001Would you do a roll? >> All right. Schwagger >> here. >> Joel here. >> Bart here. White here. Henderman here. Bowden >> here. >> Andrews >> here. >> All present. >> Uh proof of giving public meeting notice. Aaron. Yeah. Notice are posted at both schools sent to the village of Digville and Cuba City Hall. Members of the media on Monday, January 12th. Thank you. Item three is consideration of the consent agenda. Are there any items uh A through C that you'd like uh further discussion on? Hearing none. Would someone move, please? >> I'll move to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Swagger, >> yes. >> Joel, yes. Barf, >> yes. White, >> yes. >> Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried.
002>> Moving to item four, administrative reports. We'll start with the elementary Jason, please. >> All right. Uh, December 11th, Mrs. Jordan Henderman, Mrs. Angela Belulin, Mrs. Cameo Update Ames, and Mrs. Gina Henderman attended the building the heart of successful schools conference. The conference coordinates with the stronger connections, compassion, resilience cohort that Mrs. Whitney Casper, Mrs. Melinda Tertha, Mrs. Sarah Williams, and myself have been collaborating within to explore strategies and resources for staff support in our district. Mr. Sander and I were supposed to attend the day of that conference as well, but that was when we had the white snow ice. We didn't travel. So, we look forward to um implementing some of the ideas and strategies that were shared through that conference. Uh also on December 11th, our 4K families hosted a family cookie day.
003We want to thank Mrs. Becky Egan, Miss Sophie Sander, Miss Miranda Olri, Mrs. Gail Pittson and Miss Maggie Wright as well as many the many families and friends who made this a special and fun experience for our 4K students. We have a thank you to Verlo Mattress Factory of Deuke uh Mr. Rod Liveed and the Cuba City High School class of 1980 um still uh being led by Mr. Gary Heling for generous donations to be used towards our family lunch balances. Uh we'll be working with the families to apply those funds where they are needed most. Once again, our gr we want to share great gratitude towards the Cuba City Booster Club for their recognition and support of all the school staff and students. Our staff greatly appreciated the gift cards provided over the holidays.
004Want to thank our fourth grade classes for spreading Cuban cheer. On December 17th, students chaperoned by Mrs. Jennifer Holmes, Mrs. Christina Brewer, and Mrs. Pam Timberman visited local businesses to spread cheer with cards, positive messages, and jokes. We thank the many community businesses for hosting our students as guests and celebrating their students, our students efforts through social media and word of mouth. We had a lot of great feedback from that event. The third, fourth, and fifth grade students heated up the gym on December 23rd with a Cuban celebration that featured our students talents in a lip sync battle. Many students participated in the competition and all students enjoyed the show while choosing their favorite performances with a ballot vote. Congratulations to the group of Kellen Clanden, John Keepers, August Wgner, Evan Morovitz, Oliver Glendenning, and
005Gabe Ghard on their performance of the duck song. And that was a crowd favorite for sure. And then a shout out to Mrs. Katie Adetta for organizing, conducting, and energizing the event. and to the Cuba City Palms team for a holiday performance that afternoon coached by Miss Katie Schrader. And then a thank you to Miss Becky Egan for attending the 4K leadership forum which gives us insight into the current practices and trends occurring in the state of Wisconsin. A survey was conducted by the conference attendees and those results will help guide us as we prepare for our upcoming 4K round. That's all I have tonight. >> Thank you, Jason. Any questions on it? >> Chris, the middle and high school report, please. You bet. We had eight middle school and 11 high school students participate
006in the Swall Honors Band, which was held at Iowa Grant last Friday. Uh these students combined with students from other SW schools, practice for two days with a guest director, and then put on a concert of five songs, which was open to the public. Uh it's an amazing event to experience. If you've never attended one, I encourage you to go to one in the future. Uh Swall Honors Choir will be at Mineral Point on January 24th. Uh, speaking of choir, Miss Clayton was able to take four students to participate in the Dorian Vocal Festival held at Luther College. Uh, this two-day experience that invites the best singers from the tri-state area. Um, congratulations to all of our talented musicians. Miss Merwin shared that all of our CTSOs are looking forward and preparing for February as
007it is CTE month. Educator Rising Week is February 2nd through the 6th. FCCLA week is February 9th through the 13th. FBLA week is February 16th through the 20th and FFA week is February 23rd through the 27th. All of those groups are busy planning fun activities to celebrate our students and programs. Beyond all of that, FCCLA is gearing up for its regional competition which will be held later in February. Uh members will be selling nothing but cakes to support funding for the regional competition. plastic recycling challenge is currently up to 231 pounds um of their 1,000 lb goal and educator rising members have been working hard at our high school concession stand and are preparing for their upcoming competitions in March. FFA members Madison Drestler and Zoe Yos will be attending the FFA leadership halftime conference
008in Stevens Point this weekend. Other members are getting ready for the upcoming career and development events this spring. Uh, Miss Van Scandal shared that once again our FFA fruit sale was a success. FBLA competition has begun and the conference events have been happening since the beginning of the year through this Friday, January 16th. And all of this is in preparation for the regional competition which will be held on February 7th. Uh, middle school had a door decorating contest leading up to the holiday break. Congratulations to Mr. Sturz's home room as they were having so much fun and took first place. Uh, middle school students have been practicing and will be soon competing in the annual spelling bee and geography B, which I actually think that it happened even though I wrote it this way. Uh,
009quarter 2 Cuban celebration is scheduled for next Monday, January 19th, where the middle school uh will celebrate boys basketball and all of the quarter 2 accomplishments. Miss Min was able to take five sixth graders to participate in CISA 3's puzzle mania event today. Uh, students got to try their skills in brain games, logic puzzles, and riddles. Miss Williams and Miss Update Games will soon announce their play title um and will be setting up tryyouts and practices, but for right now, it's still top secret. For the second year now, Mr. Miller has set up his two civics classes as a mock government. Uh, the classes are organized similarly to the House of Representatives and hold sessions during class. On Tuesday, January 6th, Mr. Miller organized an inschool field trip to the library where they held a
010mock congressional session. Uh students presented bills and voted on them. Additionally, there is a mock election that was happening. Um this actually this was this Tuesday and uh congratulations to Clayton Doherty and uh AJ Gordon as our new president and vice president. Uh and the Cuba City High School will soon have a new president. We do. Uh good luck to both candidates and thank you to Mr. Miller for providing a fun and exciting real world experience. Uh the high school hosted day one of final exams today and it went very smooth. Um we are hopeful for tomorrow's exams as well as they wrap up. It will mark the end of the first semester and we will officially have be halfway through the school year. Uh first semester has been great and we are looking forward
011to a strong second semester. >> Thank you Chris. There are any questions on him? >> Did I see that we had some local politicians participate in or make a message? >> We did. I'm not exactly I don't know if that was a family ask, but um Representative Trann and Representative Novak um made a little I I actually have the video if you guys want to see it later, but um they did a a a Facebook video each of them supporting one of our candidates and then made a little plug for themselves at the end of it. So yes, >> thank you. Other business report, please. >> Yep. Uh update on the current year budget. At the end of December, we were 50% through our fiscal year and we had spent about uh 35% of our
012fund 10 budget. Um this is very much in line with where we were at uh last year at the end of December. An update on our uh fund 49 or our referendum checking account. Um, in the month of December, our revenues were $796,491. Our expenses were $700 um 94,735.75 and our balance at the end of the month was $8,69544. Um, in other news, the even though we're a fiscal year agent, um, in the month of January, there are a lot of annual reports that, um, need to get completed in the business office. Um, so I just want to give give an update on those. Um, I've submitted our annual WRS report and that has um, it was accepted by WRS um, earlier this week. Uh employees will receive their annual statement uh in the springtime.
