001Y when I get home. >> You ready? >> Okay. I will call the meeting to order. Its agenda date, time, and location were properly announced. Uh we will start off with the approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of September 22nd, 2025. Is there A motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion. >> Amy and Katie. >> Any uh questions, corrections, discussion? All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Uh next we have payment of the bills. Is there a motion to approve for the month of September the amount of 1,285,54740? >> I'll make a motion. >> Rainey, is there a second? >> Second. >> Chris. Okay. Um, any uh questions or discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I >> oppose. Motion carries. Um, in the cash
002summary, >> uh, I had no questions for today and really nothing out of the ordinary to to highlight. >> All right. Any questions we came up with? All right. Uh, donations. >> Uh, really great month here. Um, so first of all, uh, congratulations to our counselor, Mrs. Rikers. We missing obviously Rickers. That's >> Yeah, there you go. Thank you. >> Um, for donor's choose, St. John's uh, donated $650 for elementary teachers. Uh, one of the things with all the carpeting, we need a pallet jack to roll around. You can't just push, um, pallets on this. Um, so we got an electric pallet jack donated to us from Sarento. And again, thank you to the Random Lake Pizzeria for donating the ice cream for the open house. Um, it was great events and every bit of
003ice cream was eaten from my >> Okay, great. Um, comments from the public. We did not have any. Okay, board committee reports. Um the budget committee met uh before the meetings. We met at 5 tonight and we will have recommend recommendations for the proposed budget of 2526 and the fund 80 levy building reports. All right. So I'm going to kick this off with strong classrooms. Um talking a little bit about our inservice recently. We reviewed um Susan and um Travis and Andrea reviewed our framing the lesson and power zone and assessing on the fly with our middle and high school staff as well as our specials teachers. So just kind of jumping back in and making sure we're all talking the same language and understanding what what our expectations are when you um go into
004a classroom. um elementary did some site visits for Bridges, which is our new math curriculum, just to see it in action to see if there's other pieces that we are missing or not doing correctly. So, that was really helpful. And then the afternoon, um the students that did the bridges site also worked with Tina from CISA 7 about planning for the next unit. Um it is a a heavy lift. It's very rigorous curriculum. Um but we're seeing a lot of gains already. Um so that's very exciting. And then we had the the parent teacher conferences. Um the first one was the 16th and the um second one was the 21st. Um we had a lot of attendance. I had one teacher as she was leaving so excited. She said, "I saw all my families." So
005that feels good and just making a lot of connections which is really wonderful. All right. Strong culture. So we have our student of the quarter assembly coming up for middle school. So we do it uh each at the end of each quarter. Teachers make uh recommendations of the students that they've seen a lot of growth in in the different departments. So that'll be coming up on Friday. Middle school Halloween dance on Friday. So a little uh little fun before the trunk or treat right after school. Uh preac practice day. So we just completed that um couple weeks ago and our scores look terrific. Um, so we have our next practice coming up in December, uh, that we're looking for even more growth. So, um, well done to the kids. And Mr. Frias, the school counselor,
006he has been working on, we have a three-year, um, plan or, uh, data plan so we can see the growth from when the kids were coming in as freshman up to now as juniors and pretty remarkable growth. So, our numbers are looking really good. um high school musical that is coming up this weekend, Wizard of Oz. So, if you know, follow the yellow brick road right to the auditorium. Gonna be a good good time. Uh preview day will be Thursday. So, the middle school will be going to watch as well as opening it up to any community who would like to join as well. Community service project. So, NHS um at the high school is doing ghost grants. Um so, and we're also going to be kicking off the toy drive as well. So, we're
007looking forward to um seeing what we can do with that to kind of help support uh various families and students at the holidays. And then last, we have our high school elementary collaboration on Fridays. So, the high school students will be um they are decorating the hallways so that way they can host the elementary students for trickor treat at the end of the day. >> And this Friday is going to be fun here. We start off with trick or treat at the high school and then there's a middle school dance right after school and then from there um this is the first time now that we can do trunk or treat on our campus. Um and the trunks will be in the driveway in front parking lot. >> I double checked with Holly about that
008unless something has changed since Friday afternoon. the trunk retreat was happening in the back. >> I just talked to her. We always said >> they changed it >> because I I did see it through and asked and she said it was in the back which was what her original quest was. >> Yeah, >> totally true. but having it on campus small and other. >> Awesome. So then continuing with our strong community connections, we hosted the fire departments here on I believe it was the 7th or 8th. Um and there was a fire prevention um situation in the um demonstration and then they we did our fire drill which was really cool too. Um, big thank you to the pizzeria for all the ice cream for the open house. Uh, thank you to the four kids
