001Mrs. Shope will start in about a minute. Good evening. It is 6:00. I am calling to order the regular board meeting of February 17th, 2026. Mrs. Shope, may we please get a roll call? Yes. JoAnn Rule? Here. Brian Nichols? Here. Megan Miller? Present. Amy Levy? Tom Hankins? Here. Carol Fox? Here. One more call for Amy Levy. And Tia Johnson. Present. All members are present except Amy Levy. Thank you. May I get an approval of the agenda with removal of item 8B as it did not get moved forward from committee? So moved. Second. Motion by Brian Nickels, seconded by Carol Fox. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor? I. I. I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. Tonight, we have the privilege of having Gaston Principal Fonda Lewis here to introduce students from Gaston who will
002lead us in tonight's pledge. Mrs. Lewis, would you please introduce your students? Here you go. Okay. There we go. Good evening. I have the pleasure of introducing our Gaston Bandits tonight. These are fifth graders who are part of our student council and their important job on the student council is to do our weekly announcements. So, I have Rylan here in the front and her favorite thing about school is lunch. We've got Alani's favorite thing is math and Joaquin says he really likes doing all the sports in gym. So, I'm going to let them take it away. Please stand. >> [clears throat] >> Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with
003liberty and justice for all. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Gaston Bandits. Next is the board president's report. Good evening and thank you for joining us tonight and for your continued interest in and support of the School District of Beloit. On February 4th, Dr. Jill Underly visited Beloit Memorial High School to kick off Career and Technical Education Month. District, community, and business leaders toured several CTE programs and observed students engaged in hands-on learning in culinary arts, business, welding, construction, early childhood education, and anatomy and physiology. Dr. Underly shared that, quote, "Career and technical education makes learning engaging, relevant, and effective by preparing students for what comes next, whether that's college, the workforce, or both." It was truly a pleasure to see our Purple Knights students interact with Dr. Underly and to showcase Beloit Memorial's outstanding CTE
004programs. We held a special board meeting on Tuesday, February 10th, to discuss the Hendricks Family Foundation Literacy and Leadership Pilot Offer. Dr. Anderson shared his positive perspective on the proposal. He provided details regarding interested elementary schools, conversations with BEA and vendors, how schools would be selected, potential bonus structures, and district discretion regarding use of funds. Board members shared thoughtful perspectives and raised important considerations, including proposal clarity, the impact of poverty on learning, the importance of high-quality instructional resources and tools, long-term literacy trends and curriculum shifts, and staffing challenges that must be addressed to support student achievement. I reminded the board of our mission, vision, and commitments as we evaluate opportunities through that lens. Dr. Anderson expressed appreciation for the foundation's offer, noting that if even one child benefits, that is meaningful progress. He also emphasized
005the importance of partnerships and collaboration, recognizing that we cannot move the district forward in isolation. There has been significant community interest and discussion around this proposal. We appreciate everyone who has reached out and shared their perspectives. Your voices help inform our decision-making. Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to speak with students participating in the Rock County Civic Academy student practicum about my experience serving as school board member. I was inspired by the thoughtful questions and dialogue from Milton High School students and grateful to have the chance to discuss the role of local government and civic engagement. On Friday the 13th, I participated in the Beloit Memorial Friendly Feud at the Elizabeth Reinholdt's Auditorium. The event featured teams of Purple Knights students, Beloit Memorial staff, Beloit celebrities, and local elected officials. While the elected were eliminated
006in the first round, the evening was full of fun and raised funds to benefit the high school theater program. Thank you to the students, staff, community members, and elected officials who attended and participated. With great appreciation to Mr. Greg Wallendal for organizing such creative fundraising events that enrich student experiences beyond the classroom. Last night we held a special board meeting to interview candidates for the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction position. I am pleased to share that pending board approval, Dr. Anderson has offered the position to Dr. Lea Gordon Milot, and she has accepted. Congratulations, Dr. Gold Gordon Milot. We look forward to welcoming you to Colac and to the important work ahead. In closing, I have attached a copy of the board's collective commitments as a reminder of the principles that guide our governance
007and our interactions with one another and with the community. While we recognize there is always room for growth, we are encouraged by the many positive efforts taking place across the School District of Beloit. Together, we are making steady progress and continuing to build momentum for our students and our community. That concludes my report. Thank you. Next up, we have upcoming events and announcements, board member Carol Fox. Good evening. These are the announcements for Tuesday, February 17th, 2026. Congratulations. Our Beloit Memorial boys basketball team has been nominated for Bound Wisconsin Statewide Basketball Team of the Week. Voting is open until Wednesday, February 18th at 1:00 p.m., which is tomorrow, and so you can vote both days, today and tomorrow. Um if you're on your computer at home, search for Bound Wisconsin Basketball of the Week, week
00812, and look for the Beloit Memorial High School basketball team and vote today and tomorrow. The League of Women Voters and the NAACP will be hosting two forums, one for school board candidates and one for city council candidates. The school board candidate forum is planned for February 19th. This is That's this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. City Council is scheduled for February 26th, also at 6:00 p.m. I also have the Wisconsin Policy Monitor, along with Eyes of Beloit, invite the public to join for second annual spring candidate forum on Thursday, March 5th, at Beloit City Hall. That forum starts with school board candidates at 6:00 and continues with the city council candidates at 7:15. On Sunday, February 22nd, come and enjoy some hot chili and some cool jazz by your high school and middle school bands.
009This event begins at 2:00 p.m. and in the high school cafeteria. Adults are $10 and students are $5. On Monday, February 23rd, from 5:00 to 7:30, the district is hosting a career fair at the Kolak Education Center, right here, on Fourth Street. So, please come for that. So, will your child be will be four years old four years old on or before September 1st, 2026? If the answer is yes to that question, then your child is eligible to enroll in the School District of Beloit 4K program. Come on into the Kolak Center and enroll your student or enroll your student online at beloitschools.net. Don't delay, enroll today. For sure. On Tuesday, February 24th, Gaston students, yay, will be singing. Second and third grade start off the show at 5:30. At 6:30, the fourth and fifth
010graders will perform and wrap up the show. Um meetings coming up and held here at Kollege Education Center include Monday, March 2nd, the Policy and HR meeting is at 4:00. Monday, March 2nd, there's a special teaching and learning equity and pupil services meeting at 5:00. And on Tuesday, March 3rd, the Business and Operation and Finance Committee meets at 5:00, followed by the regular board meeting at 6:00. And that concludes the announcements for tonight. Thank you, Mrs. Fox. Next, we have recognitions. Tonight, we have with us Merrill Principal Regina McAlister to help us with a recognition of May Taylor. The Board of Education, Superintendent, and Principal McAlister would like to recognize May Taylor for the countless hours she dedicated to supporting our first-grade students at Merrill Elementary. Ms. Taylor, whose daughter, Ms. Warfield, teaches at teaches
011first grade at Merrill, consistently volunteers her time to make a meaningful impact in our classroom. She reads with students, works with small groups, and provides care, encouragement, and academic support to help our learners grow and succeed. We are incredibly ly appreciative of Miss Miss Taylor's generosity, commitment, and passion for supporting our students. Her presence and dedication make a difference, and we are grateful to have her here as part of of the Beloit School District community. Mrs. McAlister, would you like to share something as well? I would. Um thank you for having me tonight. I appreciate it, and thank you all for coming. Um I just like to say that Ms. Taylor um has an undying passion for Merrill, and I truly appreciate that. Um her daughter does teach in a first-grade um classroom there, and
012Ms. Taylor helps in that classroom, but she helps all of our students. So, I'm very appreciative to her. She's not able to make it tonight cuz she's under the weather. I will make sure she receives a certificate, but I did want to make sure that we publicly recognize her for everything that she brings to Merrill. I truly appreciate it and I'm my gratitude is there for her. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. MRS. SHOPE, is there any public comment tonight? Yes, we have several in the room and several online. Okay. Members of the public are welcome to attend all open meetings of the Board of Education. Individuals attending board meetings are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and courteous manner that models appropriate behavior for
013our students. Individuals wishing to comment are expected to comply with the norms found on the back of your comment cards and in board policy 187 public participation at board meetings. We ask that each of you contribute to maintaining a respectful and orderly meeting to prevent discuss and prevent discussing confidential matters in a public forum by following these norms for public comments during board meetings. Thank you for your participation and courtesy. Mrs. Shope. The first person I have tonight is Matt. I'm Matt Finnegan. I'm here speaking in support of something that's going to be dealt with in closed session as doing offer to purchase for McNeel School. I was thinking about what I was going to say tonight and I started realizing I'm an old guy now and I and I and I realized that I've
014been around since '79 when the the blight uh was really hurting, you know, when uh oil embargo and all that stuff had happened and the industrial town was was going down and I've I've seen it rise from the ashes, you know, and and like uh Dr. Anderson said that uh it wasn't done in a vacuum. It was done with spirit of cooperation uh by community leaders, um the school districts, uh industrial leaders, public and private partnerships. And one of the reasons I'm bringing all that up is we have an opportunity to you have an opportunity later tonight to continue with that kind kind of uh community support. Uh Rock County Christian has been in town and been in town operating for 40 years. We put in a a very good offer here and we uh
015really would appreciate an acceptance of that offer. One of the things that is of is works real really well for a for a a growing community is choices. And so that is one of the choices. We have Now we have three education choices in a which some people like, some people don't, but the reality of it is when you have choices, we all rise to a higher level. And I think that's, you know, it's just kind of part of our our country uh has been for throughout history that when we have competition, when we have um to rise and do our best, and we don't do that in a vacuum, either. So I'm really hope that you guys would consider that that offer. Um I mean and uh I guess that's really all I have
016to say. Um I appreciate your op- the opportunity. Thanks. Thank you. Mr. Shelton? Next I have uh Terry. >> Good evening. I'm here tonight to show support for the reading program. I am a third generation Beloit school district and when I was young in the '60s and '70s, we had teachers that were able to be a tool for us when we struggled with reading or any other thing. So, I utilized that tool for for my need. Well, then my daughter in [snorts] the '90s to 2000s was in the school district and it was found that she had a reading disability and struggled with reading. Not only did she struggle with reading, but she struggled with math. It was third grade when they found it. We tried different things. Tutoring. The one tool that we did
017use and I don't know if it's in the school district anymore, but there was the Book-It program where you did 60 minutes of reading and the 600 minute reading for Great America tickets. That was her goal and that's what she strived to do. But her entire career as a student, she struggled. And as a parent, that was hard to watch. She was it was told to me that she was a daydreamer. That she she didn't take seriously education. Well, when we had her tested and she found out that she has a form of dyslexia called dysphonetic, which is not recognized at that time. I don't know if it is now in the school district. Which is why she did. The tutor did not help much. We put her on a 504 plan. We We chopped
018spelling words from 20 to 10. I I kept up with the teachers to make sure that she was there. But, what would have happened if that reading program had been there then? Would she have struggled like she did? She did graduate, but it was not an easy thing for her. Now, fast forward to 2017, my granddaughter's school teacher in first grade asked if I would help kids who were struggling to read. And I saw the frustration on their faces as they tried to sound out words. As they tried to read and it it just couldn't come and I just showed them the basic things of how to sound out words and put those letters together to form a word. And I watched them go from a frustrated state to eyes brightening up because they were
019getting it. And they read one sentence, then two sentences. Pretty soon they were reading a paragraph and smiles all over their faces. But, what What would have happened if that that had been there? I don't know my time. It looks like you're you're you're out of time. Would that have been something that they would have taken advantage of? They're now eighth graders. I'll never know. But, fast forward to today, we just found out a couple weeks ago that my grandson has a reading He struggles with it and also struggles with math because the two go hand in hand. And now, if this reading program were to be present, would it be a tool for him to use >> [snorts] >> to not struggle anymore? My daughter, she [snorts] uh she became overwhelmed as the psychologist
020told us and she wasn't not taking school seriously, but she was being lost because she didn't understand and she couldn't keep up with that kind of thing. But you guys, you have the key to unlock the box. You have that key to help these guys by voting yes for this literacy program. It it can't hurt. We've already tried several things and it didn't work. So, what's the worst that could happen? That's the status quo. But what if it does work? What if your legacy here today is that you voted yes and those kids out there become doctors and lawyers and ministers and even techn- technicians need that even if you're a housewife, you need to know how to read a recipe to cook. Those are life skills. And I'm I believe if you give them
021the tools, they can and they will succeed. And I just hope that you guys will vote yes and that my grandson will be able to take that tool and stop struggling so bad. I really hope that you guys, please don't let him struggle anymore. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Mrs. Schultz. Next I have Jeff Kroll. >> [clears throat] >> Good evening. Jeff Kroll here. I'm a lifetime resident of Lloyd here. I attended Lloyd Memorial High School and graduated, you ready for this? In 1961. You all remember that, don't you? I've had several aunts and uncles and cousins that were teachers. My aunt Virginia was uh teach at uh taught at uh Converse School for 20 years. And then she became principal at Royce. She was always interested in any program that could help
022her students. I know that she had her son repeat first grade because she felt he wasn't ready to move on to second grade, that he had a reading problem. He went on to earn his master's and ended up choosing education as his format of life. I strongly support the Hendricks proposal. We need to help our young students with reading and writing so they are able to achieve certain goals and have better opportunities to be successful in life. It would be a great benefit of teaching and the staff if the students were at grade level when they enter their class. I strongly feel that the school board should accept the proposal of the Hendricks Family Foundation. Um I just want to say that a close friend of mine had a reading problem his whole life. And
023he would call me to take him to the doctor or to the hospital because he couldn't read the paperwork and couldn't fill it out. So I'm just saying that this is a wonderful thing that if happens that the school board votes this yes, I think it's a great opportunity. The other thing is lastly, I will wonder what the voters would support a school referendum to raise taxes in Beloit here if the school board would vote this wonderful proposal down. Thank you. This is show. Next I have Melissa with uh Kristen yielding time. Good evening, Dr. Anderson, members of the school board. My name is Melissa Verbeck and I'm a co-president of the Beloit Education Association. Public education is founded on the pursuit of every possibility to improve student learning. In Wisconsin and Beloit specifically, we
024have been deprived of the funda- fundamental resources that endeavor requires, school funding. The Hendricks Family Foundation's proposal to provide $2.5 million for Open Literacy and Skyrocket will deliver that very resource to our students. As professional educators, we know some educational programs will fail and some will succeed. This current effort is no different. However, we do know with certainty that our students deserve every opportunity for academic success. Beloit educators are deeply committed to improving literacy and outcomes for all students. With the passage of this grant proposal, we have the opportunity to try something different for students at the elementary level. We recognize that additional instructional resources, one-to-one tutoring opportunities three times a week, and differentiated professional learning building wide through Sky- Skyrocket could positively impact students at the chosen building during this three-year pilot. Due to
025interest from members, the Beloit Education Association held its own meeting with Ms. Versath and others from Open Literacy and Skyrocket. Those who attended listened to the presentation, asked questions, and received answers from the panel. There was productive dialogue held during this time, and we appreciated the opportunity to hold this event for our members. We also understand the significant financial pressures facing the district and the importance of pursuing every opportunity that might improve student outcomes as the community considers a referendum. The district's ability to secure voter support for a referendum will be critical to maintaining programs and long-term stability. To be sure, the proposal in front of you tonight is a very temporary solution to the long-term need for appropriate funding. After careful consideration, the Blaine Education Association executive team met and voted unanimously to support
