001Let's go time. Okay. >> All right. It is 700 p.m. I'm going to call us to order. Uh, welcome to the Monday, April 27th, 2026 regular board meeting of the Columbus School District. Uh, Adam, if you do the roll call, please. >> Thei >> present. >> O'Brien here. Olsson Rapid >> here. >> Pearson here. Halver here. Rule >> here. >> Smith >> here. >> All present. We have a quorum. Um, Andrea, our meeting was properly noticed to my knowledge. Yes. Thank you for confirming. Reminder uh to guide our work. The mission of the Columbus School District ensures each student is prepared for future success. Uh I would take a motion to adopt our agenda. I have no adjustments to it. >> So moved to second. >> I have a first from John Pearson, a second
002from Mike O'Brien. Any discussion? Hearing none. All of those in favor with an I. >> Any opposed? Same sign. Motion carries. Um, next up this evening is our uh board reorganization. As this is the uh first uh full board meeting uh or formal uh installment of our board members, both have been sworn back in to my knowledge. Um and so we are up tonight for board reorganization for election of officers. >> I would like to make a motion to elect number one through five by unanimous consent. second that motion. >> So I have um first by Martha Rule, a second by Karen Smith um wanting to move forward with the unanimous consent for um organization numbers 1 through 5, which is the temporary chair, president, vice president, clerk, and treasurer, which would essentially mean that
003they would stay the same as they have been. So I'll go ahead and take a vote on that. All those in favor with an I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Your election of officers will remain the same. Uh so just a reminder so everybody knows their job. I have uh Julia Juski as president, John Pearson as vice president, Adam Palver as clerk, and Karen Smith as treasurer. So that takes us to uh number six. Uh we are statutoily required to elect a uh board secretary, school district deputy clerk. Uh typically has been Andrea Ledenberg. As far as I'm aware, she is agreeable to continuing in that role. >> Speak now for you. You got those flowers >> very strategically delivered last week earlier. Yeah, last week. I have a motion to appoint Andreal Lindber
004Lindborg, uh, board secretary, school district deputy clerk. >> Second. >> I have a first from Adam Palver, a second from Martha Rule. Any discussion? >> Hearing none, all those in favor with an I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Uh, next item for reorganization, discussion of appointment of committee members. Um just a reminder right now uh most recently on committees uh for governance uh myself as the board president with John Pearson and Mike O'Brien. On the legislative committee we have Martha Rule, Corey Olsen Rappy and Adam Palver. And on the uh linkages committee we have Karen Smith and John Pearson. Um if uh people want to be somewhere different or if somebody is wanting to be a part of a committee they have not been please let me know. Um if I don't hear from people
005then I'm going to anticipate that people are happy to continue in their current roles. Um the committees have been working well. Uh we've had good productivity from all of them. So, um I will leave them as is unless someone says the word, which you are welcome to do if you want a different spot. Otherwise, I will plan at the next board meeting just to confirm those appointments. Um all right. And then CISA 5 delegate is the one you've all been waiting for. I know that a lot of times we have to fight over this one. Who is interested in um being the CIA 5 delegate this year? I believe Mike was last year >> last two years. I believe you do such a good job. >> Mrs. Rule, you're willing to be our CISA 5
006delegate. That is >> I'm excited to be the CES. >> Excellent. There's opportunity an opportunity for leadership there. There's a lot going on if you dig into it. So, >> sure. >> All right. Um and then uh next uh last item on our >> I think do we need a motion for that? >> Oh, yeah. Sure. We can do that. Good idea. >> We do it the official way. Thank you. We take a motion for >> a motion to appoint Martha RCA five delegates. >> I'll second that. >> Adam's making the first. Thank you. Um, you guys threw me off with your unanimous consent. >> I should write something down. >> You told me to investigate it. >> All right. >> A lot of open bits of yellow here. >> All those in favor of
007Martha as our season 5 delegate with an I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Um and then last item on our board reorganization um board meeting calendar for 202526. Um that was attached for you. Uh it appears identical to our our typical calendar uh which is our one meeting in May and one meeting in December because of where those uh fourth Mondays fall with holidays and such. Um so this will be adopted as our board calendar unless there is concern. So like next month is a regular board meeting on the 10th. >> That is next month would be what month? June. >> May correct. Yep. >> The 10th. >> Yes. May 10th. Only one on May 10th. >> That's my >> Yep. So um >> any uh concerns or questions about that? >> All right. The
