001Mhm. >> I'm so glad that this isn't anything that I have to talk about. >> Okay, I can fresh share one more time. If it doesn't work, then you can just reference to your flight agenda, which it should hopefully can. >> Such a good video. >> Yeah. >> What what Denise? >> And then I was just wondering if you had any ideas on how to go to work on that. >> Oh, what do you mean? I was going to ask you another question, but go ahead. >> Yeah. >> Everything is great. >> It's great from here. >> Unless I go to the next one. And if I go to here, what tab is necessary then we can pull into this tab to share? >> Yeah, that's what I'm going to keep selecting. >> Can you
002just click through it, Ivy? Will it let you share? >> Yes, I'm selecting the map. >> Okay. >> I know she was going to say hey. >> Hey. >> That's great. >> And as we know staffing the ELC has been a challenge finding the right people in the right times and trying to have great compensation. So that's something we're going to continue to work on. I'll continue to provide updates on the wait list and some potential handbook changes and just creative ideas as we continue to move forward knowing that child care is so important and so challenging as well. >> Thank you. Were those like two two two to three? >> Yeah, so there's a a variety of photos. So some were from the early learning center. So baby room, the toddler room, two-year-olds, preschool
003room, three-year-olds, and there's also photos from Castle Garden Kids. So that's before and after school as well as summer school. Yeah. >> Summer Garden Kids. >> It was kind of brilliant to use the video and the slideshow. It made me realize it's been a long time since I've had little one, you know, and it was just it hit me because I watched it, of course, earlier and it's just like hit me and I was like, "Wow, they this is amazing." Like it's such an asset and you guys are doing such good work. >> I remember why I loved 4K. >> Exactly. Yeah, and then it's like >> She said good stuff. >> Okay, so those words are done to the to the ELC and Castle Garden Kids for sure. >> Thank you very much. I'm
004glad you got it to work. >> Yeah, me too. >> Um so we'll go down to the acknowledgement of donations and gifts. >> Yes, we'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the guard sculpture that is just phenomenal. Uh Don Fieber created this piece of art which I I it on display within like a show that he had with multiple pieces and he reached out several months ago and had intentions of donating this to the school district and asked if we'd be interested and I mean I talked to Shondra and Ivy and it was like a resounding yes please thank you so much and then he reached out a couple weeks ago and delivered it on Monday. And I did put a link in the the board notes to his website where you could probably
005search Don Gever and he just has these gorgeous recycled pieces of art. This is entirely made out of hubcaps. And we're going to find a really cool and special place to put it but right now it's on tour. Doing you know board meeting tonight we'll make sure it's at the band concert we're going to do graduation and we'll just kind of show choir on Saturday and make it around and then hopefully we'll find a we know we'll find a permanent place we're just not sure which building it should be in and you know where that perfect place will be where where it will have some supervision and maybe have the enjoyments by everybody. >> So on his tour will he be at the elementary? >> I know that's the that's a good question we could
006test it out a little bit we've been apprehensive just unsure you know how elementary students may respond a couple of different reasons why a little bit of like will will some of the younger ones be a little scared because the the helmet yeah he can move his arms. And also just thinking about keeping its integrity and you know would it get climbed on or hung on or you know Yes he'd be like the Tin Man instead of scary so we're hopeful but it would be kind of fun just to try it out and see how it goes. That was my first intention and then I was kind of people were like oh. Maybe that would work maybe that." But we'll figure out a good spot. >> Great. So, you can give it to Diane. >>
007Thank you. And there is a thank you card that did everybody get it? Okay. >> I think like one of I mean Chandra sent it to you. >> And no one needs to sign it. >> Oh, yeah, me too. Yeah, I mean you can write something. I mean I made sure you got the message out to him and I'm very grateful. >> Um okay, I'm going to just I'll read the board goals just so no one knows what we're talking about. Um we had three goals this year for the board. The board will strengthen its role as an advocate for public education and specifically the school district of Washburn by building relationships with legislators and community advocates and building knowledge of state and federal issues regarding education. Um so, a couple of the things that