013Um right before tonight's meeting, I was able to um submit our 1099s. Those all have to be done electronically now. So those have all been submitted and I actually was able to get a fairly real time uh response that they've been accepted. Um Ashley Bonnik has delivered W2s to employees and she started working on the 1095. So we're sitting in a really good place for it only being the middle of January and and having most of our annual reporting um done. So that that's a good thing. Um continuing to work on paperwork and preparation for the April uh school board election. Um, and then I just wanted to touch on an article that I recently read. It uh, it was titled, "What's going on with property taxes? It was published by Dan Ross Miller, who
014is the executive director of Wisconsin Association of School Boards." Um, and he said, "If you if you are like me, you might have been sticker shocked by your property tax bill." Um and he said the first thing to do was maybe to point fingers at your local school district. Um but he said in fact a lot of the factors that determine your property tax bill are actually outside of your local school board. So I just wanted to touch on a few of them. uh board. You've heard a lot of a lot of these are are things you've heard about. Um at the state level, the decision was made for no general state aid uh increase. Um almost two decades of lagging inflation. Uh school referendums are at a record high. Declining share of state revenues
015allocated to schools. Um, in 2003 it was 43% and in 2023 that dropped to 36%. Private school school vouchers, more funding is being pushed uh in in that direction. And then property value assessment that you know is completely outside of school district control um of when your property gets reassessed. um that that's done at the um you know what municipality you live in. So um just a really interesting article. I can share it with the board um after tonight's meeting if you want to read more about it. So not a very long article. That's all I have. >> Thank you. Questions of Heather Aaron superintendent report please. Uh FIA brick grant. So, the federal court recently ruled that FEMA cannot just cancel the brick grant program uh the way it attempted to do. The judge
016said FEMA does not have the authority to end a program that Congress already funded. So, what does this mean? That means that was a good first step. That does not mean it's a final step. There will likely be appeals and other things to go along with that, but last time we met, I told you there was a court case going on and we didn't know the results yet. That's what what it is. Uh construction update. The concrete walls for the gym box will begin going up next week, Wednesday, January 21st. They will start on the north wall, work their way south. Each panel is about 10 ft wide. It's over 30 ft tall, weighs close to 50,000 lbs each one, so they can only bring in three panels per semi. They anticipate putting up 9
017to 12 sections of the wall each day because that's all they can bring with three or four trucks. They can they uh estimate that the task will take them 3 to four weeks. So hopefully within the next 5 weeks or so the gym box will be up. The trusses they'll be following right behind when they put the walls up. They'll work from the north side down. They'll do both sides. So while they put those up, they can put the trusses up uh so they can start putting the roof on as well. So a lot of progress will will be seen visually coming up here soon. Wanted to let you know of a change in the state budget. The 202527 state budget known as act 15, the state promised to cover 42% of special education costs
018for this school year. This was exciting news for Cuba City and other school districts. However, uh less than two months later, DPI told districts that there was not enough money set aside to meet that promise by our state. As a result, the reimbursement rate will be lowered closer to 35%. By the time districts learn this, they've already approved their budgets, making uh change hard to happen. This is more challenging because no state aid was increased. This has never happened before, but neither has directly taxing local residents for per per pupil expenditures. So, a lot of firsts for us with this budget. Uh, some updates on voucher schools. This came from the Wisconsin State Journal last week that Wisconsin's private school voucher program has grown and it affects public schools in a very large way. So,
019today 46% of private school students in Wisconsin use taxf funded vouchers. Our two local private schools, HGIC and St. Rose, do not. So, when we're talking about voucher schools, they're not in this. Um, the voucher program began in 1990 with 300 students in Milwaukee, but then expanded statewide, now serves over 60,000 students and costs taxpayers over $70 million, I'm sorry, 700 million each year. So, most voucher students, about 96% of them attend religious schools, and more than half of all private schools now accept vouchers. Again, our local private schools do not. Over the past decade, private schools gained students while public schools lost more than 65,000 students statewide. The hard thing to swallow here is many voucher students were already attending private schools before receiving vouchers. That means public tax dollars are often paying for
020tuition that families previously covered themselves. Rather than shifting students from public to private schools, we're now subsidizing private schools um for kids we don't know. As voucher spending has grown, less money has become available for public schools. And over time, Wisconsin's public school funding has fallen compared to other states, even as voucher costs continue to rise. While people disagree on whether voucher schools improve learning, students show that Wisconsin nights would prefer stronger funding for public schools. So, here are five things that that I think are important that board members know or anybody watching in the crowd or at home. One, vouchers are big business now with nearly half of private school students using them. Our two local prochial schools do not, but um a lot of them do. So, they cost over $700 million every
021year. That number keeps growing. If you remember Act 10 and and how much money was stripped away from from education back around 2010, that was 800 million. It it it's the voucher is costing almost as much as Act 10 did. Public schools are losing funding um and students, more than 65,000 statewide. This is one of the hard parts about voucher schools. the check or or the funding goes with that student the start of the school year. If that school decides we don't want this student to be here anymore and they send them back to the private the public school, who would you think gets the remaining funding? It does not go back to the public schools. Um, the next one, most voucher students were already in private schools. We're just subsidizing that through tax and
022state dollars. And finally, this is an important one. Wisconsin was not created, Wisconsin's education system was not created to have a two system education system. It wasn't, but that's what we're moving towards. One fully accountable and underfunded and one publicly funded with fewer rules. So those are just some things I want everybody to know about schools. That's everything I have for today. >> Thank you. Questions of Aaron. >> All right. Hearing none, we'll move to discussion possible building projects. Uh Julie Joe, what would you like to share with the board regarding our meeting prior to this? Um Brad came back just with a little of some more figures or closer figures for what we talked about at our special board meeting last month as far as the projects we wanted to go forward with. Um
023and we are going to hopefully isolate or dwindle down on a couple of those that we can say yep let's commit and move forward with. Um hopefully we forward next month's board meeting. Will there be another committee meeting before that meeting or is there going to be another special board meeting? >> We're talking a special full board meeting to discuss the building projects right before >> right before the reg. >> Okay. >> To discuss that. >> So >> potentially we'd an hour one. >> Okay. and and then be able to potentially move on what we want to do so that they could go ahead and do plans through Bray or whatever. So, we really kind of want to say what do we want to do this summer. >> So, I don't think we'll finalize. We
024don't have to finalize everything on here, but we might say, "Hey, these three or four, let's get moving on those." That's kind of what we're hoping to get out of that next meeting. >> The one example would be that I think we spent the most time on was the library. Do we want to build a new library and remodel this space? >> Yes. >> So, Tina, shaking her head. Yes. >> So, basically that's because that eats up half of the money that in essence we have whether you do it or don't. >> If you if you have a special meeting before the next board meeting, it's just an hour or not. That's it. I'm depending on what >> that's just a typo, right? >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry. >> Is an hour enough time? Well,
