001I'd like to call this uh regular schoolboard meeting of the DC Everest area school district to order. First up is roll call. Josh >> here. >> Larry >> here. >> Katie >> here. >> Ye >> here. >> Shannon >> here. >> Ben is not here. And I am here. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Is there a motion to approve the agenda for tonight's meeting? >> So moved. Second. >> We have a motion and a second. This requires a voice vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? That passes. At this time in our agenda, we have time set
002aside for public participation. We value your input and interest in our school community. It is important to note that we welcome differences in opinion and recognize that we are all here because we have a vested interest in our children and in our schools. We would also like to remind you that the schoolboard meetings are for the purpose of carrying on the business of the district. They are not public meetings, but official business meetings held in public. The public comments presented before the board reflect only the view of the individual speaker and not the board or the district. Anyone wish wishing to address the board should have registered their intention to participate upon their arrival at the meeting on the signup sheet at the door. As a reminder, our public comment policy states participants must have
003a legitimate interest in district business such as current district residents, students, parents, guardians, employees, or contractors of the DC Everest area school district. Participants will be recognized by myself and are asked to please state their name, address, and group affiliation before beginning their remarks. To ensure that the board meetings are conducted in an orderly and productive manner, all public comments are subject to the following time. Each statement by a participant is limited to three minutes duration and should address topics within the legitimate jurisdiction of the school board. If a speaker continues past the expiration time, this myself will ask the speaker to stop and leave the podium. The public comment period will be limited to a total of 30 minutes unless extended by a motion. Conduct all remarks directed to the board are directed should
004all remarks should be directed to the board and not to the audience. No one may address or question board members individually. Speakers must conduct themselves with respect and civility towards others. Prohibited conduct includes conduct which is disruptive to the meeting, interferes with the ability of others to observe the meeting or speak to the board or inter interferes with the ability of the board to conduct business. This includes conduct which is abusive, harassing or threatening and conduct which includes the use of vulgarities or profanities. If a speaker violates this rule, you will first be given a warning and then may be asked to leave. Board response. Concerns raised tonight will not be addressed at this meeting unless they fall under an already approved agenda topic. The concerns may be added to a future agenda at the
005request of any board member. Topics for discussion. No person addressing the board should initiate charges or complaints against individual board members or employees or students of the district. Such charges or complaints should be presented directly to the superintendent. In the event of an individual's conduct causes a disruption to the board meeting and the board cannot continue its business, a motion may be made to to declare a recess. We have one person signed up for public participation tonight. Uh Genevie Hwig, come on up. Help Pike Road in water and I have a child that attends Mountain Bay Elementary. Um Oh, >> can you hear me now? >> We could hear you before. >> Okay, I figured. >> Um I've never done this before, so I just wrote quick notes, so I apologize. But um I had
006sent an email earlier today in regards to the recent incident at Mountain Bay with a student who brought an unloaded gun into school. If anyone would like me to send it to them, I'm happy to forward my thoughts on, please let me know. After sending my email, I had two other points I wanted to express to the board on top of the email I sent for your consideration in the matter. Whenever that all gets decided, I have been in contact with other Mountain Bay parents and I feel it is imperative for our worries to be heard. I want to state I do not know all the details of the incident at Mountain Bay, nor do I have a full understanding of all the procedures that need to take place after something like this. I am
007just coming to the board to express my concerns about what happened and how your decision on how to proceed will directly affect the families and the staff at Mountain Bay, all while setting a precedent for the district. The other points I want to make sure that are taken into account is the district policy does not say loaded guns are not allowed on campus. It says firearms are not allowed on campus, meaning all of them. It doesn't matter if it was loaded or not because it absolutely could have been. If you take a hunter safety class, the first thing they tell you is to treat every gun like it is loaded. There should be zero tolerance for this behavior. The other point is our daughter is student of the week at Mountain Bay this week and