026this proposal from the Hendrick's Family Foundation. If this proposal should pass, the BEA respectfully requests a formal role in the development and oversight of any additional compensation model associated with this program. We believe that collaborating on the criteria, metrics, and distribution structures will help ensure transparency, fairness, and alignment with our with our agreements, while also reinforcing trust among staff. In conclusion, we ask you ask you tonight to carefully consider this proposal. Please think about the students currently in our district who would benefit from these programs. Think about the future and the impacts that may be achieved following an approval. Likewise, think about what a denial will mean for our students and perceptions of the district. I appreciate you taking the time to listen to my comments this evening. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have
027Stephanie. Good evening, Dr. Anderson, board members, parents, and staff here tonight. I'm a proud Aldridge warrior who teaches seventh grade ELA and Tier 3 reading intervention. I have my 316 reading license and I've taught Title 1 reading in the past. Reading and language are my passions and it saddens me greatly that our current students do not have that love of reading that I've seen from students in the past. While I am not a businesswoman who is behind the foundation offering our district the reading program and grant because she is decimating our public schools by using the voucher system, which takes away funding from us, I am here to ask you tonight to vote yes for that opportunity for our struggling students. Our reading scores have steadily decreased in the past few years and I will
028support any program that will help our students increase this reading ability. Any help that we can give our students to give them those better reading skills and allow them time working with smaller settings or one-on-one with a tutor can only strengthen their reading ability and make them stronger readers. With my support of this program, however, I am also using or urging the board to look into the rest of our language arts curriculum and instruction so that all of our students can get support in reading instruction that will help them become more successful readers. In the last several years, the novel units have been taken out of our middle school ELA curriculum so we can focus focus more on writing. So our struggling readers don't even have the opportunity to experience good literature in those ELA
029classes. Many of our former reading interventionists who used to work one-on-one or with small groups of students were turned into instructional coaches who now only work with teachers and sit in meetings many days a week and don't work directly with students anymore. Finally and sadly, technology and the use of Chromebooks have made our students rely more on videos and screens rather than enjoying the pages of a book. If we want our reading scores to increase, then we need to do whatever is necessary to see that our students are receiving quality instruction and interventions that provide them with that support that they need to become the shining stars that I know they can become. There's a saying that says "Readers make leaders." And if we want to have leaders coming out of Boyet, we need to
030once again make reading a priority and do whatever we can to ensure their success. And accepting the offer from the Hendricks Foundation may be the first step towards working towards this. Thank you. Next, we have Andrea. Good evening again. I'm Andrea Cleveland. I'm a parent. And since I was here and spoke last, I've had the privilege of speaking with some of our educators, with Lisa, and many parents. I today am in favor of the literacy program and I'm speaking first for me. The reason why I'm in favor of it is it's a great start. 60 students matter and I think we should begin. And I also think that we should look at partnering, belonging, the things that I've said um before, and open the doors for the community to come in and be face-to-face with
031our students. We've heard it from people before me here tonight and I know that our community is aching to get into our buildings, volunteer, sit with our students, give our time and our talent to our educators, take some of that stress away from them in their classrooms, and give to our students, our own children, and every student in our community. We want in. We've signed our forms. That's what our families have said to me in our meetings. We have started a parent coalition, and we want to partner with you. If you are a parent in this room and want to join us, let's do this. Let's be the community that we want, that our children need, that the board needs, that we need to partner with with the Hendricks Family Foundation, and bring everything back
032together, Beloit proud, Beloit strong, the way that we all envision it without needing to be the savior, because we are all the saviors for our children. And that's where we need to be, and we can all do it. And the momentum is here, and maybe this is the start of it. So, thank you. And let's partner and get there. Let's figure out the path, the plan, and do this together, cuz this might just be the time to do it for everyone. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Show. Uh next we have Greg. I am here to speak about the Hendricks Family Foundation's offer to the school district. We all know that the state has reduced its support for the school district of Beloit due to a failed referendum. And that again this year the district has
033to make cuts to the budget. Money does make a difference. Now, if the Hendricks Foundation had offered the money to support a district reading program, I think everyone would be in support of that donation. Now I have received the proposal through the Freedom of Information Act and read the requirements. I reached out to the interim superintendent with a request for a meeting to discuss this matter and other seemingly illegal activities happening at Colfax, but I have not heard back. But let's be clear. This a donation is not what the Hendricks Family Foundation offered. It is not in collaboration with the district. They decide what services the district would be able to provide. They decide what companies would provide those services. They continue to control the purse strings. This is not a donation to the school
034district for the district to develop and implement the best reading program for the district. It is limited to a small number of students in one building. It is not going to serve everybody in the district that the donation could do. Now even though it appears that the district gets to make choices in the implementation of this program, the Hendricks Family Foundation has to approve all of those decisions. This is not a school district program. It is the Hendricks Family Foundation buying its way into and controlling a piece of public education. It is important that the community truly understands what this offer is and what it means and to think about it before listening to the misinformation and disinformation spread on social media. For this reason, I urge you to vote no to the Hendrick's Family
035Foundation's buying partial control of the school district. Thank you, Mrs. Shaw. Next we have Robin with Chris yielding his time. Wow. I was praying I didn't have to go next. Good evening, Dr. Anderson and board members. Robin Lowry, 28 years in the district. I have my old lady glasses on. We do need to address some glaring inconsistencies in this district. Over the past several years, several programs have been implemented that have had no publicly presented evidence of effectiveness, no formal board review process, limited staff input before implementation, no measurable outcomes, significant cost to taxpayers, and limited transparency. I'm not going to give any examples, but I'm sure we're familiar with what those are. These initiatives moved forward quickly. There was no paralysis, no prolonged hand-wringing over proof, and they cost the district and taxpayers millions
036of dollars. Now we're being offered literacy and tutoring programs funded by the Hendrick's Family Foundation at zero cost to taxpayers. Zero cost. Focused literacy. Our most urgent academic crisis. Already operating out of other districts with already proven results. However, it's decided that it's implemented in our district, anything can help. And suddenly the standard becomes perfection. Suddenly the threshold is 100% certainty. The inconsistency is impossible to ignore. On our district's newly designed webpage, there's a mission statement. "Committed to excellence and strengthened by and enriched by diversity, we prepare each student to compete, contribute, and thrive as an admirable person in a rapidly changing world by engaging students in a wide variety of high-quality, relevant programs in partnership with families, schools, and the state-line community." And believe it or not, the Hendricks Foundation is a part of
037this community and has done numerous positive things in this community. If we're serious about governance, then the same standard must apply across the board. We cannot fast-track costly, unproven initiatives and then stall when free academic support is placed in front of us to successfully achieve the mission of all of our students. Literacy is not optional. It is foundational. If students cannot read proficiently, nothing else matters and why bother debating it. This board has an opportunity tonight to demonstrate that student outcomes come before politics or personal agendas. Fiscal responsibility matters. Transparency matters. Academic achievement is our priority and I've been working 28 years to prove that very fact and it shouldn't even be up for debate. Seven members need to vote yes tonight and keep literacy front and center until outcomes for our students improve. Delaying
038action does not make us thoughtful. It makes us complicit in continued failure. Turning down free, structured, structured [snorts] support while continuing to debate process will send the wrong message to families and those who voted for each one of you sitting up there. I, along with many others, question why a vote of no would even be a possibility. It literally makes no sense at all. It is time to do what this community expects you to do. Whatever it takes to assist our students to thrive in this ever-changing world as stated in our mission. Our students do not do not have time for any more hesitation. I am here and have been for 28 years doing whatever I can to improve my students academic success. Are you? Thank you, Robin. Next Next we have Carrie. Good evening.
039Um my name is Carrie Swarth. Um I'm here tonight in two different capacities. As a mother and also the president of the Chamber of Commerce. As a mom, I have a young child who will one day be a student in this district. Like every parent, I want the very best for my child. Academically, emotionally, and socially. I want them in classrooms where they are challenged, supported, and prepared for future full of opportunity. I want to send my child here to the School District of Beloit. As the Chamber president, I've had the privilege to work alongside many educators in this district. I see faculty and staff who are deeply committed to their students. They are doing great work. They care. And many of them are asking for support from this board and from the broader community
040to ensure their students graduate truly prepared for what comes next. Last week, I submitted a formal letter of support on behalf of the Chamber to each of you and Dr. Anderson regarding the Hendricks Family Foundation $2.5 million pilot proposal. We did that because we believe this represents an opportunity worth serious consideration. An opportunity to partner, to invest, and to move forward. This proposal represent represents more than funding. It represents belief in this district. It represents a willingness from the community to invest in improvement. A trusted colleague recently reminded me that the role of the board is to determine what needs to be done. Then the superintendent's role is determine how it should be done. We have a veteran interim superintendent who sees solutions to some of the challenges facing this district. If we truly believe
041change is needed, if we if we truly believe that outcomes must improve, then we must allow him to do his job. We must allow leadership to lead. This vote sends a message. It sends a message to educators who are asking for support. It sends a message to community partners willing to invest. And it sends a message to parents like me who are deciding whether our children will grow and learn. If I don't see a willingness to evolve, embrace opportunity, and to build forward rather than defend the status quo, I have to ask myself a difficult question. Why would I choose this district for my child? Families have options, and we're watching. I want to be proud to enroll my child here. I want to advocate for this district. I want to see us rebuild strength,
042trust, and excellence together. Tonight's decision is about direction, and I urge you to choose forward momentum. Thank you. Thank you. Mrs. Show? Next I have Janice. Good evening. I'm Janice Montero. I just I'm coming before you guys as a I'm in support of this Hendricks Foundation proposal that could potentially benefit our children and I am a student. I was a student from 1983. I was a graduate. Well, nervous, sorry. >> [laughter] >> Not a public speaker. And my children and grandchildren have gone through the district and we have reading disabilities in our family and um in the 1990s my uh daughter went to Converse school and the Beloit district decided to go from phonics to word association. That began the down spiral for us. Um we were told, "Don't worry. There's going to be summer
043school. It's going to work out." Summer school never happened. We then moved to Gaston thinking that it would be a better opportunity. Lots of doors did open. Lots of retired teachers getting tutored. Um our children need an opportunity and thankfully my husband and I were able to I mean it wasn't free. We had to pay for tutors. And I know that a lot of people don't have that opportunity. So, this is a a tool possibly that could help. And it's free. May come with some I don't know. Ties, but something is better than nothing. And we're needing something. I see it. I was a Girl Scout leader for 15 years in the school district of Beloit. They They can't even Some of them can't even use scissors. It's just kind of sad. So, I just
044wanted to step up and say I support this program and thank you for every listening. >> [laughter] >> Thank you, Janice. >> [applause] >> Next, I have Rachel. Hello. [laughter] Uh I am a mom of two uh students at the high school and um in light of some recent events, I'm sure you know over in Minneapolis uh with ICE, I was actually wondering I spoke to the superintendent a few weeks ago, a lovely conversation, and um he informed me of some of the policies that we have regarding if ICE shows up in any of our buildings. And uh for the most part, I think that they're good. Um but I think that uh one glaring omission is that the parents aren't being notified if they show up at the buildings, um which I think is
045very important, especially considering they no longer uh are They're not doing targeted attacks, they're scooping up anybody they can. And I think that there's never been clearer lines in our politics between good and evil right now. I think that anybody who is um has a heart knows that we need to uh protect the children from what's going on in the world. And uh I think that if with a mass text to the parents, we could all uh be show up as a community and support them. Um And that's about all I have for you, but I did want to say uh I've been listening to the comments on the literacy program. And uh again, I'm going to say there's never been a clear line between good good evil. And uh I will say that Diane
046Hendricks is a billionaire and she has the ability to persuade our politics in ways that we you know I don't think a lot of people really understand and I think that we really need to consider how much power we're giving her in our schools. That's all I want to say. Thanks. Thank you Rachel. Mrs. Schultz Next I have Gary. My name's Gary Fields. I'm here on behalf of a grandparent. I have grandkids in the school system in Hackett. A granddaughter that's 10, fourth grade, can't read. Not proud of that. I don't know that the board or the school system recognizes the dyslexic that students have to deal with. 20% of the population has dyslexia and yet this school district has nothing to support that. No curriculum, no testing, nothing. We had to go outside to
047Madison to get her tested. We have to pay for tutoring monthly just to help her try to survive. There's other schools that offer programs. Turner offers it, Clinton offers it, Lincoln Academy offers it. I don't know why Beloit doesn't. So, do some research. Try to figure out why and try to help all the students. I'm in favor of the literacy program. Don't know if it'll help her. We have two other kids in the system as well. I'm sure it'll help someone but doing nothing's not an option. So, vote yes and work on getting some curriculum that help the other students as well. Or the students will leave. Thank you, Gary. Mrs. Shaw. Uh next I have Pierre. Good afternoon, um board members and Dr. Anderson. Thanks for allowing me to speak. I am speaking on
048the literacy program and I do support the program. My name is Dr. Pierre Charles. I'm a general trauma and acute care surgeon. Uh I practice here in Wisconsin and also in uh northern and western Illinois. I've lived in Beloit for 30 years. I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. By the way, today is Mardi Gras. I probably should not be here, but um I moved from there over 40 years ago. And if you didn't know, after Hurricane Katrina, public schools went out of business in New Orleans and they were all replaced by charter schools. And New Orleans was the sort of the model for how public how how education can improve with the charter schools. Now, what attracted me and my wife to Beloit some 30 years ago was how good the public school system
049was here. We knew it was good because most of the doctors that I practice with at Beloit Clinic sent their kids to Beloit schools from grade school through high school. Now, most of the doctors send their kids away somewhere else or even to the charter school. And it's not because racial differences or economic differences or class differences. It's because the school system seems to have changed its focus from academics and academic rigor and now focus more on social issues and cultural issues and pop culture. The basics of teaching like reading and writing and arithmetic have fallen by the wayside. Our country, the US, still has the world's best advanced education programs. The PhD programs, the law schools, the medical schools, engineering, pharmaceuticals, robotics programs, aerospace, finance, the best schools are in this country. But the
