McFarland School Board Meetings 11/17/2025

001one, folks. >> All right. We're going to call this meeting to order at 7:01. beautiful >> PM. Um, and let's cover those consent agenda items. Um, a quick reminder to my colleagues at the microphones to make sure you talk into them and if you're going to roll away, take them with you so that everyone can hear us. Um, all right. Consent agenda items tonight include our minutes from the November 3rd board meeting. General fund vouchers, purchasing card transactions, certified and co-curricular staffing recommendations. Um, if there's anything that anyone wants to pull out from the consent agenda to talk about, let's do that. Otherwise, I would look for a motion. >> I can make that. >> All right. Bruce >> I second. All right, Megan. Thank you. Any discussion? Okay. All in favor, please signify by

002saying I. >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Motion carries. 5. It's so good to say 5. >> Welcome back, Craig. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um, and then as usual, there are personnel items that where there is no vote necessary. Do we have any public comments? Okay. All righty. Then we are on to our fabulous McFarland High School student report. Looks like we have Anna here. >> Hi everyone. >> Hello. >> Let me share my screen quick. >> I suppose >> if that's okay with everyone. >> Absolutely. All right. Let me know when you can see it at full screen. I know it takes a couple seconds for you guys to see what I'm seeing. >> Tada. >> Good. >> All right. Perfect. So, I'm just going to start with some highlights from these past

003two weeks. Um, this past Thursday, juniors taking political science participated in our third committee day where students in political science debate with their peers on bills they wrote regarding issues they care about. Um, I I'm a TA for political science, so I got to be there and kind of help with the process. So, that was fun being um in that role instead of what I did last year. Um, you know, debating the bills myself. It was a tough crowd and only 13 out of 34 bills passed during this full sess during this session and then in a couple weeks um there'll be a full session and they'll debate them all in the PAC as a big group. So that'll be exciting. >> Um also this past Saturday, Model UN hosted a 500 plus delegate conference.

004Um this year's theme was dismantling veils of deception and they had a former career diplomat who worked in a hostile territory as their keynote speaker. Um it was entirely McFarland studentled and the executive bar board of ma Maisie Barrelman, Mah Kinchi, Mary Deser and Isaac Gamble did a lot of work to make Molly happen. I was there um because I had to be there for choir and there were a lot of students in there. So it was definitely a lot of work that they put in. Um, focusing on our clubs for student council, we host our annual Veterans Day breakfast and had the biggest attendance so far. We had 20 veterans and 30 students attend to honor Mcron um, our community and it was really great. We got to talk, eat some good food. It

005was fun. And then reading club wanted us to tell you that they're planning to do a schoolwide reading day before we head off for winter break. We used to do that in elementary school and I guess they're getting back on it to promote just fun reading. Um, DECA, they have a upcoming event for younger students in the community allowing them to make entrepreneurship projects on November 21st. That'll be in the high school and they kind of just I think kids can make whatever they want. Some did like bracelet um companies that they made last year or like sock monkeys I think I remember seeing on on Instagram. So that seems to be a fun event. And then for Hope Squad, we um are a suicide prevention club and we're working on interviews for new members

006this week and we just finished an application for a grant today. So that is exciting. Moving on to performing arts. Um the past this past Saturday, like a week ago, Saturday, our drama program finished its fall play production of It's a Wonderful Life. They successfully packed our Blackbox Theater for four nights. I went, it was pretty good. And then I don't have any pictures because it was just this past Saturday, but our choir program sold about 300 tickets for the Killer Cabaret. Um, and it had six full choir acts and over 10 solo duo small group acts as well as skits. It was a fun night. A lot of a lot of our choir students put in a lot of hard work into it. And then regarding athletics, Girls Swim just placed well placed second

007at sectionals this past weekend and then they qualified for the state tournament this Saturday um with a team for of Olivia Tierney, Lily, Ellie Forb, Sophia Alleski, Audrey Toese, Helen Sadler, Casey Draper, and Kaylee Kunzie. and they at state this Saturday they podium in three events with fifth and sixth place for all three of them. So that was exciting for their program. And then last Saturday the boys soccer team had an unfortunate loss against Notre Dame at the state tournament. So their season was brought to an end but eight of our players ended up receiving first team, second team or honorable mention through our bad small allconerence. So that is cool. Um, signing days. Seniors have started to sign for their collegiate sports. This is Kayla Lander last week signing for D1 Milwaukee volleyball. And

008just today, Jayla Moy Moore signed for D1 Milwaukee soccer. >> Yeah. And then I just wanted to tell you guys about some upcoming student council events. We've got tomorrow we have a or Wednesday we have a meeting. So, we're going to do some cards for our MHS staff. And then next week, we've got some volunteer things through our senior outreach center where we're going to be pack packing 55 Thanksgiving meals for community seniors as well as cleaning all their medical medical equipment like wheelchairs and stuff like that. So, that'll be next week. And then we also just um picked up 10 students for our for the like holiday gift drive that we're going to be shopping for next weekend. So, that's exciting as well. But that is all I have for you guys. Do I

009have any questions at all? >> I'm sorry. I feel like I hear a question, but I can't. >> Oh, it's okay. It's Megan Chapman. I was just wondering if you knew the day of the political science um full day bill debate session that's going to be in the PAC. I'm sorry. One more time. Or if someone that has a microphone could repeat it and >> Okay, it is on. Can you hear me? >> I wonder >> at the computer like where we're broadcasting from? >> Can you hear me, Anna? >> Yeah, I can. >> Okay. So what so what Megan Chapman's question was um was what is the do you know the date of the full day um polyai event? >> I don't off the top of my head but I can see if I

010can check for you. I think it's it is going to be in like a couple weeks. I think it's after we get back from Thanksgiving break. So, it would be I believe it's December, it's two days. Um, one you do like the first half and I think it's December 10th and 12th, but I can get back to you on that if you'd like. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that's great. Thank you. >> Did you have another question? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Anyone else? >> Lots of good things. >> Thank you. >> Yep. I agree. >> All right. Thank you so much, guys. >> Thanks, Anna. >> Thank you so much. It was a good night. >> You, too. >> All right. That's always a fun one. >> All right. So, now we've got the um the

011city of Madison and village of McFarland development updates. >> All right. >> Yeah. Come on up. just to reorientate everybody. >> Can I I'm Yeah. Can you >> yell so they can really hear me? >> Thanks, Andrew. I'll just duck down. >> Just to kind of reorientate everybody. Um, our district does stretch all the way to the north up by Buckeye Road down to the south town of Dun area to the east Pleas Pleasant Springs to the west the lake where we don't have many children living. So that's included about every five to seven years over the last 20 plus years we've had the village of McFarland and the city of Madison's economic development departments, planning departments have representatives come and tell us about what's going on in their parts of our school district. So,

012we have Jeffrey Greger from the city of Madison, Andrew Bremer from the village of McFarland to kind of guide us through uh what's going on um you know over the more of the long-term goals of development of our areas in our school district. We end up as a school district and school board end up using this information to a kind of look at long range population growth which usually impacts our student growth. Um, and B, equalized value, see where our equalized values are going, uh, potentially into the long-term future, which all of that can culminate into where might our schools exist long into the future. So, we will continue some of that journey later this fiscal year, but we'll turn it over to Jeff and Andrew. Who wants to go first? >> I can go

013first. >> All right. >> Second time. >> Okay. Good thing you already showed it to us. >> All right. Uh again, my name is Jeff Greger. Um I'm with the City of Madison planning division. Um currently working on the southeast area plan. Uh so I'll give you a briefing on that. Um and then also talk about the far southeast area plan when that might start up. that has the bulk of uh or a good chunk of the school district that will be within the city of Madison in the future. Uh next slide, please. So, uh the city of Madison just recently started uh these area plan efforts. Uh we started with the uh west and the northeast area plans about two years ago. uh those have been adopted uh and we are currently working on

