001All right, we will start with an announcement. In accordance with board procedure BP5, this meeting will be livereamed and recorded and can be viewed on the district YouTube channel. We will now convene and call the meeting to order at 6:00. Um, Rebecca, was the meeting properly noticed? >> Yes. And Ann, can we have a roll call, please? >> Sure. Dan Berg here. >> Brian Coker here. >> Sue Esser here. >> Jeff Han >> here. >> Linda Lenhard >> here. >> Gusy Lewis, >> present. >> Gail Love >> here. >> Stephanie Sar >> here. >> Megan Taylor. >> Thank you. That brings us to the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
002justice for all. >> The mission, vision, equity statements. The mission of the Deorest Area School District is to provide an excellent education and engage, challenge, and inspire all students to pursue their full potential. The vision statement is that the Forest Area School District is committed to a culture that honors knowledge, respects individuals, demands excellence, fosters lifelong learning, and supports relationships that strengthen individuals, families, and community. The equity statement is we believe every student can learn and deserves equitable access to high quality, rigorous and engaging learning opportunities. So we will ask questions, foster relationships, manage resources, and create systems to increase and sustain access, equity, and safety for all learners. >> Thank you. That brings us to approving the agenda. Would somebody care to make that motion? I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >>
003You have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> We have a second. All those in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes. That brings us to board business um the communication plan and engagement presentation. >> Yes. So, I'm going to ask Kathy Williams, our community relations coordinator, to come on up um and review the communication plan with the board. So, I'm gonna have her hand regground us in it and then I'm gonna go through the slides. So, >> hi everybody. It's good to be back with you. So, um we're looking at um this document that we've looked at and been collaborating on previously. Um and so we've tried as we've um you've charged us with um the goals for these community engagement sessions are to highlight um in particular
004how the district is meeting the needs of all of our students supporting all nories in all areas every day. Um, we certainly want to, in addition to thanking our community for the passing of the referendum last fall, we also want to provide clarity and specificity as far as how those referendum dollars are being used. Um, so Rebecca and I um did have the opportunity to um meet with key communicators. Um you'll see in the timeline of events here in terms of um that was part of kind of getting additional feedback to the presentation and um after we go over those updated slides. There'll be an opportunity to sign up for some of those events. We kind of finalize some dates and some opportunities for you to be meeting with different um partner groups and so
005we will look at that as well. Okay. So I am going to show you the slides and uh they've been adjusted. Now this is about the third time I think I've second time third time I think I brought third time I brought them back. Um and uh the parents really gave us some nice ideas that I think um hopefully you will like and obviously we can adjust again if needed. So um the thank you so it's bigger. >> Y so the first so this would be a board slide. So some of the slides are board members talking and some of them are administration. Um so this would be a board one that is a copy of what we put in front of the community multiple times last year. I mean multiple multiple multiple times of
006how the $7.9 million um would be utilized. And so this is a just a thank you and a reggrounding to the community. So achieving that first goal in the communication plan of thanking the community for what we're and what we're going to do with the 7.9 reminding people that it was a um maintain referendum. It's not like we're adding a lot. It's maintaining our people um was the big uh thing to remind people of. Um and so the next slide is all about exactly how the $7.9 million is being used. And this is a reminder again that it was in that maintain and there's some limited editions in particular. You can see how it's broken down. This would also be for the board to share in the presentation with our engagement when we have an
007engagement session and be able to break it down. There's some notes down below, but you can see exactly how the dollar amounts are broken down again and not what we told the community we needed and what we are doing. The next slide is also a board member slide and this one is to regground the community back into the framework themes and this is an activity slide. So hopefully we get lots of people coming to our engagement sessions and in particular this would be to remind people of what the framework for our future is again that every five every 10 years the big event every five touching base and now this one is bringing out the priorities again and asking for some notice and wonderings. So reminding that these three priorities listed here helped inform the
008operational referendum and then opening up the link there. We will have you uh hard copies avail um for the engagement session where people can read them if they haven't seen them before and then also do a little activity of your own notice and wonderings and then they share out the small group and then share out whole group um anything they notice and wonder about those priorities just as an way to engage everybody back into those that were um determined in 2023. an activity slide and again the board would help lead through that. The next slide is actually administration slide. I have two things going here. Um and this is something that the parents gave us feedback on. We had a lot of text and that you all did as well said try to do use
