001Okay, I'm going to call the or the meeting to order at 7 o'clock. Welcome everyone. Thank you for being here. Um, all right, let's start with our consent agenda. Um, this includes, let me get to the full list here. All right. Our consent agenda includes minutes from the September 15th um 2025 board meeting, the certified and co-curricular staffing recommendations as listed on the agenda. Um does anyone have anything that they want to pull out from the consent agenda? >> No. No. Okay. All right. Then I would look for a motion on that. And I will second. >> All right. Any discussion? All right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. Motion carries. 4 Z. And of course, there are some personnel items that do not require a vote. Um, so
002next, do we have any um Wow. Public comments. Thank you. My brain paused there for a moment. >> Okay. Um Okay. So, that brings us to our fabulous high school student report. And I see Dean has joined us. Welcome. >> Good evening everyone. Okay, I will get this going right away. >> Um, it was really great actually. Yes. Okay, so good evening everyone. This is the second edition of the McFarland High School student report for the 2025 through 2026 academic school year on Monday, October 6 of 2025. Um, last meeting I told you that we would be reaching out to the advisors and coaches of McFarland um, high school sports clubs and activities to request any information that they would like to share with all of you through the student report. Um, and we did
003that. So, this presentation tonight will include information from all staff members that responded to our reaching out email. Um, so to begin with highlights, the 2025 homecoming takes place this week from October 6th to October 11th. Um, our theme theme this year is Home Sweet Homecoming, which embraces that there is truly no place like home. So, with this theme, each grade chose a Wisconsin sports team to represent their class. The seniors are the W Badgers, the juniors are the Green Bay Packers, the sophomores are the Milwaukee Brewers, and the freshman are the Madison Ford Flamingos, excuse me. Um the staff were assigned to represent the Milwaukee Bucks. So with that, the dressup days are as follows. So today was home away from home, which is basically just a tourist themed day. Um tomorrow will be
004make yourself at home day, which is basically inspired by Adam Sandler with baggy and comfortable clothing. Wednesday is home team day where each grade will wear merch and swag to represent their sports team that they chose. Thursday is work from home day which is basically inspired by Zoom or like this meeting right now. Um where students are encouraged to wear formal wear on top and then casual wear on the bottom. Um so kind of playing on um when in co you would like only see the top of us and not the bottom. And then Friday finally is No Place Like Home, also known as Spartan Out. So that's just where everyone is showing our McFarland pride with our um McFarland gear. Um moving on, parade float building took place this past Saturday on October 4th.
005Class officers and students from each grade got together to build the class floats for the homecoming parade. And that leads me to my next point, which is that homecoming comes with numerous events. The homecoming parade will take place this Wednesday, October 8th, at 6:00 p.m. It will start at Indian Mound Middle School and follow Exchange Street before concluding at McFarland High School. And then on Friday, October 10th, the high school will run on an alternate schedule. The last approximate hour is reserved for the homecoming pep rally where students will engage in new events including the class cheers with class presidents, competition games, and the winners of multiple things including best parade float, best decorated door, and best homecoming proposal. Then our homecoming court this year was voted upon by the students from each grade. The
0062025 homecoming court includes Alexis Charbano, Anna Cohen, Eli Frankie, Lonnie Green, McKenzie Green, Katherine Kelly, Colin Kennedy, Gabriel Craft, Kayla Lander, and Addison Penn. The homecoming royalty will be announced at the homecoming football game on Friday, October 10th. Um, finally, the homecoming dance will take place on Saturday, October 11th from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. So, as usual, our clubs are very busy with many events. The McFarland DECA hosted two games to support the W Carbone Cancer Center, including the volley for a cure game with the girls volleyball team and the blackout to blackout cancer football game. Then Girlup had an amazing first meeting with a multitude of student participants. They spent their time updating their bulletin board, making posters and restock restocking the bathrooms with free menstrual products. And then lastly, later this month, the
007McFarland Hope Squad will be looking for new members. An advisory lesson regarding Hope Squad will take place before students are encouraged to nominate their peers that show good leadership qualities. After nominations close, Hope Squad officers will interview interested nominated students, discuss their results, and make recommendations to their advisor before the final decisions on membership take place in November. In regard to our performing arts, the McFarland High School choir programs sent many of its students to the Bethl Horizon's Retreat Center in Dodgeville, Wisconsin for the annual choir retreat from September 19th to September 20th. There our singers spent a weekend partaking in team building activities, games and challenges. Following that, the same program has reveal revealed Killer Cabaret as the annual cabaret production which is a murder mystery inspired production that will include skits, songs, and
008choreography as well as an intriguing storyline to follow. The one night event will take place on Saturday, November 15th in the McFarland Performing Arts Center. Then we we received updates from the McFarland Performing Arts Center staff regarding upcoming events. The 2025 play It's a Wonderful Life, a live radio play, has dates scheduled from November 6th to November 9th, and those times do vary, which are shown there. Um, and then the McFarland High School orchestra is sharing their concert on Tuesday, November 8th at 7:30 p.m. Our athletics programs fall sports are resulting in very successful seasons. The boys soccer team had a great 10ame win over Edgewood. The football team beat Monroe in a class game this past Friday. And the girls tennis celebrated their senior night and placed second at the conference tournament. Another note,
009the student council is sponsoring the senior night games of each sport this year to bring in more student viewership at sporting events by starting raffles. At the girls tennis senior night, they recorded three times their normal student attendance, which is a significant improvement. More senior nights are coming up, so stay tuned for news on those at future meetings. Finally, head coach Tommy Morardi of the girls volleyball team reached out to us to bring updates on his team specifically. Um, on September 17th, Kayla Lander became the new alltime kills leader in McFarland volleyball history with over 180 career kill career kills, excuse me. Then on September 30th, coach Tommy Morardi earned his 100th career career win as head coach of the girls volleyball team. And on October 4th, Alex became the seventh player in McFarland volleyball