014the southeast area and the southwest area plan. So these area plans um kind of uh feed into our comprehensive plan which has larger goals for the city. Uh these plans cover the entire will they will cover the entire city. Um uh it'll probably take another uh six to eight years to get that full coverage, but um when that happens, we'll have full city coverage uh with area plans. These plans will get more frequent updates about every 10 years. Um and they deal with, you know, higher level topics like land use, transportation, um parks and recreation, that sort of thing. Um, and it also helps us kind of coordinate on other city initiatives that might be going on in other agencies. Um, and we're really focusing our feedback from hearing from underrepresented groups. Next slide. So,

015you can see the southeast area there is circled uh in orange and then the far southeast is just to the east of that. Next one. Uh so the boundaries for the southeast area plan uh highway 30 on the north. We go all the way down to Siglecow Road in the village of McFarland. Uh the eastern boundary is I 3990 and our western boundary is the city of Manona and Lake Manona. We have about 11,000 housing units and about 25,000 people um and just under 26% um identify as bipac or Hispanic. Next slide. Uh we started this plan all the way back in December of 2024. We had our kickoff meeting at Lfallet High School. Since then, we've done a number of engagements. Uh we uh put out a a two-part survey. Um we've had some

016interactive commenting maps. Uh we did a fun Madison MA Madison Madness bracket exercise around the college basketball tournament. Uh we've worked with the W people program at Lfal High School with uh some high school students. We've done coordination uh with our neighbors. Um we've reached out to all the school districts. I've had some interactions with Jeff uh the last uh year or so. Um we've been doing some uh work in the High Stand neighborhood. We have a community action strategy that uh we have some CDBG funding potentially from the federal government uh to work with that neighborhood. Uh so we've wrapped up that uh initial feedback stage of our our project and now we're moving into uh recommendations. Next slide. Um I just did a enlargement of uh our school district map to show um

017the area of the McFarland school district that's an orange uh that falls within the southeast area. The red dash circle area is really the only area of undeveloped potential um within the southeast area and that's currently a quarry site which is in the town of Blooming Grove. Um, and a couple slides from now show you what um, we're showing for future development potential for that site. Um, but I just wanted to kind of zero in on uh, the one future development area in the southeast area. Next slide, please. We've had some notable topics come up um throughout this planning effort. Um, we've add we're proposing to add a land use category. Um we're basically adding density along our transit corridors. So that would be Milwaukee Street, Cottage Grove Road, uh Atwood, and then um some

018potential with Stoton Road depending on how the uh DOT decides um what they want to do there with uh which concept. U Stoen Road design obviously um has been a big topic of this planning effort. Then we've got some uh older neighborhoods uh former town neighborhoods that have missing sidewalks. Um we want to make some connections uh to schools and other community um places within those neighborhoods. Um pedestrian safety has been a big issue uh especially along Milwaukee Street, Buckeye along Highway 51, crossings of that. And then we've identified a north south uh transit gap um that would potentially add more access to Lafayette High School and employment areas uh kind of in those industrial areas. Next uh slide. So um the text is really weird on that slide, but sorry about that. So we've

019added a new land use or we're proposing to add a new land use category. We're calling it medium residential one. Um it kind of falls between our low medium residential and what we're now calling our medium residential two. Um the the building forms and heights used to be that are being proposed for medium residential one were asterisks in the table under lowmedium residential. This is more to clarify and be transparent uh with our recommendations in our land use plan. Happy to get into those specifics if you're interested. Uh I don't know that they really apply uh for this discussion, but I just wanted to bring that up. Uh next slide. And here are the the corridors that I I mentioned. We're we're looking to add density. Uh if you look at our current future land

020use map and our comp plan, you'll see a lot of these same colors essentially in those red dashed areas. We're trying to increase the density. So, if it was uh currently proposed for neighborhood mixed use, uh we may be increasing that to uh community mixed use. So, greater density, greater height. >> Uh there's also a red dash circle at the intersection of Vondrron and Buckeye. We received a lot of feedback from the community that folks wanted walkable retail in their neighborhoods and currently that's that's a place that doesn't have it. Uh there is a vacant church on the south uh west corner of that intersection that could be potentially redeveloped into a mixeduse uh a start of a mixeduse node. Um so we'll see how folks react to that. Next slide. And this is that

021one area the quarry that I mentioned before. Um the plan is proposing uh a new neighborhood or uh with a makeup of low density resident or low residential and low medium residential. Um there's a large green area. Uh that would be for storm water and potentially some park space. There is a historic resource kind of in the middle of that quarry that we would be preserving as well. And then we're showing an area for employment that could be kind of light industrial with office up front, that sort of thing. Um, best guess if this were to develop, you might see 80 to 125 dwelling units. That's just a rough estimate. Uh it really depends on whoever develops this, you know, how far on the density range they want to go. Um but again, that's that's

022an estimate. And like I said before, this property is currently in the town of Blooming Grove. Uh it will come into the city of Madison October 31st of 2027. Uh all signs point to that it will remain a quarry for the near future. We haven't had any uh interest in redeveloping of it, but um we're putting the plans in place, you know, in case that were to happen in the future. Um we would be signaling to the development community what city of Madison would be looking for. So, um like I said, don't anticipate that happening. Probably within the span of the 10 years of the plan, we'll probably do another update to this plan before we might see anything happen there. But again, that's just my best guess and estimate. >> And the historical is

023that that's indigenous, isn't it? >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Uh next slide, please. Uh this is Highway 51 uh between Buckeye and Tomkins. Uh on the left um is what we would be proposing for our generalized future land use for that corridor if the DOT chooses a 45 mph uh limited access highway um in their study. Essentially those are existing land uses. Uh we're not proposing any significant changes to those. uh on the right, if they choose the 35 mph urban boulevard um concept, then we would see um land uses changing to community mixed use uh especially around the Flum intersection, the Buckeye intersection. Uh those blue arrows are um some street extensions uh potential street extensions across uh 51. uh both concepts there would be adding a lane in each direction. Uh the change

024would be on the 35 mile urban boulevard the frontage roads would go away in that section between Buckeye and Tomkins. Um so uh we'll see the DOT study uh is not likely to wrap up uh before the southeast area plan gets adopted. So, we'll likely be putting in both of these options um just to hedge our bets a little bit. Um the graphics on the right are just kind of a block diagram of what it redevelopment could look like uh in the future if it were were to go to that urban boulevard. Um so, happy to answer any questions you might have on that if you do. Um but I'll keep going here. So, our our schedule for this plan, um we've wrapped up our uh issues and opportunities are phase one. Uh we're wrapping

025up um our phase two here uh at by the end of the month uh early December. Uh we've released draft uh action items, recommendations. Uh we have a online commenting map for folks to give us input on those. uh that'll be closing that in uh online commenting map will be closing on December 4th. Uh once that's we have all the input uh from various sources we'll start drafting the full document here in December and January and then I believe midFebruary time frame we'll be releasing the full document draft document for public review and then um putting it in for adoption. uh we hope to have that adopted uh by May of 2026 and then we will start implementation. I think I have one more slide. Um I just wanted to briefly talk about the far

026southeast area plan. Right now it's anticipated that that plan would start likely the second half of 2029 and be adopted in 2031. Uh until then, the Yahara Hills neighborhood development plan will be the plan for that area. Uh that was adopted, I believe, back in 2018 time frame. I worked on that, I should know. Um it's been a while. Um we have not had a whole lot of interest uh in that uh planning area other than some industrial um along Femite Drive. um and a little bit uh at highway AB in the belt line. Again, nothing really has come to fruition from those, but we continue to get uh feelers put out for potential projects, but again, they're all um industrial in nature, nothing residential. Um, and with the land use or the landfill being

027open for another I think about a decade, um, I don't think anything likely will happen in that future neighborhood that's planned in the um, neighborhood plan, but you never know. Uh, so yeah, I'll think one more slide. Just these QR codes will take you to um our project web page. the one on the right and then um the one on the left takes you to the commenting map uh if you're so interested in taking a look at uh everything more in depth. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, that's great. And those of you who are watching, I I will have to give you guys kudos to the city that the planning map going in and like giving your comments and feedback is really um intuitive I would say. Um and joining in on some of the

028webinars and things that you guys have had for public feedback has been um insightful. Like it's well done. So keep up the good work. >> Awesome. So towards the end there, Jeffrey brought up one of the more important areas that impacted some of our decisions the school district made. Uh, you know, almost a decade ago, just kind of knowing that there could have been or still could be some high density or higher density housing in the north part of our school district. and we've been, you know, monitoring that with updates from the city of Madison over the last several years and watching landfill parts. So certainly we'll come back and discuss, you know, what the Yera Hills neighborhood uh plans once meant potentially to the school district and what it might mean for the future.