050students who are filling those seats are coming from foreign countries. Our students can't compete with them. Our students can't read, our students can't do mathematics. They're on their cell phones, they're playing games, they're on Tik Tok. The Indians, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Koreans, the Kenyans, the Nigerians, the Ethiopians, they're coming here eating our kids' lunch because they can read. They're focused on the basics. Floyd school district is being offered an opportunity by one of the most civically minded, socially minded benefactors in the country to reject this multi-million dollar literacy program that promises to enrich, even if it's a small group, but it's promising to enrich our students. If we fail to do that, that's a unforced error. And the negative impact of that unforced error today is going to be felt 20 years from
051now. You may not see the difference now, but 20 years from now when that generation can't read or can't compete, that's when we fall behind. I strongly urge the board to support this initiative. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> [applause] >> Mr. Schoff, would you please note that Brian Nichols yielded 3 minutes to that? Yes. Thank you. And who do we have next? Uh next we have Lisa. I realize you've all heard a lot from me, so I'm going to keep this really short tonight. We've had a great dialogue about the decision on the docket tonight related to the Hendricks Family Foundation proposal, and I believe at least we've made significant progress in addressing the concerns that have been raised, and more importantly, on starting the hard work of building trust. A request came
052to me today to consider the possibility of a delay in the vote in order to consider whether or not there's a need for one additional board workshop in order to respond to remaining concerns. The suggestion is we may be close to consensus. While we are anxious to dig in >> [sighs and gasps] >> and get to the work of implementation, approval of this pilot would represent the start of an important partnership. One that will require openness and adjustment if we're going to be successful. With that in mind, if this board determines that there is sufficient value in additional dialogue, we'll defer our request for a board decision until March March 3rd and do whatever we can to make ourselves available to provide a response to remaining questions. It is important to note that board support
053is one important part of the equation. So is the support of educators and the BEA. The comments tonight suggest there are professionals here who want to support the pilot and I'm hope hoping we can get >> [sighs] >> do the necessary work to get the board there as well. Thank you. Mrs. Show? That's all I have in the room and then I just have several emails. Go ahead. The first email I have is from Rachel. She says, "I'm the librarian and media specialist at Frierson Middle School and I'm writing in regard to the beautiful gift that has been offered by the Hendrix Foundation. As the school librarian here at Frierson, I see firsthand every day the lack of reading ability. We have a serious problem. My students would rather check out graphic novels than one
054of my one of my many, many fictional novels. They feel more comfortable reading what is basically a picture book. This tells me all I need to know. We are failing our students if we don't accept this gracious gift. Please board members, at least consider sending this through unanimously. The future of our students depends on it. Thank you." Next I have one from Miriam. "We need to support the reading initiative gift not only for our future, but for the lifelong benefits of reading proficiency. I can't fathom why anyone would vote against this magn- mag- magnanimous gift to our community. I refer you to the success of the entire state of Mississippi in dramatically improving literacy in their schools. There's a link included for this email that I can send to the board. In 2013, Mississippi Mississippi
055implemented a multi-faceted strategy for enhancing kindergarten to third grade literacy. The literacy based promotion act focuses on early literacy and teacher development. It includes teacher training in proven reading instruction methods and teacher coaching. When students struggle, their academic performance declines. And that leads to lower test scores. Research shows that these [clears throat] declining scores are closely linked to reduced economic growth as a less educated workforce hampers productivity and innovation. Thank you. Next, I have one from Sarah. Members of the school board, I'm a retired pediatrician in this community. For many reasons, I remain very invested in the education and well-being of our district's children. I believe the correct decision you make today can help positively shape their future in our community. With that in mind, I encourage each of you to vote yes on this
056proposed literacy program. Research has shown that open literacy programs, high-dose tutoring methods can have positive effects on student achievement. While long-term hard data seems to be still developing, we do not need to look far to see encouraging results. A neighboring community has reported subjective positive experience thus far. I see little downside to giving this program an opportunity to succeed. Some may feel the timing of this vote is rushed or politically motivated. However, in order to fully implement the program for the upcoming school year, timely action is necessary. Given the district's recent low performance metrics, it's imperative that we act without delay to support our students. There have been time for board members to reach out to other districts and gather additional information if they desired to do so. This initiative should not be viewed through
057a political lens. It is a non-partisan issue. The identity or political affiliation of the donor should not matter. What matters is whether the program has a potential to improve children's literacy. If you believe it might, then the mature responsible vote is yes. Additionally, if this program proves successful, it may positively influence people I'm sorry, public perception regarding education investment and demonstrate that funding can make a difference. On the other side, turning down a $2.5 million offer could make it more difficult to gain to gain to gain more community support garner, sorry, to garner more community support for future referendums involving tax payer dollars. In summary, if there is potential to improve literacy outcomes at zero cost to the community, this opportunity deserves support. Details can continue to be redefined and other complementary efforts can work
058alongside this program to further strengthen outcomes. I encourage you to vote yes for the benefit of our children and our community's future. Sarah. Next is an email from Kyle. Hello, I'm writing the board today to express my opinion that this gifted proposal be accepted and adopted for the kids in the SDB. It If it is true that the children of our future are falling behind in literacy, then we as a community should take every measure, every opportunity, every chance possible to right the ship. I'm a 2007 graduate from BMHS, a Knight, a Lancer McNeal, and a Roadrunner Royce, and have provided well for my myself and family since becoming a mechanical engineer from UW-Platteville and have been with the same employer since graduation in January of 2012. The SDB can do great things. It has
059been shown done. We live west of town in the Parkview School District. Our children attend TLA, and it was hard to not have them attend or be part of SDB. After seeing how the SDB has declined since my graduation, we knew we had to find a better means of education for our children. From seeing how they have flourished at TLA, I have no doubt that if accepted and implemented properly, this program can help our children and future at the SDB. Our eldest son in second grade at TLA is already reading performing at a third-grade level. The proof is in the pudding. Thank you for taking my email and your consideration for this program. Best regards, Kyle. Next is an email from Doug. Greetings, Beloit School Board members. My name is Doug. I'm a lifelong resident
060of the Beloit area and attend Beloit schools as did all three of my children. I graduated from Beloit College and have been a business owner with a local payroll of 40 plus years. I fully support approving the generous Hendricks Foundation $2.5 million gift for implementing the Open Literacy Skyrocket Leadership Program. Learning to read proficiently by the third grade is a critical milestone because it marks the shift from learning to read to reading to learn. It is the single greatest predictor of future academic success. We owe this to our students and our community. Doug. Next, I have one from Joanna. Hello, my name is Joanna. I'm a resident of Beloit, live in the School District of Beloit, and a proud member of Beloit Memorial Class of 1996. I hope that you accept the generous offer from
061the Hendricks Family Foundation. This offer has the potential to positively impact the students' reading skills with no cost to the district. We all know that many of our students are behind in reading, so the district must take advantage of this opportunity. I am a mother to a third and fifth-grader and have seen how the saying that in third grade kids go from reading to learn to go from learning to read to reading to learn is real. Once a student can read, the world is opened up to them. Thank you. I have one from Martin and Lisa. Please approve the reading program proposed by the Hendricks Family Foundation. Make for all students in the school district of Beloit starting with this gift. Martin and Lisa. This one is from Linda. My name is Linda. Retired and
062I I'm retired and I reside in Beloit. I have been privileged to be on the Board of Directors for the Stateline Literacy Council 10 plus years retiring in 2017. During this time, I was treasurer, fundraiser, tutor, and jack-of-all-trades. My tutoring was for anyone needing extra help. It it did not involve classroom participation. I will always remember two of my adult students. The first was a mother of one. She wanted to apply for a position that required math, which she thought she would never use. I asked her if she baked at home and she said yes. So, we talked about measurements and began our journey. Well, the ending was successful, but after her frustration, tears, hard work, and determination. She now has a job in a pharmacy and is successful. She said her struggles gave her
063the tools she needed to make sure her son was able to complete high school successfully and had gone on to college. The other student wanted to get his driver's license and could not read well at 21. He used the internet to get by. We did not use the internet when I tutored him, although it can be very helpful now. He struggled with words that sounded the same but were spelled different and had different meanings. The young man eventually took his written and driving test and passed. He had talked about returning for more tutoring, but never did. Both of these are favorite memories for me, but I wondered how they how they were able to get through school. I will vote yes for this elementary pilot offer to better educate our kids, not only in elementary,
064but it will help students learn better as they continue their education. Thank you, Linda. And this one is from Dorothy. The most sacred right sacred right we possess in a democratic society is our right to vote. We have maintained that a motion passes or a candidate is elected by a majority vote. My concern with the proposal under consideration tonight is this tactic and the timing. There is no need to ask for a unanimous vote because I would submit that not one board member present tonight from any company in this jurisdiction has that requirement for any items that appear on their agenda. So, why here and why now? It appears to me it is a means of having an impact on the election scheduled for April. If you vote no, you must be against what someone
065has offered and public comment has declared it is what we need in Beloit. And this false narrative about needing a unanimous a unanimous vote for all to be in and committed is in my opinion a form of coercion. This board we see tonight will not exist in about 6 weeks, so why not wait until after the election to let the board who will implement this program vote. The need to do to dictate who will be on the next board is overriding the real issue present presented here. My comments are related to this process, not the program. I am personally opposed to this process. Dorothy. And that was the last one. Thank you, Mrs. Shoup. Next on our agenda, we have section five, public hearings hearings regarding petition to alter school district boundaries. At this time,
066I respectfully request a motion to appoint attorney Lauren Baran as chairperson and myself as secretary for item five on tonight's agenda, the public hearing hearings regarding petition to the to alter school district boundaries. So moved. Second. Motion by Brian Nichols, seconded by Mrs. Fox. Oh, I'm sorry. I did not see that. Discussion, Mrs. Levy. Thank you so much. Just want clarification. Um it makes sense that Lauren would be the chair and lead this, but I'm wondering why you instead of Michelle need to be appointed the secretary for this item. Is is there something I'm missing? That was the legal recommendation. Okay, is is Lauren able to explain why that's necessary? Just very curious. Sure, I'll have her come to the podium, but I think it's also to help do the reading of the different documents.
067It's just one one way to set up the hearing. Um Board President Johnson would be would have a role in the hearing in that way, and I believe Miss Shoup will still take notes. Okay, thank you so much. Thank you. We have a motion and second, any other discussion. Hearing none, all in favor? I. I. I. I. I. Any oppose? Motion carries unanimously. Mrs. Berndt, you have the podium. Could I just get clarification on who moved and seconded, please? Brian Nichols made the motion, Carol Fox seconded. >> Thank you. Board President Johnson, in your role as secretary, would you please read the notice? Yes. Notice for the public hearing hearings regarding petition to modify school district boundaries, February 17th, 2026, 6:00 p.m. The School District of Beloit received a petition pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute
068117.12, which allows for the detachment of territory from one school district and its attachment to another adjoining school district by by petition. In this case, the adjoining school district is the Beloit Turner School District. A petition for detachment of a small territory may be filed by a majority of electors residing in the territory proposed to be detached or the owner owners of 50% or more of the territory territory proposed to be detached. The school boards of the School District of Beloit and Beloit Turner School District must adopt a resolution either denying or accepting the detachment or attachment by March 1st, 2026. The individual properties proposed to be detached attached are attached to this notice. The School District of Beloit will conduct a public hearing on this petition on February 17th, 2026 during the regularly scheduled
069board meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the George J. Goel Education Center, 1500 Fourth Street, Beloit. The petitioners are granted the opportunity to present their reasons in support of detachment. The Board of Education welcomes any feedback from owners, residents, and other community members at the February 17th, 2026 board meeting and anticipates taking taking board action to deny or approve the petitions at the February 17th, 2026 school board meeting. Members of the public can attend in person or view this meeting through the link on the Board of Education webpage at beloitschools.net and provide comments during the public comment period in person or via email to [email protected]. Attachments, the petition. Thank you. In making any decision under Wisconsin state statute 117.08 to 117.132, a school board and the appeals panel shall consider the following factors as they
070affect the educational welfare of all of the children residing in the affected school districts and may consider other appropriate factors. The factors for consideration in this hearing are as follows: The geographical and topographical characteristics of the affected school districts including the estimated travel time to and from school for pupils in the school districts. The educational needs of all the children residing in the affected school districts. The educational programs currently offered by each affected school district and the ability and commitment of those districts to maintain those needs and continue to offer those educational programs. Whether the proposed detachment will have any adverse effect on the program currently offered by the school district from which the territory is proposed to be detached, including both curricular and extracurricular aspects of that program. The testimony of and written statements
071filed by the residents of the affected school districts, the estimated fiscal impact of the proposed reorganization on the affected school districts, including the effect of the apportionment of assets and liabilities, whether the proposed reorganization will make any part of a district's territory non-contiguous, the socio-economic level and racial composition of the pupils who reside or will reside in territory proposed to be detached from one school district and attached to an adjoining school district, in territory proposed to be included in a new school district under 117.105, the proportion of the pupils who reside in such territory who are at risk as defined under 118.157 sub 1 sub A, and the effect of that the pupils described in this paragraph will have on the present future socio-economic level and racial composition of the affected school districts and on
072the proportion of the affected school districts enrollment that that will be children at risk, the results of any referendum under 117.10, and in reaching its decision the school board again may consider and weigh other appropriate factors as needed. Before taking presentations, I'll review the rules applicable to this hearing. This is an informal hearing, but we will record the information presented. Each person offering information will come to the podium, state your name, address, and the district that in which you currently reside, speak distinctly so that we can be sure to hear information is recorded. The procedure is to hear from the proponents, the petitioners, those in favor of the petition first and then from the opponents. Following the proponents, the those who do not want the territory transferred will be heard. Following the initial presentation by
073the proponents and opponents, there will be a short time allotted for rebuttal and or summation by both sides in the same order as before. After the the proponents and the opponents, if the district administration has not already spoken, I will allow time for any comment by the district administrator. And then I will allow both the proponents and the opponents to provide any additional information. So, at this time, if the petitioner would like to come to the podium, I don't know if anyone else is here on behalf of either the proponents or the opponents, but I will allow the petitioner to speak first. Good evening. I am the petitioner, Riley Florin, 3404 Prairie Avenue. Uh my wife and I have petitioned to detach the property from School District Beloit. Our land was originally Beloit Township property
074within the Turner School District. And to in the Bob Hurley, he was a Beloit police officer, he had to annex into the city. That is how it became City of Beloit / School District Beloit. My wife's grandfather, Ken and Judy Draving, purchased it. And her her her parents, my wife's parents, bought it from them. And then we bought it from them. In early 2000s, my wife lived there. She graduated from Memorial like 19 years ago. Her brother 14 years ago. Since then, there have been no other children. Now, we have my three children. And none of them attend School District Beloit. I have two at Turner and one at TLA. We have one child that I can't actually disclose due to this being a public hearing, but he has a hard time with change when
