001Okay. Okay. All right. Well, the mission statement for the Lake Mills Area School District is um preparing all of today's students for tomorrow's opportunities. Has this meeting been properly posted? Yes, it was posted on the LSD website and at the Lake Mills post office and submitted to the Lake Mills leader. >> All right, with that I will call this meeting to order and I'll invite all who are able to stand and join me in the pledge. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. All right, then. Thank you. And I will request a roll call for attendance. >> Bus here. >> Adrian >> here. >> Abby Hill >> Here. All right. Uh, are
002there any revisions from school board members for the agenda? >> I'll move the board approve the agenda as presented. >> Motion. >> Okay. Been moved and seconded. Any further discussion? All right. Hearing none, I'll ask for a voice vote. All in favor say I. I. >> Oppose. Same sign. All right, we are moving on. So, administrative report. We'll turn it over to Tanya. >> All right. And I am going to um turn it over to Megan Larabe. >> Oh, okay. >> Who is working with our two youth? >> Yeah, we have uh JP and Mason with us tonight. So, they're excited to give you an update on the work that they've been doing since about the middle of July. So, they have a presentation and I'll let them uh take the stage come from basketball.
003So, that's why he's dressed in his sweats for >> just speak nice and loud since we have this camera tonight. That way we can hear you. >> Hello everyone. Thank you guys for this opportunity. Um, you know, we're excited to show you what we've done so far and yeah, we look forward to this presentation. >> Um, yeah. So, I'm JP Bzowski. Um, I'm a junior at Wake High School. I'm a youngest sibling. I have an older brother who's a sophomore in college at Debuke. He runs track. I have a dog named Hank. I play sports, football and track. Um, football's probably my favorite. Uh, I'm in two clubs, Junior Optimist and FBA, which is Future Business Leaders in America. >> All right. Um, I'm Mason Gray. I'm a junior at Lake High School. Um, I'm
004the oldest. Uh, I have a brother named Ael who's in fifth grade and a sister named 4K. I play football and basketball. And then I'm the vice president of FBA. I'm a junior optimist and Lake Mills United. And um, interact. Okay, so here's some of our work experience. So, as far as relationships, we've gotten to interact with a lot of new people um mostly in the district office. Um so, you know, like we have Tasha um always saying hi to us every day and then obviously working with Megan. Um, and then like I came here in uh fourth grade, so like some of the teachers in elementary that I haven't met I've got to interact with and um even you know some of the people who I always thought were scary like Mr. Bogle and
005just you see that he's really nice guy. So um and then you know student bound. So having our YA blocks right now is really helpful because you know outside of school we play sports and have a lot of stuff like homework and stuff going on. So it allows us to get work hours in your school days. >> So you're you're ya there's an actual block of school on whether it's day one or day two that this is what you do. >> Yeah. >> Awesome. >> Um and then collaboration. So, we've done a lot of collaboration with the recck department as well as hacker for the um like sports side of things. So, like recck department we uh recently we did flyers for summer school and then like the cover for the summer school booklet. All
006right. So, some projects we complete so far. Uh the new website. So, this is the first thing that we did when we uh got this job. We really had no experience working with the website. So, you know, we learned from day one. We went over, you know, virtual calls with the uh guy who like runs everything for the website company. And so, yeah, going through hours and hours of learning. And then after all that, we were able to, you know, have people from the offices, you know, ask us to design their uh part of the website. And um yeah, >> do we use WordPress? >> No. Okay. >> Um and then referendum update. So we recently started this with the bus barn and the addition to the elementary school. So we've and the uh parking
007like the parking area at the elementary now. So, we've we've made I think three or four videos and I think our favorite so far was getting to go to the elementary school and seeing all the young kids right next to the elementary like the elementary add-on, you know, and they were playing with like the dump trucks and all that. So, and then social media posts. So, um we've been doing a lot of post on the Instagram and we also started a Tik Tok account when we came here to reach a younger audience as well. and we've seen a lot of um positive increase in um like interaction on the social media pages. >> Um some videos we've done, here's a couple of them all, but you know, working with the students and staff on like
008principal appreciations was super fun. You know, we got to interview people. They got to say funny answers, what they thought about their principles, you know, some kind stuff, too. Um, obviously working with Officer Johnson on like stuff the squad was really fun. You know, she's always a hoot to work with. And uh, you know, having volunteers like Blake is the elat in there. If any of you guys know Blake Ballman, you know, he's a fun kid to work with. Um, Jack was a fun kid. And then working on the referendum is cool. Seeing what's going on with that. And then just some sports stuff like working with the spider ball. Getting to interview Mr. avoid force was cool and learn all about how the slider started. Um, our favorite part of it so far, as
009we've mentioned, we love making the new connections and talking, chatting with people. For me, an excuse to talk as a reason to be happy. And so, seeing seeing all these um young kids so happy and getting to interact. This is Mason and his brother right here. Um it's it's always fun to be around those different schools and meeting new people always. Um uh end of year goals. So something we want to do a lot better going into this new year now that we have this Tik Tok set up. Um we want to have weekly video content. Got to see the first one. I'll be back there. Uh but we want to make weekly Tik Toks to engage with our students more. Right now it's kind of an inconsistent, right? We make one every couple weeks,
