001Oh, we're at seven. p.m. Um, and let's jump right into the consent agenda. Oh, let me fix my microphone. It's probably not close enough. My apologies. Um, okay. Jumping into the consent agenda item, we have the um minutes from the April 6th board meeting, general fund vouchers and purchasing card transactions, certified and co-curricular staffing recommendations. Um, and we saw Jeff's financial summary ahead of time. Um, I would look for a motion to have that. >> I move to approve the items of the cons I move to accept the consent agenda as presented. >> And I will second. >> All right. Um, before we take a vote, is there anything anyone wants to pull out for discussion? >> Oh, I think I probably can I >> Yeah. >> briefly make a statement on the our purchasing
002card transactions. Yeah, please. >> Um, so a thank you to Jeff for answering some questions I had about um some of our expenses related to technology and iPads. Um, so if those of you who are watching and feel like reading extra, um, we did purchase additional iPads and CA not additional, let me rephrase that. We purchased replacement iPads and cases um, for K through five. And that does take into consideration our bulk pricing um that we get as a school district and that Jeff has worked for um as well as um the reduction um technical reduction if you will in the number as we look forward to being really thoughtful with um the use of our technology. Um and one more call out is um these are now I believe six years old um which
003if you are in um the market for a new device that's really outdated um for technology these days especially for as much wear and tear that we have with our children who are always so careful with their personal devices. Um, so I just wanted to call that out that yes, that's an expense, um, but one that was thoughtfully made, um, in anticipation of future needs. So, >> has that been kind of the standard length of time between >> the kids tablets? >> Six to seven years. Um, one of the major pieces that drives us to this is when lots of apps that we use that are very good, >> they stop developing for older generation iPad software. So when we start to see the glitches which we started to see last summer that began the
004conversation of how we operate as Meredith mentioned going down 1200 to for staff and students will have an impact. >> The resale market's pretty good too. >> Yes. So there will be hopefully with that resale money coming back to offset some of that expense as well. And if those of you who are watching, Jeff was just commenting that the um the need for new iPads is also because the applications the district uses need up to-date hardware. So it's a long story short. >> Thank you for summarizing that since he wasn't on mic. Um okay, thank you for calling that out. Is there any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I. Any opposed. All right. Motion carries. 5-0. As usual, there are personnel items that do not require a
005vote. Um, so we are moving on to public comments. Do we have any registered for tonight? >> No. Okay, we do not. Um, okay. So, we are ready for the McFarland um high school student report then. And I see we have Anna with us tonight. >> You're muted, Anna. >> Hi everyone. >> Hi. >> You just wanted to make sure we were ready to roll. >> Just got taken back to my Zoom days and when I had you muted. >> Okay, let me know when you can see my screen. We can see it. >> We got it. >> Perfect. Is it presenting? >> Yes. Beautiful. >> All right. I kind of have a lot to talk about tonight, so that is exciting. >> Um, starting off with our highlights. It is cancer awareness week for
006student council. So, we have some dress up days going on today. We made cards for the W Health Carbone Cancer Center. Um, we're making them for the patients, but also staff. And then we also have a a teachers in paradise event where students can donate their money to get their teacher out of class for half the block and get a sub and a movie. So that's always a popular fundraiser for us. And then those those proceeds will go to the Carbone Cancer Center as well. So that's going on this week. Um last week our prom court was announced. So MHS juniors voted for their prom court for our prom, which is mystery masquerade. I don't know if Dean told you that last time, but and then before the dance, they'll vote again to choose our
007top two royalties. So we have Jaden, Cyan, Brooke, Jacob, Grayson, Caddyy, Brody, Dean, who you guys saw last time. He's on prom court, so you'll have to congratulate him next time you see him. Ava and Owen. That's our junior prom court for this year. Moving on to clubs. Um, for Hope Squad, we attended our first student mental health summit this past Friday at the Manona Terrace. We heard from guest speakers about coping strategies and we gained some inspiration from students in other mental health clubs around the state. So, we got to see um what events they do. leash. You can see in the corner here, we each had to make a poster and kind of talk about what challenges we face as a club, but then also the events we do. So, that was good
008to see what other clubs are over 60 mental health clubs from around the state. So, that was cool to get to talk to some different people from different schools I had never um interacted with before. for DECA. Um, they put on their annual Big Little Dance this past weekend for over 300 kids in the community. They raised money for their club and hosted a great event for McFarland families. So, they had like a little um get ready session before and then also a dance and all of our high school leaders dressed up like princesses and princes. So, that was fun. um multicultural club. They shared a c cultural meal together to exemplify how universal language of food can bring us together. So each member of their club brought a different item that's important to their
009culture or their identity and their sh and they shared it together last Wednesday I believe. for girl up. Um they visited Wesa to teach third, fourth and fifth graders about world in women in STEM day and students got the opportunity to help high school leaders with an experiment. So here are the leaders that went and then they did a little experiment show over here. Moving on to performing arts this week is Shrek, the premiere of Shrek. So, um, they posted this on Instagram, but they were working on their set this past weekend, and I think they're performing Thursday through Sunday, if I'm not mistaken. >> For athletics, um, spring sports are in full swing for MHS athletes. So, we've got, these are upcoming female competitions. It's a busy week. There's track, softball, soccer, and lacrosse
010on Tuesday, softball on Thursday, and then track, softball, and soccer on Friday. And then for boys sports, they've got a golf meet, track meet, and baseball game on Tuesday, golf and baseball on Thursday, and golf and track on Friday. And then just coming up, it's really just getting through our tests, getting excited for summer. >> Here are the pictures I found on Canva. >> So cute. >> And that's really all I have today. Are there any questions at all? >> I don't have any. Very thorough. Thank you. >> And I will say for Shrek the musical, my neighbor girls came around and they were handing out little slips of paper as a reminder that Shrek and there was a QR code. It was hilarious. She's like, "You want to go to Shrek? You want to
011go to Shrek? You want to go to Shrek?" when they got off the bus. So nice use of marketing using cute little humans to help spread the word. >> Yes. and two granddaughters were very happy with the the big dance or whatever it's called. They enjoyed it very much. >> Big Little Dance. Yeah, >> that's awesome. >> Such a good idea. >> Yeah, it is clearly well attended with 300 kids. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thanks, Anna. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you guys so much. Have a good rest of your meeting. >> Good night. >> All right. We are on to the parent guardian satisfaction results. Um, Mr. Tarnitzer, >> yes, take it away. >> Yes. Uh, thank you board members. You have in front of you the slideshow that I will
012be sharing. Um, and I will pull it up for the public to see as well. the so as you know annually we do a survey for our students, our families, parents and guardians and also we do it for our staff. So right now actually the staff survey is underway but I'm going to share a little bit about our the results from our parent guardian satisfaction report. So reminder we do use an outside group school perceptions and they collect uh and analyze the the data and then we receive it and do our own analysis. Part of the reason we do that is be there's two main reasons. One is by using an outside consultant. Uh it provides a level of anonymity that people often prefer and they're more likely to be honest. The other reason is
013it allows us to compare to other similarsized school districts that take this survey. So the questions are fairly standardized across districts for that comparison. Um so the survey was in March and we had an 18% participation rate. Um it was 20% last year. I will call that disappointing. Um it's promoted. They get emails. They get reminder emails. You haven't filled it out. Uh I I do know that some some households have one person complete it which impacts the response rate but um we're always looking to increase that response rate. So please keep that in mind. Although in many surveys, you know like a 20% response rate is pretty typical. >> That's pretty tough. >> Yeah, it is. It is tough. I would remind folks that one of the major complaints is a lack of transparency
014and these are the kind of results that cause a lack of transparenc perceived lack of transparency. >> Right? >> The more people that take it the better. Um um a little bit about this just to keep this in mind with this survey is that it says here like um in terms of who took it. It says CPS down here. Listen that cute CPS over represented that that's our former name of our McFarland Primary School. Um, but you do see this has been a trend ever since we started doing this survey that our parents with younger learners tend to complete the survey at a higher rate than our parents with older learners. So keep that in mind in the results and the grade levels. Uh, 12th grade is really under represented here. Parents of students in
01512th grade in terms of who in terms of services that they receive. advanced learners are over represented. So that's a higher percentage than we have in our student population. And then those who uh receive free or reduced price lunch are under represented uh fairly significantly. So that just in population there's only so much we can do to get people to take it. Um, and then when you look at racial identity, th those who identify as having more than one race are under represented considerations. It's our fourth year doing the survey. You want to look at those who strongly agree or agree. That's the easiest way to compare over time. We also do a comparison with similar size districts. One of the things I'll say is that small changes in the percent that agree can have
016a significant in increase or decrease in your comparison. So just I would proceed with a little bit of caution. I tend to like to focus on the ones that are positive. Um but that's probably not fair to do. They're all actually quite positive. Um and then reminder this is combined district data. So the building levels have different um scores and they analyze those uh on their own as well as building leadership teams. Overall nearly all scores increased and are relatively high um to the scale and comparison district. So that is something that continues to be a strength uh based on those that responded. It indicates that the things that we've been doing are having an impact, a positive impact, including regarding student behavior, bullying, communication. Uh those things should be continued and just uh refined.
017I would say the area of greatest growth as we'll hear is about bullying and and addressing those needs. Overall strengths, there's indices um that are referenced in the survey which combine multiple questions. Four of the five of those increased with all above a four on a fivepoint scale. So very high scores and 84th to 87th percentile compared to other districts. So strong with 80% agreeing or strongly regreeing agreeing on every question. >> So very positive. Um, a nice one that I think a good indicator of how we're doing as a district is when parents are asked how likely they would be to recommend their child's school to a friend or family member. That number increased and continues to be high at a 8.31 and the 83rd percentile. When you get into specific areas, there's many
018numbers here. Um I try I try to make it as digestible as I can for you. But the overall strengths first of all with climate parents feeling that their child's treated with dignity and respect. Parents feeling that their child's safe at school. They feel welcome in their child's school. There's a healthy culture in their child's school. And comments uh there were 120 comments praising the high quality and caring teachers and staff. and about 95 comments about the positive, safe, and inclusive school culture. So, that is a really strong indicator of our school climate. And and to have 95% of parents agree or strongly agree that their childs feel safe at school, as you know, I'm going to say we want it to be 100%, but 95% is pretty nice. >> Parent guardian involvement. parents feeling
019that they know how to support their child's learning, that they feel comfortable contacting staff, that there's opportunities for involvement, and that's something we've really been focusing on, and you see that had a small increase, and that they have opportunities to provide feedback, a nice increase there. So, those are great indicators of of overall strengths. Discipline, something we're always paying attention to. 94% agreeing that their child, if they break a rule, they're treated fairly. Nice indicator there that they get help that they need with 93%. Communication is something that we often talk about in the survey and I have to say continue to have really strong um results with some areas that that we can improve. I'll talk about in a little bit, but feeling they're updated on their child's um performance at the 96th percentile,
020the communications timely and transparent. Um that they would rate the 89% rate school communications as either great or good and that's in the 95th percentile. So about 80 comments about strong communication and accessibility. Certainly room for growth, but that is something that in the course of the four years we've been doing the survey, we've seen tremendous growth. And as always, the highest indicator is about our our facilities being clean and wellkept. I was w I had a a meeting today at Verona Area High School. If you haven't been there, that is a beautiful facility. was walking in there and we were talking about how nice it is and just a reminder how great our school facilities uh are and they're nowhere near as new. >> So, they're very wellmaintained. >> Another strength in terms of
021learning, 93% agreeing that they are satisfied with how much their child is learning. A little typical there this year. This yay um I don't know what that is. I This is a really interesting one. 92% agree that class materials reflect their cultural a family's cultural background. So it's in the 94th percentile. So that's something we've been working on as you know as a district. A very strong indicator. High expectations 91% feel there's high expectations. A couple of other areas to note emotional challenges feeling that their child is able to handle emotional challenges. Uh district administration there's something positive there. We'll skip over that, but we're going to focus on the board. 90% agree, strongly agree, the school board is doing what it takes to make our district successful. That is an increase of 2%. That
022is in the 88th percentile. >> So that's impressive. >> It's impressive. So >> I got high expectations for next year. I'm just kidding. >> Congratulations. What will we do? >> Spoiler alert. I think I think it was interesting in that when we get to it later when they talk about how they want to receive their information. Yeah. It was only 4% want to receive it from board meetings. >> Yeah. >> And that 4% >> Glad you trust us. >> We see you. >> That's right. >> We see you. >> We do literally >> I think they're here tonight actually. >> They're so overall growth areas. We are not perfect. Um bullying it continues to be an area of growth. Uh, I would like to find the school where it's not, but that's not to negate
023our responsibility. 83% say that they're satisfied with efforts to address bullying. It is our lowest average score. Had a decrease of 1%, but is in the 90th percentile. >> So, kind of some mixed results there, but it comes up in the comments quite a bit. Some people feeling like there's a need for to be more effective and consistent in consequences. And this uh one thing I wanted to note as as the administrative team reviewed these results, we compared it with the student survey which actually had an increase in 2.5% in students agreeing or agreeing that um students treat them with respect. >> So it's interesting a diff a little bit different perception between students and their parents. Uh increase of of 2% 1.8% 8% of those that agree that if they're bullied, they would feel
024comfortable talking to someone. So, we're seeing some kind of positive results with our students and and kind of mixed results with our families. Uh, but really what this is our third year of implementing the revised uh response to um um uh bullying prevention and intervention. So, you know, this used to be at a 75% agreeing that they're satisfied and now we're at 83%. So, we're showing progress. >> Yes. >> Um, but there's still more work to do. When the administrative team met and talked about this, we said, you know, one of the things we could do a better job is about letting families know how we handle these situations, what we're doing. Um, because sometimes you just don't know. I think sometimes those people that have been involved in something feel like it's handled fairly
025well, but but you don't know what's what's being done unless it involves your child. The other thing is about educating families about some things that they could do to help. What is bullying, what it is not, and how could they help? Um, much of what happens, especially in the secondary level, starts outside of school through social media. So, there's certainly some things that we could partner with parents on. Um, but we do we are continuing to look at making sure we're more consistent in how we respond to bullying. That will be a neverending project. >> That's always going to be difficult. >> Yep. >> When especially with parents whose students have been bullied, >> y it's going to be very difficult to satisfy >> understandably to any real degree. It really is. It really is.
