001Bar >> here, White >> here, >> Henderman here, Bowden >> here, >> Andrews >> here. >> Motion car, all present minus Joe. >> Proof of giving public meeting notice here. >> Yep. Notices were posted at both schools sent to the village of Dickyville and Cuba City Hall, members of the media on Monday, October 13th. >> All right. Thank you. Item three is the consent agenda. Are there any items the board would like um a separate discussion hearing? None. Would someone move, please? >> I'll move to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Joel, >> yes. >> Bar, >> yes. >> White, >> yes. >> Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> Uh, on to administrative reports. Uh, uh, Jason's absent, so
002uh, hopefully you had a chance to see his report. Um, then we'll move to Chris in the middle of high school. um high school band performed their halftime show during our final uh home football game against Venomar. Uh choir traveled to W Platville on Tuesday, October 7th to take part in the Coral Fest. Both band and choir students have now begun practicing for music for their holiday concert which will be here before we know it. Uh FCCLA is currently working on its recycling project through Next Tracks and is working towards collecting a ton of plastic to earn a bench. Thus far, they have collected 27 pounds. Uh, four members will be attending the fall leadership conference this Friday. FCCLA will be sponsoring a trunk at Trunk Retreat on Sunday, October 19th. Educators Rising is going
003to have six members traveling to W Platville for Education Exploration Day on October 22nd. Educator Rising will also part participate in trunk or treat. Uh, Miss Merwin shared that both groups will be celebrating our school staff during American Education Week. FFA had teams attend Riveridge Dairy and Livestock Contest. Uh, congratulations to Evan Curtis as he was the top livestock judge out of 150 students. Uh, three teams competed at World Dairy Expo. There was a team in forages, a team in dairy products, and a team in dairy cattle. Um officers were able to attend a leadership workshop in Prairie Dashene. Miss Vans Gando reported that one of our soils judging teams took 13th place at state soils judging competition and we had several students attend a livestock judging clinic at W Platville. FBLA has selected its
004officers. Uh they have two co-presidents, a vice president, a secretary, a treasurer, a public relations officer, and a class rep for each grade level. The officer team has been busy getting the organization up and running, and they are focusing on recruitment, fundraising, and the there's an upcoming leadership conference. Uh Mr. Simon shared that they currently have 19 members with more students expressing interest. Uh, thank you to Dan and Angela Belulin for bringing in the puppies for an always welcome Cuban Paws day. Uh, smiles everywhere when the puppies are here. The seventh graders had another successful trip to Canyon Camp. Thank you to Sarah Williams for organizing the trip and to all the teachers who went to camp with the students and as well to the teachers who picked up extra duties and covered everything back
005here at school. Everyone's efforts were greatly appreciated. And finally, congratulations to Brooklyn Busen on her back-toback appearances at the state tournament for girls golf. Uh the weather was much better this year and Brooklyn also did much better this year, finishing on the podium, earning a a medal for sixth place in division 2. >> Thank you, Chris. >> Yep. >> If there's no questions, we'll move on to Whitney on special ed. >> Yes. Uh the Cuba City School District is hosting a playd date for three-year-old children this Friday, October 17th, from 8:30 to 9:15. This visit will give staff the opportunity to conduct a basic screening of developmental milestones to ensure that the district is meeting the needs of all area children. This event is in compliance with the Wisconsin Child Find. So, we're excited for
006that. Currently, we have six students signed up. Um, teacher resilience is a relatively recent area of investigation which provides a way of understanding what enables teachers to persist in the face of challenges and offering a complimentary perspective to studies of stress and teacher burnout. Compassion is the combination of the consciousness of others distress and desire to alleviate it. It is a basic quality needed to be able to meet students needs. A small group of district staff are currently working on getting trained on implementing the compassion resili resilience toolkit. The toolkit offers information, activities, and resources for organization leadership and staff to understand, recognize, and minimize the experience of compassion fatigue and in increase compassion resilience. Our plan is it's a two-year plan. We'll start at the elementary and work our way up to present that
007toolkit to staff. Um Jesse Dinar and I are working together to get all necessary data pushed from seeds which is the special education platform empower school to report our data to DPI. Uh Jesse and I collect school data and submit it to DPI. This data is live. It's everchanging dayto-day as corrections are made new information is added and updates are completed. Um, and then our picture will be taken on Tuesday, December 9th at 9:00 a.m. So, we look at that usually daily right now and try to figure out where are our heirs and it's kind of like a puzzle sometimes for us to figure out how to get those pushed through so we get validation for data. The McKini Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that provides important educational rights and services to
008PK-12 students and youth experienced homelessness. LEAs must be in complian with the following regardless of where a student is displaced. So it could be a different school district as well as crossing state lines. Um children and youth experience homelessness can remain in their school of origin for the duration of homelessness and until the end of an academic year in which they obtain permanent housing if it is in their best interest. Eleas must make best interest determinations that presume that staying in the school of the origin is in the best interest of the child or youth. Transportation to the school is required, including until the end of the academic year when a student obtains permanent housing. We work closely with our district personnel and Davis bus lines to help provide transportation for these students. These situations
009are fluent and can change throughout the school year. As needs arise, we collaborate with the necessary staff members to ensure that we are in compliance with the federal law. Finally, a huge thank you to Bamfields. They catered um teachers meals for Wednesday, October 8th during parent teacher conferences. It was delicious and it was greatly appreciated. >> Any questions for Whitney? >> I just have a comment, Whitney, just from someone who has done the data and the errors. >> I know how much work and time that involves. So, appreciate you working. >> Jesse's the may she's very very good at it. Um so, I appreciate her guidance with that. >> A question on that, too. Is that Tuesday, December 9th? Is that everywhere? That's where that's done. Or is that So that's like the Friday the