008we've done, we've had um Angela Straughn came one night to a meeting and Romaine Quinn came one night. Um we've also been working very hard to um work on what's called the transparency project to get the amount that we pay that is paid to um private schools that is taken from our our district to private schools. We're trying to get that put on to um everybody's tax bill, their property tax bill. And >> Uh yeah, Bayview said, "Sure, we're in." Um it was uh it was a two to one vote. Okay. Um but uh there's a uh rural towns association in Wisconsin. What's it called? >> Town of Yeah, the towns association. >> Town Wisconsin Towns Association and uh I don't know how recent this one came up cuz I did not get a chance
009to look at it last night, but um but they came out in favor of transparency, which is like yeah, mhm. Yeah, transparency is really important. And so, um so, that was definitely one of the um things that they talked about. I wrote down some pretty good questions that the um group asked that I was going to uh get back to Denise on. And so, uh those are just still in my notes, but um but wrote down a pretty good couple good questions and uh and they also collectively decided that like, "Hey, the like like everyone wanted to ask, including, you know, Barksdale, like, "Well, how is this information going to be presented?" >> Mhm. >> And they had this like collective understanding that like, "Well, it's the county's tax bill. So, the county will decide
010kind of how this information is decided, but we are in favor of transparency." >> Mhm. >> Um and second resolution >> Okay. So far, we've gotten the town of Washburn, the town of Bayview, >> Mhm. >> town of two or three, town of Barksdale. >> Bar- Barksdale has not voted on it, as to my understanding. >> Right. >> Um so, I can look up their meeting minutes again and put that down. >> Okay. And the city of Washburn, I don't think they've voted. >> They haven't voted. They kind of tabled it. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. So, those we're still We have to get every municipality to agree. >> Okay. >> So, >> Oh, so it's not So, if Barksdale >> It'll be on everybody else's, but not theirs. >> Oh, okay. Yes, is that Okay.
011>> Okay. That's what we're That's what we're working on. >> Okay. >> Um so, that was part of that goal. Uh the second goal was the board will increase community engagement through the process and completion of the strategic plan, which has been completed and we are now working toward building goals from that. Um If anybody wants to throw something in, go ahead. Uh the third goal was the board will study and reflect on the work of the board, striving to increase its effectiveness. This will include review of the policy bylaws outlining the responsibilities of the board and a monthly reflection at the end of each board meeting to determine effectiveness. And we did go through all of the bylaws at a couple of meetings, and another part of that will be um doing some onboarding
012with you. And that Denise and I will get together and we'll meet with you soon. Um to go through that so that you're aware of that. Okay. Anything else from anybody? So, those are goals that were made last July-ish, and we'll be doing another retreat at some point in time this summer, and um coming up with new goals for next year. >> Madam President, might we circle back to the superintendent report? >> Oh, could I just add to that? Yes, we could. >> Well, first of all, I don't think we can. Um well, first thing I'd like to do is officially welcome Noah to the board, and uh congratulate you. Uh looking forward to doing your onboarding work alongside Sandy and the rest of the board. We'll uh assign a mentor, and have someone available
013for all of your, you know, hot topic questions, which I'm sure there will be many um as we do this work. So, welcome. Uh I'd say the month of May, as I've been out and about from building to building, is all about garden time and outdoor play. And it's just been great to see students everywhere with, you know, with the sidewalk chalk art as I walk up to the school playground, and actually seeing the lawnmower was kind of nice. I thought, "Okay, we're you know, we're entering a new season." So, exciting times, of course, also the end of the school year, which brings graduation, and all of the final um goodbyes to our seniors who have worked so hard, and we're doing a really great job of celebrating out on social media. You've probably seen
014all of those posts. So, a lot of really great end of the year things happening, and the construction for the referendum is, you know, we are we are on the cusp. So, this room and we'll fill Noah in on the project and all of the work that's happening. June 8th is the first day we're going to have I sent this morning that map, the yellow and red, like what this building access will look like, where parking will be, and that will be shared on our website as like a pop-up and on social media. I'm thinking, you know, this week that and however we'll get um doing that work, which is great. So, the communication I feel like we're it's starting. And then the groundbreaking June 2nd. So, looking forward to seeing everyone there for the