025>> I don't know based on I mean I know where everybody's at with discussions. I mean do you how long was our special one that we did >> last month? >> And remember you can always start a six o'clock meeting at 6:30. I mean you can't start you can never start it a minute early but you can always start it late >> cuz cuz we were kind of hoping just to do it beforehand rather than eating up two times or something like that. >> Yeah. And I mean it was I mean we had good conversation but I think that you know we need the full board to say we want to do this or not do it because that then you know eats up if you do the library >> Mhm. >> half your money
026is gone. >> If you don't do it then >> our money is invested. >> Yep. You're invested and that's meaning we still have 2 million that we don't touch. So it's half of what's remaining minus that 2 million. So, the li it's not a we're not proposing a $3 million library. >> And one of the the other uh things was pretty much at the elementary doing classroom renovations and tied to it was the plumbing issues in the art and kitchen area that in essence could be done next summer if the board says let's do it. And I think I think last minute I think we had like 18 things on there and now we're down to like 11 or something like that too from kind of our last talks of cutting stuff out. And >>
027if we really focus the discussion on what could we approve for this coming summer and what might >> be the flexibility to go that's 15. >> Yeah, we can always start late just not early. So is that okay then board if we have the special meeting for everybody for the building and grants? >> I'm not available that day at all. I found out today that traveling. So okay I'm the only one. >> Could you >> What date would that be, Aaron? >> 18th February 18th. >> February 18. >> Yeah, we can be 5:00 start time I think. >> Yep. 5:00 on February 18th. I mean, I may be late to that, but I bring at >> Is that okay with everybody else or do you want to pick a different >> Could we Could we
028push it back to the special meeting that starts at 5:30 and then regular board meeting starts at 6:30? >> I mean, if you need extra time to get get that be more >> Are you able to come at all that night? >> I won't know what my agenda is. I know I need to travel for work and I don't have that yet. I just know I'm going to be home that day. Possibly, but I don't know six and seven. >> You know, I mean I also the February meeting, right? >> Class of Madison till 3, so they should be back at 5. >> Okay. All right. Well, maybe I guess communicate with Aaron when you know. I'd We'd love to have you if we can make it happen. >> I'd like to be there. >>
029Well, maybe the Friday report prior to that just kind of a refresher on like this is what we've narrowed it down to. So if you're like hey here's my initial thoughts if you can't make it or can't zoom in it can be taken into account. Okay. Anything else on the building projects? All right. Moving to public recognition. We do have one person. Uh I just have to read this Carl if you bear with me. Um before we begin public comment, I want to share a few reminders from our policy so that everyone knows what to expect. Uh public comment is an opportunity to share thoughts on matters that are within the board's responsibility. Each person who signed in will have up to three minutes to speak and each person may speak only once. Please begin
030by stating your name, address, and group affiliation if you have one. Comments should be directed to the board as a whole and not to individual board members, staff or participants, other participants. Out of respect for student and employee privacy, we do not allow public comment on individual students or on the performance of individual employees unless it is to recognize exemplary service. We ask that comments remain respectful and on topic. The proiding officer may stop comments that are abusive, irrelevant, or out of control, out of order. I'm sorry. These guidelines help us keep our meetings productive and fair for everyone. Thank you for your cooperation. Carl. >> Yep. Uh Carl Ficker, 1373 Model Road, Q city. Um what I'm here to talk about is busing. um want to talk about an issue that we are currently
031having uh with the busing provider. Um earlier in the week I had a discussion with administration regarding this issue. It came up in that issue that um that the contract was up for renewal at some point this year. Um so the the issue is with a busing route change. Um due to a family getting on on Kirkwood that was getting dropped off in the afternoon now getting on in the morning. So the old bus route um obviously model road you guys know that's a So the old route bus would come down center pick my kids up head down model road pick the family up um on model road door side continue uh to H come back H into town. Uh the new route um due to that family getting per picked up on Kirkwood uh
032the bus would come down is coming down on center now. My kids are getting picked up north door side. Uh proceeds down center. Kirkwood heads west. The family on Kirkwood is getting picked up where the kids are having to cross traffic. Comes up to H comes around Model Road. Comes down Model Road headed to the east and that family on Model Road is now getting picked up with the kids crossing traffic. Um obviously you guys know what model road is like. um wife and I discussed it. Um decided she was going to give a call to Davis Bus Service and explained why it was unsafe, everything else. Um and we were basically told that it's the way it's going to be. Um we have to drive a bus route, we have to it's the way
033it's going to be. Um not very professional. Um wife not very happy. Um I contacted administration um scheduling conflict. We got a uh we got together on Monday. Um so Ash and I then decided we're going to track the bus route um through the app um to see what was going on. Uh that first on Monday the old route was used. Bus came up, turned around in the driveway, went down model road. Uh, Model Road kids picked up Door Side, came around on H down Kirkwood. Kids on Kirkwood picked up Door Side, proceeded 281, came back around. Um, that in my opinion is how that route should be run. We should we shouldn't be having kids cross traffic. It didn't add any time to it. It didn't add any unnecessary anything. Um, so then the
034bus app. So the route was not updated on the bus app, but the that's all I have. >> So we did talk on Monday and I thought maybe it was straightened out. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Went back to the the new route then >> to be honest with So can I continue that the three minutes is up? >> Well, you can't continue that, but you can answer my question. >> So can I keep it going? Uh quite frankly, it's a there it changes by the day. >> Okay. >> It it Yeah, it it it's just unsafe. Don't know why it happened, why we're doing this. Um not very receptive. Uh the bus route app has not been updated. Has only been turned on one time. So, it is what it is. So, wow. Three minutes
035goes. I I got >> I got like 10 minutes worth of stuff. >> So basically um you don't know what's happening, >> right? >> And you'd like to know and >> I'd like to know and just the safety of the kids. I mean >> if we can at all avoid kids crossing traffic to get onto a bus, we probably should do that. >> I do know that a lot of we do have a lot of crowds where kids do not have to cross just because I mean that's >> right. And this is you could totally avoid it. It's totally voidful. So, >> okay. Thank you, Carl. >> So, Aaron, you're going to be able to check with >> I'm a little concerned that a bus app has only been you've only been able to use
036it one time. >> After after our conversation, we started watching. It's not updated to the current route and it's only been turned on once. >> So, does that mean like when your kids are coming home that I'm envisioning my kids weren't bus kids, so I don't know. But when they have that on, you can always see where your kid is. You've only been able to do that one time. >> One time. >> Okay. For the whole school year. >> Oh, no. No. >> Yeah. It has been on in the past, but for whatever reason >> since Monday, it is only >> And we know there are some sub bus drivers >> and I and I understand that and that's what you and I talked about. That's what the app is there for, >> right? >>
037But that new the new route is not posted on there. So, >> Okay. Okay. I don't know if I don't know if it got shared out anywhere else. We got notifications at the elementary school that our accounts were disabled. When we reached out to Davis Bus Line, they said that bus write, the company that does the the app was having some issues and they were going to let us know when that was resolved. I haven't heard anything since then. >> So, I don't know if that impacted the parents as well. >> Update, Jason. I think that was Tuesday. >> Can I ask a clarification question? Is that allowed? >> Okay. So, are you saying your route has also changed? Like it was one route and then it went back to the old route and then
038it's now back to the new route again. >> Yes. >> And and and in in fairness, that could be to bus drivers. >> Yeah. Right. But Monday proving that the old old way could be used and people. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yep. >> All right. New business. Um we just talked about this uh the February 18th meeting at 6. Uh >> do we want to move that to 6:30? Sure. If that would help you guys with scheduling and then we could have our our special meeting at 5:30 and then the reg the regular at 6:30. Would that help? >> Yeah, calm down. >> So then we should make a motion to move this the same day but make it 6:30 instead of 6. >> All right. Somebody want to do that? >> I'll
