001call the order shortly here. All right. So, it's 6:30. I'll call this meeting to order. Um and then um we're going to hopefully head into closed session. So, I would entertain a motion. Um, and if whoever moves could read the um could read it on there. Let's see. You guys probably don't have a copy of that, huh? >> Close explanation. >> Yeah. >> Uh, you want me to do it? You want me to read? >> Sure. Yep. >> Close session. District office conference room A, McFarland High School. Motion for close session under Wisconsin state statute 19851E deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties the investing of public funds or conducting other specified public business where whenever competition or bargaining reasons require close session. Parenthetically discussion regarding negotiation with the McFarland Community Ice Arena. >>
002Thank you. Have a second. Thank you. H is covering again. All right. So, let's do a roll call. Um Fesler, yes. Howry, >> yes. >> Chapman, >> yes. >> Huy, >> Fischer, All right, we'll go into close session at 6:31. Okay. We made it. >> We are back. Okay. So, we are going to continue our open meeting at 700 pm and then that takes us to consent agenda items. And tonight they include the minutes from our August 18th meeting, general fund vouchers and purchasing card transition transactions, not transitions, certified and co-curricular staffing recommended recommendations as listed on the agenda. So I would entertain a motion for our consent agenda. >> Sure. Second. That was >> Does anyone want to pull any out for individual discussion? >> The only thing I would say is we did
003get a great overview of some of the financial information as a board and I just want to show my appreciation. >> Yes. >> Yeah, that's a great um it's a great new So, thank you. Um, okay. So, all in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 5 Z. Okay. Next, we have there are personnel items that do not require a vote. Um, and then do we have any public comments so far? Okay. All right. So then we are at the um McFarland High School student report and I think I see a student up there. Welcome >> the purple >> Dean. If you're talking you're muted. We cannot hear you. >> Oh that's true. >> Okay. Good evening. >> How is everyone doing tonight? >> Good for you. Great. >> I'm pretty good. Okay, I'm just gonna
004get right into this and share my screen hopefully. So, let me just let me know when that comes up. Okay, this is slow. >> We do see it. >> Look at that presentation. >> Beautiful. Okay, I think we're good to go now. So, good evening everyone. I am Dean Swanland and thank you so much for having me tonight. It's great to meet all of you. Um, this is the first edition of the McFarland High School student report for the 2025 to 2026 academic school year on Monday, September 15th of 2025. Okay. So, I wanted to take a quick moment to further introduce myself as well as Anna Cohen and how we are involved in the high school. Um, so Anna Cohen is our senior class president for the class of 2026. She is the vice
005president of Hope Squad and one of the captains for the girls tennis team. Um, I'm Dland. I am the junior class president for the class of 2027. I'm the communications coordinator for Hope Squad um and the executive lead teaching assistant for student services. Um one quick note I do have to make um Anna and I will usually alternate which of these meetings we take. So once we get to November, it will usually be one a month when you will see us. Um however, due to scheduling conflicts, I will present the student report um the next meeting in October as well. Um I'm pretty sure she has sectionals for tennis which is very exciting for her. Um so I would like to start by highlighting some highlights. So um starting off with freshman orientation in late
006August on the 27th. Junior and senior orientation leaders welcomed the class of 2029 to the high school for the first time. The incoming freshmen were given advice from a student perspective before they were taken on a tour through the entire high school. Um representatives from a variety of clubs invited the freshmen to join their groups during the club fair as well as open house. Um overall the day was a great success and many of the freshman left feeling prepared. Um, next we have senior sunrise. So on September 1st, the senior class of 2026 met at the high school to kick off their final year. Um, they painted the school rock, decorated their car windows with senior and class of 2026 designs, all while bonding over shared high school memories. There it is. This is catching
007up. Okay. On the following day, they woke up extra early to watch the sunrise over the football field before returning home to prepare for their last first day in high school. >> Is this like on time for you guys or is this behind like the presentation? Okay, perfect. Um, so the first day on the first day, our lovely staff welcome students back to MHS. During advisory, our administrative team led an assembly which included announcements, policy changes, games, and of course the class cheers. The first day as well as the first two weeks were very successful and everyone has pretty much settled into a regular routine. Um, The next section I would like to briefly discuss our clubs. So clubs have officially commenced. Many of them are getting right to work scheduling first meetings and events.