015shovel turn uh and the hard hats. Uh Chris O'Connor will be on site here beginning May 15th. We are working really closely with the city on a lot of um you know, making sure we're following all of the rules. We're getting all of the the permits. Uh so, that has been a process and we've had a few detours and a few little like, "Okay, we have to do 20-ft pods. We can't do 40. They wouldn't allow that." So, just like all of those little um we'll we'll figure all those pieces out and Myron has been great. Uh aside from that, yeah, just summer school registration opened up and wow, I actually had a neighboring district reach out to me and say, "How do you have so many amazing offerings in your district?" And I said,
016"I know." So, thank you to Shandra and Ivy for your work and of course Lisa Toti, who is extraordinare behind the scenes putting all of those parts and pieces. And all of the staff who are going to teach. I mean, it's just it's just an incredible um opportunity for our students and families. So, excited for that. Okay. Now, hopefully get back on track. The finance focus group, um Stephanie, you know, what's that just as >> week? Yeah. Cuz I was thinking about that going >> I would have guessed No, no, that was just a couple days ago. >> Couple days ago. >> This big week. Um, we did Let's see. We kind of dug in with this was a We had one week Our first meeting was fuzzy and happy and we met and introduced
017and talked about what we're going to do. >> Before we go any further, can you just give a really brief introduction of what this is all about? So no one knows like >> Oh, the beginning of it. >> Um, okay. So we uh actually it was You were talking about like well, how did this group form? Is this a result of our strategic plan or is this a result of like something else? And I think it was like all of the above. We did our strategic plan last year. We know that we have to be um like just very aware to like what's going on. And so like as you're seeing the state's funding um for school districts changing literally by the day. Um we we knew that like something was coming. We went to
018a conference for school boards in January and all of these districts are like, "We're going to referendum. We're doing this. We're getting cut. We're getting this." And referendum was like the talk of everybody's like school finances was like the big talk. And so we knew that this was coming. Um and so we just feel like uh from like Denise's leadership and everybody here uh was just very forward thinking in that the board functions at at its best when they reflect the decisions of the community. You know, and like the the wants and the desires of the community. So we formed this focus group to kind of like dive in to like, "Hey, community. We're We're coming across this like big change in school funding. We know it's going to affect Washburn. We don't know how
019it's going to affect Washburn and we want you to be engaged through this process as we're learning and exploring and figuring out what the outcomes are. So >> And we've got an amazing turnout. >> We've got an amazing >> Because we've got an amazingly engaged and wonderful community. >> Right. >> Um how many people >> There's 14 with all of us. >> 14. Right. >> To like engaged on financial school board. Financial. It's amazing. >> So Um I had to I had to do >> So at least maybe you can like >> Yeah, so um yeah, uh we we spent a good chunk doing some follow-up questions from the from the initial meeting. So elaborating on what's an endowment? When can we use an Can we use an endowment to help? Can we use uh
020donations? You know, kind of just doing a little exploration and a little bit of realization, I guess, of the confines that you feel this >> I feel like it should be like a did you know document. Did you know that teachers are restricted in how much raise that they get every year? Like they can only get a raise of CPI. They can never get higher than CPI and that's a law. Brett, you know that? >> I actually didn't know that. I felt >> There was a law against >> for not knowing that. But um but like I you know, you always knew it was something, you know, and so there's like a number of like did you know that if you fundraise to build a new school building that might impact like how much money
021you get from the state and would actually put bigger tax burden on the community members in the state. So or in the district, sorry. Um that they already have. So that was uh so just a lot of great great um moments of like, oh, this answers that question and that helps us understand this a little bit more. So >> And we dove into like the details, the numbers. Um the budgets from the past, the present, and the projected future, right? So, we looked at all of that, so we they we all got a a real look at the what has happened, the trend, um and where it's going. So, which obviously clarified a lot why we brought this committee together because it's red. You know, like it's it's a tough financial picture. It's tough financial
