Mount Horeb Area School District Board of Education Meeting held on 1/5/26.

001All right. Good evening everyone. Call this meeting of the nonarius board to order. Uh Dr. hasn't been properly noticed. >> Yes, we have. >> Fantastic. Uh we'll start with roll call. Joel >> here. Leah >> here. >> Jessica here. >> Sarah >> here. Tom here. Carly >> here. And myself all here. Let's stand along the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Our mission statement. >> Thank you. The Mount Hor area School District in partnership with the community is dedicated to nurturing, educating, and challenging our schools, preparing, empowering them to be productive, responsible, and safe members of society. >> Awesome. Thanks, Jessica. Uh, moving on to our second item here, agenda minutes. Um, entertain a motion for an

002approval of the agenda as it stands or any comment about changing things around. I got a motion by Jessica, second by Joel. All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Next up for approval of our December 1st regular session meeting minutes. Motion to approve. Second. Got a motion by Tom and a second by Carly. All in favor? I. Any opposed? And that motion passes. Dr. I don't see any uh folks signed up. No, nor do I addressing the board tonight. >> Which brings us to one of our favorite events of the month. We have Cody and Tisa. Principal funquer things than that. >> We have Well, you guys have selected a gem this month for our student showcase. Tell us about London. Welcome. Fresh off a trip to London. I have your way from

003here. >> How are you? I'm good. Is that okay? You know, well, you know, it's an adjustment. Well, congratulations. What an experience. So, um, we sent out a survey to our staff, um, for some different nominations and Lizzie was nominated, um, actually by Miss McDonald for your work with Sources of Strength. And, um, Lizzie is involved in Sources of Strength and she was one of the reason for the nomination was she was one of the first people to volunteer to do some work at the younger grade levels to kind of spread the wealth of that group and supporting our younger Vikings in the district. Um, but when I sent out an email to all of your teachers and adviserss, um, the love and like the positive commentary just came flooding in. So, um, Lizzie is

004also one of the original members of our HOSA group and is the president and has expanded that group from How many members did you have your first couple years? Like four or five? Yeah. And now you're at like 30, right? I think we're like 70. >> OH MY GOSH. SO like I I think I'm when I was in the room the other day when you were getting the Smartboard set set up for your speaker. Um so I mean like your leadership is just very monumental um in so many areas of our building. Um you're also an athlete. Um you show a lot of sportsmanship on and off the court. Um so it's just been really wonderful to see you here all four years and it's going to be hard to see you leaving our building.

005Um but you have left a last a lasting mark um on our community and we're just very grateful for that and the contributions that you've made to the high school. We have so many great students at the high school and you said that you students that you can ask about. We get so many nominations and then you you I mean I've got to know Lizzie for a number of years and had these conversations and she's usually one that's like hey crumble. Hey Mus how you doing? But it is you you start to see the growth and the impact they have on not only the building, the staff, but their peers and the systems and just the kindness and the warmth that you bring is always something that is so it will take you so much

006farther than some of the academic stuff. Your the way that you approach things, your leadership, your kindness, and we are just so lucky to have you as as part of our Viking family and always be a Viking, but we want to celebrate all the things you've done. So, just thank you for that. >> Yeah. >> And to put you on the spot, what are your plans for next year? I plan on as of right now I plan on going to WMadison to study elementary education. >> We know a few people who get your job signing day candidate. That's wonderful. Good. Well, we have a little gift uh as a small way of expressing our profound gratitude for what you do for our school community, our young people, as well as your classmates. Uh here's a

007little certificate that we hope you'll find a nice place to display that. And then um we're so proud that you're biking. I hope that you'll wear that proudly as well. Uh Mrs. Sarbacher uh is our leazison to the high school and we would love very much introduction OF YES, PLEASE. THANK YOU. Won't you please introduce these special people? >> This is my dad, Shane Mesenberg, and this is my mom, Andy Mesenberg. You raised a great young lady. >> We're grateful to have your continued support of our schools, and of course, well, just to be honest, when we moved here, 2011, the school district was one of the main drivers for coming here. >> Nice. >> Yeah. So, so it's all functional. Certainly works out, doesn't it? Well, we would love it if you'd be willing

008to join us with a picture. And board member Star Locker, might you just step out for a second here? Just watch yourself. Congratulations. Yeah, scholarship. Yeah. Oh, don't worry. I will call the question. >> I am not messing around. I was driving. I should look that up. Thank you. >> Yeah, we love this. A lot of great things will happen. >> Yeah. just got back from London, which I believe if you I'm sure you were the videos and the pictures and all the things including sicknesses, >> medical incident with somebody having to go to get some medical care like all it was a really good trip and talking to the teachers today. Well, as exhausted as they were and I was surprised that they were maybe they were sleeping with I don't know. Um just

009a great trip overall. that I cannot give enough praise and thank you to the music department in general. The work and the time that that group of adults put in and the students put in to make sure that trip was lifted off their own way was I you know Kell and Dorner in particular just really made that thing just with such a leader. So I just I I can't thank them enough for what they did and you provide those opportunities for our students was really really something. So, you have a chance. I know there's been some videos and pictures posted like they are they're so great and when you see those folks buy coffee and say thank you because they they deserve all of it. Um, and I know there's other things going on and

010pan be promoting here in a little bit but yeah student beyond. Yes. Okay. Sorry. Um, and you know kids coming back from London. We had a really great successful buy season. The buy state uh you want to buy state? >> I'm actually one of the wrestling managers too. My little wrestles. Mhm. >> Uh he won fifth place for a freshman. Uh we had another freshman win fourth and another freshman win second place. He won he lost by one point. Um but uh we had three amazing first placesers, Eli Leonard, Eli Meyer, and Hunter Stevenson. Everyone did amazing. The girls did amazing. It's incredible to see. >> Yeah, this you know by states I think we've been doing it for 20 plus years. never win it. And the the team that's being assembled is really something

011special. They get to go do the boys. Unfortunately, there's not a girls version of it yet for uh cheese head in Kakana. It's one of the biggest wrestling tournaments in the nation. People from 15 different states for Arizona come to Kakana to wrestle and to be invited to that is really impressive. So, that's been fun to watch. Um and our all our sports are going in and basketball, gymnastics and things. Um has been really successful, I think. Oh, what else has been going on? We had good musical. Uh that was a little while ago, but the high school's just it's hard to break. You're like two movies. Registration. >> Yes. Course registration is coming up, which is always a fun and stressful time. All the same piece, but I think it's really fun as we

012have ID going into our second year. Getting those students prepared for that, how how great that program has been. Getting our freshman sophomores understanding what that is. Um is exciting. a future freshman night next Monday which is we have our eighth grade families come in and kind of present to them not the rules that's kind of August but here are the courses here are the opportunities you have start to think about um really intentional planning that's been one of the big things we really push for is really having intentional conversations from middle school through high school to make sure that what you're taking is really connect the things you're interested in the things you have passions for so you do have those opportunities to do the friendships and really get your hands on because we

013know that's really where some of the best learning happens so um yeah it becomes a busy month of the semester coming up in the finals week and all of a sudden we're sitting at second semester my fifth grader waiting for me up there it's like we're almost halfway through the school year like yeah you know some it feels like oh god we're halfway through it and then oh god how we get here so um but it's just been a really good school year it's been really fun and there's so many just amazing things happening with our students so >> and having conversations for planning next school year >> yeah December time start planning for next year and that's what we're doing so get some IDformational things too for families and >> we'll Yes. And we'll

014have other ID information like next Monday during future freshman night. >> Yeah. So, it's been good. It's ready to jump back in after doing two weeks. So, yeah. Do you have questions or anything going on? Wonder you know students you you know the great things happening? Anything else going on that we missed? You're like a bunch of stuff right now. So, >> yeah. >> Um I mean we're back from break obviously we were about the London trip and all that. Um but I'll skip that one for later. uh ACT prep stuff is uh going up. So, I had my first kind of lessons today in advisory. Um and obviously finals are coming up in about 2ish weeks. So, that's all I have. Um our high school's green team applied for a mini grant from Stevens