009less text. Um and so we put it in put all of the text into three big buckets that align to the uh referendum in particular. This is what we're doing with the referendum dollars. And then this is also an update on where we are academically and with our students with their social emotional learning. And then also where we're at with facilities and safety. So we'd be talking through these things as administration giving some more updates about how we're doing academically. We would have hard copies of these sessions of the annual report. Um and we would use the booklet of the annual report. there's a page in there that shows the data of the district of our graduating seniors like their attendance rate, their um internships, things like that. So, we'd be going through that academic
010data as well. So, again, aligned back to um the referendum dollars and then also an update on all the priorities from framework. Um so, I'm not going to go through those right now, but just know that we would be at the sessions at the engagement sessions. I would be sharing a lot more details. This would be our that slide of an of an update. The next one would be board um reminding the community that the way our governance model works is that you hold me accountable to these three results policies. Making sure that the community has an understanding that these came from frameworks over the years. Reggrounding them in that. And then the last slide is actually an opportunity for feedback. And so we'd be asking the community at this point. This is the last
011slide um about uh when students leave the district after achieving these results policies, what are the skills and behaviors they would demonstrate. We are seeking as a administrative team to make sure that we have a really clear graduate of a profile or profile of a graduate. So that's what that question is um getting at and it's also calibrating um the board us to the results policies. We would hope that we would see alignment between the skills and behaviors that the community wants to those three results policies. And if there is misalignment, we got to dig in and figure out what to do next. Um and then the second question is something administration really wants and I know the board will want to help support and um what should divorce area school district keep start stop
012doing as we work to support all students. Again we have that vision of um equity our equity statements really important to the district and the community. So as we meet the needs of all kids what kinds of things do we need to keep doing? What should we start doing and what might we stop doing? So we want to ask the community about that and then think about as a board after these sessions how can we and as a administrative team really dig that into action plans that relate to the results policies. So that's the slides and then go here back to the plan. What do you mean right there? Yeah. Thank you. >> All right. Um so back to the engagement plan. So we have the timeline and then I'm turn it back to Kathy.
013>> Yeah. So um with your suggestions, we've been working to get some dates and times solidified for you all to meet with various groups. Um so starting um October 20th um actually oh September 25th that's coming up first. Um we have a chamber lunch um that will be kind of our um first opportunity to um meet with typically a lot of the business leaders attend those and they always have really good questions. So um look forward to having you meet with them. From there after that date will be our first open session and that will be here in the in um the boardroom and that one will be recorded and streamed. Um so that will also give us an opportunity to have a recorded version on our website um for people who can't come to
014maybe one of the inerson sessions and we'll also provide feed feedback opportunities for them as well to participate. it'll look a little differently than if they were there in person, but we certainly want to get as much input as we can. Um, in November, we're looking forward to um meeting with our students um similar to last year when we did it. I'm working with the athletic director as well as Emily Hendricks at the high school who oversees all the clubs and activities um to get at least two representatives from all of the various clubs and activities and sports teams that are going on at the time. So, um, they're already in the process of doing that and it'll be it'll occur during one of their flex times. So, we have the South Commons reserved for
015that time. Um, let's see. Prior to that, actually in October, on October 7th, will be the village of the forest presentation um where Rebecca goes and presents kind of the state of the district event there. And then um the same thing then happens at the village of Windsor November. Then we have our open sessions coming up after um the winter break. We'll be at the cornerstone. Um and then with your suggestions, we're also then going to be um in two of our school buildings. So um the community can get in and take a peek at our beautiful learning spaces. So, we'll be um in the high school in February and then at Harvest Intermediate School in March and then um there'll be an open staff session for staff to hear the presentation as well. >>
016And our plan for the building since we hope to get students to help give tours because um that's something we've heard from community members that don't have students, they want to see our buildings. And then the other thing is we are going to after the October session wait till after winter break or or so to send a small flyer. So not expensive a small flyer with a QR code to the recorded presentation and a feedback form that then um would go in all mail. So this would be a way for us to reach our community that don't have children in the district or not on our um opt-in communication. So, it' be a mailer to all community members, but again, small and low-key. Um, but uh we would do want to meet everybody, you know,