008last week we discussed what she would want to bring for her show and tell item. She wanted to bring in her lightsaber that she made at Disneyland and it resembles a weapon. It is a toy. So, I made an active choice to contact the teacher to make sure that it was okay for her to bring in a fake weapon that is a replica of a makebelieve weapon in a movie that does not exist because I was worried she would get in trouble for bringing it. So, the reality is that somebody brought an actual weapon that can actually hurt people into a school just goes to show you the difference in the mindset of somebody that thought it was okay to bring in a real gun, loaded or not. So, if the child is allowed to
009stay at Mountain Bay or the district, then the decision maker, whoever it may be, including the superintendent or the board, owes the parents of the students of this district an explanation of why a gun in school is appropriate and okay in accordance to the district policy. Thank you. >> Thank you, Genevieve. Next up in our agenda is the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. This requires a roll call vote. Josh, >> yes. >> Larry, >> yes. >> Katie, >> yes. >> yes. >> Uh, Shannon, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. >> Uh, next up is reports and considerations. Was Shannon, >> just an update from last month. Uh the proposed special education some sufficient bill did
010not receive co-sponsorship. So the deadline was extended through January 9th. Um David Martin at WASBY is tracking that and will provide updates as they come. Uh the WBY and Wisconsin School Attorneys Association school law conference, it's a mouthful, will be February 19th at the Ostaff Resort in Elcart Lake and registration's open for those that may be interested. And next week, state convention begins. For those attending, new this year, there will be a self-registration station with a QR code, so you don't need to interact with someone. You can do it on your own. Um, then that way you can print your badge also. And there are updated security screenings at all entrances of the Baird Center. And finally, there is a phone app for the convention that's available for download now, so you can keep track
011of the daily session schedule and the room numbers. And that's all I have. >> Thank you, Shannon. Next up, season 9, Larry. >> We have our January 7th report meeting. We did it virtually as we did because period and report on the finances was significant. They go up and down. They be a huge half million dollar payment. So they were way down in cash and they get that back and they wanted to reduce some kind of their finances a little different. Our main event was on the board of the special education student services group that provides a lot of services to our student bail runs that she's built. So Al hand himself general personnel are really hard to find. We can't find some big hand either in that plan ahead on how many days are
012that service going to need and that's really one of the real challenging parts that he manages some celebrations and that's the end of my report. >> Thank you Larry. Next up student representative Eva. Um, as finals arrived, the task load on students increased greatly with preparing for tests, finishing out grades, college admissions being sent out, and on top of that, the weather being very unpredictable. Although many students have been facing adversary in those such topics, in the past few weeks, our student athletes have really been shining, especially the boys basketball with a 7-2 record as of right now and the boys swimming with a record of 10-1, which is very good. And their last homie is this week as we said on the announcements prior as Will Van has never lost a race, right? Yeah.
013Race, which is very good. And hopefully he does well at prior or more competitions. Um, alongside athletes, our DECA team has also competed and three of our teams from Everest have accomplished first place and many more placing high, allowing for numerous teams to go to state like the state DECA competition. And lastly, more academic based competitions are coming within the next couple of weeks. That's all I have. >> Thank you. Next up, superintendent report. Dr. N. >> Yeah, I'll start with a couple of celebrations. Um we uh as you know we're an Apple district and lots of training and PD go alongside that. We have two of our staff members that completed their um Apple distinguished educator certification which is a super extended involved process. Uh so shout out to Olivia Crayons and Sarah Thompson
014both at Riverside. Um I thought that this was something that we actually had more of. I know lots of Apple training people have put in a ton of time but they are actually two of four and the other two are Tammy Trapodski and Phil Trepoto both of our tech integrators so the bar is pretty high. Um but uh props to Olivia and Sarah for their work and uh the I I did a little digging and Apple um has four kind of pillars around this award. They talk about those individuals that um pursue the AD as trusted adviserss, passionate advocates, authentic authors, and global ambassadors. And uh Olivia and Sarah, Tammy, and Felicity um really put themselves out there and very authentic in what they do. Um so definitely um about more than the technology, I
