001Are we reading this during >> No, I'm just gonna say that we do it. >> Okay, I've called the uh St. Croy Central School Board meeting to order. Welcome to the best schools in America. Former president announced that and we'll stick with it. Um, welcome everybody. I'll call the meeting to order. Um, or we we need to we'll do that later. So we'll start with the pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance 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. Uh let the roll call show that uh all are present save Lance who had a business trip tonight. Uh was the meeting properly notified? >> Yes, it was. And as a reminder, it's being live streamed and recorded.
002>> And we'll start with Highlight on Youth Middle School competitive speech. All right. Hi you guys. How's it going? >> Welcome. >> Good, good, good. Um, okay. Well, both Mandy Langman and Kirstson Matters and myself, all three of us, um, are coaches. So, we're at the middle school. It's my first year, um, to get to be a coach. I really enjoyed it. Um, but Mandy wrote our speech for us. So, [laughter] what she wrote. Um, our middle school competitive speech team had a wonderful season. The Wisconsin Intercolastic Speech and Dramatic Arts Association mission and vision is to enhance and refine communication skills to foster creativity and to share perspectives in a safe and supportive environment to express their authentic selves and to grow from constructive feedback. We really saw that this year. Our team consisted
003of 39 students in grades six through eight. We continue to have the largest middle level team in the area. Our students show immense courage and initiative as they prepare and present in front of peers and judges. This year we had students compete in the categories of expository, news reporting, persuasive, poetry, pros, reader theater, and storytelling. We started the season with our SEC invitational, which brought six schools um and nearly 120 students to our middle school. There are a lot of components and people that work together to host a tournament. SEC continues to host each year because we continue to have an incredibly supportive staff who help our tournaments run smoothly. We then attended the level one and level two tournaments at Baldwin Woodville. Um all three were consecutive weeks. It was such a joy to
004see our students continue to grow throughout the season. Many students received top marks in all rounds of competition and we brought home almost entirely top awards of excellence. Our students ventured out of their comfort zones, learned new skills, and grew as young people. We could not be more proud. Tonight's piece is brought to you by eighth grader Evan Weatherly. He will be sharing his poetry performance. Um, and we hope you enjoy it as much as the judges and all. Go for it, Evan. Thank you. Where do you find contentment in daily life? Maybe it's at the gym or with your headphones on. For me, it's when I'm acting. I'm Evan Weatherly and I'm going to be reading two poems. The two poems I will be reading were written by my great great greatuncle Matthew Francis
005Sheay. He was born in 1879 and died in 1943. He only got the equivalent of a sixth grade education at his country school. He spent most of his life working at a plant nursery. He also works part-time at the St. Paul newspaper. I hope you enjoy these poems written around a hundred years ago reflecting on the themes of happiness and contentment in daily life. My first poem is titled Contentment by Matthew Francis Sheay. Contentment. I am not a man of riches. Mine is but the common lot. I have labored late and early for the little I have got. But a world of love awaits me in the evening cool and late. When Mandy and the baby comes to meet me at the gate, I envy not the millionaire with his mansion rich and grand. Mine
006is but a humble cot, but I'd have you understand that I'd not change places with him, or his fortune twice as great. When Mandy and the baby comes to meet you at the gate, often in the evening when I went my homeward way, I am feeling tired and worried with the burdens of the day. A wee voice whispers, "Papa's coming in." Then all troubles soon abate as Mandy and the baby comes to meet me at the gate. That poem is particularly interesting because Matthew never married and never had kids. It reflected where he would find happiness and contentment. My next poem by Matthew Francis Shea is titled A Wish. A Wish. I crave not for gold or jewels rare, nor to be owner of wealth and land. Nor would I be wed to a princess
007fair and be lord and master of a castle grand. Mine be a caught by a babbling brook. Where the fishes sport in the sunshine there, and wild flowers bloom in each nook and shed their fragrance on the summer air. Where in the somber glaming I could sit alone and quietly listen to the night wind song, or the brook's soft murmurss as or the stones it flows in its merry course along. Mine be a caught by a babbling brook where peace and content would be ever mine. Where nature is like a great open book that fills the reader with thoughts sublime that lifts him above this vast plane of sin into a loftier realm of pure air and the beauties of nature speaks to him and the voice of God is heard everywhere. Matthew went on
008to take care of his aunt and his cousins after his uncle passed away. He died at the age of 64. Thank you. for for young speaker. [laughter] >> That was probably the most calming voice I've ever heard. >> Yeah, I know. He Evan is incredible and he had so many incredible. >> You got a voice for broadcast or radio after this. Been shake >> reading nighttime stories. [laughter] >> So Evan, this your he died before your parents were born. How did this these poems make it through your family and uh how how did you discover them? It's really these were amazing. >> Well, my grandpa wrote a book that honored all of our relatives and he included those poems in there. >> Oh, cool. Very cool. >> Yeah. >> And were they local here or