015Point and that was accepted to run a anti-dolling campaign in our students parking lots for a couple months. So, they gave us a sum of money that we're going to be able to put towards that, which is exciting. >> Yeah. Good stuff. >> I have a little bond. I can wait for the personal news to talk about my day at this high school or since we're talking about the high school. Yeah, I think that's a trans high school and um so I reached out to Cody and set up a half day to spend at the high school. um kind of told him kind of some of the things I wanted to see, be interested in, wanted to learn about. Um it was a really really great day. Um so it's December 3rd, so just about

016a month ago. That's why I filmed. Um so it started off I met with Cody. We just kind of chatted for a while. Kind of talked about um evidence-based um grading and the implementation of that and what that looks like, how that process is going. Um, I thought it was really nice for Cody to to um tell me that he's been he's got a network of other high school principles in the area, some of them who have already implemented this that he's been working with and and kind of discussing this as we go through that process. So, um, we talked about the great job the high school staff does and of course, uh, we talked about Crumble as well and how how he's doing in his role in supporting students and staff as well. So,

017>> I'm confused with C for that one. Who was it? >> But I brought him up. >> That's a schedule for all OF >> So it was really great um that so Cody essentially set up gave me a school schedule for the afternoon. So it was like I was going back to high school for the first time in 20 years. Um so I started off I sat in on in on uh Kim Hillary's IB professional uh personal professional skills class uh which was really cool. They were doing a project where they were all going through um various different books about different cultures and pulling out things from those books and um kind of noting some things and how they compare to the culture here. Um really really great discussions I got to have with the

018students um which was great um as well as talking to them and asking why they decided to to participate in an Ivy course. Um, and kind of the theme there from a lot of them was they it wasn't just I need this for college. It was I want to do this to help help myself learn to to um improve my critical thinking skills um strengthen communication skills and prepare prepare for prepare for life after high school. So that was able to hear coming from these students. Um and then after that I went over and visited um the egg room with Pam Allen and I sat in on egg mechanics the egg mechanics 2 class where they were discussing um different egg building structures and different materials um you know if you're planning on building an

019egg structure on your on a farm where where's the best location for that? So it was really interesting discussion there. And from there I went to journalism where Miss Carlson was working with students on caption writing with photos for different um for different types of articles in journalism. Um and then I went back over to the ed room um and spent some time in Michaela Brush's uh vet science class where they were talking about digestive systems um and animals, differences between ruminants and non- ruminants and that type of thing. So and then um I ended the day my last class was ceramics too with data showers. Um, and I kind of set this up cuz my daughter wasn't. Um, so I got to see students making some free choice ceramics projects and I talked to

020Dana a little bit. She had some really good insight on um, from her networking with other other art teachers in the area as well about how creativity and students has changed since co which I thought was really interesting. Um, so then at the end of the day, as Pam and I were talking earlier in the day, um, I worked with Pam in the past years ago setting up some um, visits uh, setting up a field trip with the company I was at, agriculture, and she kind of knows what I do and what I've done. And, um, she mentioned that we just received my microscope and CO2 incubator from a compar financial grant. Um, so she took me into the biotech lab and showed me that and um, she was picking my brain a little bit

021and we we discussed um, potential for getting some embryos in um, from some of my uh, work connections um, which I think I've talked to a few people. We're going to get some embryo with bovine embryos in to um, the biotech lab when we get this up. We're going to work on this and get it figured out and then have an embryologist I used to work with come in and do a demo with boine embryos. And I think he's going to bring in a camera and a scope. Um, so it's going to be really great. And then, um, my my current role I part of what I do at the hosting association is one of the divisions I oversee is hosting marketplace sireers, which are hosting bulls that we have housed over by Brooklyn. Um,

022so the bulls are housed there. Our lab, we just put in a new lab. There's a new lab that just went in there. So I was out there not long ago um, talking to some of the people there. It sounds like we're going to set up a field trip to take students out there to see them as well. So really productive day. It was really I learned a lot and um thank you Cody. It was it was a great day. Um you you guys set up a great day for me. So >> she has all her classes on her schedule. >> So yeah, it was definitely definitely really cool and I hope to come back, you know, sometimes. Are you going to bring in some highland cattle? >> See, okay. I I'm a dairy cattle

023girl, but that is my life goal is to have a small herd of highlanders. So, yes, some in you can sign up on the internet. >> Highlanders, too. So, I mean, there's people in the house. >> She has one. >> You do? >> Yeah. >> There's one at the um what's it called? I love your at the country. There's a little baby one. WE WILL work horses. add to the high school is that the uh DECA district competition is coming up on Saturday. >> So, sounds like a lot of people going long day. >> Absolutely. And they still need judges. So, if you happen to be available, 8:30 to about 12:30 uh and uh it's at the Forest High School. It is a lovely morning. It really is a lot of fun. >> You need

024to rock out your tickets. >> Yeah, if you haven't judged, it is it is fascinating. Some of the projects the kids put in front of you. So, yeah, >> they don't get a lot of advanced notice as to what the what they're talking about. So they >> I would just also want from a parent perspective of a student who went on the London trip. I would echo everything you said about the people who put this together. And as a parent, the organization that these the chaperons and the the teachers, I mean, put into this was just outstanding to have that many kids and that many flights. Like people have actually asked me why I didn't chaperon like I don't know if I can do that. So I give chapons a lot of credit, you know,

025just for for everything that went into that trip. And they the kids I mean it was such a great experience for them. Well, thank you. I appreciate your leadership. >> Thank you. Thanks. >> We covered a lot of school. I have one more thing. >> Yeah. Um uh the tail committee is starting in January eras um the so going backward again few weeks December 12th the IC hosted the kindness retreat which Tom and Leah and I all were at. So it was a great a great day with fourth graders. It was a long day. I we sang Taylor Swift songs. >> So much dancing. So much dancing and sitting and sitting and kneeling. But but but it was a great day. They organized this into into groups. Um a ton of work put in by

026Youth Frontiers did a great job. Also by Katie Ky, by Maggie Harrison, by the staff of IC, the front desk staff checked in like 30 volunteers all at once. Um, and yeah, it was a great day to to spend with spend with fourth graders on different kindness exercises and skits and songs and dancing. So, took out awesome. >> Yeah, it was it was very awesome. It It was It and it really was too. It was the same as it like it was with the seventh graders. Kids who didn't ever really speak like they all got anybody who wanted to talk was going to get to talk and these kids talked and um my son's teacher her name was mentioned a bunch of times. So I went over and I was like do you want guys

027now? And she was telling me that one of the kids whose names came up a couple times is a kid who never gets picked. Like he is never he or she actually never gets picked and their name came up a couple times on cool things that that kid had done or whatever. So it was very like the teachers were crying. I I know the small like I know some of the I don't know all of them but it was it was awesome. I was very very sad. It was very very exhausting. Oh that there was not enough Tylenol down off the floor. >> And when you sit in your circle you have two options. You can sit criss-cross applesauce and that's it. It has to be crisscross applesauce. Or you can do slumber party, which

028is on your stomach with your feet up like this. This is not easy positions in either capacity for a long-term sitting situation. And you all have to sit in the same configuration. I as I was particularly impressed how by even by the end of the day they were able to settle the whole room like a gym full of fourth graders was calm and quiet writing their reflections sharing them one by one being very polite taking turns. It was really really cool. >> And and the I remember with the seventh grade there was probably like five, six youth frontier people. There were two for the fourth grade and I was like, "Oh man, this is going to be this." They were amazing. They disappeared for a little bit. I think they powernapped because they would disappear

029for like 10 minutes while the other one was doing stuff and then they come back and then that I think they really power napped it. But it was Yeah, it was very cool. whatever whatever we put into that that 100% worth it. Like it was awesome. >> Thank you guys so much. I'll add to that as well. So, um I participated. It was a really great and interesting day. Um the the thing that I picked out of it, there are kids that struggle along. Um, and I'm not going to mention names, of course, but um, there was some little ones in my group that really had a hard time opening up and they said they struggled at lunchtime and they struggled at recess. Um, and hopefully that type of uh, program that we were able

030to bring in school helps the other kids realize that um, there are kids that are hurting. Well, >> but it was it was a great experience. >> And thanks so volunteers too. It took a ton of volunteer probably or so. >> Yeah. Parents and other adults that came in and spent the whole day was just an hour. We had Miss Rudolph was there, Mr. Bunny was there. >> Hey, you guys retire. They were like, we did. I was like, okay. I was just just checking. But yeah, it was it was awesome. We although when Carly walked in, I was like 1 2 3 we're still good. And I was like, no other school member to come in here right now. We're going to get in trouble. >> It's fantastic. >> That's why I stay away.