029Uh but we'll talk about that another day. So that was here. Here's Andrew. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Jeff. All right. So, uh, thank you for having me at your school board meeting tonight. Uh, Jeff asked me to look into the crystal ball for the next 10 years. Um, so here we go. Uh, before I get too far into it, we can go to the next slide. I think it'll be beneficial to kind of understand the past a little bit as we look towards the future. >> And I understand those numbers are going to be hard to read, but that top blue line is the total number of building permits per year we've issued from 2010 through October of this year. And way in 2010, you're at about 300 a year. And now we're in

030the 600s. We'll push towards the top line there is almost 700. Um, and so you could kind of see a little bit of a pattern there where it kind of gradually goes up and then it plateaus for a couple of years and then it kind of gradually goes up and plateaus. Um, the next line down, the orange line tracks new uh, dwelling units, any type of dwelling unit, could be a single family, detached home, attached housing, multifamily. But over that 15-year period, we've averaged 65 new dwelling units a year. way on the left hand side again that's 2010 if you remember we're still kind of in the great recession and coming out of it we had eight in 2010 um in the peak there that would have been around 2017 1819 when the Juniper Ridge

031subdivision and the Prairie Place subdivision were at like peak construction years uh interest rates were pretty favorable a lot of market conditions were very favorable just a lot development occurring for our community. Um, and now towards the back end here, um, of that middle graph line there, uh, we're in more of that 25 to 30 a year. And that's primarily the Rosewood Field subdivision, which I'll get to in a second. And it may not look like it, but there is a third line on this graph, and it's on the bottom. >> Oh, >> and that's new commercial. Um, and it basically fluctuates from a low of zero to maybe a high of seven in a year, but the average is about one new commercial development a year. And oftent times that's a replacement for one

032that's been raised in a new building in its place. Um, so we don't have a a ton of commercial development that's occurred in the last 15 years, but that average is, you know, 65 a year. Just keep that in mind. Next slide. Okay, so the next couple of slides um are the background here is our zoning map just to give you some context. Um and so um what's currently under construction on the uh right hand side here, the larger box there is Rosewood Fields uh subdivision that's been under construction. It was approved in 2020. Um it's 117 lots. It's mostly single family lots but with some um split duplexes. They've got 19 lots remaining that we don't have an active building permit for and they've been averaging about 20 to 25 a year. So I

033would expect that by this time next year, homes will still be under construction, but probably all of them will likely have a building permit for those lots. the smaller circle on the left. Um earlier this year we approved uh two multif family buildings, 12 total units, an infill site on Burma Road that's under construction now. Um that Rosewood Field site is a little less than 40 acres and it has a net density of about seven dwelling units per acre and it's mostly detached single family. So just kind of keep those numbers in mind. Next slide. Okay. So, things that we've recently approved, but active construction isn't necessarily started yet. So, just to the south of Rosewood Fields on the other side of the railroad tracks at the corner of LVM and AB is Sperly Corners.

034Uh, that's a Lakesstone Properties project. It's 147 dwelling units. U, 14 of those are duplex. There's another 16 that are town houses and then the rest are multifamily apartments. Um they'll start their first phase of that construction next spring depending I wanted to give a personal thank you. Uh the school board uh approved selling to the village a little bit of surplus land at the high school ball diamonds that enabled us to move our proposed well number five site over a little and freed up two lots uh for two single family homes. And I think it was a great example of the way the village and the school district have cooperated on a project that benefits us both. Next slide. Um, new development that's under review. Uh, this is along Terminal Drive. Um, so this

035is the Humble Oaks. Uh, this is Ryan Quam's property. Uh, in 2019, we approved a firstphase apartment building that was 27 units. Um in December the planning commission will hold a public hearing on phases two and three which is uh another 60some dwelling units uh two uh apartment buildings on that property. Then down the road there'll be a fourth phase for another apartment building at some point in the future. Um so uh I believe that public hearing is December 16th. If I have my date right, it's the third Tuesday of December. If people are interested um they can come to the public hearing for that. And if that's approved um that would be constructed in 26 and 27 uh for those units. Next slide. All right. So switching gears, the background here is our uh

036future land use map from our comprehensive plan. Um we will be starting a project next summer to update our comprehensive plan and that's likely going to be a year project. Um but as we move now just to the north of Rosewood Fields along um AB and Broadhead Street in MN uh that first property going north is the udder property. It's about 50 acres. >> Um it's planned for a variety of you of uses single family, duplex, multifamily, mixed use, commercial. the majority of it is uh residential and in what we would call our medium density residential which typically is about five to 15 dwelling units uh net per acre. Um so again, Rosewood Fields just to the south is a little over seven dwelling units net per acre. So, you know, on the lower side,

037um, one thing that we did do with our 2023 east side plan, which is approved after the Rosewood Fields development, um, similar to kind of how Madison along certain transit corridors or high traffic corridors has increased density. U, the village has done the same in our land use plans. Um, and so we have a little bit higher density in some of these areas than maybe we historically uh had in the past. Um the next one, next slide, please. >> No, >> it does not. It is on the south side of MN and it is on the west side of AB. >> Okay. >> Adjacent to the ball diamonds and the public safety center. >> Oh, okay. >> Um and I would say for all of these, you know, 10 years certainly possible. Why do I

038say that? In most cases, it's either in the village um the udder property currently is not or it's in our urban service area. The udder property is in our urban service area already. Um or it's sort of the next 40 adjacent to an existing subdivision over >> property. Is it town of Dun? >> It's still in the town of Dun. >> Yeah, that's what I thought. >> It is. >> Yes. >> Yep. Um, so the next property moving north across Broadhead, uh, we get to Scotland's property. Um, again, a little over 50 acres here. Um, again, sort of looking at a a medium density residential of 5 to 15 dwelling units per acre. Mostly going to be senior development. Uh, very similar to their smaller existing Scotland Village on LVM Road. would differ a bit

039because it would probably have a little bit more diversity in units. That could also include assisted living uh facility. Um this of course not directly uh probably adding students to the district but indirectly would >> um if it allows um individuals to downsize out of their home and free those homes up for families to come into. Um so uh would be a benefit uh to the district. >> When is that coming on or >> um good question for all of these it's it's really landowner dependent. >> Okay. >> You know when are they ready to either sell their property to a developer or if the developer already owns it when they're ready uh to bring plans forward. Um, so none of these have a definitive timeline other than I feel pretty confident we should see

040something in the next 10 years. >> Yeah. And Megan, this is the one that would be >> coming close to the the hope. >> Yeah. The north side of their property is adjacent to the south side of the gun club. >> Yeah. >> Next one. In between Juniper Ridge and uh the Gun Club going up to Sigco Road is the Nelson property. And that one's kind of a narrower 40 acre parcel. So it's not that traditional square of 40 acres. Um again medium density residential that 5 to 15 dwelling units per acre. Um, this is a property again, it's in the village already, but not currently in our urban service area, but it is directly adjacent to developed subdivision. >> And that's right next door to that. That's right next door to the solar panel

041area, I believe. You are >> Yep. That would be on uh there's a there's a small property in between them, but very close to it. >> Okay. Okay. Good. >> Greg, did you have another question? >> I was just wondering where that I can't I can't tell where it's located. >> Um, yeah, there's a red kind of circle there. Uh, if you squint your eyes real well, you might be able to pick it up. >> It's basically um directly south from Catalina >> Parkway. And I think I have one more. >> Yep. Even smaller circle to read, but on the other side of the gun club, uh there's a property owned by Interstate Partners. It's about 60 acres, but on the south end of it, adjacent to Scotland's property, um we do identify in our