022reality that's going to require tough decisions and a lot of work. Um and then we looked at kind of what some options are for future work, like what we need to focus on in the coming weeks, months to kind of figure out what the future years are going to look like. And I don't know >> We provided some scenarios. >> Yeah, we looked at some scenarios. >> and kind of talked through what, you know, what an operating referendum may look like, how many years that may be for, and what those different numbers may be, and then of course what that tax impact would be um on families. So, we had some initial conversations. I shared I think five different scenarios, kind of what the reality looks like, and then um a few different ones, and
023we talked a little bit. I said, "Go home, think about it, digest it." Janet and Sarah and I um in the district office will do some kind of tweaking to come back with a few more ideas based on the discussion, and in June we're going to meet to follow up, and then we'll be bringing a preliminary budget to the June meeting to share more detail, more numbers. Um we're really hopeful that our legislature was going to move forward with the >> Anything. >> With anything in the today or yesterday, >> Anything. >> it did not move in the Senate. So, unfortunately, the additional special education reimbursement, the additional money into general aid, and the tax break for taxpayers did not pass. So, back to the drawing board for them to hopefully come up with a
024plan to support our schools. And those that are paying >> Hopefully they'll listen. Okay, so So, just to be also like just a little bit like clear, is that the projections are showing deficit for the district? >> And the next steps are to get this preliminary budget so we know exactly what that deficit is. >> Correct. >> Yeah. I want to know that information. >> Yep. At this meeting. >> Correct. Yeah. >> So, this group is meeting prior to >> Prior to the board meeting. >> Okay. >> The day before. So, we have two nights of fun. Two nights of business, but it'll be great. >> Any questions? Thank you. Thank both of you for being there. And thank you, Denise, for all the work that you're doing on this. And to Janet, too. I'm
025sure this is quite a eye-opening for Sarah, too. >> She's doing great. >> Good. >> Yeah. >> Good. Good. All right. Approval of financial reports and bills? >> Oh. Okay, so uh If you look at um the financial reports, like everything again was just like super organized, ready to go. Um I went to look at stuff, and Sarah's there, our new financial manager and business manager? What's the title? >> Finance manager. >> They don't have their business manager license yet. >> Okay. So, finance Yeah, finance manager. And uh so, all of that um onboarding seems to be going like very well. Um and uh, yeah, everything looks great. If you see, um, and I'm sorry I didn't clarify this before the meeting because I always like to do that ahead of time. Um, but you
026know, those business administration costs are like, you know, like of all of the budget items seem to be bigger and that's the transportation is my guess. It's like it it cites like transportation and so are the others. >> all kind of yeah, a lot of that's coming in right now. >> Yeah. >> And at higher at higher rates >> Right. And then last year and that's why the discrepancy if you guys notice that discrepancy between like last year and this year's spending in that like business administration line. It's usually this this particular line item is probably transportation, but then there was a couple others that Janet had cited on those notes. So, um, so anyway, everything else uh, again, like audit wise or like from my little screen tool, um, looks really great. So, I
027would move to approve the financial reports and bills for April 2016. >> I'll move to a second. >> I'll second it. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Aye. >> All right. Opposed? Motion carried. Um, consent agenda. >> Uh, I move to approve the consent agenda. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Opposed? Motion carried. Discussion items. We have a number of policies that we have for this second reading and those were all um, part of your package. Is there a um, a motion to approve the second reading of these policies? >> I'll make a motion to approve the second reading of the policies as listed. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Opposed? Motion carried. All
028right. Let's talk about graduation. >> Mhm. Again. >> Okay. >> So, you want to just just briefly >> Yes, to my great dismay, I was very excited about changing the graduation date from the first Sunday in June, which we have a state trap shooting conflict and state track. State track is Friday Saturday, state trap shooting is Sunday. I mean, track could always get back in time, but sometimes it was a little bit of a late Saturday and then, you know, Sunday push. So, it was just great. Oh, we're going to move graduation to the week of Memorial weekend of Memorial Day. It'll give people opportunities to bring families to town and celebrate. Friday evening would be perfect. Let's make that happen. Um, so we did and discovered that the WIAA back in October changed the