010history to reach 10,00 career assists throughout their high school experience. Then there are a couple of updates to share at this time from Miss Wink. First from McFarland High School seniors Eevee Evie Vidrio, David Jang Zo, and we were nominated among 16,000 semi-finalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. They took the preliminary SAT in order to be qualified for this scholarship and their hard work reflects a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to their outstanding achievements and hard work. We wish them the best of luck as they move on to the finalist portion of the competition. Secondly, Isaac Gamble, Maisie Barrelman, and Jason Templeton are now commended students. Commended students represent about twothirds of the highest scorers, about 34,000 commen commended students this year. In recognition of their outstanding ability and potential for academic success
011in college, they will receive letters of commendation and may be candidates for special scholarships offered by corporate sponsors. And in our last section, we have a few things coming up at McFarland High School. So, I already discussed the upcoming homecoming events, but the student council has many more. Um, the boys soccer senior night will take place October 9th, while the girls volleyball senior night is on October 16th, and the girls swim senior night is on October 21st. Dates have not been officially set for these events, but the November gratitude celebration for NHS staff and the Veterans Day breakfast are also fast approaching for the month of November. And that is all I have for you. As always, our contact information is below if anyone needs anything outside of these meetings. But otherwise, unless any of
012you have any questions, I will let you move on with the agenda. >> I don't have any questions, but that was I loved the additional updates this this month. >> Thank you. >> Skills like they're fantastic. Thank you. >> Check public speaking off your list of to-dos. >> I bet you do. >> Our branding guide to appreciate the colors that are school colors. >> Thank you so much. Okay. Have a great night, guys. coming. >> Okay. See you next month. Bye. >> Oh, that's great. >> Okay. So, next we're going to ourformational items. Um, and just an update to the agenda. I'm not sure if you all saw, but the we're moving the McFarland Youth Center presentation to next month. Um, anticipating I think November 3rd, right? Yeah, November 3rd. um they just wanted to
013lock in a few more of the details of their presentation and um and for their plan going forward. So that takes off both the information item that we were going to first address and then um our first action item off of the agenda. All right. So next we've got me with the Wisconsin Association of School Boards regional meeting update. Um so this is the WASBY and that's what I say. Some people say WB, but um this is our associ association regional meeting for our you know member school boards. Um and I've never been to one in my three and a half years on the board. And I think um I just had a lot of great takeaways from it that I thought I wanted to share with you all if you're willing to listen to
014me for a hot minute. Um so they had like it starts with a nice dinner and they actually adult drinks. I was like, "What? That was unexpected." Um, nice. Everyone behaved themselves, but you know, it's like, "Oh, it's like you just don't expect that at like school events, right?" But it's not really a school event. It's an association event. So, >> um, and you know, they have some networking and I got to know some of the board members from Jainsville, Waterlue, Fort Atkinson. Um, and then Yeah. And then the other person at our table was the executive director of the um of WASBY. And of course I talked to Stan. >> My dad was there. >> Your dad was there. >> Middleton crosses. Um and so and they gave out awards for recognition. I don't
015know if you are all aware, but there are professional development opportunities in with included in our WASBY um membership and you can earn points for that. And so it just really and they have different levels for it. So, I think it I knew that that existed, but it was kind of fun to see people getting recognized for it. Um, and kind of inspired me to go check out some of that stuff. Um, and then they focused on a theme of strategic focus and accountability. That was kind of the learning discussion topic. So, it was nice to be able to talk about what other school districts have like how they came up with a strategic f focus and then created the accountability to to track if it was successful. Um, and so we shared ideas about
016that and just what really struck me is how well our district finds data that we can use to really measure when our, you know, strategic plan. We have that great plan in place with focuses for each year and how well we're doing. And um and it was interesting how different districts um measured their success. It wasn't always data driven, >> you know, um and it was sometimes really focused. Not all districts have strategic plans like we do. So that was it was it was just really good learning. Um, and my favorite part was probably the um the legislative update. A lot of it, like the actual information was somewhat of a review because we tend to touch on that in in here pretty often. Um, but they really went into like the why and the
017dynamics that are happening in legislature right now, which is mostly that they're not working very well together. And that's I mean that's no secret. Um but they reviewed what the focuses are for the GOP and the DEM um priorities and how they're different and how in this last session of 2025 um they probably won't get much done. Like it's it's optimistic but also realistic. Um so these priorities will probably focus it'll be more like the 2026 election priorities as opposed to things that they'll accomplish. Um, but there is I mean there's a fair amount as we know that impacts education and um we don't always hear of the small ones and so it was really nice to get that um to get that from there. Um they also reviewed the 2026 WASBY legislative agenda um
018that you know they get school boards to figure out you know they proposed a legislative agenda. I don't know if you saw the emails that came through. Um, and then decide on what they actually are going to focus on advocating for as a schoolboard association. So, I mean, and then and it can be different. It might be different than what our personal goals will be for the for our district because they have to represent all of Wisconsin schools, right? And, you know, some districts have very different needs than we do. Um, and then let's see. And then the executive director um Dan Ross Miller focused on this lighthouse study which is a fairly famous study that essentially says how the mindset of the board whether we believe that like learners can achieve at a high