009from other places? >> Uh well, like the relatives. Yeah, >> they were from mostly in Minnesota around the Twin Cities, but some of them were Yeah, just all around the world, too. >> Awesome. It was >> Thank you. >> Very, very cool. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You were a lot calmer than I am in my presentations to my customers. [laughter] >> You should practice. >> Great job. Good job. >> We also like to thank the the speech teachers uh for giving this opportunity to the kids. They've done a fantastic job and Evans really enjoyed it. So, hats off to them as well. Great, great work. >> Thank you. Next highlight on CTE. >> We got to hurry up because she's got to get back to dance. [laughter] >> All right. Thank you to
010my secretary, Tim. I'll just give you a little bit. Um, for those that don't know me, my name is Tracy Cwley and I am the head uh business and marketing teacher for the high school. I'm also the youth apprentichip coordinator for the district uh co-acp coordinator and tonight we're going to just talk about business and marketing specifically and we can get started. So, uh, every CT program that's a strong program has three major uh, components to it. I know when Gretchen Roseboom was here, she probably talked to you about the tricycle. Um, and we kind of follow the same thing. So, our core things is we do our CTSO, which is FBLA. We have our work-based learning, which at our school we have youth apprenticeship and the Panther STEM, and then finally the classroom. And
011I'm going to let these guys, I'll introduce them. Taylor Browning and Cat Coding is here. I can go to the next one. Uh, they're going to start with kind of a little update on our FBA check. Good evening. I'm Taylor Roning, president of the St. Chris Central FBA chapter. And I'm Pat Gooding, the community service chair of St. Central FBA chapter. We are here tonight to give a quick recap of FBA and our regional leadership conference. Our regional leadership conference that we hosted was on February 7th, 2026, where we had over 544 students competing from 37 different high schools in nine different counties in the Northwest. Through our regionals, we had a range of different workshops for leadership that our competitors could attend. We had an FBA alumni presented workshop where students were able to
012learn more about leadership and how FBA can benefit their future. We had one presented by W. Stout's MBA students where FBA members were able to build a deeper understanding of leadership and practicing those skills in an interactive workshop. And last, we had a floral design 101 provided by our FBA adviserss and students where members were able to learn steps in the floral design and create their own floral base. In addition, we were also able to bring Douglas Boyce and the Ace Bros, both of which graduated from St. Chris Central and for a keynote speech. They helped us learn how FBA gave them the skills be successful and how they continue to carry the values of FPLA in their current lives. FBALA is not only about the workshops and the skills students can grow, gain and
013learn more about their futures. We also compete in a range of business topics. In FBA, we have a range of different ways you can compete from objectives tests to role plays and then presentations. Within those, we have many different events you can participate in with accounting, healthcare administration, business plan, public service announcement, public speaking, securities and investments, graphic design, and so many others. FBA represents a range of topics to give students experience in the business world and understand how skills can help them in the future. Students will then place in the top three in their event and dance to the state leadership conference which will be starting on April 13th at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Not only did SR Central host, we also came to compete. As a chapter, we were
014able to win first place regional outstanding chapter. This meant at our regional leadership conference, we were able to compile the most points through our events. As for individuals placing in first place, we had Madison Brady and Brent Kul in broadcast journalism, Anakin Mueller in digital animation, Hie Peterson and Phoenix Strauss in digital video production, Sophie Hook and Addison Kul in graphic design, Lane Gillis in introduction to public speaking. Cat Cunning and public administration and management. Taylor Ronnie and Liliana Perez in public service announcement and Brandon Raspersonson in securities and investments. In second place, we had Zoe Johnson in introduction to business communication, Becca Rasmmanson and Carter Pollson in introduction to business presentation, Emma Gestler and Bella Waters in introduction to social media strategy. And in third place, Tegan Swanson in introduction to parliamentary procedure, and
015Emma Lamers and Piper Larson in visual design. We are so excited to be able to send 21 of our members off to state in April and hope to have a success there to bring our members to the National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas. >> You want to ask some questions before they go back to dance at all? >> Questions? >> Impressive. >> Very impressive. Great representative of our students. And again, we know that that only happens with teachers. So, thank you. Is that what piqu your guys' interest to join was your teachers? [laughter] >> She talked a lot to me like my freshman year I said business management. She's like you should really just try it out. And I didn't even know what FL was freshman year. I was like I don't I don't