042east side plan uh some medium residential as well as the potential for some mixed use in that area. So again, you're in the five to 15 dwelling units per acre. Um, and all of the for this one there's probably about five to maybe 20 uh acres out of that 60 that might be residential there on the south side. And that might have been my last one. Oh, I do have one more. Thank you. Um, north of Sigoko Road, adjacent to the Secret Place subdivision, uh, is the Peterson Farm. uh large amount of acreage here, but there is uh a portion again sort of in that 5 to 20 acres identified for potential residential development adjacent to secret places uh and or some storm water management. There's also some areas identified uh on that property as

043well for like some neighborhood commercial to serve that area um as well. >> Is that where you were considering the business part? >> Yep. the purple on the map um that you see uh both on the Peterson property and then the uh Interstate Partners property on the south side of Sigco Road that is the business park identified portion. I think I have one more slide just to wrap up. Yep. So, um a lot of people often ask like how do I keep track of when these developments might come forward like Scolin or or so forth. Um, if you go to my department page on the community and economic development department side, um, you just scroll down a little, you'll see a link for staying informed and involved and you can sign up. I send out

044one email a month that, uh, lists what's on the planning commission agenda in terms of development applications that are coming forward or if it's a pre-development meeting. Uh, and that's a great way to stay informed if you're not in a 300 foot mailing radius of a property. So, one question I had. >> So, all the areas that you highlighted, they're zoned for development, but there's not any current development projects in place. >> They're planned for development, >> but there's nothing currently pending. Correct. >> Correct. Yes. And they're and oftentimes they're not zoned for development yet. So, they might still have like agricultural zoning. >> Um, and so our land use plans show a vision for that. uh so we can show that to the property owners and developers. Then they come forward and and submit

045their plans based on those visions. And at that point they ask for reasonzoning, plat approval, those types of things. >> I know nothing about urban planning, so >> that's okay. >> Well, that's a good segue into what I was going to remind the public who's watching. Um why we invite these folks here is because these urban planning these developments help us understand like it impacts our enrollment numbers. >> Um it impacts our tax base both for residential and then also for our taxpayers. the plan that you have. You know, part of why there are some districts that have more resources is because they have a larger commercial tax base, which we don't, which we're learning that we need to grow if we want to, you know, ease the tax burden for our taxpayers, for the

046school district. So, it's really great to hear all of these updates and for both of you because whether you're in the city of Madison and adjacent to us or you're in the village in our district, it's really impactful to how people live here. And so wrapping up how that all impacts I mean some people might be watching and like why are we wa you know listening to these community development presentations and that's why because it it will impact taxes our enrollment the schools um and and the amenities that we'll have here. So thank you for that. Appreciate that. >> Thank you very much. >> Any other questions? >> Other questions? I don't think I have any other questions, but that first um image you have with the commercial growth compared to like dwelling is um

047very eye opening for the exact reasons that Megan just walked through. So, thank you for taking the time to come and share that with us. >> And um I think I know the answer to this, but all of these plans are already in your enrollment estimates, Jeff, right? future projections. >> So all of those different areas at this point would not even probably hit most of our plan yet, >> right? Because your projections go out 10 years or >> we go out five years. >> Oh, five years >> for our budgeting plans. And you know, right now anything that's really coming online is we're graduating out faster still. >> So, we be we're back into that cycle where we're infilling with open enrollment availability. >> Um, but that's also what a lot of other school

048districts are doing right now. And with flat to declining birth rates across our state and even in this area, each district is struggling to really see that they're going to have high growth rates unless they are in some of the communities really along the interstate corridors um to Forest, Sun Prairie. >> They're growing >> but they're growing modestly. We're not seeing the growth that we had when residential growth >> was booming. >> So, >> okay. >> So, to answer >> Yeah. >> It is in my estimates, but it's >> it's a net zero. >> Right. Right. Right. Which makes it all that much more important that >> Yeah. >> you know, this collaboration and information sharing between the village and the school district is so important because it's it impacts both of us so much.

049So, Yeah, and certainly when we, you know, were working with the city 15 years ago when they started out the Air Hills planning and then it finally got adopted >> in 2018, I think you mentioned. You know, there's a pretty good possibility. Uh, but again, it comes down to land owners that want to make decisions about their land and what they want to do with it. And for the most part, those land owners have held on to the property and developed some of those larger chunks in the light industry, solar panel areas. >> So that's kind of chopped up some of the areas that would have potentially had the need for us to have another, you know, elementary school. >> Right. >> Well, that's not there. >> And that's probably not needed for that area.

050So, we'll watch how that whole area, the school board will watch where that goes over the next 10, 15, 20 years. >> Um, but we do have a large portion of our school district land area that is in the city of Madison. >> Town of Blooming Grove which switches. >> Yeah. I want to thank you guys for this presentation. I'm just curious, is there any way how or how does McFarland compare to other communities as far as percentage of people who are over 65? Is there any way we know that? Do we have any of that information? I mean, my wife and I are walking around the village all the time and and everywhere I look, I'm going like, "Oh my gosh, they're my age or whatever." And again, I'm always I'm always remember your

051comment, Jeff, when you talked about people come to this community because of the schools and they come obviously when they're they're younger and they love the fact that it's convenient. it's, you know, whatever. And they just stay here. And uh my wife and I just are very aware of the fact that holy cow, there are a lot of people who at some point are going to have to move. And I'm just wondering how we kind of compare with other communities, but I'm not sure there's any information that's ever been kind of compiled on that. >> Yeah, I I don't have it off the top of my head. It's easy to to get that through the US census. You could compare. Yeah, >> they have demographic information for age >> goal >> because it's going to

052change. It's going to change really. I would think quite, you know, within 10 years there's going to be a number of people just moving to another part of their life and uh it's going to open up a lot of homes. going back to in the last year when we did do a residential look at where our students live. >> Yeah. >> Less than 20% of our households in the village of McFarland >> had students living there. That didn't that didn't analyze whether people didn't have children and they're under let's say 62. >> Yeah. But a lot more communities have a lot more usually in the 25 to 30% >> okay >> have student housing you know students >> yes >> going through the system where >> interesting >> that's very okay >> thanks so much

053this is really good information >> y thank you thank you for your I might. >> All right. All right. Next, we have we have our um joint school board village board planning committee meeting update. Is that our friends Meredith and Bruce? >> Um we went last Tuesday afternoon. it was >> um I normally try and write something more than my scribble hand um to share and I did not do that this time around. So my apologies. >> Hopefully still works close enough. Um uh Jeff and Aaron gave some great updates about our budget which I will not um reshare with you all here. Please watch our annual meeting and the um schoolboard meeting prior to that. Um but kind of moving on to some of the things that we covered um as a part of

054the village. Um I think one of the biggest things I took away from it um was I think as a municipal government I think our village has maybe some flexibility um that the school district does not have in terms of how they can spend um money. um and and what gets um levied. So, I think it was um an interesting vantage point for me knowing that like we a lot of what we are stipulated by in the amount um that we can use money for is by the state. Um and that's just not always the case for the village. And so sometimes when people compare the two entities, um hopefully we're keeping in mind that we are, um, for lack of a better term, kind of hamstrung a little bit by what the state dictates

055to us. Um, and so that's kind of one of the big lessons I think I learned. Um, what was the other thing I wanted to be sure to mention? Um, and because of that ability, um, I do think the village is being really thoughtful on, um, how they're working, um, to to look at what the the tax will be, the property tax will be for the the, um, uh, our residents. So, um, I found that very just insightful um, enlightening rather. Um, and I can't read my other thing that I started, so I guess it wasn't that important. >> Meredith, you did a good job. We were We were there. And I I think what the what the public needs to know is that the village gets it, the district gets it. We're doing what