075it comes to people, scheduling, and surroundings with change. Their fifth-grade currently attends since 2019 and currently do not need or get services. When it comes to re-enrolling high school, I want to ensure that they don't have to face a big change or be taken out of the environment adapted to from their peers or social environments. They have become adapted I already said that. We are asking you to pass the detachment from the School District of Beloit to Turner. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Are there any other proponents in either the School District of Beloit or the School District of Beloit Turner that are here to speak on behalf of the petition tonight? Is there anyone in the room wishing to speak to oppose the petition? Dr. Anderson, do you wish to offer any
076comments on behalf of the administration? Yes, thank you very much. It is my recommendation to deny the detachment of the property. Um school districts get its property base through the property within the school district. If property is detached and goes to a different district, then our ability to tax that property to support the education of our students goes away. Uh and we all know that the district the School District of Beloit uh is in need of finances. We at this time we cannot afford to have any of our property detached and moved to another district to lose that um dollars. I do understand the comments about the education, but open enrollment is a vehicle as much as I hope people open enroll into our district. Open enrollment is a vehicle that if you want to
077go from one district to another, you can apply for open enrollment and if there is room in the um district which you applied, then there is an opportunity to be enrolled in that district. Thank you, Dr. Anderson. Would the petitioner like to provide any response or additional information? No. Okay, thank you. At this time I'll close the public presentation on this petition and move to the discussion board action phase of the meeting. At the conclusion of the board's discussion, the board will make a decision as to whether to grant the request for the transfer of property described in the petition or to deny the request for the transfer of territory described in the petition. The only information presented here after will be on request of board members concerning the information received by them or brought
078out in this meeting. Are there any questions or information by any from any board member at this time? Um I'm I'm wondering how long ago that change was made. Does anybody know that? And then how much It's basically one house. How much tax does come out of that one piece of property? Go ahead. I don't know if you seen I did provide maps with the petition and it was in like '71 that it got changed. And the taxes is $1,970. That's it. Board member Rudy, did you want to ask a question? Is there a reason why you don't want to just open enroll your child in a different district? Two of them currently are open enrolled in the Turner. And one one goes to Lincoln. Uh at high school you have to re-enter open enrollment
079and they have to approve or deny that, correct? So that's why we're trying to go this route again cuz you can do it every 2 years. And I don't know if you weren't I don't know if you were on the board then, but I did it 2 years ago. And that's why we're back today. I have a question. The 1970 uh tax quote, is that from the 25 year? Correct. Thank you. Any other board questions? Okay. Um refresh my memory again. It was It was It was changed in 1971 from from the Turner district or was there a Turner district in 1971? I don't know. I'm not from here, so. Correct. That is that whole area. If you look at the It makes it continuous. If you look at the map, I'm an island sitting
080there. Right. So, it would make Turner continuous on the Prairie Avenue there. And then it And back then you had to live in the jurisdiction, so that's how that happened. Okay. Yeah, I remember this from 2 years ago and I I was scratching my head then about how that came and that It still hurts. And uh but uh yeah, that's It's doesn't It doesn't make It For me, it doesn't make sense. It's just It's like carved out and it's one piece of property and you know, it would it would it would as- it would assist the family in educating their kids. That's my take. Thank you. Any other board questions before we turn to discussion? Oh, Ms. Levy, sorry. Oh, I apologize. I My hand is up because I had something for discussion, not necessarily
081a question, so I can wait. Okay. Any other questions before we move to discussion? Okay. Thank you. At this time, I'm going to open the floor for anybody that wants to state their initial impressions. But after we do initial impressions, I would like to walk through each of the factors so that we can have the board's rationale on each factor documented. So, if there are any general comments that anybody would like to share at this time, please go ahead and do so. Mrs. Levy. Thank you so much. Um while I am empathetic to the family's concern, um just to a reminder that this is permanent, and I see no benefit in seeding property away from our district. Um again, I completely agree with Dr. Anderson. Open enrollment is an option, and I think that remedies
082the concern for the family. Thank you. Anyone else with general comments at this time? Well, this is Tom. Warren Mr. Hankins, go ahead. Yes, um there's been a lot of talk in the last, well, my year and a half, but more recently, about being community spirited, and uh we are all in this together, this kind of talk. Um these these poor people have been trying to get in the for get into the Turner district, which when Mr. Hurley moved out there, went into Beloit. Um Mrs. Levy said this is permanent. Well, it's not permanent, cuz it could be the next owner might want to come back into Beloit. And it's not permanent. We can change this and make their life real easier. Only one talking about one island. It is on a island, one family,
083excuse me. It is an island out there. Makes no sense why it isn't our school district, and I don't think this will lead to a big big avalanche of people moving out. >> [clears throat] >> I just think this is a good goodwill gesture. They've been trying to uh get into the Turner district, and I think we should go ahead and let them have their uh their say so with how they they want their children to be raised in the Turner School District. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Hankins. Anyone else on general comments? Um I didn't raise my hand, sorry, but um Beloit Turner ceded it to us in 1971 because there was a need for it and that that family needed had a need for it. Um it appears to me that this family
084feels like they also have a need for it. Um and I would think maybe we could um do that in kind. Okay. If no one else has any general comments, I think that leads nicely into the first factor for consideration, which is the geographical and topographical characteristics of the affected school districts, including the estimated travel time to and from schools for pupils in the district. If at least one person, but however many would like to want to comment on that factor. Okay. >> Well, I know back in the day when Mr. Hurley moved out there, you could you could see Turner High School and uh you could you could do a few uh drivers and get over there. So, you know, it's it's very close to the middle school and the high school and it's
085not that far from the from the Garden Prairie School area. So, I mean, it's very close. It it should be back in the old school days, that would be their home school. Any other opinions on topographical or geographical characteristics, Mr. Nichols? So, just just confirmation, you are uh closer to all three all of the Beloit Turner schools than you are to the Beloit schools, correct? Thank you. Anyone else on that first factor? Okay, moving to the second factor, the educational needs of all the children residing in the affected school districts, educational programs currently offered, and the ability to meet needs and continue to offer those educational programs. If at least one person could speak to that factor and however many would like. Ms. Miller, go ahead. Thank you. Um just to clarify cuz here I
086switched to a different document. This is um considering educational needs for all students in our current district or for the students in question. All students in both districts. >> districts. Okay, got you. Okay, so um I would just like to say I'm very empathetic to to all of the perspectives that have been shared. I think that um looking at the room packed full of people here who have come tonight to ask us um you know, to continue to do everything that we can do for the students here in Beloit. Um while I absolutely see the great amount of gray area in this, I think it is clear that there is a wide community interest in us honoring all of the resources possible that we can use to provide educational programming to our students. And while
087it might feel like a small amount, um all of us here who have worked on the budget know that like really everything that we can do for our current students matters in terms of maintaining and you know, retaining staff and programming that's necessary to do all the things that many of us here spoke tonight that we need to do. So, I understand it's a sticky situation, but I believe that it it serves the educational needs of of the students in not just our district, but also in the wider community that we do the best we can for our kids as we are all neighbors together. And so I would um on that basis be in favor of um supporting Dr. Anderson's recommendation. Thank you. Anyone else on educational needs of all children? Moving to the
088third factor, whether the proposed detachment will have any adverse effect on programs currently offered by the district, including both curricular and extracurricular aspects of the program. Again, at least one person. Ms. Levy, go ahead. Uh for clarification, is at least one person required before we can move to the next factor? The law requires that the board discuss each factor under the statute. So, I am asking for at least one comment on each factor, yes. Yeah, here to help. Um I think even though it's a small numerical amount from some perspectives, every dollar counts. And so, if if we agree to that, then I can't understand why we would willingly let go um of money that could come to our district to support all of our students and in in turn all of our programming. The
089fourth factor is the testimony heard in the hearing. We had the petitioner and Dr. Anderson's comments. Ms. Ruby, go ahead. Um as a mom of a student who required uh consistency and built community in one school, um he also had special needs, so it was always a little bit scary filling out the paperwork. We were just um asking for an in-district um change of school, but I understand how hard it is to um have to fill out that paperwork and wait on that response when um it's so important for your student. Thank you. Anyone else? I would say not only wait on the response, but have a possibility that it could be denied, and that that would be a very difficult situation. The fifth factor is the estimated fiscal impact on of the proposed reorganization
090on the school districts, including the effect of the apportionment of assets and liabilities. Um I'm going to try to simplify this, but night 1900 or 1700, what was your taxes? 1970. 1975 or 1970, okay. Um based on a lot of work with the budget over the last two and a half years and and uh working with you know, what's what we've heard about tonight, an offer that's been made to us. Um I honestly don't think that's going to break the bank and put us into default. Uh I think it's a good neighbor thing to do. Um I heard somebody out here talk about you know, the the the the way Bullitt used to be. I don't remember who it was, but um that's the way it was where I grew up, and I just think
091being a good neighbor means being a good neighbor and helping out when you can, and um he's already they are already taking their kids to a to a to a school that they could literally almost walk to, I guess, but at the same time um they're doing what's right for their family as we all want to do what's right for our family. And Board Member Brewer, you gave a perfect example, so uh I I I I don't I I don't think we will miss a beat. I don't think it's going to dis- bring catastrophe to the School District of Beloit. We're going to be We're going to look ourselves in the mirror tomorrow and say, "That was a good thing to do." Thank you, Ms. Miller. Thank you so much. Um I also, building on
092that line of thinking, um you know, we've got an agenda item here this evening um to support funding for like a field trip and and like as like I said, like these things seem minute like small like nickels and dimes here and there, and and I actually like completely agree with everything that I just heard you say, Board Member Nichols. Just want to affirm that. It's also a good neighbor thing to do to think about our kids and the hard-working families and educators that are doing everything that we can for our kids in this district. Um and it's been suggested to us even about like this later agenda item this evening, you know, you got to be careful like what we approve because then everybody's going to, you know, the more we have to work
093with as small as that might seem right now, the more it helps us also also be good neighbors to the community and and the children and the staff that we were elected to represent. So, I my heart is right there with with these comments. I just for me, I have to think about who are we here to represent and how that could potentially negatively impact if we were to um go against Dr. Anderson's recommendation. >> [snorts] >> Thank you. The sixth factor is whether the proposed reorganization will make any part of a school district's territory non-contiguous. I think we've commented on this a little bit already, but if somebody wants to sum for the board what we've said. Um it actually appears that it makes the border smoother. So and and um to correct the
094statement um Mr. Flurry's statement that he's on an island, that actually is an incorrect statement. It's an indentation that he's on. So it's it's it's not an island, but it is a little blur a bump. [laughter] A peninsula without water, thank you. Any other comments on that factor? Okay. The seventh factor is the socioeconomic level and racial composition of the pupils who reside or will reside in the territory proposed to be detached from one district to another as well as the proportion of the pupils who reside in the territory who are at risk. And any information we have as to present and future socioeconomic level or racial composition. I would say it's difficult to comment on that because that changes over the years. Um how however, it seems like there's some risk for the social
095emotional needs of the particular children who are residing there at the moment. Anyone else on that factor? Okay. The eighth element is the results of any referendum held under 11710. I don't know that we received any information. if if anybody would like to comment, go ahead. Sure. So, I mean again, it it would stand to reason that if there were some if there were a referendum that we you know, we're not currently going to referendum, but if if there were a referendum and it were to pass, the it would it would add to the resources of the school district and and its ability to serve our students. And it is unfortunately not up to us whether or not I guess like how a different school district's open enrollment works, but there certainly is the ability
096of another educational entity to weigh those social and emotional needs of of those students and it would absolutely be my hope that they would do what is best for the social and emotional needs of those students. Okay. The last portion of the discussion is any other factors that the board would like to consider. If there's if there's anything that anybody would like to add to this discussion, now would be the time for that. Otherwise, we can entertain a motion. Second that. Director Shaw. When an interview when an individual buys a piece property, it says what school district they're going to go to. So, when you initially buy the property, the property already tells you what school district you're going to go to because each school each piece property is associated with the school district. So,
097I don't know when I don't know how long ago the property was purchased, but when it is purchased, it does tell you where you're going to go to school. Also is I grew up with my parents taught me that a dollar is a dollar. So, it is it would be um If I did not make the recommendation for the board to keep the land attached cuz even though it's a small amount of dollars, it's still dollars for our school district and be ill-advised for me to recommend that you lose any dollars in funding our students' education. In light of Dr. Anderson's comments, do any board members wish to comment further before we take a motion? Okay. I believe you all have motion language available to you. Whoever would like to make a motion to either
098approve or deny. Okay. Uh I will make a motion to grant the transfer of the territory described in the petition and adopt the corresponding resolution that the reorganization requested in the petition filed on January 14th, 2026 to detach territory described in said petition from the School District of Beloit and attach it and attach it to the Beloit Turner School District be granted and that a corresponding order be issued. I second. I will read the resolution. The School District of Beloit Board of Education Resolution 25-26.03 resolution authorizing issuance of an order. Whereas Wisconsin State Statute 117.12 allows for the detachment and attachment of a small territory to be initiated by a petitioner of two adjoining school districts and whereas a meeting of the Board of Education of the School District of Beloit was held on February
09917th, 2026 and whereas the petitioners Riley J. Flory and Elizabeth A. Flory filed a petition on January 14th, 2026 to detach certain property located at 3404 Prairie Avenue, Beloit, Wisconsin 53511, parcel number 20611220100 from the School District of Beloit and attach it to the Beloit Turner School District. And whereas the description of the property as described in the attached petition has been certified as accurate by Rebecca Wallendal, Municipal Clerk, City of Beloit, and whereas the value of the property as the most recent assessment in 2025 was 248,600, and whereas the number of pupils preside residing on the territory as of the last count date was three, and whereas the above-identified property owners were properly noticed by a communication dated February 5th, 2026, and the item appeared on the school board agenda for the public hearing
100dated February 17th, 2026 for board action. Now, therefore, be it resolved that an order be issued and filed approving the detachment described herein. Thank you. Ms. Leavy, your hand is raised. It is. If a roll call vote is not required, I would like to request one, please. Thank you. Thank you. Um Ms. Shope, do you want to handle a roll call vote for us? Carol Fox. I. Tom Hankins. I. I. I. Sorry. I wouldn't want to go on. Amy Levy Nay. Megan Miller Nay. Brian Nickels I. Joann Rue I. And Tia Johnson Nay. I have four to three the motion passes. I do too. Attorney Brand that concludes this portion of tonight's hearing. Thank you. We are at reports to the board. Our first report tonight is from the student board report student board representative