016know what that is. And then sophomore year I went to the meeting I was like no actually I want to try this out. And now became president. And if I can't get the kids to join, I call or email their parents and say, "Hey, I think this would be a great organization." [laughter] And um the the ones that came back, all of my alumni uh for this conference, I think we had 10 different alumni come back to help us run this conference from SEC. So, it was a great showing and it just shows what a strong kind of organization we have. So, >> awesome. Nice [clears throat] job. I just want to say thank you to the board and the administration for letting us host. I know it's a lot on kind of different things
017that we do. So, I do have I'll pass these out when I'm done, but I do have thank you gifts to our board uh just for saying thank you for letting us do it. Uh the second component we have is our workbased learning. And for those that don't know our workbased learning, we have youth apprentichip and that's for juniors and seniors. They have to have two related coursework um geared towards whatever their future career would be. Their workplace has to agree to sign um a mentorship agreement and students have to work 450 hours. Last year uh we had 51 students complete our youth apprenticeship. We had 45 different business partners as part of that. Um and students uh kind of I I don't want to say designated but 10 different career paths. This year we
018are currently down in our enrollment. We have 36 uh students enrolled. I have until March 1st. So I'm making some phone calls and helping students uh to try to get our numbers up because I think it's such a valuable experience for students. Uh this year we're running at 35 different business partners and we have students in nine different career pathways. Uh kind of the thing that that I don't know how many people know, but we do receive grant funds through our St. Croy Valley Consortium and we get back $500 per student um who is enrolled in our youth apprenticeship student uh in our program. So, Mrs. Carly, who's a business teacher, I'm doing the dollars and cents right now and figuring out I can't go 15 students short. So, that's my goal. um in addition
019to that grant funding um and that grant pays for part of my salary that when I go out to do visits to work sites that the district gets reimbursed for my salary. I think it's one or two of my salary goes towards that. Um in addition, we received Act 59 CTE grant funding for seniors that complete the program and that's been around $600 per student uh who completes. So there's value to students in getting the certifications because they can put it on resumes when they apply for scholarships. Uh technical colleges will also grant uh student um credits for completing the courses but for the district there is some kind of financial incentive for us offering that. Um you can go to the next one Tim. The other thing is we have our panther stand and
020panther prints and embroideries. This is our apparel based business. Um, up to date, we've done in our Panther Prince, we've done red seedar invitational. We've done both middle school and high school play. We've done the football team. Uh, we just completed shirts for the softball clinic. We've done the senior all night party. Uh, the school district shirts were all done for us for the Christmas. Uh, we've done all the homecoming shirts, PD tent rentals, mill woodworks, um, and a couple other ones. So, we've done a ton of different it right now. It seems like people that are in the district that are hearing what we're doing is contacting us most of all. Uh our middle school also started a school store and they are selling some of our merchandise. So Sammy Gibson is kind of
021taking that on. Uh we tend to run a 30% profit margin is kind of where we try to run that business. Right now uh for the year we have a $2,900 and some dollar profit so far for the year. So that is including all the merchandise that we already have in the store that's for sale. So we're hoping to kind of improve on that. Um some of our challenges for me is I really want our school store to be open more. However, kids don't want to work outside of school hours if they're not getting paid. So that is something as we go forward we have to try to figure out how we can kind of bridge that gap. Um also um when we have businesses contact like this year we had um homecoming. I did
022not run a class. So, Mrs. Crowley put in a whole lot of extra time printing shirts on her own time. So, that's something as we go forward, how I can get student leaders to kind of step up in that role. I did get help. Uh, but it was a lot of extra hours. And then trying to figure out how our accounting makes the district accounting and how we can make that a little smoother because when we do inner district and we do transfers, I don't see that on my end. And so that's something that we would have to kind of bridge as we go forward. And then finally, the last thing I just wanted to talk about was kind of our classroom component, which is our third component. Um, and Sammy and I have really
023done, we're trying to find different certifications we can offer our students in the classroom. So Sammy does most of our Microsoft Office certifications. Uh, last year we had nine students get certified in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. And we had one student complete the expert level. Uh this year to date we have eight students and we're at two at the expert level. Um so that's like I said those kids can put that um on their resumes. Uh I know the technical colleges re really require that certification and these are the same certifications that anybody in industry would take. Uh we also instituted what's called the ask fundamentals of ethics exam. Um last year we had 17 students pass the exam and this year so far we have 12. Um, and we're doing it in two classes