019level no matter what. Um how that trickles down into the school district and the and the culture and the impact and um things like that. And I just that was such a good reminder, you know, like remembering that I mean at least I believe that like anyone can really learn at their highest level if they are given the things that they need to learn, right? And that's that part of that is that equity piece that we focus on. >> Yeah, that makes sense. That's a good question though. Um Yeah. So it just it really like Having attended it before, it highlighted the different opportunities that we have as schoolboard members to be more engaged and educate ourselves about kind of the world of school boards um without even that much more time commitment. I mean,
020we already do a lot um but there are lots of different opportunities. So, it was just really good and I'd highly recommend anyone like I'll probably plan to attend the regional ones. I think they're quarterly. Where was this one? >> Sun Prairie. >> Okay. >> Yep. Um yeah, it's not hosted by a school district. It was at a hotel. Like I think they work >> to be pretty independent of the school districts for these events, but um yeah, it just it was I'll probably plan to attend them and would encourage others to join me or, you know, attend at least one just to see what it's all about. So they do offer learning sessions um beforehand. I It started at 4, but um I couldn't attend that. So, any questions? >> No, I don't know
021how detailed of notes you took, but um if you could send them to me, I'd love to read them because >> Yeah, I I I take information in better when I can read it. >> I hear you. I will I would be happy to send it to you. It's in my chicken scratch, though. >> That's fine. >> Oh, I could probably make it into >> I can read it. Beautiful. >> Well, thank you. Yeah, I will send it to you. Let me write that down. Um, perfect. All right. Um, so then our nextformational um item is the school safety drill evaluation notification and review for the Wisconsin State Statute 118.074 CP. You want to review those? Sure, Aaron. Um, so you can see in your board packets the afteraction reports. They start with the the
022lockdown drills that were scheduled in each of the four buildings. And we moved those. They used to typically be in November and we decided we were going to try them in September um just to make sure our students and staff were prepared. They went unbelievably well. As you can see, there's always a couple things that we find um that we can make and that's why you do a drill. And so the the key to that one is there is a partnership with the police department. So in the event of an actual lockdown, it would be the police department that is unlocking doors. And so that's what we practice. So we had, you know, probably 10 officers at each school helping to unlock the doors with a staff member. Um, and it it went really well.
023People did a great job. And then we also had um a couple of holds uh for some student issues at the primary school. And that's just a a way to to make sure that we respect the privacy of the student involved and minimize the disruption um in in both of those cases. And then we had of course the secure um actual secure not a drill at the middle school and high school for a issue um that was being resolved near u closer to to the middle school. And um in addition to what was shared in the afteraction report, we did have um what they call in the business a hot wash. We had a debriefing um that afternoon to just really review well this was an actual situation where we were implementing a secure and
024what did we learn from it? And there were several things that we would be doing differently. A lot of learned. But I will say that um in no case was did that impact student safety. In fact, I would probably say we aired on the side of overreacting instead of underreacting. So that was some of our our reflection, but um people did a great job and really impressed with the students, the staff, how they responded to that. So, [Music] And >> I will say as a parent I appreciate the overreaction. >> Good. >> Yeah. Right. >> It's one of those things you don't want to create unnecessarily unnecessary alarm. Uh but just being clear with you know students I think about what's going on. I think that would be something we could do a little be
025a little more transparent I guess and forthcoming to students about why it's being called because I think that would ease the fear just to know something's going on with the police doesn't involve us at all. >> Yeah. >> But we just want to make sure that no one comes in or out and that's really all a secure is is >> the school day goes on just no one comes in and no one leaves >> until it's resolved. But yes, appreciate that. That's true. >> Yeah, we appreciate the heads up. >> Well, and I think we've learned too at, you know, my kids in the high school. So, seeing a communication come out relatively quickly >> after it happened to help, you know, inform people before >> people start writing the story in their head and
026going on social media so we get accuracy going on. Like, we definitely learned that and quickly course corrected in previous ones. So, that was good to see that continuing to happen. >> Yeah. And, you know, I I think there's always a concern that we don't send that out fast enough. And I just I just want people to have some patience. Our focus really is the students and the staff in the buildings. And um it's important to communicate out, but first we want to make sure our our students are in good hands. And sometimes those things are resolved so quickly that by the time we get the communication ready to go, you know, they're >> that was about the case. It was about 20 minutes >> start to finish this situation. >> I mean, that's the
027case most of the time actually, wouldn't you say? It's usually resol, you know, >> like there's a resolution that you're also reporting after sending, you know, on the communications. >> Nice job. Okay. One other comment I would also make is for parents who do listen um I think I'm only using my personal experience um with my kiddo as a lesson of it does impact our youngest students when we do these drills um and that um talking if there are concerns making sure that you're communicating those um through teachers. um if you have questions on process that you um need to help answer if your kid has questions um those resources are available to you at the school. So um reach out with those questions that you may have or that your kids may have that
028leaves them feeling a little bit um uncertain. That's a great reminder because that hap I mean it happens for all of our all of our kids the older ones that we're in those you know self internal years of the te their teenage years just might not talk about it so >> reminder thanks Meredith >> anything else on that topic all right um then we can move on to our discussion items the first one being our board meeting self Zoom results. >> All right. So, I'm going to walk through that. You do have a paper copy. I I put at your your spot there, and I'm going to walk through those with you. Um, >> yeah. Thank you. >> I have it displayed up I know it's pretty small, but hopefully those at home it's a
029little bigger. So, um board members can look on your paper. So, I'll just give an overview and then we'll have some discussion um do doing some problem solving about the areas of growth. So, again, we do this survey three times. You do this survey three times a year and I analyze the results and it's really a reflection on the school board meeting minutes. it is about uh our schoolboard meeting process. So it's a reflection about the meetings themselves less so the overall functioning of the board. And so some things um that you can see is first of all the agendas being very timely having uh realistic time allotted for the activities on the agenda and having all the relevant information. The packets themselves that the board members received um your reports are they're comprehensive. It