039move to approve the February regular board meeting for February 18th at 6:30 p.m. Is there a second? >> I will second. Schwagger, >> yes. >> Joel, yes. Bark, >> yes. White, >> yes. Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> Then item B is approve the open enrollment seat limits >> before we move on. So then we're going to have this a special board at 5:30. >> 5:30. Yep. >> So item B is approved the open enrollment seat limits for regular education classes. >> Yep. So, all public schools are doing this in January, uh, per state statute. This recommendation is the same. It's been since we've had to do this about seven years ago, and it basically has no regular education seat restrictions. If we ever do go to seat
040restrictions, what that means is no one can open roll into our district outside of the 3month window. And right now, we have basically 11 months. There's one month or six six weeks kind of where you you can't. Otherwise, the rest of the year it's open enrollment and we get a lot of open enrollment students. So, uh my recommendation is to approve this as is. >> So, is there any discussion >> hearing? None. Would someone move? >> I'll move to approve the open enrollment seat limits for regular education classes as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Schwiger, >> yes. >> Joel, yes. Clark, >> yes. White, >> yes. Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> Item C then is approved the open enrollment seat limits for
041special ed classes. >> Yep. Same thing with this. You have to do it every January. And the special education restrictions are a bit different. We can cap at certain different areas. So the caps that we have here represent the same caps we've had for probably the last 5 years. And we look at how many teachers we have, how many current students we have, and if we have room in that category for more open enrolled students. and some we do and some we don't. And so, uh, it seems to be that every year the same types of classes were kind of operating at at max capacity. So, if I may just ask the question regarding the wording of the motion. Um, it says approve the open enrollment seat limits for special eds. I mean, I guess
042the special the seat limits are what you just verbally told. Yes. Yep. So, when we get a special or when we get an open enrollment application and it says that they're special ed, then that goes to Whitney and Whitney takes a look at our caps to see if we can't accept that person. And if they're in that, if they have that category that we can't, then that that's one of the reasons we can deny. Are those caps anywhere, you know, visible to the board, for instance? >> Yeah. That that link is there to Okay. Is it ever problematic that we are denying someone because of a cap that have like the siblings have gone in school but now we're denying a new 4K 5K student because of caps those caps >> that's a possibility >>
043yeah in the past I think we tried to make arrangements that for the hey family that they already had a them, you know, in school to try to accept their special ed needs child or or is that >> our our policy says that we can that what we can and can't do for that situation. Um I'm trying to think if we've had that situ that specific situation >> here. I can't remember that we've had to to do that with a family. Somehow I recall that but it may not be correct. Yeah. Okay. Just cuz I don't remember it doesn't mean that it has to happen but I forgot more than I remember >> but that that is a possibility. Yes. >> So and Aaron I understand why there's caps both pros and cons but do
044you know off the top of your head like how many students have we had to deny because of a cap? What's special education numbers? And I'm looking at both in the fiscal side of it as well. So >> like is it a large number that we are denying? >> I bet one a year. >> Oh, okay. >> I mean if we average the last 5 years, there are some years where we don't get any. Maybe something that I guess we've had is two. >> Okay. Okay. >> Any other questions? Hearing none. Would someone move, please? I'll move to approve the open enrollment seat limits for special educ education classes as presented. >> Is there a second to that? >> I will second. >> Yes. >> Joel, >> yes. >> Bar, >> yes. >> Henderman White,
045>> yes. >> Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. Item D then is approve the 20 26 27 and 2728 Cuba City School District calendars. Yeah, we usually do two years at a time. Um had somebody ask today, one of the board members ask why do we do two years at a time? We used to do one, but when we started to do like a long spring break every 3 years, we started to go two years out just to let pit families know like, hey, this is the year that you might want to you might be able to plan for a long vacation. So, that's what we do every two, but we can always change the second one. Um, I will tell you right now there legislation is not they're
046not going to stay in session for too long, but there is a bill right now that would allow us to possibly not have to wait for September 1 to start. >> So, like if that moves, we're going to bring back the calendars. Uh, because you know that that would be great. We've done that for the last two years where we starting we wouldn't have to start August 9th, but man, starting August 20th and then maybe being done with the first semester before Christmas, I think would would be nice as well. And then you can then you can look at some of those others days and be sure that you're you're done by June 1st every year as well. So, um these are kind of the traditional calendars we've had. These are two years. This year
047we have a long spring break. these next two years we have multiple spring breaks like a three-day weekend or four day weekend here or there and so this keeps the professional development on Friday and talking with their principles and talking with teachers uh the majority are like now that we think the PD days are better on Fridays to have the smaller chunks of focus time obviously not everybody but about 75% were in favor of that so that's the route that we went with the calendars >> questions for >> if it gets approved because that's before September 1st that could be effective the 26th 27th school year. >> Yep. >> Oh, great. >> Now, there have been other times where that comes up and I hear that's a non-starter by the people that are in the
048capital. I haven't heard that. Okay. >> This time. So, so maybe and one of the reasons is so many kids are going to private school charters >> that if they're starting August 15th and we're paying for the buses, then why can't we go August 15th because now we're not having to pay for two extra weeks of trans of full transportation. And I think some people have thought, "Oh, that might make sense." Um, and >> that part of it, >> that that part of it. So, I, you know, in previous years and when we hear it's a non-starter, it's like, okay. But this year, there there might be something. Yeah. >> I had I had a couple thoughts on this. Um, and that kind of goes back to the half day Fridays or whatever, full day
049Fridays. Um, I wouldn't mind seeing something from like a survey from parents and maybe even students of what they would prefer. Also, um, just speaking as like a parent with only one kid for four months in the school or something like that. Child care would be easier as a parent to only schedule one day a month rather than two, three hours every single Friday. So, I I wouldn't mind just seeing maybe some surveys and seeing what parents prefer or students or something even like or principles of effectiveness on Fridays and stuff like that and kind of go from that way cuz I was the one that emailed excuse me Aaron about the two years um if we could change it in year two or whatever like that. >> Yeah, we can always change in year
050two. Is that something the board wants us to do is survey parents on early release Friday? Here's the thing, like if you want us to survey the parents and we got to really look at that data. Um I think our our principles um spend some time talking with teachers and what they're looking at is what's the most effective use of professional development time more than convenience. I think if we ask the parents we're asking kind of what's more convenient. So Which which direction do you guys want us to go? >> So, you're thinking that the parents would probably support uh what Joe suggested. So, we're going to be at odds with >> It's possible. I think some parents probably like that that we have early release Friday and some parents would probably like to have
051one day off. You know, I don't know what the split is, but I I know there are some people that would prefer one over the other. >> Unsure. I think being a member of the board and looking out for like the kids, like I think we need to focus on what is most effective for our staff. And if our administrators are telling us that that works best for our staff, like I I think that needs to be a priority. >> I would agree with that. >> But I mean, if I mean, if a survey is the route we want to go, I mean, I don't know if there's a survey would hurt, but >> it's going to take 15 minutes to set up. Like, it's not it's not going to take long. I'll do it