00811th year I was looking at this year. >> Yeah. This is 2027. >> Does the world be the fourth Monday or the last Monday in May? >> The fourth. >> It was the fourth Monday. Okay. >> Say that again. >> I believe we looked Andrea, right? And it does not overlap. The schedule would not land on Memorial Day >> next year. Correct. No. Yeah, you're right. It would be the 24th and Memorial Day is probably the 31st. But >> so we could always reserve it if necessary, but typically we've been able to manage May's work. >> That's fine. with one. You're dying to meet twice. >> No. >> All right. Moving on then to board business this evening. Um remaining capital referendum funds. So this has been an ongoing conversation. Um tonight is our planned
009last conversation and then it is on our board action agenda. Um so at last um at our last meeting uh general consensus from the group was to direct Jake to move forward with expending that remaining $1 million of referendum funds um on uh improvement and maintenance projects that fall within the scope of the original question. Um so that's kind of the briefest recap of that conversation. This is a just a last opportunity for discussion before we would move into the action agendum later on that item questions, discussions, comments. Nothing really further to add, but definitely glad we had the past two I guess three meetings honestly to really >> cash it out. So I feel good about it moving forward. >> I agree with you. Yeah. Okay. >> I think I I think I just
010want to maybe reemphasize something too. I think our our last two, Annette, the previous superintendent and Jake, they have worked very hard to try to find appropriate property for down the road for someday some type of school building. And it just didn't work out at at the present time. A lot of work put together by definitely those two people with I'm sure a lot of help. >> All right, that takes us into the superintendent report for the evening. Take it away. >> Uh I'm going to turn it over to Becky and uh we have our CTE coordinator uh Tim Dorak here. Uh his one time a year to shine as well. Uh so uh you guys can uh take it away for our education for employment plan. >> I am actually going to just let
011Mr. Dorax speak because he told me he'd love speaking in front of school boards and I figured you guys would like to hear his voice. So and this is really where he shines. So I want to give him the floor. >> I thought she was going to give me a little bit more introduction to the plan. So I don't really have that prepared. Um, do you guys have copies or are able to see it? Okay, I'm going to focus more of my attention on page three, >> numbers 2 through 4, um, because that's kind of my area of expertise of what I've kind of worked on the last three years since I've come into this position. So, um, looking at number three, we updated the CTE classes data and the concentrators data for grades 6
012through 12. And we've had 535 kids enrolled in some sort of CTE class throughout that population. And concentrators, meaning that students are taking two or more courses in that CTE um, related course. A we have 200 concentrators on that. And I think if we looked at the cuz we're doing some CTE follow-up data on our concentrators from last year. I think we had 82 CTE concentrators from the graduating seniors last year. >> Okay. >> So we have some follow-up data to do on that. So we that's we have some pretty good numbers in the CTE department right now. That's business A and Techad. Um so we have really good numbers right there right now. And I think we have really good numbers for next year's courses too if right. So, um, looking at number four,
013the youth apprenticeship numbers I'm really kind of proud of cuz when I first started this one, we only had four youth apprentice students participating in that program. And now we have 23. And those 23 kids kind of go through eight different pathways. Right now, I broke it down. We have three in the egg pathway. We have four in the construction as carpenters. We have two in the business, seven in the health sciences, two in manufacturing, two in hospitality, tourism in the food and beverage service. uh two in the information technology department proudly employed by the district. Props to Mr. Ziggler for getting that going and us working together on that. And we have one in the marketing department as a merchandiser. So we have a lot of kids dabbling in a bunch of different pathways
014and exploring careers that they're possibly interested in. So I'm really proud of that number and I'm and I already have I think I have four or five already applied for for next year. Um so that's really good. We have one that already got hired at Roberts as a welder for next year's uh youth apprenticeship. We have five secondyear youth apprenticeships as seniors right now finish up their second years in the health science or in a different pathway that they've chosen. So, um we have kids doing it multiple years and I have I don't know how many juniors I have cuz I'm touching base with them in May about who's going to carry it over for the next year as well. So, we're really excited about those numbers and we're really excited about the growth that
