because it is a service that is a benefit for our district as well as there is uh dollars that come back to our district um instead of sending dollars out to an outside entity. um we support our our students um and have that accountability. Um the other particular thing was the delegation which at first it was tooling along pretty slow. I thought oh my gosh this is going to be all date and it kind of it picked up. Um, I don't want to get into a full-fledged discussion, but one of them was on vouchers, and that was the number one thing that came out is
062how the people find out the dollars that are being spent or come out of their general budget and the accountability between the public and or the private and voucher schools. Um, that was the biggest discussion that was had with that. Um, and one of the things that Peggy talked earlier as far as here within our eight or nine municipalities within our school district, we're trying to work on to see if on our tax bills, we could have a line item like we do for like garbage pickup and so on. It's line item on our tax bills that potentially then the people within our municipalities could find out how much. I think ours is 324,000. I can't recall for sure exactly, but it's around that or so that we send out for vouchers. and and then
063each of our tax bills would show so we would know where it's going. It's not hidden then within the take out of our budgets. So that's pretty much [sighs and gasps] there's a lot more but we can go on. >> Um I went to um a couple on teacher compensation just different ways to set up your compensation structure. And for those that us who have been on the board for a while there are districts that still use steps and lanes. um that compensate for longevity as well as um additional credits toward masters and that kind of thing. Um so a couple on that I went to a very good one that talked about the name image likeness or the nail for the the athletes and and the very stringent rules that the WIAA has in
064place for that which I think is a good thing. I mean, it to to to give us a a 16-year-old, you know, something that they can get compensated for through athletics or whatever, um I think is a is a big responsibility. So, the WIA has a lot of rules um in place to kind of control that. Um that was interesting. And then probably the the most interesting one I went to was put on by uh the superintendent and community members from the Mustin school district which they had gone they had attempted um to pass an operational referendum twice and their community did not go for it. And they're they're similar to us. They have about 1,400 a little over 1,400 students. They have a a a large area, a lot of municipalities um in their
065district. Um but they tried to pass it twice and they were they were down to bare bones where it's like kids are going to come to school at 8:30 and they're going to be done at 3:30. There's not going to be any extracurriculars. There's not going to be any any bells and whistles at all. And that poor superintendent, he's like, I came home after the second referendum failed and he said, I did sit down and cry. He said, "I just I couldn't believe this was happening." So, they really engaged um their community, um some realtors in the area, um some other pretty um significant community members to help them rally the troops. They got the kids involved. They got signs made and just kind of their journey on how they were able to pass an
066operational referendum the third time around. And now they're I mean they were told by their by their auditing people your fund balance is going to be gone next year. You're not going to have any fund balance at all. And um so it was just a an interesting interesting story to hear how they rallied the troops and got the referendum passed. So it's mine. All right. Um, admin reports. Um, any questions or additions from administration? Any questions from board? No. But I just want to thank all of you guys that were able to go. I wasn't able to figure out child care stuff, so I had to miss out. But I'm glad that you guys were able to provide some updates. And Jackie, I look forward to reading your all your notes. >> My four pages.
067Yeah, there was [laughter] I tried to get them in before the meeting. I was like, "No, it's too long." >> Well, and I will say, I mean, there have been conventions where I I I really haven't come away with a lot to be real honest. >> Okay. >> Um, but I thought this convention had really, really good topics that are very pertinent. Like the whole AI thing, >> um, I thought was very pertinent. um the the whole classroom thing just you know there there's such a a wide variety and we kind of sit down in the beginning and say what are you going to what are you going to so that we're not all in the same breakout session. >> Oh that makes sense. >> Yeah. So that we can kind of >> but of
068course then there's you know well I want to go to these but they're all at the same time on the same day at the you know. So, um, but yeah. So, hopefully you can make it down there sometime. >> Hopefully. >> Yeah. >> My excuse was I was up north with 250 kids at a camp. >> Oh, >> I wanted to be down here, but [laughter] it's only once a year. >> I paid the price, too. >> It was cold. >> Well, he got me up at midnight to go toboggoning and tubing and >> Oh, wow. >> I barely had any sleep. It >> was horrible. All right. And board reports. Well, first I would like to take a moment to present Mark with his uh 20 years on the board, his award that was
069he was presented this to at the convention. So 20 years on the board. So congratulations TO YOU. >> [applause] >> I WOULD JUST LIKE to say um thank you to our community. Um thank you to the administrators that I worked with and the professional teachers and students and families throughout the years and the changes that have took place. My first year involved with this district was 1997 and [snorts] through the years just to see how we structurally and technology-wise and and so on and expectations of course this has always been a strong achieving district and I appreciate that we're continuing in that trend and toward uh that continued path. So I appreciate again the community administrators, the teachers, my family, and as well all the fellow board members in all the years that I've served.
070Um just the reason and the interest of why uh we take on these responsibilities um in the fact of of the achievement, the well-being and safety of our children. And of course that that's why we we put in our efforts in volunteering for the programs that we do. And I appreciate it. So thank you. Um, any communications? >> I have none. >> Okay. Um, committee reports. Um, human resources and finance. In Jill's absence, I'll just say we have not met. Um, marketing and public relations, we have not met. And policy, we met prior till tonight's regular board meeting. We'll have um a couple policies that we brought forth for approval at our our next meeting. We're waiting on a couple decisions on a few other things down the road. I'm not sure how long that'll
071be, but there'll be two policies on the February um 16th regular board meeting. Okay. >> And with that, I would entertain a motion to move into executive session. So move second. >> Motion by Courtney, second by Harter to move into executive session under uh state statute 19.85 85 sub one subc to consider employment promotion compensation and evaluation data of employees over which the district exercises jurisdiction specifically to discuss the district administrator midyear review. The board will reconvene in open session and may take action on items discussed in executive session. Roll call, please. >> Carter. >> Hi. [snorts] >> Candy Stellner. >> Hi. >> Cowarts. >> Hi. >> Aman. >> Hi. >> Hansen. I