010maybe a month. Um, so weekly and then swims will be engaged more often. Um, we want to track our use of our engagement. So we want to start writing down numbers, right? Seeing how many people are viewing, liking, sharing, and favoring our our post so we know where we need to be better moving forward. Um, and then referendum updates. We're going to continue to uh keep people updated on what's going on with that. >> Lastly, here's some photos we've taken um throughout past 6 months, throughout all the schools and different events. >> I want to say it's really noticeable because um Megan's got a lot on her plate, you know, just even with managing social media and the print media and things like that. I know we've always talked about adding more video content and
011JP I get to watch you a lot more behind the scenes than Mason, but I mean this is so much more than just shooting a video and putting it on social media. I mean, I watch you for hours editing that video and really analyzing how that's going to come out and, you know, cutting it for content and just um said both of you just really have an eye for that. And then also I appreciate them knowing what's going to engage like younger people um across our community as well. But this is I we get a lot of comments from people like wow like your social media presence has really increased this year. So I appreciate all the behind the scenes work you know you guys do to be able to add that video content um
012for us. The referendum videos have been just absolutely a game changer. How does your like workload come about? Do you guys create what needs to be done? Do you have a list of things that they need to do? How does that generally? >> Yeah. So, so we we have a list. It's it's pretty neat actually. So, each task is listed and then like details on like what needs to get done on that task. And then there's a little bar that says like who's doing it, like me or JP or both of us are doing it. And then there's um another tab that you can put in progress completed or you know. >> And do you feel like with this YA block you have enough time because it sounds like you kind of want to do
013some more, right? Are you feeling like you have enough time to complete the tasks at hand and then whenever they're due? I don't know if they have a due date or >> um we're able to get most of the stuff done during our white block. Obviously sometimes you might have a late night, do a little more after school, but for the most part you're able to get all done with school. And you came in during Christmas break. I worked a few hours too. >> We met an advisory or lunch. >> The website looks pretty nice. I I'm just curious with uh when did you start that process? >> So >> changing the website. >> What I think it was literally the the day we the our first day of work that we Yeah. >> Jump
014right in. I was I was learning it all by myself and then they were so excited to work and start taking pictures and going out and making videos and I was like sometimes you have to do things you don't necessarily want to do and this is the website. Um but yeah, the three of us spent hours just learning and collaborating with each other and seeing what would work best and going back and forth and alphabetizing things. So yeah, it was quite a process. And if I didn't have the two of them, I >> mean, even I can navigate it, you know. So, but it is I think visually too it's it's it's nice. A lot of images, colors. >> And these two have really helped with um like the beginning of your staff, having staff
015come back and getting, you know, 200 staff members to take a picture so they realize like why don't they just go in between the cones? Well, you know, sometimes you got to work with things. But so it's been kind of a it's been neat to see them interacting, you know, with staff members, community members. And I'd say at first they were a little shy and now I think they've really grown into, you know, knowing their stuff and representing the district really well. If we have something potentially coming down the line and go funding or whatever we can get out, do should we contact Megan to get it on your task list as a school board? I mean, as a school board like for potential next steps of >> Yeah. >> go through me and we
016we would talk and then kind of present the project to them and see what their ideas were. >> Okay. >> Are you going to do this apprentichip next year or is this a one year? That's our hope right now is I'd be able to donate. >> And then what are you hoping to do like beyond high school? Does this have anything to do with your interest or is this just >> uh Yeah. So I'm I'm planning to study business in college and then hopefully afterward um do like maybe do like an internship during college for a sports team and then after um college do do it for sports team. So beyond that. I mean, are there other kids that are interested in this type of work because as we leave, right? Like it's almost like
017this training program then too, right? So, you're not sure >> that what are your plans? >> So, my So, I'll answer your question first. So, my plans right now, we both kind of do our own individual sports photography and videography stuff. And I'm really interested in being in web design or marketing in college um and working somewhere in that field later on. And then for you, sorry, what are you saying again? >> So plans on like you're you're both leaving. We don't want to exit and then be left with nothing. How do we >> So this is like like it's new. A lot of kids haven't really thought about this in the middle school district, but I think now that it's a thing, kids will definitely be interested in it. Um we know there's this
018freshman Danny Vega who's really into the photography, videography stuff, and um we've talked to him about it and he's definitely interested in it. And I'm sure there'll be other kids who Over time, I think we've also, you know, thought about like putting it on the announcements in the morning like if anyone's interested in learning, you know, about more opportunities as far as this sort of stuff, like come in and see, you know, us or Mr. Hacker. >> And remind me, how did we get them? Did you Did we just put out a job notification? Did you know these people were interested? >> It you know, we have a youth apprentice in technology, so it started with that. And then, you know, we've talked a long time about we really need some extra help and I