052if that's what you guys want me to do. >> I would be in support of that. But >> yeah, >> I wouldn't again if there's not a lot of, you know, it's not going to take very long to do a survey. I would support a survey, too, just to get some information. I mean, again, I'm parent of a high school student. It's been a long time since I had kids in elementary school. So, I don't necessarily know the child care aspect any longer. Like, I don't know how difficult it is to have childcare insecure child's care and what parents are experiencing. It's been several years. So, I would a survey I don't think would hurt as long as we're going to obviously have to look at the data. >> I think that's just that's the
053risk. you know, if if the data shows the opposite, then >> and I guess I'm just already sharing what my where my head is at that the priority would be the efficiency of the school. The other item like when we did a mock, we we drew up our calendar if we just did Fridays. And while the instructional minutes are very similar, that cuts down on the total student contact days by do you guys remember what nine nine days? >> And so we're looking at two different things. When we're looking at calendars, we look at instructional minutes and like the the student contact days, but we also have to look at contract days. So teachers are contracted to work on Friday. So, if we take those Fridays away, that went from like 175 student conduct days
054to 166 or so, even though the instructional minutes were the same because the days are longer. >> Mhm. >> But that meant we went from like 11 PD days, which we're accustomed to, to 20, you know, so we had to put a lot in August and one a month and then a lot in June to make up the contracted days or the contracted of 190 days. because there's usually 180 days for with with the school year and then an additional I I guess I have a question for the two principles. Um quality of education with those two different scenarios like the child is in school for a half day versus a full day. you know, I guess is there is there a difference in in the learning by kids? There's going to be pros and
055I think there's going to be pros and cons to both. Um I certainly think what Aaron shared there about the number of days impacting um the more days we have our teachers with students the better. So if by going to those full days because of the contractual obligations that means we're taking teachers away from students then we didn't discuss that as a part because we already had the feedback for our recommendation to to stick with the early release Friday riders. So if you remember about 20 years ago is everybody had to go to school 180 days like that that's what it used to be and everybody went to school from 8:05 to 3:15 you know and maybe it was longer ago than that but then they switched to instructional minutes and that's when when everybody
056has different calendars and you know different start and end times of the day. So >> but teacher contracts are still on a day and not a minute. >> They're they're 190 days. Yeah. >> Seems inconsistent. Sorry, that just >> I don't know if there if there is anybody that's doing it differently. >> I don't know. I just remember there used to be years um where you know there was two days in October that teachers had to go to an inservice and maybe they don't have that but I I feel like maybe some years that would be beneficial too to have like a mini workshop for teachers. >> That was the state education convention and I think that went away when act 10 came about because we couldn't afford to do it anymore. Is that right?
057>> Correct. >> Yeah. So I think if that is something, you know, to look at, maybe we have those two days in October that is a little break that the PD mini workshop for teachers to rejuvenate because it gets to be long by the time you get to October or November. Um, I do think there's other ways to work around it versus putting all of the PE the teacher PD days at the beginning or the end of the year. Um, I think we can be creative if that's the choice. Um, I I flip back and forth because I have been on the teaching side and I also have high schoolers who have very vocal opinions about early release Fridays right now as well. Um, so I I can see that. Um, I get that by
058the end of the week, elementary school teachers have their hands full with little people and that it's a very hard time of the week to have to deal with them, too. So, I'm open to it and yes, I do think we we owe our teachers. That's where the priority is is what's best for the student, but I also think we have to think about what's best for our families as well. So, I think it's a it's a >> it's a quick it's a tricky balance. >> Yeah. So when we we initially surveyed parents when we went to the um two hours because we used to have one day off that was um I don't remember the data about or if we asked the question about about full days versus every Friday but I do remember
059we asked them like about hey Wednesday versus Friday and it was overwhelming it was 80% of them said please do that on Friday so we went with Friday instead of Wednesday. a lot of schools um used to do Wednesday. It just doesn't to break up the middle, but so I think that was the last time we surveyed parents about anything like that. Uh show of hands, who's in favor of Aaron doing a survey regarding the uh early Friday release or investigating what their thoughts are, including even how it's worded. I don't know how to answer that because I'm not opposed to it. >> Yeah, I'm kind of where you're at. I'm like, yeah, I can see why we wouldn't want to do it. So, I I don't know how to answer that question. >> Well,
060I guess >> I don't think even maybe having the data wouldn't be a bad thing. At least then we would kind of know, right? Um, and I'm not I'm not in support of one or the other, but I mean, if I was just a parent and just looking at Strictly as a parent standpoint of kid in 4K, this is what I would prefer. And that's why I just kind of wanted to bring it up as a board top end or something. At least get some data on what the community feels. This would be my my whole two cents on it. I I feel like Julie, I'm not opposed to it, but I think if we present something to the families and the parents, it just it has to be made known to them that this
061is not the deciding thing that it would come to the board and we will weigh what we believe is the best >> for your child's education. >> Right. So, do we want to table this item for a month or do we just approve it and then if there are any changes change it next month you want the calendar? >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Are we going to know about the September one month because we do it? >> I would I would assume we would because I I think there the session will end shortly. >> I mean then we >> and if there's no action then there then >> well is there any rush to is there is there >> just to let parents know like what what the calendar is. We usually send them out
062in January. >> You need to stand up a draft for next year and just do one year right now. I mean, subject to change, you know. >> Well, the second year is always subject to change. You know, it's just kind of like next year. >> I think if we're at that point where you think it's that close, I would say table it for a month and especially if we're going to know by the September 1st date, then it's like we can just talk about it all >> at one time. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I'll then give more thought to whether we do a survey or not. >> Well, I think I'm going to send it out and then when I as soon as we get it, I'll I'll share that with all of you so you
063get it before the meeting so you have time to digest it and we'll talk about it in February. >> Okay. >> What do we want students surveyed also or just >> I don't I don't Okay. If there's not a student decision, >> you don't want to click comment section. >> Okay, we can move on. >> All right, approve the district handbook changes for full year support staff leaves. >> Yeah, so in hiring full-time 12-month employees in the sport staff category. We we've had a hard time in the first year, what our handbook says right now is that they don't get any vacation time that first year and they get it after their first year. That makes it really hard to try to get high quality people in these positions. Uh we're proposing a change to
064allow five vacation days in the first year. Um we also shortened the years of service required to acrew more vacation days. So instead of getting 10 at year five, we maybe bumped that up to to year four and instead of getting 15 at 11 years, moved it to seven. Trying to make it a more appealing job when we're hiring. >> Are those days given from day one or do they have to work six months to qualify? Do they have to do they get a day every two months? >> They acrew a day a month. >> Okay. >> Currently, that's what it is. >> Okay. >> Ashley does not like that for for uh bookkeeping >> bookkeeping reasons. Um you know, but there there's a there's a chance somebody could get hired and burn through five
065and then quit after a month or do we let just have them earn one a month? Uh same thing kind of goes with what would be one a month if it's five. Right. Correct. Uh same thing as with sick leave though, like we have that in our language that you earn one sick day a month, but if somebody's like if a parent educator's sick, we don't tell them, hey, the handbook says that you don't have any more sick sick leave, we let them, you know, borrow ahead because we don't want sick people working with our kids. >> So that it's in the language, but and we normally use it, but when somebody's sick, we bend it. Does this carry a cost increase giving granting the five vacation days the first year? What would that be?