009for providing dinner for the parent teacher conferences. Um, we have the trunk or treat as Dr. Chimberger just mentioned um, coming up. And I just again wanted to shout out to Miss Rickers. She coordinated a big fall fest that was hosted at Gables. The fifth graders ran stations and then the kindergarten and first grade came over and they got to do the stations with our Gables residents and it was just a really a really fun event and just continuing to foster that collaboration. So we uh have alumni speaker presentations at the high school. So we kicked off our first one last week and we um were really appreciative of Mr. Berbomb uh being able to come in and speak to our student body did a fabulous uh presentation. The last one, the YA students and
010business partnership, uh we were going to have a couple students that were going to come and present. They thought the meeting was at 6:30, so they will be coming. So, we're just going to hold on that talking point until they can arrive. >> We have a trip to Iceland. And I see Whitney here. Let us know what's going on. >> Okay. So, looking at traveling to Iceland. So, it's an interesting change lettering. Um so right now looking at early July and time into agriculture natural resources and geothermal energy so the cost for students here adults currently I have five students and two parents for sign up to vote Is there a motion to approve? >> Katie, is there a second? >> Second. >> All righty. Brian, any questions? I mean Iceland was here. So I
011had there's other agriculture programs in the state of Wisconsin that I talked to those teachers collaborative over the summer and they had gone. It's a really positive experience kind of going off of their previous experience and what that looks like and just talking. No one I've talked to like oh I went to LA. [laughter] So kind of led there and I don't know. How long do you anticipate this? >> Is I known for geothermal stuff? Like >> Yeah. Hot springs. I'm pretty sure like 99% Wendy, could you talk a little bit about what the EF educational tours provides? >> This um tour company as a district has partnered with them. So, Mr. Samson has gone on 30 different experiences with them and obviously my them. So, they provide the support on promotion of material. They
012all of the boarding plates and hotels, transportation and setting up the guides and providing you with the information to then facilitate prepare our campus with the experience has to offer travel setting barrier. Mr. Smith, one of our teachers here, they're actually hosting a student. So, we're hoping to partner with her and have our students Does it also provide travel insurance or things like that for the kids? Right. Okay. So that which is always travel insurance there and they have the option to upgrade. >> It would seem like there would be like a base overhead charge. Would it be advantageous for us to try to go like another school district? So the benefit of using education first travel uh consultants with that is we don't have to beat the minimum number. So we're already paired up
013with um so I've led groups with two students with 20 students. Um so we get paired up with other schools around the United States which is also kind of fun showing you like cultural exchange. So, some of my favorites have been we went to in Spain, we went to a summer school over there and I had just finished a weekl long teenage like high school in the United States and like got to ask our students what's promal. So just kind of then listening to like other students say like well only juniors go like we wouldn't have a dance if only juniors went and like looking at different demographics and to people that way as well. So like I had just two students go they made such good friends from the other groups that travel to
014New York friends actually school. So, it's kind of nice that way that we don't have to meet a minimum. Um, the I would say trade-off to that is they have you have to have your requested dates, then you have to bank three days earlier and three days later because they'll match you with others. So, usually they go with the biggest group number first. So, sometimes like, oh, you need to leave a day earlier or like it'll be you were the biggest group so the other group met our requested dates. So that's kind of >> these typically groups they're like a travel bus size like 30 40 people or they try to keep the >> I would say depend on the country and what's standard for a tour group size for them. So super impressed by
015our bus driver and the curvy roads and county all fit on there. Um so we traveled with another agriculture group from Florida and another from Arkansas and So bus sizes going to Costa Rica we had Panama we had a smaller bus size so they kind of faced that are their longer it's this particular sector of iss that may be the only time I ever get to do anything international if you're like me and I got bit by the travel bug when I was a junior and I >> any Other questions or discussion? All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you very much for coming. >> Thank you. >> Um, next we have a band choir trip to Disney World and that's uh November 4th through the 10th. Is that
016this year or next year? >> Next week. Wow. Okay. >> All right. Well, your fingers crossed. >> I was going to say >> [laughter] >> Well, is there a motion to approve? >> Chris, is there a second? >> Amy, any questions or discussion? >> Oh, go ahead. >> Well, I would like to discuss that, right? Like that's I don't have a problem with this trip or the basketball trip, right? I feel like they're treating this like a rubber stamp when it should be, right? Like, so Whitney's here whatever, nine months before she's going on the trip to get approval, especially the one to Florida. Like, man, those parents must have been planning for that and the hotels would have been booked and stuff like I don't see why it takes us long to ask for