024and we're doing that in our business, enterprise, and our accounting. One of the things is we think ethics should be kind of in all of our businesses that we run. Uh, but again, we can qualify for that ACT 59 grant funding. So again, students that complete that that aren't certified somewhere else, uh, we can bring $600 back to go towards funding in our CTE areas. So that's really something that we've kind of gone with. Um, and new this year, we're doing a cash course with Wisconsin. So, Wisconsin is going to be coming in April 29th, um, and having all of our juniors and seniors go through a financial literacy component at the high school where they all get their careers, and then they go around to different businesses and have to pay for groceries, uh,
025insurance, uh, car payments, and all of that good stuff. And then they have to keep it all on their debit card, and hopefully they come out with money at the end. Uh future growth ideas for us is really offering a tech center in our area. Right now Sammy does the Microsoft Office certification and we do a Panther Productions, but there's a whole lot of other computer related courses that we're not offering. Being one teacher program that's always a struggle. So we're looking at opening up a tech center where kids will come in. Uh the teacher will serve as a facilitator and the kids will say I want to do coding or I want to do website design and it will all take place in one classroom. So we don't have one teacher trying to get
02610 or 12 kids in each class. We'll have hopefully 12 or more and they can all learn whatever curriculum they feel is important. And then we just talked about offering some kind of quick works or quickbook certification and training through our accounting courses. Uh we feel we're missing some of the boat on that when kids come in and we're doing oldfashioned accounting and then their moms are like you don't do that in accounting. And so we're trying to bridge a little bit of that gap. >> You teach accounting. We do teach counsel. >> Do you teach it? >> I Sammy does right now. I used to >> I think both my daughters are in it right now. >> Okay. Yep. And Sammy does that. We kind of flip-flop depending on um what hours of the
027day we tend to have more freshman through juniors take that class. >> I just wanted to hear if they were good kids or not. >> Yes, I'm sure they are. >> So, um but like I said, super excited on kind of what we have going. we're kind of I'm on the board for uh Northwoods and so I know I try to take whatever they're doing there and try to mimic what we can at the high school level even with the small program. So, but again I want to thank the board for all of your support from the CT area. We could not be where we are without you and without your support and not every district offers that. So, thank you again. [laughter] >> I have a question for you. >> No, it's not bad.
028Actually, it probably exposes how terrible I am on a computer. So, up top, you said you had nine students complete Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. And I don't know about the rest of these guys, but that's pretty much where I live. And uh I make maybe five calls a week to it or my wife or somebody who's a lot smarter. Is that something you've ever thought? You said you could facilitate it. Is that something you've ever thought about selling online that you could, you know, teach a crash course to adults? right now, uh, we do we actually get a grant, so we don't have to pay for any of the, uh, testing that we do through the school. Um, so I I we could, like I said, I don't want to step on Northwoods or CBTC's
029toes on that. U, but we can definitely point kids or adults, I should say, in the right direction on where some of their learning could be. Mhm. >> Um, that's something that would be more of a a Sammy thing. I think it's important. I wish every kid would take it, but >> yeah, >> I wish I would have paid attention. [laughter] >> It's a need to know basis for some of us. >> We keep any records on these um internships that the kids are doing. How many of them get job offers from those employers? Um I can well we can just take like let we we do as much as we can. A lot of them go on to um we try to bridge them with other apprenticeships at that area. Um like Dustin Thomas
030won he went through our program and he was with uh Midwest Machinery and then he was really John Deerebbound and um part of that some parents but uh he just knew what he wanted and that's how we got into that Midwest and they kind of pushed that with them. Um we have a lot that go through um with their parents especially with different electricians and more of the trades. We see some of our kids are doing more um I don't want to say hospitality and the food service, but again the skills they're learning are invaluable when they go other places. And if you would look at these checklists, I'm a grown adult and I worked in business management before I became education and I haven't done half the stuff on some of those marketing checklists
031that that they're expecting high school students to do. And so it's kind of a to me it's impressive just to see and I don't even know if the kids realize they're like well we're just working. >> Yeah, but you're learning inventory and you're learning other things that maybe other entry level employees are not necessarily getting with some of their checklists. So and then and the department of workforce development puts all these checklists together. So it's pretty thorough. >> Awesome. >> Before I go give you your snacks. So >> thank you again. I'll probably wait about 30 seconds before I do another. >> Thank you. >> Hey, great work. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> So we have Bern Weber. >> Thanks for being here. >> Hi. >> Um good evening. Uh my name is Laura