056we can. Your word was very well. We're somewhat hamstrung, not somewhat, we are hamstrung by again the formula for funding both the village and the school district and you know I just I want the public to be aware we are doing everything we can to try to find ways that we can collaborate work together um to try to you know make I guess squeeze the most out of the u the revenue that we have at our discretion. So, um, I'm just I'm just really pleased because this is it is it's something that in the last three or four years, I guess it's now going on four years. Um, I think we've made tremendous strides. I just hope we can keep on going even further with it. And I think, uh, I think that's one of

057the really wonderful things that I've seen since I've been on this board. >> So, >> yeah. And the the last one was about their update about the community park. So yes, well that's an example of just that. >> Really good. Yeah. And the solar uh we have the uh now 8 acres that is being developed right now right off of single cow >> and u that's going to be you know >> again helping with >> uh well I guess uh align energy is is kind of building that but that's going to help the village >> and that should provide really for the uh the government the village uh buildings and I think much of the school district except for I think whis will all be getting their their energy from that which is just good

058for the it's good for everybody. >> When are they going to break ground on there? >> That's already gone. >> It's about half >> to see. Yeah. Pictures of updates like it is >> I think they what do you say the either the bottom or the top panels are all on and now when you do the other side it's going it's well on its way. I don't know if you can because again you have that um substation >> that goes between there but that's very close that area where you were you pointed to >> um or we're talking about with this presentation. >> So we've done some good things and we just got to keep on looking for opportunities where we can work together. >> No >> speak into the microphone Craig. >> Not as

059easy as it may sound >> but we're always working. Thank you. >> We're looking for those opportunities. >> Yep. >> Very true. >> Yep. Well, and we and you know there's there's other meetings where we have conversations too. You know, there's the strategic ones between the >> Yeah. administrators and the presidents and I've meeting with Stephanie just to maximize those like because of the because of how closely it's related and they're working really hard to keep like to be creative about keeping their budget as low as possible like what you said so that you know overall the taxpayers are having the still getting a amenities for their tax dollars and >> right >> you know but keeping it low cost. >> Yeah. and our group meets every couple months, but I know that Erin and

060Megan, you're meeting with with Matt and >> um you guys are you doing that on a regular basis. And so I think Craig, you're absolutely spot on. It's not easy, but at the same time, it's not for lack of effort and and being creative. And I think that's what >> that we should be pleased with. >> Yeah. >> At least now both entities want to do it. >> You've seen it come a long ways. There was a time >> it didn't happen. >> Melanie, thank you for that post today explaining the taxes, school property tax. >> Yeah, I think that >> that was very helpful. >> The collaborative work with the with the park as a as as Bruce says another good example, multiple uses for our community. uh we also talked about our collaboration

061just that we've been having meetings about the youth center and collaborating on that. So there's constant conversations beyond the joint meetings and I think the joint meetings though however often talk about our our larger collaborative projects that are moving forward and the others are more brainstorm updates kind of meetings. >> Where is the community park? >> That's the one at at Wisa Intermediate School. >> Okay. >> No, that's the inclusive part. >> Community? >> Oh, that's inclusive. I'm sorry. Okay. the one that they were talking about. Sorry, >> is AB and and Seagle Co basically. >> Yeah, just a little bit south. >> Okay, >> that's where the new soccer fields will be and other Yeah, cross country and cross country. >> Yeah. >> Okay, >> awesome. >> Any other >> updates? Thank you for

062that lovely update. >> All right. Um, now we have uh Miss Chapman with legislative update. >> Now you guys get to me. >> Oh, no. Now, are you going to make us dumb it down, Megan? >> We got a big one to talk about. Cell phone policy. >> Now, the nice thing is McFarland is already ahead of the game. Okay. Um, but just to inform everyone, Governor Ivers did sign in a new state law. It is Act 42, and it gives all public schools up to July of 2026 to put in place a process where students cannot use their cell phones during class time. Um, but that being said, there are some caveats within that law where they can use their device if there is an emergency for a health reason, if they have an

063IEP or a 504 plan, um, if it's needed for learning or if it's a school issued device. So, sometimes people say, well, why do we need a cell phone law? Um, and I think we can all agree that our lives are controlled by our phones. I know myself, I put my phone in my bag, so I can't even see it. um you know for meetings such as this and I think it's important that our students are given the directive of education is critical distractions needed to be minimized and so um that's ultimately why that law was put into place and also to create a more positive classroom um environment >> do the teachers like that >> yes >> generally >> I think that's the feedback >> I know it's early but >> well yeah I

064mean keep in mind we've we've had policies these in place prior to the law. The biggest difference that we had is that the high school this year changed to having wall pockets in the classrooms. >> So, kids put those in when they come into the room. And I've heard very positive things from the staff. They've said the students have done a great job with it. And I've heard compliments from the students. >> Yes. I actually did chat with my kiddo about it and I said, "How's it going?" He's like, >> "Well, it's not great, but you know," I'm like, "Well, are you learning more?" He goes, "Yeah." Yeah, >> that's what my granddaughter said as well. >> She said it has made a difference, >> and she's only a sophomore. It's made a big difference.

065>> You know, there's that whole saying like out of sight, out of mind. And it kind of puts it into perspective just how much you are like just enscconced in your phone. Um, and so since we already have those rules in place, just to kind of reiterate what McFarland's policy is, um, all high school students, they come into a class, they put it into the little cell phone holder, then they get it back in between class, and then, um, from what I understand, they can use it during passing time as well as lunch. >> Okay. Correct. >> Fantastic. And then for, um, Wabisa and Indian Mound, it's uh, off and away during the day. And then if they are using it, the teacher, the staff can take it away. >> Often away means just in

066on the their person >> in their backpack I or >> check where it is off and away. Wherever away you'll see it. >> Okay. >> Um well, we don't want to get into a situation is where we're checking kids pocket. >> So if we don't know if it's there because it's off, >> not a problem. >> So be it. >> And then at NPS, no phones at all. Um, and so, uh, essentially that's all I had for a legislative update. I mean, >> you know, there's not a whole lot going on right now. >> I think on a state public education level, I'll put it that way, >> right? >> Um, so, you know, who knows what'll happen come my next legislative update. I would I would bet over a period of time that academic

067performance will improve >> specifically because of the cell phone. >> I wonder how like the first week of the policy >> professional development opportunity that a lot of our teachers and administrators are partaking in and reading the book the anxious generation and I'm totally not going to remember the author's name. >> Um but I'm tagging along on their efforts to keep me solid on reading it. Um so yeah, it's I think it's been really interesting. We had you know the first session there's a virtual and in person just to hear feedback from teachers um teachers who are also parents and just kind of what that difference is and understanding what the impact is and then as the book is progressing like what we can actually do um and what those negative >> consequences really are

068to not having um I call it like an embodied childhood or he calls it that as well like just >> you lose out on a lot when you're on your phone. So, it's I don't know. It's been really interesting and thank you to all the staff who are really actively um engaging with that development opportunity and taking it back to your classrooms. It's really been very informative. >> Oh, another great documentary to check out is The Social Dilemma. >> Um I actually need to rewatch it because I've been sucked back into the book of face as I like to call it. Um but it gives a very interesting perspective on um how platforms will actually target you and try to keep you more engaged on your phone. >> It was, excuse me just a second.