019know I think it was just ended up in the announcements, but Carmen Welen is a huge asset. You know, is that well because part of the requirements for youth apprentichip is you have to be taking a high school class that coincides with that. You have to be a junior and senior. So, I mean, there's a couple of other factors that have to fall into place. So, it's not really just opened up to anybody. Somebody would have to be taking Mr. hacker's classes to be able to qualify for that youth apprentice. And then there's a lot of oversight between Megan and Carmen Walden because there is a monitoring portion on the employer side of things for youth apprenticeship. Um so there, you know, there's a lot of behind the scenes things that happen with that. But
020it's um I guess my personal goal would be you know to have a junior and a senior so that um you know you have a junior moving up and then you train a new junior you know the next year so that you've got this flow so that you know we don't have students graduate and then we got to train from scratch >> right so if if they have to have this like prerecord Mr. Packer's class. Does any of this fall on his plate or it's just the fact that they have to be in that class to be able to be a part of this program? >> Would fall on his plate if he was overseeing their youth apprenticeship, but Carmen is Carmen and Megan are doing the paperwork and the monitoring of that. They the
021other teachers monitor youth practices that we have across the >> And did we provide like tools for them to take pictures or are you using your own photography equipment? um through hacker and the paw. Um we have cameras and plenty of equipment for that and then we've also got computers to do the editing and stuff on. >> Okay. >> They did apply for the for the apprenticeship with us and then they did both interviews. >> I remember the interview part, but I was like I don't remember how they came about. >> I Okay. And you both had a social media presence before that where they were videoing sports events. So you it was almost like a portfolio you could look at, right? Like you both had a a presence already that I would say even
022as a parent like I like a video would pop up when it was JP Mason. So >> all right if there is any no other questions. >> Thank you. Thanks. Thank you guys. >> Okay. So, two other quick updates. Um, second is the school board election update. Um, we did in the final hour get 30 candidates um to um run in Amy's um seat. Um so, right before the policy committee, we have the drawing of the lots. And so the order on the primary ballot in February for February 17th um one is Kirk one two Jim Williams and then three will be Michael Kab. So that is the order they will appear. The top two vote getters then will be forwarded on to the April election. Um and finally just a quick strategic planning update.
023We are coming to the end of our fiveyear strategic plan. Um the board has engaged uh Dr. Joe Shrader once again to come in and help us facilitate the next five-year plan. I know we were looking at dates and we um wanted to make sure everybody was there. The spring gets very busy. So that strategic planning session will take place on July 21st from 8 to 3:30. We expect to be able to complete that in one planning session. Um and so um we can discuss this further but um the board really needs to probably talk among themselves to see like how many people you know would you like to be you know a part of this planning session? Do you want to invite community members? The last time we did an all call you can
024do it by invite only. um I do have the administrators um earmarked for that uh that day to participate. So something to be think thinking about is like and then obviously um teachers would be part of that. So >> and it says about I mean do we have a space that we might be thinking of that we would know we could have x amount of people or are we going to pick people and then pick space? Does that matter one way or another? >> I I don't think so. So, I know last time when we did just we did the all call, we used city hall, you know, on the first floor. That seemed to accommodate things um fairly well. It'll be a little trickier this summer with um construction and summer school and everything
025else. That's I suppose summer school will be done by then, but yeah, I I know I'm always a little hesitant to limit people that want to be part of this process. I think it's nice when you've got a lot of diverse opinions and you hear, you know, from a representative um group of people, but I think, you know, city hall at the very least um you know, we have actually update there just in case. >> I think we could do an all call in if we're we want more perspectives that maybe don't have we could even call on the LCAT or not. Is that the group? The LCAT group. >> The cat team. Sorry. the CAT team members to see if we need a filling pole. And it's nice because they have a lot of
026background knowledge already about the district. >> Correct. Yeah, I think that they've been able to provide a lot of perspective. Anything else? Um, so when do we need to just decide or do we need to have a I don't know what does everyone think? Do we want to do an all call first then and go from there? >> That would be my choice. >> Okay. Yeah. So, and then we can go Yeah, we can go from there. >> How do you do your thing? >> Send out the all call. >> Yeah, you can start putting the word out because with it being a July date and people take vacation. So, factor that into that. So, okay. >> Um, >> yeah, I might as well just I didn't realize it was going to be sitting there
027that was in front of you. >> You can just tab down since it's a PDF. Um and so um next on our agenda, Mr. Brian Brewer is here. So we'll be going into the second purchase of bonds here shortly. So he's here to explain um the process for that and answer any questions you have. >> Hi, good evening. So this um as Tanya mentioned, this is the second portion of the financing uh that was authorized last November or November of 24. um you finalized the first 45 million out of the 51 um uh back in January of 25. So we're about a year later. Um we are working on paperwork, updating the credit rating, getting the diligence documents together to be able to send it out to potential biders. Um targeting your uh board meeting
028on February 2nd. Um, and part of the reason for that is this chart that um, those of you that have been on the board, you know, I like showing this chart because it's a historical perspective. Um, the lower chart is long-term borrowing rates over the last 30 years. Um, this upper right chart is just a a smaller snippet of the bigger chart. Um, and it represents what's happened in the last year. So when you locked in, rates were very favorable at the beginning of 25 and then basically from March, early April until kind of September, early October, rates had been nothing but higher. And so in the in the last few months, the Federal Reserve has started to lower their short-term rate uh to kind of balance out slowing uh economic indicators. Uh employment um