015would say, about being a great educator and leveraging the tools you have to do good things with kids. So um props to them. Um, also to our high schoolers, go Ava and company. Um, we were identified as a 2025 AP school honor role. Um, recogn recognition for that. So, um, there are, uh, thanks to Mrs. Braun for kind of talking me through what that uh, really means. Uh, there are three areas that you're judged on related to your AP scores and and you are celebrated according to them. Um so we're in three different um levels of distinction in each of these. Um college culture uh were bronze. Um and so for that um it has to do with the percentage of a graduating class that um are involved in some kind of AP experience. So
016for us that's uh 44% of the um last graduating class experienced one um a minimum of one AP course. Uh the second area is college credit. And so, uh, we're silver in this, uh, category. And that has to do with the number of kids that, uh, achieve a three or higher on their AP test and consequently get college credit. So, we had, uh, 31% of our students, um, per AP. And obviously there's other ways that our kids get college credit, but, um, proud of those that scored at that level. Um, so, silver there. And then the last is optimizing college experience. And so, um, this, uh, were gold. Um, and this is about um taking and completing at least five AP classes over the course of your 912 experience. Um, and 14% of our students
017in that class uh that last graduating class did that. Um, interesting because I think we celebrate this and we're really proud. Um, and we try to balance that. I just I can't not acknowledge that. Um, student panel that I had at the junior high last week when I talked to our SSA students. A is one of those. um balancing expectations and um so super proud of those that take this on and we recognize that kids challenge themselves in other ways as well. So um especially as we have conversations around weighted grading trying to make sure that we send kids messages that there are lots of different ways to be successful and at the same time celebrate kids that pursue this particular um high um academic achievement. So uh great news and keeping that in mind
018as we balance those expectations with kids. So, um, wanted to share, uh, we are, uh, kind of building on what we did at our our district kickoff way back in August, um, when it was warm and sunny and nice and we didn't have snow days. Um, and we talked really about trying to enjoy, um, the perspectives of staff members that are in different roles and at different buildings and really trying to build both empathy and understanding um, because we're a big place. There's almost a thousand staff members and trying to make sure that we understand how all of it fits together. Um, so we're we're taking that a little bit deeper with a job shadow experience that's coming up in February. Um, so we've got uh 20ome staff members that are interested in going to
019see the other end of the continuum and um looking forward to conducting uh conversations with them about how to intentionally really enhance instruction by knowing what's happening at one end or the other before or after. So um thanks to the staff that are uh choosing to partake in that because there's work and sub plans and being gone and that's disruptive. Um and then also uh to the hosts um so our our four schools that are uh welcoming other staff members but as well as uh principles and staff that are opening their doors. So looking forward to that uh two days in February. Um our employee engagement survey through Stu Stutter uh just closed today. So um thanks to the staff. I think we had just under 500 staff members that took that. So really good
020um turnout in there. And uh we have our our student coach Kathy Orpollo coming uh in February to work with leaders and she'll um unpack that and help us roll that out, make sure that we can um get next conversations with staff about how to learn what that means to them and uh continue to make this uh best place for students and staff. So um board workshop on the horizon. We've been building this up and talking lots about it. So this is really to dig in and unpack our our facility study. um our team I feel like we're really hitting our stride uh you know including not just our internal folks but Findorf and Somerville really really good discussions um the challenge I think that we're seeing is there's so much information it's trying to
021give you um maximum transparency in all of the detail and then at the same time say here here's where our team is landing in terms of preferable um paths. So, we want to um ask you tonight for a potential uh extra date because we look at the number of uh selections that we still have. Um again, we're solving we're looking to solve two major problems. One, 8th and 9th grade um the challenge of uh the aging infrastructure at the junior high. And then on the other end, our 4K and EC programming. And so each of those we we anticipate we're going to bring you three ideas that we think rose to the top. And then we're going to give you some insight on where we landed with those. We're also going to give you piles
