001I'd like to call this regular school board meeting of the DC Everest Area School District to order. First up is roll call. Ben Shannon >> here. Ye >> here. >> Katie >> here. >> Larry here. >> Josh >> 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, liberty and justice for all. >> Is there a motion to approve the agenda for tonight's meeting? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Hearing none, this requires a voice vote. All those in favor say I. I >> any opposed? That passes. Next up, we have public comment. We do have two people um
002signed up. And at this time in our agenda, we have time set aside 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 ve vested interest in our children and 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 wishing to address the board should have registered their intention to participate upon their arrival at the meeting on the signup sheet at the
003door. As a reminder, our public comment policy states participants must have a 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 board meetings are conducted in an orderly and productive manner, all public comments are subject to the following time. Each statement by our 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, uh I will notify 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
004motion. All remarks should be directed to the board and not 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 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 be first be given a warning and then may be asked to leave. Concerns 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 request of any
005board member. No person addressing the board should initiate charges or complaints about 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 contact causing disruption to the board meeting and the board cannot continue its business, a motion may be made to declare a recess. With that, we have two speakers registered tonight. First up is Jennifer Yang. Thank you. Do I need to turn this on somehow? >> Uh, it looks like it's on. >> Okay, perfect. Um, thank you. Jennifer Yang, 1414 Hamilton Street, WSA, Wisconsin, 5443. I do have children enrolled in the DC Ever School District. [gasps] Dear members of the DC Ever School Board, I'm speaking to you tonight not just as a parent, but as someone
006deeply invested in the well-being of our students. this district provides. I recognize the weight of your role. Volunteering and serving on the board requires dedication, integrity, and a deep commitment to our community. You are entrusted with this responsibility because people believed in your ability to protect and advocate for our children. A detrimental decision has been made and if not corrected, the impact of standing by that choice will cause deeper damage to the students and erode trust with the community. What message will that send to those students that were directly affected by that decision? I urge you to center your thoughts on the children you were elected to serve. You have the power to reinvestigate and apply the full scale of your policies. As you review the appeal that was sent to you, I ask you
007truly feel the impact of inaction, the confusion, the pain, the loss of a safe space during a critical time in a child's development, and the lasting trauma it has caused. I may be just one voice, but I speak for many that have come forward. I represent students, past and present, who are too afraid to speak out against authority. I speak for future students who will be affected by your choices. I speak for those who try to raise concerns, but their voices were silenced. And lastly, I speak as a mother who will never stop fighting to ensure that every child in this district has a safe and supportive environment, one that nurtures both their physical and mental health. Thank you for listening and considering the real lives impacted by your your decisions. Thank you. >> Thank
008you. Uh next up is Mary Tao. I do want to pass out something to the board members. Mary Towel, 506 Sherman Street, Wasa, Wisconsin 54401. I stand before you representing the Thor family that's behind me here. They have children who are enrolled here in the DCF school district. I also come here um as a former WASA school board member and a community uh M leader. I don't come here as an adversary. I come here to be an ally with all of you. Uh Madame Board President Lindsay, Superintendent Dr. Casey Nye, and board members, I don't want to be here tonight. These are not the causes that I want to champion. I don't want to be a part of this community where we have unsafe environments. You all know that you have an appeal in front
009of you. I don't want to go public. Neither does the family. But I'm highly concerned. I'm highly concerned that an unsafe learning environment is happening under your watch. I know many of you have a responsibility and I know that you've taken an oath as board members. I know what it feels like. I've been in your position in the past. It's not easy. But remember that your mission is to create a healthy learning environment for all our kids, all our students. That means that they have to feel safe and secured when they're here. And I can't imagine that, you know, we've dealt with student on student bullying, but when you have a bully who's an educator, that's a problem. And I ask all of you. If you were interviewing a potential police officer and you knew