010the third Friday count, >> but special edited. >> Yes. And then there's also one in the spring, too. So it's twice a year. So normally at this time, Jesse and I after the third Friday count, this is when her and I start checking it weekly. Um I think the first time we checked it, we had like 500 and some errors. So then we look, we go through what's speced, what's not, and then she updates P school, I update seeds, we push through, and then she'll do validation pushes. I would say anywhere from two to five times a week just to make sure that we're staying up to date on it. >> Kudos to you guys. >> Can you explain or where is it possible to see what kind of data is even being submitted? >>
011Yep. So, it kind of looks at power school and then it looks at um seeds and it kind of goes to see if our codes are matching up to what might be in other districts and things like that. And then that is kind of like the snapshot of our overall population and that helps generate revenue. So, >> it's a tedious work process. >> It is. If you ever want to stop in and look at it, we would love to show it to you. Okay, that's you you you've uh challenged me. I also uh I was very uh impressed today with the calm demeanor of uh your staff as you deal with the challenges over there. So, >> thank you. >> Heather business report, please. >> Sure. Uh update on the 2526 budget. Um at the
012end of September we were 25% through the fiscal year and to date we had spent 14% of our fund 10 budget. The district's uh 2025 summer school pupil report was submitted to DPI. Our FTE count was 28 which is an increase from last year which was 21. The district only receives funding for 11 FTEES as summer school rate is at 40%. Thanks to Jessica Lucer for her thorough work in compiling and verifying summer school instructional minutes to ensure accuracy of this report. The district also submitted our September uh pupil count or third Friday count to DPI. Our FTE count was 630. However, early childhood and 4K students only count as 60%. So our September FTE count that's on our revenue limit worksheet is uh 607. This is an increase um from last year which was
013at 603. This changes our three-year rolling average from 63 or from 612 to uh or sorry from 613 to 612. So this means that the district receives declining enrollment uh exemptions of about $12,000. And a special thanks to Jesse Dinar for the many hours that she dedicated to compiling um or completing this report. Um last week I submitted the 2425 special ed annual report to DPI. Um this is the last 2425 uh financial report. So I'm very excited to fully transition into working on in just one fiscal year instead of going back and forth between two. Um, and with the close of the 2425 fiscal year, I just wanted to give everyone just a quick uh recap of how we ended the year. Um, the budget that was approved for uh last fiscal year during
014the annual meeting projected a surplus of a little more than $108,000. The district ended the year with a surplus of a little more than $319,000. This surplus allowed the district to replenish our fund balance following the prior year's $500,000 deficit. The larger than ex expected surplus was primarily due to the failure of the fall 24 um operating referendum which meant the district did not give staff a 4% al salary increase which was included in the budget that was approved in October. Um, our final net open enrollment numbers uh our our net open enrollment uh revenue was $432,000 which was a little less than $900 from what I had budgeted. So, I was really excited about about that. I probably will never get that close ever again. Um and then additionally our fund 10 to fund
01527 transfer was a little more than $43,000 more than budgeted. Um today the district received our final state revenue numbers. So I started working through finalizing the 2526 budget using recommendations from the budget and finance committee meeting and I will also be working to prepare all the documents for our annual meeting. Um included in the consent agenda was an article from WBO summarizing the financial um outlook for 25 uh 27th uh through the state budget and the impact that it has on school districts. The article is titled two steps forward two steps back. Um some key takeaways are Wisconsin has been dropping in national ranking of state spending on K12 education as well as dropping in per pupil spending relative to other states. The state of Wisconsin has a surplus of $4.4 billion. The loss
016of 325 per pupil revenue is projected to increase the burden onto local taxpayers. Um and special ed a aid is expected to increase from 30.6% to 42%. However, this figure is just an estimate. For example, last year it the reimbursement rate was at 33% and districts only received 30.6%. And then an update on our referendum or our fund uh 49 um checking account. During the month of September, our revenues totaled 1,161,252.93. Um, expenses that cleared the bank were 1,139,5074 and our balance at the end of the month was $27,969.93. And that's all I have. >> Any questions of Heather? Heather, I just have one probably don't have an answer to it. Is there any update on where we're heading with the special education funding at the federal level? Like are they with the shutdown? They've
017been talking a lot about I mean are we seeing any implications with that so far or if we haven't been impacted by anything? I mean I don't know if there's just been in the news you hear a lot about it. So >> we I mean we have estimates for idea and that's what we have right now. It's just >> nothing's come down. Okay. Correct. >> If anything, it might be delayed, but we haven't heard anything. Okay. Okay. >> Heather, you need the the open enrollment figure in dollars. What is that in students? >> Um, I knew you were going to ask me that. Um, I don't have that number because the students, it's different because regular ed students, we get a different dollar amount compared to special ed students. I can I can look up
018>> 4K. >> Yep. And 4K. So I can look up that number and I can tell you how many open enroll kids we for regular ed and special ed came in versus out and just give you those numbers if you would like me to do that. >> Yeah, I would I would I always like to know that number. >> Yep. >> I assume it's normally around 10 10,000 per kid. So roughly 43. >> Um regular ed is around 10,000 and special ed is >> 13. Yeah, I was going to say somewhere between 12 and 14. I think this current the 25 26 year I think it's 14. >> So it should be 40 to 43 somewhere there. >> Yeah. Average because again every kid's worth the dollar amount's different but I can get you actual