029you know, jobs aren't, you know, unemployment rates are are moving up a little bit. Not not, you know, significant like we've seen at different points in the past, but they're trying to kind of get ahead of it. Uh so that has led to lower rates which we're getting back to a spot where we're almost back to where we were when you locked in the first 45 million. Um as a reminder, the reason we broke them apart was um there was a portion of the total financing that was going to be paid off in uh 2046. And so when you look at the um the phase two part, this 6.2 2 million is uh that'll be repaid a portion will be in the next three years so very short and then the balance will be paid
030off in that final year. Okay. Um as I mentioned we will get the credit rating re issued. Uh you you were assigned a double A by standard pores last year which as you can see in the grid um is very very strong. Uh this is the detail page that that we tanasha and I spend a lot of time. Uh but ultimately when I say we're going to pay the principal in the first three years and then the balance is here, it's primarily because I want this column to step in and then level out um out to 2046. And so at a $5 million payment level, that is about $4.9 worth of principal out there because the interest cost is lower in that year. So ultimately, that's what we'll go out for bid on the second
031uh and come back to you that night for approval. So, we wanted to, you know, prep you and know, you know, explain kind of or remind you where we were a year ago and that this is the second and final piece of the overall 51 uh million uh two that was authorized. >> So, just to clarify, if if we're getting back to the rate that we took on the first loan to this loan, is it a higher probability that um it may not be a I know we said two do $2. >> Yeah. Per thousand. >> Two two cents on the mill rate or $2 per $100,000. >> Yeah. And that was conservative. So we did, you know, because we didn't know. >> Um is it looking like uh basically at this point it might
032be lower? >> See see uh so on the mill rate uh we said it was going to go up 2 cents. >> Yeah. And right now it looks like it's going to go down 5 cents. >> Okay. >> And and so there's two things at play there. One is the growth in the property value was higher than our conservative estimate. >> The other is the interest cost is lower than our conservative estimate. So so far at this planning rate of a 447 for this final borrow, we're on track. Like if it comes in like that, you're about 2.6 6 million interest lower interest cost than what we had been using in the planning estimates. >> So it's it's both of those things are at play. Um so while that you know roughly seven cent variance
033you know not going up two and and instead going down five. So it's a seven cent variance you know it it it that's the outcome of the avoiding 2.6 million over the repayment period. uh and that the growth came in a little bit better than what we had planned. >> Am I is that answering question? >> Yeah, that answers are appreciated. >> Um yeah, I was pouring out what we what we used was $2 for the composite. And so there there is a chance that this you know I mean this will change. We had you know we're being a little conservative with what that rate is. Um, you know, if we're in the market today, it's probably with this, it's probably about a 4.3ish right now. Um, but we still have three weeks from tonight
034before we have all the paperwork finalized and we get the bids from the market for your action. So, it was really tonight was more just kind of getting you ready for what will be before you for action. second >> if future boards like in 2030 mid 2030s if like when we hit those low low interest rates if they will ever I don't think come back but can will we still be able to refinance? Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> So I we monitor and track every year uh the the payments like once you issue it and like this >> we have a separate we call it existing debt tracking file. So, and DPI has it never, you know, it's out there. >> So, we monitor what is eligible from your prior referendum authorizations and uh
035when when these periods happen, we took advantage of that to refinance the the previous. >> So, as I look at this, because I assume that was a question with rates coming down that it should be a question. It's a reasonable question. We should be doing it in our home finances, right? um the debt that's on the books for the district are either two or 3% in the areas where you can refinance. Okay. So, >> so you know the last year's debt has some fours on it. So, yes, eventually there might be a time >> um you know where where we're back lower than where we were. Um, but the all of the previous referendum debt has already been refinanced and to levels that probably we won't be able to refinance. It would take something like
036this again. >> Uh, which was abnormally low um to be able to touch those. >> Okay. >> So, yes, we do monitor. >> Do you usually alert us when that happens? >> Yes. >> Just because I know you've got a lot on your plate that Yeah, that's great. >> Yeah. When we have our meetings, it's kind of regular meetings with them. Great. >> I mean there's I mean we've been talking a lot more because of the various referendum planning, but we on a routine basis we talk about budget development and what's on the horizon for next year and what you know what what considerations are you looking at and this is this was part of that kind of financial review process. >> I feel like I call you every time the feds change. >> Yes,
037you do. >> You did it. you did it a few weeks ago too like back in December when you moved. So, so action timeline I mean the main board part of this uh is tonight the discussion and then um we are getting paperwork ready to be to bring back to you action on the second and then eventually the closing will happen on March 3rd and that will be when the 6.2 gets added into the construction investment program. So on February 2nd, it's like right now it's a committee meeting. Then we'll just have to change it to a special board meeting for the vote. >> Yeah. We'll change it so that you can take action on that. We didn't want to wait until our normal February board meeting because that is a holiday. It's President's Day.