066>> Um, it would depend on if we get a sub, which we don't have outside of a student that subs in the building around this area. We don't have >> generally cover within. >> We don't have any subs. So, it's just covered from within. Okay. And a lot of times they'll use vacation days on non non-school days like around Christmas or in the summer. >> Okay. Just curious. >> So you said the current policy is they earn one. >> No, >> they don't have anything the first year. They don't get anything the first year >> and then after the first year then they earn one a month. >> No, that they >> then they get five. >> So where did the earning one a month come in? I'm confused. or is that part of the
067that what it could be? >> That's how it currently is. >> That's for sick days. >> The reason that's in there is so you don't hire somebody and they take five vacation days and then they quit and then >> then you you're paying them for five days. >> Is there a reason we can't treat vacation pay like sick pay then and they just earn a certain amount every month? >> Yeah, that's what what Daniel was asking. We we can do it that way. You know, Ashley has asked that we don't do it that way for bookkeeping, but she's used to doing it that way. And again, if if they start in July, they would have five by December. That's generally when they do that over. >> We It's always pro like your sick days and
068vacation days are always prorated. So, if you do not start at the beginning of the fiscal year, do you start in the middle of the fiscal year? Your sick days, vacation, and it this goes for it doesn't matter what job category it is. It's all prrated. what uh according to the month that you start in and whether you're full-time or part-time. It's all prorated. So, basically, they just get five days for the year and it's prorated based on hours worked or whatever or really kind of when they start >> when they start. Um we when we have employees that are nearing um having little to no sick time, they do get a letter from myself letting them know where they're at with their sick time. Um they get a letter and then they actually meet
069with Mr. Olsen um and myself. Um and it's it's not like they're they're not being reprimanded. We just want to be very forthcoming because like Aaron said, if somebody's sick, truly sick, we don't want them at school, you know, getting other teachers and kids sick, we let them take that sick time, even though they technically didn't earn it yet, but once they get to a point where they've used all their sick time, if they do, if they are sick more, then they actually owe the district money for their benefits. So, it's not just like it's not I just want you guys to know like it's not an open door like oh just use however many sick days you want like that that's not what it is. We've really tightened our belt with you have to
070if you take unused sick time you have to pay the district back your benefits. >> So it's more the case of just granting them five in the first year versus none currently. >> Correct. Correct. It's just very hard to get employees and you tell them you're getting no you have to work all year round but you are getting no vacation. >> That's what I was going to say. So the whole purpose is obviously to retain. So and I think >> and attract. >> Yeah. I mean >> and so if you I mean is there anything to say you can't say you're going to be issued these five five vacation days? You can use them after probation. I mean are we there's like a 90-day probation period or something like that? And so then after your
07190 days, you can use I mean I don't know. >> We can certainly write it that way. >> Yeah, we can write it that way. We currently don't have a a 60 90 30. We don't have any probationary period right now for any employees >> cuz I actually like that >> it's a little bit of a you know kind of a you know little bit of a framework around it. You're going to ask we're going to still want to see 90 days or whatever days. I don't know. Just a thought. >> We can just put that right in the handbook though. Five days available after October 1st. >> We would we wouldn't want to say October 1st. We want to say after 90 days or whatever the board recommends if you give us like how
072long do you want them to be here before they can use >> 90 months seems good >> cuz I would agree. I mean you hire someone say, "Hey, you got to put a full year and then you can maybe take a day off." I mean that's seems a little >> You can still They do have personal days. >> They do have personal days that are part of their sick bank. So it's >> they can still take a day off. Um they just there's other employers who and their benefit packages better. Yeah. >> Yeah. I would agree >> from a time off standpoint. >> I like I like the 90D idea. Just give them five from day one and have them gone in 3 months. >> Yep. >> That's how it'll be. >> Other discussion otherwise
073Dan, do you want to make some kind of motion around that? >> Sure. Um, let's see. >> You don't have to have the 90 days in there. That's just that's what this one. >> Uh, I will move to approve the district handbook changes for fullear support staff leaves as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Schweer, >> yes. >> Joel, >> yes. >> Bart, >> yes. >> White, >> yes. >> Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. Item F is approve the retirement of high school biology teacher Rod Robson um who's served here for 23 years and I'd like to thank him for his service. >> Yep. He turned in his paperwork. So, we offered um a number of teachers an early retirement package and Rod is
074um has turned in everything on time. And so, what that means is um the early retirement package that we offered to the CCA, I believe it was last year around in November, um was offered to 11 different teachers and Rod accepted that and turned it out on paperwork on time. So, I recommend we approve this and thank Mr. Robson for his many years of service. Is there a motion to that effect? >> Can I just make one comment just so I know I don't know if he's watching or not, but it's it definitely is going to be a huge loss to the district. My boys have all had him. He has been a phenomenal teacher. I was hoping Kate was going to see him all the way through, too. So, um, you know, I just
075really do want to wish him the best of luck. So, he was lucky to have him. >> Thank you. >> Would you like to make a motion? I don't want to have even though I can't tell you can't retire. >> I move to approve the retirement of CCHS biology teacher Rod Robson as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Schwagger, >> yes. >> Joel, >> yes. >> Bark, >> yes. White, >> yes. Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> Item G is approve the job descriptions for extra duty positions. Yep. So, we're going to present about 10 of these per month for approval until we're done. There's around 40, somewhere around 40, so it'll be close to that. Uh, these will all start in the 26
07627 school year as some of these changes. Um, it's hard to change a job description in the middle of the year. So, we're going to do just kind of these, if you're wondering why we started with these when we got them all written up in in a folder. I just picked the first 10 that were all alphabetical in order. So this the descriptions have been shared with both the supervisors and those currently in the position to see if there are any items that need to be added or removed. So positions for this month are elementary and middle school band, elementary school choir, elementary school yearbook, high school play director, high school assistant play director, middle school direct uh play director, middle school assistant play director, middle school student council, communication coach, and communication director. if
077you had a chance to look at those job descriptions. Were there any questions, concerns? >> None with me. >> Hearing none. Would someone move to approve? >> I'll move to approve job descriptions for extra duty positions as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Schwagger, >> yes. >> Joel, yes. >> Bar, yes. White, >> yes. >> Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> Item H is approved the school district virtual academy handbook for 2026. Uh we're revisiting this, I guess, so to speak. >> Yep. This was tabled from last last meeting. This version has the option for students to be involved in board approved clubs, organizations, and our graduation, but not WIA sanctioned sports. And remember, so this is a handbook that we'll we'll add to
078our July, you know, like July is usually when we approve handbooks. We can always make changes. This is remember the semester that we called kind of our soft launch for ver for um virtual academy. We want to see what works, what doesn't work. Have some people in enroll um and we'll probably bring back handbook recommendation changes every July. So don't think that whatever we what's in here right now is going to be what we we're we're going to keep that for five years. There's always changes in handbooks. >> And I know you cleared this, right? So there is nothing that could be legal discriminatory if we say students can't participate in the WIA sports, right? I mean >> the other schools um there's just there's a lot of changes and that would be difficult. like