010that they were a bully, would you hire them? If you're a hiring manager and you were interviewing an educator for a position and you knew they were a bully, would you hire them? It doesn't feel good to be on this side of the microphone. And I'm sure it doesn't feel good for you to hear all of this. But I ask you, when you go home tonight, when you go home to your children, or when you go home to your loved ones, I want you to take the two testimonies that I just handed out to you, and I want you to quietly read how our students are feeling. And then I want you to either in the near future confer with each other or with your district administrators. And I want you to ask them what
011is going on. That's all I want you to do is that tonight you read those testimonies. Those are not even testimonies that are coming from the Thor family. There will be more forthcoming. But I bring to you and what you have been sent were two prior testimonies and two more today and there will be more in the weeks to come. Please do your job. Keep our children safe. I'm all about educators. I support all of you, but I ask you to do the right thing in the coming days, and I thank you for your time tonight. >> Thank you, Miss Stout. Next up is consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So move. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any discussion hearing? None. This requires a
012roll call vote. Ben, >> yes. >> Shannon, >> yes. >> yes. >> Katie, >> yes. >> Larry, >> yes. >> Josh, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. >> Next up is reports and considerations. Was Shannon. This past Friday, the policy and resolutions committee met um to go over and finalize the final 12 resolutions that will go before the delegate assembly for the state education convention. It was a very long evening, but I'm glad I participated. Um and then the next day, Saturday, we had the legislative conference in Stevens Point. Lots of great information. Um Jared Solomon from Cosba came and gave a federal update. Um, a little bit more on the state budget update. Um, I was happy to participate on a panel of fellow board members from Shawwamagon. I got that right. That
013one was hard to say. Um, Hudson and Franklin. And the feedback from that was really helpful for a lot of board members to kind of network and find out and compare how you address issues legislatively, how you keep track of things um, at the state level. And then there was some really great information on trends in K12 education. Obviously, we know that enrollment is trending downwards, but really good news that came out of that is that AP participation scores are up statewide and dual enrollment is expanding statewide. So, that's good news. Um, and then of course there was more legislative discussion on what bills might come forward this session. And that is all I have. >> Thank you, Shannon. and thank you for enduring the long night. Uh next up is season 9 Larry. >>
014Uh we had our meeting Wednesday, November 5th. Uh was primarily focused around the presentation of the audit and the budget. Uh season 9 got an unmodified clean opinion, which is as good as you can get in the auditing world. Um talked about their general budgeting, a lot of the details that I won't uh uh grind through for you, but uh I did learn one thing. this old dog to learn didn't learn new trick. Every year the DPI and it's uh pertinent to something I talked about last time here on our audit. Every year the DPI explains or describes to the auditors the things they should look for. Remember I commented last time it isn't 100% audit of every penny on every account. And that direction then comes from the DPI directly. So all the accounting
015firms are kind of bidding the same scope of work. even though it's not as as I had in endured previously, every penny in every account, it's the primary accounts for this year. So that that's how they were audited up there and that's how really all of our schools are audited according with the DPI checklist of things this year. Check this this this this and as opposed to every opinion, every account down across which is the kind of all that I'm used to in my former life. Um the uh they uh commented they had uh the uh October pack meeting which is the superintendent. It's coming up the 18th and 19th and I guess they're going to have uh some legal stuff there which I guess the supers just always love. Uh they also had a
016previous one they had a trauma speaker of Josh Varnner. I'm going to get some information. Said he was really good in talking about trauma that children endure and techniques and methods for compensating them and and talking about that. And I related to to uh Al that you know I used to think you know when something comes up I said what's wrong with you and now I take the perspective of what happened to you you know I think that's you know kind of the way to look at some of these problems. So what what happened to you? Uh so uh and as it turns out the C9 set their revised their board date for next Monday or next month on December 10th which is the same as we have here. So I will miss next month's