022of insight that those teams collected so you have all of the details um in order to make sure that you've got time to digest all of that. I think we just want to make sure we have another time available. If not, we're still thinking one meeting is potentially realistic, but I wouldn't want to get to the end of that say, "Oh, no. We don't have another time." So, if I look nervous, it's because Ellen's not here and I'm not going to ask Gloria to do this, but I've got two dates. Um and I'm supposed to collect that from you. So the first uh in order of preference not chronology uh Monday March 9th second choice would be Thursday March 5th trying to say um close to the February 16th conversation then um so maybe if
023you can tell me if can how many of you can make the 9th cuz as that's >> uh we'd stay at I think we're at 5:00 for we'd do the same thing again for this one. Provide dinner and um couple hour event. So >> the ninth would not work for me. >> E no others no on the ninth. >> Lindsay no. Anybody else on no on the ninth? Okay. Uh how about the fifth? Um we'll just stick with the the nos. Um >> not ideal for performance. >> Okay. Not ideal for Shannon on the fifth. >> The fifth works. >> Could have basketball. >> Works. Works. Works. >> May may not. We're optimistic it won't work for Josh and I. >> Feels like a playoff basketball optimism that we're not going to jinx. So not
024ideal. So we may need a third option. And second. >> Isn't that is that No, that's enough. >> No, that's Yeah. I just hope Ellen's not watching this right now and just shaking her head. What is he doing up there? Um, second second works on my end. So, um, works on your end, Kelly. >> I think that >> Where's Jason Jablansky? There you are, Jason Jablansky. How's March 2nd look for you? >> Not good. >> Oh, boy. >> South Carolina, >> huh? I I was going to say I'm coming back on vacation on that day as well. >> Other no- goes on March 2nd. All right, we're gonna >> vacation. >> Just know we will be digitally reaching out and I tried my best and I feel the shame. >> Do I need um I
025believe I need an email from >> Do you need an email from someone? I'd be happy to send an email requesting an additional day. >> Yes, for another day. >> Excellent. >> Email coming. All right. All right. So, I I appreciate your flexibility. Again, we may not need it, but I would rather be prepared um and not have you feeling like as we get to the end of that meeting that we have to rush a really important um discussion. So, um related to that, we have talked about highle outcomes of our enrollment study, but we did not believe that we had given you the full um packet of that information. So, aligned with the idea of not overwhelming you at that um discussion at the workshop, we're going to start to feed some of that
026background to you as it's available. So, um, don't plan to give you any additional insight on it right now. Glad to talk through it if you'd like, but sharing it because we're looking at everything. Um, not just through that lens, but that is an added lens to our discussion, especially as it relates to long-range facility planning, staffing, budget, you name it. We are our enrollment is changing and you've heard that again and again. So um and then last thing I wanted to highlight um nice to be recognized by uh DPI and uh nice to have a visit directly from state superintendent underly. So she is coming on uh I wrote September but that's February 27th. So Friday, February 27th. Um you are welcome to join. We'll get you the details. Um thanks to Mrs. Renie
027and Mr. Huffman for doing a lot of the planning behind the scenes. But um interest is uh her interest is really around CTE in this particular visit trying to highlight um areas that are shining. Um and I think you know we've got um really some trophy programs and great experiences for kids. Um she's trying to work outside and beyond manufacturing as well. And so talking about health science pathways and pre-education. Um and then our intent is to also talk about different models that make sure kids that might be in alternative pathways also have access to that great um CTE programming. So, uh, appreciate the recognition and the time from the state and that team for planning and looking forward to showing off, uh, great work of our Everest students and staff in that area. And
028that's my report. >> Thank you. Does anybody have any questions on the reports? Hearing none, next up is review and discuss WASBY resolutions. Um so we had started the conversation last time and then when this was brought back to us um to talk about him. I not exactly sure how to go forth with this because I do not feel we should take a stance on political items. I don't think that this is what this board is about. I don't believe we should stand one way or another on coupling or decoupling. Um, I I I've seen that other boards have made that decision and that's their decision, but I think we've always stood outside of the political spectrum and that's what's kind of made this board great and what it is. Um, so I would just