019numbers. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Did you talk about at one point that 4K is going to be equivalent to a >> We have heard coming out of the state legislature that this year with the special ed funding that they don't think they're going to anymore consider moving 4K from 60% to 100%. That's what we >> That was a talking point at one point. >> It was a talking point. It was a big deal for the last four or five years. Yeah. >> For a long time. Yeah. >> Anything else? Thank you, Heather. Erin, superintendent report. First, I want to express our sincere appreciation to the Cuba City School District Board of Education. Uh earlier this month, we celebrated schoolboard appreciation week, but the truth is we're grateful for your service every week of
020the year. Our board is always focused on what's best for students. Your commitment to learning, safety, and opportunity is deeply valued by our entire district. You stay informed about what's happening in our schools and across Wisconsin public education. And that dedication shows how seriously you take your responsibility to serve. Thank you for your the time you you give, the thoughtful questions you ask, and steady guidance you provide. Together, we continue to put students first while navigating today's financial challenges. Your decisions balance what is best for students and staff with careful stewardship of the district resources. On behalf of our entire administrative team and our schools, thank you for your ongoing dedication and leadership in the Cuba City School District. Uh we have some good news. Uh last summer, our administrative team learned about a school
021violence prevention grant through uh the CubC police department said, "Hey, this is one we can kind of partner with um through the cops program." And we applied for it. This past weekend, we were notified the Cuba City School District has been awarded $499,730. This grant has a 500,000 maximum aotment and 25 has to be matched. Last year, last spring, we talked about um some safety upgrades. do we want to add that to the referendum or do we want to just use some of our referendum dollars for that? And you said you did not want to put that in the referendum. So, we were already looking at between or around $100,000 for safety upgrades. And so, this worked well if um we are going to spend that 100. Let's let's see if we can get some
022of that match. So, um with our plan on increasing school safety already, this was great for us. Our admin team is going to continue to develop an overall plan for these funds. We have three years to come up with this. So, we'll probably spend a lot of time planning to make sure it's right. Um, and then some of those things will be put off until all the construction is done, but some things will get going right away. So, uh, this grant will, um, really help with those efforts to keep everything safe for students and staff. In constru construction update updates, you'll notice footings are on the ground. Uh, the next step will be to complete all the rest of the footings and then we'll see some masonry walls start to take shape. The walls for
023the offices and trainers room and bathrooms and wrestling room and fitness center are block walls about 12 or 13 feet high. They go up first, so you'll see those closest to the road. Um, then there's an interior wall there. Um, and then the gymnasium walls will are actually made of preformed steel reinforced concrete panels. Those are scheduled to go in late November, early December. And once they get here on site, the whole gym box will take probably less than two weeks to go up because they just bring a crate and they set them and they connect them. So once they get here, uh things will look very different. Uh on budget impacts, I want to always address the recent adopted state budget, how it affects Cuba City School District. While the budget does include important
024increase in special ed funding which will help us establish a strong baseline for the next bianium budget, it doesn't provide additional general um state aid to reduce our reliance on local property taxes. So key points from this, of the $1.37 billion in new spendable revenue for schools that you'll hear our legislators tout, 760 million or 55% of that um falls directly on local tax levies and our our tax um our property taxes. State support for public schools will be reduced by another $169 million over the bienium to fund voucher schools. Um and none of those are around us. In fact, uh we don't have any voucher schools right now in CISA 3 for Cuba City. This shift means roughly 200,000 in funding will move away from the state revenue and fall directly on our local
025tax payers. So, while we're grateful for the additional support in special education, this overall funding structure continues to put more financial responsibility on our community. Our responsibility now is to communicate these financial realities clearly to our community. While our ongoing goal is to keep the district's mill rate as close as possible to what we presented during the April 2025 referendum, the new state budget budget creates challenges um for us in doing so. >> Thank you for the letter you sent to Sandy. She appreciated that. So, um any other questions of Aaron? No, I just want to um commend the communications team for their posts for the new construction because I think that's very important for everyone to see what's going on and I just think it's very it's been a positive a positive thing this
026year. >> They do a great job with that. >> So the footings that you're talking about there as you drive around there, it's only like this front that is done. >> Yep. >> Obviously those big walls when we get that'll all be footings. >> Yeah. So right now they're doing the footings closer to school street. They're kind of working out that way and then coming back this way on the inner hallways. And then the next set they do, those footings will be a little they have to be a little wider and a little deeper because that's going to be the the 30ft gym box, not the 12T. So they're kind of working in a maze right now. >> So that'll just be in pieces. >> Yep. While they're doing these footings now, the masons are
027going to come in. I think they said next week the masons are going to start building that those walls up >> on those. >> And then I had a question about the the grant. Yeah, I assume the administration will be working with the police uh as you put your priorities together. >> Yep. So, we meet with them once a month for for district safety meetings. Um and so we let let them know we got this grant and that's going to be what we talk about a lot at our safety meetings. >> Good. We've got time to plan this to make sure, you know, we don't have to spend it all in one year. We've got time to plan it out and make sure that we're maximizing all those dollars and everything. >> Good. Thank you.