017meeting. That's all my report. Thank you, Larry. Uh, next up is student representative Ava. Um, so for this past month, the start of quarter 2 has begun with winter sports such as girls and boys basketball starting, who had started practices this past Monday. Um, our jazz band and our choir also had their first concerts within the past few weeks. Uh, Spongebob the musical, as what I've said in the past meetings, has their opening night this weekend with almost being sold out with many of their performers and crews staying up late to make this show to make sure the show is performance ready. Uh, there's also a lot of drives that are occurring at the schools like the Operation Christmas Child food drives and clothing drives. Overall, the school year has been going by very fast
018with Thanksgiving break coming up within the next few weeks. That's all I have. >> Thank you. Uh, next up is superintendent report. Dr. Nye. >> Uh, as you know, our enrollment projections are an important part of our planning, especially as we navigate our long range facility study. Um, we've been digging [clears throat] into some assumptions. Uh, one, uh, is that our 4K enrollment is a direct predictor of 5K and beyond. A historical assumption has been that um 5K is basically a roll up of existing 4K plus some students that did not uh participate in 4K. But as we dig deeper into that um we're seeing that there are portions of our 4K um that never actually metriculate into our classrooms. And so um 4K numbers on the whole are still a fairly reliable predictor of
0195K, but it's one of those areas that we've never stopped and questioned. What about that population that takes advantage of 4K but doesn't ever um hit our books. So um that is a population we're liking uh we need to learn more about. Um similarly we're looking to check our assumptions related to open enrollment. So um we have ideas I think some general assumptions regarding interest in virtual um and we can see numbers especially into statewide virtual charters neighboring districts. Um, but we feel like it would be especially valuable right now to ask all of our families that open enroll out what went into that decision. So, um, we're looking to work with a company that specializes in that kind of survey called school perceptions um, to dig in and learn more about those trends. So,
020school perceptions will both um, directly survey all of those families um, specifically. So, we'll provide addresses and details, but then they'll also do a follow-up interview directly with them and uh, do a phone call. So hopefully people don't see it as spam, but for us, I think it's really a valuable opportunity to get direct feedback about um what went in those decisions and to see if there's something that we've overlooked or just have been unaware of. So um as we really push trying to understand and deepen our understanding of uh enrollment trends, those are a couple of things that are on the horizon. Um as you know, uncertainty continues to be the theme of all things federal funding. Um although a small portion of our district budget um really less than 8% our federal dollars
021were closely attuned to the shutdown's potential impact um especially on those that receive food assistance. So when I added this um to our agenda, we were still under the understanding that 821 uh DCF families would not receive those benefits. However, as we know now, there's an ongoing fate federal and state conflict around that distribution and it's playing out in the news. Um so it might not be as looming and immediate as we initially thought. Um so that impact though um does not and and did not negatively impact student uh lunch uh ability for our kids to receive free and um free breakfast and lunch at school. And so I still share that number. Um 821 kids, which is essentially two full grade levels in DC Everest. um that um it would not take long to
022exhaust all of our pantries, our community partners, and what's available outside of those benefits. So, um I know there are lots of drives happening. Our students are digging in and churches and private donations are there, but um we know that hungry kids are not primed for learning. So, we're going to continue to keep a a close eye on that as we go forward. So, uh, HSA reimbursement, I want to thank our our staff for their patience, um, as well as their quick response to our confirmation requests regarding HSA reimbursements. Uh, of 722 impacted staff, we made 710 payments. Um, so to have completed that process with over 98% of our our former and current staff reached is a testament to the work that uh, this team put in. Uh, so props to Dr. strike and
023our finance, payroll, talent and culture teams for their work to ensure we connected with our people and um our best to make this right for them. So, and again, um thanks to the board for um your support with that correction. So, uh definitely a chapter that we're uh glad to be closing up, but um uh really good work. Uh a couple of things about conferences and learning. Um our team has had a number of um great moments recently all connected to providing uh greater clarity for the future of learning in DCE. So um along uh under the leadership of Dr. Lindell um our PD day this past month uh focused on professional learning communities that we'll be ensuring our curriculum is updated and continues to be both relevant and aligned. Um also appreciate the work