017try to meet everybody's needs to to engage with us. I have one question. Yeah. Typically, when we go to the villages and you present the state of the district that it's kind of like us just presenting to them, it's not a whole lot of feedback. >> Yeah. Right. And so I'm wondering if that session then is expected to be different with both municipalities that we would be um engaging with them more on on their feedback. Okay. >> Yeah, it should be a little bit different. Um a little bit more of the state of the district is what it has been. Uh I do think it's great to have board there too. So I can see we probably do a little modified slides. Um that's a good point. >> Okay. Do we There's a reason why
018we don't go to leads in Vienna and Burke. >> We do. We love We do. We invite We send out an invitation to all of the municipal Okay. >> clerks and ask them to share with their board um the option and then they should send me back dates. We typically don't um get them. Typically what I've gotten from Vienna leads is they'd like us to send them their annual report. So, we do that, but they haven't been um I've never presented. >> Yeah, they've they've not been open to us coming to our either. >> So, when we have different groups we want to present to, are we working on a way to present to our graduates maybe because we have that second question about >> anyone can come open on? >> Yes, I I know
019anyone can come, but like they've gone off to school some of them or they're doing other things. maybe getting feedback directly from them >> about how we prepared them now that they have gone to college or they've gone on to the workforce. You know, what did we do well? What could we do better? I think they're an important demographic to hear from. I I I'll have to find out maybe Chris I don't know in the past they sometimes have gotten forwarding email addresses for graduates if that's something you could you know tap into and maybe share the recorded presentation and the opportunity to share some >> I was just thinking the 16th I have to look that might be a lot of a lot of college students are are back you know some students are
020back still then. >> So that might be one to to target, you know, grads want to come back or we could directly send them the recording and the feedback form. >> Yes, that would be good. That's a way that would definitely take advantage of that because it's convenient anytime and they can just get it back to us. Yeah, >> it's probably been some years, but I know Debbie Brewster, we've done that in the past, whatever information we were able to collect as far as, you know, future, like you said, foring emails or whatever. >> Yes. So, I'll say as a part of their ACP presentations, part as part of their exit interview, um, we collect their personal emails so that we can communicate with them after they graduate. We collect information on what they're doing
021after high school. But this would be that too. >> Other questions about the slides or about the plan? >> I have a question regarding the questions. Question number one, when students leave the DeForest Area School District after achieving these results policies, what are the skills and behaviors they would demonstrate? Are we asking them to um what we would like them to demonstrate or are we asking can you tell us what we what you've learned off the slide? Do you see what I'm saying? The question seems a little >> um I think I see what you're saying. Maybe the way like would you expect they demonstrate? >> Yeah. Because it is like what do we expect out of them? What would you like to see? >> What do we want from our graduates is what we're
022trying to get. So maybe there's a better way to word it. >> Yeah. because you've achieved those results. What does that look like? >> I think we need to reward that. >> Y that's good. You got other questions? >> I like slide five. I mean, I think that that was very evident when we presented before as a district as to like where we were like in our check-in. I can see why maybe key communicators liked knowing that. >> yeah, good feedback. >> Yeah, they're a nice group to bounce ideas up. I mean, I don't know how many times we took the referendum information to them to figure out how to make it something people could digest because it's so hard to understand school funding. Other thoughts from anybody? Kathy, I'm guessing you are looking for
023more people to sign up for these events. Okay. >> So, there's a link in that you have access to that you see that works for you. >> Is there a limit as to how many board members or a minimum of how many board members you would like to >> we don't have to worry about it. So, sign up. >> Yeah. Because we don't have like in the years before we've gone to like you know Rotary and a whole list of a long list. This is a shorter list, but we're hoping people will come. Um, so I think we can post every time. >> We certainly can. It would help if you did sign up though, so we at least know if somebody's, you know, able to come to that. >> I'm going to. So, are
024back. >> I'm going. >> Any other questions or comments on the slides or thoughts on our engagement? So, are you still processing? >> I'm I'm looking at the the PM dates. >> Okay. >> You know, kind of again trying to figure out getting people to these, >> but no, otherwise I think it's good. I think I like the I like the simplicity of it. I like how we've kind of streamlined things. And >> um my only other thought and this can be shut down too but we have an engagement session portion of our in our on the website under the board. Would this be something that we could at least post the dates or >> I mean I assume that's going to go. >> Thank you. >> If there's no other thoughts we will move
025on. Thank you, Kathy. That brings us to public input. And I have one Abby, if you want to come on up. >> Right there. >> Right where she's going to be >> right into it. >> And then you can go into Uh um this public input statement um that the forest area school district board of education values community input and seek act actively seeks community engagement in many ways. We thank you for taking the time to provide comments and feedback to the board. Know that your thoughts today are appreciated. As stated on all our agendas, this meeting is a meeting of the board of education held in the public for the purpose of conducting the school district's business. Therefore, public comments from district residents are limited to a total of three minutes in length per