008With that being said, things are only beginning, so there's not a ton to discuss at this moment. Um, but updates on specific club engagements will come in the future. This is getting catching up. Catching up. Okay. So, the McFarland High School program has already marked several several important dates on the calendar. The 2025 fall play has been announced. Cast members auditioned on the first day of school for It's a Wonderful Life, a live radio play. They will work tirelessly for the next couple of months before performing in front of audiences from November 6th to November 9th. Um, starting the second week of school, our choir director, Mr. Paul Greg, led auditions for the esteemed McFarland Blue Notes, accepting numerous new members on Monday, September 8th. And then the next day, both of our a capella
009clubs, Pitch Please and Smith, also held up their auditions. Um, pitch includes soprano and alpha voices, while misses. This Friday, September 19th to Saturday, September 20th, many MHS choir students will embark on a weekend of fun at the Bethl Horizons Retreat Center in Dodgeville, Wisconsin for the annual fire retreat. Students will spend 30 hours getting to know each other. And this is not a singing retreat primarily, but a bonding one. The primary focus is to build connections between the singers of each of the choirs. Yeah. So, the choreography is an annual thing. I don't know how long specifically, but it does happen every year. >> Um, so on another topic, I do have some news regarding athletics here at at MHS. Um, so all of our fall sports are up and running, including football, girls
010tennis, girls volleyball, boys soccer, cross country, girls golf, and girls swimming. Um, based on some updates for the recent games, matches, and meets. Um, our football team unfortunately had a tough conference loss to Evansville. Girls tennis lost to Winona Grove in Edertton but had a conference win against Portage and did a great job at the Verona Invitational against Verona Jamesville Parker in Memorial. The girls volleyball team had a conference win over both Stoton and Reed and senior Kayla Lander achieved 1000 kills across her high school career. So good for Kayla. Um boys soccer had a conference win over Portage as well as a win over Pville. Cross country competed very well at the river valley invitation. Girls golf competed well at re the reber mini conference meet and a portage invitational and girls swimming had
011a win over loi at a co-op and first place at the alhorn. Furthermore, the McFarland DECA teamed up with the girls volleyball team for their volleyball cheer match on September 23rd and with the football team for their blackout to block out cancer game on September 26. Um the combined proceeds of these events will go to pancreatic and colon cancer research. Um, at this time there are a couple notes I would like to share. Someone say something. >> Sorry, I'm just doing things moving forward. >> Um, this year, McFarland High School welcomed four new staff members. So to begin, Miss Lavali is our new high school counselor for last names HQ. Miss Gilmore is now our school social worker. Miss Bradley is teaching physics. And finally, Officer Towns is our new school resource officer. Um I
012personally have had the pleasure of meeting each of these wonderful people and I'm so happy to say that they are all great additions to our McFarland community. Um, in the future, this is kind of like a strategy that my team is implementing. So, we plan to routinely reach out to advisors and coaches of each of the McFarland High School clubs, activities, and sports to ask for any information, statistics, events, andor photos that they would like to have featured on the student report. Um, so we hope to bring more information to you at the next school board meeting. But the goal with this is not only are we getting more information, but we're also getting like information handpicked for what they want to share. Um, so that's something that we hope to start before next meeting.