024of Dr. Lindell, uh Dr. Raither, Mrs. Layman, Mrs. Braun as they participate in the bright spots consortium. So we were nominated to be a part of that um based on having positive things going on. Um those conversations really are sharpening our focus and allowing us to tap into districts from across the United States. Um I also appreciate the board's support for me to attend events. uh like the AASA, so our national superintendent um association had a superintendent symposium and that meeting really allowed me to make a number of connections with other superintendents as we look to identify ways to be um as a system increasingly student centered. So um great learning uh for all of us and all relating to continuing to clarify what is most important for kids as we go forward. So, uh,
025and then, uh, although not yet confirmed, I want to let you know that I've learned that December 8th, uh, is the preliminary date for the signing of Braden's Law. Uh, we anticipate that would happen here in Everest, probably at GTCC. Um, we'd invite the board to join if they're able to do so. Um, as sad as it is that we have to have a law like this, um, I really am grateful that Wisconsin has taken that step forward and appreciate the advocacy in particular of Braden's family to make it happen. So, that is my report. >> Thank you, Dr. Knight. Uh, next up is unfinished business and we are welcome to we are excited to hear from the Carrie the e- club. So, come on up. >> I'll let Yeah, Mr. Matthews come on up.
026And it wasn't there was Wow. They're usually really fast. Like they were the reaction time was like you first. >> What? I got up fast. >> Yes. >> No, not at all. Um they're patiently waiting, but they're athletes, so they're used to pressure. So um a couple months ago, Dr. Nye asked me to have the um our carry the E- Club come in and talk a little bit about our athletic culture. Um I guess first of all our carry the e- club start I started that four years ago when um I became athletic director just to kind of build um a culture and identify um leaders within our school um and then have those leaders um kind of role model those characteristics with our our younger athletes. So these kids are going to talk about
027um kind of our athletic culture. Um they're going to talk about how our our athletic culture feeds into the whole student body um and the culture within the school. Um they're going to talk a little bit about the community and how our athletes um share their um expertise in certain areas and stuff with our community. And then they'll they'll talk a little bit about uh the leadership and how it's role modeled and passed on um from our upper classmen to our lowerassmen. So, um I'm going to have them introduce themselves. They're all seniors. Um and they'll talk about what sports they play, um what programs they're involved with. Um the carry the E doesn't specifically get into the culture of specific programs because I really let our individual coaches do that. So, this is just
028a like a athletic department uh culture building thing. So, Um, my name is Cooper Richie and I play baseball. >> Uh, I'm Kaden English. I play uh basketball, football, and track. >> I'm Lily Peterson. I was on the volleyball team and I run track. >> I'm Aaron Block. I am on the swim team, the mountain bike team, and I run track. >> So, in the athletic culture at DC Everest, we hold a few mantras. One of our mantras is um carry the E. So there's a few norms that go along with carry the E. So one of these norms is that winning is an expectation for us. Um we put in a lot of time into our craft and we expect a winning result. Um not only do we represent the school, but we also
029represent the community. So we want to be known as winners out here. Um we take nothing for granted and we strive to work harder than our opponents because that's how you achieve that goal. So, also part of being an athlete at DC Everest is that we spread the culture across the school. >> So, homecoming is a great example of bringing the school together as a whole. Uh, regardless if the football team wins or not, the whole school is involved throughout the whole week. So, creative and artistic kids get to work on and decorate hallways while kids in theater dress up as characters based on like the theme that we have. Uh, the dance team and the band members look forward to performing uh for their specific class at the pep rally. And then everybody is
030involved and has like a sense of connectedness while the athletes we focus on winning our games. Uh something we feel like uh that connections between athletes and non-athletes are something we take pride in here at Everest. Uh for example, at my lunch table, uh my friends and I who all of us are athletes, um we sit with a special education student and we talk to him about his day. um because we feel as athletes that everyone should be included, especially those who support us when we're on the field or on the court or doing whatever we're doing. Um and maybe even those who might not have the same opportunities that we have. So, we just want to make sure they're involved with us, too. Um and then another super important part of Everest is our
