001red light. It's >> just a little action. >> It's on here. >> 7:00. >> All right. I got 7:00 on everything. So, I'm going to get us uh rolling tonight. Uh welcome Monday, January 26, 2026 to the regular board meeting of the Columbus School District. Um if you could do the roll call, Adam >> Machi >> present. >> O'Brien >> here. Olsson Rappy >> here. >> Pearson here. Walford here. Rule >> here. >> Smith >> here. >> All present and accounted for. We have a quorum. Our meeting was properly noticed. saw it myself. Uh, mission of the Columbus School District ensures each student is prepared for future success. I take a motion to adopt our agenda. I have no adjustments to it, but that been notified of. >> So moved. Second. >> I have a
002first from John Pearson, a second from Mike O'Brien. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor with an I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. First up on board business, uh, state education convention report. We, uh, returned on Friday from the 20 2026 state education convention. Uh, who wants to lead that off? >> I can. Um, so Tuesday, Julie and I went down and I started out empowering boards and superintendent with governance. And it was our cohort court that uh has coherent governance sub forest overflair chip falls and it was kind of interesting. We are all really on the same page. We there's some nuance differences. Um but nothing that we're not doing well. That's kind of the takeaway I took of all of our convention is we are in my view we're
003really on track on everything we're doing. Um then I went to a number of things on AI, ethical issues in education, um and the need for policy, which I would assume you'll be seeing at some point in time. Um I went to school finance on with Ann Chapman. Um and the big takeaway there is special ed funding isn't going to be what it is projected for next year. It's probably be down to about 35%. The other interesting thing is when they redid the surplus for this year for 2025, it's going to be 2.37 billion, which is 1.53 billion more than they had anticipated. So that surplus keeps growing and growing and growing. Um 9121 on school law. Probably one of the big things that going to affect this board is um act 42 which is
004um prohibits wireless devices during instructional time and the board will have to have a policy on that by July 1, 2026. Um of course we all went to Legal's presentation that Mr. Ziggler did and uh that was wonderful. We're proud of his accomplishments. Um and one of the big takeaways I had, we had a Anmarie Anderson who was a three-time Emmy award winner from ESPN talked about um her child that had mental health issues and the importance of having connecting with an adult, feeling connected with schools. and her line was um and can she get going back to the the the the people in the audience that that we as educators were her front row people cuz your front row people have your back all the time and her her son got connected to water
005polo but she didn't realize at the time was a no cut sport but he made the team so he's proud of that and he went on to play at college and >> division one you know so and that was because he had a connection school and with with with the coaching staff of water. So, um, as always, it's uh I think it's invigorating and good for the psyche to go and be around 2,000 other people that are in in the similar boat. Um, got time to talk to a lot of other colleagues and people I know and after a couple years, you know, a few people. So, that was my takeaway. >> Okay. Um, so my Wednesday was pretty much occupied by the delegate assembly. Uh, a couple of the highlights there. The bylaw amendment
006for WASPA failed, which would have created a two-tier membership system at at WASPA. Uh, the districts overwhelmingly voted that down. Uh, the universal state covered meals resolution did pass. The decoupling, uh, they did vote to oppose decoupling. Uh I think a lot of the districts were kind of in the same boat as ours was since the vote for supporting decoupling failed overwhelmingly 55 to 220 opposing decoupling passed but only 153 to 127. So I think a lot of a lot of districts seem to be in the same camp as we were that maybe we just want to not advocate for that. although opposing did ultimately pass. The um public education endowment fund that we opposed as a board did fail. Um I spoke on that one a little bit and the emergency resolution to um
007provide um to kind of match appropriation when some certain amounts were insufficient. That did pass um pretty resoundingly. So overall a pretty smooth delicate session. was only 3 hours, so not too bad. Uh, as far as the key sessions that I attended, the two that I really took good things out of were hosting a legislative day from Stoton, uh, who actually brought their state senator to their session with them to get her opinions on what makes what goes into a good legislative day. What do senators and representatives find valuable? And I have a lot of good logistical plans that I'm I shared with the legislative committee uh earlier tonight. And the other session that I attended that was really interesting was about uh creating a culture of belonging that was hosted by Platville and a