031>> Um, remind me how often those take place. >> Well, uh, Brian's been instrumental in getting that together. Brian, can you share? >> Yeah, it'd be once a year. >> Once a year. Okay. >> And then we keep it it's only it's been a while because um of co shut the organization down and it took the organization a long time to get all their staff back, get training, get back and running and getting back in the district. So the plan moving forward is, you know, we're funding for grants and so we keep moving it forward but it will be an every year thing. >> Great. >> The last one we did Orion would have been in seventh grade and he just graduated last year. So that was the last one we did. Okay. >> So,

032fourth grade and seventh grade, right? >> Yeah. >> They have a ninth grade version as well. >> Um, we haven't done that yet because 9th grade kind of has like the freshman orientation kind of freshman experience is a little bit different and so we've kind of just stuck with fourth and seventh so far. >> It's nice and great. >> Yeah. Thanks to um all of you for being there and in fact put that on. It sounds great. Put that on my calendar for next year. Um, I didn't have a specific school news out of this, but I just uh I'm sure a lot of you had this experience too over the break of seeing a lot of uh recent graduates come back into town and um hearing about success that a lot of people had

033just another reminder again of how many high achievers come through here and people are really um prepared well to come up and and do what they want to do next whether that's college or um entering the workforce, whatever it is. So, it's always fun to see those stories and uh >> and they got their post related to that. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. Mr. President, I just also wanted to remind the board that they have an opportunity if your schedule allows uh this Thursday afternoon. Uh we start up our uh intermediate center student council uh check-ins with the board. Uh that's at 3:30 p.m. And then if anyone's interested in visiting with our high school and our middle school student council. That'd be next Wednesday at 7:30 and 8:00 respectively. Um the high school and the middle

034school. I'm happy to meet um anyone in the main office about 5 minutes beforehand and I'll be happy to escort you to the to the meeting location. again uh this Thursday the 8th at 3:30 at the IC. That meeting begins. So we can meet up at the at the uh main office at 3:25 or at 7:25 a.m. at the high school on the 14th and um about 8:05 at the middle school. We just walk over if you plan on doing both of them. Just walk over to the reminder. >> One more please. So on the 12th was the same day as the kindness treat. I also went over to the uh see the second grade concert uh the music concert and art walk and that was really great and it was a packed house again.

035It's amazing how many parents and loved ones come in to see the kids sing. Um then after that I had a little bit of time so I um got pre-approval to go uh up to a classroom and I went up to Mrs. Norard's first grade class. Um, and they were doing they were kind of wrapping up some some things, but they were finishing up an art project with some uh snowflakes and stuff. It was really close to the holidays. Um, and then I was given the opportunity to do some interaction um reading a couple of books with the kids and kind of um kind of do some reading to them and then having them do some reading to me. So, it was really a short visit, but it was really good. How did you have

036the energy for that after? >> I just keep going. I'm like, but Chris is not a good visit. Hopefully visit again here um late January or February. fun to revisit that after your kids have gotten a little bit older and remember those here. And if someone asked my last note on this is someone who has to suffer through talking about Badger football on the radio every Saturday. It's really nice to see or graduate winner Rose Bowl Austin live for you in Indiana. So good luck to them in the next round of student. >> Great. Thanks. That was a lot to catch up on. That was awesome. Um I I skipped right through citizens comments before there were none. There still are others. So I think I think we're good that way. Um Dr. Siero anything

037about personnel transactions there is an agenda. >> Okay great motion to approve. Second >> motion by Leah second by Jessica. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> Motion passes. Consent agenda is next. As you can see, there's a bunch of different items that are in there. We do have the um approval for the FFA annual fishing trip to John Lake in there, Dr. Sarah. So, I want to spend a little time before we do a a vote on this. >> Absolutely. Entertain entertain our guests. We're grateful to have Pam. She brought along one of our officers with us, too. >> You've come before us before, too. It's nice to see. >> It's wonderful to see you all again. Um, Jack. Okay. >> To reintroduce myself, I'm Leila Havens. I'm the president this year. Um,

038so am I basically giving you a rundown or am I asking? >> Yeah. I don't know if she was It's going to be off the cuff. Tell them about Canada, where we're going and what. >> Okay. So, uh, we have our annual Canada fishing trip coming up. We are heading to Jen Lake this summer. We leave Father's Day and we come back 28th. Uh it's a really awesome trip. I've gone every year. This will unfortunately be my last year. Try not to cry. Um but I love it and it's really helped me get out of my shell because even though like I'm like a country girl, I'm not always the dirtiest. So last year was my first time ever holding a fish. Um, I won't touch the leeches. Um, a lot of kids love it.

039Like the boys I go up there have such a blast and the girls love to relax and tan on the boats and it's just a lot of fun. And the competition up there, it's a little crazy. Um, especially when it comes to Uker and any card games, uh, or who catches the big fish. We had our biggest catch last year was 38 and 1/2 in for a northern and we had two people catch the same fish. So, but thankfully one of the chefs that caught it gave the money prize to the student obviously. Um, and then there was also a point where a kid didn't wasn't in the competition, but he caught a 28 lb walleye. Sorry. I'm sorry. Oh my gosh. He caught it. I've never seen that beautiful fish in my life. especially

040like did he ski behind it or autos? Possibly. Um, but we had an awesome time. Uh, everyone thought Mr. Shay was cheating. He's just he's just a good fisher. He's a great fisher. It's a little We love it. We love the competition and the people that come up are amazing. You have an amazing group coming this year. I'm so excited. because I just want my last few to be amazing and I'm going to prove everyone that I'm going to catch the most fish this year. So, and I'm going to hold them knock you out. >> So, how many years will this one make that you that we've gone? >> 59. >> 56. >> Really? I feel like it's 59. >> It's 56 or 57. The shirt says from last year. I don't I don't remember.

041But we would love it to go again and we love that we get to experience this joyful memory with you all and for you all to allow us to have this awesome memory. I know um Tom >> Yeah. >> enjoyed it last year would come without. I'm sure he was the party didn't surprise me at all. >> But you still Yeah. It's an amazing trip and we're very grateful that you allow us to do it cuz a lot of the kids have just it helps them get out of their their zones, their little cover zones and it helps them express who they truly are cuz and you get really close with a lot of the kids that go because you're on a isolated island for a whole week. So, it's like it's just you create

042bonds with people you didn't think you'd create bonds with and it's just it's honestly really amazing. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. >> We'll give you a moment to catch your your breath. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Thanks for thanks for coming up. That was really good on the spot. Uh speaking speak to it. >> So, you did make one mistake though. You said it would be your last trip, but hopefully maybe you can go in the shower. >> Four years, but yeah. >> Board members, you'll see attached the comprehensive paperwork that Mrs. Allen and Mrs. Bret put together for us to approve agenda. >> Motion by Jess one. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? consent agendas. We could uh move right into a little break. That sounds good. Uh why don't we uh skip to

043committee member reports first? Uh BGT Tom. >> Yeah. Uh we didn't meet in person, but we got um a written update. Nothing too exciting. We did um get a kind of a new tenative outline for the bay and their phasing of work. Um and it's going to be uh pretty aggressive. Um and hopefully everything's completed by August 13, 2027. So it's almost go time for that. Um if you want more details, you can look at that update. I don't get into all the mess details of it. Yeah. >> Awesome. Joel, finance. >> Well, we talked about money again. Uh we talked was a budget update. Um just the the the item related to the the group was that we're on target from a budget standpoint for where we expect to be at this time of