031community, especially for our athletics. Um when you look at the differences in our schools through the uh these recent years, you see that we have GTCC and the video board up at the football field. Um, and it shows that when our community gives to us, it's only fair and right that we give back to them. Um, which we see through uh our sports teams running camps or even helping somebody move into their house, which we did over the summer. Another example of our community giving back to the DC Everest teams is the Evergreen Bike Park was just recently added over at the Evergreen Elementary School. A lot on the mountain biking team. A lot of our athletes from all over Wasa participated to help get the trails ready to and ridable. And they were also
032out there for the ribbon putting ceremony and helped to show some younger athletes and some families looking to get into biking what our mountain bike team is all about. Another thing for me is when I was a freshman going into swimming, I had a lot of upper classmen and a lot of friends show me what our team was really about and how we always cheer each other on and keep like keep working hard all the time. And in swimming especially, a lot of our athletes cheer on the other teams, which is something that's not seen very often. But a lot of us are friends with many people from around the state. I know I have a lot of friends from Stevens Point and then in Viking too I know somebody from Duth and it's just
033very fun to cheer with everybody and then it also helps to show that the freshman the upcoming freshman it shows how our team is very like centered around having everybody do well and we're all we just all like to have fun and work hard and showing how to set a good example for the upcoming freshmen. Are there any questions? >> No, I mean I we definitely understand that the the pressures of student athletes are are more and greater than ever before. So, thank you guys for being able to balance school and athletics. That's great. Thank you. And I believe we have four former DC Everest athletes here. [laughter] >> So, we we were proud of you guys. >> We too carry the E. >> Yeah, we too carry the E. There we go. There we
034go. That's that was the end of my [laughter] next up we have new business uh budget calendar background Kelly. >> Yes. So the budget calendar is brought to the board each year for review and approval. Um, as you know, last um month in October, we officially approved um the the um budget for 2526, which means we can start on 2627 already. Um, so the calendar looks pretty similar to last year. A couple of highlights. Just know this is the second year of the state budget. That always to me feels a little bit easier in terms of some of that assumption and planning because there are more unknowns when it comes with revenue. Um, and one change is that we're just going to move up the start of negotiations a little bit this year. We agreed
035to do that with DCTA last year through negotiations just to talk about the process and start that process a little sooner. Otherwise, pretty similar to last year. >> Thank you. Is there a motion to approve the budget calendar for 2627 fiscal year? >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any additional discussion on this hearing? None. This requires a voice vote. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That passes. Uh, next up are the first reading of policies. Is there a motion to approve the attached policies? >> So moved. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on these? >> Hearing none. This requires a voice vote. All those in favor state I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Uh, that passes. Um,
036item C is the board retreat for the facility study information sharing. I received an email um and we will be meeting >> You're welcome. [laughter] >> February we will be meeting February 16th from 5 to 7 right here. Um please mark your calendars for that date. Um we have no petitions and communications future meeting dates. Uh next one is December 10th which is again moved up a week so make sure you have your calendars updated for that. Um and with that before I make my long motion um this is the month of month of thanksgiving. So we are wanted to extend our gratitude for to our staff, our teachers, our community and our students for all that all the work that you guys all do. So thank you very much. And with that I would
037like to make a motion to adjourn to close session pursuant to Wisconsin state statute 19.851D to consider strategy for crime detection or prevention and 19.851c 851c for considering performance evaluation data of any public employee over which governmental body exercises responsibility and Wisconsin state statute 19.851F 851F for considering personal history or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems, or the investigation of charges against specific persons which if discussed in public would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data or involved in such problems or investigations. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. This requires a roll call vote. Ben, >> yes. Shannon, >> yes. >> E, >> yes. >> Katie, >> yes. >> Larry, >> yes. >>
038Josh, >> yes. >> And I vote yes. >> Thank you.