008number of uh Platville students were at the session as well to speak on their experiences and it just gave me a lot of additional events and strategies to potentially get more out of um our what basically their equivalent of project unifi. um some of the things that they were talking about like having um what they called invisible capital which gave students a chance to uh as John pointed out about having you know adults and teachers supporting you giving um students a chance to talk to teachers about some of their specific personal experiences outside of the classroom like this is like lining up hey students sign up for this session to talk to a a teacher that had an IEP when they were younger. or had to deal with their family, had to deal with growing
009up in a family with a lot with um alcoholism issues. Just a number of very personal things that students deal with. They can connect to an adult faculty member who has gone through the who has gone through similar things. They also have a mentorship system with younger students and um the high school students actually are heavily involved with helping establish a similar chapter, a similar uh group in the middle school. So, a lot of good takeaways and something and stuff that would be potentially potentially applicable to uh to Project Unifi. Um I always try to attend a number on um schoolboard finance just to make sure that we're always staying on top of things. Um and you know the school board's role in financial oversight uh just reiterated to me over and over every step
010that they talked about on your calendar and and assumptions and all these pieces were like perfectly laid out in the order that we do them in. So, it was um not a lot of new learning, but it was actually just really reassuring to see that's exactly what we're doing. Um and uh it was really nice to see uh one of our own um from the administrative team present as part of the educational technology leaders. Um I mean I think we all know that we do a lot of good work in that area, but to be able to see one of our leaders and say, "Yeah, this really is one of our leaders in the state doing some um really great work and we get to our our students get to benefit from that." Um, and
011I think, um, probably one of the most impressive, made an impression on me that I didn't expect it to, um, I didn't expect it to change my mind. Um, was a session titled, the kids are ahead of us. Um, the need for an intentional approach to teaching, learning, and policy in an area of unavoidable AI. And it really helped me see some perspective of, you know, they started out by telling us that we missed the boat on social media. We thought it was going to be a flash in the pan and we're just going to ignore it. And that really hasn't worked out well for us in education. Um, and how if we ignore AI and we don't figure out how to use it intentionally, it it is going to come back to bite us.
012um and really talked through a lot of strategies about how do how can staff utilize AI and then how that trickles down to students and how we potentially can help our students see this as the tool that it is. And again, you know, some smattering about thinking about where does it go in your integrity policies, academic integrity versus do you have an AI policy or does it get weaved into your current policies. So just a lot of really good stuff and it actually prompted some good conversation about it even at home with teenagers. So um I think those were the main highlights. Um they I went to one session uh about special um special ed. I thought it was going to be something amazing. Um and it turns out they were talking about how they
013transitioned um to co-serving um a model in this amazing model that it was and I was like oh we already knew that. So, kind of just building on one little thing you said on on an AI one is that that they one of them when they're talking about people are so cranked up about kids cheating with it and kids have cheated since the beginning of time. They've just they've just upped their game and >> Mike, do you have anything? I mean, this is your first trip to the fair. >> Am I allowed to add? >> Of course. >> Um, yeah. No, I I felt first of all, I thought it was great to have you guys' support. I mean, you guys sat literally in the front row. It was fantastic. Um, you were my front
014row. >> We just said we just had seen that, so we did not. >> Yeah. No, it it was really good. I learned a lot. Um, I didn't go to as many sessions. I went kind of I was at a booth for the the leadership group. But um I made a lot of connections with a lot of school districts that I had never met before like Wan Key and and um I I toured also Elm Brook School District who are doing a lot of similar things but looking at them from a different perspective and a different size of a district just to see um some of the things they're doing. It was a really valuable time for me and I just appreciate that you guys let us um let me have that opportunity to go