032Burn Weber. I've been a teacher at St. Cra Central since 2019. I've served as the seventh and eighth grade literacy teacher, a reading interventionist, and now as an English language learner teacher. Uh I started during the COVID shutdown. It was crazy time. Um but I found my home at SEC. I'm proud of this district and the work we do alongside our immigrant and culturally diverse families. I care so deeply about SEC that I actually recruited my sister to teach here after nearly 20 years in neighboring districts. I told her, "This place is special. Our interventions, our inclusivity, and the way our staff show up for kids every day, just like we we saw tonight." Uh, we have thoughtful leaders and that matters. I also want to acknowledge this board and the administrators. I appreciate the
033weight of your decisions and the care you bring to them. The pride I feel about SEC is why I feel compelled to speak tonight. I have a poster hanging in my office at the middle school that reads, "What is the point of having a voice if you're going to be silent in those moments that you shouldn't be?" We teach students not just academics, but to be good people that are kind to each other, to show up in ways to make a better society and world. That is my intention tonight. Since December 21st, increased ice activity in our area has profoundly affected our students. Over winter break, I grocery shop for families too afraid to leave their homes and helped raise money and organize food deliveries for more than 50 families in our area. On New
034Year's Eve, students called me terrified because ICE was targeting their neighborhood. This was in Roberts. Children were calling their teacher because they didn't know who else was safe. That fear has only escalated since then. I am an eighth grader that watched several co-workers get handcuffed and detained at Ranchel Loco in Baldwin. I have a high schooler whose grandpa was detained, but he told me, "Don't worry, Miss Fern. He's back in Mexico and not stuck in a camp somewhere." A fifth grader told me she was afraid to go on a field trip in case I looking for Spanish kids. I witnessed a second grader sprint down the street to her sister and father after ICE was spotted nearby their apartment. When staff drive students home, children track cars behind them just in case. Students and families
035are scared of law enforcement of any kind because they don't know who they can trust. This hyper vigilance, distrust, and paranoia is constant. Families are rearranging work schedules so someone is always home in case of detention. Some have stopped working altogether. Staff are helping complete delegations of parental authority or DOPA forms so children won't be left without caregivers in case of detainment. Families are avoiding medical care after ICE presence at the hospital. Just this weekend, a staff member escorted a parent and her nine-month old baby to the hospital, trying not to draw attention to them by hiding them in her back seat to avoid racial profiling. Students have shown me videos of large drones circling their property at night. Every day, I'm asked questions I can't answer. Miss Fern, is it safe for my parents
036to drive me to conferences? What happens if Ice approaches us on a field trip? When is Ice going to leave? Miss Fern, do you think I'll be able to go to college in the fall? How can I drive to school if ICE is around? Fear brings lost income, food insecurity, housing instability, absenteeism, and declining academic performance. These are not abstract issues. They are barriers to learning. What has sustained our families is the extraordinary generosity of our SEC staff. Coordinating rides, buying groceries, delivering food. It reflects the very best of who we are. But it is not sustainable and it cannot rest solely on the individual goodwill. So I am asking for action. I am asking the board to directly address students fear of local law enforcement by clearly defining roles, safeguards, and language access so
037trust can be rebuilt. I'm asking for recognition of the financial impact on families and for support pathways whether it's through partnerships, emergency assistance, or advocacy so students can remain present, fed, and focused. And I'm asking for clear public communication affirming that every student is safe and welcome at Ser Central and that student privacy will be protected. This is not political. It is human. Fear is interfering with students ability to attend school, focus, and learn. Diverse families are actually coming to SEC because they believe that Hammond is a safe place. I want that to be true, not just in reputation, but in practice. The immigration status of a child's parent is beside the point. Our children are scared. If we want St. Croy Central to be the best school in America, then we must also be
038the safest for every child, regardless of race, class, language, or background. Safety is not political. It's foundational. And when students feel safe, they can learn. Thank you for listening, and thank you for caring. >> Thank you. Any other? There's no other budgetary comments. No. Thanks again for your comments. Um, now we [clears throat] move to interview and selection for our board vacancy. We're just going to do it in the order they have submitted. So, each one is prepared answers to questions that we've asked all of the candidates and then will have an opportunity to present to the board. Annette um was unable to attend tonight, but she sent an email to all the board members. And we'll start with Ron. >> So, I just whatever you want to do, it's your time. >> All right.