044year. Comparing to previous years, it looks the same. So, the school district is really targeted with where it expects to be in terms of uh spending uh recognizing revenue, the tax revenue and all that stuff. So, um obviously the big months are coming up here with the tax revenue pieces coming in. So, how that collection goes will be uh another thing to watch. But, uh looks it looks good. Outstanding. >> Can I can I add one thing? This was probably in a weekly update, but just to say I'll add one of the things that we're watching. We talked a little bit about the special education reimbursement percentage. And even though the state budget approved and assumed that would be about 42%, so far we're only realizing about 35%. So a a fairly significant difference between

045what the legislature approved and what the legislature actually diving out. That's not that far off. We kind of already projected and planned for it to be less. So, it's it's not making a huge difference in our own votes, but I just wanted to make the note that that is, you know, a 7% difference between what they intended and what they actually did for us. Keep just to build off your thoughtful idea. Um, we did budget using recall 36% um fearing that something like this might come to fruition that color this in for me to their stated rationale was that they didn't want to overextend before they knew. Is that right? And so there's still potential for getting to 42%. That's at least a line that's on right now cuz they build it off last year's

046um expenses and so they really won't have a feel for what those expenses are until maybe of this year. So we could conceivably touchwood get something more but in the interim um we're just planning pretty conservatively. >> Scott, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you did mention in the meeting that usually the first payment is a little they're a little tighter on the first payment. Yeah, they um I mean off off the cuff it's it's ironic to me that expenditures that happened last fiscal year still is not totally known and I think it has to do with maybe some reporting issues well outside of homework but um we won't find out our official amount till May. So, um, they cautiously give us a little bit less than maybe what they could have to

047Joel's point and then in June in our last payment, they'll pick it up just a tinch. It, mind you, we're 11 months into our fiscal year at that point approaching 12. So it's a look it it's not anything out of the ordinary but it is certainly unique compared to what one would want to have orchestrated. So >> there is a bill that's been drafted to change the appropriation from some I was getting confused from the way it is now to a definite amount >> some certain versus some sufficient where we really wanted to go. >> Yeah. So I would as the community legislative committee gets started I that's in my mind one of the areas that of focus I think for us to talk through more. >> However again the 35% that we got versus

048the 36 that we budgeted speaks to the experience of our leadership team and people that >> know a thing or two about how this whole formula works. So we the budget is is Well, intact. >> Yes. Still an issue, but the budget is >> good call. >> Any other questions about finance or conversation? >> All right. Jessica, is there a parks and recover? >> No, we didn't meet in December. Our next meeting is January 27th. >> Great. That was easy. >> Yep. >> All right. On to uh we're back to 6A. Feeling okay? >> Yes. I'm so sorry. store. I'm going to make sure around that was a lot of running around for me. Um, okay. So, our FA National Convention was really fun. The trip there was um very um exciting. So, um, we

049ended up getting a lovely tour from >> Kon. I've heard of the brand, never pronounced it in my life, but Kon, uh, it was really fascinating to see cuz I work around a lot of the equipment they make and I always like wondered how like pristine they make their equipment and how sturdy their equipment is. Like if you want good farm equipment, they make really like well built and like just well like weather managed to a good extent for farmers cuz a lot of cuz to be a farmer you need to have good equipment and you need to make sure it doesn't break on you. Their stuff won't break. It's incredible. We got to see some of the workers do their things and we got to see some of the machines and some of the

050awesome laser technology there. It's crazy. Robots doing welds. It's It's I sound so old saying that, but it was really fascinating to see. It was really cool. Um cuz I I've been in my welding class before and it's like overall I can do it. It's It's crazy to me. It's for some reason they didn't hire a lot of people. >> Yes. They h There were so many workers there. I honestly felt kind of bad for them because they like didn't like they probably were coming but like they were working all of a sudden there's these high school students coming into the workplace while they're working. >> Is it the one by or is this in a different location? >> I think it was the one by >> Yeah. But on the way it was a

051lot of fun. The equipment was like huge. I mean, obviously I've been near it, but some of the parts were even like ginormous. And the tour guides, 10 out of 10. I had a tour guide of an elderly man who was there for 70 years. And oh my god, could that man walk? All of us couldn't keep up with him. And he was, you know, like that. We were the first ones. But uh we had a lot of fun. He knew everything and it was just really fascinating to see and it was like so messy but organized at the same time. Now we did have a little oopsie. Our bus broke. Don't know how it did. So we ended up staying stuck at this bus stop for like >> it was 3 hours. >> It

052was like a you know your interstate restaurant. >> Yeah. Three 3 hours. Yep. Right there. They kind of gave us the heebiejibbies, but we were fine. Um, uh, a lot of us play cards or just logged on our phones or we play like just like games off our phones and everything like that. I ended up just reading the whole time, which I wasn't complaining. But, uh, I feel really our bus driver, Kelly, is amazing cuz he ended up having to stay there till 2:00 in the morning for our new bus while another bus came and got us. And he he's honestly amazing. We really appreciate our bus driver. Um, and also for him to handle us. This year, we also uh shared the bus with two other schools, Lacrosse and Holdman. um very lovely students

053and we love the teachers as well that tagged along. It was just a really awesome experience and we got to meet new people which was awesome. So yeah, that was our little oopsie but other than that it was perfectly fine. Uh, Lucas Oil Stadium Austin has always kind of getting old on me since it's my fourth year going, but the freshman thought it was incred the first years that didn't go last year thought it was incredible. Um, the sessions were like almost life-changing. Like there was this one young man who was just like on it. like he had the mindset of a teenager and how it is to be like how of a struggle it is to think you're not a leader but you are. You just really need to dig into it. And he

054was amazingly sassy too. Like he had a whole stadium running. Like he just he was amazing and that was probably my favorite one out of all of them. Another one was this really sweet old lady who was just such an inspiration for like women such as me. So, it was honestly really awesome to hear and the officers did amazing and I would love to be up on that stage and get my American degree. So, >> uh this was also an awesome opportunity. I got a amazing experience from it. Also, new ideas to bring to our chapter. Um, a lot of the younger ones also got to get some free prizes and hats and I was able to show them the tricks to some of the things because you got to get the tricks. Um, so

055that was amazing. >> Career show where there's like booths from colleges and companies telling you what kind of jobs you can have >> like a brand new equipment to help a agriculture. And some of it was like mindblowing to see. Um, there was like a water bed for a cow. A water bed, you know, like a water bed for a person. A water bed for a cow. I'm like, why do we need that for an animal? But you know what? You do you. I mean, if you want to spoil your cows, go right ahead. But it was incredible. The rodeo was obviously awesome. Again, I always love the rodeo and I got to sit next to Miss Be this year. So, I got a little onsite about it and I learned a little more about

056it because her family own rodeos and I never realized how dangerous um Bronco riding is. I thought bull riding is a serious one. Bronco riding is a serious one. Oh, we haunt house for Halloween. Personally, not a big fan. Um, I don't I do horror movies. I don't do that. Um, oh my gosh, they put me They made me go through the clown. I don't want the house. Oh my gosh. It was a lot of fun though. The boys had a kick out of it. It was great. Me and one of the younger ones, we ended up getting abandoned by some of them in the court field with a chainsaw. It was great. But um it was a lot of fun and I'm happy with the creativity cuz who doesn't like to get scared? So,

057but we had a lot of fun. We had a lot of fun on this trip. We experienced a lot together on this one. And then obviously we had Garrett and Aubrey win their American FFA degrees which is a an amazing honor. And Garrett was an officer in the past along with Aubrey and they were amazing officers. So seeing them achieve this award was amazing for me to see cuz I got to see these two just start like me and win a degree like this which is pretty honorable. So hopefully he'd be there. But it was amazing for them and I couldn't be happier. But then all of us >> Yeah, it was really sunny. That's for sure. We all had blast and we all got along really wonderfully. Um we played it all a lot