029advocate for us to just no vote those ones. Um, just see where the rest of them land and it's it's an advisory vote for WSBY who's you know lobbying the the state for these things. how important it actually is, I'm not exactly sure. And and for us to to put a stance on one one way or another, I think may dig us a hole. And so I' I'd rather not be in a hole. I'd rather be on DCR ground. Um, does anybody have any problems with that? >> So, are you saying we would not have a delegate at the assembly at all? >> Well, we could. So, that's one option or I was just going to say we just no vote. We don't vote abstain from >> the coupling decoupling. >> If that's the position
030that the board would like to go with, I'm comfortable with abstaining from voting altogether. I don't think it's due diligence to send a delegate to vote when we don't discuss as a board our position as a whole. That's my feeling on it. You were saying I've stayed you all in the morning just >> I was suggesting just 10 and 11 but if we don't send if we don't want to send a delegate that's fine with me as well again >> how important it actually is I'm not convinced either way >> I I think it's okay to send a delegate understanding you know these are just WB >> talking points you know we're not passing legislation here just what do want what do you want us what do we want them to fight for and I
031think some of these things are probably doable I don't know about 10 11 I didn't really read it as being that political but I don't know I guess I can go with abstaining on 10 or 11 but uh I guess the bigger fellow board members I think we should go and if if we agree abstain on 101 but vote on the other ones if we can come to some yes no direction. You're doing that again? >> Yes. >> If if we decide to go have you do that. It's It's not much of a fun afternoon, but been there, done that, as many of us have. >> And I want to remind the board that I I am also expecting that this would probably end up getting debated at the delegate assembly and there's going to
032be words that's going to be changed as well. if you if the board wants it to be uh me to abstain on this as well, I I'm fine with that as well. But um the recommendation that they have on here will not be the same one that's going to be on the on the floor that day as well. So I'm just being completely transparent with this board. >> So that almost it becomes a day of decision for a single person on a school board. At which point do we just want to not participate this year and say it's >> a lot really political and we'd rather not >> on 10 >> delve into that >> on 10 11 if you see that. >> Well, I'm saying as a whole in general if he's saying a
033lot of them will be changed. >> Well, that rearranged >> that always. >> Well, I think this is our chance to tell WSD what they should be jumping up and down about. Not that it's going to go anywhere with the legislature, but I think it's >> Well, that's I mean, that's what I mean for to stick your neck out there one way or another and then to have it possibly not even go anywhere. Is it Is it worth the the neck sticking out? >> Well, do we I think do we want WSB to advocate for us? I I think we do. And if we wanted to advocate, then we owe them some direction. I think >> keep in mind the wording and ye you can correct me if I'm wrong but usually the intent of
034the resolution is tried to be adhered to and it's usually word smithing that happens more or less. >> Yeah. I think it's like similar to our policy development the the intention of the policy is is typically not changed but perhaps the semantics within the language might be changed. >> Yes. But that being said, I do I do tend to agree with President Lewinsky in terms of we are a nonpartisan board and so I am less inclined to weigh in on resolutions that have a partisan bias or a potential partisan bias because that I I concur that that's not the way that we have um approach things as a board. if there's an opportunity to weigh in on the resolutions that we view are more straightforward because I do see Larry's point about if we're not
035providing guidance to WASB then they may be advocating on things that are not of importance to us. Um so I guess I I look for a a middle ground in terms of what we do or don't. My my personal opinion is I think we still have somebody go go there, but then if there is certain ones that the board would like for me to abstain on, we should be clear about that now and I'll abstain from those. >> Yeah, I I think that's what I was thinking too. We do we go down these 10 or 12 and come up with a yes or no or an abstain. >> Okay. Okay. >> Go ahead, Larry. Number one, >> uh I would vote yes on that. That's the removal of uh caps on person of choice. >>
036Maybe maybe I should I would say that we um is there certain ones that the board feels um is very political and then let's talk about that and >> sure >> we'll go from there. That >> is that the default is yes unless we argue or the default is no unless we bring it up. What would you what would you >> I think that would be the next uh our conversation. I want to get the ones that are a little bit more political or a little bit more um hot topic deal with first and then we can go through the other ones if we feel necessary. >> I I can offer perspective on that if you want. >> Not on which way you go, but I'll tell you which ones I think are hot buttons.