028>> Now, it is a federal grant, so We're hope we're hoping we're hoping to get all that. >> Anything else, Fran? >> All right. Thank you. Um, let's see. Discussion. We have two items. First one is the district mascot ideas from the branding subcommittee. Um, who would like to speak to that? >> Go ahead, Sarah. >> So, we've met a couple of different times. um just gave her our original idea with BAM um in a Canadian-based company, but they came with a draft. Um we met, we talked about some tweaks that we wanted to make, some details, but in the back of your packet, you'll see a black and white copy of where we landed and would like to move forward with ordering. Um, one small change we talked about in the meeting before the
029this meeting is to add irises back in the eyes just to make it look a little more human. Um, but again, just to reiterate, this is really just increasing the spirit. This is not our mascot. Well, it is a m mascot, but it's Captain Cuban. So, it's not we're not the we're the Cubans. >> Not to be confused with this is going to be all over advertised done t-shirts and stuff. Yeah. I mean, it may evolve to that, but I'm going to get back to the point here. Our our recommendation is that we move forward um with ordering this if we can. Lead time is 16 17 weeks before we get it in house. Um, >> so athletics. >> No, but with the quote we are under the budgeted amount for um what was set
030aside for this wrote >> we had budgeted 10,000 and um with this with the cooling system that's in there puts it at >> 8,800 just under 9,000. >> Yeah, that's my question about the cooling system. We don't have that at Clark. We feel it. We just >> This cooling system was an extra $450, but if we want to have it used at parades and football games in August and September. >> Yeah. >> Um >> well, even even events and even in the new gym if it's packed like those can get very hot and can get dangerous if you're not careful with it. So yeah, having a mask on handler is always helpful as well. But glad to hear there's a cooling system included. And then do you have that piece of paper for the shield
031size? Just so we have that as a reference. >> One of the questions we had come back with was how big is this going to be? And >> for sizewise, Aaron had made a cut outside. >> I did. >> I don't know where I put it. >> Yeah. I guess I wondered how they >> It was about this big >> shield. >> How it fits. Does it Does it fit >> a variety of sizes of kids, boys and girls? Good question. It fits anybody 5'8 through 6 feet tall. So, it's made for somebody 510. Can't believe I lost our shield. It's not the phone. Um, but it it fits anybody there. And then the boots are made so that I can fit a a wide variety, but that's going to be big or small, you
032know, those things. But that's how it's how it's made for somebody that height. >> I only have one question. This is probably completely irrelevant because you guys have set money aside for in your budget under. Did we ever talk to the booster club about helping offset the cost? >> Not yet. >> I mean, I was just curious. I didn't know if that was ever discuss. I mean, because that's kind of a I don't know. was in booster club like a school spirit brow kind of thing. I wasn't sure if that was ever necessarily. >> Yeah. Generally with the booster club um >> like you know what uniforms are that like those are things we don't we think those are things the school should pay for so uniforms. >> Okay. I was just curious, you know,
033just we haven't talked to I guess so we can discuss that when uh we discussed the item later in the agenda. >> We can certainly reach out and see if there if that's what the board >> I mean if there was a money set aside. I mean I was just curious if there were >> well just the comment on the shield too. I'm not overly concerned about the size. I guess I'm more concerned like I would be curious to know the weight of that to make sure >> so it's fairly fairly easy going. >> How is it how is it laundered? How do you I mean you're going to have different kids wearing it, different people wearing it. How is it? >> I know that they spray it with Scotch Guard to take away, you
034know, chances that it gets stained, but as far as regular maintenance, it does have a regular maintenance plan that comes with it, but I don't I we don't have that. >> I mean, they're out there. I'm sure there's some way to do it, but I was just wondering. >> They almost have to. Many of these are out in the mascot. >> All righty. >> If we're done, we'll move on to B. The district use the virtual days. >> Yep. You guys have uh that list that has kind of three different options that we talked about last month. Option one is the least restrictive, which is what we have used or what we used last year. So non-weather related virtual days last year didn't require board approval, but last spring we talked about it and so
035we didn't plan any this year and if there were any that came up, we would bring it to the board. Um except one of the high school team qualified for the state tournament, we've used virtual days for that in the past and sometimes we have to. All weather related closures are automatically virtual instruction days. Now when I say that, remember like we always try to give advanced notice for virtual days. So, if a storm sneaks up on us and kids aren't prepared, then it's just a no school day. Um, and we we would keep that with all these options. If they're not ready, we're not going to do a virtual day. Uh, description two is moderately restrictive. Um, this is the all non-weather related virtual instruction days require board approval. Virtual instruction days will not
036be used when a high school team qualifies for the state tournament. Those will either be just a full day off or a partial day off or no school day. And then all weather related closures are automatically virtual instruction day again unless it the storm sneaks up on us. And then moving to option three which was the most restrictive and the big change there is just that for weather related closures the first five days would be virtual instruction days. After that the board will reconvene to decide whether to continue virtual instruction or add days to the calendar. So those are the three options that we talked about last week. And then what we'd like to do today is come up with um one option that you guys want to make a motion on later in the
037and again this isn't policy. It's just giving us direction on which way we're going to go. >> Did you put in your original notes that option two was the one that administration had discussed and was more in favor of that's what I thought I had read but I wasn't sure. >> Okay. >> Other questions before we would move on? Uh so option two is what administration they would like to make that change to that? >> Yep, we're good with that. >> You're good with that or you're that's what you would like? >> You know, I we had talked well before about the non-weather related days should go to the board for approval. You know, we were in agreement with that last year. Um, and then for the state tournament, I mean that that's something um