101McKenna Rounds. Hello hello everyone. Um It's been a little while since I've done this so I'd like to say that I had um a teacher help me organize the events that have been going on and he advised me to um pump my fist on certain things um to emphasize them so um in honor of him I will be doing that. Okay. So we are gearing up for the ACT in March. I believe it's March 11th. Um and so the library has um ACT prep books uh available for students to check out and use um and we're trying to um give them those resources to um succeed. Um the girls wrestling team is moving on to sectionals. There are three girls specifically that are moving on to sectionals. Um senior and my dear friend Lisa Ramsden
102her photos have of Birds of Beloit were published by the Welty Center um and it is the official Welty Center um book of Birds of Beloit. Oh wait, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. [laughter] Um numerous students um at Beloit Memorial High School uh received awards and recognition at the Rockford Art Museum and I believe their art pieces are being displayed. Yeah, yeah. I have um exclamation points there. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Um the jazz program was once again selected to perform and compete at Essentially Ellington in New York. Um oh yeah, yeah. Um and they have gone several times um and I've heard that they do well every time. Um once again, they have Hot Chili and Cool Jazz this Sunday from 2 to 5 in the cafeteria at the at Beloit Memorial High School. Um
103the boys basketball team has been very successful and is nominated for team of the week in Wisconsin. Um go vote. And um while I do not want to engage in horse race journalism, which I recently learned about in AP Gov um last time I checked, we were in the lead. Um and on that topic, Amari Herford won player of the week about 2 weeks ago. Um, yeah. Uh, our team has been doing very well. Last I knew they were undefeated. So. And that's it. >> [applause] >> Thank you, McKenna. It's so good to hear all those wonderful news coming from Beloit Memorial. We really appreciate it. Next we have the Superintendent report, Dr. Anderson. I would just like to remind everyone again, if you haven't seen the banners outside of all of our schools, we
104do have the career fair next Monday at 5:00 here. So, if you know of anyone out there that might be looking for a job in education, please have them come by because we're looking to try to make sure that if every good applicant that comes through that we have a position that we start hiring early. So, get the word out. We're trying to the I want to commend there our maintenance department. I saw them working hard in front of all the schools to make sure that a nice banner is out there to attract all prospective candidates. I also want to let you know that um, today we just finished our first round of staffing um, projections. So, we've met with all of the principals in constructing the 2026-2027 budget, the largest portion of that is
105staffing. Salary and fringe benefits is about 80% of a budget. So, we've now met with all of the principals to come up with what we think is just in staffing needs for the next school year. Um, we are now putting that portion to find out with our revenues to find out how the balance is and then we'll have a second round, but it is our goal to make sure that we have a budget presented to the board in draft form by April, May so they can be voted in its final form by in June before staff leave. Next month we will put on our board agenda to review the elementary alternative school that we have been working on. So that is one of the options that we're looking for for students that may not be
106fitting into our normal elementary school. We should have presentations ready next month. So those are the three major events that I'd like to bring to everyone's attention tonight. Thank you, Dr. Anderson. Next we have >> last thing. Sorry about that. I did see Liam Mallett come in and we want to welcome her to the Coeur d'Alene School District as the new assistant superintendent of curriculum instruction. Yes, again Dr. Mallett, I don't know if you were here when I announced it in my president's report report, but congratulations. We're looking forward to working with you. Next, the Policy and Human Resources Committee Report, Chairperson Nichols. Okay, hang on to your hats. I got a long time I got a long time to speak. Actually, we were it was a very short meeting tonight. And so we moved
107the approved the HR exhibit A and moved it to the full board for approval later on this evening. Thank you very much. Have a good evening. Thank you. Next we have Teaching Learning Equity and Pupil Services Committee Report, Chairperson Rue. Oh, it was cancelled it was cancelled because you guys had a special meeting last week. Okay, I'm sorry. Did you want to report anything on the special meeting you had? >> Uh so yeah, sure. We met one time to discuss our um dual language immersion program. We um talked about what we're doing right now, and we've asked um staff to uh come up with some different proposals of things they think will work, and we are meeting next month to decide on what direction we will take as a district. Thank you. Our next item
108we are at item seven board action {slash} discussion items. The first one is approval of funds for the BMJOE Essentially Ellington Finals. The purpose of this is requesting financial assistance from the Board of Education and School District of Beloit for the Beloit Memorial Jazz Orchestra orchestra trip to the Essentially Ellington Finals in New York City, April 28th to May 3rd, 2026. Dr. Anderson. There's been so many wonderful comments about our music program and all of the accolades it brings to our district. So, this is just one of those opportunities that our students have to show all showcase all of their amazing talents. So, of course, anytime you go on a trip, there are expenses. Um the students raise a lot of their own money, but I think this is a chance for um to listen
109on the request for if the school district can help in some of those funding. Good evening, Dr. Anderson and members of the Beloit School Board. Thank you for having me tonight. Um so, we have some great news to share, and it's been mentioned already, but the Beloit Memorial Jazz Orchestra is once again uh a finalist this year. 20 finalist bands, applications from all over the the 120 applicants. Um we've been selected as a finalist to participate in the 31st annual Essentially Ellington finals, which is held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City April 30th through May 2nd. This is our 13th time we've been selected as finalists in the past 18 years. And this trip will include visiting the home of jazz legend Louis Armstrong, a trip to Harlem to the National Jazz
110Museum, lunch at the world-famous Red Rooster, a shared rehearsal and performance with another one of the finalists bands, Orange County School of the Arts, which will be held at the Juilliard School of Music, and we'll also see a Broadway show. We're not sure which one yet. Um obviously the main thrill of this trip is the festival and competition itself. Students will get to spend 3 days at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Uh and this is a an event created by the the great trumpet player Wynton Marsalis, who will be retiring after next year, by the way. Um here they will meet the members of the the other 19 bands, make lifelong connections with other musicians that share their passion for jazz. They also get to meet and collaborate with members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center
111Orchestra through sectionals, workshops, uh a dinner, a jam session, and a rehearsal. Our big day will either be Friday or Saturday, May 1st or 2nd, which we are waiting to hear. And you and the community can see our performance, which will live stream on jazz.org. I've been really fortunate to have this opportunity 12 times, and this is only the second time I'll be taking a group that has never been there. So um we have two seniors in the band, and the rest are obviously younger than that. Um this is an extremely competitive event to try to get into. Um I mentioned there's 20 bands, and this year there's only 12 of those that are public schools. The rest are performing arts schools or a conglomerate um ensembles. So I'm really, really proud of what they've
112accomplished. Um now, the part that keeps me up all night, most nights, every night, is how do we raise all this money? Um So, the finalists are announced in late January. Uh it was January 28th when we got the news, and that gives us basically 11 weeks to raise the money we need to go. And so, we are in the process right now of sending out about 400 letters to family, friends, local businesses asking for support. And then, we will also be having uh seven concerts between now and the time we leave, uh which allows the community to hear us um and also inspire people to make a donation to our trip. The main cost associated with the trip is hotel and ground transportation for 23 students, one director, and three chaperones, which is approximately
113$25,000. Uh the entire trip together is about 50,000. Historically, the school district has contributed to the cost of sending this group, and this has allowed for students to remain focused on rehearsing, preparing for the performance in New York. And I feel the students will have made a strong effort to raise the remaining funds needed by the end of April through our various uh performances. So, participating in the what they call the Super Bowl of high school jazz competitions has put our music program and school district on the map, and the students always do an incredible job representing our community on a national level. Based on all the above information, um the Blue Mountain High School Jazz Orchestra is requesting financial support in the amount of $15,000. On behalf of the students, I thank you for
114giving us this opportunity and considering our request. Thank you, [snorts] Mr. Behrens. Is there a motion? Yes. I'd move approval of with Jazz Orchestra's request for financial support in the amount of $15,000 for the Essentially Ellington finals in New York City. I'll second and I also have a question. Is that okay? Um Dr. Anderson, when we were considering the amount, is there um was this just was this just based on I see like in the board notes there's just uh continuity around different amounts, but um you know, there there are various amounts that have been um passed uh prior and I'm just curious if 15,000 is enough or if you've given any consideration with uh Ms. Elwood or anybody else um if we have capacity to do cuz it looks like in one year we
115did like 20. So, I was just curious if we could just get your comments on that. One is the board does not have any line in its budget for these types of programs. However, the school board does have its own budget and in that budget it does have the capacity um to grant this request. Um we had looked I think we have given 10,000 some years, 15,000. Um there may have been one with 20. So, it's not that you have a particular line item, but you do have money in your school board budget, which is also my budget, but I don't spend any money um to help this further request. Thank you and just a clarifying follow-up question. When you say we have the money in the board um in the board budget and and
116I'll just side step my comment to say I think there've been some conversations in the past about creating line items for things like this and the HBCU trip etc. So, maybe that's just a note for a future discussion. Um would we have capacity to do 20? I'm asking because I know that things are really strained for a lot of people right now and it's a lot for our kids to go out and do all that that work and fundraising and I also just want to respect a lot and what I know is a lot of people's strained financial realities at the moment. I want to give you one of my favorite budget lines. So, if you wanted to give 20, could you do that? The answer is yes. Well, it may mean if you want
117to go to a board conference later on that I will tell you your funds are dry. The answer is yes. So, I can you can always fund your number one a priority. It's other parties you may not be able to. So, if you want to um raise it to 20, could we do we have the money to pay that? Yes. But, I would just remind you is that you may get other requests after this that you may not then have the funds. So, but the answer is could you do it? The answer is yes. If you decide to raise it to 20, you would make Mr. Barron an extremely happy man. You would be able to cover it, but you may have to make someone unhappy in the future. Thank you so much. Mrs. Levy.
118Thank you. So, to piggyback on Board Member Miller's comment, um I am in favor of raising the amount to 20,000. Now, however, giving 15,000 to the band and holding that 5,000, have we reached out to understand if other groups of students are doing field trips? I think our theater went to Scotland last year. I don't know if they're doing something um if there's a foreign language trip. I know the HBCU rising tour trip. Um so, yes, I'm all for giving 15,000. Um if we could set aside if we can go to 20 if we can hold that open if other groups are in need. And thirdly, um I'm so excited that the budget is going to be coming sooner. I think it's really important for us to have a line item so that we can
119consistently support our students that are doing amazing things. I think we need to create space for that. Thank you. Any other discussion? Yeah, I'd like to Go ahead, Tom. Yeah. Yes, um I think it's very important to uh very admirable that Mr. Barrons says that they needed 50 and he's asking for 15. I Yeah, you know, if we give him all 50, that'd be great. I think it's very important for for setting a precedent in doing so with this board, that if, you know, they have to help their own way of going on these little field trips, wherever they may go. So, I'm I'm duly in favor of the 15. I do like the idea of my colleagues of maybe saving five in reserve, if we can. We'll have a better picture as Mr. Barrons
120gets close to the date. But, uh I'm not I don't know how sure how we weave that into the motion, but I just wanted to point out that I'm very it's very admirable that the uh jazz band goes out and raises more than half of it on its own, or two-thirds of it on its own. So, thank you, Mr. Barrons. You're welcome. Thank you, Tom. Mrs. Fox. Um I'm also in favor of this and reserving the five. Maybe we can just approve the 15 tonight, and if Mr. Barrons has difficulties raising what he needs to raise, he can come back and ask us for the other five. Any other discussion? Hearing none, all in favor? I. I. I. I. I just So, wait, are we changing So, sorry, my hand is Are we changing the
121motion language? Are we adding 15? Are we No. No. No, the motion stands and the under state current understanding is if Mr. Barron needs an extra 5,000 in the future, he will come back to us. I and I just want to be very clear before we vote. My idea of the 5,000 is if any group needs that, they are free to ask and we will address that as well. Thank you. Okay. Um, any opposed? Motion carries unanimous. Thank you, Mr. Barron. We are so proud and looking forward to [snorts] watching you. In fact, maybe we could have a watch party or something here and everyone don't forget there are seven concerts. Mr. Barron, please inform us so that we can get those on our pages as well and announce them as they come up. Absolutely.
122This first one is this Sunday. This Sunday, where? At at the high school, the hot chili cool jazz event 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sounds good. Thank you. Thank you so much. Our next item tonight is item 7B, waving of policy 840 public gifts to schools and policy 8 40 rule one. The purpose of this is due to the nature of the pilot program and donation being offered, the legal recommendation is to wave both policies and just for general clarification, in overall, the sense is that we are not um, violating these policies, just that the policy language is sufficiently vague that um, some people could argue one way while another person could argue another um, and that's the legal recommendation was to just waive them. And Dr. Anderson is currently working on looking at other districts'
123policies regarding public gifts to schools to see if we could come up with stronger language for our policy. Um, doing some research on this. Um, it it does get a little sticky because what's what is a public what's the definition of a public gift, what's a gift, what's a donation, what's a grant, um, and then you have, um, opportunities like this one that, uh, can be in red as a little bit of all of them. So, at this point, um, I will I see Ms. Miller has her hand up. Discussion point or Question. Yes, it is it is a question, um, a question and a comment. My question first is, um, to Dr. Anderson. So, and just for context, um, I did reach out to, uh, Ms. Verseth earlier. Uh, we had a really nice
124meeting on Monday, and, um, I have some like very positive things that I would like to share and discuss it that pertains to the next agenda item, and I am just curious because I had I did talk to Dr. Anderson prior, um, what your opinion is about what action we should should or shouldn't take at this point on this item, and I'll just defer to your thoughts there. Thank you. Dr. Anderson. Well, if we're talking about the item of waiving the policy, I mean, I think until you get a new policy in place, if First, I don't know if we actually need a new policy, but I know that that is a request. So, I did reach out to, uh, my friend who is a vice president of Neola. Neola does a lot of, um,
125writing school board policies throughout. We do not subscribe to Neola, uh, but they thought they had a policy that would deal with uh private donations um and people that bequeath things to the district. So, he had to check to his superiors whether or not he can send me a draft copy that we could maybe make an hour. So, we will attempt to um if we get the template to create language that would open up for this and maybe other private donations in the future. Um but I think for this one waving the policy is that if you decide to take action tonight, I think waving the policy is fine. If you're not going to take action tonight uh and you're going to take Ms. First's up on our offer, um then maybe you could do
126it at the next meeting. But I think this was set aside so there'd be no barriers uh to accepting the proposal. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mrs. Levy. Um my question is just for clarification. It's my understanding, and someone please correct me if if I'm wrong, is that the the pilot that we are uh reviewing um is a private gift. So, I'm not certain how waving of a public gift policy helps us or or in accepting a private gift. Um and we are able to act uh if there is no policy that governs the thing that we are trying to do. I don't recommend it, but you can do that. I guess my point is I'm not sure how waving a policy about public gifts impacts us with receiving a private gift. Thank you.
127No, if someone could provide clarity. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm going to ask um Dr. Anderson and perhaps if even um Attorney Brand could weigh in, what is the legal definition of a public versus a private gift and is this a gift or is this a grant? Is this a Yeah, um so again, um why this is on tonight's meeting there are um there's vagueness in in our language, there's vagueness in our understanding of what this is and um to move forward in just in an abundance of caution wave this policy this one time for this one issue. Dr. Anderson. First, I don't know that we actually need um to wave this policy in order to accept the donation. I don't know that we need to create another policy to uh accept the donation.