069It it was something that even I was aware of when I was teaching at I mean I finally banned them. But the problem we had was we had so many different kind of rules going on. Some teachers allowing it, some not. That became a nightmare. And that's where I really applaud that the administration was aheads, you know, ahead of the the curve as it were. And and getting back to what you said, Craig, it's going to help academic, but it's going to I think also help mental health. >> I think that's just as important. So, I think we're we're doing some really good things. I think it's pretty good. >> The um No, that's okay. The Cap Time, was it Cap Times article that you shared? >> Yes. >> Um that our superintendent was quoted

070in by the way. Um, but one of the I don't it wasn't our school, but the there was an anecdote in there that's that for one of the schools that had banned them for it was probably like intermediate age like WIS age kids. >> Um during lunchtime, >> the teachers were saying that it's allowed in the in the lunchroom again. Yeah. >> Because the kids are interacting with each other instead of their phones. >> And then and there was something else. And they also noticed that kids were slowing down eating. They're not like shoving their faces to, you know, >> because they're talking >> to sit. Yeah. Exactly. So, um >> they don't have a lot of time. >> So, that's a so that's just like anecdotally, >> you know, what we can see what

071for mental health and social, >> you know, emotional learning stuff. >> The anxious generation will be a community read as well. The staff are just reading it first. We have almost a hundred staff members that are participating in the teacher study group. So, there will be a community read and then there will be two uh events in the community at the library where people can get together and talk about the book together. >> Thanks for announcing that soon. >> That's good to know. >> But it's it's alarming. >> It's it gives you pause. Like it's definitely like stopped me in my in my tracks. Like it was it's um a good wakeup call. >> So it's >> Yeah. >> Good job, Megan. Yeah. Thank you for the update and thanks for >> Thank you. And

072I love how it turned into an organic cultural conversation. >> Right. >> Um and there is just because I'm still learning the resources that WASBY offers us. You can sign up for different newsletters. Yep. >> And the legislative update um is one of those and that's kind of interesting. >> Today you can. >> Yeah. So, >> and what I would say too is to always keep in mind, and Megan and I chatted about this too, is just be careful when you hear about a different bill or something that's been proposed, we quickly assess the likelihood of it actually getting passed and then pay attention to the ones that are likely to get passed. So sometimes we can get our alarms up and like Chicken Little and we're running around and people will call and they'll

073be like, "What are we going to do if they do slow down?" >> There's it's just an idea and that's how legislation works. So, >> right. Yeah. It's interesting to keep tabs on what our legislators are thinking about or not or it might not be our legislators but like statewide legislators and then to see >> informative but not immediate. Yeah. >> Right. Exactly. Yeah. Thank you. Appreciate that. >> Okay. Next, um we have some discussion items. Um board meeting agenda time frames. Do you want to set us up for that, Erin? >> Sure. I do. Um, so one of the things that we've talked about is trying to be as efficient as possible with our board meetings. And we've noticed sometimes that things vary between not just what I'm estimating, but the the time aotments

074that are provided for different presentations. Um, specifically when we have outside groups come and present. And so um uh President Fesler and I were discussing this and wanted to bring this forward to you for discussion and we brainstormed some ideas. So these this is not you know an exhaustive list. It's meant to get the conversation started the discussion started >> about what we could do to make sure that we make the best use of our time together which is limited. And one idea of course was to start with by by providing the time frame to the presenters in advance of them presenting >> um both as they're planning but then also at the start of their presentation to just let them know just a reminder you have this many minutes. Um, and then about halfway

075through that a board member could remind them just just just to note you're about halfway through your time to help them kind of a time check. Um, and then a final check when it gets to the end. Of course, you know, the board we don't have to cut some off and say you must leave. Your mic has been turned off. Please exit immediately. um we can extend that time, but at least it gives a sense to them of where they are because it's it's hard and you have a lot of ideas and things and they lose track too and >> and then we're leaving here much later than we should. >> So just throwing out those ideas for your discussion, other ideas that you have to >> to help us make efficient use of our

076time. >> Yeah. I think one thing I didn't realize, you know, we have we see the time estimates on the minutes that um the McFarland minutes notes that Aaron provides, but I didn't realize that he also provides a shorter amount of time typically to the presenter. So his time allows for that we see allows for questions and discussion. Um and we yeah, we just see a lot of overages. So >> yeah, >> what do you guys think? I think it's great. >> Okay. >> I mean, you know how much I love keeping track of time. So, >> you know, >> it's the, you know, military bread and me coming out. So, um, no, I think it's great and I appreciate you guys putting that together. >> Okay. >> Any other thoughts or ideas? >> Get

077up there and you start talking, you lose track of how much time you're actually talking. And >> I mean, we're an intimidating bunch, so it um I think it's people get nervous and that's okay. And sometimes you ramble like I'm doing. So I'm fully supportive. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I didn't even think about it like that. Like from the presenter standpoint like oh yeah I if I were doing that I would want a gentle reminder like >> you know you got to wrap it up or you're off B. You know you've got like half halfway to go then lose >> you need to be cognizant of >> if they've only got 15 minutes we shouldn't take >> seven of them. Yeah. you know, with questions. >> Yep. Also a good point. Yep. So, >> and

078I think that's part of it too is um so just for during discussion, >> you know, following a presenter to just be cognizant of that, you know, if somebody said something, maybe I don't need to say it. >> He looked right at me. >> I did not. I actually looked at Meredith to be honest. >> He was looking at me. You did. >> I'm I'm definitely guilty of that. >> And not not intentionally, but because I make contact with you. Um, but I do think it's important to just to be cognizant of that ourselves. >> Yes. Yes. >> To >> Yep. >> Yes. >> It's an excellent point, Craig. >> Bruce is always the culprit. >> Yeah. >> There's so much love in this room tonight. >> It's >> all right. Wonderful. So, um I

079guess are there any volunteers who would want to do that timekeeping reminder? >> I would love to do that. >> I think Megan, you'd be very good at it. Seriously, >> can I get a bell? I'm just kidding. >> There's a horn. There's one right there. >> I would just love to like Okay, here's your 10-minute reminder. Ding. It is important to think about if there would I don't know about a bell but >> some way to >> yes >> acknowledge to them. >> Well I know like Angie always did a great job when we have public comments and you have five minutes to do your public comments. She had an a very pleasant >> alarm on her phone. >> I thought it was >> but then again I don't want to get sucked into

080my phone being so right at her. I'm sure I can find something that's like a belling. >> Well, and we'll, you know, we'll live into it. >> We could try things. >> Yeah, exactly. >> No, I I volunteer myself to be the timekeeper. >> All right. Awesome. >> We digress. >> Thank you for volunteering. >> Let's go. >> All right. >> And just to let you know, we're doing great on time thus far. >> Turned over in new. >> In fact, we're actually ahead of it. >> We're ahead of schedule. >> I do appreciate your timekeeping. I'm amazing. All right. Awesome. >> Thank you for being open to that. >> Yes. Yes. Thank you. >> December 15th and 17th. >> Okay. >> Full session is December 15th and 17th. >> Yep. Awesome. >> Look at

081her go. >> That followup. >> Let's appreciate that. >> She's the class president, right? senior class president. >> I don't know. I don't remember. >> She's one of the officers. Yeah, >> she's the president. >> Amazing. >> Let's go with Yes. >> All right. >> Okay. Thank you all for being open to that. Um, next we have our district administrator's report. >> Yes, we do. We'll start with some pictures from around the district. Here you have at MPS in October, Miss Carrie, that's Carrie Ferguson. She's an orientation and mobility specialist with CISA 2. She came in to talk to Miss Presser's class about White Can Day. So, they got to learn about um and celebrate their classmate Nell, who actually uses a cane herself. So, sometimes you'll see these days that we list off, you

082know, in the recognition. And here's an example of a classroom learning about one of their their classmates and some assistance that they need. Awesome. >> Kind of a neat event. Moving on, you have the axelottles. >> Oh, that is the hardest word to say. >> It is. I know. But the kids the students just love those axelottals in >> They're not real though, right? >> Yes, they are. They're jello exist. Yes. >> Oh, >> Jello's Henry's favorite. >> What? >> I don't sound like a Pokemon, but they're an actual creature. >> Are they lizards? They're like amphibian things. Yeah. >> Yeah. Like in the aquarium. >> I'm doing a really poor description. >> Yeah. But they're not lizards. I think probably um Megan Alrech would be offended maybe if we said that. I don't know

083exactly what they are, but the students do and she does. >> Apparently, we need to go back to Miss Alrech's class. >> So, very fun. Just look at that. So, since Paul, hold on. We're ahead of schedule. So, what do axelottles do? You're welcome. What do axelottals do at the spa? >> Oh, >> I don't know. What do they do? Relax a lot. >> Oh my god. >> I give kudos to my son Henry for that one. Thank you for sharing. Now everyone knows your joke. >> That's awesome. >> What is >> Thank you, Mrs. Alrech. >> And you know, it's really funny. >> Those were the names of their classroom axelottals. Those are the names of the axelottals. >> Wow. >> So, I'm sorry. >> Anyway, um >> Oh, yes. Squirrel. >> Um the