026And and and and is concerning and something that we don't um we we acknowledge our role and that we have work to do. I did I do mention communications. Um I know that the scores were very high, but there were uh you know 74 comments about streamlining the communication. Here's the thing. Some people want it all on one platform and some people want it on various platforms and that's okay. And so we feel like we get a little nervous because we think well if we respond to some people in their comments then the other people are going to come up the next year. So our rule response is we need to be more concise in our communications probably this presentation included and reducing rep repetitive communications. We often will repeat things over and over. So
027either don't repeat them or put them in a separate section that's just like here's reminders so that when you are busy and you get a lot of communication from us, you can quickly scroll through what's most important. Yeah, it was interesting reading those are the only comments I've gone through so far as the communication ones >> and I wondered if it's not only related to our district but overall communication overload and then we're the ones asking and so you know they >> they answer that >> they want less which is understandable. >> Um but yeah, everyone's needs are so that's what really comes out in the comments is that the needs for communications are so individualistic. >> They really are. >> Yeah. Well, and to that point, I'd be curious to know if we would
028have received more responses to the survey if they weren't so predisposed to getting so many emails that they kind of glossed over the survey email. If that makes sense. >> That does make sense. >> Totally. >> I thought it was interesting along those lines that the response rate was higher like the communication like I prefer >> was it email? email communication and that's how we I you know >> you learn about it and that's like well >> you resp you reply because that's how you >> you know take the information but I thought one of the comments and I agree I haven't had chance to go through all 85 pages of them um is that the communication is great it is a lot but um a few of the words was don't really see a
029way around it and I was like yeah that's pretty much it is you make one change that people like some people like and some people don't. It's just a everyone's a different type of learner. So, >> yep, we'd rather overcommunicate than undercommunicate, but we could be more concise and streamline things a little bit. So, we've got plans to do that. >> Um reminder, the index they combine different areas. So, you see it here informed, included, educational excellence, atmosphere, and experience. So those are the areas I mentioned that four out of the five in uh increased the one decreased by 02%. So I think we call that a toss up but you can see the comparisons are very nice and this all over four uh a four on these. So real strong >> um here I
030mentioned this one to you before. How how likely would you be to recommend it um the district? So, some really positive results there. Uh, this starts to get a little bit redundant. I, as you know, with the student survey, I like to pull out a summary for you right away and give you the the big stuff uh in case I lose you in this part. So, I'll try to to go through these fairly quickly. you see the highest scores. I mentioned that clean and wellkept being um the highest um the most improvement which I think is really where you focus on and that families uh the materials reflecting your family's cultural and racial backgrounds being a a strength and again the school board doing what it takes to make our district successful. >> The least
031Go ahead. >> I'm sorry to interrupt. Can I say one thing about the cultural and racial background thing and I I I don't want to um >> uh >> negate thank you negate the positive aspect of it but I wonder what you know we recognized in the beginning that the demographics of the response rate that are non-white um respondents are under reppresented and so I wonder how that would impact this >> um this statistic IC. So I think it's great and like with this response rate like that's just something to think about um because and like you always say there's always room for improvement but >> and we we do have the ability to disagregate the data by race. So that is something I could do for >> it's somewhat timeconuming but we could do
032that for that question. >> Yeah. I'd also be interested >> because >> would it apply for the free and reduced lunch? Probably not as much, but that might be interesting. >> I don't think so. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. >> But yeah, I'd be interested. Curious about that. >> Um All right. >> Thank you. Sorry. Thank you for letting me interrupt. >> No, that's great. Um and the five items with the least improvement with this is done you know so the low the bottom one is the least improvement there um with the 1% lowest scores you see that again that's just a little bit redundant the 3.88 88 is the bullying. So you see that in the drop. So that's why we called out that area >> as an area of growth. I'm going to
033go through item analysis fairly quickly just because I pulled these things out. This is that communications. How would you rate the communications? So a nice um score there. That's something that we're really proud of. >> Reminder, we didn't used to have weekly s'mores, you know, and that has really made a difference. This is the one that Meredith was referencing earlier. How would you like to receive school information? 94% want emails. I 94% want more email. That's what I heard. No, that's not they said if we're going to communicate. >> Can we Can we call out the 1% who wants radio? >> Yeah, that's amazing. >> I love that. The radio listeners. >> Yes. Wow. >> I do think the text notification is interesting. We're very hesitant. Maybe I should say I'm very hesitant >> to
034use texting to communicate with families. >> Um I just want to save it for emergencies >> like when there's a weather closure when I feel like >> we just we just don't oversaturate it. We are looking at how we could better use our school app. >> Yeah. >> Um that that could ceue up notifications. >> Um you know you have 20 I think 20% say that. So that's not, you know, too bad. But >> and I think we also have to think about >> texting is not free. >> So >> for people, yeah, >> that is not like from our a district standpoint as well as having phone capability to do so. So I think it's the sender and receiver, >> there is a cost associated with that. So I would say I tend to
035probably without any additional really thoughtful dedicated time would I would tend to agree saving those for >> just from a financial standpoint. >> Sure. >> Well, and I think Go ahead, Craig. >> What we found is those uh community members that are most difficult to reach regardless of the reason. Um, one of the choices we've made in the past is mailers. >> Mhm. >> They're not free either. >> They're very expensive. >> Uh, they may be effective. >> I'm not so sure that they improve that percentage very much, >> but again, it's, you know, when you're in the financial straits that most public school districts are these days, that's a tough call. >> Yeah. Yeah. For sure. So, getting into the leadership and communication, um, we've talked with those. I like the district is headed
036in the right direction. I haven't really talked about that one too much. Um, but 88% agreeing, a nice indicator there. um school experience. We've talked about um these areas at length, providing feedback, clean, well-kept, updated on how your child's doing, school communications, timely, transparent. Um there's that the bullying one. You can see that on there. Um you know, supporting your child's learning. These are you've heard all of these already. >> The parent guardian involvement is something we've really been in trying to focus on providing opportunities and that's that's just a nice indicator with 89% feeling like there's opportunities school culture emotional challenges that most most days my child enjoys going to school. I just feel I don't know the the student one is much lower. Um it's like six, like on a 1 to 10
037scale, it's like a six or something on theirs. So they have a different rating, but um it's just I don't know. I mean, I want all kids to enjoy going to school most days. Um but, you know, that's kind of going to school a little bit. >> That is part of the game. >> Um child feeling safe. I mentioned that's one we really focus on. having staff that they feel comfortable with participating in co-curricular activities a nice percentage there um school sponsored sports or extracurricular activities continues to be high and access to reliable internet. So that's um good to know. >> So that is what we have. Any other questions or comments? be kind of nice look at it longitudinally in other observer as is this fourth year fourth year for this one. Yeah. >>
038Yeah. It might be interesting if five years and then 10 years as we kind of do that just really see how >> Oh yeah. >> Yeah. >> Five years. >> Yeah. Do like bigger chunks, >> right? There's nothing about that. >> I like that. Next year we could do a >> Yeah. five year that idea >> because that would because some of our strategic plan goals were really tied to this. and like especially communications that was one of the first things we focused on and so to see >> how that has changed over the five years would be really neat. Yeah, >> thanks Bruce. >> Yeah, great idea. >> No, you hit on all my all my comments during the thing. So >> I will say one of my favorite comments from the expansive comments
039>> there's a lot >> was regarding what are some good things that the schools are doing and someone wrote toxic positivity. I love it. >> I was like yeah >> yes I think they might have been being sarcastic. >> I still I take out the toxic >> and I love the positivity. >> Yep. Yep. >> Yes. >> What exactly is toxic? So toxic positivity, >> would you like to know what toxicity? So toxic toxic positivity >> is when people pretend like everything is okay and ignore that it's not. >> So it's sort of like, oh no, but everything's great and I know that my house is on fire, but I'm fine sitting on the couch, you know, kind of >> it provides a lot of heat. >> But yeah, >> I've got great insurance. It's
040fine, >> right? But what I always say when someone accuses me of being toxically positive, which has happened, >> I say it's a lot better than toxic negativity. >> Yeah, >> true story. >> So, >> yeah, >> if you have to pick one point, >> but yeah, there's a way to be realistic, but also positive and optimistic. >> Yep. >> Just agree. >> You don't want to ignore reality, right? >> It's true. >> Hope that makes sense to you. >> Healthy negativity. >> Interesting. >> Oh, healthy negativity. that what did he healthy negativity >> instead of being a Debbie Downer I can be healthfully negative >> healthy cynicism >> yes >> constructive criticism >> construction yeah >> all right any other questions on that >> I can only comment that I think every early September
041school board meeting for the last 15 years the way these facilities look >> on opening day is unbelievable. >> Y I can't blow the, you know, the custodians and the buildings and ground guys horn loud enough >> every year. And I'm sure it hasn't been the same people every year >> and they're the only ones with the 99%. >> Take that back to your folks, please. >> Yeah. Um, yeah. to I think the only other comment is is to Craig's point, thank you to each and every person who contributes to this district because having satisfied students and having satisfied parents and guardians is really amazing. Like that doesn't happen everywhere. So, thank you staff, everyone, administration, students. >> Broomstick and a tennis ball. They still do it, >> right? Oh, yeah. Right. That's how they
042clean up the scuff marks on the floor. >> Oh, >> they walk around with a tennis ball in the end of a broomstick. >> The more you know, >> the more my jaw was. >> And I had like the NBC like the star. Remember how they used to do that? Like the more you know. That's right. Exactly. >> I think when you have 120 comments about our caring and talented teachers out of 400 and some people that filled out the survey, that's pretty good. >> That is good. taking the time to put a comment in. >> Yep. Exactly. All right. Thank you. Um, next we have our legislative update, Miss Chapman. >> Well, this is going to be super exciting >> because >> there is no update. >> Okay. >> Um, just to kind of
043fill you in on what was pending and is still currently pending. Um the legislature uh went through state surplus and school funding negotiations and uh the result was there were no new K through2 funding changes. Um the student cell phone policy which would require districts to restrict cell phone use during instructional time. Um there still has been no final legislative action on that. Um, in February, a coalition of parents, educators, advocacy groups, and school district file a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin school funding system. Um, the lawsuit has been filed. Uh, but nothing has come of that yet. And that's what I got for you. >> Thank you. >> Feel free to advocate um for increasing the focus is really on increasing special education funding. So, >> uh, just a reminder, you can still do that. Contact
044your legislator. Yep. Perfect. Thank you. Um, business and education partnership meeting update. >> Well, there really wasn't a business and education partnership meeting. Okay. >> Um, they decided to uh recognize various students >> um that were nominated by local businesses that they worked for. Um, unfortunately due to a work conflict, I was unable I was unable to attend and I believe >> I was at a conference. >> He was out of a conference. So I'm sure it went great though. >> It did. >> Yeah, >> it did. Yeah. So they recognized multiple students for the student excellence award. I know because I saw it on social media. >> That's what Yeah. >> Yeah. You saw that too. >> Yeah, I did. >> So that was very helpful. >> Yeah. >> Um, but it was neat
045because they went around to different classrooms and surprised the students with their employer and their family. Nice. >> It's just a really neat >> that I'm making connections. Okay. I think Sorry. Y >> well gifted. >> Yeah, it's great. >> That's something that's new in the last two years. Is that right? >> Yes. >> And what they normally do is they would do one every month >> and they would recognize them at lunch. >> Um but a lot of these kids are either in youth apprenticeships >> or on uh work release. And so sometimes majority of the time they're not. So, >> perfect. All right. Thank you. Okay. Next is the I'll save your voice. Greater Dane County School Governance Consortium meeting update. So, um I'm going to read what I wrote in hopeful in
046hopes that I'm concise. Um so, on was it last Wednesday? Wednesday before um Megan and I had a chance to attend Pesler and I had a chance to attend the that big long acronym um and it was hosted um in Oregon at their innovation center um which another plug um off of Craig's comment is um I believe that innovation center has a um a rec more recent date than some of our facilities, but I think our facilities look if not better definitely on par. So um >> but it was beautiful etc. Um okay focus um the focus um was primarily on how we continue to do the work um from the consortium's mission um which was really helpful for me because I think it was the second meeting I attended with the consortium and so