128However, that was raised by board members, so it would be more prudent rather than having a discussion about whether or not certain parts of the policy need to be changed or not changed to simply wave the policy so that that did not become a hindrance to the board accepting donation sh- the proposed donation from the Hendricks Foundation should it choose to do so. Thank you. Brian Nichols. Thank you. Let me see if I can add a little uh clarity to this. Um a year and a half ago, I think it was, uh Mr. Carns received the Was the principal of the year? Or elementary school of the year? Principal. Principal of the elementary elementary principal of the year for the state of Wisconsin. And we receive he received or the school district received a very
129generous donation from the Herb Kohl Foundation key word foundation. Um Mrs. Elwood, we did receive that money, did we not? From the Herb Kohl Foundation. Okay. Do you remember the amount? I know it's not $2.5 million. $5,000. Okay. So, again, we've accepted money for an award from the Herb Kohl Foundation, and I doubt that it's a it's it's similar to the Hendricks Family Foundation. So, just FYI. Thank you. Mrs. Fox. Um yeah, and we I mean, we certainly can wave it if we choose to. My my feeling is it it what we're doing this evening is hopefully um passing a a motion that we're going to move forward to creating a contract with the Hendricks Foundation, and at that point, we will be accepting the money. We aren't accepting any money tonight. Um and so,
130I because when I was looking at thinking about this over the weekend, I mean, what we're doing is is saying we want to move forward um with working together to work out this offer. Um and that we would go move to the stage where we're making a contract um that is agreeable to both parties. So, I think we have time to develop a policy for accepting funds. Um I had a list of other things we, you know, developing benchmarking data, um allowing staff put input and buy-in. Um creating those parameters around bonuses. Um all of those things are things that we will have time to do as we create the contract. So, um so, a policy could be we make sure the policy fits what we need as we move forward with the contract. Thank
131you, Mrs. Fox and other board members. If the if you haven't had the chance yet, the recommended motion for um dealing handling the Hendricks Family Foundation proposal is posted under 7C, and it is indeed with the condition that agreement will be finalized and approved by the foundation and the Board of Education. But right now we are looking at this policy and and waving this policy. And again, this is the legal recommendation by our legal team for for us to do to keep us in the best legal position possible. Mrs. Rue. Okay, so I have a couple of questions. One, if we wave I guess they're kind of hand-in-hand. If we wave policy tonight, like what precedence does that set for the future? And along with that like um I'm concerned about the optics, I guess.
132Um if if we do this tonight in order to move things along. So um I'm I mean this is my first year, so I'm not familiar with waving stuff like this. So if you could speak to that, that would be lovely. First, I don't think it sets any precedent. Everything you'll do will be on a case-by-case basis. So this doesn't set a precedent that you have to wave something in the future. Like I said, I don't know that we need to create a new policy. I don't know that there's a need to wave this policy, but since that was brought up as a concern um we certainly can create another policy. We'll get a draft, we can bring that forward. So this was to just take any roadblocks away that an individual or individuals might
133have if they thought we could not accept this Hendricks Foundation proposal or gift um because of policy. Mrs. Levy. Thank you. And if this question is cart before the horse, feel free to differ it until we discuss the Hendricks proposal. Um, but I just want to clarify what board member Fox stated. Um, it sounds, and if I heard you correctly, that your understanding is tonight we'll decide whether or not we move forward to create a contract or an agreement. And so that leads to me to believe that then that contract or agreement would come back to the full board for approval, or are we deciding tonight, yep, we're doing this, and I don't know, possibly work out details later, but it's already been approved. So my question is more about the logistics of the decision-making.
134Thank Thank you, Mrs. Levy. So the um A little background. The Hendricks Family Foundation came to the board on December 16th, and at public comment offered a $2.5 million grant, gift, donation, um, however you want to call it. It's an incredible as magnanimous sum of money that could really benefit the school district of Beloit right now. What they didn't come with is a written contract or agreement. And part of that, as I have found out, is because if this board decides not to move forward, it doesn't make much sense for our legal team or their legal team to incur costs and time if we are not serious about moving forward with this. Tonight's agenda item, when we get to it, it is to move forward with getting an agreement negotiated and and finalized between the
135Hendrick Hendrick's Family Foundation and the school district of Beloit. And so, if if you if board members haven't taken the time yet to carefully read the agenda, um I'm I'm sorry, but the motion for the Hendrick's Family Foundation is conditional upon that agreement. So, so first, we need to say we support this, we're going to move forward, we are we are making a sincere uh good faith effort, and please move please work together finalizing those details, working with the BEA, working with the stakeholders, and getting that figured out. When they get that figured out, hopefully within a month or two, they will bring it back to us and we can review it and do a thumbs up or thumbs down. Any other discussion? Mr. Hankins, did you want to weigh in? Good. Thank you. Thank
136you. I would entertain a motion again, based on the recommendation of our legal team, our very competent and reliable legal team, uh to move approval of waving board policy 840 public gifts to schools and 840 rule one guidelines for accepting public gifts to schools for the purpose of the Hendrick's Family Foundation offer. So, moved. Second. Motion by Brian Nichols, seconded by Carol Fox. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Nay. Motion carries 6 to 1. Our next agenda item tonight is the Hendricks Family Foundation proposal. The Hendricks Family Foundation exists to support local organizations that strengthen and sustain a thriving Beloit community, improving educational opportunities and outcomes for children in the city is our highest and most important priority. With this in mind, the Hendricks Family Foundation respectfully submitted
137a communication as contingent as a contingent offer of support to fund a turnaround pilot project at one elementary school in the School District of Beloit. Funding for a pi- pilot project allows the district an opportunity to test strategies that may offer scalable and sustainable solutions to improve academic achievement. Dr. Anderson. First, I want to make it known how strongly I support this generous proposal. I think that any opportunity we can to improve the educational benefits of any of our children and all of our children is something we can take advantage of. I also know that for me, what is important is that Ms. Furst has tonight has made a uh what I'll call a a goodwill gesture that if the board needs more time to make a decision, they have granted you until um the
138next board meeting at the beginning of March for you to have one more workshop meeting in which they would help you if that's necessary. As much as I would like to get this issue settled as much as I would like to be able to move on and start the planning for the implementation uh should you accept it. I would much rather go into this making sure that we have agreement and if it is that one more meeting would be beneficial to the uh school board and if the Hendricks Foundation is willing to grant you a little more time to have another workshop to answer any last-minute questions then I'm in favor of that. I want this to pass. I want our children be able to get the advantage of this. I want our staff to
139get the advantage of this. As much as I would like you to take that action tonight if you truly do need more time um that has been given to you so if you need more time, if you need another meeting, I don't need another meeting. But if you need another meeting then I think they're offering that opportunity to you and you should consider that. If you don't need another meeting, then I just want everyone to know how strongly I recommend that you take this opportunity tonight. Thank you, Dr. Anderson. Brian Nichols. I move approval of accepting the Hendricks Family Foundation proposal that was presented to the BOE on Tuesday, December the 16th, 2025 of $2.5 million for a high-intensity literacy pilot program with the condition that an agreement will be finalized and approved by the
140foundation and the Board of Education. Before there's a second, I would just want to say I appreciate Ms. Forsythe's comments and just like she is offering us a good faith gesture, if we could please follow like our general procedure here and have a discussion, I would receive it as one of seven as a good faith gesture from our board. So, I would just like to offer that before there's a second. >> Thank you, Ms. Miller. As always, there will be discussion if this if there is a second on this. Second. There is a motion by Brian Nichols and a second by Carol Fox. Discussion, Ms. Miller. Thank you. Um I just prepared some comments and I just want to say how thankful I am to Ms. Forseth for her time. Um one of the reasons
141that like so full disclosure like you know, we finally just got to get get together yesterday. Um and it's it's long overdue and you know, life is busy. It's all good. Um but I I think the spirit of the conversation that we shared that I'd like to take a few minutes just to share with with the board and with those here in participation and online is um interesting in the context of what just occurred here because really um there have been a lot of maybe not good faith conversations right here at our board table, which is disappointing to me, but I'm hoping that this can be the opportunity to turn a page and do something very positive. So, um I had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Ms. Forseth yesterday and I want to express
142again my sincere gratitude to her for agreeing to meet with me and just for taking the time to deeply consider my questions and perspectives. Uh for being willing to openly share her perspectives with me. Um I don't and please don't get mad at me, but I don't subscribe to the Boise Daily News. Um I know there have been some articles and uh people who have randomly come up to me like pale in the face asking me if I'm okay have led me to believe that there has been some discussion or some assumptions made in the community about like ways in which people on this board are are intending to vote and for various reasons why and I applaud everybody's creativity. We all clearly had really good creative writing teachers, but I'd like to take this
143moment to clarify that um just like all of our board decisions and all of our district decisions, uh it requires careful time and deliberation and it's to ask questions is not to to dissent. It is to ensure that we are are making the correct choices for all of our children and all of our families and all of our staff. So, to that end, I will I'll share with you what my initial primary concerns were and um and explain kind of where I personally have landed. Um one of my concerns was that originally the tone that was set by coming to a meeting with no warning, with some some unusual stipulations for the board that didn't seem congruent with our ability to best meet the needs of our students, staff, and families was a concern. Uh
144the seemingly arbitrary requirement that both programs be offered in only one building. Uh the requirement of the unanimous vote, which couched in the language about how they believe we would be unlikely to pass a referendum if we were unable to produce a unanimous vote. Feel To me, it felt like a threat. Um it didn't feel like it was the spirit of partnership. It also um felt disrespectful to just our public governance model, which is designed to allow us to represent the input of our whole and diverse community, which is diverse in many ways including perspectives and thoughts uh and needs. The urgency to vote on this before we've had the opportunity to pass a policy that is intended to secure our institutional best interests and agency and to support our students and staff. And uh
145or to hear input from staff and families and just uh the misrepresentation like we discussed that like these programs alone will make a sizable impact on our state testing outcomes. So, given all of those concerns, I could not have hoped for a better discussion. Um Ms. Furseth's willingness to set aside preconceived notions uh along with, you know, my willingness to do the same, we had a discussion rooted in mutual respect that focused very much on the best interests of our of our kids. And most of my concerns were completely assuaged. Um I really have to applaud um her, you know, the word nuance is tossed around quite a bit and it's a good a good word to assign to it. Uh so at this point, I'm feeling very hopeful and enthusiastic about some of the
146potential partnerships um in addition to this one that could come about from for this for our students. So um this is this is how these concerns were addressed. And I'm speaking on behalf of the many, many stakeholders who have reached out with concerns um because I have heard fairly evenly from sort of many perspectives on this. Very much for and very much against. There hasn't been a lot of in between. On the subject of how we talk about our students in state testing, um again, with gratitude to Ms. Furseth, she reflected back to me that in hindsight, there there probably was a likely a better way for the this conversation to be initiated. Uh she also expressed a sincere interest, which I'm really excited about, in collaborating on how best to provide honest and balanced
147information about student outcomes and the work that we need to do that doesn't overly, not disregard, but doesn't overly emphasize the Forward Exam as the only indicator of whether students are reading at grade level. Uh she in fact agreed that, you know, internal data like the MAPs um are more valued even than that at at TLA because it's three times a year and it provides meaningful information about student growth. It's what I use at work to help grow my own students. Um on the subject of being flexible with ensuring that there are no stipulations that interfere with us placing students who will most benefit from this reading intervention, she agreed to discuss this with the Family Foundation and to adjust and I think Ms. Furseth just alluded to this as well, just to adjust maybe
148seats to best match student need. One of my biggest concerns um as a reading teacher, uh, I've been a reading specialist, um, and a reading teacher for almost 10 years now, and, um, I'm currently in a in a graduate program actively studying like how we need to reshape and readjust how we best serve, uh, early literacy for students who are neuro-diverse, which includes, uh, children with dyslexia. And there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. There are students in our district who will be an amazing match for this tutoring program, and I am so excited for them to potentially have this opportunity. There are also students who show up maybe the same way on paper, like for testing, as those students who would who might even be adversely impacted by being just kind of slotted into something
149if it doesn't fit their specific needs, and that was really like my biggest concern, um, just as a teacher and as a parent, um, I have three daughters, one of whom, um, well, they're all probably kind of neuro-spicy, as we all are, but, uh, one of whom, uh, receives uh, special education support, um, in part for reading. So, um, speaking from personal experience as well. Um, with nothing but good things to say about, um, her elementary school. But anyway, without digressing further, um, she agreed to discuss this and to adjust seats to best match student need, regardless of which building they are in, as long as the building can support the logistics of housing the tutoring program, which is very reasonable and makes sense to me. Uh, this completely removed my concern about simply sliding
150students into fill space, knowing that children are complex, and an intervention that helps one child, like as they said, could could hurt another if it's not the right fit. Uh, the two issues remaining for me, um, are the timing and the conditions of how we vote. Ideally, I believe we need to vote on this when we have a policy, but I assured Ms. Forsythe, and I will hold to that, you know, word. Um, while I would prefer that we have a policy in place, um, it's not a deal breaker for me, but I did it's just to, um, sort of build on what Ms. Levy was saying earlier, it's certainly ideal. Um, it it makes us honestly a better partner to the Hendrix Family Foundation when we have policy in place to make sure that
151we are um properly set up and able to do our due diligence institutionally to support the actual implementation of these things. Um Sorry, I keep losing my spot. Um and so, let's see. Okay, and we've already kind of talked about that. So, yeah, another concern that I have is is the condition of a unanimity. So, I I completely understand and and Ms. Versautel was kind enough to really help me understand um that the Hendrix Family Foundation simply wants assurance that their investment will be received well and taken seriously. And so, my request then to Ms. Versautel was to to reconsider the the condition of the unanimous vote. Um I think that this would help us take a meaningful step forward in partnership, and it would be based then on mutual respect um for how our
152institutions operate rather than on um you know, kind of like that tone that was I I believe unintentionally previously set. Um by respecting our democratic practices, the Hendrix Family Foundation would communicate that they understand that a no vote is not against a specific program. Um it will not hinder any potential success, and that this uh is a mechanism by which board members simply have to ensure accountability that their concerns are addressed. Uh further, if this is about taking steps toward a partnership around the best interests of students, then we need to exercise that reciprocal respect around how we operate and build trust, just like we want to absolutely respect um the current operations of the Hendrix Family Foundation. If the board majority votes to support this, then it is an opportunity for each entity uh
153to prove our integrity by following through on our commitments to each other as institutions without being under the duress of what and I and I believe unintentionally, but what sort of landed as a threat. Um Ms. Versautel wrote to me uh this morning that she would work in earnest to explore this change at the Foundation, and I would really like to give them the opportunity to respond to that uh in the interest of building a strong partnership and really seeing this through in a meaningful and impactful way. Um, Ms. Forseth and I both agreed on many things. Um, to me, the most important thing we agreed on is that this is an opportunity to change a long-standing narrative and to do so with actions and not just with words. Uh, this is an opportunity for
154both organizations to take risks and to trust each other for the best interest of all of our kids. Uh, this is an opportunity for us to publicly stand together and say we don't need to agree on all of the things. We just need to agree on one thing and that one thing is that our all of our kids in our whole community uh, deserve the absolute best educational opportunities that we can possibly give them together. Um, so my request to our board, I have I have three, but uh, it's really just the first one that we have to focus on. But, my first request is that we postpone this vote for a short amount of time to allow both organizations to simply come to the table and discuss this and it sounds like we will
155be working together to craft agreements. I think for me, um, given my commentary about the importance of of trust building and kind of both of us meeting each other in the middle, um, I would just really honestly like the opportunity for the Hendricks Family Foundation to adjust their requirement about the unanimous vote. Um, for me, uh, maybe ironically, that would really make me a solid yes and I'm excited to hopefully see that opportunity through. Uh, so that is my first request to our board that we take Ms. Forseth up on her offer, um, with respect to the Hendricks Foundation's also needing time to to process this dialogue and um, move forward accordingly, um, and sounds like quickly in the next 2 weeks. Uh, my second request is that we honor this opportunity and frankly most
156of the public comments that were made tonight by uh, intentionally, internally prioritizing K-12 literacy as a district priority. Um, as we onboard our new assistant superintendent later this evening, um, and we thank Dr. Anderson for his amazing service as our current interim superintendent, We should direct our administration to create a strategic goal to ensure robust, equitable, universal instruction, and tiered support in all grade levels driven by disaggregated multiple metrics of student data. It is this board's role to set a vision for the district. The fact that we are even having this conversation is evidence that so many community stakeholders are desperate for us to prioritize equitable access to literacy support in our district. As generous and as as wonderful as it is, this proposal alone is not going to move the needle in a way
157that is is it's not going to help all of our kids. So, like let's also meet them halfway by saying like, cool, let's work this out in the best way we can. Let's get some stuff to our kids. Let's do what we need to do and what our responsibility is as a board to continue to ripple this impact. So, that is my second request. Um the fact that we are having this conversation, like I said, um the main barrier that we've identified in all of these discussions, and I think we knew beforehand anyway, is that we need to support this by setting a strategic goal around staffing, by again, which by all accounts is the primary barrier hindering our exceptional staff from leveraging the high-quality resources we have in order to support the academic growth
158of all of our students. My final request is that um we partner with the city and business community to build on this opportunity for partnership, to create a task force to build shared understanding, and I'm going to say the word again, partnerships, around the unifying goal of ensuring that every Beloit child has access to high-quality education, and work barriers outside of the control of the district, such as housing, transportation, and other issues that make life and learning difficult for our students and staff. So, I really thank you to my colleagues on the board. Thank you, Dr. Anderson. Um everybody for listening to my comments. Um again, I want to thank Ms. Forseth for being willing to break away from harmful and divisive narratives and to engage in a productive and hopeful uh set of ways
159to unify around the best interests of our students. So, in in closing, I ask that my colleagues on the board do please consider postponing this item so that we can build true, authentic, unifying consensus to move forward together in meaningful way uh to take additional board action to focus our efforts around academic achievement and plan to engage with our community stakeholders further to get all hands-on deck for our kids. And that concludes my comments. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Miller. I will remind everyone that um on January 5th at our regular board meeting, we we discussed this at the special TLE People Services meeting January 14th, they had a discussion around reading. I hate to I hate to interrupt you, but we need to move We need to take a vote for extending the meeting.