038So >> So the market the bond market would have been closed on that day. So we either could have pushed it out to March or we could pull it back to your committee meeting. So that with the fact that rates are coming down like they they were or are um that would be better to pull it forward. >> Sounds good. >> All right. >> Any Oh, go ahead. >> Just remind me the interest that was made, you know, there was that only can be used from the referendum standpoint. >> Is this second wave considered the same >> model basically? >> Yes. You can use 51 million2 for the construction cost plus anything you earn during that construction period and it all has to go on to towards either completing the building projects that were authorized
039that referendum or it transfers back over here to pay off some debt. Those are the two areas. >> Thank you. >> Are there any other questions? >> All right. Thank you, Brian. >> Have a good evening. too. >> All right, next is the facility referendum update. And >> all right, so if you drove past elementary school today, big excitement. The cream was out there. Steals delivered. So, um, we're back in business and we're still on track to complete the elementary edition by July 31st. Um the exciting update is that students will um get to sign the beam. It will be placed um so Fendorf will be putting a beam inside the entryway or Wendy's working directly with them. Students will get a chance to sign that beam and then they get to go outside and
040watch the crane lift in the place. It it won't be exposed obviously once the building is there. Anybody that signs it knows that inside the walls um their signature is up there. So, uh, excited about that. And our youth apprentices are going to help, uh, promote that as well. >> Um, otherwise, we're we're kind of nearing the end. We're nearing the end of the auditorium project. Um, that should be complete here by the end of the month. We've got 4K furniture ordered. Um, that'll be exciting, I think, when we start doing some open houses just because the four rooms are different. The furniture is minimal, but it's really geared towards foury olds and how the teachers plan to use that furniture with the students. Um, all of the furniturees ordered for the middle school library
041remodel. Um, we spent a lot of time with Ethan and the designers getting that just right. Um, and then this week, um, actually not this week, on January 21st, then the designer from UA will be back with our high school students with Mr. Hacker's class. We've been going back and forth with the new varsity gym interior design. Um, really getting a lot of student feedback on that. So, they're going to bring back their latest design based on feedback and see if the students are now ready to move forward with that. We'll also be showing them the cafeteria design. kind of made a few tweaks on that and then the entryway um they didn't quite like what we were proposing so we're looking at a couple of modifications with that. So um otherwise um things are
042um on budget or um I guess that's the last thing the high school bids came in. they were just slightly under budget which um was kind of the last piece of financial news we were waiting to hear from because that's a big biggest part of the project. So that'll now allow us to monitor the budget along the way. Um, I would say the only hiccup we may have is when they get into the lower level of the high school and open up some walls or open up the elevator, things like that that maybe are unexpected, but um that's always the case, but otherwise right now we're not expecting um any of that to happen. So um we're doing we're doing really well um all around project. So, I guess as far as like budget, like
043you were talking, have we considered what's going to happen when we've added square footage at the high school, square footage at the elementary school, and a new bus barn like for clean and upkeep of those buildings? How that's going to be? >> We've um talked with actually I'm looking Tasha left. Um so Tasha and I met with um Nick to start looking at um some additional needs. the bus barn. Um we have decided they will be cleaning that themselves. Um we've got two people that are out there almost full-time and then two additional people that have office space out there. So it's really minimal office space to clean and we thought just through the course of the year they should be able to take care of some of that. But with the new addition on
0444K that will require um probably another halfime person. So, we're looking at that and so Nick's going to rework the work schedules to see how we can work that in. Um, >> so we think we can maintain it with our current staff. We're adding or with that additional >> the additional probably. Yeah, we'll probably have to add um a part-time staff member only because when you look at four or four classrooms, they each have a bathroom in there. Um four-year-olds, the bathrooms get pretty messy pretty fast. Um and then we'll have a staff bathroom. that's in there. So, it it just ends up being, you know, they need a little bit more attention than maybe just your normal um restrooms. It's really restrooms are the drivers on on the cleaning portion of that. So, so
045yeah, we'll have to factor that into some ongoing costs. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> Just a detail. You know, I was thinking about the the floor of the gym. Is it going to be wood or is it another type of material >> in the new varsity gym? That'll be a wood floor just like we have here in all of our gymnasiums. >> Just that's just a curiosity. >> All right, moving on to Estimon your report. Um so some of the stuff that's going on at the high school uh finals this week they start uh on Wednesday with our day one block one two uh four finals and then so on day two and then our block three finals on Friday. Um so some of the stuff that's happening because of that is the Coco
046and CRAM the uh some of the like the older students um like the link leaders they um they have like a specialist in each subject you know they have like a science person English person a math person they kind of sit in here after school and some of the younger students can come in or I'm pretty sure anyone can come in and there's hot chocolate there's snacks and they can just come in after school to study get some extra work in get ready for finals. So that was always I know I did that when I was a freshman. I came in after school. So that's pretty cool. Um and with the the talk about the phone bill, would that be I just had a question about that. Is that going to be implemented next school