015down and and uh work there. So >> absolutely time well spent. >> Any questions from anybody about Okay. Um taking us right into spring election ballot order. Um as um I think everybody on the board is aware, we have uh two um incumbent candidates currently for two open seats. So, the ballot order that was drawn at this time, uh, John Pearson will be in first position on the ballot and Cory Olsen Raffy will be in second position um on the ballot for our upcoming uh April election. Um, that takes us into uh public conversation and recognition this evening. I don't believe we have anyone signed up for public comment this evening. Uh, item number two, we do have a couple of WD recognitions tonight. So we have two firm WSB recognitions. Martha Rule has completed
016the requirements to become a level board board member by demonstrating a high level of commitment to the Wisconsin public school students and by participating in WASB professional development. So Martha, congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Sweet. >> Yay Martha. And >> the reason I'm doing this is Julie Huchki has reached level two. So congratulations Julie. All right. Um rest of our public uh recognition this evening. I wanted to take a few minutes and it is going to take a few minutes um to go through our uh donations this evening. Um, so first, uh, on our donation list, Ashley Morala, uh, angel funds for free and reduced negative balances in the amount of $20. A donation from Corals and Rappy to the angel funds in the amount of $60. A donation from Mary Gart for angel funds
017in the amount of $2,000. A donation from Wendy Brawn to Angel Funds in the amount of $10. a donation from Columbus Utilities for our angel funds in the amount of $750. A donation from Badgerand Property Services. They donated a gift card to Kohl's to purchase snow gear in the amount of $500. A donation from the Columbus football organization uh for the CSH football team to offset the cost of motor coach bus for playoffs in the amount of $900. We received a donation from Bernard Conlin uh towards student mental health needs in the amount of $2,000. There was a donation from George and Janet Roberts to the Columbus High School drama department in the amount of $500. A donation from Greg Kite to Build Moto in the amount of $500. A second donation from Greg Kite
018to Cardinal Custom Creations in the amount of $1,500. We received a donation from Hilda Voit, which we did uh some voting on last uh meeting to establish some uh accounts for that at the bank. That is uh scholarships for graduating seniors in the amount of $25,000. We received a donation from the Green Bay Packers Foundation for student mental health and wellness in the amount of $3,000. A donation from Columbus Recreation Department to the National Honor Society to help support events throughout the school year in the amount of $300. A donation from Auburn Ridge Centry Company to uh they donated lumber for ticket booth in the amount of $1,500. A donation from JNL Tire, a tire balancer to Columbus High School in the value uh amount of $5,000. An additional donation from Greg Kite for Cherry
019Hardwood to Columbus High School in the amount of $2,880. A donation from Drexal Lumber for ticket booth supplies in the amount of $1,500. A donation from Glenn and Cheryl Hevil for wood in the amount of $1,500. A donation from the Columbus Courtside Organization to Columbus High School boys basketball supplies in the amount of $68364. a donation from Columbus Chemical Industries to the Columbus High School band department to help support music programs in the amount of $1,000 and a donation from the Columbus Athletic Boosters to Boys Basketball Supplies in the amount of $895.13. >> So that means in January we had donations of $51,998.77 a lot >> which is I think amazing. incredible is amazing. Excellent. >> All right. I always just amazed you, but $51,000 of support from our community. And And >> can I
020ask Beth a question? Where are we on on like angel fund the balance? >> Sure. So, um there's just one little correction here. Is this um Mary Gart? >> Mhm. >> It was to pay off fees, school fees. Oh, okay. Oh, >> not the angel funds. So, it was past school fees registration $2,000 >> of that. So, we are staying just about equivalent, I believe. And I haven't checked with Stacy, we're right around $3 to $4,000. So, not poorly at all. The community is for sure helping. It was wonderful for that. >> How How many back school fees did we have? Did this make a big difference? Well, this paid off everybody um K through 8 up through this year. So any anybody who owed school fees K through 8 in the past before the
021$2,000 paid everything. So now when they get to Eric for graduation, there is no So it's it it was absolutely amazing that she chose to do that. >> That's wonderful. Thank you for that information. Very good. >> All right, that takes us into our board um action agenda this evening. The first item there uh is consider approval for OE4 personal personnel administration monitoring report um and the recommendation from administration if we so choose to go with it was in compliance. >> I'll make a motion to approve OE4 personal administration monitoring report as in compliance. >> Second. I have a first from Cory Olsson Rafy, a second from John Pearson. Any discussion on OE4 hearing? None. All those in favor with an I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Um, next up is consider approval for OE6