037Um so I'm looking um at the table of contents page, not the resolution number, just cuz I flipped open. Um >> so revisions to the school and district report card process number. Uh so page four I think it is I would say is one that I won't get into the details because I think that's goal here but I would say that one is uh politically charged. Universal state covered meals is politically charged. Um number seven you said Shannon and um the the two opposing resolutions related to decoupling um 10 and 11 which you've talked about. So um and and I'll just again uh unsolicited I recognize but opinion is I think you know what President Lewitzki is talking about is that return on investment for putting yourselves out there on on things that are supercharged
038while at the same time informing and staying in the loop on you know what those advocacy topics are. Um I think you've done a great job as a board striking that balance. I think it's a different era and WASB is facing different scrutiny from its membership as things become more polarized which is why I think a different approach to it makes sense wherever you land on it. But those are the three that I would suggest you um give caution to waiting into. >> I'll just go ahead and say that I am fine with removing those four and supporting the remaining if that makes it easier. >> I concur. >> I don't assessment. I have a a political problem with number eight, creating an endowment fund. I can I think that could be a political football
039that could get ground by my opinion. You create an endowment fund and then who who gets to call winners and losers on that and that could end up in a political issue. My view my view >> I could agree with that also. >> Yes. >> So that's also next step I guess. >> Great. I don't care about. >> All right. Anybody else? So, I think if I'm understanding correctly, Shannon said she supports the rest of them. Or is that you support voting on the rest of them? >> I support and support voting on them. Okay. >> I guess so. If we just remove 27, 8, 10, and 11, I am perfectly fine with the rest. >> Okay. Does anybody else have any thoughts? So you just want to clarify for 2 7 8 10 and
04011 would be abstaining from all from all all of those. Is that correct there? >> Y >> correct. Okay. Uh do we need to go by through one by one? >> You don't technically need to take any action. This is really advisory. That could be >> Yeah. you're giving to where you want them to go and >> we just don't want him to go anywhere on 278 and 1011. >> Okay. >> Well, I think it's important to note too that this this is guidance we are providing to WB who then would lobby on behalf for those who are listening >> in terms of the process. Um so that's not saying these things are happening or not happening. We're providing guidance or in this case providing ab abstaining. Um, so that would still go through potentially
041a legislative process and that we at which point we would have an opportunity to weigh in if there was a detriment to our district. So just for those who are listening and and perhaps not as familiar with the process. >> Okay. >> Do you feel you have the information you need? I think it's uh I think this is good guidance and I I think I'm fine with that as well. >> Is everyone okay with where we're at? >> I I have a question. Yeah, we have this uh change to the bylaws that's also in this whole package. >> The emergency resolutions. >> Uh you know there's the the last it's a separate case. >> Yep. Um, yes. Pedal Marines effort to request to change bylaws to have this two class of WSB participants. >> I
042I think that's political. >> I would agree. >> So, I I give I think that should be an abstain also, but that's me. >> Okay. >> Uh, just to bring up the Wisconsin Heights one perhaps. >> Yeah. Oh, that >> that might be urgent >> worth considering. Okay, where are we at? I'm a little lost here. >> So, we're at >> So, the emergency resolutions may not make it out of the policy and resolutions committee meeting the night before. >> There we go. >> So, that would require a twothirds vote. So, that may or may not come before the full delegate assembly. I'm comfortable with ye voting on that one. >> Yeah, depending on how it comes out. Um, and I'll be transparent of my whole entire years, um, 10 years now of doing this,
043I've never seen one actually make it been voted on as well, too. So, I just want to be completely transparent with this as well. It doesn't pass the two/3. Well, >> all right. We good? All right. Next up is new business. We don't need any a official action on those. Next up is new business. Uh, Jeff, Dr. Lindell. Annually, uh, state statute requires that the board, uh, identify the number of slots available both for regular education and special education for open enrollment students. Um, so each year we um, uh, as far as I can recall, we have not denied open enrollment requests for reged students. Um, so we are recommending that again uh that we uh leave the door open for all open enrollment students for regular education. I do want to just clarify that
044they are accepted into the district not into the school of which they are uh hoping to get into. So um we have um seven buildings really that we have can can float between. Uh so uh getting to a spot where we're struggling to find a space is is really difficult for regular education. So um but we we will accept uh families into the district and tell them they don't get the district or the the school specific school they're requesting. Uh that does not count as a denial. Uh special education is always the the more challenging uh version. we excuse me a couple years ago really moved into the concept of of workload versus uh kind of that um capacity or that overall uh case load factor. So, you know, you might be able to to
045identify eight kids for a case load um but the workload associated with eight kids is different based on the needs. And so, we've really um gone that direction. For the most part, it doesn't matter that the second document you have is kind of kind of lays out what our capacity is. Uh you'll see one column that talks about 80 to 90% um based on needs. Uh we identify e even within district transfer for reg students. We identify space availability for uh students who potentially move into an attendance area. So, if we reach capacity either in a special ed classroom or a reg classroom at Evergreen by allowing students to come into that that area or that classroom, uh we're going to end up telling families that might move in next door that they can't that