015we've had in the last three years in that program. um future educator interns and employability skills tend to um stay right where they are right now. Those are all unique individuals, not like dual double ups from first and second semester. Those numbers are all unique individuals. Um the educator interns and employability skills can repeat that course for up to four semesters their junior and senior year. Um, but I I try to push kids to the youth apprenticeships because it gives them a little bit more flexibility in their scheduling as long as they're on track to graduate and up to date with their credits. >> And they get paid, too. Yeah, you're right. The educator interns, we don't pay. Um, but the employability skills, depending on what their job is, they would leave to leave for
016an hour a day and they'll get paid too as well, but they just don't have as high requirements for that. Um, so in total we have 74 total students involved in the workbased learning program. And between juniors and seniors, that's about 40% of our kids, which is a pretty good number, I think. Um, and we do offer a lot of dual credit options. We introduced shielded metal arc welding this year, and we have eight kids in that one. And we also introduced uh college and crew readiness as well this year as a dual credit option, and we have 19 kids in that right now. So, as first year classes, we got some pretty good numbers and involvement in there right now. um the shielded mark metal arc welding and the gas metal arc welding. A
017lot of those kids are using those as um credit worth of course work towards their youth apprenticeship requirement as well. So, um but other than that, I just want to kind of give you a background and a little update on that. But if you guys have any questions for me, I'd be happy to try to answer them if I can or Becky will just interject and overrule me. As far as before we get to those questions, as far as with this plan, and this is probably how probably should have led with introducing all of this to you, the um education for employment plan is something that we are required to have board approved by law and we'll present to you annually. So, this is something that we will be bringing back at the next board
018um meeting for approval from you and that we'll be keeping on file so that you know it whenever we say we're keeping things on file, they're always available publicly. again from the public would ever like to see them in terms of you know what we have available, what we would do as students um all of that um within here which is why you're seeing it you know and you do um get this little update every year but um really it's just we haven't been able to I think coordinate to get you in here in the past couple years so it's I I think important like I can tell you about it But as the CTE coordinator, Tim is really, you know, on the ground doing the work with the students. So if you guys have
019any questions, >> is this a new reporting requirement? Cuz I don't recall seeing it in this format before. >> It's been the same the last two years. >> Has it? I was here two years ago helping with that one and then I get back into >> I think Tim just presents it a little bit differently than maybe I do and it's probably just the different lens >> but it speaks to it. >> It's great data. It's great numbers. It's it's really good to see that continued um growth in those numbers and um just I think finding students opportunities to to figure out where their place in the world is. So, I think it's exciting because for a long time, a while ago, everyone was anticipating or expected the college was going to be their their
020route and and we know that's not the case. And I think this gives some kids some other really exciting ways to explore their future. >> Parent engagement. Good on this. >> Parent engagement. >> 9th and 11th grade. You have here parent opportunities or family opportunities to meet >> on page six. >> Page six. >> Oh yeah. >> I think that's more of au a school counselor related >> okay activity that they're doing. So that's kind of why I was confused on that one. >> Lisa on the parent engagement like this is actually speaking to ACP a little bit. um were like on this report. It talks a little bit about the academic and career planning and the family meetings that um happen at the various grade levels and all of that. Do you have any
021thoughts or just feedback from maybe that what council was said in terms of kind of got on engagement was asking if like if families have left feedback like we reported as there's opportunities right for family meetings that occur in >> the um historically there have been freshman meetings and junior meetings I believe um and this year is the first year that we've switched to um meetings in 8th grade and then junior meetings. And we did that intentionally um to kind of help parents and students prepare for that transition to high school. Um we haven't had those meetings yet or they're they're working on being in the process of being scheduled, but historically we've had pretty decent um representation from parents um being able to either do it during conferences or do it virtually with their