047year or this coming semester? >> I don't think that it's possible. >> No, not this not this I think it my my gut is that it's going to be next start next year. And then um some other stuff that's happened uh the wrestling meet that we just had at home. Uh it was pretty cool. We have five teams here I think including our own. Um I know we don't have the biggest gym like some of these some of these uh teams that we've wrestled against. You know they have giant gymnasiums. They can fit five plus mats in their gym. And we managed with two which was pretty cool. You know it went pretty smoothly. I think we got out of here at a decent time. What time did you get up there? >> Um, well,
048I didn't stay for the entire thing, but they were starting their last duel at I think 8:30 >> cuz Mr. Anna left at 11:30. >> Really? Oh, jeez. >> So, I think pretty long. >> Might have been a little bit longer, but um and then FBLA um they're having their first uh like event. Um I think it's February 2nd or February. It's sometime in February is the regional meet. Um which is going to be fun. Uh I'm participating >> sorry >> a future business leader. So uh Mason JP are both in it. Um they're I don't know if they're competing but it's going to be fun. I mean this is the first time that our schools have been done has done something like that. Um, I don't think we have a DECA team. I don't
049think so. So, I think this is like the first kind of like >> some like like this other than um forensics, but >> it's going to be fun. I think it's going to be cool. >> There's not much else. >> We might have a debate team. >> I don't think so. >> No, public speaking debate. >> Um, FBA is more business focused. So like there's like um like there's team events and there's solo events like I'm participating. Uh it's impromptu public speaking just >> Thank you. All right. Uh we will now move on to the community uh input section. Um has anyone signed up for community input? Okay. All right. Um so we will move on to five um consent agenda. This month's consent agenda includes the approval of the following December 15 regular meeting
050minutes, January 5 finance personnel proceedings, treasures report and vouchers and invoices and the personnel report. Is there any um one that pe any board member wants to pull out separately? >> I'll move the board approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion questions? All right. Hearing none, I'll ask for a roll call vote. >> Grann Ir. >> Andre Graham. >> I have I >> All right. 6A action items, open enrollment seats. And go ahead. >> I was going to say that. So the open enrollment numbers are um attached and so just per our um personal finance committee meeting um last week um the third grade does reflect having four teachers um in that grade level which you could see is 22 students per class. So that
051means there's zero open enrollment um seats in that grade level. I just wanted to point that out to the board. Okay. >> Is there any other questions or discussion? >> So I and maybe I'm not reading this correctly, but I'm I'm noticing that some of them have like a capacity of zero, but we have, you know, a number of pupils within that not down at the bottom within the special ed programs. >> So am I reading that right that like we have no capacity, but we do have a lot of kids in there. Is that saying that you need more help in that area? So, it's based off a formula that's depending on need and the IEP. So, um it just means that due to our current ratio of teacher to special ed students that
052there isn't space in those programs to allow open enrolled students in there. somebody moved into the district would you know I don't think we'd have to hire somebody because of that but it does fluctuate based on what happens year to year I'd say it's pretty common for school districts to not allow um any open enrollment um with students with IEPs just because most teachers case loads and special ed are already quite full right >> you're talking about capacity pupils Yeah, like there our capacity number is sometimes lower than what we actually have. So wondering if we're not or needing more in some of those areas. Obviously, we don't have space for them, right? So new spaces is zero, but our numbers are >> I think it's always, you know, it's always that decision, right? It's
053almost like a class- size guidelines, too. So um early childhood I think is probably one of the best examples where we have that capacity and sometimes and I don't want to over capacity here but based on the different needs of the students there's times where maybe 10 you can um is okay with a student with a teacher in some paras depending on how significant some of those needs are might require a second teacher in that case um crosscategorical at the elementary, you know, looks like it's beyond capacity, but it's three students beyond that. So, again, it depends on the needs that are in that IEP. So, three students over that capacity, we might be able to absorb um if that wasn't the case because the needs were more significant, we would look at probably either
054adding most of the time we add another I'm looking at you Lisa, but most of the time we add another pair of professional unless that's not going to be sufficient to be able to meet the needs of the students in that case. So, um, right now, you know, with adding, um, an extra, um, occupational therapist this year, I mean, that we're way over capacity, that's definitely helped quite a bit with case loads this year. Are there any other questions? Great. Hearing none, do we have a a motion? Yes, >> I move the board to approve 146 regular regular education open enrollment seats and zero seats in the special education program for the 2026 2027 school year based on the criteria outlined in the board's open enrollment policy 5113. Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Any