017approval. So, I guess I would like to sort of register uh in the future. It would be nice if people would actually not assume it was an approval and let us ask questions before. >> I think that's a a very easy request. So, so yes. >> What are they asking for though? Because I mean they they're taking the buffing from like personalized tours or whatever. So, what are what are they asking? >> Well, anytime we have any kind of travel that's overnight, the board should approve it. >> So, >> yeah. Yeah. So, um I I think in general our goal would be that we should be asking the board before we even go through all planning and fundraising and all those other things. Um but sometimes carts get in front of horses and we do
018things like that. So, um I think we had that for the next two and and something I've heard not just from you, I've heard from others. Um, and something that we will uh definitely communicate out that let's try to the way Whitney Whitney is already talking to kids and already doing this. She knows there's interest. Um, but that's a better cadence than the next two. >> Well, this is talked about two like they they start selling two years before because they do this every two years. They go to Florida, right? So, they these kids are already selling preparing for two years in advance. >> There's no school whatsoever. Correct. >> Not for these. I don't think like sometimes we have we do travel to the airport and stuff like that. But it's never a big
019>> Do we know what the cost just for curiosity sake per student or per you know how much it's raised about how much? >> 1,200 per person. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. Disney does it really. So our our students are going down and marching in Epcots. Um, and they've been, you know, what a great opportunity, right? They've been marching around the school practicing to to go do a Disney does a great discount for um, being in the park. Um, we have two full I think they're more or less full coaches from personalized that will be going down there. Um, so yeah, so it's a great opportunity and uh, a great um, to to have our kids be able to they sound great, right? And Part of the reason they sound great is because we're doing
020so. So I don't want to overlook that to some really cool stuff. >> When we have trips like this, am I a little overly concerned about the fact that we should have appropriate ratios of supervision and be careful about any liability that we would open ourselves up for in the event that my question would be waiver of liability being even enforceable and who's going with these trips. We have room on the tripenior >> and I would say there's some sort of permission >> that also behavior or illegal or whatever things that are found at that student will be back at the parent. So all that before they go they bring in dogs to all the luggage and make sure they go over all of that really closely with the kids. So that way they're and
021not worrying about >> if I just ask does Disney either pay the students or is there a cost to the trip to perform at the park or they get any kind of a discount for being there? So that's why they need to order >> okay >> for the park. Yeah, the the hotel and the park entry is kind of their payment. It's not free because the mouse doesn't give any free, but it's discount. >> Any other questions or discussion? All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Um we're going to wait on Jake um for the college course prep studies. And um next we have the high school boys basketball tournament in the Dells. Is there a motion to approve? >> Make a motion. >> Rainey, is there a second?
022>> Chris, any questions or discussion? >> I will say Coach Merllo is he's back after being gone for a few years, so we appreciate him coming back. Um and we'll make sure we communicate because when is this coming up, right? It's November 7th and 8th. So, um this is uh we'll give him the first year pass on that one. >> All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Um next we have our final budget and annual tax levy um from what an hour ago. [laughter] >> The numbers they fresh off the press. Here they go. Yes. >> So, is there a motion uh to approve the 2526 final budget of 17 million64,1951? >> Make that motion. >> All right, Chuck, is there a second? >> I will second that. Brian.
023>> Brian. Any questions or discussion? >> Which one are we looking at? The one with 744. Yeah, 7:45 is what was in the >> It should look like this. Was that >> I don't know, but you can have those if you'd like. >> I just want to look at it. 3.6 million.7,000 more there, so that's the amount that I told you before. protect fund that will $49,000. >> Great. >> Good job. >> Also, we estimated estimated 871 higher than what we were Just one question Betty just and this is more just for the record for the public. What is the length of year on our debt service? How many years are our debts? >> That's I remembered but we're paying those off. >> I just want to That's a great idea. >> And you know,
024I think our total payment per year is about 600,000, right? Is that for a year for our debt payment before the extra division? >> And this year it's 995. >> So this year the paid >> Yeah. So it's about a third extra that we'll be paying. that'll come directly off of principal and we'll reduce our overall interest in a 20-year note. So maybe a year 18 gap. >> Okay. Are there any other questions or discussion? >> All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries. Uh we do have new support staff staff. Um Debbie Berth, is that elementary school para professional? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And um our third Friday report, third Friday reports in the back. Um as you can see, um numbers have gone down, right? Um from
025uh from here it's um you know it's when you when you see the number where we were in 1314 compared to um that we're able to do everything that we're doing and um keep reducing costs um I think it's a tribute to doing more with less and um sure love to see I I feel like there's lots of building going around in communities uh around us. Um, love to see more and more happening. So, >> great. Thank you. >> All right, you guys are right on time. >> Perfect timing. >> We are ready for you. [laughter] >> That was it. That was it. Take it away, Jake. more with less, right? >> All righty. So, we just wanted to touch base with you guys. I guess it's not over that way. I just see smile