039So, hello. For those of you that don't know me, my name is Ron Stave. My wife of 19 years and I both went to school in Malden Woodville before getting married, moving to Roberts, and having three children, all of which attend SEC School District. We are very fortunate to be in the district and because I feel strongly about the school staff and community of SEC, I feel it's important to understand the intentions and decisions of the school board and how they affect our students, staff and community. It's for these reasons I decided to apply for a position on the SEC school board. The school board would not be my first experience serving in public forums. As a union member, I served as a door warden for my local union and currently serve on the village
040of Roberts Police Review Board. In addition, I serve on the most recent referendum committee, and I've spent many hours attending county board meetings, village board meetings, and schoolboard meetings. Because of these experiences, I feel I have a strong understanding of the skills needed to take on the role as a schoolboard member. My goal as a member of the board is very simple. to help make important decisions for the SEC students, staff, and community. It will ensure we continue to be a wellrespected school district in a community that works together to stand behind and supported school district. This me this means making detailed and educated decisions for our school, students, and staff in regards to financial decision decisions, staffing, extracurricular activities, and the long-term vision and goals of our district. through my other service areas. I
041know this will mean making some tough decisions at times and that there may be times I will need to rely on keeping an open mind, doing the research and considering multiple sides of many situations. In addition, these things need to be handled with as much transparency as possible and with keeping the students, families, and staff in the forefront of all decisions. I believe this is an area where my community service and leadership experience will serve me well and will help me fulfill the role of a member of the SEC school board. I've spent many years and hours volunteering at SEC for a number of things, mostly centered around athletics. But it is through these experiences that I know what SEC stands for, what it stands uh what its staff stands for, and the love and
042pride it has for students. By being a member of the school board, I want to continue striving to ensure SEC remains a district who believes in the quality of its ed education and to help support the decisions that will make that happen. Thank you. >> Anybody have any questions for Ron? Beth Tom. >> Hello, I'm Tom Broadle. Um, I guess I'll just kind of talk through what I responded to with the board to the questioning. Um, relevant experience and background. I've been involved in multiple boards. Uh I've been involved in a leadership role at the uh society of toxicology. I was on that board for 15 years and sat in all the positions spending my most time probably six years as the treasurer. The organization the job was to interface with the national and also
043to organize activities and seminar in a professional setting, science setting here in the Twin Cities. um responsibilities included primarily organizational leadership and financial oversight. Uh another board that I worked on when I first came here was the longrange planning committee for Pleasant Valley. That was a very interesting experience in that we were changing and moving around zoning requirements and it got to the real feelings and of people which are affecting what they see as their livelihoods or what they can do as far as property rights. The that had many public I think three public meetings um very contentious. I mean, this was not a a a board where everybody was kind of working all in the same direction. This was a lot of disparit ideas that we had pulled together, but we were successful. Another
044more recent board I was on was also in Pleasant Valley, and that is with the town hall. We and that was a a fairly simple job because we were looking at what we were going to do for a building in the long term, whether we were going to rent space, fix up our own town hall, or build a new town hall. So, we prepared um documentation with those numbers and then ran that up to the full town board to act on. Recently I've been a member a director to in the SEC citizens for responsible energy coalition uh that is working and discussing the uh exile solar project that is going to affect Hammond and Aaron Prairie. What we do is get out into the community and talk to the town boards, uh, organize at the
045county board level and try to influence some politics by providing education. Part of that was we, you may have seen us at the county fair, you know, passing out leaflets and talking to people. My professional background is I have a masters in toxicology. I spent 30 years at 3M uh all in product safety and regulatory affairs. I had five people appointing me at the end of my career. We worked with agencies such as the EPA and the um FDA providing safe products to the community. I'm interested in the school board because I really want to give back to the community and perhaps a higher level than I have in the past. I know that some of my skills can help students and families and educators. Firstly, all of these things that I've done always involve
046taking complex issues, compl complex issues and information, putting it together in a way that's understandable, building consensus, and then having actionable items to move those processes forward. My view of the school board's roles really are the core thing that they do is is governance. They they are the overseer of the school district and then oversight to see that the things that are supposed to be happening are happening and then the stewardship of the school district on behalf of the community. The boards wants to set clear vision and direction and then have those policies match what the community would like and what they think is the most important parts that the school district should provide. The skills that I have are the ability to translate data and bring different different perspectives together and have clear and
047well-reasoned decisions. I have a strong commitment to public service and a collaborative style when working with my associates. And here this would be the district leadership, the board and the educators and the community members. Uh I have been a resident in the district for 26 years. Uh five of my children graduated from SEC. Three of them all the way from kindergarten to 12th grade. They all participated in extracurricular activities and athletics. So we have a firsthand appreciation for the role of both the classroom and these extra activities and what they bring to students at SEC. I believe that parent involvement and strong parent involvement is paramount to having a good school district. And I believe we need to be engaged with the community and transparent so that they're supportive of the school. My commitment is