047we got to review what the group had done over the past year. Um, so a nice reminder of their mission, um, being the purpose of this consortium is to ensure all our students receive the highest quality education possible. Um, and while we acknowledge the uniqueness of each of our districts, we share many of the same challenges and aspirations. We'll leverage our collective knowledge and expertise to focus on three priorities. And those three priorities, which I'll read in just a second, is really what drove our conversation. Um, the first is eliminate academic, social, and emotional gaps for our students. The second is advanced best governance practices. Um and the third is to advocate for our public schools at the local, state and federal levels. Um so keeping those kind of three um priorities in mind um
048we had a group polling conversation or discussion on three different subcommittees that this consortium could form um so that we continue to move our um mission forward. The first one um was agenda planning. The second one was public relations. The third one was legislative advocacy. And the fourth was just fourth was like at large kind of mission critical. What other things do we see outside of those other three? Um so good, bad or ugly, I volunteered to help assist with agenda planning. Um so more to come. Um but also trying to keep in mind that all of the districts and representatives are schoolboard members, administrators. Um some of them are staff um that we all leverage each other's collective >> power understanding. Um but then are also mindful of the capacity that each of us
049have. So um more to come on what that group will turn into. Um and then our final portion of the agenda was listening to and discussing um a greatly highly informative um presentation by the Green Bay Area Public Schools and um the Wisconsin Public Education Network on passing a resolution um for transparency on our tax bills for how the district tax levy is used not only for public schools but for private voucher schools. Um and so the goal with their presentation and resolution was um to outline the work effort they undertook um to update their municipal tax bill um which was no small feat um to be more transparent and accountable to our taxpayers in exactly where that entire tax levy goes. So, um, as that reminder, there is a portion of our tax levy
050that does not actually come to our district, and that was roughly about $230,000. So, that was it in maybe a little bit longer nutshell than I anticipated, but I don't know if you have anything else to add, Megan, or um, No, that was that was a great summary. There's a couple of things that I would add um in terms of since I serve as alternate I haven't been to as many recently and I think what was really nice is to see them after like one to two years of being in existence that they moved that they're moving into this more actionoriented >> phase creating committees and you know kind of understanding the needs of the group um and with the tax transparency portion of it I think that's probably gonna be the first thing that
051the legislative advocacy group or committee works on and I volunteered for that. Um, and you know, Aaron and I have done a little bit of work with the village to explore that. Um, and regardless of what happens with the actual tax bill, um, we are going to work with the village on inserting some information about that, which is much easier to do on a district level because it's really the tax bills for most of Dane County use a template from Dne County. So, as school districts, I think we're really going to need to work together >> in Dane County if we want anything actually changed on the tax bill. So, good information to learn as we figure out our next steps. >> And that was my question. So, that's how they did it in Green
052Bay. They did it countywide kind of thing. >> They started they're going municipality by municipality for every because they have a huge thing. I know real estate is large and distance. So, they've started what I think they started with Green Bay >> um and then they're trying to >> they went big and then going through the other small additional municipal >> because that has to be a real goal of the school districts. I mean they across the state they have to we have to start telling our taxpayers you know what percentage of your taxes are going to these >> vouchered and private schools. >> Yeah. And there were a couple of districts that are already moving in that direction with their like actively working on getting the resolution at the um schoolboard level first. >>
053But again it's always >> each municipality doing it. >> Yeah. Right. But it also like I I was encouraged >> um because there was interest in other districts in Dayne County and it felt like if we have this >> if we all are in agreement on this accountability and transparency that's amazing and that we can kind of use that wave of interest. Um and I also thought it was interesting that um or not interesting but value add that we have such a good relationship with the village that it was apparent in what Green Bay's work was and their work effort that that key collaboration is what made them successful. So it's makes me very appreciative that we have a good relationship with the village. >> Yeah, that's true. >> Thanks to both of you for
054doing that going to that. That's really >> I've just got one kind of off hand. I for the time I spent attending these, I found it really interesting that you can go >> from a school district the size of Madison to a school district the size of Wisconsin Heights or Belleville >> and what you find is that >> maybe to different degrees, but >> we all have the same struggles. >> Yeah. you know, and knowing how hard this is to address in a small school district, it's hard for me to fathom, you know, how some a school district with whatever 20,000 >> can do the same work, >> right? >> Or you go from four schools to a hundred, >> you know, whatever is in the Madison district, >> right? So, at least in my
055case, I grew to appreciate the work that the people uptown do. >> Yeah, absolutely. I agree. >> Yeah. >> So, more to come. >> That's right. Anything else on that one? All right. We've got the Wisconsin Virtual Academyy's retreat update. >> Yes. So, I was able to attend the uh their their board retreat retreat event. It was great. It was on April 10th and they had each department and building do a presentation with some updates. So, I'm just going to share some of the highlights from that meeting. Obviously, they're focusing on growth. um enrollment continues to increase, but they're also looking at engagement while kids are enrolled and of course their graduation progress which they feel has been successful due to their onboarding personalized learning that they're focusing on projectbased learning. Um they're looking to
056expand their CTE partnerships um connections to brick and mortar schools. So something we spent a long time talking about is how with declining enrollment in school districts, how they could provide virtual learning opportunities for courses that they're not able to um provide in a brick and mortar due to staffing and financial issues. So that that I think will be an area of focus the alle cart sort of idea of part-time enrollment um and just how to stay innovative and and creative. One of the things that's interesting is that there continue to see an increase in the percent of their students identified uh with a disability. uh it's currently 25% of their enrollment which you know most districts it's it's typically like 14 to 15%. >> So it's significantly above the enrollment that you see in
057other districts. Um they continue to have strong uh staff retention 87% so doing well there. they um have divided just a reminder that they're the Wisconsin um virtual academy elementary, middle, and high school. So the WEA schools, but there's also insight. So a reminder, those are the the students that are the most credit deficient, and that's Insight High School there, and they continue to to see progress there. And um the biggest growth has been at the Destinations Career Academy High School. They continue to see amazing growth from on the last five years they've gone from 290 students to 1,562. >> So they have partnerships with six CISAs and um many pathways, construction and engineering being the largest >> uh career pathway. Um, and we talked at length about the legislative context. And you know, one
058of the things that they probably got tired of me hearing uh they got probably got tired of hearing me say this, but with when we talk about legislative advocacy, there's a real difference to just say like uh we want PE parents to have a choice in their child's education. a reminder that the Wisconsin VirtualMies are a public school. They are beholden to the same expectations that we are, the same um curriculum that we are. They have all those same expectations. They are a public school. >> It is just they're virtual public school. So when you're talking about options, it is very different than the private school options that we were just talking about uh earlier. So that was something I think they can use to sort of acknowledge and separate themselves from some of the
059other private and voucher schools and also to show look we can but based on our structure provide a virtual learning option when you can't hire a French teacher or you can't hire you can't meet this need for your your students and you don't there's no way that you can you know hire get enough kids to take Chinese, Mandarin, you know. >> So, anyway, so it was a very it was a great day. Um, learned a lot and continue to be impressed with the things that they're doing there with well over 5,000 kids. >> Wow. >> That's awesome. >> Do they anticipate increased enrollment going forward? >> Yes, they are not forecasting a decrease. >> Yeah, that's for sure. Yeah, they've only grown since the pandemic, right? >> Yes. >> Probably doubled. >> Yeah, >> they
060they had a huge spike with with the pandemic and they were able to keep a higher percentage of that than I think many people expected >> due to the quality of their programming. >> Virtual school is hard. >> Yeah, >> it's it requires so much >> parental input >> to succeed, >> right? It's just hard. >> Yeah. But it's for some it's easier than it was >> brick and mortar. So, we're lucky to have that option, too. >> Okay. Any other comments, discussion? Thank you. Um, okay. School safety written drill evaluation notification and review. We got three this time. It was an act of April. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's interesting because you know they are called the drills and sometimes they're less less drilly and more actual but um you did have um all
061three of them were holds um just at um three different buildings. So, you know, what we try to do with the holds is to protect the privacy of the staff and students that are impacted whether it's a medical issue um or um sometimes students are in crisis and and by closing down a part of the building that provides that that safety. So, you can see those reports there. >> Yep. Um I think in reviewing those two quick comments. One um thank you to the staff involved and administrators involved in these holds. It's not easy. Um and then two, the speed at which you address um the issue getting to its core um and finding resolution is impressive. >> Very impressive. and all while maintaining safety and privacy and discretion is just astounding. Um so the
062way you all communicate effectively during the moment um with front office staff and others um job well done. So it's very impressive >> and when you think about it most the kids in that school have no idea this even took this took place. It's just it's incredible. I also appreciated all the detail >> in the reports. Yeah. Um because over the course of the school year, we've seen quite a few of these >> and uh >> granted we don't need to see all the details, but I think it's really good for them to document everything and use every situation as a learning going forward. Got it. Good point. >> Yep. Yeah. >> And I mean they often cover it's like three to five minutes if that. >> Yes. like which is I mean to your
063point you know >> it's incredible. >> Yeah. And then the and the detail this time that we got on one of them highlighted some other teachers who went above and beyond to protect privacy you know so like quick thinking in the moment. How else do we get the student more privacy you know? So >> it was quick thinking >> that would be our staff. >> It is our staff. Yes. >> Not surprised but still >> Amazed. Yeah. All right. Okay. We are on to some of our discussion items. Annual board development tool results. We get to talk about ourselves for a little bit. >> Yes. So, uh, uh, this will be a bit redundant for the board. So, you discussed this at length in your board work session, but we wanted to in an effort
064to be completely transparent to share with the public the the review. So annually the school board completes an analysis of their performance using a tool developed by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and we're able to compare the results from previous scores. Um we start off with the areas of growth and there's really two two areas that um were highlighted in that work. The first thing is just making sure that we facilitate leadership succession in key administrative positions. Despite what some may think, we are quite a lean district office >> which means that we become dependent upon a few people and so just being prepared for future changes so that we're not overly reliant on any one or two people. So that's an area that you said that's something we can the board can continue
065to work on and also making sure that when we make when you make um uh budget decisions that they're they're done so based on student achievement priorities. So those were two areas that we discussed as being areas of growth. >> And um then we discussed many areas of strength. And so I'm not going to go through all of this, but just to give the public a sense of some of the things we talked about, you talked about datadriven decisionmaking is a first area. And these charts just show the degree to which the five of you said something was achieved. And so, um, it depends if you're a glass half fuller or glass glass half empty. Um, you're really looking for purples and greens >> and and then when you get to yellows and reds, those
066are the areas of focus. So um in this one you can see just this is where we're talking about you know reviewing um data program performance comparing ourselves to other districts. This is a real achievement focus how many kids are participating in different programmings uh programming being data driven curriculum development process that's that area. So, a lot of strengths there. And then moving on, the next one, board operations. This, you can see all the purple. That's a good indicator of the strengths. And that's about you're assessing yourself. You're evaluating me. Um, the way that you're working together, you have discussions, you are prepared for board meetings, and uh follow the rules, open meetings laws, have efficient uh and effective board meetings. Uh so that's that's a real area of strength that you identified and the
067culture is really just how you work together more than the logistics of it is being respectful and you can see real some strong areas here. Um not letting differences of of opinion degenerate into personality conflicts and that's not the case on all boards. Having high expectations for yourselves and others. An area that you've focused on and working on is recognizing students, teachers, and schools. So, that's been a real area of focus. Continues to be a a priority to all of you. Moving on to uh planning. This is really about um looking at ways to share services with others, reviewing our needs and um some of the non-instructional support services. So felt like that was still an area of strength, maybe some areas of growth in there and um talked about budgeting. That's an area where