026and um showcase some of our YA stories. Uh keeping those strong community connections, but also um building off of the strong classrooms and strong culture that makes these YAS possible. Uh we'll start with Tristan. Um Tristan um I'm going to ask you the three questions and you guys can elaborate from there. >> So currently where are you at um within your YA? >> Um >> what business? >> Just concrete Nate Warner construction in Cedar Grove. >> Okay. >> What year are you? >> Uh senior. >> What has your youth apprenticeship taught you this year? It has taught me to be independent. Um, yeah, just working by myself, learning what to do, be independent, and not rely on other people. >> And what type of I know kind of it went into it a little bit,
027but life skills that you learned uh that you'll be able to take the rest of your life through your youth apprenticeship. again be independent but also teamwork too at the same time because you also need co-workers to you know lift heavy things and yeah teamwork is a very big one as well. >> You don't always have no one to lift that stuff up for you. [laughter] >> Okay. Um Nolan, where are you at with your ya? Um, I'm working at Dreams Logistics in Belgium. And >> this is your second year, correct? >> Yep. Um, yeah, second year. >> Um, what has I know you've got a little bit more experience now, but what has your YA taught you? >> Um, my YA has kind of taught me how to learn to work in different circumstances,
028right? I work in cold storage, so you got to learn to dress for the cold and also we get new employees often, so you got to learn to adapt. um and work well with others. >> And then how about some life skills or maybe some education that you maybe learned in the classroom that you're applying now within your why? >> Um well, math obviously helps because I got to make big orders. I got to stack a lot of boxes. So you got to be counting. You got to be thinking. Uh you got to be aware at all times. And then um I mean just school in general, socialization. It's it's nice to be able to talk to some of your co-workers. You got to be good at communication. So, um, yeah, I mean, I got
029a college speech class, so you got to know how to talk to people >> and that's a testament to not only are they getting their YA hours, but they're also taking college classes as well. >> Thanks, guys. Any questions from the board at all? >> Let me ask you guys a question. Okay, >> absolutely. >> Um, did you know about YA as freshman? >> Uh, somewhat. Yeah. >> Yeah, I heard a little more. Now, if you were to talk to maybe your eighth grade self, how would you describe to your eighth grade self about this experience? How would you promote it to yourself four years ago? >> Uh, it's very valuable and it can help you progress um get ready for the real world especially. That's all for now, but Those are those are good
030words. Thank you. >> Yeah, for me it's um kind of building on your future. You know, you're building up for your career. You get to come to school right after you go to work or go to work right after school. So, um it's just kind of getting you ready. Like he said, you're getting ready. >> How many hours a week are you guys typically working? >> Uh about 25. >> Yeah. Um well during summer I get closer to 40 hours but uh 20 to 25 >> and you guys both start your day with your YA and then come to school afterwards. >> What time do you start morning? >> Um on Mondays and Tuesdays I start at 8. Every other day I start at 7:00. >> It depends on the day. If we're pouring concrete
031I start at 6 or earlier, but normally seven. There's some students that start at 4:30 in the morning, 6 in the morning, 7 in the morning. They're going to school earlier than you probably ever thought you go to school, [laughter] right? >> Yeah. >> Pretty awesome. Any other questions at all? You guys are busy, man. >> No complaining here. >> Thanks, guys. >> Appreciate it. Y >> do you want me to go through start college now already? There's my intro. [laughter] >> Um with our start college now programming um YA was a good example, but it's all about being intentional with the experiences within our scope meetings. I know a couple of you been through scope meetings already, but it's talking about intentional experiences. um that starts junior year is a pivotal year. Uh whether
032it's YAS, job experiences, youth apprenticeships, um and Start College Now is one of those assets that we use. Uh this year going into the spring, we have 38 requests for Start College Now courses. Uh read off kind of where they're at. 11 of them are in healthcare, 14 are in criminal justice or developmental psychology. Eight of them are in business. Three of them are in CAD or the REM Academy through Marine Park. And then two of them are within agriculture. Um what that's allowed us to do is take what we offer here and advance it even more. Uh we'll also have within that business, our business department is very very strong. Uh we have a student who's going to end up graduating with her associates in business through LTC at the end of this year
033because of the SAR college now program. We'll also have a student next year graduate from Marine Park with the uh their new REM academy uh with a certificate in in the REM Academy there. So those are just two stories of what S college now has done and will do for us. Overall, from a staffing standpoint, we've encouraged staff to look at curriculums that the colleges are offering that we partner with and see if they can start offering those classes within our district here. That way, they get a taste, whether it's criminal justice, more CAD classes, more solid works, whatever the case may be. Uh, it's really allowed us to open up the doors a bit and um make some changes as needed. Are any of the classes on site here or are they all travel?