030includes key facts and data very timely board members being uh prepared for the meeting. That's also a strength that you mentioned at the meetings themselves that the right people are present including administrators. There's opportunities for stakeholders, the community to um share information and to be engaged. you shared that you feel uh the meetings themselves focus on district goals and priorities with time for recognition of our students, staff and community. Um and that is one that has took a big jump uh from where we were in March from 40% fully achieved to 80%. So I wanted to to highlight that. um in terms of you know uh you want to avoid debating sort of these non-critical operational or administrative issues and that was a strength that you mentioned that um that's not occurring. So that's also
031an increase so an improvement there. Um the next one is just an opportunity to discuss before deciding. So making sure we don't rush through um votes and that's something where you know the board members take time to explain their rationale. There's plenty of time for questions and discussion that was a strength. Feeling that the the meeting itself is an appropriate length that had a small increase from last time too. There's opportunities for public comment. This is a real strength that you mentioned. um the procedural issues that is consistent with our goals and that there's followup if somebody makes a comment that requires followup. Most importantly, I would say um the feeling that the the participants are respectful and professional with each other, that the minutes reflect the motions accurately, um that there's a sufficient record
032of the consent agenda. And you know, sort of a sidebar is that we added to separate an item from the consent agenda >> and that when there's a need for administrative followup uh gets done gets taken care of. In terms of your comments, you you referenced how the board works well together um with a good partnership with the administration talking about that there's clear communication and um people are prepared and just a really positive overall experience. So, I'll move into the um areas of growth and then we can kind of just open it up for for discussion. So, I you're doing so well. There's only a couple. Um and so the um just some sense that there could be a little more um preparation in advance in terms of reviewing the materials. I just it's
033still it's still a high percentage but not a 100%. Um so that was an area that you mentioned and then the time aotment um that the the various agenda items went down slowly according to my work and then um in the comments um you mentioned about it really helps to have the presentations in advance sort of on that um reminder to ourselves to speak into the the microphones and to minimize uh device use. So making sure when we're on our devices it's just for the um board um meetings. I don't see people on their phones often u which is really good because that's a big no no in board meetings. People think you're like secretly saying vote my way. Um I shouldn't joke about it because happened in other boards. >> Yes. >> Um and
034then >> just do that >> kind of sticking to the agenda um time slots to help the meetings. >> So those were a few comments >> uh that you have. So open it up to further discussion, questions, observations. >> I think um to piggyback on what you were saying about the phone usage, I think it's also worth noting that um just as we're modeling for, you know, for this school district, we have asked our middle schoolers and high schoolers to actually give their phones to someone else. So, I think it's extra important that we model kind of what we've asked, but I think we do a great job already. So, it's it's yeah, it's just a reminder. >> I'm gonna put my phone >> Oh, >> I had that same problem. I was like, "Oh,
035I got to put it in my bag." >> Well, I would say it's one thing to sort of have it out in case there is an emergency and that's fine. Or >> yeah, >> if you use it to check the time. Um, >> I should have done that because I didn't have a message there that caught my eye. >> Avoid the squirrels, Erin. >> Yes, that's right. That's right. So, but I think it's more about being >> Yes, I agree. I think it's fine if I don't Yeah, it's fine on your desk. preparation. >> Yeah, it's kind of in two spots on there, both as a strength and an area growth. So, I think it's just >> it's true >> a matter of how you you sort of look at the questions. I think >>
036there like it represents a chunk of questions, right? >> Yes. That >> Yeah. >> So, it's two different chunks of questions that both get to board preparation, I think. But I think more importantly, it's, you know, there's four of you here tonight. So I think, you know, that's a conversation you can have now in terms of do you think preparations an area to work on. Um and and same with time aotment being areas of growth. And if you feel like I suppose relatively maybe, but it's not a pressing issue that's fine too. >> Well, I the I mean we do work so well together. I mean, you know, it's been that way with each of the boards that I've sat with with each of the members. So, it's it's kind of nice to have something
037to work on or that we've identified something, you know, like something to grow towards. Um, and I wondered if with the board preparation if we I realized that when this became a growth area, I wondered since we've really rounded out the new board member orientation process, um, I wondered if we've ever really defined what being prepared is for us. >> And so I wondered if we wanted to take like five minutes to kind of, >> you know, talk about what each of us does and and identify what we kind of think it should be and then we can do it we can put it into those materials and because then because it is a little bit like well I mean we all we all seem prepared are we doing the same things I don't know
038>> I mean I guess I'll start like every time we get our packet just so everyone knows Angie emails out the packet which comes into our board book I go through it um and then I actually cross reference it with the agenda that Aaron sends out and I kind of go through all the points that I'm not completely comfortable with. >> Um, I will say when it comes to policy and whatnot, some of those policy overviews >> get to be very very lengthy. So sometimes I I do miss some of those because we're talking >> 80 90 pages that we'll have to look through at any given point. >> But then like for example, we get breakdowns of you know lockown >> um reports and so like I'll go through those just so I can
039be like oh hey this was great or oh wow well I didn't know that two of the doors didn't lock >> and then same with the presentations I'll go through it and say okay I know we're going to touch upon this >> yeah I think um as as the newest board member I think hearing kind of how other people is helpful I also think the improvements we've made like in communication about this is the presentation that's coming earlier I think some of financial reporting for me has been the hardest part to consume But with the new overview um that we're getting, it really helps guide what I'm more specifically looking for in the attached documents because to Megan's point, what's what we get on board book for those who are watching and don't know like