068I I think you feel like you've had some nice growth um understanding the financial statements, the principles of school finance. This board has unfortunately had to become very adept at explaining it to others. Um so appreciate that. my favorite topic when out and about, >> right? Making sure the district is a good financial steward. Um, district operations focuses on, you know, gathering feedback, how you communicate out with with the public and and especially the staff and community engagement. This is look at these nice scores and really nice increases about making sure the legislative advocacy process um is being being uh advocating doing what you can talking about legislative issues through Megan's leadership partnerships with businesses parent and community expectations. So this is one I would say in all of the the work that you have
069made a priority, these scores over the past few years have gone up significantly. So it's something to be very proud of. >> Um policy continues to be an area of strength. You feel like you reviewing revising policies to meet student needs um being very strong and vision. having a vision clear on uh what it is, communicating it to others, student achievement being a priority. So, um I you all took it very seriously and I think the results indicate that taking the time to reflect and to identify areas of growth has resulted in change. >> So, a lot to be proud of. anything you would add as I'm just sitting here talking to you about your own self-reflection. >> I would have a question probably for Megan. One of the one of the areas for growth
070is to invite legislative tours >> in to see us. >> We've had various legislators come and see us. Uh and Aaron and I were actually talking about how Stoton High School did legislative day. Um I have reached out to a legislator regarding their feedback. I have not heard back. Um but she is one very very busy lady. So I will give her another shout tomorrow. >> Do you feel like they're >> they feel obligated to do it or anxious to do it? >> I don't think they feel obligated. I think one of it's it's a strength and a weakness given where we live is that we already have really strong support for public education funding within Dane County. And so, and I'm merely speculating, but as a politician, if you already know you're in support
071of it, you're probably going to exercise your time to focus on areas that might need a little bit more support. Um, that being said, especially from a community perspective, to have our community members know that our legislators are involved with our district and having them be visible here, I think is really strong. Um, but I mean as you look at the state overall, there are so many areas that don't have the public education funding support from their legislators and so it's kind of like what comes first, the chicken or the egg kind of situation, you know. >> A new governor really interesting too. >> Yes. >> There will be a new governor. >> Yeah. >> Emphasis they put on public education. >> Well, I mean, sorry. I I mean I think all of the candidates
072um are already showing a very strong uh consideration for public education funding, but the big situation is is it's the entire legislative piece >> of the state. Um because you have the Senate and the Assembly who have to agree um on what the governor's budget is. And as we've seen, we've we our current governor um put in place his suggestions on what to do with the $2.5 billion dollar surplus. And due to how the Senate assembly majority minority rules, um they could not come to a consensus and they had different ideas on how to, you know, fund public education. Um Republicans wanted to do it, you know, via tax rebates and things like that. And ultimately, no one could come to a general agreement. And this is where we're at. I would say, you know,
073this is my fourth year as superintendent. I don't know what it was like before, but I think it's pretty impressive that I know all of our local legislators that I have seen them multiple times. They've h they've held community sessions that we have attended. >> They're very visible and engaged. >> I have talked to them on the phone. I know I could reach out to them. they would see me and know who I am. You know, those are things I don't know if previously that was the case. They are very very visible and engaged with our district. >> Well, our district has hosted, you know, the state superintendent. >> We have >> a couple of times. >> Yeah, I was going to say it twice at least. >> I think that's a a feather in
074our cap as well. And I mean, I would also be curious to know what other districts um throughout the state, what kind of relationship they have with their legislators. >> To Erin's point, you have not only a professional relationship, but a personal relationship >> um and that just strengthens our partnership towards public education funding more. So, I'd be curious to know how other districts are, you know, traversing down that path towards partnership. >> That's that's my question, too. I mean, it's so many of the rural schools It's those areas that are supporting basically the problems that we have with the funding. >> Yeah. >> And it's like they are so absolutely dependent on the success of their public schools or the continuation of their public schools >> to stay healthy. And it's like it it
075is it's it is frustrating for us because we can contact our legislators, but it's like we just keep on telling them the same thing. Keep doing what you're doing or trying to do what you're doing. >> Right. Well, I got some good feelings about the elections coming up. That's all I can say. >> Great. And I think it goes back to like the consortium conversation too and their lean to doing some advocacy and some legislative updates is if we can form our own since we already have the consortium like we support each other whether it be the smaller districts or larger districts and >> um there at one point I think did like a legislative update day or had multiple legislators there and um I know there's interest in doing that again too. So >>
076yeah, it was held in Middleton. It was really good. >> Yeah. Yeah. Agree. Thanks. >> I'll get off my political soap box now. >> No, it's good. That's where we need. >> That's right. >> We all need to be there. >> You do it. >> Yes, we all >> um any other discussion about our board development tool results. >> Appreciate you all. >> Yeah, it's true. We have a really great working relationship. So, it's that's >> we challenge each other in the best ways. >> Yeah. Makes it much easier to get theecially good work done. >> Bless you. Thank you for that summary, Erin. Um, all right. Next, we have our district administrator report. >> A lot of my me talking at at you. I apologize for that. Um, >> I could switch it up
077and do Jeff's report next if you wanted. >> No, that's right. >> He wants you to stick around longer, Jeff. >> I just want to get back. Uh, some things going around here. You have some uh Miss Fix class, second grade class here at MPS. Some some fun stuff in the gym. And then Officer Towns coming here doing a little patch exchange of their police patches. So that's sweet. >> Fun. >> So very fun. Good to see excitement that you get down at MPS. And at Wabisa, we had very talented um middle and high school do their spring tour um go out and sing there. So, the students always really enjoy that and it's really nice to showcase their talents. Very fortunate. >> So do we. >> Yeah, >> They are good. Of course, you
078here's you can see the students here, uh, third graders building quadrilaterals, um, and other polygons with popsicle sticks. So, it's really just fun to see that hands-on learning and that's really what kids remember. They remember those things and that visual in their head. Um, notice not on a screen. >> Not on a screen. Is there no better tool than a popsicle stick? >> Yeah. My question is, did they get to eat all the popsicles prior? >> No, you can just purchase them at a local craft store. >> That's true. I'm guessing that wouldn't be very sanitary. Probably not. >> No stickiness. >> That would have been like the best day ever, though. >> Those faces. >> Yeah, they're happy. >> They're so happy. >> They are. >> I love this one. Um, so the um
079after the vocal tour performance, the middle school did a drop everything and read a deer time. So students and staff do it, too. And it really is the expectation that staff do it as well. And I did check to make sure all of their books were right side up. >> I also appreciate the appropriate nature of the books. >> Yeah, that is. And their photos, it's seems a little bit staged. Just saying. Just >> Well, that looks pretty little bit. >> I'm sure that's naturally how they were reading it. >> I will say though, this book in the middle is upside down. >> Yeah, >> is it? >> It is. It's upside down. >> It is. I might It looked like it was right side up from Oh, that's fun. >> Um, moving on. >>
080Sometimes you just need a quiet moment. >> We've We have had Nine Square at the middle school in various >> Oh, yeah. >> temporary forms that don't last. And now it is official through hard work. It is officially built and going to last for a really long time. It's a super fun game. Students love it. Um, so thanks for that installation to our building and and grounds crew. >> Keeping our kids active at recess. >> Yes, >> some debate going on in seventh grade. >> Oh, >> a big question. What is more urgent, coral bleaching or ice loss? I just you give middle schoolers something to debate about. >> I think somebody's gonna flip a table over there. >> My question is what did they end up with? >> I don't know. I I don't
081think the debate is is solvable. >> I appreciate that they're not debating like what's your favorite drink. Like these are like real issues, you know? >> Right. >> Appreciate that as well. And of course, you see our very own Jessica Garvey named Badger Small Conference Girl Swim Coach of the Year. Very deserving honor. So, congratulations to Jess. >> Yay. >> That's very exciting. French for students. They got look at these plants. They are so proud of those plants. It's amazing. Um just like the little princess flower students have taken the responsibility caring for something meaningful. That is beautiful. >> It's true. >> So great experience there. Model UN >> headed to the the Wisconsin High School Model UN conference at WMadison. Great picture of them. Two days So appreciate that. Appreciate the leadership of the
082advisors as well. >> Looking very sharp. >> You are. >> Speaking of looking sharp, >> um here we had Jamie Thomas, Wisconsin middle school principal of the year. >> It's a big deal. Speaking of local legislators, >> yeah, >> two of them came to visit that day, too. >> Yeah. So you have Yeah. So you have your local legislators and a couple board members there and then representatives from the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators there as well. It was a great event. Surprise to her. >> So thankfully it went well. So thanks to everyone that was involved in that planning >> and the staff that was there was so >> sweet. >> They just had a look on their face. You don't see the staff out there folks. They they were very proud of their
083principal and what that school was doing. It was just awesome to see on their faces. >> A lot of happy tears. >> Yep. >> Yes. >> The solar farm ribbon cutting is coming up on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. So, be sure to come there. It'll be a wonderful event and highlight this wonderful partnership that's good for the village, good for the district, and good for the planet. >> Y >> and it's volunteer recognition week. So, thank you to our many volunteers. We have so many that do so many things from cutting things out to chaperoning to, you know, fundraising. We're very fortunate. >> We don't have a dinner for this or anything. Well, not like they used to. I know. It's too bad we can't >> because it's just fun to have in the
084cafeteria. You start looking at all these folks. >> Yeah. Well, you're welcome to organize. >> Yeah. Yeah. Right. Um, and some other things I wanted to share with you. We conducted uh Emily Kinser, director of teaching and learning and I conducted stay interviews. So that's a time where instead of waiting for exit interviews, we say what keeps you here, particularly our staff in their second year and beyond. So 18 of them, some of the themes that they said that this is a great place to work, strong culture, supportive leadership, um, and they would recommend us to other districts. The big thing that we heard was people say that they keep coming back. It's about the relationships with their colleagues and about the excitement that the kids bring every day. >> But that connection, that collaborative
085nature of their relationships with colleagues really makes it important to them when times are tough. >> Uh so they they talked about that. They talked about feeling like people are accessible and they they have people they can go to. in terms of challenges, the cost of living. Our staff want to live in McFarland. They cannot afford to live in McFarland and that that is hard and and so they talked about compensation being an issue that that needs to be addressed. Workload and burnout, just the workload just keeps increasing. So, um that's also impacted by increasing student needs. >> So, those are areas that they said are areas of growth for us. So, continuing to work on that. And speaking of teacher retention, the Department of Public Instruction uh released a report on teacher retention saying
086it's particularly an issue in the first five to six years. That's when we're losing teachers. Uh interestingly, the educator pipeline is stabilizing a bit. So, that's refreshing to see. >> Um but what they're finding is teachers are getting into the field and too many of them are leaving. So um you know our response is we try to to increase the have the stat the salary increases greater early in someone's career so that financial incentives are greater and early in career. So trying to do that uh but compensation remains a key driver of of staff movement. Um and so um our new staff salary schedule for certified staff is certainly aimed to address that. We also um the the study showed about areas of specialty needing to be addressed and and we do feel like our
087unique markets that are identified on our salary schedule will help us with that. So I think uh overall I found the the report to be affirming that we're on the right track and that there's some sense of promise with with more teachers going into the field. We just got to keep them. >> I I think our mentor program has a lot to do, >> you know, with keeping teachers. >> I don't know that any other districts really exceed >> what we do in terms of mentors. >> I just like that we're being very proactive. >> I mean, we're not being reactive and going like, "Oh, what are we going to do after this?" We're we're addressing these problems. And again, I think kudos to you guys, the administration, for >> you're trying. >> Yeah. Yep.
088>> That's all we can do. Uh some other things we had them uh McFarland School's equity collective meeting uh since we met last the social workers did a great job presenting some of the things that they've changed and how they approach um making sure students and families are aware of how to address financial needs. So that was a great discussion there. We've had a lot of testing in the district where we're testing ACT preac. So, a lot of work goes on behind the scenes, especially technology-wise, um, proctoring, um, from Kim Wink to, you know, Leaki, I mean, people all across the district, our tech department doing great things and it's a lot of work, >> but thanks to to, you know, Brooke Hower and Emily Kinser and so many others, student services staff. Appreciate that.