022child in the room. Um, we've had pretty good luck. Um, and I would say I I don't think that there's been a real big difference as far as parent participation between the um the freshman meetings and the junior meetings because I think the topics of conversation are just so so different at that point of their lives. >> Thanks. Thank you. >> Other questions or comments on that report? Thank you. Appreciate the work you're doing. >> Yeah. Uh lots of hard work. Uh some of you that were on the board at the time that I interviewed uh and and granted we were coming off a pandemic. That was part of our conversation. You know, the workbased learning numbers, um we we knew that we needed boosting up. Uh so, a lot of hard work from Tim,
023Becky, and kind of all the teams that links together each department, including the counselors. Uh moving on uh to the stepup transformer. Uh so you previewed this uh in your uh in your board packet. Uh last week uh Columbus utilities approached me and they had asked uh if they could just have uh the ability to place a step-up transformer in the northwest corner of uh the playground uh at the at the middle school. Uh for reference, there is one in front of DPW and currently one in front of Apple Tree. My understanding is the one in front of Apple Tree would be the one that would be replaced. Essentially, it's about two uh panels, fence panels, uh in each direction that takes up kind of a green box on a Smith slab. Uh they indicated
024that they would fence it in. Uh some of you may or may not know uh there is a rightaway that goes right through the middle school. Essentially, if Columbus and they're not, the city did not threaten us with this or say this. If they want to put it in the middle of our parking lot, they could. Um instead, they reached out and they said, "This seems like the right location." Uh less likely to get out outages. Uh it would strengthen circuits. Uh there is no shock risk. Uh, obviously this is going to be completed at Columbus Utilities Expense. Um, so looking for I don't think we necessarily have the ability to overrule them. Uh, I think that they were meeting of just to be a good partner. Uh, but with that being said, is there
025any opposition uh to uh to that work or any questions that I can take back to Columbus Utility or try to answer right now? I'm just trying to figure out which side they mean by northwest >> because the school middle school's kind of a diagonal. So, there really isn't a northwest corner. >> So, uh right towards uh Spring Street. So, Spring Street and then go to the end of the playground or the back side of the playground opposite of the building. So, north corner. >> Yeah. Yeah. North corner is a better way. Yeah. They kept calling it northwest and I'm like, "Yeah, >> but cities arranged." >> Right. Right. Right. >> I don't anticipate that there's ever a time in which we'd buy up every house on the block and expand that way, but I'm
026assuming that's a I use that word carefully that if the time came that we needed to relocate it based on construction, that would have to be a negotiation at that time with the city. I mean, obviously, we'd probably be expanding the power grid anyway if we were expanding that far. So, it would probably be part of the bigger work plan. So, I don't foresee any issues with it. and we've had some interruptions. >> So, >> if it helps with that. >> Yeah. What's interesting I I guess what I learned over this process and I hope I say it correctly. I feel like I'm going to say it correctly. Uh we're unique in our city that we actually have two different systems and our two different systems actually tie together which once again for a city
027is unu you know unusual and then this would allow uh different substations to tie together. So, uh, ultimately that's where they said theoretically it should strengthen the circuit and result in less outages at our schools. >> Thank you for working with the city on that. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's kind of a hey, can we meet on Monday type meeting? You never know what's coming. >> Uh, just a heads up, National Volunteer Week, uh, coming up April or I'm sorry, happened April uh, 19th through the 25th. Uh, National Volunteer Week is um is what it sounds like, a chance to celebrate volunteers. Uh, if my understanding is correct, I believe that DPI in Wisconsin jumped on with schools uh with a lot based around the libraries and then kind of expanded outside of it. Uh, we
028know that we have many volunteers. Uh, Andrea processes many uh checks every single week. Uh, they're an integral part of uh what we do and our students experience. So, we appreciate them. >> You mean background checks, not paychecks? >> Not background checks. Y they couldn't they wouldn't be able to qualify for volunteers. >> You said it. I was like, "Were the volunteers? Why are we paying?" And I'm like, "Back >> background checks." Correct. >> Uh and then on the other side of it, on the staff side of it, we have staff appreciation coming up uh the 4th through the 8th. I know some entities call it teacher appreciation week. Uh, I think as far back as I can see in the records, well before my time, it's always been staff appreciation week, which is awesome.