055further discussion or questions? Hearing none, I'll ask for a roll call vote. >> Ken I, >> Andrew Graham, >> hi. >> Abby Hill, >> I. All right. Here is another well, moving on to the next action item. It's the consideration of hosting an annual meeting for the the sale of approximately 33.55 acres of real estate property that the district owns along State Highway 89 consisting of three parcels. And this has been discussed um at community committee meetings and um so I guess then we will be you putting out more information about this. Um I think the the main part of this discussion is the district has zone this 33 acres um between Glacial Jungo Trail and St. Paul's Church. Um first when that after that was part of it was purchased, part of it was
056donated. Um and I know the board has discussed that you know when the elementary school was built um the decision among the voters was not to place that elementary school on this parcel of land which was meant for a school which now in hindsight with this addition would have been a nice luxury to have with the ability to add um additional classroom spaces on that. it was not meant to be. Um, in 2021, the school district once again um went to referendum to build a new school. We were at that tipping point where we were out of room and just like that, the bottom kind of fell out um from underneath us with enrollment and then subsequently that referendum didn't pass and um I will say it publicly once again probably a wise decision um
057because now enrollment has been declining since then. So, um, over the course of time, I've been approached by several developers looking to build single family housing, um, on that property. It is probably one of the biggest parcels in the city of Lake Mills right now that has buildable space. So, after much consideration, um board is, as you were seeing, are are deciding tonight whether to move forward with putting that property up for sale. I know there is always that 1% chance that we would need to build a new school. I know looking even again at our enrollment guidelines here tonight, um we have space for a lot of new students. And even when we analyze subdivisions and neighboring communities, it does not bring in the number of students that people actually think it does. Apartments
058bring in almost no students. But even with single family housing, it does not um produce the number of students that equal to the houses that are being built. So say at this point and far into the future, we have space to absorb any new students coming in. We also take in um quite a few open enrollment students that at some point if we were starting to um get full, we would close down um our open enrollment and not allow open enrollment in. So we have the ability to buffer that. I have talked with the city that if for some reason they ever open up more subdivisions, they start opening up um subdivisions across um the interstate that they, you know, talked about for years that we really within the city planning may have to earmark
059a parcel of land if we thought that that was ever going to be in need. I don't see it for the foreseeable future. part of that 13 acres um that goes um adjacent to Unsaved Lane um on that piece of property was the 13 acres that had um a reversionary rate on the title for that property. So it's just that portion that Young's family has the first rate of refusal. That means if we do not build a school related building on that site, that family has the first option to purchase the property back from us. The family is instituting that reversionary right. Um and the annual meeting will be um to actually work both ways and and purchase that reversionary right from the NS family so that we can sell it as a 33 acre
060parcel in totality. Any developer that comes in there wants to purchase that property is obviously going to want the 13 acres that's adjacent to Unsave Lane because that is the entryway onto that property. So, um that does require an annual meeting because we're purchasing um technically purchasing properties. So, um that is what tonight's action is about. So it probably is worth mentioning um with this that uh you know we have talked well in the big picture you know our our budget we have a >> yes >> million2 deficit right now but and and so there's that and personally I was struggling with selling the land just you down the road would you ever need it. But I think we've had good discussions about um the proceeds from this sale in part helping support our existing
061facilities and keeping them in very good order, you know, uh as we've talked about. So I think from the standpoint of um schools and facilities for me and And really a long-term facility plan does require uh some funding put into it so we can draw you know I think it's what uh account 46 and uh when will the next time be that we'll actually have a surplus could be five years. So our thought is really um because one thought is you know is the money just going to go in and just kind of just you know spread over everything. Uh there's I think a definite interest in exploring uh how the proceeds from that sale will help support a long-term facility plan >> if the sale happens. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And thank you for
062mentioning that. I appreciate that. >> So, is there a motion to hold this annual election or annual meeting to allow us to purchase the portion of the 30 some acres from the aunts family? I'll move to direct the school district clerk to call a special meeting of the electors on Monday, February 16th at 5:45 p.m. for the purpose of authorizing the school district to purchase a property interest consisting of the release of revisionary rights and use of restriction for a certain school district property identified as parcel number 246-0713-2424-00002 for certain to Wisconsin statute 120 parentheses 5m >> is there second >> okay been moved and seconded. Any other discussion or questions? Okay. There's just one note that it would uh I do not believe that we can hold that meeting at the city hall because
063there will be the primary election the next day. So, it we it will be somewhere other than the city hall and this is directly prior to our normal board meeting, >> right? It'll be here. >> Oh, it'll be here. Okay. It'll be directly before our normal board meeting in February. Okay, it's no other assuming no other discussion questions I will ask for a roll call vote. >> Andrew Graham I >> Abby H >> I All right. So moving on to another early graduation request. Um that's it. It it came from a student. So >> yeah, I don't have any further. >> Is this typical that they come in late? No. long conversation with the parent of the student. >> I see that they've signed off on it, right? Like all the people that need to.