048to be thoughtful, engaged, and constructive. Thank you. Anybody have any questions questions for Tom? >> Thank you. Annette was um invited to participate as well. She had a prior commitment with her uh coaching responsibilities that didn't allow her to be here. She did submit some comments to the board that we'll take into consideration. And uh but >> with that um any discussion from the board otherwise I think we'll just vote in the order that they presented and the first one to get the majority will be the appointee. So um those in favor of Ron >> like we have a a winner. So, thank you, Ron. Thank you, Tom, for stepping forward and to Annette. Um, it's a big responsibility and I really appreciate that you were willing to step forward and, uh, I think the
049protocol is that at the next meeting we swear Ron in and we'll get started. >> So, thank you for everybody that participated and Ron, congratulations or condolences. Not quite sure which is appropriate, but um I've only been on the board 30 years and I've enjoyed almost. So, so welcome. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Comments uh from board member, superintendent, anybody have any comments they want to share? >> I wanted to bring up the April 15th board meeting date and consider um perhaps moving that one to Monday the 13th. Uh, and the reason being, um, Shelley, Brian, and I, um, are signed up to, uh, go to a workshop Wisconsin Dells. It's the third annual put on by Lee Pritzell called Inspired Leadership Workshop. Um, that night, the 15th is networking. Um, if it doesn't work,
050we can make it work. We would skip the networking and just leave at 5:00 a.m. on Thursday. would prefer to go to the networking and spend the night and and be there when it starts at 8 at Trapper's turn in Wisconsin Dills. Um, >> anytime we move to a Monday, it's better for me. >> Good for me. >> Okay. Anybody else have any objections? >> Did you say the 16th? >> Monday the 13th. >> April, not Mark. >> Oh, thank you. So, I'd entertain a motion to move the board meeting from the April 15th to April 13th. Same time, same bat location. >> Yeah. >> Sorry, I was in a >> motion. Second. >> Second. All those in favor say I. >> I opposed. >> The 13th it is. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >>
051Uh schedule presentation to guests and staff. We have anything? >> Yeah. scheduled. >> Okay. Financial reports. We'll [clears throat] read our financial reports. >> As of January 31st, 2026, balances in our various accounts. Citizen State Bank checking is $2,785,348. Citizen State Bank money market account is $12,29647. 46 is at $62.13. Suicide prevention is at $5,51.13. American deposit management debt service of $935.34. Referendum accounted at $61,915.38 for a total balance of $2,866,00064 $6453. Before we motion to approve that suicide prevention account has been around that same dollar amount. Is there any reason why we're not spending it to try to >> kind of comes in and gets spent? >> Yeah, it's uh need a little more typically than that um um to to do something meaningful, right? $1,000 isn't a lot essentially, but >> yeah. I
052don't remember, Brian, the last time >> we got a donation. It's been about a year. Are you talking about like spending it? >> Yeah. Like just >> it's a little it's a little discretionary. So when there are when there are opportunities to um put some things on or do some trainings or or have a speaker or else we sometimes use it to give some relief to folks if they are are they are kind of going through a mental health crisis. Um it's a little bit of a discretionary fund to help us out if we can pay for some counseling sessions if they're calling hard times or their insurance says that they won't >> cover anymore. We try to >> so it is coming in and going out. I like I said it's been around that
053dollar amount amount the entire time I've been here. Maybe a little higher at times but just want to know it's >> one of the big donations for that account I believe comes from the uh the Lutheran church here in town and so that's the one they input to that account and then it kind of draws down as Got it. >> Any other questions or comments? >> Motion to approve. Second move inspected. All those in favor say I. >> Oppos. Motion carries. [clears throat] >> Consent agenda. We have the minutes. Uh weekly bills. Uh there's no curricular modifications that that were brought to our attention. So I entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Motion to approve consent agenda AB and C. >> Second. All those in favor say I. I. opposed. Motion carried.
054Administrative report. >> Uh the first matrix you see at the top of that report, uh actually I can pull it up here quickly for everyone to see. So, 1559 students in seats. Actually up six from last month and up five from the beginning of the year. Um which is uh fairly unique. That's uncommon. Usually lose a few students over the course of the year. We've gained some in seats. And then um you can see our open enrollment numbers uh there at the bottom, which ironically matches our exact number of students, 300 to the net. We have 454 students open enrolling in versus 154 out. Difference of 300. And as of the time of this report, we have 300 students uh enrolled in our virtual charter school. Again, those are non resident students. And you can
055see in this one we have 136 students participating in our district in our charter school. So those are again positive numbers. >> Any questions on the enrollment report filed? Um key work of school board student staff and community recognition. There were none from us except Erica Herring. We got to the letter that you all signed and we'll send that to Erica. Thank you for service to the district and [clears throat] consideration of approval of rei revision to SEC employee handbook. All right. Uh this one uh involves um mileage reimbursement and use of the district vehicles versus personal vehicles. It was approved um uh last year in our handbook, but it did not match in another place in our handbook. and and in our policy. So, um uh we'll start with the handbook and it'll be
056the policy uh later. Um you can see item 15D to match, but we just wanted to sync it up and in the gist of it. Um as you can see here is that staff are uh expected to use the district vehicles first before their own personal vehicles. That's why we have them. Of course, there's not a lot that are available just to use to go to CESA, etc. >> We have two. >> Yeah. the big sprinter van, 10 passenger and the small escape which it fit four maybe five very small people. Um and then you know we said it's more for the the um so we even then added but more than 60 miles um uh anything under that is almost kind of like by the time you go to the hassle and and and