058and Uker. There's a lot of Uker in FFA. There's a lot of Uker. Um, but we had a blast and Miss Allen made it amazing as always. So, we just want to thank you for allowing us to go there as well because it really encourages children to become leaders and seeing where you could possibly end up going to. So, I always have a blast. So, >> yes. >> Um, I'm not a part of FFA. So, could you explain what the FFA degree is? So, the FFA degree is probably one of the highest degrees you can get for FFA. There is um our local FFA degree, which is our Green Canterbury, which is what every first um FFA member, first member, first year member gets at our FFA banquet. And it just shows like, hey, you're

059now an FFA member. Welcome to the club. The state FFA degree is what I'm trying to get this year. It is the second highest degree you could get. And you have to get almost how many hours? You have to work so many hours. I think it's a thousand hours a day. And then you also have to have so many hours of community service, so many activities above the chapter level. There's a whole gradient of things. So, a lot of requirements and and just like just to show like how you volunteer your life to FFA to agriculture items and then you kind of double that for the national FFA degree. So, um for an example, Aubrey and Garrett Aubrey goes to W Flatville and she goes there for veterary science. So, she probably works at she

060works at a veterary. >> She did. She did use apprentichip. >> Yeah. And she got a lot of her volunteer work hours from that area. It's just a really like good degree to have. And it's also like like in scouts how they have the Eagle Scout will just be like that. >> Yeah. >> It's like the top of what you can get. It looks really good on resumes and stuff. But they get their international degree after they these guys graduated what a couple years ago now, right? >> Yeah. People don't, you know, we work with people when they're out of school in our program. >> Yeah. It's not like you graduate and you're like done and after still >> they'll go do stuff. So we're working on that right now. Um I don't one for

061sure. Maybe two students are working on their applications. we they can get it fill out and um we're working on that right now. So um just while I can have a chance to tell you our FFA FFA alumni toy show is this weekend if anybody's interested in that. It's a great place to bring little kids to the pedal tractor coal. Um there's all kinds of toy farm toy displays. It covers the whole gym and the whole common is kind of something to see. Um, we have that going on. So, lots of lots of work this week getting ready for that. Um, uh, we also have two members in the middle of January going to the halftime leadership conference. Um, maybe you can tell Leila what leadership conferences are like. She's not going to this one.

062She's been to them like wrestling a little. Um so two of our other officers Taylor and Natalie are going to be joining with the halftime conference which is in the del. It's an overnight thing. Um so basically at these leadership conferences the state officers basically run a huge like just sessions kind of like the national FFA but for our state to help FFA members in our state become better leaders. and they explain how they get into the position of being a staff state officer and what were some of the challenges for them to overcome to get to the where they are along with also improving FFA members problem solving cuz we had to do a lot of that and along with also encouraging a lot of other people and so that's what their main priority

063is they'll split us up into little groups and they'll take us on by little things you know um and then they'll have one final huge huge harrah that you did it and that you can be a leader as well that just like them. And it's honestly just like really cool to see cuz some of them get really pumped up and really excited and they should because people that are in MFA tend to be a little closed off and not very expressive. But this is a way for them to like kind of like like let them shine a little and focus on like, hey, I can make a difference somehow and these people are showing me that I can do it. So these people helped me with getting a lot of my ideas and making me

064believe that I can do a lot of things. So like the WLC was a huge factor of my call on the countryside. They really helped me get into that and made me think I can do this. I can help in some way and so I did. So, it's really helpful and it's really awesome to see these people help you like get out of your little bubble. >> What are you thinking about for next year? What are your plans? Oh. Um, >> I'm like debating like I'm stuck between just either helping my dad on the farm or law enforcement or education. >> Good for you. All great all great opportunities. I I don't know. I'm just sitting there thinking about like you said in the beginning, you know, your public speaking and growing. I'm just so

065impressed by you. >> You just have a a presence about you. Very warm, very down to earth. I could listen to you all day. I got one I got one more to brag about about Leila. She has the last couple of years has um it's a lot of people don't know we do this that in FFA we have speaking contests and and completely called leadership development events. One of them is parliamentary procedure. And so we have a team and we competed last year, but this year we're a contender. >> The so is a um adviser in Verona for uh 22 years. And he did parliamentary procedure, which is basically how to run a meeting. And I think that's an amazing life skill any student should learn cuz it's very handy and it's organized. So I

066was like, "This sounds really easy. Let's give it a try." So I forced I did force I persuade a lot of kids to give it a try. And a lot of them love it. And even those that you didn't expect to speak the way they do are amazing. Like we have this one girl who is like quiet as a cricket. She doesn't very she's not very like outspoken and she does fire. Um, but when she joined this, oh my goodness, her boys, h I was I'm like a proud mom. I'm so proud of the girls that I have and the one boy we have. Hopefully, we can get some more, but I'm very happy we started on that thing. I'm sure the school board mentioned we have workshop with all the salient points of every

067how to reconsider and lay on the table and take a recess. They have to they're given um scenarios and Leila is the is the chair and then the other students have to demonstrate it and then they get quizzed at the end. They get questions about all that stuff. So if you ever need any advice, >> I mean the content will probably be terrible when it comes to animals and all that stuff. No idea. I was going to say don't sell yourself short with making it sound easy cuz it it's a kind of thing that looks easy and seems easy but it's not an easy skill in a meeting that's not well run like everybody knows it. >> So see last year during the competition there the judges came to us and said that we did

068outstanding. They were so impressed for a first year team. The only issue was we didn't follow one of the rules which was we had to get rid of the topic they gave us and start a whole new topic. We stuck with the same topic. Other than that, I think we would have won. Like I am so determined for my team this year and I'm very excited for the future years and hearing how much we improved. So >> and I think that's I think it's it's great that you've given this really good update because I think for somebody who's so I was an FFA or I was my FFA president in high school and and I will say that I think a lot of people who haven't been through that time you could probably agree don't

069understand everything FFA is not just about farming it's leadership development it's public speaking it's I I think when I was younger I was very shy and I can tell new FFA and public speaking is what got me out of that and I I still attribute a lot of the leadership, you know, um leadership qualities that I've developed. I mean, it started with FFA. So, it's you'll look back someday, I'm still very close with my high school act teacher. I mean, it's something that sticks with you. >> Yeah. >> And that's like what I'm trying to do a lot this year. I'm trying to show people that FFA isn't just filled with a bunch of bar kids and rednecks. It's so much more than that. And I want kids that want to get into medicine or

070who want to help people just to witness it because FFA is all about helping neighbors and helping your community. And it just gets a little oversh. But that's all I'm trying to prove this year. And hopefully it's working. But very good advocate. Oh, thank you. But if it wasn't for myself or my dad or my grandpa and they didn't like push me into doing the creed my freshman year, I don't think I'd be involved. Do >> you want to recite the CREATION inspire other people to leadership is a testament to the FFA. Thank you so much for your leadership here tonight and for sharing your wonderful experience with us. >> Yes, of course. >> Please feel better. >> You guys, thank you both so very much for coming. Thank you. >> And we've got 60.