022financial administration monitoring report. Um, again a recommendation from administration was in compliance. I have a motion to approve OB6 financial administration monitoring report as in compliance. >> Seconded. >> We have a first from Karen Smith, a second from Adam Pulver. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor with an I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Uh item three, consider approval for R2 academic achievement results monitoring report. Um and the recommendation from administration was making reasonable progress with exceptions noted. >> Motion to approve R2 monitoring report with new indicators as making reasonable progress with exceptions noted. >> Second. >> I have a first from Martha Rule, a second from John Pearson. Martha, thank you for the additional note that that was with the new um >> that was in there. >> Yes. Thank you for um
023I forgot about that. I appreciate having any discussion on R2 hearing none. All those in favor with an I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. Um next up, um consider approval for R3 life readiness results monitoring report. And again, recommendation was making reasonable progress with exceptions noted. I'll make a motion to approve our three life skills results monitoring report as making reasonable progress with exceptions noted. >> Second. >> I have a first from um Cory Osen Rafi and a second from Karen Smith. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those with an I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Um next up, consider approval for Columbus Middle School course proposals. I take a motion for that. I have a motion to approve the CMS first proposals. Second. >> I have a first from Adam
024Oliver, a second from Mike O'Brien. Any discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor with an I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. And final item on our action agenda. Uh, consider approval for open enrollment seats as presented for 2026 27. I make a motion that we accept open enrollment seats as presented for 2627. >> Second. >> Was that Karen down there? >> Yeah. >> I have a first from John Pearson, a second from Karen Smith. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor with an I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Next up, we have the superintendent's consent agenda. I would >> Did we do R2? >> We did Rule in Pearson with an I. >> With R2. Okay. Yes, >> I accidentally dragged it in board doc. So if you were
025following along I dragged it all the border. I'm like where did it go? >> I I had the printed version so you're in good shape. >> I did just like you just didn't want to get through the night without talking on purpose. >> All right. Uh superintendent's consent agenda this evening has uh that academic cal calendar, our graduation request and our human resources report. Motion to approve the superintendent's consent agenda as presented. >> Seconded. >> I have a first from Martha Rule, a second from Adam Hulker. Any discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor with an I. >> Any opposed. Motion carries. Board consent agenda this evening with our list of uh donations as uh we went through as well as December board bills and our December 8th board meeting minutes. Have >> a
026motion to approve. for consent the agenda as presented. Second. I have a first from Karen Smith, a second from Coral Drafi. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor with an I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Same sign. >> Motion carries. Uh board's management reports for the governance committee. We did meet two weeks ago prior to the board meeting. Um and per our annual calendar for governance committee reviewed R1, R2, and R3. Um there was no recommendations from admin for changes and uh the governance committee as we reviewed it uh did not have any concerns or changes to suggest for R1, R2 or R3. >> These are all pretty newly reviewed in the last few years. It was just rewriting three and four a couple of years ago and yeah. >> Yeah. Cool. >> Um
027board calendar planning. Um, I just wanted to give you guys a heads up for our upcoming board workshop on February 9th. We are anticipating starting our uh, meeting just a little bit earlier than usual at 6:30 p.m. if that would be okay with all. We're going to be starting with a closed session and we're doing that to accommodate a schedule for uh, an attendee for that. So, um, that works. >> That worked for majority of the board. So, um, stay tuned. Just make sure you double check date and time um and location should be here and etc. But and if for some reason you would come late um then obviously you can jump in after the close session. Okay. Um anyone interested in doing um a debrief this evening of our board meeting? All right.
028If not I have uh that is the balance of our agenda and I would entertain a motion to move. >> Second. I have a first from John Pearson, a second from Cory Olsson Rafy. Any discussion hearing? None. All those in favor would I? >> I. Any oppose? Same sign. >> We are adjourned at 7:24 p.m. I have the ability to do that.