013Um, with that, we are also always happy to hear and implement any ideas, suggestions, and feedback that you all may have throughout the year regarding the student report. So if you ever do have any feedback for us, we would love to hear it um for the future of the student reports because our bring you the most of the student experience here at MHS. Um, so if you ever do have any, just let us know. Um, our last section describes kind of like what's on the radar and what will be coming up. Um, so the biggest event we have coming up soon at McFarland High School is the 2025 to 2026 homecoming. Um, the junior Senior officers of student council met in early August to brainstorm ideas for this year's homecoming theme. We brought those ideas
014to our general council a couple of weeks later where members voted on the theme home sweet homecoming. Um this year homecoming week is from October 6th to October 11th. The homecoming parade does not align with the community parade this year and will instead happen on Wednesday, October 8th at 6:00 p.m. And we've estimated that that will around an hour later at 7:15ish. Um the homecoming dance will then occur the night of Saturday, October 11th from 7:30 p.m. on the last day of homecoming week. Um I deliberately chose not to share more specific details right now for a couple of reasons. First, our planning committees are still working to finalize specific details and there's still a lot to do. Um and secondly, as you probably know, the next school board meeting is October 6, which directly
015aligns with the first day of homecoming week. So at that point, we we will have more confirmed information and the time timing is more relevant. Um so stay tuned for that. So there will be a lot more like about the theme and specific details um at the next board meeting for the student reports. Um yeah, so that is I have for you for this first student report. Um, I would like to thank you again for your time and for having me tonight. Um, it's been an honor and I can't wait for an amazing year. Um, if you ever need anything from us again with feedback, if you want to provide any, our team's contact information is below. So, Miss our advisor or Hannah um upper classman presidents. Um, if there are any questions at this
016time, I would be happy to take them. Otherwise, I will >> I've been through 15 or 16, you know, student reps and you did a great job. >> We really appreciate it. >> Yeah, you have a tremendous future in marketing. I'll just say that. >> Yeah, it was great. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Do you need anything else from me at this time? >> No. Thank you for sharing your time tonight. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Dean. Byebye. >> Wow. >> Man blew me away. >> Right. >> Really good. >> Like I want him to do my PowerPoint presentations for my job. >> Yep. That was that was great. >> All right. So then we are on to the WVA annual performance report with Dr. Sarah Cutler. Welcome. >>
017Hello. >> Hi. >> Monday of the year. >> Yay. Well, that's great. So, as I'm getting this up, you can take a look. I'm not going to go through the whole report. It's obviously something I'm um going to be posting and utilizing as our annual highlights and um just kind of reiterating who we are and what we do in the state of Wisconsin. So, as I'm trying to bring it up on the screen, um you can just take a look at the first three or four pages because I'll start about four pages in. I have to admit I'm not super um fluent in Google Meet. >> It's hard to fluent in a lot of the other ones. >> Yeah, I'm a teens girl. I was Google Meet. Now I'm >> team like >> I remember
018Skype and Zoom, >> right? >> But I've been doing Teams for so long. Like every time I have to do a Google Meet, I'm like, "Okay, this is freaking me out." >> I did window and it worked. >> Yes. slideshow. So, sorry, I'm gonna have to present in that mode. I think that's fine. >> That's okay. >> You have So yeah, those of you here in person obviously have the version right in front of you. >> Those that are watching, you know, should have been here. >> The incentives for showing up. >> Okay, >> that's still pretty good. >> All right, so I'm gonna start um here on page six. Just a little slow. Dean's right. doesn't want to catch up with me. >> It is Monday >> and it's hot. Although I usually come
019a little later in the year and it was awfully nice out there. Um >> and it's fine if you just want to talk through it. >> True. >> Did it work? >> It did. >> All right. Great. So, um I'm going to start here. Okay, that works kind of at this page. And uh what I want to point out is last year we presented um to the whole school this idea of a vision of a graduate and before that we have consistently targeted three steady targets and a vision of growth, engagement and graduation commonly known as the three Gs. But this is really our north star and that is about a vision measured and student driven. Um, so this idea of a of a graduate and a vision of a graduate is what we hope
020that students will be experiencing when they come to us from all over the state. On the next page, I want to just point out in the highlighted area Billy shows up um there the 35% of students meeting our targets at elementary and this is very low. So this is a really large area of growth for us. With ACT 20, we've done a lot of re-imagining what elementary school can look like virtually. And um our elementary principal uh I always say fail fast. So innovate and fail fast. So she has decided to kind of re-imagine elementary school structures where students are really doing small groups at virtual land which isn't typical in a virtual school. So she hasn't really started coursework yet because she's assessing assessing assessing assessing and trying to get all those assessments arranged