089Um, our girl up club presented on women in STEM to the students at WHIS. That was another great great thing that they did there. When I shout that out, I didn't get to go to Bandarama. It's one of the most popular events. >> It was excellent. >> Excellent. >> And it was a big crowd. >> Good. >> You know, the the length of the gym bleachers were full and >> good. >> One end of the >> gym bleachers were full as well. >> Wonderful. We were we weren't able to go either. And um my junior reported that there was a standing ovation for over a minute >> for Brian Vanderblan who's retiring. >> Oh, that's a long time. >> A long time. That's a long time for a long time. >> I think he was
090getting a little uncomfortable. >> Well, >> but it was really >> Yeah. >> moved. Cool. >> Yeah. There's a special educator. >> Yes. Yeah. So, a nice moment, but I was sad to miss it. >> Thanks. >> The dialogue dinner happened. So, speaking of mentors, so um thank you to those that were able to attend. Um Megan shared a few remarks. >> Erin also shared a few words. >> I did share a few remarks. Um and did some sort of odd dancing that I didn't expect to do, but but it was like there was this kind of thing, this dance floor. Really? >> It's true. You the only one who did the odd dancing? >> Yes. Yeah, >> it's all right. >> That that's hilarious. >> Got it. >> I did an interpretive dance to
091to highlight mentorship. >> Um, >> but it was a great event and it really have such really so you know that event is really about our mentees talking about the process >> and giving advice for the future. >> Um, we had um staff development on Friday continued our work with designing for diversity with Dr. Moore. our our final time with her for this cohort. Really worked on lesson design to meet the needs of all learners. Um, some great presentations. Emily Kinser did a a really impactful presentation for the high school on educational technology. I've heard great things about that. The staff took the school perception staff first survey. We had well-being for all on social emotional learning, student behavior systems, early literacy, equitable events planning tool at Wabisa. So when you're planning events, make sure
092it is equitable. Um content teams, lots of great things. >> Thanks to Emily Kinser for attending the WMadison Career Fair on April 13th. I was not able to attend because I was with all of you actually. True. Um, but uh it's a good she said it was a really good event. Met a lot of great prospective students. So that's the first time I think we've been to that event. >> Nice. >> So appreciate her doing that. I want to recognize some donations. So we had some really generous donations. >> Leslie Smith made a very significant donation to the McFarland High School Pride Pantry. >> Nice. >> So really kind of very significant. Um and Dr. Keer of Great Day, Great Day Dental of Manona um did made a significant donation to the boys tennis team
093to purchase a tennis record board. >> A nice >> So appreciate that. So thank you to our donors. It really makes a difference. >> And who was the one who suggested we do this? One of you guys. >> I think it was Meredith. Didn't you guys >> Meredith wanted the letters? Yeah. >> Yeah. I just thought that was so amazing and the very like the day later you sent those. That was very >> And that is really good for us to read those. It was >> It was a huge >> I don't know picking up's the wrong word, but it just really it's inspirational. It's just very affirming. Um, thank you >> for the support. >> Yeah, that's amazing. >> Absolutely. >> It was wonderful. >> Yeah. >> Some things coming up and then I
094promise I'm done talking. Um, >> April 22nd, Environmental Awareness Day. April 22nd is also administrative professional day. That is Wednesday. So, thank you, Angie Stra. >> Thank you, Angie, >> for your amazing leadership. You make uh all of us look so much better supporting our students and staff and families. >> 100% true. >> Totally. >> Yeah. Other, you know, jobs that are difficult, you do it with grace. >> True. >> The equity picnic is also on Wednesday. So, um, that will be a great event where our high school and middle school student groups get together and talk about advocacy. We have the ribbon cutting that afternoon. The 23rd is Take Your Child to Work Day. Uh, the 24th is Arbor Day. My wife would want you to know that was founded in the state of
095Nebraska. Um, um, but an important day. Um, what day is that? >> The 24th. 24th. All right. Friday, >> the musical is coming up. Shrek, of course. State Soul Ensemble is coming up. The craft fair is coming up. That's right. On Saturday. >> Yeah. We're all going to have fun being there, aren't we? >> Got your shifts. Come by and say hi. Ask questions. >> There you go. Yep. >> Yep. >> We'll probably candy. >> The 28th is school bus drivers day. The 29th is the kindergarten music program and the vocal showcase at the high school. May is Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. May 1st is principal day and also school lunch hero day and the start of physical education week. And May 4th through 8th is staff appreciation week.
096We're back here on the 4th, which is also the high school music awards. And um I wanted to mention I got an invite last week that May 6th is the McFarland Senior Outreach documentary screening and silent auction from 5:30 to 7:30. You do need to make a reservation in order to attend. That's right. >> That's all I know about it other than the e invite that I got. So it sounds very exciting. >> Cool. Um, and I think we have a kind of an important recognition. Um, this happens to be Craig How's School Board meeting. True. >> You're not done yet, though. There's still some action items, but >> um, you know, I think this is an appropriate time for us to share some words about you, Craig. I would say that um there's somebody
097called Rita Pearson that talks about um every student needs a champion and you have been a champion for this district. >> Yes. >> For so long and that's really what I think really defines you as a champion for the McFarland School District and we would not be where we are without you. So >> Oh sh appreciate you really do really. I can't I I just It's hard to imagine um this board without you and now we have to. >> True. Sad. >> The board will be fine. >> I just really appreciate you. >> I appreciate your kind words. >> Of course. Of course. Anybody have anything they would like to share? Okay, I'll do one. So, oh, nice eye roll. Um, so what I want to say about Craig is actually before I got on
098the board and it's my first and favorite memory of Mr. Craig Howrying. It was at a Spartan baseball game and I walked up and I was with my well fiance at the time but now husband and you had on a yellow vest and I said to my husband I was like, "Oh my gosh, that's Greg Howry. He's the school board president." And my husband's like, "What?" I'm like, "That's Greg Howry. He's the school board president." So, I walked up to you and I was like, "Oh my gosh, it's so nice to meet you. I am Cooper Kennedy's mom." And for the next like two minutes, he just went on and on about my kid. >> And all I could think was, you are such tremendous human being to remember details of so many kids >>
099and so many families that you've touched in McFarland. >> So, thank you for your service. Thank you for being awesome. Thank you for always showing up with new ink because you know I do love keeping track of the tats and uh enjoy your much earned retirement even though I still have a feeling we're going to see you at all the stuff. >> Thank you. >> I remember that very well. >> So well said. >> He kept coming up. >> Yeah. I kept trying to say the good stuff, but then he >> Yeah, it was I think it was senior parent night and uh we had to take pictures and so like Craig kept trying to tell me stuff and Cooper just kept coming up and I was like leave I want to hear someone rave
100about you, you know. Um but no, it was a wonderful conversation and I'm so glad I've had the last two years to work with you. >> Back at you. >> Thanks, >> Craig. I'm gonna I'm gonna miss you a lot because he's just been around for so long and I have too. and just chatting with you and you got us through some pretty tough times there everybody. >> Yeah. >> And you did a wonderful job. So we are very very blessed to have you at that point. >> Thank you. >> That's true. It's true. >> Go ahead. Yeah. >> Meredith looks >> I haven't known you as long as others have. Um and I think you all have said it very well. Um, you have a sense about you that is very open and you
101take information in and you speak when you need to. Um, and when you speak, you lead with experience and compassion and heart. Um, and I very much have valued the education I've received from you this past year. Um, on where we've come from and where we've been, that is who we are. We value that. Um, so thank you for that. Um, you are deeply embedded in who we are and very much appreciated. >> So, >> geez. >> See, they just keep getting better. >> It's true. >> All right, Miss Megan. >> Yeah. Um, >> yeah, there's Well, there's not that much left to say. >> Um, but you are you have been you've given so much to this community in service. um especially the school district. Um and you've just been such a positive fixture
102since I've started. I'm in my fourth year and you know I'm going to miss your positive mindset, your wisdom and the and the experience that you bring. I mean that's all it's so much. Um I appreciate the year that you gave me to learn from you as you know as being vice president and letting me be president. I'm very grateful for that. And I'm going to especially miss your shoes. >> Yes. >> And your flare that you bring. They're going to be very different without you at these schoolboard meetings. We're going to miss you. >> I appreciate it. >> Yeah. >> I just want to thank everybody for the opportunity to serve the district. Um, I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed 95% in the last, you know, 15 16 years. >> That's a lot.
103>> There have been a couple of very trying times. >> Um, the pandemic was difficult from both a school district and personal perspective. Um, and the the work that this group did after the lost referendum was remarkable. But that was probably the time where I began to realize I was a bit old. Get old. >> And and I just I don't have the energy that's a must in order to be a good advocate for the district. I'll always be an advocate for the district. >> Yeah. >> Virtually no matter what. Uh I' I've been around 55 years. Going to attend my first reunion this summer before my whole class is gone. >> Um but I appreciate All the superintendent, present company included. >> Thank God included. >> I think I think Jeff and I have
104been working together for about both of our careers. Um, and I have a great great deal of pride. >> Just Oh, no. >> Yeah. >> I think I'll leave it at that. >> Yeah. >> Oh, no. No. I'm gonna start crying. Yep. >> It happens every I was waiting for it. I really want to know. >> It happens every time. >> It's your heart that we love. >> Yeah. >> So, thank you for being who you are. >> And don't be a stranger. >> Don't be a stranger. >> Now, you can say whatever you want. >> Yeah. You can do all the public comments you want to do. >> Yeah. Yeah. Next week. >> Oh, yes. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You'll have to drag me out kicking the screen >> starting next Monday. Start the
105five minute timer. Let's go. >> That's right. Oh, well, any anything else than that? >> All right, then. I think we're ready to move on to Jeff Mahoney and his um updates for us. That's going to be a tough act to follow. >> Yeah, >> No pressure. Well, from a timing perspective, you have four minutes. Go. I'm just kidding. >> Problem. >> She's not kidding. >> No sad. >> I'm totally kidding. >> Um, so first report, uh, just our monthly board budget update. Um, number of these slides will probably kind of scroll through because they're really not a update, but just a carry forward from previous meetings. Um, oh, back to the schedule. Sorry. >> Okay. >> Um, you know, I just want to highlight the reason we have certain ones in green. Those are
106really critical points. Uh, so tonight's not a critical point. Um, but it is very important for us to talk about uh staffing. So, that'll be one of our topics tonight. Um, I did have a calendar error on my uh calendar here. April 23rd is not ERC. That is the 30th of April. Um, but you know, we still have a little bit before we have our annual meeting in October. So, as you know, we do nine months of budgeting preparation and then take a couple months off. What are we working on? We are working on resident uh enrollment still. Um, obviously that's ongoing because people do move to us all the time. Uh just a shout out to Emily Broom who has already placed over 120 4K students and worked with the families on their locations.