038depending on what time the the game is, you know, if if we really want people to go, we we could go either way on that. Um, but really we we want to know we want to be able to tell parents the last day of school is June 3rd and not add days to the calendar. We'd rather do that. So that that was that was what we were kind of talking about mostly. >> So what >> so it's not necessarily your four option two. >> I mean if you had if if the administration and staff had to pick one, what would they pick? >> I think we probably pick one. >> Okay. >> Aaron, do you know how many non weather related days we've had in the last couple of years? nonweather related. I think LA
039last year there were was it four and we might have had four >> and that includes the ACT days where we've ACT days where we've already determined we are not going to do virtual we have other >> and then I believe it was two state tournament trips and a CISA event. We will we will be able to do the the preac with having a not be a virtual day. The ACT we're still on the fence about where we run into we have to have so many staff here um for proctoring because we put them in you can only have so many kids in in a area um and then you have to have so many proctors per room. And so once we get to a point where we have this new gym available, where we
040have the space where we can spread them out, we can get by with fewer proctors. We could probably get by with just having a regular school day and just have the ACT happen there. Um, I know other schools have talked about taking a a a field trip that day, but again, we are short-handed. That would involve us bringing subs in to send people out to So we're we're kind of stuck stuck with the ACT. What were we thinking about doing >> the preac? We we were going to do the the job shadows and I've actually already started talking with the junior and senior classes about that because the sophomores and freshmen will be taking the preac. So March 17th is is already planned to be a a day of job shadows for students. Um but
041the ACT I don't know that we can get that many job shadow availabilities for the freshman, sophomore, and seniors that day. >> Okay. So just for last year nonweather was preac and two state tournament. >> There was one small leadership math which we have went out eight years. We only host that once every eight years >> and again once we have a gym the last time we hosted eight some years ago they actually took everybody up to W Platville. So it wasn't here anyway. We didn't have that option. And we have what? Two extra days built into our calendar. Is that correct? >> My concern with all of these are what happens when there's a weather or a water main break. >> And anything else that we can predict? I don't want to get together
042at 7:00 or 6:00 as a board that morning to determine or make that decision. So, I'll just throw that out there. So that would be either option one or option two. I mean, I guess again, >> I guess I' I'd ask the question that Aaron brought up is is the board's goal to end school on the last day that's on the existing calendar or are we not in favor of that so that there's some leeway to in essence, I guess, have a a no school day instead of a virtual day or right, >> but option one does not cover a water main Right. Because it says all non-weather related needs board approval. That would need board approval for a virtual day. I guess that's my point. >> Okay. I I wouldn't see a water man
043breaking as the same thing as like an ice being an ice day. >> I'm just using that as an example. It's not weather related. Should we say um >> should we put something in there like an emergency day count is the same as though >> all non-weather related except emergencies except emergency days. >> What's the definition of emergency? >> My point is like I I guess what are we trying to solve here is what I'm trying to understand. >> I don't know that we've abused this. So I'm just looking to understand what we're trying to >> so I guess >> put in place here. >> Yep. So I guess I probably I'm the one that brought it up because we had eight, seven and six days last year which is sign in my mind significant
044amount of virtual instruction and when we also have conversations where it's been articulated within the board environment that well we don't really provide new learning at that time. Well, that's six, seven, and eight days that students are not getting any new learning on top of everything else. And so, and then we broke it down. We found out that over half of those were non weather related situations that we can probably plan accordingly for. Um, and I also feel like when we look at educational millu and the environment, students get, and I know no one's going to argue this, students get way more when it's teacher teacher taught in the classroom. We all know that, but school being in the school building also provides far more than just seat time in the chairs. That there's relationships,
045there's connections with your staff, there's social skills that are provided on those days. And I'm also concerned about SDI minutes being able to get provided when we get down to six and seven days of not virtual time. And how are those students getting their SDI minutes caught up and met? You know, are they having are we extending the school year? So because legally we're founded to provide those minutes for students. So when you get into a significant amount of virtual days, a lot of those factors I'm not sure how much we talk about. And so when we look at actual weather related days, I think there was what, four last year? Three, four, maybe >> four, which seems more reasonable than we're talking 78. So that's where and so, you know, June and I get
046we all want to be done June 3rd. I understand that. Um, you know, I I and I don't know if that's what the that's the goal to say we're going to be done June 3rd. My vision or goal as a board member was to make sure that we're having discussions around what is the best integrity related services that we're providing our students and we have a building that our students should be in as much as possible. So that's where it's coming from both pieces. >> So do you feel that they should we should go beyond June 3rd to make up like if there's eight weather related days just for example? I don't think that we I don't know about putting a date at the end of the school year on is what I would ever
047do because we never know what's going to happen. You could be June 4th or fifth. >> But I guess I'm asking are you in favor of adding days until the end of the year? >> I initially proposed that we had a so many virtual days that were capped and if we went over that was my initial discussion if we went over then we wouldn't you know so we had five days built in. if we went over the board decides, okay, we're going to do another virtual or no, we're going to add it on the end of the school year. That was the original thing that I brought up. So, that's just my two cents. >> Thank you. Um my my feeling is I I like having that calendar set. I like to know that if
048you have a spring break, this is when it is. If you the last day of school is this, you know, if my family travels or or we have appointments or family whatever, it's nice to know that schedule. And I'm just not a believer of adding that it's valued time in the school when you start tacking on the fourth, the fifth, the 6th of June. I don't think that education time is better than having a virtual day in January. So what options do we have that would try to achieve limiting the use of virtual days and not go beyond June 2nd or third? >> Do we have any you guys >> any releases? >> Yeah, I can get up and we can get an hour and a half on Fridays if we cancel some of those,