046they don't fit and we district place them. So that 80 to 90% is a an approach where we make sure that if we have uh new students into the district that move into an area or have a certain uh disability needs uh that we have space for them. Um so across the board we're looking to deny all open enrollment uh for special education. questions that I can answer for you. >> Hearing none, is there a motion to recommend the DC Everest Area School District not deny regular education open enrollment requests due to space, but to deny all special education service related requests for the uh 2627 school year as outlined? >> So moved. >> Second. Any additional discussion on that? This requires a voice vote. All those in favor say I. I. >> I. >>
047Any opposed? That passes. Next up is the calendar. >> So appreciated the uh support of a resolution uh last time that allowed us an earlier start. um the calendars that emerged from the calendar committee which again um staff, students um a couple of parents uh that ultimately um was the preference to use. Both the calendars that were voted on by staff were early start calendars. Um the majority of them chose the one that's in the background. We also had a sub question related to um parent teacher conference dates for elementary um where our elementary staff wanted to place those and um and that passed overwhelmingly uh to put conferences in one week um which is also in there. So uh recommend the calendar for approval. >> Is there a motion to approve the calendar for
0482627? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any additional discussion? Hearing none. This requires a voice vote. All those in favor state I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That passes. Uh, next up, uh, audit report. Dr. Strike. Every year the district under goes a financial audit. We once again worked with Hawkins Ash. Um, so you can see the financial reports attached. The only finding this year is the repeat finding that we have um each year which many districts do and that's that we do not prepare our own financial statements do not um so that's pretty common um that typically we're not large enough or have that and actually I don't know that it's a bad thing either to have outside perspective so that was the only finding u this year um is there a motion to
049approve the audit report as contained in the background >> I I have a questions. We >> You can We got to do the motion before we discuss >> motion first. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> All right. Discussion. >> Um I always find it curious that the auditors complain that we should hire our own firm to do our report. That's kind of like having the chicken counting the egg box counting the chickens for you. I don't I don't understand that. But I do have a comment the page 63. You don't need to turn there. That shows there were no material reports. That's that's the real plus. That's the bottom line. get to the end of the thing, it's all there's no outstanding um >> major was it not major but uh material faults.
050I I did I reviled at it and then I thought and I understand it that above the signature on page whatever 62 says uh uh it's not designed for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control over compliance accordingly. No such opinion is expressed. You know, if you're not going to place an opinion on your work, I was I found a little I kind of revolted at that. Then I go back to what I mentioned last time we had this. They are looking at what the DPI told them 16 accounts or whatever it is this year, these specific 16 accounts. They're not looking at the whole universe of all of our accounting. That's not what the accounting firm is hired to do. And so this accounting firm is just being
051honest. We haven't looked at everything. We've just looked at what the DPI told us to look at. I understand why they do that. The DPI does that so all the accounts can bid apples to apples. Get a sharp pencil bid because they know exactly which accounts they're going to but they are not looking at all the accounts and and the accounting firm is being honest with us. And the point there is that I don't know what we've got for accounts not the 16 or whatever they said 100 200 the the fiduciary responsibility of the taxpayers on all the rest of those accounts rest with us and the fact that we passed this audit report they didn't catch anything in the 16 they looked at but all the rest of them are on us and as
052I said the last time I talked about this we are depending upon the the skill and the honesty of our staff because they don't they don't audit all this stuff. In my job, we had a 100% I had to justify nuts and bolts right down the thing. That's not the kind of audit we have here. You know, the onus is the responsibility is ours. We're depending on in in my some 30 years almost now, there have been a couple events where somebody did expend some money that they shouldn't have and because not everything's being audited. These were some small accounts, but uh so just be aware the onus is still on us and we've got our box checked. We had our audit here, but it's not a 100% audit. We are still responsible and depending
053on our staff to make sure there's no skull duggery going on anywhere. So this this is the same last comment I made, but just let us be aware of that. We passed our audit. No negative reports, no material reports, but uh we're still not everything's been looked at. We need to make sure we understand that. That's the only comment I have. >> Uh any additional discussion on that? Thank you, Larry, for that. Uh >> question. >> Was that >> I move the question? >> Oh, yeah. >> Um this requires a voice vote. All those in favor state I. >> Any opposed? That passes. Now I'm writing on things. Um the agreement with RVA background. >> Uh you may recall earlier this year we had an agreement uh established with RVA that was uh to allow