107Um open enrollment application season ends in another week. Um and so far we'll get just a little data there and it is majorly hiring season. We'll get to a little bit of that in a bit. We as Mr. Tenants are already highlighted. We did work through the certified staff compensation plan uh upcoming at the next ERC is support staff. Um and then others later on in May. Just a reminder of resident enrollment. I wish that was upside down but it's not. >> Um I am a half glass full almost always bubbling over. But yes, that is where we're kind of headed with our resident enrollment right now. Um, and I'm sure Mr. Tarner and I will talk about uh the venue that he and I were at today. Um, in future meetings, we'll chat about
108some of the things we learned from area districts that are also facing this. So, that's just more detail which buildings are decreasing. And as we've highlighted before, uh, MPS and WABIS are where our low points are. Um, so we'll keep plugging along, welcoming all resident students, whether they want to come back from their private or their voucher schools any day. Please do. That's my plug for getting kids to come back. >> Love it. >> Uh, open enrollment as of, sorry, it should say 41626 up there at the top. um no real different than what February held. There's a lot of interest at the 4K and kindergarten 5K level. Um but still, you know, a little bit of space. Um and then a lot of space available at our second, third, fourth, I guess not fourth,
109we only had a few openings, fifth grade, and 10th grade. So, um again, there's still interest. there's still time for people to join us. Um, so we'll continue to go down that process. Miss Emily Broom also handles that process. >> What is that deadline again? >> April 30th. >> Come to McFarland. 10 more days. You know you want to. >> All right. Here we go. >> Great place to be. >> Um, really excited is because a lot of these positions um are very much in action right now of interviews or already filled. ESL was filled. Um just kind of a reflection 17 applicants for that position. So that was great. Um intervention technology there's eight applicants. World language three music >> at uh MHS middle school 40. >> So yeah that is significant. Um we
110are a draw. So it's great. >> It really is a great place to be. >> That's right. >> That's impressive. >> Fifth grade uh two positions were already filled. kindergarten. Two positions already filled with social worker 14 pos uh 14 applicants. That again tells us that uh people are drawn to here for some difficult positions. MHS science 13. IMMS special education 12 like we used to only see two maybe three. >> Um takes one. >> Yep. Takes one great one. >> Uh and the principal so far 20 applicants. That is as of today or about an hour ago when Aaron started his report. >> Wow. >> Sorry. >> Wait a minute. How many did we get since Aaron started his report? >> I don't know. >> Oh, okay. That was funny though. >> Subtle. >>
111We spent a lot of time together today. >> We still um I think that really just speaks to like one the work we've done in compensation schedule. um as well as the just the culture that we have like that speaks for itself. >> Um >> yeah, that's impressive. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> Wow. >> All right. Um a whole bunch of other slides that I didn't have to share with you because there are a lot of repeats. So, this is just a real summary. We continue to work on revenue expense, salary, wage plans, uh you know, monitoring the state legislature. That's kind of done. um given up on a while ago. Uh monitoring enrollment, hiring season, we just talked about that year end spending. Our principles and our teams have been doing great and uh
112beyond 2627. We're always looking at how we're going to kind of get through this next few years of our legislature. One thing I was going to point out in one of my slides that I didn't put in tonight, thinking about glass half full, glass half empty, you know, 57% of our funding for McFarland isn't from taxes. >> That's something that should be celebrated >> because not many districts can say that. If you take all of our funding that's outside of taxes, >> 57% comes from elsewhere. >> Good point. Isn't that what what meeting was that where you shared that or you shared the table afterwards of the distribution of taxes and >> um state aid >> 16 February 16th for the public? >> Yeah. Um and we were like at the top of that positive
113ratio, weren't we? Yeah. So, yes, we are. That's a great thing to celebrate. Yeah. Thanks for bringing it up. >> Even with the referendum. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Can you explain that why that is? >> Certainly. Uh >> we have a um equalization aid formula system that does benefit school districts that are ours, which are small land area districts with lots of students in it. >> That's probably the number one >> piece with that. >> Okay. >> I hope the public heard that. That's good. >> That's wonderful. >> Sorry, I forgot to take that slide back out. >> All righty. >> Thank you, Jeeoff. Any questions on staffing budget? >> I'm excited so many people are applying for our >> It is, >> you know, >> it's really great positions. >> Speaking of budget, but
114a little bit more in depth is our school nutrition budget overview. And the the reason I bring this forward is because in May you will be approving fees for lots of parts of the district. >> Oh, that's right. uh but school nutrition will be one of the opportunities for us to move forward with a little bit. So I wanted to give a little bit more background on how um school nutrition is financed. So we'll take a short period of time here. So um our major expenditures obviously is staffing costs, wages and benefits and then food, beverage and supplies. The school nutrition bud budget does not pay for natural gas or electricity or water or sewer. Um, that is something that could be that is something that is usually not done in school districts. Our revenues
115come from student fees, parents, state reimbursements, very minimal, and federal reimbursements. And I'll show you some of that >> data in a little bit here. >> What's interesting is when you talk about, okay, what is the philosophy of school nutrition funding? And we've had this philosophy and when all of the area school districts uh and I were discussing this in our bimonthly business manager um conversations, we all started talking about it and it was great that we all kind of have the same sort of general theory on it. We're trying to break even. We're trying not to bring money from fund 10 to fund 50 even though fund 50 does support it a bit or fund 10 does with the utilities but we also are trying to maintain a little bit of a fund balance
116so that we have operating revenues and also equipment does either a go through planned replacement or emergency replacement. So overall it's about long-term sustainability, maintaining adequate reserves for adapting our operations as you know participation levels change and then any other financial pressures. And if you think about financial pressures right now, we deal with fuel search charges that start to creep in if things tend to be higher for more than a month. So far, none of our um consortium companies are doing that yet, but it has occurred before. All right. Um you know, the big picture here is, you know, 1,400 customers every day. It doesn't include the alle cart kits either. >> So, we have a big restaurant in >> Yeah, we do. Yeah, you do. >> Four, you know, four buildings. So, which is
117wonderful. Um, you know, we're generally around 50% or more at the elementary level and then it dips down for middle school and high school, but that doesn't include alleart. >> So, those are great numbers, >> isn't it? >> Say what? >> That's pretty difficult. >> Yeah, very much so. >> The students age. >> Yeah. >> I can't tell you how many cookies have showed up on my account from the high school. >> We love that. Mhm. >> Um we're modestly staffed. Uh 19 members when you think about, you know, that many meals a day. Um each building basically has three staff members. The middle school a little bit more and the high school which also is one of our production kitchens that supports the other buildings a little bit. Um, we have three district-wide staff.
118One being at the high school who is our lead production supervisor also is a graduate of McFarland here. Um, and we have 11-month administrative assistant and director. The one thing I'm sure over time that may come into play is uh the director position in most school districts is year round. >> Okay. Um, so that's something to be monitoring over the next few years. >> Staffing costs, wages, and benefits. Um, I think I'm helping set up why we have potential of fee change. Uh, one of the pieces is wage costs have averaged 8% increases over the last four years. Um, we have a lot of competition for food service employees and some of these shifts are three, four hours. They're not eight hours. So grabbing folks in to work a midday shift of which we love
119to advertise to our elementary families and middle school families and we usually get some individuals that is great. They might not be working full-time. They might be able to give a few hours and it is very helpful that they're a part of our community and helping us. Um benefit costs average 7% increase over the last four years as well. So supply costs are also going up. Food, beverage 5%. So not bad for a large organization, but that's part of that large consortium that we're for buying purposes that we're a part of. Represents 43% of the budget. So um basically think you know 5% overall for all the areas over the last four years and we haven't really increased costs or fees much but the big reason all right so 62% of our revenue comes from
120student fees state whopping 1% which is fine um because the federal government with The National School Lunch Program has been a huge provider of helping school districts provide nutrition, whether it's breakfast, lunch, or even the milk breaks over time. >> Um, there I'm sorry. >> Yep. >> Have there been any cuts in terms of that federal school lunch program >> yet? Yep. >> Yep. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Nope. Craig, you hit it right there. What a wonderful >> the business the business mind of Craig already jumped there for me. So uh I help I appreciate that. Um so we're seeing um about 37% right now was 86% in 2122. So we had more money than we needed. That's because the National School Lunch Program just blanket across the United States, picked the number and
121sent reimbursements to every district. >> So that was great. Um, >> now was that during CO >> after the the one year after CO? It was kind of the reboot year. Okay. >> So, you know, you go from 1.3 million in federal reimbursements to 495,000, you're going to have a bit of a budget issue. So the next page um you know if you go to 2223 and 21222 I think they even their own slide is not right but 70 cents 77 cents for uh paid rate. So if a student doesn't qualify for free reduced we were getting 70.77 cents per meal and now we're down to 44 cents. So, um, that that's the big hit. So, why are we just addressing this now? We'll go to the next slide, Angie. What's the balance sheet look
122like? If you go from left to right, you'll see that at the bottom, our ending fund balance was just about over 480,000 in 2122. Then it grew in 2223. And then we made decisions not to increase fees because we a could spend some of our reserves. B there was no reason to ask our patrons at this point to pay for food when we had the reserves. So we have been on a planned deficit for each of the last three years including this year. So is this planned? Yes. talked about that. Um we anticipate that we'll have about 278,000 left at the end of this year for operating balance. That should help us to um be about two to three months of operating balance. Keeps us from having to borrow from fund 10 and allows for
123planned or emergency equipment replacements. Ovens ovens, fridges, and freezers. Oh my >> quick question. Um, and this is going back to the other slide about the uh keep kids fed Act. Um, so it shows on there that it expired at the end of 2024 or 2023, something like that. Do you know if there's any current uh federal legislation pending or is that on another slide? >> Nope, it's not another it's not another slide. It's just a bullet of we could be coming to the board for more money because we know that we're going to have to over the next few years be increasing this. However, the National School Lunch Program changes rules every year. >> Does that fall under the now defunct Department of Ed? >> Uh, no. USDA. >> USDA. Okay. >> So, a
124little safer. >> Awesome. I mean, if they're safe. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, yeah, it's a challenge. Uh, let's go to how do we fix the budget deficit? Yeah. >> Yep. There we go. Fees are really kind of it. you know, we've really been a good steward of trying to make sure that we have the right amount of staffing, uh, part of the consortiums for food purchasing, equipment, uh, purchasing. Um, so we are looking at about 20 cents per meal for breakfast. And I have another slide on this that'll go into a bit more detail, but lunch 40 to 65 cents per meal. uh depending on the grade level, it's going to generate us about 81,000 in revenue to offset the deficit of just over 100,000. We'll need to use some of our fund balance
125next year as well. Still, we'll have to be creative. Um, we're already looking at how we can can increase more participation because it's a lot about how can we show families that we can do this cheaper than you and save you a lot of time at home. >> Okay. So, another question. Sorry, this is just my business mind going. >> So, in your slide regarding breakdown of um meals by school and you said it didn't include the allocart figures, >> right? What percentage of business sorry I have no other word for it does alleart make up sales from the total >> so alle cart sales at the high school are about 25%. >> So seeing as how I mean because that's a pretty significant portion at the high school >> have we thought about raising
126the co the cost of alocart items >> to help balance things a little bit okay. >> Yep. He's already in there too. I apologize. >> Nope, there's not a slide about alle cart. So, annually we're always looking at our pricing of our alle cart. We're also trying to make sure that we're not um pushing kids out the door to quick trip or bringing too much outdoor >> in. So, we try to make it convenient for families but maintain a good price. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Uh the one area that we're going to be getting back to a little bit more is catering. um which is something that we haven't done as much because the USDA changed a lot of rules. So we have we took a break and now we have to come back to
127having an actual menu an actual approved setup with the US today USDA or actually the DPI because we have to follow different rules with them. So we're going to get back at you know because there are events that bring in outside food that we can compete with. So that will help. >> How much of food services takes care of the concession stands? >> None. None. >> Okay. >> We did that for a while >> too when um >> yes we we were asked to try um groups could not make as much money. >> Okay. >> Because part of it is we can't get the deals like you can >> at the co the >> Costco we have to buy direct from the suppliers. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Great question. >> Sorry, I'm sorry for all
128the questions. >> No, this is very >> This is just very in my wheel. >> Well, appreciate >> food service is one of our major funds that we don't spend a lot of time talking about. So, >> that's right. >> I I not so much a question as a comment. As I understand it, kids of all ages can't learn if they're tired or if they're hungry. And I I can't tell you how much I appreciate the fact that we get these kids fed in the morning. And this is just anecdotal but I have to believe that our academic performance is better because of these programs >> 100%. And the second thing I have is I don't know if people appreciate the fact that once we get uh a higher amount of student lunch fees getting
129behind that the community has always stepped up >> and paid those fees. Um, I'm not so sure that everybody understands that. Um, I I think people don't place enough emphasis on I I I have good knowledge that in a significant percentage of cases, the food these kids get at school may very well be all they get. >> Yeah. which is incredibly sad, but I think it's a reality. So, kudos to you and the the staff for all the hard work. Like you said, you've got a moderate staff that they I don't know how they work under the time constraints they do. >> I mean, it's just the the the logistics of it are remarkable. >> Yeah. Have we ever done a preemptive like build the bank type of idea where people can make donations throughout
130the year to help support food balances? >> So, I'm glad you brought that up. Even though it's not a slide here, uh Katie Havener, our administrative assistant, she's been working with us to develop little campaigns of here. If you do want to donate, this is where you can go. So, kicking off some things next year. >> Okay. I love that idea. >> Yep. >> It's great. So, um, you're always kind of curious, you know, how do how do we compare with our most comparable districts, which is, um, when you're talking about employee groups, you got to be very geographic for food service staff come from these areas that support us and work for us. So overall the average for breakfast is $1.94 at the elementary level all the way through 213 and then if you
131look at the McFarland average were 205 across the board. So little over in the elementary little under in the middle school and high school. Then when you get to lunches over on the left hand side, elementary, middle school, high school, you'll see that we are below um each of those areas. And that's partly just because of other districts have moved theirs up faster, sooner. >> So the next slide, which you don't have because I forgot to give it to Angie. I built it today actually. Um, DPI actually requires us to have, so it's not on this slide right now. DPI tells us what we should be charging. They're saying we should have a lunch at $416. Um, the calculation I don't agree with that they tell us is that milk should be 89. >> What
132is it right now? >> 50. We're not charging 89 cents for a cup of milk. Thank you. >> That's something that I'm just kind of holding on with our food service department that >> we want to make it convenient for families. >> Um families at 89 cents would be sending a gallon with their kid and keeping it in the locker and say try to keep that cold >> which would make it really smelly. >> Not that anybody ever did that. >> Yeah. I hope so. >> So, what does this mean for if we were to have these uh prices increased um and accepted next May, this coming May? Uh for breakfast, about a dollar per week, we're looking at um 20 cents. For lunch, we're looking at um read my notes here. So, we're looking
133at 206 in change for elementary lunches for a week. Middle school just over $3 and at the high school just over $3.35. So, >> how long has it been since we've increased? >> Well, we had a small increase just a few years ago of 20 cents um just before we started to use more of our reserves. So, we've been trying to be very thoughtful. So, um fees 2627 um at the May 4th and then as a note, we're just kind of monitoring national school lunch program each year. So, we'll probably have more of an update about school nutrition sometime next year's f during next year's fiscal year about where we're at. Do we have to jump faster more or has someone decided to change the federal rules again? Questions? >> Does this also impact the
134reduced lunch rate? >> Oh, no, actually not. Um, so in this budget, we are continuing to plan for if a family is eligible for reduced, we're giving them free pricing. >> Oh, that's right. >> So, we're going to continue that process for next year as well. The difference is only about $5,000 and it becomes more administrative time to try to collect on the small amount of money that we are charging that it's just not worth >> it's better for our families that need assistance to get the full assistance. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Support that. >> That is a great decision. >> Agreed. >> Great. >> Okay. There should be no barrier to help. >> Yeah. Right. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> Thanks for putting that all together. >> Yeah, >> give me a second.