029regional sectional races such that Washburn will now run next year on Friday evening for sectionals. So, race Tuesday, Friday. Division one will race Monday Thursday. If it's the week of Memorial Day, which sometimes happens where, you know, Monday is Memorial Day and then they have then it's Tuesday Friday. So, just enough of a conflict and interestingly, I was out looking at some other school districts like when do they have graduation? Um, and some people still have it posted for next year on Friday. They will have to change it because they're division two or three. So, um, people just aren't aware. I don't think that the change that happened in October, no one's really paying attention to like track for a year and a half away. Anyway, so Sherry Collins is on the ball. She emails
030me right away and says, like within an hour. I just saw because I had spent so much time like really doing doing the calendar talking to people. And I was like, "Sherry, are you sure?" And she's like, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure. I can show you." So, she did and then I just sat on it for a little while. I just needed to wallow in misery. Um and then the administrative team and I talked and uh Saturday was a very viable option. We talked about the morning. We talked about the afternoon. There's pros and cons to both. We thought we'd give Saturday morning a go um so that people still have the afternoon if they would want to have a graduation celebration. They have Sunday and then Monday. So, there's still ample time. Just kind of
031strikes out, you know, the Friday evening. Seems like, you know, more like fireworks and displays, but I feel like Saturday morning we can enjoy brunch and have fun with um the school and families and it'll just be a good a good subject. What is the subject? >> Yeah, it's a good subject. Yes, that's great. And then there's also that to look forward to that we can >> All right. >> So, so that's just kind of how the change happened and my apologies for those who had it in their heart and soul that it was going to be moved to Friday, but I feel like we have ample time. Maybe okay. >> It was fine. >> It is. It is. I move to um approve the change in the 2027 graduation date of Saturday to Saturday,
032May 28th, 2027. >> I'll second. >> Is there any other discussion? All in favor? I. I. Opposed? Motion carried. Um parental leave guidelines. >> Yes. So, currently in the staff certified handbook, professional staff handbook, um we have outlined 12 weeks of maternity/paternity, which we're really trying to shift now to parental leave because it does also encompass adoption and it just feels like um the right terminology. There really were no guidelines and so over the last couple of years there's been questions and there's been you know, I think this is how we do it, but we're not really sure how we count the time or when people can take it um and it's just led to some confusion and also just I think that lack of clarity just makes us look like we're not you know,
033very well versed to provide this amazing benefit. Like 12 weeks of paid time to be home bonding with your infant or your newly adopted child is a gift um and we want to continue that gift. So just putting some guidelines in place to just spell it out to protect the employee um like their benefits are protected, their wages, their position, like all of that is outlined as well as the district in terms of our expectations that we're providing this, but you're going to come back to work for us, you know, after that time is up that it that it will transpire right at the beginning, you know, when the baby is born or adopted um and then just like how we count to the days that it's a successive time frame time period. So I
034think it just provides clarity and will just help us especially with um substitutes and ensuring that we have um those available like concurrently. The time must be concurrent. So just some clarity and I feel really good about us being able to maintain and keep it and just provide guidelines. So if this is approving that, this would then go in the staff handbook uh like tomorrow so that it's there and then it would be successively for next year. >> Okay. Is there a motion? >> I'm to approve the updated 2025-2026 parental leave guidelines. >> Is there a second? >> I'll >> second it. >> Any discussion? >> I do have a a point, a question, a concern. >> Yeah, sure. >> Um in the it talks about taking leave prior to the delivery. >> Yes. >>
035Um the concept is good, I think. I question the wording of um what is it? You you in the case only in the case of medical emergency. I wonder if it could be changed to um I don't know, complication or something cuz I think a lot of the things that would be appropriate, like if you're on bed rest >> Yes. >> or whatever. That's not going to be That's not going to fall under an umbrella of a medical emergency. >> I can see that. I was thinking it would. >> Yeah. >> But I think complication is maybe better. I'll ask our attorney. I did have her read it. >> Or some, you know, I assume you require medical documentation and stuff like that. >> Yeah, we just like medical recommendation. >> Yeah, something like that.