040it's a bunch of like linked PDFs to some of the items that we need to review. Um which is something I never knew before being on the board. Um, and so it helps me kind of understand, okay, this I need to really delve into and look into it a little bit further. Um, and I do something similar is we get the agendas, we get what's in board book, and I go through individually. Um, I used to make comments in the board book. Um, but to be honest, the comments seem to just stick from meeting to meeting for each of like the overall item. So I technologically couldn't figure out how that works, >> which is fine. It doesn't have to be an everybody thing. Um, and so I t I tend to write things out
041um on what I want to remember. Um, >> and then if I have questions, I try and be proactive with Megan as our president and hey, these are things I did not understand or sometimes a reception where like I don't know what this means. Um, that way I'm trying to make informed decisions when we come. Um that's kind of that way. Yeah, the policies are just dense. >> That's true. Definitely something. >> Yeah, I have to chunk them. Like I look at and say, "Okay, there's this many. I'm going to do two tonight, two the next night." Like it's something down. >> Well, and that's why we get those sometimes a month in advance or more. >> Much appreciated. >> Yeah. So that's Yeah. Then we can actually chunk them. Yeah. We can print those
042for you too if you, >> you know, would like a a printed copy of those packets just you can write on them. >> Oh, I would totally love that. >> You would have to come and pick it up. >> I don't think we do. >> No courier service. >> I I I would be okay popping by and picking up. >> McFarland is not that okay. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yep. >> Yeah. I It sounds like we all do pretty similar things. I think the the thing that um that I do that I think just hasn't mentioned, but I suspect everyone does >> um I also make sure that I'm up to date on the McFarland minutes that Erin sends out every week. I try to make sure I'm up to date on that weekly. And then
043same thing with email communications, like making sure I'm responding to those, you know, within the week. Um, but I kind of I kind of make sure that I have at least a couple of hours before every schoolboard meeting to make sure I'm caught up on those because there's definitely some like the WASBY update emails. I don't One of the things that you can do is you can sign up for different newsletters from them. And so like those I sometimes batch when I'm doing all of my other schoolboard prep, like the policy ones, the legal ones, legislative updates. Um, >> yeah, because it's I mean most of the We're doing it every two weeks and those ones can usually wait. Sometimes if it's legislative, it's pretty like it's like right now. This was just scheduled two
044days ago or for two days from now. Um, but I also lump in those things because the McFarland minutes has a lot of a lot of stuff in it. Um, and so but it's also a fairly quick read. I mean, Erin's working really hard to keep it summarized for us that often has a lot of the background, too, that the presentations >> have, so it's like giving us more background information. So, it sounds like we're all doing pretty much the same thing. >> And I will admit, I love reading them for minutes. I read them like two or three times a week. >> I know. That's great. >> I don't know why. >> Well, like, oh, this is going on. This is going >> I feel informed like and like we give options to like
045other like I'm focused more on you know younger kids and so it's nice for me to see like what's happening in other places and I don't know I >> I look forward to that too. >> Well it's a one it's like a one pager reference for all the hot topics and then for all the strategic plan updates and then >> and I love that the links to each of the different school newsletters are in there so we can reference that you know like it's not one page but it's like our one pager. Yes. So, um, so those would be the only things that I do in addition to what I already heard. So, >> yeah, I can't imagine not having >> I also appreciate how you to read it. >> Oh, that's awesome. >> Unless
046you click on all the links. >> That's true. >> That that is >> to read the text of the words that are on that page. >> That's true. >> How do you figure that out? >> There's a tool. >> Yeah, there's a reading estimator tool. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Learn something new tonight. I wonder if >> Yeah, you and you can take a text and you can say, "How long would it take for me to do a speech?" >> Oh, yeah. >> It's very good. >> I do appreciate your >> strategies of using AI. That is it has definitely inspired me in my own >> profession. >> Um Yeah. And if there's anything that you would like to see different with the minutes just how I'm happy It's evolved over time. >>
047Um, but I'm happy to do that. >> That's great. >> Okay. I think the other thing to note just for the public, again, it sounds like we're all doing this, but trying to review the packet, it usually comes out on Thursday. >> Um, and then ask questions, you know, at least by Monday morning if you have them for the Monday night meeting. um just to be able to give people the opportunity to update presentations to answer, you know, questions that a lot of people might have. Um that was actually one thing that I learned at the regional meeting that some boards, and this I'm not suggesting this, um some boards adjusted their meeting schedules to kind of avoid that in some way. like they moved it later in the week so that it wasn't falling
048like on a Monday and that questions would come in over the weekend for administrators. I don't Yeah. And then also Erin's like >> um and also they'll adjust meetings for like if their board is made up of a lot of parents. They had to adjust based on school sport schedules like they moved their their meeting earlier. It was just it's just interesting. So, um, like I said, it was interesting learning. Not anything I would suggest. I think ours seems to work pretty well. >> All right. >> Consistency. >> There's other things going on. This is always like that's worth saying, but I didn't. So, >> I've been to move the minutes earlier. One of the things I like about it, one is that the agenda is usually firm. it's getting posted. >> Exactly. >> And
049then the other is that the leader independent publishes on Thursday. >> So I can pull in an article >> on that. So I always have them. This is a little secret backstage. I always have them ready >> the minute and they're scheduled to go to you at 9 in there's an article from reader independent um that I want. Yes, you should buy a subscription. >> Yes, absolutely. Um, any kind The only one we didn't talk about was the time management thing. Anything anyone want to provide feedback about that or do we feel like that's in the parts that we discuss or is it in the presentations from other folks? >> I I think we're doing great. >> Okay. I think we are good um about keeping for the most part trying to keep each other