135I'm gonna try try to get through it. I just wanted to personally thank you. Uh you've you've made my work as a school board member so much easier. Your predictions are incredibly accurate. >> That's right. >> I think I can't remember a year that I kind of went to myself, yeah, but you said it. That's that's never happened. Um, and your willingness to take on so many duties is uh remarkable. You you've over my career have been phenomenal and just know that I've appreciated it. I appreciate it and as everybody else said, you have been involved in McFarland School District forever and will always continue to do that and uh I'm not going to cry either though. So stop short of that. >> Yeah, take a sip. >> We should we should stop. >> Thanks,
136Jeff. Thanks, Jeff. >> Thank you, Jeff. >> Thank you. All right. >> Okay. Are we ready for some action items? >> Yes. >> Let's do it. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Um Yes. Okay. >> Um All right. Well, I think we can still chat about this. Um so, the next the first action item um consideration and possible action to amend the previously approved name of the performing arts center to include McFarland. Um, will you give us a little review? >> Yes. So, as you recall at the last board meeting, uh, the board voted to rename the McFarland Performing Arts Center to the Bill Garvey Performing Arts Center. And one of the things that was mentioned in that discussion was the value of the word McFarland um, being in our current name. Mhm. >> Um,
137in addition, something that was learned after the meeting was how much of the branding across the performing arts center from chairs to stands uh includes the MPAC. It's in the logo. Um, all of those those things. And so one idea that was brought forward was whether you would want to revise the name, amend the name uh to include McFarland in the title. One one idea being Bill Garvey McFarland Performing Arts Center. So keeping the current name basically McFarland Performing Arts Center but putting Bill Garvey in front of it. >> Okay. which would require an amendment because it's adding a word to your previously approved motion. >> Okay. Um, does anyone have any thoughts they want to share or discuss? >> Well, I I just I think Michelle Garvey wrote that she talked it over with
138her children and am I correct? And they would >> that's what she said. >> Yeah. And they would prefer that they don't or we don't do that. >> Yeah. That's their preference. >> Yeah, >> we have also received other feedback saying that people are in support of it. So, there's that. >> Um, >> we had initial suggestions to make sure to include that the McFarland piece as well. just from our past conversations. I think it's um I think it's a nice marriage of a few issues if we consider it because if it's brought to us by staff who were concerned about the amount of change and it's and it's amending our motion is going to help reduce some of the impact of the change on staff and time and resources. I think it helps marry
139this fiduciary duty that we talked about um and the impact of it. Um so I think that's an important consideration. Um and having Bill Garvey still at the front of it as this option suggests still puts his name first. >> So I think you know like it still >> honors that very much. Um, yeah. Other thoughts? >> Well, I mean, we've talked about trying to attract people to utilize the performing arts center more, >> and so being able to capitalize on the fact that it is the McFarland Performing Arts Center, I think, is really strong. Um, but also maintaining the authenticity of Bill Garvey and his family and what he meant to the community. Um, I mean, I think putting McFarland in there is a great way to combine the two. Like you said, it's
140a beautiful marriage. >> Um, and also ensuring that we're keeping staff concerns >> as well in the forefront, I think, is important, too. >> I think I would probably add um I agree. I think it's a it marries um what staff is telling us other feedback we've received the financial piece and I think what also goes along with the financial piece is the manh hours. >> Um it's not just paying for um marketing piece or paying for um a new sign. It's the man-hour and time to facilitate creation of those >> um and also creation of um the space and it's it's not just money, it's time. And I think you see in kind of other agenda topics um even tonight and other times that our focus um that time I think should be spent
141elsewhere just to be very blunt. Um and not on our staff should not be spending time on a renaming. Our staff should be spending time on our students. Um that's just how I feel about that. So, >> no, I think that's a good point. The other the other piece that I'm just thinking about actually is um in terms of the marketing and the brand that's al already established and in the fact that we're trying to use the performing arts center as more of a revenue generator and like >> putting feelers out in that water. I think it's actually important that we keep the McFarland part in there to continue with that brand recognition and getting that name out. Um, I don't I mean I don't know that there's any um I don't I I think
142with the way that the discussion happened when we first, you know, made the motion, I think it we probably needed a little more time to, you know, really talk about the the name part of it. And so I think this is it's nice that we've had some time to kind of think about it and then consider this as an option. So >> I think we all need to remember that part of the referendum was the promise that if you help us build these beautiful facilities, they're going to be available to the entire community. Mhm. >> You know, not all the time, but there's going to be times you can use the track. There's going to be times you can use the pool. >> Same with the performing arts center. >> Um, honestly, I kept going
143through, okay, how can we do both? >> And I couldn't come up with something that in in my view didn't seem kind of clunky. Mhm. >> You know, it doesn't just >> Yeah. >> doesn't flow. >> Yeah. >> But I don't know that that's more important than making sure the community understands that these facilities are theirs as well. >> Yeah. Agree. >> Um and I've got to believe that I don't know how much revenue the performing arts center creates now, but I I've got to think it could be significant. You know, that's a beautiful facility. um which a lot of places don't have. >> So I don't know that I just made my point of view any clearer or more muddy. Well, actually to your point though with the presentation we got from Michelle >>
144and the party I'll say I mean having Bill Garvey's name attached to the performing arts center will automatically bring more visibility. So by keeping McFarland in it >> it's it's not going to detract from it. >> I feel it's only going to elevate it. Right. And you know it just doesn't have to be in McFarland. I mean, him having such a close connection with W band and whatnot. Um, but also to your point, >> brand awareness, brand recognition, dialing home the McFarland piece, I think is is still critical. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> I wish we would have considered I wish we could have known this or talked about this last time before we voted. I feel bad about that because there's something that feels kind of icky to me about it. It's just it
145almost kind of like an exposfacto law which is you know after the fact it's like okay we'll change it but now we could change our mind on that and we're going to change it again and that bothers me. Um, you know, there's no to me there's nothing magical about that 40 applicants wanting to come to McFarland. That's Bill Garvey. And I will tell you, you know, they have continued it, but it started with Bill. And u I mean that's it's a remarkable thing. And again, I'm just trying to think again, how do these three children or two children and a daughter-in-law feel and and and and what Michelle has done. There's just something I wish we could maybe think about this or talk about this. Your point, these points are very valid. Um, and uh
146I just know that it's something that they they'd written about and we read about that in that that email. So, I don't know. They're just they've done so much for this community. And again, for younger people, and when I say younger, probably 40 and under, they might not know anything about Bill >> Garvey. But the majority of people who live in this district know Bill >> Garvey. >> And that's what I'm concerned about. And I think that Bruce is also why maybe I feel a strong leaning towards keeping McFarland in the name is because I think there are other opportunities and even kind of Michelle in our conversation um shared that there are other ideas to highlight the contributions that he made to the community and to the broader UW community and um music in
147general. eneral as well as the performing arts. So I think it's it's hard, right? I mean it's a we know we know these we know these people. You know these people I know those I mean teachers and it's a personal decision but it's also a decision we have to make as a board. Um I guess the other thing I would probably just say is are a performing arts center needs to be the collective also for McFarland and not about one person and I feel pretty passionate about that that representation does matter and if we are a performing arts center um having one name attached to that I think in part couldn't negate other heavy contributors to the arts in general um and people who um may not look like Bill Garvey, just to be really
148blunt and honest about it. That if you don't see someone like you getting recognition in places you that turns you off. Um, and I think we owe it to have space in our community, broader community, and our school that's even by the outside of the name is more inclusive. And so I think this going back, although I do agree that that's a challenge, um, and adding in some of the MC adding in the McFarland piece of that is important. And I think it's also important that staff brought that to us. >> It wasn't us coming up with it wasn't us coming up with a oh we need to go back and change it. We have constituents if you will who said this is a concern. How do you feel about it? Because I think we
149would not have reconsidered it had people in our constituents not said anything. So, I want to give them the conversation as well, but >> I don't know. >> I guess the other thing I want to bring up, and I think it's something we should all ask ourselves, is is there a negative outside of potentially feeling, to use Bruce's word, icky, that we didn't discuss it in the previous meeting. >> Is there a negative with putting McFarland back into it? That's a good reframe. I appreciate that. >> And that that was my point. I was wondering I mean, >> is this something that we think is important going forward? Then we as the board should probably make some kind of rules, whatever. It's it just it looks to me it's like you just kind of change
150your mind here. And that's what I that's >> I think to I appreciate your perspective >> and I appreciate you both sharing um thoughts about it. I think I mean we talked about in our board development tool that we are a datadriven decision-making body and I think we received new data and >> now we have a new consideration to make and I think um to Megan's point I don't I I can't think of a downside except that the Garveys might not be as happy with our decision >> but we have to think about the whole district and we have to think about all the people, excuse me, who are coming through the doors of the performing arts center. And so I think if including the McFarland name helps with that, then I then I I'm
151in support of it. If there's a negative that we're not considering and we learn of that, you know, in a few weeks, then maybe we have to reconsider. But >> um I think it's I I think we just have new data to consider and that's what we're >> So can we consider tableabling this for till the next board meeting? I mean I think gives us a chance all of us quite honestly I'm I'm not aware of that and I'm trying to think in my mind okay what did I not read and I don't know where that was. I'd really like to see that data and I I don't wasn't even aware of it. >> Are you talking about the staff? >> The staff. Yeah. >> Yeah. I don't recall seeing anything. It's just what I've
152referenced about the the things being branded. >> Okay. >> The MBA >> then I guess I would >> She's just saying data in the sense or new information. >> New information. >> Okay. Well, I haven't I'm not privy to that or it may have been my fault that I haven't seen it, but it seems like I've been kind of following everything. >> This is what Aaron said in the intro. like we didn't get any formal email communication from >> staff. I mean, I'll be honest with you, that was this suggested change is kind of made sense to me. Then the only thing I read was when, you know, Michelle and the three children talked it over. I mean, there's a part of me, it isn't called the Green Bay Packer Lambo Field. It's not the,
153you know, um, I'm just thinking of Carnegie Hall is not New York City Carnegie Hall. It's I I I would think in some ways this kind of changes. It's it's it's not again McFarland Lloyd Schneider Stadium. It's Lloyd Schneider Stadium. And you know what? When I go to the pool, I rarely say the Angie O'Donnell. I just say I'm going to the pool. And I think people kind of know it. And that's why I'm not sure are we just I think if we want to change the rules we should change it in a proper way at a proper time and change it that that's not a problem. Um and unfortunately I'm going to argue that we are not in normal times because of funding and because of you know the state of our I guess
154the state of our funding for our public schools. we have to rely on people. And then lastly, I understand what you're saying, Meredith, and I think it's it's a valid point. But there's nothing, you know, we can do about who was teaching here. >> It's just that's a fact. And Bill Garvey reached a lot of people. >> Just an awful lot of people. I mean, within the community itself and the the band that that he started that is still strong within this community. My feeling is recognize these people. I don't see the downside to that at all. I mean, I I I really I just don't see it. >> The how do we recognize >> like do you feel that by keeping McFarland in it? We're detracting from Bill Garvey. >> I I don't >>
155Okay. >> I don't I And I'll be honest with you, that's as I said, that was in my mind going through before I read that email. But it's the email that bothers me because, you know, again, I I I said this before, people talk about staff and they, you know, we're so proud of staff. This is an opportunity to say we really do care and I just kind of feel like kind of reminds me a little bit of, you know, the old peanuts and Lucy said, "Kick the ball and at the last second rips it away and, you know, away they go." Um I I just feel like they've just done an awful lot and I don't know how they'd feel about it. It just kind of bothers me. That's the icky side. >> Well,
156I understand you've addressed some of that. >> So that's why I would say why don't we just can we just postpone this and let us try to find talk to staff whatever fine it is. I it there's a part of me just I think if we're going to make this change we should probably study it a little bit more to look for the downsides positive whatever I just think in a way is there a real rush on this >> well I think the I mean I think the staff who have to make the changes probably feel urgent about it >> except I don't know who those people are and I haven't heard what they said. I mean, I just kind of it's to me it's >> Could we add this to the agenda for the
157first week in May? >> You could. I guess I'm just struggling to understand what more information you need to learn. >> I would talk to the staff. I'm just curious what they're saying. >> So, when you say the staff, what do you mean? >> I don't know who. That's what my question is. like the who am I talking to or >> what staff are giving you the feedback regarding >> I guess I'm a bit uncomfortable I I I'm I think I'm kind of confused like the information from the staff is what I've shared with you that the there are certain things that say MPAC McFarland Performing Arts Center that's labeled throughout the facility all the >> all the stands all the chairs >> and I'm I just brought that to all of your attention in