160So moved. Like we're 30 minutes late. Thank you. A motion to extend the meeting by Joanne Rue, seconded by Carol Fox. Any discussion? Oh, I'm sorry. Did I get the wrong person? >> Other way. It was Megan. Carol. >> [laughter] >> Okay. You know what? Be Um All All in favor? Aye. >> Aye. Aye. And at this time, um I'm so sorry, Ms. Rue. Um I need to take a break, so I would entertain a motion for a 3-minute recess. >> So moved. >> Second. Third. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Hold up. Wait, guys, something happened. >> Deeper. Guys, hold up. We could not hear you online. Miss Mrs. Levy, we're having a really hard time hearing you. We are taking a 3-minute recess. Was it 3 or 5? Oh, thanks. So, that vote
161they just did was just to go to recess? I have no idea. I'm hoping that was it. I don't know why. >> Okay. It is Oh, uh Mrs. Schop? Okay, it is 8:38. We are reconvening. Mrs. Levy, your hand is raised? It is. If someone there was something weird happening with the volume. Tom and I could hear each other but not anyone else. Is there anything that we missed right before the break that would be pertinent? And then I'll proceed with my comments. We extended the meeting. Perfect. Thank you. Um I jotted down my thoughts so that I can be concise. Uh so here we go. Uh I want to be I want to be clear that my concerns um are not about rejecting support for literacy. Um they're about how we move forward in
162a manner that is responsible, collaborative, and sustainable. Partnerships matter. And in my opinion, offering a fully packaged initiative without first conducting a needs assessment is providing what someone wants us to have rather than responding to what our district has identified as our greatest needs with respect to literacy. I'm concerned that there's no clearly articulated parent engagement plan. Um since we all know that literacy growth depends on partnership with families um and engagement beyond the school day. Additionally, framing a no vote as opposition does not leave space for thoughtful deliberation. It limits the opportunities to raise concerns, request adjustments, or shape the proposal into something more sustainable and aligned with specific needs of our district. Effective leadership requires space for disagreement, inquiry, and careful evaluation. Another concern is that we lack a clear policy governing private
163gifts. Before accepting the gift, the donation, the grant, um I think we need to identify what it is and make sure that we have structure in place um that clearly defines decision-making authority, accountability measures, implementation parameters, and undergoes legal review to ensure the district is protected. For example, could the district be financially liable if expected outcomes are not met or if the implementation plan must be altered to meet the needs of our students or staff. Finally, sustainability remains unclear. In the absence of a passed operational referendum, there is currently no clear plan to sustain the program beyond the pilot period. Without a plan in place, we must consider what would happen if the program needed to end abruptly. What would be the impact on students and staff. I remain open to continue dialogue, but really
164believe that these concerns must be addressed thoughtfully and transparently before I'm able to support this program. Um I am really disappointed. Well, let me start with positive. Um so appreciate Ms. Ford's uh um offer to do an additional workshop so that we can work through some of these concerns and see if we can come to consensus. I'm really disappointed um that a motion would be rushed to the floor before that was considered. It seems like they are more willing to partner with us and to think thoroughly about this than our own board is to each other. Um and that's really disappointing. So, I am in support of having a workshop and addressing concerns and then deciding to move forward. And my final point, I think it would be appropriate for us to have an agreement
165established and to do one vote because how frustrating would it be to have a vote to move forward to explore and then the package that comes back is still not supported by the full board. Thank you. Mrs. Fox. Um that that last comment kind of threw me. We we did set up a workshop shop for last week um to discuss some of these issues and apparently we didn't get as far as we needed to. I don't I don't quite know. I'd like to go back to Megan's comments. Um I I have no trouble with, you know, three two, three, and four. We've We need to be doing these things that I don't know that any of those things have anything to do with um the discussion around the Hendrix Foundation. Otherwise, it it but except
166that it jump-started our discussion, which is a good thing. Um you know, I don't know that we need to postpone um what we're talking about in order to honor those opportunities because I'm fully in support of those. Um I don't believe that we need a needs assessment um you know, at this point we have um plenty of information about our results. And I know we don't want to be talking too much about report cards anymore, but we have plenty you know, when we go back and look at what is going on with our schools, you know, they're just not doing well. We have two failing schools. We have a whole bunch of them that are they're just not doing well. I don't think a needs assessment is going to give us any further information than
167what we already know. Um I I hear you about the concerns that the that the Hendricks Foundation chose the programs for us. However, having something that's ready to implement and ready to go quickly is something that I I think is important for our district. And and I think instead of being distrustful of that kind of offer, we need to be looking at ways to further further implement other ideas or similar initiatives, kind of what you were saying. We need to work on how we can do this for other schools. I've said that over and over and over again um lots of times. Um I also know that Skyrocket is what they've been using at the Lincoln Academy with great success. Open literacy is being used at Park View and other places. These are not unknown
168or untested and were specifically chosen for positive outcomes. So I I think I don't have any trouble going along with that. Um so um I also don't think we need to worry about sustainability. It's a 3-year um pilot program. And the biggest piece of that pilot program is Skyrocket. Um and it's a training piece. And after 3 years, they will have a very solid training piece beneath them and they can probably continue to move forward with that with that training even if we couldn't sustain the financial piece of the program. Um and second, I believe that if the programs are getting good results, I believe that our community might be willing to pass a referendum that would help us to sustain and expand that program. Um because a targeted referendum for specific proven results would
169be much more likely to pass. Um so um I worry about um I'll you know, our credibility with the community and and how that might affect what what has happened for us in the future if we would turn down a a $2.5 million offer. So, um they had no need to be making us this this offer. I mean, we need to be reaching out and creating that partnership. Lincoln Academy is there. They'll remain. They'll continue to grow whether we partner with them or not. Um and they have some very good projects that they're doing in our community and there's lots of other places and other um agencies and other educational institutions that would be grateful for this kind of offer. So, I think um you know, we need this. Our results are not good. We're
170going to have to do something to make all of these changes that you're talking about with or without them. And I think my feeling is it would be much better to do it with them than without them. I I think it'd be better for the community. It'd be better for us. It'd be better for everybody all around. And they're willing to help us some make some changes and I think that's that's a good thing. Thank you, Dr. Anderson. I've had many discussions with uh Lisa about this project and I think should be made probably clearer than makes it than it sometimes appears is that they were they weren't mandating anything. What they were doing is they were seeking a partnership in which we would explore options together like what school. They weren't telling us what
171school to take. They were telling us is that we'd like to sit down together and work out to find out which school do we think that this would have the greatest benefit. So, we talked with our principals because obviously if it's going to be in a school, it wants to be in a school that would like to partake of this. When we talk about the metrics for success, they just want to sit down together with us to come up with what those metrics of success would look like. So, in the discussions been back and forth, I just want to make it clear that in all of our discussions together, it wasn't that we were being mandated to do anything other than if you say using Skyrocket Open Literacy, most of these were times when we
172would get together so we could jointly figure out where's the best chance of success using these dollars. And I just thought that was important uh to be said uh as again, I am uh so much in favor of this. I think that anytime we can benefit any of our kids and I think this does pose a benefit for our for our students going forward for our community and we talk about Skyrocket, I look at that as leadership development and which one of us don't want to be a better leader. Thank you, Dr. Anderson. Joanne Rue. Um Yes. Uh So These are good things. Um The foundation has put a stipulation on it that it needs a unanimous vote. If one more workshop helps us get closer to that unanimous vote I'm okay with another meeting.