071Dr. Would you like to tee us off with our strategic plan accountability report to the community? This was a presentation that was done uh with our friends at the Mount Chamber of Commerce and I'll turn it over to Vice President uh Fiser who will lead us off if that's okay. >> Yeah, we'll we'll get started. I had the I had the easy part of uh this this morning. We um I can't remember the date now, maybe a month or so ago. met with the email forum and we got to do this presentation in the community. And so, as you remember a few years ago, we went through a strategic planning process where we you set our, you know, four cornerstone um goals, but we also took it a step further and developed a a um

072profile of what a prepared student, what we want a prepared student to look like. And so as we go through this agenda here, you'll see um we'll talk a little bit about what that what that vision was and how that came about and go into some of the areas that we focused on and what what we think students like. Um, this picture here is from Miss uh Rose Williams. It is the I'm going to forget the word, the cooperative coding program, I believe, where we send um students from the middle school over to the intermediate center to help uh to help other kids with reading, tutoring, um classroom help, that that kind of thing. And I can tell you that my this is something that my daughter did as a middle schooler and it was

073just a great experience for her to get out and and build those networks, build those relationships, have exposure outside of the director um and you know build build that sense of community. month for um and just very excited about this project and the importance of uh messaging in general. Um just to have something that we can all look back to as a as a guiding document and remind us what we're here for. Um, I'll give you all some good blackmail material copy tonight because I was thinking about this when I was just sort of like my own educational journey and why I think this is important for students to think about as much as for the community. Um, I was I was school when I was a kid to dork and um I had little

074like GI brown glasses not unlike the ones I'm wearing tonight. my second grade teacher called me a little professor and uh but I my somewhere along the way like my focus became on the learning for learning sake which is great like it's awesome to have that mentality but um it's always great to remember like why you're there and what the what the goal is the outcome and it's to use education as a springboard into a career and a life that you really enjoy that you choose and enjoy and I think that with this document that we outlined that um it the the outcomes that we want for well-rounded students. I think that's just super important about that. And I love that we solicited feedback from all of our stakeholders, faculty, business owners, the community, um

075people who had the benefit of lived experience to be able to, you know, like myself, look back and say, "Here's what I uh wish I knew at the time." And so this is a just a really nice road map that we can show both to the community and to our our students and then lean into for faculty too and and have them be able to share the story of what we're all about and what we're trying to accomplish here. Um and I can go into our our first of these. We'll just kind of talk a little bit about each of the categories. Um this idea of adaptable and persistent learners. Um I'm wondering if anyone has heard of the author Angela Duckworth. Um she wrote a book called Grit that got a lot of um

076traction from people. She's she's now a professor at University of Pennsylvania. Uh but she started a career as a middle school math teacher and the lesson that she took away from that was just that um effort often be pure talent. Um obviously you need some talent too but it's this more determination that you have to harvest as much as the actual uh natural intelligence that you have later become a psychologist and eventually authored that book. She went around and interviewed a lot of like the most accomplished people out there and um looked at what they did um that uh basically gave them this resilience and how they embody that resilience to get to where they are today. So really really great book. it kind of goes off the whole like 10,000 an hour for mastery

077uh rule, but um the way that these people made their own breaks and and really just didn't take no for an answer when they wanted an opportunity. So, it was really it was really neat. And you think about like how we've applied this in our district. Um, obviously you see the success measure there, but also the hands-on um experience that people are getting at the high school level and the seeds that we're sewing at the the younger levels to make sure that people are building toward that goal and have the tools to um advance toward that goal that goal. Um, and we did talk a little bit u, you know, just again I think I feel like the people there at uh, good morning, they're kind of on board with this idea anyway. But um,

078I was just seeing like a lot of really excitement from them about how we're discussing this and the importance of getting kids out and not just learning in a textbook but learning in a real environment. >> That's fantastic because adaptable persistent learners is one of uh the items that our community told us was important to them. Portrait of a graduate is another way to talk about this document that was just passed out to you. We want to highlight each one of these to you. This is what our community told us, our business partners told us were important to them. And I'd like to take a moment to highlight uh the second uh of the of the five items uh that we have here. And mine is uh having to do with creative and critical thinkers.

079This is a great picture of Bill. Uh he is creating welding. Uh we we're talking about welding with the FFA team. A sign uh that can be used um for our students who are having problems with visual impairment. A braille uh system uh for a sensory garden that was being built here in Mount Hor being done just here by our own students. This sense of commitment. And as you think about creation and critical thinking, where more do you apply those kinds of skills in your science, technology, engineering, mathematics kinds of classrooms, or even our CTE program? The amount of investment our communities made in those programs so our students could have these types of experiences just remarkable. I wish Pam was still here because I want to again acknowledge the fact that had it not

080been for Pam's good work. um she wrote a grant and we got I think it was $35,000 to get those those um welding systems in our schools. She talked about the biotech lab uh earlier in our visit tonight. That was another grant for $75,000. We're one of the only school districts in the state of Wisconsin to have a biotech lab. You know, so these opportunities for our kids to be and exercise their creative and critical thinking skills is really remarkable. Aubrey's going to help us out with uh the next one, engaged and effective communicators. >> So our next this proof point highlights uh our students ability to collaborate and communicate with confidence and empathy. So before I jump into this example, you close your eyes or just think. Um think about a moment uh the

081last time that you watched your students or any students really run something on their own. So maybe FFA, the London Parade Club, anything really. One shiny example of that is this. So this is Deca's uh once upon a time event. Uh Martinsson Hall for one day only turns into this like storybook land if you've never if you've never attended this. Um and on the back end, students are behind the scenes coordinating logistics, welcoming community members, solving problems on the fly. I feel like a decent amount of us here uh have planned a lot of events before and nothing goes perfectly and so students really get that opportunity to do that on their own which is really neat. Um and they pull off a smooth and memorable experience which is really cool. Um it's a great

082reminder that when you give students real responsibility they rise to the occasion. um and their communication and collaboration skills become incredibly visible and it's just really really impressive. >> Yeah. And and so when you say rising to the occasion, here's an example with the board of education. This is you. >> Yeah. I watched you. I was like, "Thank you for the perfect." Um, so this proof point focuses on reflection, ownership, and making choices that strengthen not only themselves, but uh students communities, so our community. Um, and that's exactly what we saw with the solar kil project, and you can see a little photo of that. um the swag photo. And if you don't know what a solar kilm is, I haven't. Um it's basically like a greenhouse uh to make lumber that's kind of like

083usable for building things. Um which is really neat. And so with some support from a local organization who provided materials and expert guidance, students actually built something real and useful and something that they'll use for a really long time. Uh and obviously under Tim Filner's leadership, they weren't just learning these skills. they're contributing to something meaningful not only to our school but the community and that sense of ownership doesn't show up in like these big projects but uh the bigger picture on the screen here showcases kind of a foundational um piece each fall middle school principal Paul Christensen great uh meets with every grade level at middle school to talk about their shared goals learning teamwork trying new things being a good friend um and really growing from their mistakes and they talk openly about

084students roles, staff roles, um and the fact that they're here to support them and help them succeed. Uh really going back to the basics and those conversations set the tone for the rest of the year and more importantly they give us a touch point for staff to return to uh when students need a reminder or like a fresh start. We all need a fresh start sometimes and because conferences are studentled, families hear that these comm these commitments directly from the students. Uh it's subtle but it's super powerful. >> Thank you. >> And and the board has wisely suggested that there has to be opportunities for our young people to give back uh for the blessings that we've received by living in this community. We cannot just be takers. we must also uh give and lots

085of opportunities for our young people to provide service um and to demonstrate our appreciation um think about uh the letters of love uh campaign if I understand right uh Sarah Straa's little girl Julia is one of the founders of that program Sarah can I put you on the spot real quick and just have you give a a reader digest version of what letters of love is >> my understanding I've seen seen parts of it um just having students come together to support people they may not know by by writing letters of support, gratitude, um just some we all need some kind words. We all need some positive vibes and that's the goal for this group. >> The students thought of this themselves. I mean, this is just the the community that we've got with with

086our young people um and lots of other groups uh here around uh the school district that really offer some tremendous support to uh the community. Very proud of them. And this is Mrs. Fiser. Um I don't know who actually got to this one when we did pres we kind of ran out of time. So yeah, that um that was a summary of the uh the we appreciate all the support from the community that allows us to do all of this and and turn out uh good and engaged citizens and students and adults. We hope to replicate this presentation when we have our joint meet with the village and the uh chamber on January 26th. And the proof points that you see before you, um I love that term coined it for us. Um it really

087is community, you told us in red what you wanted and here's how we've delivered. And I would see us putting a year to this because I'd like to replicate this with new ideas, new information that we can continually just demonstrate we're we're doing as you've asked us to do. This is your ROI on the investment you're making in our schools. Can >> I point out that if you take liberties, this spells assets? >> Yeah. Right. >> Right. know that we presented this to the chamber and we're going to present it at the joint meeting. Is there other ways to get it out to families and community members? Whether it's I'm sure you've got something in mind um you know breaking it down, putting it on social media. I like the idea. I have the same