158the event that instead you know of changing that part you would put Bill Garvey >> MPAC. >> Yeah. >> So it's more of like a logistical like >> Yes. >> And then it also addressed the concern that was brought forward at the last discussion about >> the name McFarland being in it. >> But you know whatever you all decide. I just don't know that if delaying it is I want to think about it some more. That's one thing. I just I'm not sure what more information I can get to you >> to help inform your decision. >> In my view, um the only negative is the fact that the family isn't in support of it. >> Yeah. And I think we made the decision based on the family's efforts >> to get it changed. Um
159the pool for example, it's not the Angie O'Donnell pool, it's the Angie O'Donnell Aquatic Center. >> I think people will still call it the McFarland pool. Mhm. >> I think it's a wonderful honor for a person that had much to do with the success of our swim program. U there were others, you know, who who maybe had the same kind of impact. >> Um but I don't know how, you know, you could go about doing that kind of thing with this. Mhm. Mhm. >> And at the same time the thing that I in my mind knowing as many grads as I do and some who have become very successful I guess monetarily I it would seem to me don't close that door. Don't don't >> but what is adding McFarland close that door? >> I
160don't know if it does. I think that's why I would like to find out. I that I haven't had a chance that I I have an email and that's all I have. Um and now this is all new to me and uh I I just guess in that point I would like to just track it down a little bit and that would be my only question. >> Well, okay. So, one other consideration is that we'll have a new board >> at the next meeting. >> Yep. And so someone who hasn't been involved in all of the discussions. So if we delay it, that's one that's one consideration. If we want to table it because we need more thought, I agree. That's fine. Um that that's a legitimate reason. But yes, I don't know if we'll
161get more data specific. Um, but I guess who would be in favor of tableabling this discussion until the May 6th meeting? >> May May 4th >> or Okay, our next regularly scheduled board meeting. >> And I just want to point out we are so overtime right now. >> Well, there's not much we can do. I think the reason I don't want to delay it is because this has been on our agenda. We've had time. I think we had time before the first one to reach out to other people and garner that feedback. We got the feedback and this is what it is. And delaying it more delays making the name change. It delays it for the family as well. kind of this last unknown thing. Um, and I think it's still honoring our commitment to
162having his name be a part of it. And I don't think the McFarland, at least from our conversation, I am not hearing someone have large concerns about it taking away and detracting from the goal. I don't really want to delay it either to be honest. I don't I don't want to spend more time and resource on it. >> Yeah. >> Um because we've had really robust discussions about it and I don't I don't feel like there's any more information that I would learn um you know unless I mean unless I have a really big blind spot as to there's a negative to adding it. I don't think it takes away from bill. I don't think it and I think it meets the needs of the district better than the first name. So I I move
163to amend the previously adopted motion naming the performing arts center the Bill Garvey Performing Arts Center to read Bill Garvey McFarland Performing Arts Center. >> I'll second. >> All right. >> So >> any further discussion? >> Does the motion as Megan made it. Are we committed to Bill Garvey McFarland Performing Arts Center or Bill Garvey Performing Arts Center McFarland? Is is this the the way we were going to do it? >> It would be the Bill Garvey McFarland Performing Arts Center >> because that maintains the consistency with what the tags are named for the chairs and the stands. So basically, we would just add an additional top of it. >> Yeah. >> As opposed to having to replace the entire thing. >> Yeah. >> No, that's >> okay. >> Answers my question. >> And actually,
164if you think about it, by doing it that way, it makes Bill Garvey stand out even more. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> If that's what they feel and that you guys are playing, I think with something that you shouldn't be playing with. Well, we have to make hard decisions. >> I know we make hard decisions, but it's I'm telling you there's you guys are forgetting that there's a lot of people who are, >> but we're not removing Bill Garvey as the new >> I understand. I understand. >> I My feeling is awfully >> My my feeling is what what you're I knowing Michelle and as generous as she is, she probably would have paid for that change. >> It's not >> and now you probably don't. Well, and the other thing that's important to understand
165is that this is a district decision >> that is not being directed by a family. >> No, I understand that, >> you know, totally. >> Um, I know this is a very emotional conversation. Uh, and I talk about this a lot where this is a business and we have to make business-minded decisions >> um, you know, for the longevity um, of our organization. So, I mean, I I really love I love the Garby's. I love what Bill has done. >> It doesn't mate any of that. And it that's all I'm going to say. >> All right. So, let's take a vote. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Yes. Opposed. >> Okay. Motion carries 41. >> Thank you. I really enjoyed that spirited discussion. Yes. >> Yeah.
166>> And thank you all for being so respectful >> a board just agreed. >> It's not always easy. >> All right, let's keep moving because we are over time quite a bit and we have guests waiting for us. Um action on the McFarland Youth Center memor memorandum of understanding. Um there that we're it's really just a update. Um we're no longer going to take action on this. Um, and I'll let Mr. Tennetser share an update. >> Yes. As I informed the board via email, the this this process of looking at a funding proposal for the youth center uh was developed in in partnership with the village and it was really contingent upon both entities agreeing to the funding proposal. So that one entity didn't say yes and one said no. The village board voted on
167this last Thursday and um did not support the proposed funding proposal and as a result there's really no reason for us to take action because our funding was contingent upon >> their funding. >> Yeah. >> Do they're not indicating that they're going to withdraw all financial just for the additional funding that requested >> they're currently Yep. >> Y >> they're currently planning to maintain current funding at current levels. >> Mhm. >> And that that's been voted on. >> I mean those voted on on Thursday. >> Yeah. And those agreements were already in place. >> Don't even have to ascertain. >> I understand that. I just I just was concerned that >> Nope. No change in their funding. >> No. >> Go under. >> Yeah. >> No change in their funding. >> Correct. So that just
168so I understand that means that in order to proceed through this academic year maybe longer they will need to use more of their reserves. Is that >> that's correct >> garbage? Okay. >> A sticking point. >> That's what I gathered from watching. >> Yes. I don't want to speak for the a village board meeting or village trustees and >> I understand >> but yes. >> Yeah. Okay. So that's the because we there's not mutual agreement. They use reserves. I would assume I mean I we can't >> I mean we don't know what they'll do. We don't know what the youth center will do but that I mean if they execute the plan that they presented to us. >> Okay. >> Yes. They will >> correct >> use more of their funds. Use up their fund
169balance sooner. >> Yep. >> Thank you for clarifying. >> Yeah. >> All right. The next steps are unclear >> or unknown at this point. >> Yes. >> Thanks. >> I'm certain that they will be looking for new board members and active people to get involved. So >> yeah, >> if anyone get one reason going >> right. Um Okay. All right. So are we're good there. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Let's move on to our action on second reading and adoptions of a lot of policies that I bet Megan Chapman's going to read for us. >> All right. I got this. I move to approve the second reading and adoption of the following policies as recommended by administration. 1213 student supervision and welfare. 3213 student supervision and welfare 4213 student supervision and welfare 5135 student identification
170numbers and cards 5136 personal communication devices 5830 student fundraising 6320 purchasing 6605 crowd funding 66110 non-district supported student activity account 7320 gift grants and bequests 7540.02 02 Digital Content Accessibility 7540.08 Artificial Intelligence AI 8462 Child Abuse and Neglect 9211 District Support Organizations 9215 School Support Organizations. >> Oh, that was Thank you. >> Okay, I'll second. >> Oh, do No, no, please. >> All right, we're just going to give it to Howry. >> Okay, done. Okay. >> All right. Um, do we want to There wasn't There weren't any additions that we um No, let me start over. There was one more language that we added that we had talked about at the last meeting. Do you want to review some of those, the quick ones? Um, >> that would be >> uh yeah, just a highlight
171of the ones that we added. thing was we uh there are three policies about supervision and welfare and we made some adjustments for clarity about two things about text messaging um staff to students and then also for uh saying that staff should not friend or follow um students >> current students through social media. >> Yeah. their school account, >> right? >> No, on I think on anything. >> That's what it was. >> On their private account. >> Private account. Yeah. >> Though there was an email back and forth about changing >> I mean I'm supportive of the change but I don't remember what the words were. Um >> we updated the we talked about it made a recommendation and then we updated something or we made another recommendation. Am I thinking of the >> I
172thought they could talk through or something. No, it was about um the personal devices. >> That's it. >> Yeah. So, like the original language that was proposed included saying they could not use their personal devices >> and we removed that because as long as they're using a school approved app, >> that's right, >> to communicate with the student that is acceptable even if it's on their personal cell phone. So to give you an example, I use a Gmail app on my phone at times to communicate on my school Gmail. Exactly. >> But it's the it's an app on my phone school. That's Gmail. So >> yeah, that was Thank you for the >> That is the other part. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Yep. >> Sorry. >> And it includes It also includes no text
173messaging. >> Yeah. >> Period. >> It should always be through a school approved app. So okay, any other discussion on that? All righty. All those >> how we made this. >> Yep. How >> I made the motion. He second. >> Okay. Sorry. I got it back. Sorry. >> No, you're good. All right. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion carries. 5. Um, then we have action on McFarland High School early college credit and start college now program requests. We got some wicked smart kids. That's all I'm going to say. >> I know. Ambitious. >> It's great. >> Love seeing all the medical ones in there. So, >> but does that cost the school district money? >> Yes, it does. >> I know. And that's
174the thing. I don't know if the public realizes >> approximately about a couple hundred per credit, I think. >> Yeah. >> It's amazing. >> Is it uh is it statutoily required? >> Yeah. So we can't we can't do anything about >> Yeah. What what you'll see in the denials are really courses that are offered through other more cost effective means including they're here provide those courses here. >> That's good. I know that people take >> and there weren't denials this time but we often see like we often see that because a lot of other times there's other options. >> Okay. All right. I would entertain a motion. I move to approve the course approvals and denials for the early college credit and start college now program requests as recommended by MHS administration. >> I can
175second. Okay. All right. Any further discussion? All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. 5-0. Action on recommended um WEVA DCA Insight School of Wisconsin student transfers to resident districts due to lack of engagement. I move to approve the WEVA destinations Career Academy and Insight School of Wisconsin recommended student transfers back to their resident districts due to lack of engagement. >> I'll second. >> All right. Any discussion? >> Handful of kindergarteners. Nobody attended comp conference. Such a bummer. >> That was amazing. 70. >> That's Yep. That's hard. All right. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> I. Any opposed? Hearing none. Motion carries. Um before we get to our last exciting action item. Um the I just want to remind the
176public that that we do have a closed session following this last item. um when Yanni McCrae takes her official oath of office um and then we will be adjourning from closed session because we don't have any further action after that. So um okay let's do the oath. Thank you for your patience. Yes, this is such a full meeting >> and you look at your >> I know. No, they're not. >> So thank you for your >> Who do you want over there, Angie? Just me, I think. >> Mr. Fisher, >> do you want to hold? >> Oh, yeah. In front of the thing. Yeah. >> Angie, do you want to have them use that microphone? Did we do it in front of that last year? >> I don't remember. It was a blur. >> I
177can't remember mine either. >> You should. >> I believe there's two ways of doing this. One is I can administer the oath or you can read it yourself and then just sign it. I think either way works. Whichever's easier for you. >> No pressure. >> Your first >> and all the and all of McFarland is watching. >> They're in the room. It's okay. I, Yanni McCrae, having been elected or appointed to the office of school board member, but have not yet entered upon the duties thereof, swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin, and will faithfully discharge the duties of said office to the best of my ability. Y >> that was excitement. >> Uhhuh. >> Welcome. Welcome to the crazy. Just
178kidding. >> Crazy fun. >> All right. Well, thank you so much for being here. >> Yeah, it's official. >> It is official. >> That's right. >> Thank you. >> Yelcome. We are becoming more and more women dominant on this board. >> Thank you for being willing to serve. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you. Thank you for your service. Thank you in advance for your service. >> That's not an empty >> and go celebrate next Monday because it'll be your last Monday free for a while. >> We've had multiple years that no one chose to run >> over my 15. There's there's been more where no one >> chose to run than there was where somebody did. >> So, your willingness to contribute in in the way a school board member does is much appreciated.
179>> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Amazing. >> All right. Well, that is exciting. Um I guess now >> no great transition. >> I know it isful. And now I'm sorry we have to kick you all out cuz we're going to go into close. >> Uh do you want me to make that motion? >> Yeah, if you want to. >> I make a motion to move into close session pursuant to Wisconsin statute 1 19.851C concerning employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. The purpose is to discuss a director compensation plan. >> I can second. >> All right. Howy. Okay, we'll do a roll call vote. Um Fesler I. Howry >> I. >> Chapman >> I. >> Huie >> I. >> Fisher >>
180I. >> All right. Bye >> bye. >> We are going into close session at 9:43. >> Are we moving? Yes. Okay. >> We're gonna go into the menopause. Do you want us Do you want us to do anything with the >> with our