049you know, if we go over those two days. But maybe what you want to come at with is a different option. just say, "Hey, um, scheduled virtual days have to come to the board." So, like if it is an act, if it's non weather related or non-emergency or something like that, uh, like not planned for, like if if it's a planned for virtual day, it's got to come to the board for approval. Maybe that's what you guys want. >> Yeah. I mean, I don't think uh anybody's going to complain that the water man breaks this storm and you know, you that's your call should make that that >> you know that that would probably be a no school day, not a virtual day because we're probably not >> we didn't send kids home with the
050need of materials or teachers in there >> and and uh you know I I guess I'm thinking that that might be is what Aaron just said a possible option. I I like having it in the administration's hands. >> I do >> and not and not at a board level. I again I think they're here to run this school and I like those choices. I don't think it's been abused in the past or I I'm just in favor of having the administration make those decisions. >> I agree. But I appreciate your point in thinking about our use of virtual days because like you said, it did bring up some good discussions on how do we do some of that pre-planning. So we're not becoming reliant upon it. It forces us to be a little more creative
051in our planning. But I think it's good to continually evaluate. But I'm comfortable with the administration making the decision. >> I would agree, but I do believe we need to minimize the non weather related if possible. So I think there needs to we don't have to have those days. I would rather have the extra the external educational experiences versus just a virtual day. So I'm hearing everybody. Okay. Just so I'm understanding >> as a board we are okay if our students go to eight virtual days like last year. >> That's what No, because this is all not we're all saying non-verirtual is we're all saying non-weather related and weather related is all something we can use. I'm saying I think we minimize it as much as possible, but yet we use our administration uses their
052best decision- making protocols to if it needs to be done, it needs to be done. But yet, we're not just going to use it and abuse it. But I think we do try to minimize and provide inclass education experiences as much as possible. Yeah, that that's kind of what I thought everybody was going at is is if it if we are going to use virtual for something other than emergency or weather, it's got to come here and you guys have to approve it. >> I would like less than eight, >> but how we get there? >> I would like to continue to operate as we have and not put restrictions on it because I'm comfortable with the decisions that have been made and I appreciate the creativity that we're looking at what we have done
053virtual in the past. We're looking for other opportunities and I'm okay with that. I'm comfortable with what we have in place >> and I respect everyone's opinions 100%. But I obviously stay on the other end of it. I prefer that we have a little bit more of a monitoring of it so we're not sitting at 8 days of virtual and then trying to look at other layers of things that we have to look at. >> And in a year might we might be having the same conversation with a different outcome too. I mean we can always we can always revisit this. Well, I would trust I think that administration has heard the concerns about, you know, and not trying to abuse the nonweather related type virtual day. And uh um we'll see if we can
054craft a motion here come >> the uh or maybe you don't have I don't even know if we have to. >> I I think we we hear you that if we're going to have a a scheduled virtual day, it's got to come here for April 1st. I think that's I think they're saying they don't that's what they're saying. They don't have to do it, Erin. That's what I think is saying is that that the what I'm hearing is >> you want it. >> Well, there's there is an agenda item. I guess I'm we're having discussion now. So, I appreciate all that. I'm just thinking that when it comes to I guess if nobody makes a motion for instance, then it stays as it is. I guess it would be, you know, I would take it
055or if somebody amends the motion. >> I think knowing that a couple people feel strongly about this, I think we're we're going to anyway. Whether you make the motion or not, we're we're going to bring that to >> So, I guess that would be my request is that I think there should be open communication about that. I I think being informed as a board is important so we can have those discussions. But again, ultimately, you're running the school as an admin team, and I feel like you know best with your teachers as to what those students need at that time, too. >> Emergencies, emergency, come back and tell us later, right? But I do think the scheduled >> the scheduled ones, I do think as a board we should be informed because if we do
056see that trend happening, we like, okay, why are we doing this? Is there anything else that we can >> do instead of that? So, I would appreciate just having that even if it's part of your superintendent report, just being aware of what is planned. >> All righty. [Applause] Next, we do have Sammy here to talk about that. >> Sammy, would you go ahead with your read that first? You got to get me get in the habit of doing that. Um, so just bear with me, Sammy. Um, that, uh, >> I want to share a few reminders from our policy so that everyone knows what to expect. Public comment is an opportunity to share thoughts on matters that are within the board's responsibility. Each person who signed in will be have up to three minutes to
057speak and each person may speak only once. Please begin by stating your name, address, and group affiliation if you have one. Comments should be directed to the board as a whole, not to individual board members, staff, or 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 presiding officer may stop comments that are abusive, irrelevant, or out of order. These guidelines help us keep our meetings productive and fair for everyone. Thank you. >> Awesome. Um I'm Sammy Meyer. Um I live here in Cuba City. I'm an alum from the high school and a community member. Um I just wanted to take a
058moment. I saw on the agenda uh on something that was on the agenda just to share my thoughts as a young community member. Um I saw the purchase of a potential purchase of a school mascot. Um, I actually had the opportunity. It was really fun. I took a opportunity at my university. Um, the two be a mascot a couple times. It was fun. It was very hot. Um, and it was it was great to have that presence there, too. Um, but I also wanted to just express that I understand how much one would cost. Um, I don't know how much this one I think it was Sharon, but um, I it was pretty old at my university and I always asked like, "Oh, we should get a new one." and they told me how much
059it would cost. Um, I just wanted to make a comment saying like we do have a referendum that we just passed back in in April, excuse me. Um, and two times before that it didn't pass. I just wanted to share that spending this money, even though it was budgeted, um, I don't think it would be the best representation of what's going to our students needs. Um, and we still need to get community support. um because our referendum in April passed around I think it was around 30 votes. Uh and I personally think that's getting lucky and not having that support. So I just wanted to keep having those discussions about maybe getting more community support. Maybe this mascot will help. Maybe it maybe some community members might see this as a very expensive purchase um