050on track. >> Um we have this I'm only comparing this because my comparison point, but um we have like a tool at work where each agenda item has a timer attached to it >> and when you reach your timer end it turns red on your screen. um >> which isn't intense not I mean but it's I it's another tool I think we have tools in our tool belt if we want to think about how we ensure we stick with some of our >> okay >> a allotted minutes I don't think we necessarily need to implement anything but if we find that that 40% drops then maybe I think we have >> okay >> I guess the question is were people saying we were spending we were going over the allotted time It feels >> like
051dedication to sticking to agenda time slots >> to run efficiently makes it feel like >> we Yeah. >> making sure we're >> Sometimes there's a little um meandering away from the topic. >> I have no idea how that >> That's what I think it says. You said >> that's what I would say. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um, well that I mean we could also I mean this might be an interesting idea, but we could add a timekeeper or time observer to meetings if we wanted to. >> Something to think about. That's fine. You have you're facilitating Angie's facilitating other things. I think it would be a board member, but >> um just an idea. We don't have to decide tonight. >> I mean if we want I mean I actually keep track of the time on
052my >> should this time I do. >> Yeah, it's fine for you to say something. >> Okay. How are we doing on this topic? >> Well, we actually had zero minutes allocated to our discussion. >> Oh, did I? >> Yes. So, we've gone way over. So, just to let you know based on that, you um have three minutes to go over your administrator's report. >> Oh, yeah. It does say zero. >> That's funny. Okay. This is what happens when zero to five on public comments we can borrow. We can >> That's okay. Awesome. I think that was a really great discussion though. >> Um, anything else that we want to talk about or discuss? >> I think what I would just say with the sticking to topic is that, you know, obviously our theme this
053year is about not chasing squirrels as a district, right? Which means not going off on distractions and forgetting what we're there for. So, you know, there are groups in the district that will call out a squirrel if someone's going gently >> and say that might be a squirrel. Maybe we should get So, you could find your language, but I do think all of us have a responsibility if we start to meander off the topic to try to >> bring this back. So, that might be a great conversation for another time. >> That sounds great. We'll have Tom Mooney send us his notes. >> He was so good. Oh, no. >> He would say, "I don't think that's on the agenda." >> He would. He would. >> All right. Okay. Great things to think about. Thank
054you for putting together the summary, Erin. Um, okay. Now, we get to hear from you, your district administrator's report. >> Yeah. So, we'll start off with some stuff going on around. So, the releasing of the butterflies, right? We have the 11th monarch butterfly being shared into the wild. So, >> this is the coolest thing ever. We are doing this at home now and it is >> Mrs. Manley, thank you for the suggestion or doing it with Henry because this is a uh Yeah, way cool. >> That is a big net. Like a big thing. I don't know if it's called, but they must have had a lot to release. So they were all in there like hanging out like a modern butterfly. >> Usually attached to the top. >> Anyway, squirrel. Thank you, Mrs. Manley.
055Great idea. Kids love it. >> Oh, nuts. >> Yeah, that's beautiful. >> Look at the rainbow. >> What a great photo. >> Great way to start the day. >> Yeah, great. >> Just go to show you I never noticed. the by color. >> Oh, yeah. Right. >> You've never noticed that? >> I've never noticed that. >> Oh, nuts. >> This is >> safety patrol at Wisa. So, patrol one ready for action. Uh, we've been waiting to do that. >> They take it so seriously. >> I was on safety. >> Yes. It's a It's like a core memory, right? It's >> And it looks so happy. So proud of themselves. Good work. >> Proud. >> Good stuff. Uh here you have some more stuff. Fifth graders were at the McKenzie Center, so doing a little outdoor
056education, so doing some pond exploration and nature walks, which is a good segue that today Tomorrow our sixth graders are doing the same. >> You see fifth grade outdoor education and Timberly is >> as we speak they're campfiring. >> Wow, that's true. I don't know. >> I feel like they started scheduling it on board meeting night so I couldn't. >> That's what I feel like. I take it >> Meredith. I can't wait for you to experience it. >> I know. Everyone keeps talking about it every year and so I'm very much looking forward to it. I can't be there to do the worm or boom boom. >> I doubt it. >> You have to do you need a Kleenex. >> I'm gonna work through it. Um, but look at I love this with a great
057looks >> more choice time and art class. Phenomenal >> educator winner. Excellent. >> Love the creativity. >> That's what I thought was thinking too. >> That's if you ever get a chance to get out and observe classrooms. >> Seventh grade scientists. Look at them hands on using clay to to make cells. sixth graders doing a child development project. They make they choose their favorite children's book and they make activities related to that. >> It looks like the hungry caterpillar. >> And then you heard about this right about our national merit scholarship. finalist. So to have three >> feels excited for them. >> And our optimist senior of the month uh was not only [Laughter] student and community members. >> Then our to 21 program life skills, right? >> Things all of our kids should be
058able to know how to do modeling for others. >> It looks like they did. I remember um going to one of the graduations in the spring last semester and they were talking about how they their goal over the summer was to set up the other one of the other spaces in the 18 to 21 program as like a mock apartment so they could work on this. And it looks like they did. It looks awesome. >> Cool. >> And of course, um, Dean, our service dog. So, Jane Olsen Olsen, excuse me. She is our deaf and heart of hearing teacher. Amazing person if you never met her. >> And she has a service dog in training here to work with their kids. And I will say this is I think it will be the most viewed
059post of all time in the school. >> Thanks to our social media coordinator, also known as Angie. >> Way to go. >> Nice job, Angie. >> Putting this together. It was really cleverly done. That picture >> totally that was brilliant. Do we know what organization Djan came from? >> Good question. >> Occupines. >> Um, so I didn't know if like custom canines had a school district. >> I don't even have a good response to that. Well done. Okay. Oh, nuts. All right. The land acknowledgement practice um at the middle school. They have a chance to see that in the entry. Be sure to check that out. >> And then we had custodian appreciation day. So, you know, one of the things we often the feedback we get is how clean our schools are regardless of