029Uh, so we'll be celebrating. I know the PTO's do a a magnificent job uh especially with the food. Uh, Andrea coordinates um some things for our staff. Uh, there's always raffles uh that Tanya Black works really hard uh to obtain. And then uh we usually cap it off with um a celebration of our retirees uh on the last day uh and then tie in uh the Columbus Endowment uh grants as well. Uh so a very busy week uh but our wonderful staff that we're very proud of. Uh that really makes everything go uh makes it a great place for our for our students and staff. Uh so we appreciate them. And then last but not least, uh, high school graduation, uh, scheduled for May 31st at 100 p.m. Uh, I believe I put in the
030compact, uh, for board members, or maybe I didn't put in the compact for for this one. I put in for, uh, DCS open house. Uh, maybe end of next week if you could get to Andrea. uh because then we'll start to uh reserve seats and work with the high school staff on how many chairs and we'll typically post no matter what. Uh but it's more about the seating part of it. >> Do you want to say like at noon evening? >> Yeah, usually 12:15 uh we've had uh board members arrive and uh I believe it's been received well to have greeting in the hallway uh from board members and administration. Okay. Great. >> Um, >> and I didn't see a time on the charter school thing. >> 6:00. >> Was it Was there time on
031it? >> I I don't >> I looked through the invitation six. >> So, I think to your point, Jonas, we want to make sure that it was properly listed on there for posting. Can't access it right now. >> I just don't remember, Beth, if I I looked through it and I went back and looked. >> Yes. on the agenda. >> I I think he's just talking about the posting for it. It was >> I was looking >> on the invitation. >> Oh, gotcha. >> Maybe maybe I just messed it missed it, too. >> I can look. >> I believe I was going to take a roll call, but let's figure this. Let's make it easy. We'll post we'll post for it and then >> for DCS. >> Yeah, for DCS open house as well. We'll
032post for both and then we don't have to worry about uh if >> people wander in. >> Okay. >> But 6 p.m. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> That takes us into public conversation, recognition, and correspondence this evening. Um do we have anyone signed up for public comment? We do not. >> Okay. Um, we have several donations to recognize this evening. Uh, from Marilyn Martin, we have the donation of a drafting table to the Columbus High School Art Department in the amount of $150. Um, we want to recognize a donation from Tim and Laura Mineholtz to the band program in the amount of $43,3316. Um, a second donation from Tim and Laura Line holds a hardware bag to be used for symbol stands when transporting band equipment valued in the amount of $110.