173Thank Tom, are you still with us? >> I I Yeah, I'm sorry. I just got hugged getting off my mute. No no problem. I I agree with Joanne. I I mean I don't think it's I think it'd be problematic to do a straw vote and see where everybody's at. I know kind of where some people are at, but you know, is it necessary to go to another meeting? Um to get and will that actually push someone over the edge another meeting? Um if it helps, yeah, I'm all for it. I want to surpass. So let's see where the how you handle this. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Hankins. Ms. Miller. Thank you so much. Um thank you so much, Ms. Fox, for your comments. Um again, it helps clarify my understanding, too. Just want to
174make a few clarifying comments myself. Um My intention this evening, um in in hoping that this could come forward, is because I really want us to support this and I want us to have the opportunity to to do so with true consensus. And so Okay. It might seem like a no-brainer to many people. And again, as a reading teacher and as a mother of a struggling reader, I get that. I totally get that. However I am currently in support of this as long as we can truly work as partners. And I think part of being partners is if we want unanimity, then we need to work and develop that. And I I don't see anything here that is insurmountable. I truly don't. One thing we haven't had the opportunity yet to do it. I feel
175so grateful of having had the opportunity to have one conversation yesterday is to really sit at the table like Mr. Fox is able to come uh that first um not the first time for that public comment which he came he came several meetings ago. It was really helpful to hear his perspective. Like let's let's sit down and work this through, develop something together. I don't think there'll be a lot of major change. I think that, you know, this is reflected in one of the public comments. We need to honor the process. And I have total confidence um that we can arrive somewhere with real consensus in a way that hopefully can build trust community that all of us can can get behind what we need um in the way in which we need to do
176so. And just again to clarify, um I have zero concern with programs. And when I when I personally when I talk about a needs assessment, again it comes down to which kiddos in which buildings. And maybe it is all at one building, but we aren't going to know what best fit is until we uncover what best fit is. And I just again appreciate Ms. Furseth for for saying yeah, we can have the flexibility to do that because we really want this to be successful. So if we want this to be successful as an educator and as a reading teacher and as a parent of three children in this school district, I want to make sure that we take on the responsibility to just take all the steps necessary to get to get this across the
177line in a way that makes sense and is best for our kids and for our staff. Um Dr. Anderson touched on this with metrics. We already know from the CEOs of both organizations, one of which was kind enough to follow up with me. We talked for like an hour on Friday. Nothing nothing but good things to say about that as well. We already know that the outcomes that we're going to show are not the outcomes necessarily that the community will look at. A lot of people look at the forward exam, but we heard from both CEOs, could this be transferable? Maybe. But both of them allowed an internal benchmarking data. So again, I feel very confident when Ms. Furseth's conversation with me that you both entities probably can agree to that. We also have to
178make sure our community understands what success means. Like so to your point, Ms. Fox, about we want to show after 3 years that this works, then we are going to have to actively engage in that work together to build that under- This is so much work in front of us. And then lastly, none of the other pieces that I mentioned to me are any hold up. I 100% agree. Like those are I just want to make sure that we don't lose those pieces in the conversation. I think Stephanie talked about that earlier, too. Just yeah, we we got to do this and so that's not going to stop me from moving forward on this or supporting it. I just want to make sure that's a big part of the conversation because I'm pretty sure like
179everybody here who came out and supported this, we want we want to see our kids be successful. We want to see that needle move. Like let's do this in a way that makes sense and will really be effective because I don't think the Hendrix Family Foundation wants to give two and a half million dollars to two programs to try to do something great that we don't take the time in earnest to roll out and collaborate on appropriately. And like that's a waste of everybody's time and energy and that's not something that I'm interested in doing. Do I think that we can move forward with this and in a way that is absolutely wonderful for our kids? 100% and I 100% support that. I would like it if the board could please in the interest of
180of making good faith effort for all parties involved take the time to to work through whatever else needs to be ironed out and build that consensus with respect to all parties involved. Oops. >> Thank you. Amy Leavy. Thank you. I'll be brief because a lot of my points have already been been said. Um I I I will make myself available for another workshop. I I think that how we do what we do matters as much as what we decide to do. I'm really disappointed that a motion would be rushed to the floor when there was discussion and an offer to have an additional workshop. Just because you are in a place doesn't mean everyone else is and if we have the opportunity for all of us to get there, I think it's irresponsible not to
181take advantage of that. So, I am able to support a workshop to get additional concerns addressed. Um I'm not able to move forward in the way that we are doing business this evening. Um and I'll leave it there. Thank you. Thank you for sharing your opinion, Ms. Leavy. Remember this is a board meeting and all board members have the same rights to make motions as they see fit and we support other board members in our work as a board. Mrs. Fox. >> I I'll just say very very briefly. It It's okay for me to say that that I'm disappointed with that if it's okay for another board member to say we're idiots if we don't support it. Mrs. Fox. Um I am new on the board and I thought you made motions and then discussed
182motions is how boards worked. So, um forgive me if if I helped jump in on something that that isn't the way you do things, but um that's the way I understand the way boards work. Um so, I I hear what you're saying, Megan, about some of these things, but I I I truly believe that that's some of the things you're thinking about and asking for are maybe a little beyond what the board, you know, we're not going to be looking at which students are going to be getting the best fit. That'll be the school who will work on deciding that and and our big role will be to move this forward so that Dr. Anderson can work on getting those things in place, helping us setting up a process for picking the school, and then
183the school will be involved in all of those things. So, um you know, I I think we need to be careful about that. If we need another workshop to get consensus, I you know, I'm I'm I'm for it. Um I think um you know, maybe if if what what we need from the Hendrickson's Foundation is is that they'll take a you know, a not consensus vote and that that will solve everybody's problems, then then I'm for that, too. But, um I I'm I'm fully prepared at this point to move forward. Um I don't see any downsides on this really at all. And the we still will have another opportunity again because this is moving us forward to working on a contract and working with, you know, you know, we're just saying that yes, we do
184want to do this. Um and there will be other opportunities to tweak some of the things that maybe need to be tweaked. Um but if if other board members feel that they need a workshop to move forward, I'll make myself available for that. Um I I don't I am I personally don't need another workshop. But, I will go to one if people want one. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. Vice President Nichols, would you support uh postponing this having a workshop and postponing this until our next regular board meeting? So, 2 weeks? Well, we've had a lot of meetings about this already. And a lot of people some people didn't show up. I don't know why, but that's their that's their you know, that's their their prerogative. Um you know, this room was full and it's
185still half full of people who talked about don't don't say no to this. Let's go. Let's go. Um you know, let's let's go means let's go. So, I'm with Carol. Um I think we're ready to go and we you know, I've been I've been on the board 5 years and I've been on the board almost three and you know, nothing ever nothing ever started out with all the answers. Nothing. You you have to adjust as you go. I was in business. That's the way business works. That's the way lots life works. You adjust as you go. It's not a perfect world. And I think we got people we got great people in the school district. We got great people in this community who have spoken. We've gotten letters from some of the people in the
186community that these folks may not have seen. I know she did. And uh but uh you know, um hurry up and wait. Um there's a there's a term that I heard early in business. There's it's called analysis paralysis. And it you analyze and you analyze and you analyze and you analyze and you analyze it. By that time the ship is halfway to the other the other side of the of the world. So, I Two weeks is I think is ridiculous. That's my personal opinion. Thank you um for weighing in. If I'm not mistaken, um it sounds like all board members have weighed in on potentially postponing this to March 3rd and having a board workshop. Again, we have had uh multiple meetings um discussing this and board members are always welcome to email, text, call
187each other, or call the superintendent um and get questions and answers, call the um executive directors if there are specific questions to that they may have to any of the departments. I am in agreement that I really don't think that we need to delay this for a needs assessment. Um, I think the the needs the needs assess the I'm speaking right now. Thank you. The needs assessment um is evident in our report card, in our internal benchmarks. Um, we don't need to wait for a needs assessment. Needs assessments If If this is We're at this point now, where have the needs assess assessments been in the previous years? Um, a parent- parental engagement plan, I think that would be ideal and lovely. Where has that engagement plan been in the in the previous years? Ideally,
188every parent would be engaged with their students' education, especially with reading. That happens in so many families at home before kindergarten even starts. Unfortunately, in Beloit, we have a lot of families where that's not happening. And to say and require parents to be engaged in their students' education isn't something that we legally can require. We can encourage it, we can incentivize it, we can do everything we can, but we cannot legally require it. And whether or not it's part of this program, I think it's a moot point because it's something we should be doing tangentially. And if we're not doing it tangentially now, shame on us. Effective leadership. Um I I I support having the Skyward program. I think that will help us develop effective leaders here in the school district of Beloit. One of
189the things that I have seen as board president over the past couple years is how critical it is to have strong leaders and develop leadership from within. Lacking a clear policy, we have a policy there is some vagueness as to what is this offer and what what is the definition? How How do we move forward with that? I don't think we should let this policy hang up on whether or not we should accept this. Again, our legal recommendation was to waive that policy and move forward if we if that's what the the will of the board because we don't need to have that policy here tonight. We need to work within the confines of the state laws, which we are. What would happen if the project were to end abruptly? Well, I sure as heck
190would hope that our superintendent and that our uh executive team would figure out and be smart enough to put that kind of language in the contract. And if it wasn't, as board members, when that came to us, our responsibility is to read that contract and say, "Why is that language not in there?" President Johnson, we need to extend the meeting again. Thank you. Is that a motion? Sure. Second. Motion by JoAnn Rue, seconded by Brian Nichols to extend the meeting. Any discussion? All in favor? I. I. I. I. Wrapping up. Um I want this to pass. And if it means waiting two more weeks because somebody needs to get a little bit more information that they haven't done for the past eight weeks, I'm okay with that. I will be out of town and I
191won't be available um probably not available even for a virtual meeting. So, but I've attended all of these other ones. So, I'm okay not attending another meeting. Um and that would be then uh Mr. Nichols Vice President Nichols would have to chair that. Um But ultimately, ultimately, what is this about? What is this about? It's about our students, our students' future, our communities' future. It's about investment of our tax dollars, and it's about the love and care and compassion we have for our students. And that that is our collective priority. And if we can't decide that this is in the best interest of our students, I really really really wonder if we can look at ourselves in the mirror at night and sleep well. We have a motion and a second to approve this. I
192encourage all board members, if you would like this to be postponed, vote in the negative. If you would like to move forward, vote in the positive. I have a question. >> can we After we make this motion, I will open the floor for a motion to postpone. Hold. this motion was If we vote no, it's a no from everybody for what they've said. So I would like to offer an amendment to the motion to postpone the vote for 2 weeks and conduct a final board workshop on this matter. Is that an Is that a an amendment, Ms. Lively? Yes, ma'am, it is. Because if we vote no, then it's no. We're done with it. >> An amendment to postpone until March 3rd? Ms. Is that the correct date? And I Okay. So it sounds like
193there's a an amendment to the motion to postpone until March 3rd. And before I offer a second, I just want to I think she was still talking. Just to clarify it. So that we have the opportunity to to work with the Hendricks Family Foundation to craft something that we can move forward. I I think with Board Member Lively, I don't want to put words in your mouth. Was it Did I Sorry, it's just really hard. You're breaking up a little bit, so it's hard to hear you. So sorry to clarify that I got your nod as a yes. >> say if you turn on closed captions, you can read it. >> [laughter] >> So Oh, I've been reading your words, Amy. Mrs. Rue, can you Can you clarify what the amendment is? So Let me
194see if I can go back. So um the amendment is um to It says um to postpone the vote for 2 weeks and conduct a final board workshop on this matter. Uh another part says March 3rd. And a reiteration with a workshop. So, Amy, we can't hear you. Um, so, um, listen to Joanne's re-rereading of the amendment and see if that's what you want. And you want me to reread it cuz what I said was a mess. Good lord. All right, so, sorry everyone. Um, Okay, can you hear me, Amy? You got me? Yes? I don't think she can hear me now. Oh, hey, can you hear me now, Amy? She's not looking at the camera, so I don't think she can hear me. No, she can't hear me. All right, so, Mm. I can
195find what I wrote or what I said. >> Mrs. Levy, can you turn on your closed caption so you can read? Or I guess she can't hear her. That might work. Can somebody message her to turn on her the closed caption? I think you were accurate in what you stated. Yeah, I Yeah, I think, um, postpone for 2 weeks and hold a board workshop is the amendment. Is there a second? Yeah, I'll second. >> [snorts] >> Okay, any discussion on the amendment? Megan. Yes, thank you. I would just like to again thank Ms. Forsyth for the opportunity for us to reach this and I just want to point out that like as it stands right now, the condition is a unanimous vote. And this was brought forward in the spirit of doing everything we possibly
196can to move this to move this forward productively. And so while everybody is certainly can have all of the opinions and views they want like there is a there is a line that we have to get across. And so I just again I appreciate everybody's willingness to to make that happen. And as as it stands I'm fully in support of moving forward and it's because of the grace and willingness to to listen I guess and to drop some some harmful narratives that I'm able to do so. And lastly the other thing I just want to say is is in that spirit there are people who are not here this evening who have very opposite things to say that have reached out to me to share those things. And I think it would behoove us also
197to help give the Hendrix Family Foundation the opportunity to to show their integrity and and to and to break those harmful narratives as well. Because if we continue with divisive negativity about our own members of our own community it does not help our students. If we are here to help our children which I truly believe that everybody in this room is here to do then we need to find a way to come together and I am excited to have this opportunity to work with the Hendrix Family Foundation and to to start a new chapter and really bring people together. So again, much gratitude. Thank you so much. Mrs. Fox. I'm also wondering if the goal is to really to be working towards consensus if there are other things that can be done in the two
198weeks before we actually vote on it. Um especially on the district side, um, setting up the process for how we're going to pick the school. Um, making, you know, doing those kinds of um, upfront things so that when we do approve this, since we're going to reach consensus, um, we are ready to go and we're not holding up, um, all the work that's going to need to be done, um, to to make this really happen. Thank you, Mrs. Fox. Tom and Amy, are you still unable to hear us? Dr. Anderson, do you know if there's somebody in IT who can take a look and see how to get these guys so they can hear us? Okay, thank you. Well, I'm watching everything and everything is fine, so Okay, thank you. Yeah, Tom just text back,
199"No, can't hear you." >> What if she calls it? >> I know. Okay. Tom's on it. >> Okay. Okay. She says the call in number isn't working. Oh, good for it. So, it must be somewhere around here. Okay, we have a an amendment on is is she here? Michelle, is it tied to closed session by any chance? Is it tied to closed session by any chance because we're supposed to be in closed session by now, I think. No. >> Okay. Just asking. Okay. Okay, there's an amendment that has been moved and seconded. Mrs. Shupe, may we get a roll call, please? Okay, roll call vote on the amendment. Can you read it, please? Yes, what I have for the amendment is to move to amend the motion to postpone the vote for 2 weeks, parenthesis
200March 3rd, and conduct a final board workshop on this matter. Um So, uh roll call on the amendment. JoAnn Roe. I. Brian Nichols. I'll pass for now. Megan Miller. I. Carol Fox. I. Tom Hankins. Amy Leavy. Brian Nichols, are you ready to vote? I. Tia Johnson. I. One more time for Tom Hankins. One more call for Amy Levy. Thank you, Mrs. Shope. I think Tom may be there. Tom, can you hear us? No. Okay, now the original motion Mrs. Shope again, can we get a roll call, please? We amended that motion. We amended it. Yes, so what you're doing is you're voting on the amended motion. So, yes. Okay, so got you. So, can you read what it's going to read that we're voting on now? It It's just the same thing. It's It's move
201approval of accepting the Hendrix Family Foundation proposal presented to the Board of Education on December 16th, 2025 of a $2.5 million for a high-intensity literacy program pilot program with the condition that an agreement will be finalized and approved by the foundation and the Board of Education to be postponed for 2 weeks and hold a board workshop. Or or something very close to that. Yeah. Okay, [laughter] thank you. Good job, board president. >> [laughter] >> See, I got to be secretary for 5 minutes. >> That's right. Carol Fox I Megan Miller I Brian Nichols >> Hi. Joann Rule Hi. Tom Hankins Okay. Amy Levy Tia Johnson Hi. Motion carried. Thank you. Our next agenda item is the consent agenda. Typically, there is no separate discussion of the items unless a board member so requests, in which
202event the item or items will be removed from the general order of business and considered in their normal sequence on the agenda. Are there any And remember that item B has already been removed. Are there any board members that would like any of the consent agenda items removed? Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? So moved. Second. Motion by Megan Miller, seconded by Carol Fox. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor. Hi. >> Hi. Hi. Hi. Any opposed? Motion carries. Our next agenda item is human resources employee recommendations. Are there any open session questions regarding exhibit A? Are there any closed session questions regarding exhibit A? Is there a motion to approve exhibit A? So moved. >> Second. Motion by Brian Nichols, seconded by Megan Miller. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor.
203Hi. >> Hi. Hi. Hi. Any opposed? Motion carries. Our next item tonight is executive session. A motion may be made and a vote taken to convene the Board of Education into closed session pursuant to section 19.85 {paren} 1 {paren} F of the Wisconsin State Statutes for the purpose of reviewing the expulsion orders of the independent hearing officer pursuant to section 120.131E4H and of the Wisconsin State Statutes, the Board of Education shall upon re- review, approve, reverse, or modify the orders. And pursuant to section 19.85 {paren} 1 {paren} E of the Wisconsin State Statutes relative to the purchase/sale of property/negotiating public funds. Is there a motion? So moved. Second. Motion by Brian Nichols, seconded by Megan Miller. Any discussion? Mr. Schotz, may we get a roll call, please? Yes. >> [snorts] >> Sorry, trying to catch
204up. Okay. JoAnn Rule? I. Brian Nichols? I. Megan Miller? I. Carol Fox? I. Amy Leavy? Tom Hawkins? JoAnn, I mean, I'm sorry, Tia Johnson? I. Motion carried. Thank you. The Board of Education may reconvene to public session in order to take any action if necessary on items discussed in closed session. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah, it's just so frustrating when you have a grandchild And it's just It's so bad. You know, it's so frustrating. I have six I have six grandsons, two great granddaughters. You know, my grandsons all had a great My kids did. Yeah, I can't remember which one was the oldest one. The first one is just starting to get in She's in 4K. And she's in 4K with my Yeah, a few years. >> Hey.