060the age of the building. >> Yes. They're always great crew and really good people. Just >> kindly student centered and fun. >> Thank you. >> And hey, >> look at us. >> Okay, there's the picture you were wondering about. >> You guys, we clean up pretty well. >> I know. Look at that. >> But thank you for your commitment to our kids and It is a very thankless job sometimes and >> you have to make some really hard decisions and weigh a lot of different things and as we just talked about do a lot of homework to to >> we do appreciate your dedication, your service. You don't do it for the pennies that you are paid um obviously. So it's a really special special thing and this this is a great community and you
061have a lot to be proud of. I was actually Bruce and I were actually at the um education foundation had a social for donors and uh it was a really neat event and you know feeling a little sappy tonight and and they're just thinking about people that just love our schools and are willing to give up their time for our kids >> and it's just amazing >> to do this. >> Yeah, agree. We're lucky to serve in the community that we serve in. >> It's an honor. >> And other things um going on, we the class of 2025, so those are the ones that just graduated. Um final numbers are in 80 students earned one or more certifications um for CTE. So things like micros Microsoft or saw blade or auto service excellent awards you
062apprentichip certification. So those are things that they're able to do CNAs. >> Um which interestingly um I've had two people now with my mom's health issues that were former students. >> Really? Oh my gosh. >> That are CNAs and we're saying you were my principal or your son was my principal. And I said, "My gosh, now is when you say good things about me." >> And they did. They did. Whether true or not, we won't. But what a cool thing, right? >> Our kids are just doing amazing things. And so >> thanks to the CTE team, especially Penny Thompson for her leadership there. Um wanted to also um recognize Angie Bazan for her leadership with student council >> and it's homecoming week and we can watch a slideshow and the fund dress up days takes
063a lot >> to get there. A dance takes a lot >> and to wrangle >> a parade. >> Yeah, >> that's a lot. >> So I I wish I had her energy >> and all the the council members for their dedication. >> We we have an author visit coming up and I just wanted to to thank so for our K5 students we have Christina soon tovot they say she says her name very fast so I'm trying to practice saying it a little hello when I meet her soon to um not a common name around these parts but a great um uh author who's coming to talk to our students just about being an author and writing stories and so um award-winning author too at that. So the PTO helped purchase books so that they can
064do those read is I'm sorry which um schools is she coming to or all of them >> A5 so MKS and and >> I missed that part. Thank you. It is um October is bullying prevention month. So this is a time where we really remind our students and our staff of their responsibility for keeping safe. But more the most effective thing people can do is not reminding kids of that. It's also LGBTQIA history month where >> um we learn about the wonderful people and moments that have contributed to our our diverse society. National physical therapy month. So, we have some amazing physical therapists that do so much for our kids. So, just thanks to them. They are amazing. >> And um today is National Coaches Day. So, we take a lot of pride in our
065coaches here in the district uh both past u and current and future for that matter. >> That's true. >> Um >> but it's a really a great thing. I think what separates our coaching is they really feel their responsibility is to help guide our students to be good humans as well as athletes. >> And so um also um coming up you heard Wednesday is a homecoming parade. Thursday is Le Ericson day. So, um, Le Ericson was an adventurous explorer who brave the oceans and became the first European to walk the shores of that we know. >> Excellent. >> Thursday night is also the Greater Dane County School District Governance Consortium meeting. So, this is where uh for the public uh school board members and superintendents and administrative assistants get together >> and we talk about
066school stuff >> Thursday. Thursday and we have designated >> I'll be there. >> Yeah, I think it's Meredith and Megan are our official reps. >> Yeah. >> I will be there. >> Excellent. >> And then um that was part of the process. >> Um and then I guess Friday is world mental health day. So you saw a little bit important work there. National Coming Out Day is the 11th and the 12th is Christopher Columbus Day. The 13th is Indigenous People's Day where we recognize our 11 tribes in the state of Wisconsin. The 13th through the 17th is National School Lunch. celebrate our amazing school nutrition program and um across the country serving over 30 million children every day and just thank them for their work feeding our youth >> right I always when I go
067around in the mornings and I see kids eating breakfast I always say thank you for it's hard to learn >> it's true the 15th awareness day where we recognize the independence and achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired. We have um on that same day as the next school's equity collective meeting where we'll actually be talking about the financial needs of um our students and families and how we can better meet those needs as a district. The 16th is 4K fall fun night. The 18th is a PTO trunk or welcome to join us. True. It's super fun. >> So fun. >> And I did actually have a parent reach out asking if school board >> now. We don't have to talk about a referendum. >> No, we just get to be there and
068talk to people and enjoy them and hear from them. 20th is our next schoolboard meeting. It's also the annual meeting. It is also Diwali which is the Hindu festival of lights where we celebrate the triumph of light over dark, good over evil and the values of freedom. >> It does sound amazing. >> So those who do observe Diwali will do so that night. >> So those are all my updates. What do you all have? to share. >> I would actually like to acknowledge uh Angie, Megan, and Aaron for always doing a wonderful job of hosting our meetings, posting our agenda, going in following Robert's rules of order, going into close session appropriately, all of those things, because >> those processes are extremely important, and I don't think people realize that. time goes into that. >>
069Oh, that's kind of you to lump me in there. It's really mostly Aaron and Angie, but thank you. >> Hey, you're president. >> Thank you. >> Um, we only had one for the um we had the um second annual K through five parent learning night earlier this month or earlier in September. Anyway, before today it happened. Um, and I thank you for the um, staff and administrators who participated and for the parents um, who showed up. I think we had over 60 parents and guardians attend. Um, so thank you for those um, who who showed and um, look for another opportunity to do so next year. um learned a lot about our assessment process myself. Um as well as learned a lot about math. Um there's math hasn't changed over the years, but how we