033Um, a donation from the Wisconsin Federation of Music Clubs to enhance the Columbus High School band program in the amount of $500 and a donation in honor of the wedding of Ted and Susette Stewart. um a donation to Angel Funds for free and reduced negative balances in the amount of $50, >> which totals up to $1,24316. Taking your years to date, $128,71749. >> Excellent. Thank you, John. >> All right. Uh only item for uh board action this evening uh is uh consider approval for spending the remaining capital referendum funds as previously mentioned. So that would authorize our um superintendent administrative team to uh utilize that $1 million for capital improvements and maintenance that falls within the scope of the original question. >> So moved. >> Second. I have a first from John Pearson, a second
034from Martha Rule. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor with an I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Takes us to our board consent agenda. Um you have uh items for the consent agenda printed in your packet this evening. So it includes our donations, uh the board meeting calendar that we discussed uh earlier. Um, under reorganization, it includes uh our graduation request. January and February board bills are updated in there. So, we're slowly working on bringing those forward. Um, and then our board meeting minutes from April 13th. >> A motion to approve the board consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> I have a first from Karen Smith, a second from Boros Rafi. Any discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor with an I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Uh board management report governance
035committee. Uh we did meet this evening at 6 PM uh and per the review calendar went over the policies that were um assigned for this quarter. Um our only suggested change uh is to 08 um sub.11 um which uh refers specifically to um let me read the line to you. So OE8 uh is our communicating with and support for the board. um OE8.11 uh informed the board in a timely manner of the administrative disposition of complaints referred to the superintendent by the board. Um and we just as a group thought that that should indicate formal complaints meaning a complaint that has been lodged in writing or formally because otherwise that could be interpreted as >> every question or concern should be administratively reported out. So, um you will see that come forward with that just
036that simple word addition of formal um at our next uh regular board meeting for approval for that uh simple language change and of course we can have conversation at that time if there's questions or concerns about it. So just kind of a preview for that. Uh otherwise uh no other changes recommended to uh the work the annual GC6E annual work plan calendar OE3 OE6 OE7 OE9 and OE12 which are all monitoring reports that we have very recently reviewed as a board. All right. Um and next up um we are considering adjournment to close session pursuant to Wisconsin statute 19.85. 851 subsection C for the purpose of considering and taking action as appropriate employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of public employees over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility specifically related to
037the employment of certified staff members. So I would take a motion for that close session. >> Motion session. >> Second. I have a first from Karen Smith, a second from Cory Olson. Um I would uh request that we do a roll call vote and your answer is yes for close session or no if you uh disagree. >> Hajki, >> yes. >> O'Brien, >> yes. >> Olsson Rappy, >> yes. >> Pearson, >> yes. >> Halver, yes. Rule, >> yes. >> Smith, >> yes. >> All right, that is unanimous for close session. At 7:31 we'll move into close session. Um we will be as efficient as possible and then we'll be back uh for a brief balance of our agenda. Our close session and return to open session move. >> Second. >> I have Karen Smith for
038a first, Martha Rule for a second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor with an I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. We are back in open session at 8:10 p.m. Um, next up on our agenda is the superintendent's consent agenda. I would take a motion for its approval. It includes our CISA 5 contract renewal and our human resources report as presented. >> I move that we accept the superintendent consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Who was that on? Sorry. Thank you. I have a first from uh John Pearson, a second from Cory Olsson Rafy. Any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor with an I. I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. Uh board calendar planning. Um reminder uh for John is attending um collective bargaining uh with the teachers union for
039us on uh later this week on Wednesday. Um so he's going to be representing the board due to some challenging uh scheduling issues for me. Um, so that'll be occurring and we'll see those um, negotiations come forward with our next board meeting. Um, I'd offer an opportunity to debrief if anyone has anything they want to debrief. Yeah. What do you got over there? >> Couple other dates I think are important as we end the school year. This Saturday is prom. I believe the advertisements say casino night. >> Mhm. Uh secondly, May 13th, so Wednesday night, senior awards and scholarships. There are Columbus does a great job with scholarships and awards too, but the scholarship thing is uh like John says about the money we receive here, uh incredible. Mhm. >> You've we've talked about graduation
040also June 3rd 8th uh 8th grade promotion night and Cory said it starts at 5:00. >> Okay. >> And I think we we've all been seen it but I think we can be incredibly proud of our middle school. >> Yeah. As an old middle school person, I jumped up and down when I saw them. And that was >> um I think we should also be proud of our musical performers who have been nominated for awards also. Um and the archery teams are all competing at nationals next week. >> Excellent. Sweet. >> We have a lot going on. >> Got a lot going on. A lot to celebrate. >> Yeah. All right. Uh that is the balance of our agenda. I would take a motion for adjournment. >> So move second. >> I have a first
041from Cory Olsson Rafy, a second from Martha Rule. Any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor with an I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. We were adjourned at 8:13 p.m.