036>> Or I mean I think complication would cover it because >> Mhm. >> the normal course of pregnancy That's not what we're looking for, right? >> Correct. >> An abnormal course that would require leave of absence. >> Employee safety. >> Yeah. >> Would you like to make an amendment to the motion? >> I would like to make an amendment. I would like to motion that the wording in the leave detail be changed from medical emergency to medical complication if it is approved by legal. Is that cool? >> What? Is there a second? Is there a second to that amendment? >> I'll make a second. >> Is there any discussion with that? >> Okay, we're going to vote on the amendments. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Opposed? The amendment is carried. So, now we're going
037to vote for that motion with the parental leave including that amendment. We've got a motion and a second. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Opposed? Motion carried. Carol, that you need? >> Mhm. >> Good. >> I got it. Do you take that back? >> Yes. >> All right. And now we're now we're going from parental leave to trucks. Yeah, it's a whole different thing. >> I'll make a motion to consider the pre-approval of a purchase of a used school truck. >> And plant. >> And plow. >> For up to $50,000. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Now, it's my understanding you don't have one picked out yet. >> Correct. We're searching for the best deal possible. Low miles. Not new, used, but good quality. So, this is just a pre-approval such that when that vehicle is
038available, we can act on it cuz we don't want to wait till the next board meeting. >> Can you explain >> We tried to get a truck last week and like it sold in 15 minutes. >> Yeah, we've There have been a few that have come and gone pretty quickly. And it was that's when we had the aha a couple weeks ago that like no, we need to be able to like make the decision and go get it pretty quickly. Um and our current vehicle is in disrepair. It's rusted. It's held together with duct tape. The floorboards aren't It's like a Flintstones vehicle. It's not an appropriate school truck for plowing and it's needing replacement. So, although it's a difficult thing to do, it's just one of those we've saved and now we need to
039make it happen. >> Um how long would this like condition be valid for? Like Like can I know I know that you're wanting to like plan ahead and I suppose you can't like really wait until the time dies. Because Right. So it makes you kind of wonder like how far could it go? >> Well, we're not even trying. >> We'll keep we'll keep you but if a new opportunity >> Exactly. Yeah, like kind of presents itself then >> It's that we don't feel the pressure right now and there's no snow. So for plowing we're okay. >> So this would be valid for like a year? Or ever? What do you think? I don't know. Just kind of >> Well, two >> Can you you want to put on in there to be >> I don't
040know. I think so. >> Yeah. >> I mean we have >> it's I think it's >> I think it's the one we're better build but they'll be buying a new truck. >> So once they get it then it's over. >> Yep. All right. >> Yeah. >> Moving on. >> Okay. Now there was this next one here, right? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carried. >> Okay, thanks. >> Boom and we're finished. That was quick. So I need a motion to adjourn. Well, before we do that I want to go through the reflection questions. Okay. The meeting was run efficiently but effectively. >> Yeah. >> Everyone was given the opportunity to express their ideas and concerns. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Decisions were discussed in a manner that was
041clear and transparent so the community is able to understand the reasoning and logic of the decisions. >> Yes. >> I think so. >> We tried to do a little more discussion tonight. Decisions were consistent and fair for all stakeholders. >> Yeah. >> Decisions reflected the mission of the district. >> Yeah. >> All right. Then I need a motion to adjourn. >> I move to adjourn. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> The motion We are adjourned. >> Great. >> Thank you everyone. Sometimes these last a lot longer than this. We just had a meeting 2 weeks ago because in April you have to have it at the end of the month. And so we just had one at the very end of April. And so it's been a short three months. Like a two month every
042three months. Um