088thought about this really added to our strategic plan section on the website. I just Yeah. Go ahead. >> Okay. So, we've whipped up a a new revised web page for this which includes these cool little fun um examples, ROI, if you will. Uh and it really consolidates. So, if you looked on the website recently, there's three pages um that review strategic plan. They'll all be consolidated into one page and it's very streamlined. Nice. So, we're excited to roll that out soon. I'd love to be able to take some videos and maybe have the students explain each one of these. Would you guys be helpful helping me with a video? If uh you guys can kind of talk about some of these that have you guys seen this. So that's one thing I think we this

089like this prepared for our future we would share with freshmen or share with even sixth graders like >> this is this is where we're going so they can buy it. >> This will make an excellent bookmark with the perfect size for a textbook. >> That's what I'm saying where I am in the book. >> Thank you to President and Vice President Fiser, I want to thank board member Eric for also attending that chamber meeting. It really was a really fantastic although we we have it done in 7 minutes >> without sounding rush. Yeah. Thanks to you both for putting this together. We the examples are what makes this. It's really great to have those tangible um success stories to talk about. Okay. Uh, item D, board of education community message of gratitude. If anyone had

090a chance to review that over the weekend, uh, I know that Jessica uh, made some notes. I um, shot back some of their ideas that I did this afternoon reflected in this yet, but um, basically love the structure. Yeah. >> I saw your notes as well. just scroll down to it not um so I'm just going to do you mind if I recap it like introduce it and with it um guest column off the bat we can change anything about this not married to anything we can see all the edits which are phenomenal um we can always scrap this if someone doesn't really like this so just keep that in mind goal behind the article sharing gratitude for our wired community in alignment with last year's January article that highlighted staff and expand our message

091to thanks to thank uh and to recognize ongoing community partnerships and subtly signal signal future uh referendum related work without placing emphasis on it as we thanked our community extensively on that front. Um, Jessica, Adam, and Carly thoughtfully reviewed and edited and I think additions um like how can can we help list is fantastic. Uh, I liked your notes, Adam, on this piece. Um, the secret sauce, uh, if you will, that you noted. Um, and I really liked your URL that you suggested. That's that's a really good idea. Um, I will make one note that uh I if maybe something's not changed, but at Mount War they don't do bullets. >> I wonder that I made that suggestion. I was like a newspaper. I don't be allowed to. >> I love that. >> And we

092can use that on the >> true. Yeah. Just some way like people are going to scan it, but then if they can see the list just Yeah. >> Right. >> Oh, thank you for adding join the PTL. We need all the help we can get. So what you just explained I I totally spaced on the fact that we had highlighted staff last year. >> If we could have something in there that this is like the second edition of this and kind of if we're running a year-over-year thank you to all the stakeholders kind of thing >> cuz otherwise it kind of comes out of nowhere. >> It may not. Yeah. >> Is a good sampling that context. >> Yeah, it's good. >> Would the board feel comfortable in bringing this to the community and legislative

093engagement team that meets next Monday night at 5:30 to button up and put some final and then send this out or would you like to see this come back? Um it's okay >> because when is it supposed to be published? >> Uh each month we have a different group and so J sometime in January. >> Mhm. But yeah, knowing that it is already January agenda, >> the only additional thought I had is not in this version, but I think maybe a different version is is without bogging it down if there's a way that to direct people how they can get involved, whether it's like like we give them a lot of great ideas, but like literally how did they join? Yes, I agree. I >> putting cell phone number. >> Yeah, >> I think that's

094why suggesting like click on a link or something cuz I was like if we put something under each one, >> call Aubrey, call here like it's going to get long, but I was like >> people read it and be like, "Okay, that's cool. Now, how do I do it?" You know, like so >> or if we take this back and put it on our front page with a get involved button on our website as well. Uh you just click on it and it would take us to the place that we can do. >> Yeah. Perfect. Cool. >> Awesome. Thank you all. >> Yeah. Thanks for building that framework. It's always easy to have something to react to. >> Yes. Thank you. Thank you. All right, we have one whole action item out here tonight. First

095reading of uh board housing 454 reporting abuse, neglect, threat to school safety referred by safety and wellness. >> Yeah, thanks. This is a this is an important policy um for all of our staff and the students and families within our district because it has a lot of implications that go with it, right? Um, and so we wanted to be as clear as possible. And so if you notice, it's all redlined. Um, it isn't necessarily because everything has changed in it, but we tried to make it as absolutely clear as possible. And so we headed it, you put headlines in and like really specific instructions um so that there isn't uh um confusion. Um the first paragraph is subst is has changed. Um and this was directly from what our lawyers had recommended us to put

096in there. Um which is really around where we get the training and when it has to occur. Um and so that's kind of the first part. And then the second part goes into obligation for who has to report child abuse and neglect. Um, we went we talked about the what the definition exactly is of all school staff. Um, and it's anybody who's governed by the school board. Um, and so if they're governed by the school board, you must report. It has to be immediate and it has to be with reasonable cause and those are directly from DPI's websites and in their PowerPoint presentation on on all of these components. Um, and so if you go a little bit further down, um, and then keep going. Um, we just kind of also then did the exact

097same thing for school violence when we have to report it, who has to report it, and then what is the nature definition of the nature of a threat. Um, and then kind of the end part really just kind of gets into um the confidentiality piece. So if you make a report, the district can't kind of come after you or you know you're as long as you're reporting in good faith um you have the right to remake a report and and you need to make a report. So the only thing that did um get additioned as well is a lot of the cross references. So, we added quite a few because there's so many different policies that came out since the last time this was reviewed and because this is such a hot topic issue. There

098was even a new act that was passed after safety and wellness met. So, I did add um Wisconsin Act 57 in there just as a legal status update. We do not have like directions on from DPI on how to enforce that yet. Um, so that's why there's no language in there, but it is a legal statute under it um that kind of connects and that's the statute that if you're investigating a staff member um for sexual assault that we must notify the parents. So that would also be a reporting piece and so added to this as well. went into effect um immediately on December 11th when it was signed into law. We're trying to unpack that a little bit because as you might imagine, there's some nuance to that based upon people's due process rights

099um allegations versus something that's been affirmed. And so in fact um Director Esinger and I are going to go to a virtual webinar on next Thursday to learn more about this the latest edition of the WB policy perspective. They have two um topics two additions actually related to this that we're in the process of unpacking as well. We don't foresee that that really will have any impact on the policy itself because it's a practice that we've always followed actually believe it or not in this district at least um in the 10 years that I've been around. Um and um I think if anything were to happen uh pending uh consideration of this policy, we might look at an admin rag or actually add something to um our employee handbook and or staff resource guide um

100because we have to be vigilant on this. I know you know that more than anybody, but um we can't let sunshine go where um these kinds of behaviors are we're finding are occurring around the country, around the state probably that's sort of related to the I mean I think it's so I just have one question. It the mandatory training does that include anything related to school safety as well? I mean there's like the one definition in here of like what must be reported but is there anything beyond that training or the training just about the abuse and abuse and neglect? the the training itself is really specific to um child abuse and neglect. It does it does mention like not they don't go into it in depth that I I remember there is a um

101um the DPI does put a mandatory reporting of school threats of violence and that is um not as extensive as the child abuse and neglect but it is a required training every five years that um all new employees as well as uh district staff get regularly. And and something that's that's interesting and Aaron and I talk about it a lot is that in state we're one of the only states that in state law specifically says that we have to be trained through a DPI training and so where we use a vector we use some other national kind of training sites that are specifically for school districts. This in particular has to be through TPI. So, we just use their drink. >> I'll I had a few just a few a few suggestions or a few

102questions on some of them. So the and this this may have completely just been a Carly issue, but I read the first sentence like three or four times before I wrapped my head around um what it was saying and I only wonder if it would be more clear if it was like more of a numbered list. So, Wisconsin state law requires every public school employee to redeem pack training in colon one identifying children who've been abused to reporting a suspected threat and three the laws governing the reporting of a threat. Is that would that I'm wondering if that would just that would have helped my brain. But and then my and then my other question, I think this may be what you were just asking, but is the the training this kind this makes it