084>> here we have our our fifth to seventh grade orchestra students. They went on a little field trip there. They saw the Madison Symphony Orchestra. >> Oh, wow. >> Symphony spooktacular. >> Um that's my scary voice. >> Um no rehearsal with that for me. But uh the music boosters help support that opportunity for them. So thank you to them for providing >> great experience. >> Yeah. Totally >> to our kids dance. Here you see family and consumer science. They they this project they're talking about food safety. So they made their very own um microorganism characters, their own bacteria >> and wrote um stories from the perspective of a microorganism. Very clever. She's very creative as a teacher. >> That's a that's a really great example of that cross literacy. What's the official term of the

085literacy within >> disciplinary literacy? >> Thank you. disciplinary literacy. >> Yes. >> Cool. >> Excellent example. >> Perspective taking uh community day which seventh grade has been doing for several years now. They they started it off by reading to first graders. So love we always love to see the cross age activities. So seventh graders and first graders. Come on. >> That is tremendous. >> That is wonderful. >> Thank you to everybody involved in organizing that. um a little VR, little virtual reality for our seventh grade social studies students taking a virtual field trip. So you think about how can technology benefit our students while they got to go to Egypt. >> That's so cool. >> That's really right. >> VR glasses are awesome. >> Yeah. >> So very cool. >> Exciting. Thanks for organizing that.

086And then eighth graders doing a little digging up some fossils. So that continues with our new um science teachers uh uncovering fossils there. Very fun doing that in 8th grade. Moving on to the high school. Uh we've talked a little bit about grow lately and this was they had a guest spee come from the domestic abuse intervention services. So talking about teen dating violence, unfortunately a a reality, something that they need to learn about and just so impressed with that that group and a nicesized group, >> well led and organized. >> Who's the adviser? >> Good work. Um >> be a science teacher because I saw it in their hallway. >> Who is who is I'll have to look it up because I don't know if Mariel is anymore. I don't think she is anymore,

087>> Miss >> She was. >> Yeah, >> but I don't think she is anymore. >> I just love what they're trying to do. So, I would love to go to a meeting. >> You should. >> Angie's going to look it up for us. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I think it's Jill Kavanagh and Kelly Thompson. >> Oh, >> I love them both. >> Thank you for double checking. >> I love them both. Okay. Um, here we had a little uh guest speaker coming in for marketing from the Madison Mards coming in to talk about marketing. And certainly I'd say the Malards do a great job >> marketing. So really engaging realworld application for marketers. And of course you heard a little bit about it's a wonderful life. I know some of you were able to

088see it. I was able to see it. Had a great time. What is the capacity of the blackbox theater? >> I don't you know I don't know. I'm not >> 125. Okay. So I'm not that's not a strength of mine estimating numbers. Um 125ish. Go ahead. >> Yeah. I it was a really good setting for that. >> Um I thought the size it just you felt like you were a little more intimate and you really could hear well. That's one of the things I really noticed. >> Could hear every word. My favorite part was the commercials. >> I have to say I know I mean I know that the acting great great storytelling. I know the story very well. But the creativity when they made their own commercials for our local businesses >> that is

089so cool. >> So good. >> That's cool. >> Y total body training was my favorite. Although I don't know >> we had um hey congratulations to Hannah Kirch our optimist student senior of the month and a very deserving recognition. It was a really powerful meeting getting to thank her for all she's done and she could stick >> also a member of the state cross country team. >> She and she >> she was the captain. Yeah, >> she's a great leader. >> Had had just competed. I think I think it was the Tuesday after. >> Yes, we had sent a nice group of students to the 365 leadership um summit. That's something that continues. just kind of kind of highlight that that's something that Britney Brazzle was involved in before and Kelly Thompson has been involved

090and um the advisor that um took the group of students there and they got to connect with state senator Kell de Royce as well. So awesome for them to hear about leadership and overcoming challenges. >> Those are amazing leaders right there. >> What a great experience. >> True. This was some people wondering what we do on a professional development day. So highlighted some of our curriculum councils which meet all throughout the district. This I think was special education I think. So you know they're talking about all kinds of important things. I went from mash math ratios to learning about Scarboro's reading rope. Something to learn about. Um they were talking about service minutes and strategies um there. um student responses, just really good stuff. So, we thank parents for occupying their children so we can

091learn together. Of course, the report card results are out. Lots to celebrate. Um here, a district that according to the state exceeds expectations and fifth in the area. >> Special highlight uh for the middle school really kind of knocked it out of the park. Um, >> so really great job, really impressed with our results. Always some growth, some things to work on as well. So we've identified some areas and are doing some things. The one thing I was actually um being interviewed by the leader independent today about our state report card and I mentioned to him is that any curricular change you take you make takes just years to see the results. And so we're starting to see the literacy changes that were implemented start to take effect >> in the in our achievement. >>

092That's great. >> Other things um going on. I wanted to recognize a couple three actually donors who very generous. The first one um um Peggy Anderson who made a very generous donation to for negative lunch balances. >> Oh wow. >> Um very generous. >> She's a great lady. >> Yeah. Really special person and >> was shocked um by her generosity. Um Rita Sears also donated um for negative lunch balances as well. So thank you to Rita. >> Another wonderful woman. >> Yes. and and Chad and Melissa Berry also donated a vehicle to our teched auto department. So, always appreciate that if anybody's got something they're >> trying to get rid of. >> If people wanted to donate to negative lunch balances, how would they go about doing it? >> The easiest way is probably just

093to send them to me. Okay. >> Um you can send them to the food service department, but you know, it's easier to go to me. What I will say is that we do appreciate that we're actually in a really good spot after those two donations. So I would say don't worry about that now. Give money to the food pantry. That money goes a really long way when you give it to the food pantry. >> So um thank you for that. Also uh had the seventh grade courage retreat. I wasn't able to attend but I heard wonderful things about it. So, high school students, small groups with seventh grade students, and we have an outside um group that comes in and does a lot of fun team building activities which is focused on really students having

094the courage to be themselves and to stick up for others. So, kind of an anti-bullying um proy message. Uh we talked a little bit about Veterans Day, great celebrations throughout the district. While Beast always has a great assembly, had the sixth grade band and choir orchestra concert. I was not able to attend, but it's always a great thing. The McFarland Schools Equity Collective also met, continuing to talk about financial needs and ways we can improve access uh for families, remove barriers and stigma to getting support, and then also looking at how people that are able to and would like to give can do so. had our employee relations committee focused on some handbook changes, mostly minor things, great discussion, very engaged group and and uh really enjoyed that time. It is American education week this

095week. So time where we celebrate our staff um anybody that works with kids is a teacher so and an educator. So thank you to our amazing staff. coming up. Um we have a reality zone is tomorrow um for our high school juniors. So half go this time, half in the spring where they do a financial literacy exercise and um get an occupation, housing, children, insurance, all of those kind of things. So always a good event. And then Wednesday is educational support professionals, the day where we really celebrate our amazing education support professionals. That that's everybody from instructional assistants to bus drivers to custodians, health assistants, um school nutrition. So very blessed with our administr administrative assistance as well. Substitute educators day the 21st. Uh we have a fall break with Thanksgiving on the 27th and

096the 29th is Native American Heritage Day. And um then we'll be back here. We don't come back until December. Uh December is Spartan Diversity and difference month where we celebrate a stronger, wiser, and more creative Spartan community. So >> that includes people from all cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives to help add to the unique color of our district. And we're back here for a schoolboard meeting. Those are all my updates. What do you all have? I just wanted to we I don't think we can really talk much about it because it's an agenda item, but um thank you to Meredith and Bruce for doing office hours this weekend. Um really really appreciate that. >> Did you have did you engage with >> some folks? >> Oh, we had lots of casual conversation. >> Well, we had