054RVA to operate uh a building within our uh district. So they're in the old Globe building uh and they were using that space as a location to bring our VA students together for social events etc. So uh that was the previous agreement. You'll see in your board documentation the consortium agreement uh that we're looking to enter for the 26 27 uh year and beyond. Um couple things to highlight. Um we have as you may recall when we initially discussed this we have approximately 50 students at RVA. moving to an agreement will allow us to capture those students on our account. Uh which will equate to approximately $275,000 of recovered um dollars. Uh in addition uh it puts us back into an agreement with uh that that includes the Wisconsin e network. Uh if you recall
055from our co years, it it opens the door to a bunch of uh unique um platforms for virtual education. I do want to highlight that our partnership with WVS in cease 9 has been nothing but positive uh valued uh the experience with them and and it's this is really about a movement to to capture um our students and some some uh dollars as a result uh while also giving them a a positive virtual experience. I think one of the added benefits of RVA is the um synchronous component. They do uh quite a bit of synchronous education uh for students. So uh kids are on a computer at the same time working with the teacher collectively. Uh it it does uh the the original agreement that we entered earlier in this year kind of opened the
056door for us to to begin our partnership with RVA as an invested member. Um typically you spend a year kind of uh making sure that the the arrangement is going to work well together. uh because we entered that agreement, they were open to us beginning as an invested member. Opens up a five-year commitment for us, but also opens up they uh have a a revenue sharing program. So, at the end of the year when uh x amount of dollars of excess revenue is shared among all of the members. So, we are open to that. I don't know that we have a sense for what that dollar figure will mean for us, but uh it will be positive and not negative. Uh so you the the agreement is is in there. Any questions that I think
057Dr. Strike and I could answer about the agreement? Uh Dr. Strike was facilitating the agreement with RVA. I had one question in there. Um so it states that um I can't find it right now, but it was about the courses. So does that mean that if RVA offers a course that the senior high doesn't, for example, a student could take that course through RVA still being a DC Everest student? Is that correct? Yeah. So, we'll continue along the same model that we currently have with WVS. Students will full-time students for us could take up to two credits uh two courses with RVA. I think the same is true for our students that live in our attendance area who are RVA full-time could take up to two courses within our building uh as well. >> Got
058it. Thank you. >> I had a question. I noticed there are two forms of association. You can be an affiliate or you can be a member. We chose the member route. I heard some potential cost savings benefits. Uh but you get a five-year commitment. Is there any other reason why we went member? I I don't know against affiliate versus member why we went versus the other. >> I think most districts do an affiliate, but it's really to work out the kinks collectively. Ultimately, it gives us uh access to um the revenue sharing component. Uh we're going to make a long-term commitment. Um we don't believe virtual education is going anywhere. I I think our team believes that uh for the vast majority of kids inerson learning in front of a teacher face to face is
059the right way to to learn for them. We but we know parents and students sometimes have um a desire to be virtual. Uh I also want to fully acknowledge that for some kids that virtual experience is valuable and beneficial and maybe more effective for them for whatever reason. So uh we just um believe that um we're going to have some some level of footprint in a virtual environment. Uh so um we see no reason not to enter that 5-year uh commitment. There are avenues to exit if necessary, but uh we don't anticipate that being an issue. RVA is obviously reputable. Well, they've been around for a long time and >> but but coming in at not the first step is financially advantageous to us. So, it was a good negotiating point and I give props
060to Kelly and Jeff for their work to get that in there. It's not the typical process. Appreciate RVA being open to that. >> With that, is there a motion to approve the agreement attached with RVA? So, move to Second. >> Any additional discussion on this? This requires a voice vote. All those in favor state I. I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That passes. Uh, in your background is petitions and communications as well as future meeting dates, the special board meeting February 16th at 5:00 p.m. um right here at the admin building. And then we'll meet right back on Wednesday um for our regular meeting. And with that, I do have an email um requesting an additional meeting so we can move forward with uh scheduling that as needed. Um and with that uh please know
061that the district is following legal policies and procedures in the correct in the in the manner um that did occur this week. Safety is always at the forefront of our minds. And with that, I will make a more a motion for the board to adjurnn to close session pursuant to asent state statute 19.851F 851F considering disciplinary data of specific persons or the investigation of charges against specific persons which if discussed in public would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data or involved in such problems or investigations. And for deliberating or negotiating the purchases, the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business whenever competitive or bargaining reasons required a closed session, and considering
062employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. The board will adjourn directly from the close session. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? This requires a roll call vote. Shannon, >> yes. >> yes. >> Katie, >> yes. >> Larry, >> yes. >> Josh, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. Thank you. >> Take a quick phone call.