079we expect our students to be here for 4 hours every day >> for virtual that's not how attendance is taken. So how how does that work? >> Um so of the schools that have virtual um I haven't found one yet that allows them to do WIA sports that doesn't mean that we can't be a trend setter but um >> our our legal council has vetted the entire handbook and is okay with every section. >> Perfect. Okay. not only the legal aspect of that, but I would like to make sure that that is a topic that we continue to discuss because I think it's important to get especially again because if the m the biggest reason that kids are not at school is social anxiety, this is an opportunity for them to get involved and be
080around kids and get them back involved. So, I do think that that needs to continue to be >> a topic. And and the other thing um that was that we could consider, I mean, not probably for this semester because it's just the first one, but maybe in July we talked about um you know, we're not going to allow that unless it's board approved. So the board would have to go to close session and somebody is applying like, hey, I want to be a virtual academy, but I really like softball. I'm having some anxiety problems, but this would help me. I'd like to come back for this class and this class would also be involved in this. and the board would would take a look at that and say, "Okay, this is this isn't somebody who's
081trying to get out of school. It's somebody who's trying to work to get back." So again, that's how this can evolve and change. And I think we have virtual academy because we want to keep our students our students and want to allow them the opportunities and if they are struggling with the anxiety which is the biggest factor for virtual right now we want to allow them a soft landing and a an easier roll out to get back into some of those situations. >> I would suspect that probably the board would want to know if you're implementing that next year. you know, again, you know, basically at some point, you know, are people taking advantage of it? And it's, you know, just a kind of a reviewing it maybe for the first year or two. >>
082So, is will this are we looking to potentially and hopefully bring back any of those 14 students that are virtual now for this like semester just starting now. we will identify who those people are that are currently at virtual schools and contact them and see if they're interested in that. It's really hard once you lose a student to get them get them back. But now that we have a different program, that's something that, you know, we'll probably get started on that tomorrow. >> So, knowing that and just in the situation that we're in right now, we're in the middle of a WIA season. So, if we get any of those individuals back and they're participating in this, if we can have that conversation, if any of them are interested in say like track or baseball,
083like I would like to talk about this again before then >> if that's something that comes up. So, our handbook says that they're they're not in that, but if that comes up, remember it's that hand that we can always change a handbook any month we want to. But if that is a request that we get, what we probably do is have a a special meeting and go to close session and talk about that individual case. >> And this virtual academy is using Edventum. >> Yep. >> And we don't currently have any students using Edventum right now. >> We don't do this. We do have current students using adventum. I'm just >> they have one one currently. >> So they are part of this virt I'm confus I guess I'm just confused about this then. So
084we have a virtual platform for students or we is that what we're create I'm just clarify that for me. So we've always had a virtual option for student. We we have used Edmonton for our summer program um summer recovery and we had one student that that was going to go to a different virtual school and we said hold on we think we're going to have one here and so that student has already started this. We have one who's currently going through this as a as a test case and try to keep them here. >> So can I ask a question on that because it's probably more procedural. who is overseeing the student transcripts, credits, adding courses, answering questions when those I I work with a platform very similar to 7 and that stuff comes up.
085You're resetting your, you know, retakes on tests, quizzes, avoiding plagiarism, the AI detection. There's like a million different things. >> So, right now, we have a staff member who's getting their admin license and they needed some hours for a practicum and so this is their practicum project. >> Okay. >> So, that's what we're doing now. If we get up to, you know, if we get three or four, we might need to add that back to our extra duty pay, which we used to have when we had that mentum. Okay. >> So, that then would be an extra duty for somebody. >> Okay. >> And for the summer recovery stuff, Miss Davis has helped us >> with like I mean, I'm looking at transcripts and all. We need to get that as well too hard to
086graduate if he's a high school student. So, >> other questions on the virtual academy? No, I just have a com. I guess I'm just confused as to why we we had this and no one knew that we had it and then we're approving it to start in for second semester. I guess I'm just confused by that. How did we get to that point without knowing as a board that we had a virtual student? I I don't know. I guess that's the part that bothers me. >> Yeah, we we tried to keep somebody from going to a different school. I felt like that should have been brought to the board at that time that that decision was made. You know what I mean? >> Remember last month we were I thought we were going to approve
087it last month. So it's like, hey, just wait a minute. Wait a week because we'll probably have this approved next week and then we've tabled it for a month. >> So the student was active for the first half of the semester and then they went to virtual for the second half of this. >> Yes. He's shaking me down there. >> Yeah. Yes. >> Okay. And then none of our current staff will be obligated to help students, >> right? >> Correct. >> The the platform has to do that. >> Yeah. 24 hours a day. They have they've got somebody available. >> Okay. >> Yeah. It's a >> I don't know. >> Angie, describe what the virtual I mean there's somebody uh in the cloud uh overseeing I mean, and that sim I mean, I said I'm
088similar to a program. There's things that always pop up. So, I just wanted to make you know who was going to be addressing it when it pops up because >> you need somebody locally to to do that. >> Yeah. >> And then year one, no virtual students will come to classes, right? Is that what you said on your meeting or your weekly update for year one that no >> for this semester? >> Yes. Um, >> are you talking about there'll be here classes? >> Yeah, like the one to two classes that was put in here. >> See, I remember we had different versions. I want to see which one was in here. >> So, I thought you mentioned that in your weekly that year. >> Yes, they they can request to take one to two
089personal classes. Has to be administrative approved. >> Okay. One one to two classes in person, >> which Edenum is very used to. to working with that for for scheduling. >> I know that uh in attending the absence and truency uh um session uh Monday night uh Mr. Sander has uh gone above and beyond uh trying to enforce a a policy. It's it's a tough call because we have parents that are um you know pulling the kids um from school and I think that as a board we want them in school and uh so I guess you know in my heart of hearts I wouldn't probably support a virtual camera. I would I would want them here, but basically, you know, you're also looking at trying to keep them in the school district and and you
090know, maybe you actually do get them back at some point physically within the the school if you at least offer them, I guess, an alternative. >> And I think there's absolutely time and a place for the virtual academy, I think. And so, I'm glad we're doing a soft launch because I do think there's going to be questions that are going to come up. I can only think of like three or four that I'm going to hold off until I hear how this all goes um to start with because there's just there is layers and so yes it'll be very beneficial to students and I I think we just have to make sure our framework and our expectations are very clear and and um understood you know by both so we don't have students taking advantage
091of it andor accountability are they doing the courses you know and are they passing their classes I mean there's just a lot of things that we'll learn as we go I suppose No. >> Yep. Yes. New new territory >> for us. Anyway, other questions and then I will ask for a motion. >> I will move to approve the Cuba City School District virtual academy handbook for 20 2026 presented. >> Is there a second? >> I will second. Schwigger. >> Yes. >> Joel. >> Yes. B. Yes. >> White. >> Yes. >> Hinderman. Yes. Bowden. >> Yes. >> Andrews. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Then item I is approve the purchase of a replacement Ryder 24in floor scrubber. >> Yeah. This was approved at the November building the grounds meeting. Uh we wanted to get additional
092bids before we selected one. After we've done that, we'd like to go with the writer brand scrubber. Uh again for replacement building the grounds projects. Our policy says that doesn't have to go to the board. But this this is a big purchase. So, I'm always going to bring them to the board anyway. >> If there's no questions, would someone move? >> I'll move to approve the purchase of a replacement Ryder 24in floor scrubber as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Schweer, >> yes. >> Joel, yes. Bart, yes. White, >> yes. >> Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. Moving on to personnel and A is approve the hiring of Taylor man as a full-time second shift custodian. >> Yeah, Mr. Man was the top of our