097both. >> We had both. >> Yeah, we had some good stuff. >> Good. >> Yeah. >> Thank you for those who stopped by. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Awesome. >> Yes. Thank you for doing that. >> Um I wanted to call out um MPS um families um and staff that I think it was in their October drive. Um, they collected over 1,000 pairs of socks. >> Um, wow. And as it gets colder, I think that's extra important. Um, so I just I saw that number and I was like, "Oh, that's absolutely amazing." So, um, very good work. Awesome. Cool. >> Anyone else? >> All right. >> Thank you. >> All right. We are on to action items. um the action on the 2026 2027 district calendar. You have some background you want to provide us? >>

098Yes, I can. So, we have um a volunteer staff committee that works together on the calendar, comes together, looks at the calendar. What we do is we we take the current calendar and um cast forward and see what that looks like. and then start moving things around as we see fit. The group had a really robust discussion and ended up um what we're bringing forward to you with the recommendation is pretty much the calendar we have this year. So, um it involves uh four days in August, which staff really appreciate having those days before school starts. A reminder, you cannot start school before September 1st in the state of Wisconsin. If you'd like to lobby for something, that would be something to lobby to get changed in my opinion. >> So, it really restricts school

099districts. >> Yes. Um Yes. And then, um we try to have uh professional development scattered throughout the year. And um of course, holidays. So, one of the things people have really appreciated is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, having that day off. That's been one of those that we didn't used to have >> and it's kind of it's it's stuck. It's not going anywhere. Um staff really appreciate it. >> No, that was a morale booster. >> Yeah. Yep. They really do appreciate it. this um the recommendation coming forward is again to have a twow week winter break and we looked at ways to shorten that break and to have try to end the school year earlier but the school year ends on a Wednesday next year so you'd have to trim off three days to get >>

100to Friday and then that didn't didn't really work um so ended up bringing forward sent this out to staff then after the committee came to consensus and I didn't really hear anything back. Um I know some people have different opinions but you know it's there's no perfect calendar. >> I think I say this every year. I don't think people can begin to realize what a difficult task that is. Mhm. >> You know, I would I would recommend trying it sometime if if uh it's it's just so many wants and needs and different >> conitudes. Yeah, it's it's great. We I really appreciate all the work that committee and others do. >> No, I think people have been happy with what we've done. >> So, it's good we're keeping up. It's a, you know, one of

101the things we really do try to do is mirror our neighbors when we can >> and that's primarily due to our so many of our staff. So a few of our staff live in >> district boundaries. Okay. >> So we want to try to mirror it when you can. >> Thanks for working with those other districts to kind of help with that. >> Yep. It's great. Thank you. >> Good work. >> All right. Um, so I would entertain a motion um for the 2027 2026 2027 district calendar. >> I would move to approve the school district of McFarland 2026 2027 calendar as recommended by administration on behalf of the calendar committee. >> Thank you, Mr. Howry. Do I have a second? >> A second. All right. All the H's again. All right. Um, any further

102discussion? Okay. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 5-0. Um, and then we have similar action next on the 2026 2027 4K McFarland calendar. I think that's pretty much it just follows the same. >> Follows that. And one of the things I I I'll add to it is that we work really closely um you know with our community partners on that calendar and Emily Broom really leads that work. So special thanks to her as the 4K coordinator. The the one thing I didn't mention in the in the first part, we also come up with a makeup day calendar. So if we exceed our three days for weather related cancellations, how we're going to make up those days. So >> Okay. Okay. >> And that that is you'll

103see that reflected in the 4K calendar where it's in purple where it says make up Fridays if needed because they don't typically have school on Fridays, >> right? Yep. Okay. All right. Any other discussions or questions? And I would entertain a motion. I move to approve the school district of McFarland 2026 274K calendar as recommended by administration on behalf of the calendar committee. Okay. >> I can second. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um all those in favor please signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? No. All right. Motion carries. 5-0. Now we have our action on the second reading of the policies we talked about at our last meeting. Um we did not we did not have any updates or changes to any of those. >> So um I think unless anyone has

104any further discussion let's I would entertain a motion. >> I move to approve the second reading and adoption of the following policies as recommended by administration. >> I'll second that. Oh, I got a really good read and she does it >> and she does it so fast. >> Do I need to say the whole thing again? >> Yeah, >> you're good. >> Okay, >> 5130 withdrawal drop out from school 531.01 emergency nursing services 5411 third grade promotion or retention at risk students 550 academic honesty 5530 student use or possession of intoxicants drugs or paraphernalia 7440.03 3 small unmanned aircraft syn systems drones 7450 property inventory 7455 accounting system for capital assets 8120 volunteers 8420 school safety 850 school nutrition services 8510 wellness 8531 free and reduced price meals 8540 vending machines 8550 competitive food sales

1059151 use of cameras and other recording devices in locker rooms >> how do you do that >> it just makes me laugh >> very good I will second that very good >> okay >> thank Fisher seconds. Okay. Um All right. And all in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? No. Motion carries. 5-0. Okay. And then um next action on McFarland High School Spring Early College Credit and Start College Now program requests. >> Nothing to really share. Um then I guess just for the public is one of the things that we do is about this time of year there's students who apply for these programs for early college credit and the start college now programs and our amazing student services team reviews courses that are available both within um the district

106and through the Wisconsin Virtual Academy. You'll see a lot of courses for DCA, Destinations Career Academy, as well as what prerequisites are necessary for someone to sign up for that class. So, when you see classes that are denied, requests that are denied, that is the reason why because it falls into one of those other >> categories and we're able to provide those at a lower cost. I would move to approve the course approvals and denials for the early college credit and start college now program requests as recommended by the McFarland High School administration. >> Thank you, Craig. >> Second that. >> Okay. Thank you. Is there any further discussion? >> We have some smart kids. >> Yeah, I've noticed a lot of um medical and financial and nursing. Yes. Very um Yep. >> And a

107long list of students. Yes. Applying to take advantage of that. So that's great. >> All right. Um all in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. >> Second by >> Yes. >> Yep. You got it. All right. Last but not least on action is the recommended um WEA um DCA is uh WI student >> insight >> inside that you were right >> it's like sometimes I want to use the acronym and then the other acronyms don't roll off the tongue so then I wanted to say the whole thing. So anyway um yes and insight schools um statute 118.48G 408G student transfers to resident districts. >> I move to approve the Weeba Destinations Career Academy and Insight School of Wisconsin recommended student transfers back to their resident districts due

108to lack of engagement. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. Thank you both. Um any discussion or questions? >> Well, the list is getting longer. >> Yeah, >> I noticed that. Um, and we are unfortunately starting to see some of those younger grades pop up. >> Um, I mean, and we is doing everything in their power to, you know, try to make contact and whatnot. So, appreciate their due diligence with that. Um, and it's unfortunate to see that some of these kiddos uh get moved back to their home districts. But >> I sus I suspect, you know, many of those circumstances, especially with the younger kids, is due to um the parents being unable to, you know, >> they talk about three hours a day, you know, two to three hours a day. And, you know,

109there's a lot of households that They don't have two or three hours a day. They every everybody has to work >> and they are really working as you know diligently as diligently as they can but let's face it I don't know if virtual school is for everyone and I think in many cases these are people trying something out and more power to them and more power to our district for giving that opportunity to do that but I don't know if it is for everyone. I think one of the things we learned from the whole COVID experience was that, you know, virtual school is is not going to work for everyone. >> You get out of it what you put in. >> No, it's not easy. Exactly. >> Yeah. >> Y >> All right. Um so

110all in favor uh please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Oh, motion carries 5-0. Uh that concludes our business. That's why I would look for a motion to adjurnn. >> I motion to adjurnn this evening school board meeting. >> All right. >> I'm trying to come up with something to make it sound official. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> All right. All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> No. Motion carries. We are adjourned at 8:41. >> And I would just like to say as the official timekeeper, we came in ahead of schedule. >> That's pretty good. Where do you think we made up time?