034>> So through uh 90% of them are on site. Um I know with like the REM Academy at Marine Park, there's a lot of hands-on stuff. Um there is one or two classes online. Uh but we allow that student to go offsite. In the past, we had a lot of welding um requests. So the kids would take their intro welding, advanced welding here, they go to uh LTC. Uh but most of them are on site here unless there's a lab component to it as well. >> I got to come more often. [laughter] >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely. >> And that takes us intoformational items. >> Fantastic. Okay. Well, thank you all. I know this is the third meeting of the day, so thanks for making it through. I won't uh
035keep us much longer. Uh open house. I just want to thank all of you that made it. Um it was a great event. Um it just having our community come in and and see all these faces and see what we've done. Um it was just one of those things you couldn't leave there um without a big smile. Uh Veterans Day. Looking forward. Uh really a shout out. I I know I sent the email on Friday. I I made it part of our inside scoop. Um this last week, Cindy and Debbie and the team having we'll be hosting a hundred um community members, veterans, and their family in our foyer to um welcome the the honor wall and have everybody's names up there. That's just another fantastic way to to show where we we sit with
036our strong community con connections. Uh, I know I will forward on some of you have offered to help serve and help do other things on that date. So, thank you. Um, really appreciate that. Uh, look at your calendars. Right now, December 8th seems to be the winning day for our board retreat. Um, let's if we can do that, that would be great. Otherwise, we can look in early January. So, um, if anybody say no to December 8th, we can start whenever we'd like. Um, in the past, we've tried to do like a five or 5:30. >> Does that work for everybody? >> That works. >> Okay. Would we per Amy, I know sometimes it's tight for you. Five or 5:30, what would be a good >> I think five should work. >> Five works. Okay.
037And then if we're running a little late, we'll be kind of just eating and meeting at the same time. So, let's put down >> Are you sending one out to >> I will send an invite for everybody now that I have that. >> So, location or >> Yeah, we will do it at the bog like always and uh it is an open meeting, right? The door is always open and people can come. It'll be posted like everything else and uh we'll go from there. >> And legislative update. Um I next month we are um creating a communication um across Shoing County talking about how the funding systems in the state of Wisconsin are changing especially around public education. We're going to talk a little bit about that in November. We're going to uh right now
038we're crafting a postcard that can go out to every um property and divide it amongst all of our districts that all say the same thing. Um, and I'll be asking the the board, I'll be sending it out. We have the rough draft coming up in the next week or two. I'll show it. Um, and then we will be talking and voting on it if we want to be part of that communication in November. So, um, just trying to do what we can to keep doing what we're doing. And, um, you know, I can tell you the headwinds we have around some of the things happening in Madison aren't going away anytime soon. So, um, I think we're fortunate with all the things we have going here. Um, but Um it's there's some things as you
039look into the future. I shared um at our uh budget um uh committee meeting. Uh the state Arizona and Florida this last year took the caps off of the voucher schools and now have uh gotten to a point that they're siphoning money out of their public schools to pay for the no caps in um those two states. More or less bankrupted. um and they don't know where to get the funds from. So, the state of Wisconsin is the third highest um vulture school in the nation behind Arizona. So, we're right behind them and uh we're just trying to make sure people know what's going on. Um but again, I think our little sandbox we're doing some pretty good things, pretty creative things. Um, but we can't ignore that bigger pressure that's under. So, and the
040last thing I just wanted everybody to be armed with this. This isn't one of my bullets, but um, you know, I think we're always working at driving down um, our our mill rates. Uh, this is two things, twofold. Um, as more houses are built, more um, businesses are brought in. Um, valuation uh, has gone up. one one we found out today that one of our townships was reassessed. That's another piece. Um but our mill rate now is at the lowest it's been in 12 plus years. And it may never have been this low. I don't know. We didn't go that far deep into it, but everything we could find. Um this is the lowest amount. And our goal is to to keep dropping everything. So, um, fiscal management, looking into the future and and doing
041the things that we can when we can has helped us get the spot. So, look around and see what we have and look at this and uh, you know, we're doing everything possible. >> Thank you. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Reie, is there a second Chris? All those in favor, please say I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. >> Yeah. Three meetings in. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Thank you.