093selection of the interviewed committee. Has been working for a while now and doing a great job and recommend that we approve his full-time hiring. >> If there's no questions, would someone make that motion? >> I'll move to approve the hiring of Taylor man as full-time second shift custodian as presented. >> I will second. >> Swagger. Yes, >> Joel. >> Yes, >> Bar. >> Yes, >> White. >> Yes, >> Henderman. Yes, Bowden. >> Yes, >> Andrews. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> And then on to committee reports. Uh budget to finance. Anything? Uh >> uh Heather and I are working on a a series just of budget and finance uh professional development things. So it started off as just to keep the board more up to date with budget and finance items and then the more
094that we got to it where we were thinking well if we're coming up with 8 to 10 minute professional development videos for the board um that could also be something we put on our YouTube page and just available for um for general people who want to learn more about open enrollment in or open enrollment out or funds and tax. So, um, just just wanted to run that by you and see if if you're comfortable with us going down that route. >> I think anything you can provide to the community that's offering full transparency, go for it. >> So, we'll probably send it to you guys first and then after we, you know, send that to Tina and put that on our YouTube page as well or our our uh our finance page and our web
095page. >> Okay. Y because I think you know additionally uh you know I think that as Angie said the more information the more we can learn uh about a complicated you know finance system and Y and I mean I intend next week to attend uh um some uh budget and finance and referendum meetings at the state convention. So um and uh so thank you. >> Yep. building and grounds. Um I think we kind of covered things. If anybody has any questions, personnel, um we met um Dan and Sarah and I last week regarding uh um possible health insurance changes or different programs etc. that was given by Triricore and medical associates. our carrier was here. So, um, no decisions were made and we're just kind of >> prep prepping ourselves for when we would get,
096uh, our insurance quotes, which we would love to have them tomorrow, but, uh, usually maybe by May 1st is maybe when we get them is we don't have very much time to act on a really large tough subject. I guess that was my question that I had when I was reading that was why does it take so long for them to get us a quote? >> They explained well Trior sat here and said and actually the guy from medical associates says right now we are four months behind in like getting today's bill out. So that they've only got currently like 3 months of data for insurance costs for our insured group. >> And I don't know how that's industry standard either. >> It makes sense. and and that's so he said we won't have enough
097experience, enough data about what you know your employees cost us to be able to bid next year's contract until like May 1st. >> So can you make that communication to your staff members though so that they know >> they were there was about five or six of them here. I mean, I feel like the more communication like that is made to your staff so they know that it might come down to May 1st >> rather than again another it's happening next week type thing again. I feel like >> well May 1st is a a hopeful date. >> Well, right. But I feel like just let them know along the way that hey, we're working on it, but I just think >> May 1 is when Yeah. May 1st is when they think they'll have enough
098information. Then they have to tabulate all the information. Then they have to to meet with triore and meet with us to go through that. So although the last couple years were tougher because we wanted to have it done before staff left and we were done May 10th, you know, this year we have a little more of a runway that way. And then and then if the insurance increase is huge, right, Triricore has a bunch of work to do to try and find us comp, you know, any competitive bid as it were. So >> I get it, but I just >> just sharing. >> It's not a great timeline. It was that's the timeline. I don't know. >> A lot of insurance companies won't even give you a quote until 60 or 90 days before correct
099the start of it, too. So, >> and most of them probably want a January through December contract. >> Still good with >> We haven't anybody ask for that. I know some schools do operate on a on the fiscal year. Um it's about half and half Tricore set, but we haven't had anybody say like, "Hey, we'll give you this rate. If we do that, then >> policy, you met in September." >> Yep. I haven't heard anything from our policy update. Now that I say that out loud, he'll probably come tomorrow. >> Technology and transportation. Uh Dan, uh would you give us what we talked about? >> Well, we had met uh it was the end of the busing or the was 5-year contract where three-year initial with a two-year review. Um had some options to either
100rebid it, extend it, or write a brand new contract. We extended the contract. um with a couple little rewrites on it. Um does that come to the board or that's done after committee? >> Um I haven't gotten their their language back yet, but that will that will come to the board. So, the the real difference was if we were going to go out to bid or have a a brand new contract and ask them to buy some newer buses, it was going to be roughly $140,000 more in a transportation contract. Um, or we could extend the contract for two years at a 3% increase, which was around 14,000 or $13,000. So, that's that was a big difference. And and so that for those two years, we can do that. And we all we'll also have
101them continue to get a third-party, you know, guys truck and trailer did it last time a safety inspection on every single vehicle every summer. >> So, what were the do you know what the rewrites were you were recommending? >> It was basically the average age of the vehicle and the oldest a vehicle could be. Um, we wanted to make sure that that those were the right numbers in there. >> The current language does not come close to fitting the age of their buses. >> Okay. So, and I guess the bottom line and Dan, um, I mean it was I think the three of us felt in agreement that $140,000 to say that you're going to buy a 4-year-old bus, one per year, that $140,000 isn't in the budget. Where's it going to come from? Versus
102we'll just finish the last two years of this 5-year agreement, which just simply calls for a CPI increase. Okay. >> And then >> but then when we go out to bid, we're going to have to >> And then >> the next transportation contract is going to be expensive. >> And then in >> two years >> Yeah. And then in another year or two probably go out to bid. >> Okay. >> And at that point they shared with us Darlington, Platville, Warren, Orangeville, Illinois busing costs and and stuff. We are 100,000 under everyone. Is that what you recall >> the ballpark? >> So that original 100,000 that we saved three years ago by taking Davis bus lines, you know, is still in effect. But probably uh the next comment will be as Aaron said we'll probably
103uh you know instead of spending uh I don't know what what was the annual cost currently >> 440,000. >> No. So I meant we spend now is it 200,000 and other school districts are spending 300,000 on busing. >> Yeah. Schools our size are like ours is about $440,000 annually. Other schools our size are closer to to 580. So, we're in year three of a fiveyear. >> Year of three of a possible fiveyear. So, year we had a three-year contract with the option to extend for two more and they had a guaranteed fixed rate like it wouldn't cost us more than 3% this year or three and a half% next year. >> Gotcha. So, currently then our option would be we would go out to bid now. >> Yep. We'll bid two years from now. >>
104Two years from now. >> Yeah. >> So, we need to make sure Heather's forecasting includes a substantial increase in transportation. Okay. >> Do we have the option cuz right now do we pay for fuel independently or >> we do pay for fuel. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Versus they just give us their flat rate up and Yeah. >> And and I think a lot of the districts had a contract that included fuel that the bus company would buy. >> Okay. And the rewrites are looking at the age of the bus is the same. We're not going to have a bus this old >> for it to match what exists versus what doesn't. So there's numbers in there, but we're just adjusting them to match what is actual. >> They got rid of their two oldest
105buses entirely. >> Okay. >> Which were okay. I mean, I'm going to be I mean, I've heard people talking about transportation and busing. So, that's why I'm just asking like what's what were the rewrites and what are we what's our plan? I >> think that was the only the only rewrite. We wanted to know what the current average age of that vehicle is for this year and next year, >> which would make sense. Okay. >> And no bus would be old or bad. >> I think that's good to have in there. >> Yeah. >> Foundation. Um, >> yeah, we'll meet in February. We're looking at a at a couple dates right now to to find. >> Okay. And I don't have anything from CISA. So I would entertain a motion to adjurnn, please. >> I
106will move to adjourn. Is >> there a second? >> Second. All in favor? >> Thank you everybody.