064>> So, I'm presuming that these people feel as though there's a benefit from this and a reason they're bringing it to us. >> Yeah, she would like to work full-time and has the opportunity to work full-time. she still plans to attend um a four-year college and a fall has already been admitted through direct admits. So >> is there any So this is past the deadline that's the issue. Um do you have any concerns or is it just on an individual basis with setting a precedent for other people? I don't I mean I think again this is a unique circumstance. I I wouldn't expect that we would see this again. Usually if students have their mind were made up um right here may way in September and say the traditional students graduating early um either are
065leave students or they're going directly into workforce because they already have a career and that's the jobs they're going into. This is a little more unique where um a student is graduating in December but yet going to a four-year college in the fall. Typically we'll start the fall seme or start you know the spring semester at that college but the student is asking to work um for the next few months until she starts school in the fall and she does have all of her classes completed. as long are so is there a motion? I'll move the board approve the early graduation request as presented and congratulate them on their upcoming achievement. >> I'll second motion. >> Okay, been moved and seconded. Any other discussion or questions? Hearing none, I'll ask for a roll call vote.
066>> Abby, >> I All right. Um, now moving on to the gifts. Again, the the uh amazing community input and financial input to our school system is surprising each month and wonderfully surprising. So, um is there a motion for the gifts? Oh, Ken would like to read a a a comment for or a thank you card for one of the >> Well, there was a a note from uh Dennis and Monica Christensen in memory of Katie Rael. Uh the donation was 150. So I just wanted to read their note here. Uh to whom it may concern, please accept a contribution in the memory of Katie Rel. I grew up in Lake Mills and was in Katie and Larry's class until I moved to Madison in the middle of my sophomore year. I re I have
067reconnected with the class remotely and stay in touch with the key news. This was obviously very sad news of Katie's passing. May she rest in peace. you donated. >> All right. I'll move the board um thank our the generous donors as always and accept their donations for supporting our students and programs here at the Lake Mills Area School District. We have $100 in winter kits donated by Bank CMG. Theund $50 donation Ken just spoke of that's going to go to the mill from Dennis and Monica uh Christensen in memory of Katie Rael. $200 donation to the mill from Mary Thompson. a $200 donation to the Lake Mills music department from the Lake Mills Main Street program, $450 in Aldi's gift cards to the mill from a benefit hosted by um Colleen Bronhurst. Um, one summer
068100 clarinet valued at $559 and one Geminart 22SP flute valued at $479 donated to the Lake Mills music department by Steven White for a combined total value of $1,038. So is that there there's been a motion and is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Again, any further comments? >> These instruments that get donated, are they given to students who maybe can't afford to rent one or I'm just curious what do they do with the donated instruments? >> Assuming they donate to the music program to the teachers and the teacher distributes accordingly. >> Okay. Then hearing no other questions, I'll ask for a roll call vote. Granessa I >> Andrew Graham I >> I All right. Our future agenda items um on Monday, February 6th, we'll have uh the approval of the bear or no
069no no. Okay. Um I will have the Fedorf presentation on referendum projects. Um we will at least on the my calendar and it can be bumped or not. Um in addition to the annual meeting prior the uh we have on in the um midyear check-in for the superintendent review on February's close session and then uh so then everyone can bring their notes if they if that's the decision we can hold the close session after the meeting. And then also just thinking about dates for a board workshop potentially in March. And just a quick reminder for the February 2nd um personal finance meeting that will be adapted to a a special business meeting so that the board can approve the closing on the bonds and at that point the principles will be here to do their
070schools update for you as well. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Okay. So if there's nothing else to adjurnn second >> all in favor say I. >> Oppose same sign. >> We are ajourned. I know that's middle school. Oh yeah.