070teach it has. Um and so I needed help to learn how to help my kiddo. Um and there are resources for you if you're a parent like me helping with homework and have no idea what you're doing. Um so I got to learn about a lot about that. So, um, thank you to those who put on that lovely evening. And one other note, um, I know that October 11th is coming out day, um, just as a reminder, that's only one day. Um, and that LGBTQ plus individuals come out regularly and every day. Um, so although we celebrate it on one day, it's something um, our staff and our students and our administrators um, have to go through all the time and our kids do. So, um, a reminder that that's not always easy for them
071even if they've done it before. So, um, happy coming out to everybody. Excellent. Perfect. students. >> Mhm. and you'll have a real full report on on the assessment results with the school improvement plan >> presentation coming up in November. One thing I forgot to mention too was the the uh ribbon cutting for the for the ice >> uh the hockey facility and that update for the ice arena. >> So that was a wonderful event and uh I was able to get a great tour of the new space including the space that >> that the district will have access to for community programming during the school day. So just a great partnership. It was really interesting because I was getting this tour. We had just gone and looked at there's a small rink there too um
072now and then we were going into the locker room and it just so happened that a lot of the hockey team were doing a tour at the same time and they were all sitting around the locker room >> just sort of like soaking it all in >> a >> so it's really neat. The best thing I think about the locker room, well, there's two things. One is they have a TV that they can use to display plays and kind of, you know, they can use a device that will project on to them. So, that's pretty cool. >> But the most important thing is that there's a ventilation system that sucks out the stench. >> That's impressive. >> Out of the lockers. >> That's intense. Hockey hockey stench is intense. >> It is intense. And I
073don't even have hockey kids and I don't >> Yeah. >> But that >> So that's great. >> That association is wow. A very strong, organized, powerful group. So if you get a chance, please go check it out. It's a really, really neat facility. >> True, true, >> true. >> I had a I wanted to shout out a couple um people um Brian Han and Andrew Garvey for representing the district very well in the Kiss the Pig contest at the community festival. >> Oh, they just really took took it and ran with it and were great representatives. And extra shout out to Brian Han I have to take a little credit for because I nominated him um for winning. So his he and the fundraiser event or the organization that he had nominated was um I
074never know how to pronounce it. Dice um domestic abuse. >> Yeah. D um so that is really special that the community helped raise so much money for um that important organization. So thank you both for being great supports. Um and then a couple others um the chamber for hosting another great event. um at the McFarland House Cafe. Um just kind of a meet and greet. You know, the school district is part of that. And so now that we have this better partnership, it's really great to >> just be able to talk to other business people, you know, and find out how their impact with the school district and other ways we can work with them. >> So, I appreciate that. Um, and then last but not least, um, Erin for continuing your upbeat mindset while
075dealing with a lot of extra pulls on your time with your mom's health stuff. So, appreciate that you're still doing all you can to support the district and still finding balance to be there. So, yeah, that's it. Anyone else? Okay, I think that takes us to our action items. How are we doing on time? I guess >> we are running over. So, I mean I will be more than happy to read through these in my >> speedy voice. Speedy voice. >> All right. Well, the first Yep. So, the first one we have um is the action on the second reading of some policies. So, I would look for a motion and um if you can read all of the policies listed in your motion, I would appreciate it. Okay. I move Approve the second reading
076and adoption first reading of the following policies as recommended by administration. 01000 definition 0144.5 board member behavior communications and code of contact 0166.1 consent agenda 1461 unrequested leaves of absence fitness for duty 312 3120.08 08 employment of personnel for co-curricular extracurricular activities 3431 short-term lease of absence 3432 employee sickly 4124 letter of reasonable insurance 4213 student supervision and welfare 4431 short-term leaves of absence 4432 employee sickly 5112 infants age 5464 early graduation 5451.02 technical excellent higher earning higher education scholarship >> it's always impressive >> thank you do I hear a second I'll second >> all right >> sorry Bruce Um any discussion? This is our just a reminder to the public, this is our second reading. So we had a first reading um at the last meeting or maybe the meeting before where we discussed
077all of our questions and um adjustments that we wanted to make. So this is usually just a kind of open and closed stuff. So >> I don't think we had any edits either. >> We I we did not not any like besides grammatical or technical um ones. So okay. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. I Any opposed? All right. Motion carries. 4 Z. And so that takes us to our last item um which is to go into closed session. And I will um I'll read this and then I will look for a motion um to go into closed session. Um under Wisconsin state statute 19.851. 851c concerning employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data on of any public employee over which governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. Um so we'll be talking
078about specifically the district administrator evaluation process, certified staff member leave of absence request and certified staff member retirement request. Do I have a motion? >> I can do that. All right, Bruce. Thank you. Um, and a second. >> I can second. >> All right, Chapman. Thank you. And, um, a note that we will go into, we will adjourn from closed session, um, because we have no action items after this. So, um, we will go into close session at 8:14. Oh, I'm sorry. We're going to take a roll call. Oh boy. Okay. Um All right. Howry is not here. Um so Chapman >> here. >> Huie >> here. >> Fisher >> here. >> Presler here. >> Okay. So we're Yep. >> Still did it by 8:14. >> My apologies >> after that nice shout out you
079just said. >> We did. We did. >> Yes. >> We did. It's a roll call. said here. >> I mean, it's a roll called vote, right? >> I think did you say here? >> They did say here. >> I don't. So, let's say I because it is a vote. We should say I or no. >> Yes. >> All right. So, let's do that roll call again. My apologies. >> Um, that just means you're here. We do realize you're here, but do you agree? >> So, we just need to go through the motion >> just Yep. We're going to recall the roll call vote. Um and we're going to do that again and we're going to either answer I for a yes. We vote to go into close session or no we do not or nay.
080Um okay. So Fesler yes. Um Howry is absent. Chapman >> yes. >> Huy >> yes. >> Fischer >> yes. >> Okay. Motion passes 40. And we are now in close session at 8:15. >> Thank you for keeping us accountable.