060where their money is going to. Um so I just want to keep keep getting that support from the community. um sharing. Maybe my solution for this would be doing a soft launch of this mascot instead of buying a whole actual mascot. Maybe putting it on some posters at the elementary, sending some fun things and coloring pages. Um just kind of seeing the community's reaction instead of purchasing something that cost a lot of money with our tax with our tax money, right? Um, so I just want to remember that and because we did pass this referendum as kind of a band-aid and just one might be revisiting it later and someone might see a mascot as a so purchase. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All righty. New business approving the date time of the November
06125 meeting. Um, it's currently set for the 19th at 6. Aaron would like the 12th at 6th. Is that doable? >> Repeat that again. >> November 12th at 6. >> We want to move to the 12th. >> 12th instead of the 19th. >> I move for everybody. Okay. All righty. So, someone here to move to that effect. >> No, but I can I just make a comment on the next one just for December while we're thinking about it. I know I am not available the 17th that week of the 17th >> on that Wednesday. So, that's just looking forward. We don't have to do anything now with it, but just think about different dates, >> right? Possibly. >> Yeah. Okay. I'll move to approve the November regular board meeting for Wednesday, November November 12th at
0626 o'clock. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Joel, yes. Park, >> yes. White, >> yes. >> Herman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> Thank you. Item B is approve the spring 26 ACCP and start college now courses. This is done every October. Um we've got a brief recap of these programs um in the link there. Students will have until October 1st to apply for these courses when they approve them at the October board meeting every year. So we recommend that all these get approved. ECCP and Start College Now is a way that high school students can get or or earn college credits. Um if they do fail any of these courses, they do pay for it, but otherwise it's shared between the local district and the
063state. in the state. Um, apparently we just got reimbured for last year and they said the budget was a little tight, so they didn't give us as much as as they said they were going to. So, um, we pay a little more uh when the state doesn't. But, uh, by state statute, we have to approve uh, we have to offer these. >> If there's no questions, I will move to approve the spring 26 ECCP and start college now courses as presented. Is there a second? >> I'll second. Joel, >> yes. >> Bart, yes. White, >> yes. >> Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> Item C is approve the virtual day of practices for the 2526 school year. Um, there's no motion. So, if there's no questions, I'll take
064a motion as presented. Going once, going twice. A motion. All righty. We will go to item D, which is approve the purchase of a new school mass Scott costume. The way the um company does that is they ask once we if this does get approved, we send in half of it now and we send in the second half after we get it inspected. So that that's what it would be like. Um Sammy is right. There's going to be people who say, "Hey, why are you spending $10,000 on this?" And there are going to be people who say you should have done this 25 years ago. Um so she's not wrong. There are people that are going to be on both ends of the spectrum. We've been talking about a mascot for about two years. Um
065pulled the trigger on the logos and um so board directive was let's try to try to get something to increase school spirit. mascot was one of the ideas and this is the idea that we have. The branding committee is suggested or is recommending that we go forward with this knowing that you know if we wait 5 years that $9,000 costume might be $13,000. >> Unfortunately, you're probably right. >> Um other questions or comments? >> If we were to make a motion to approve tonight, could we would we still have a time frame? Like you said, it's half down, half later. Could we still approach the booster club and see if they'd be interested? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yep. >> We're not tying our hands, but >> Nope. That email will go to Scott tomorrow. >>
066Okay. >> Others? >> No, but I really liked Sammy's idea of having coloring pages for kids. I thought that was a great idea um for like the soft launch piece of it. So, >> creating buy 100%, you know, >> is a big part of it. >> Building it on a wall, you know, with pieces of construction. I do think there's ways to unveil the idea behind it before the costume would get in as well. >> What does the uh company expect the life expectancy of the costume to be? >> They say around 15 years. >> Um they did give me the names of a few schools in Wisconsin um that they've worked with and I tal called talked to two principles. The the one that I remembered I think they bought it in 2002 and
067they're still using it. They haven't had to buy they haven't had to replace it yet, but it's still probably as Sammy says like I'm sure whoever gets in there is is like, "Oh, we need a new one." But that's over 20 years, but that they said on average it's about 15. >> So when would we use it? I guess I've not heard conversation of of that. think any sports events, basketball, football, volleyball, parades when we um have the prek screening um days, breakfast days, trees, special events. >> Yep. >> And even there's opportunities in the greater community like you mentioned parades, but I know like the debut farmers market had a day where global mascots came out and did a dance contest. Like there's other ways to get Cuba City beyond Cuba City. It is
068time for a motion. >> I will move to approve the purchase of a new school mascot costume as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I will second. >> Joel, >> yes. >> Bart, >> yes. >> White, >> yes. >> Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. All >> righty. Item E is approve the overnight FFA fall mission and impact leadership conference November 13 and 14. >> Yeah, this is a trip that Jill had had taken up until the last two years when we had some budget cuts for field trips. But Chris and I recommend that we approve this. >> If there's no questions, would someone move? >> I'll move to approve the overnight FFA fall mission and impact leadership conference November 13th and 14th as presented. >> Is there
069a second? One second. >> Joel, >> yes. Barks, yes. >> White, >> yes. >> Henderman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Item F is approved the addition of Shellsburg with the gymnastics co-op, which is currently uh Darlington, Southwestern Cuba City, and Benton. Is Benton in our gymnastics? >> Yes, they are. Yep. So they wanted to let Shellsburg in. And so the way this happened, it's kind of late, but they just finalized this last week. We have to approve Shellsburg and the co-op and then next month we'll approve the co-op agreement for the WIAA. But Carrie's recommending that we approve this. Would someone move? If there's no question, >> I'll move to approve the addition of Shellsburg with the gymnastics co-op beginning in the 2526 season as presented. Is there