026individual. Important to note is the Wisconsin open meetings law requires that the board of education members do not discuss topics, respond to questions, take action, or otherwise engage in conversation related to items that are not listed on the board's agenda. However, members of the board may actively listen, ask questions for clarification in order to understand your concern better. If needed, you may be referred to district staff to help address your comments. >> Thank you. >> Um well, I just wanted to share that um I really appreciate the work that the school district has done in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion. Um so I I kind of became aware of it I want to guess six or seven years ago. It's hard for me to remember with the pandemic and everything but um when dire
027uh student services director Totten started um the equity circles and I participated in that and I thought it was a really good experience. It was good um gathering of the community and um building purpose around the same desire to make sure that our students in the school district feel welcome, included, safe, um every everything like that. And um and then the pandemic kind of uh mixed things up a little bit, but I I know the work continued just in a different way. And then we had uh director Percy Brown and I really appreciate the work that he's done in that area. And um I know he's gone, but I hope that that work continues. I think it's really important. I think it adds a lot of value. And then if you you know, I just
028heard you read the uh mission, vision, and equity statements at the very beginning. And I don't know how you could work, you know, stay true to those statements without a lot of really strong diversity, equity, inclusion work that um and it's not like on its own separate island that it's built throughout everything that you do. And and it sounds like you're doing that. So I'm just saying please keep it going. please keep strong in that area. Um I really appreciate as a parent in the school district and um somebody that works in the school district as well. I I just it adds a lot of value to the schools and with the students and and now we have Michelle Hower. You want to come on up? I'm going to talk to the board because I've
029emailed the board about this topic, but it's the supporting document for the board agendas. Those documents are not consistently available. I have talked to other community members who are not able to access the documents that support the agenda. The links aren't there. Even today, I went online to find the links to the budget for the annual meeting and budget hearing and there are no live links. There are no budget documents to access. I called Han and he verified the budget is not linked. It's a disservice to the community and to transparency that this board promotes for those documents not to be there. That's why you had a community member visit you back in January or February about the budget because he couldn't find the document. So to me, this seems like lowhanging fruit, but when
030I emailed the board, I've gotten push back and they've punted to administration and I get pushed back there being told, "No, no, no. People can access the documents when I have proof. I haven't been able to and other community members haven't been able to. So, it's a simple request for transparency and effective, highly effective communication with the constituents that you serve to make sure those documents are there. So, I hope the board will take this comment seriously and change it immediately so our community could be well advised and informed and not necessarily have to show up for board meetings to find where a budget document is located. >> Thank you, Michelle. >> Thank you. >> Um, no other public input. That brings us to board consent agenda. Would somebody be care to make that motion?
031>> I would make a motion to approve the board consent agenda. >> Thank you. Do we have a second? >> I will second. >> We have a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? That motion passes. That brings us to superintendent consent agenda. Would somebody care to make that motion? >> Make a motion to approve the superintendent consent agenda. >> Thank you. We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Have a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion passes. Press verification. Do not see him. That brings us to board debrief of meeting. [Laughter] >> Um so this meeting was fairly um straight to the point. Um my main question is is did we stay uh true to the agenda?
032>> Yes. Is there anything that we could do to improve or make the meeting go smoother or better? >> I think with the nature of meeting being uh light in topics, I think we did well. >> So I um if anybody has anything else they would like to add to the debrief. Um my question would be um you know what are our takeaways here from tonight and what specific actions do we as a board need for followup? Um, one very obvious is signing up for our community links, but >> well, I have >> I always do that. >> Go to as many sessions. I mean, so there's not a maximum. So, so even you know, even if there's a couple signed up, go to as many sessions. >> Yeah. Anna is posting all she said.
033So, you can sign up for every single one of them if you would like. What's nice about having multiple board members there, can I say this? Sorry. Is um >> that uh there'll be small group discussion. Hopefully, we have enough people there to have small group discussion that you would be sprinkled in. Like that's the it's a little different than what we've done in the past as far as not being just presenting in front. That' be helpful. >> Any other thoughts on the debrief or the questions that were asked? Nope. Okay. I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Okay, you >> have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Meeting is adjourned.