057um reserve it and um all that we thought for the shorter trips go ahead and use your own but for the longer ones and CISA is 58 miles away so we were intentional with 60 because CISA is the most common place probably the folks go um for staff development in Turtle Um, so that's what that does there. It just uh matches it up. This is um 701 604 and employee handbook. >> Do you want approval? >> This one does not require two readings. So um more than welcome. >> We already approved it last year. >> Well, kind of, but this is a revision. The the um yellow here part was 701 was approved last year. Um the 60 miles is new and then to make it a match 604 to match that was new. So
058it is changed um edited and the highlighted part to match a little bit. So >> a motion to approve >> second. All those in favor say I. >> Opposed. Motion carried. Core agenda items. Consideration of first reading of the board policy 44 443.5 student use of electronic communication devices. >> This is kind of a hot topic uh last fall um and state legislature passed saying this needs to be adopted by school boards by July 1, 2026. Uh we're waiting for WASB to come out with their their template um in the policy resource guide which they did late December early January. So um really it's very very similar to what we have but they needed to ex we needed the board policy needed to explicitly state that electronic devices cannot be used during instructional time. So
059that wording is in there. Um, and again you have the old policy and the new policy that Kelly included to compare side by side if you have any questions and uh look over but this is straight out of the policy resource guide again vetted by attorneys and in line with the legislation which is uh down here >> policy conforming to that as well. >> Correct. That is the template. Yep. Any other questions or comments on this? Is the first reading, so we'll be back next month. >> Any questions or comments? >> Just have a general question. When students do have their personal devices in school, it still goes through the same filter as like our Chromebook. >> That is correct. That is well the part that they get onto our Wi-Fi cellular plan. We we
060can't >> still filter. Yes. >> Okay. consideration of first reading board policy 458, school wellness, nutrition, and physical activity. >> I did read that one. I didn't really notice any difference. >> Um, there wasn't much. Uh, >> you just bragging. >> Let's see. >> No, I just was I wanted to see what it was and had time. So, >> Kelly helped me out. >> It was like the old policy said we're going to make sure your dietary habits are good and promoted as possible as we can. And then the new ones said the same thing. We're working on a rule as well. Um >> and again this is this was policy. >> Yeah. The new and updated one >> so nothing specific to like the menu or anything like >> that's where our rule will
061come in um that we'll be bringing to you soon. We again all this was spawned from not again all this was you know initiated by our DPI audit uh two weeks ago >> food service audit >> food service what did I say >> DPI food service audit yes and then um some of the compliance issues or policies [clears throat] >> again just the first reading and back >> I think that was the one that had to have the non-discrimination notice at the end >> that was only thing that really changed. Okay. >> You sure >> does again. >> In consideration of first reading of board policy 671.2 expense reimbursement policy staff administration and board. >> That's another one we passed like a year ago. >> Yeah, that's the one I just talked about to match
062up with the use of personal vehicle versus district. And again, that's first reading. >> First reading. All right. any um possible future agenda items that anybody wants to add to the list any upcoming uh dates. One of the things I pass community recognition I don't know if I mentioned Erica and we have a letter that we've all signed for her service. Upcoming dates, March 18th, schoolboard meeting at 7 pm at district office. April 15th, that's now moved to the 13th and school board meeting at 7 [clears throat] p.m. here at the district office. April 26 is our board development meeting at 5 at the district office. >> I have one I should have said something. I would been meaning to say it the last few for the future agenda items is I just want to
063talk about it. I don't want it to change if nobody's okay with it, but I wouldn't mind to talk about having our meetings on Mondays >> because the middle of the week is generally when I'm trying to travel for work and >> Mondays forever. >> You did? >> Oh, yeah. It's only last few years that we changed to Wednesday. So, let's put that on the agenda. >> Or don't you like that? No, the the impetus was the board majority of the board had students in activities and and Wednesday was an activity night. It was free generally otherwise folks were missing for concerts and games and you know all the contests on Mondays and board it worked for them personally. >> We'll put it on the agenda >> middle school. We'll >> put it on the
064agenda and talk about see what works. >> Look at schedules. Good. >> Yeah. If I won't be at the meeting next month at church engagement deal. >> All right. >> You're going to get engaged engagement. >> Mr. Treasur. [laughter] >> So I would entertain a motion to go in close session. You need that. >> Yeah, I got it. Per Wisconsin statute 19.851F considering financial, medical, social, or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons. Preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems order the investigation of charges against specific persons except where B applies which if discussed in public would likely to have substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data or involved in such problems or investigation. I discussion of student complaint B uh per Wisconsin wait a minute
065do I read keep going okay per Wisconsin statute 19.851C 851C considering employment promotion compensation performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercise responsibility. One approval of resignations, retirements and terminations, two approval of appointments and contract modifications. Three quarterly superintendent goals. >> Really good. >> Yeah. I'm going to say if you could maybe speed it up a little. [laughter] >> So we have a motion on the floor. We have a second. >> Roll call. >> I I >> I go in close session. We'll take a couple minutes. We'll clear the room and close the doors and >> Yeah.