070a second? >> I'll second. >> Joel, >> yes. >> What? Uh, Bart, >> yes. >> White, >> yes. >> Herman, yes. Bowden, >> yes. >> Andrews, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> Uh, personnel, there are no items for this month. um committee reports uh budget and finance uh um you just met on the 8th. Is there anything else? >> Just kind of went through the revenue limit worksheet in October 15th. Today was the day that we finalized some of those things. So we went through different scenarios um just in preparation for the annual meeting, >> but building and grounds uh we met on the 8th as well. Aaron gave kind of an update. Um, I did ask him yesterday or the day before if he could add starting next month a discussion item on the
071extra projects that the board would like to do with the interest and or the money over that's left from from the budgeted amount that the construction project will cost. I think we've we've discussed them in the past, but uh I think that at least at our last meeting, it was to try to start working towards what we would do so that uh um you know, basically uh administration and uh um EPIC can can try to plan for that. So, um and so hopefully we'll have some great discussions going on that. Um >> just a quick question on that. Do we do we have a date where that needs to be finalized? >> Um, we keep asking and and and I don't know that I've personally heard, but I think I'm getting the impression Brad said
072sooner than later. So, it depends on which projects we pick. If if we pick one of the bigger projects that impacts the outdoor athletic field, then that's going to impact next year's football field and track schedule. and we're going to have to start moving games and meets around. So, those are the events. So, if if we put a performing arts center on or if we um redo the track or the uh turn into field turf out there, those are some of the items that okay, now we have to start looking at at some of those because it takes a year of planning before you're going to be able just with scheduling. Uh some of the other items though um you know this summer is going to be really busy with the gym and then that
073that wing now gets next summer that's teched and egg and the fab lab and the art room and the building the grounds um area and the fitness center and the rest you know all that stuff. So I'm not sure how much of that stuff can probably be added next year. Um so we're really probably looking at the following summer. But the the reason Brad was kind of pushing was if we are going to do anything to the outdoor spaces, we really need to start planning that sooner than later. >> So it depends which ones we >> and especially from the AD standpoint that basically he explained that you know if you were going to do this spring track season then you couldn't start till school got out. So he said even if you resold it
074and didn't put turf down because they have he said it's rough out there. It's it's not graded like he'd like and it's not um and to redo the track they'd have to bring in Phil. He said I probably can't even get grass to grow so you could play on it in August and you probably then um you know so basically the whole project is is is a big one. Um and uh so basically you're going to lose a a football season potentially. You'd have to move all your home games elsewhere. Um and >> or backload them, put them put all the home games like the last. >> Or if you went turf, he said, you know, I'd be pushing it to get it done by the first of August because now I only got two
075months, >> July and August. I'm asking just >> remembering how those discussions went, two years ago or however long ago it was. That was a lot of discussion. So I don't know and maybe we won't decide now, but I could see maybe some special meetings needed if we need to get that done sooner versus just a discussion item. >> Yeah, I was going to ask that as well. So with the meeting being pushed up a month with our building and grounds meeting then could we just do that beforehand and have an hour of that discussion so that board members can join us before the board meeting. >> Sure. >> And then we can continue on at the board meeting >> is that our next building on the ground. >> Well that would be because it
076would be a week before normal. Right. >> It's usually the second Wednesday right? So we need that at 5. >> Can we put that at five that day? Then we any board member that can make it that way they can hear and be part of that discussion perhaps. >> Yeah. But when we get to that point where we're like, we need to have, you know, they they're pushing us for a date, we can have special meetings for that or um have the build right before our regular meetings, too. Because again, even tying in the other unknown is the FEMA lawsuit that if we want to wait to see if we get the FEMA grant, we have to save roughly 2 million out of the money we have left to be the matching money to go
077with that FEMA grant. So then that's going to change what you can afford to do. If the board doesn't want to wait, then you know basically uh you could move forward on trying to plan what you want to do. But if uh and then if we got the grant, why I don't know, you'd have to run a referendum for the matching money or say no thank you. One of the two. >> So So I would strongly recommend not going for a separate referendum if we get the FEMA grant. Well, just my two my two cents. I understand. But that but it is an option. It is an option that >> directly into the camera. >> So, we'll have some interesting conversations. Yep. >> All righty. Moving on. Uh personnel, nothing needed policy. You met last
078month. Anything? We approved them policies last time. >> Really? >> Okay. >> Technology and transportation. Uh, looks like we need to schedule a meeting for next month. Then, Aaron, >> I'm We'll probably schedule that once I know all the buses have been inspected. >> Okay. >> But I don't want to I don't want to schedule it if they're running behind and say, "Oh, two of them didn't have once they're all done inspected." >> Have they started that process? >> Yep. This week they started. Okay. I heard that from Davis and guys. Okay. All right. Um, foundation, you met last week. Is there anything to report? >> Uh it was a good year in the market for us. Uh so I mean uh we've got another meeting scheduled after the first of the year probably in
079February where we see uh that we can get a year end number. Uh we're talking about if it possible possibly raising uh our Bar scholarship money again if the next few months continues like the first half of the year did. Okay. >> We'll just have to see what's there. >> Y okay. Um I don't have anything as cease to three rep. Um and God willing um I will be back from Europe the day of our annual meeting. But if some reason the flights are delayed or whatever um are canceled, uh I won't be at the annual meeting. Then Dan will be on call. Yep. Dan will have to run. So >> what is that date? >> The 27th Monday. >> When you leave your >> uh Friday morning. >> Have a great trip. >> Good
080for you. >> Thank you. Good for you. >> Yeah. We're going to go check out Switzerland and Austria. Have fun. If there's nothing else, I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Is there a second? >> I will second. All in favor? >> I was going to let Joe tonight do the adjourn. Why is it