103sound like the training is about the laws governing the reporting, but is the training about actually reporting on threats? >> So should should it say and three the >> I mean it's all laws, right? So I mean what it's trying to say is that the Wisconsin state law requires that every employee receives the DPI training in those three components. >> Identifying children reporting suspected abuse >> and laws governing threats. >> The laws governing threats but not reporting threat reporting. >> So the training does actually do that. >> Yeah. Mhm. >> Yeah. training in I mean does it just say like >> well you could just say a school district employee shall receive 30 training I mean just be repetitive what you said up there is so annoying >> it just struck me as weird that

104it's like we're going to get trained a night out of five children have been abused we're going to get trained in reporting and then we're going to get trained in the laws about school viol the threat reporting violence like that was where the I think that's where My some of my confusion was coming in and reading the sentences. That's like I my interpretation I could be totally wrong was that this was one big training on all those topics and then I had attended and my first 6 months and then every 5 years. >> That's right. >> That's how I thought of it. >> Okay. But the lawyers wrote that paragraph, right? >> And then we have to fix them. Yeah. So I Yeah, I think that's why it's got turned around is that like it

105was it's worded as like like specific skills or in the first two and then just training on the law on the third. >> Yeah, I hear what you're saying. >> Yeah. So >> maybe we just it just cuz it already says Wisconsin state law and it just says and the third piece and reporting of a threat. It's just that the laws governing. Yeah, maybe that's that's that would be clarification. >> Um, but I don't know in under all school staff what you have. I don't know if the last from the district is necessary since you have every employee on the school district governed by the school board and then when you have that sentence in the next section, it doesn't have from the district >> already. So, I would think you could probably just cut

106that Hey, it says this includes all everything. >> All every you want to make sure that's real. >> And this isn't about the policy itself, but it says in the course of their duties. Is that defined under the law? >> Yes. Because what it used to be is is that if we were at a friend's house and you know that used to be the training that staff got we were at somebody's house anywhere this came through and now it they narrowed the scope much more >> they defined that specific is in the course of their um if we're being technical I also see a double space between and the third you're my kind of Since we're no longer going to have the lawns that you brought that good eye >> FOR their young lives. >>

107I haven't answered in a long >> I just got it. >> The the other questions I had in the next section about school and I think you just answered one of them was uh a report must be made during the course of professional duties. I think you just answer that. That is the like so they hear about it on the weekend at the grocery store. That's outside of the scope. >> I mean, we would still require to the legal requirement. >> Um and and this is also just a question of a person hears a threat of violence involving a school. Is it limited to a school or or would or what if it's just a student a student targeted or something like that? Is it >> the law of the policy is that it's school

108related. >> Okay. >> But again, I think it goes back to >> Yeah. department says safety of a student school. >> Right. >> Yeah. So if you think it's going to happen outside of school to an employee or student >> so like yes the right thing to do is to report the legal standard is insurance school not like um and then in confidentiality just there's a required I think by state just needs a space or did the version I oh yeah there's I see there's a strike through. >> Um, and then I wonder if disciplinary action may result from a failure to report child abuse, child neglect, or school threat of which they acknowledge. >> Sure. >> Rather than school safety, >> school safety issue, school safety threat, school threat. I can't think of the

109word threat. >> Threat of school safety. Would you like to see this come back again? >> Yeah, >> we good with that? >> Um, I did I did have like a couple questions just in terms of how this is carried out. And um the line that stuck with me before that part of it was um that no staff member may attempt or prevent to attempt someone from filing this. >> And um it it's a very it's a very high bar. I'm just wondering how high that bar is. And it just kind of gets my mind back to the training around this because I could see something being construed as an attempt to prevent a reporting where it's more just a you know questioning what happened and how it went down. So I I don't know

110if you have you know like the hands-on experience of that about where that line is drawn in terms of like talking through ramifications or what did you see versus an attempt to prevent. >> Yeah, I think there there's two ways that I think about that. One is the attempt to prevent, right? So I think of of, you know, usually policies get written cuz there was a bad policy years ago, right? And that's when I was a teacher. And so when I was teaching, I would go to an administration and then report and then they would make the report. And so this is saying now like if I go and talk to the principal, they can't prevent me or say you can't make that report. So So nobody can do that. What where I also think

111that it it kind of falls into play is when what when people call me and they're like I just don't know um what our county CPS has really said is now you can call for consultation as well and so I if people if if teachers call me like I'm not sure if I should you know can I should I report this and say then call for consultation um so then that I'm not making the decision they're not making the decision but then CPS can make the decision. I really think this should go after consulting with you on it. I think it should go to a report. They won't take action from a second party. It has to come directly from >> Yeah. Yep. And so, yeah, somebody and which has happened in the in the

112past, not recently, but like I can't stop thinking about this over the weekend. I should have recorded it. I'm uncomfortable calling. Like, meet in a parking lot. Do it together. But like I can't make a report for somebody. The principal can't make a report. they have to make it. So, we do it together, >> right? >> Did you have something else? >> Um, just a question on the timing of this. So, if it's done within 6 months of hiring and then 5 years afterwards. So, is this just like a staggered series of trainings that happens or do we do it once a year then and everyone falls under that? >> How how does that work here? >> Both. Um so upon hire all new employees within 30 days receive this training. Um and then from

113there on um we do refreshers yearly and then the formal training is done at least every 5 years or more. Um so we keep track of the the full training that recently was updated from the DPI is 50 minutes 50-minute training. Um, but this is also gone over in all buildings regularly too. And our and um Brian can maybe speak to like our student service staff is very well trained on this to support the buildings if there is any questions that arise. Right. >> Yeah. I mean, just the complexity, not being in a situation like this, but man, the thing that must go through your head in terms of where you feel uh how legitimate something is and thinking about the ramifications of uh reporting somewhat and it turning out not to be true. It's

114it's a lot to wrestle with. So, glad you have that many options and resources. It it is really tricky because um in in many cases and which is um why DPI has been struggling in in my opinion with the training itself because you wrestle with if you're making if a report comes back as false you're really ruining risking ruining the relationship that you have to build. So the DAS kind of wrestled with uh like how much should we investigate and then that puts a whole different level of responsibility on staff to determine if we're investigating that we really should be the ones. Um and so like that's been a it's been a like um about 4 years ago TI came out with a new training and then they kind of cooled it right away. Um,

115and then this is kind of the the new training that they came out this year. But it's it's a hard it's a hard piece because you're right, the ramifications are are huge in both ways, right? If kids are being abused and we're not recording it, I mean, we're losing trust with a kid. Um, and if we, you know, suspect something and it's not true, we, you know, act 57 actually, this is that new law that actually came out required. We know about it before 12:00 noon that day to communicate it to your families by 5:00 p.m. at the end of that day. So you have just a very limited window of time. I learn about a uh impact on a kid sexual in nature or physical um harm in nature uh after 5:00 p.m. than

116I have until noon the next day to communicate that out. So you have to really be you know, certain that the information you're getting is coming from a credible source. Um, and I envision us having to have some communication with attorneys to say, you know, are we on firm footing? Um, nobody wants to error on the side of of wrong side on this. So, we're learning a lot. That's part of that unpacking that it was I'm sorry, cut off Joel. answer the question. >> No, my not mine gets back to the policy itself. It's just the last two sentences under confidentiality I think we combine where we talk about disciplinary action. It's disciplinary can be taken for two reasons. Failure to report or reporting back we just kind of we have two sentences for that.

117Well, there are certainly a lot of great suggestions and feedback. I wonder if just to dot our eyes and cross our tees if if you'd be okay with us bringing this back to a quick second read. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Nice job. Thank you. >> Dr. No citizen comments. Great. Uh our next meetings coming up. We have um full slate in January finance next Monday. Uh the community and legislative engagement. Uh that is also on Monday. So, I doubled their personnel on uh uh the Tuesday and then we're back here on the 19th for safety and wellness and full board and our workshop again is on the 26. Keep that one on your calendars 5:30 for that and then followed by our meeting with the village and chamber at 7:30.

118So, be a nice long evening together. This point I would motion by second by Sarah. All in favor?