021and really putting all her eggs in a basket around really targeted instruction so that students will make higher growth. Um one thing you probably you know about our school is that our students don't stay with us for 12 years. That is not a typical story. It does happen but it is not a typical story. So we're having we will have students come in all year and need that assessment and we're up to a thousand students at the elementary. So um also a big goal of the elementary programming is partnering with LC's or parents learning coaches because they choose to have their students virtual. They are choosing to be a partner right there all the time for 50 4kers last year and our 4K teacher was not really just teaching four-year-olds. She was coaching families and
022that and we just had wonderful stories about the families who came and learned about early literacy and early math in that way. So the elementary teacher's job isn't just teaching reading or writing. It's really coaching families and partnering with LC's. And that's a big shift. Um but you can also see some key actions of last year here in our strategic thinking and those personalized rating plans. The next page >> Yeah. Go ahead. Was that 35% resultal? >> It it was not. All year as we were progress monitoring, Brea would say, "This is not what I want to see. This not what I want to see." Like, "Why aren't we getting better results, getting better results?" So, it was a frustrating ongoing process. Um, and just really seeing that when you're delivering whole group instruction with
02350 kids, it is not really effective at second, first, second grade. And so, she really is taking her theory of action in making that happen. And that's that's something that we can do in virtual school is pivot very quickly. Um, as long as you bring along the families and bring along your stakeholders, which I'm very proud of the work we do in that area. Just an aside, an example of that, we started a brand new operating learning system. So imagine you moved buildings, right? So you had to pack up all of your classrooms and move from a old building to a new one over the summer and then when you got there it wasn't ready. I worked in Madison for 20 years. This is very typical of the lands I lived in. So that's what
024kind of happened at our beginning of school. The operating system is brand new. On top of that, we got a new um student information system. >> This will all be in next year's power, right? annual report because I'm really reporting on last year right now. But so not only are we all of our students uploaded in Power School, but we also have to do Infinite Campus. We manage two systems. Um and so it's just been a bumpy start, but every time I talk to our stakeholders in our parent council group or the staff advisory council, they all say it's been really bumpy, but we're getting through it. To me, that's a huge testament to the culture we've built where it's not pointing fingers. It's not saying this is bad, this is and that is a
025culture I've experienced and that is not one that we currently have. So, I'm pretty proud of that. So, that kind of tells you that even with those lower percentage rates, um you see people kind of digging in. Now, Weeva Middle School and High School, I am really excited to report some growth. So if you look at that beginning of the year to end of year movement in proficiency um and we have a high school that's pretty significant that statistically that that much many of students move to proficiency on top of that 60% of the students met their growth targets >> I constantly that that's my my big G right like that's growth is the most important yes we're working toward proficiency But I count and um hold accountable our staff to growth because that's what
026you have the most control over when you get them. And >> yeah, >> and I we could talk about that another time, Craig, because I've been at the DPI's committee on that. So, but >> but um there are pros and cons to it, right? I think that we have we get students in who haven't schooled for years, but so we can't always say what we don't have, but we can control what we do and we can control how well we support students when we get them till when they leave us. And so I'm pretty excited about um those moves. And you can see some common themes, data driven instruction, professional learning communities, assessment driven, student placements. The other thing about um virtual school is it doesn't it's very different than a brick and mortar in
027that you're not babysitting, right? I mean, for lack of better terms, you're not worried about the safety of students contained in a space. And so, you can flex your time in a very different way. You can experiment with time in a different way. >> And you can experiment with student grouping in a way that doesn't create a social um faux paw or a social um issue for kids. And so we have a lot of feedback from families who are very happy that their student has been supported at a at a reading proficiency level that they wouldn't have been because of social um anxiety or social norms. Right? So we have middle schoolers in particular who come in reading very low and we work with them with a group of students. So this is not typical
028nor was it ever in my practice as a brick and mortar to group those students together. But what we see is in a tremendous amount of growth because of that and amongst peers and this is different than what you would be able to implement in brick and mortar because of um social socialization issue. So that's my most exciting. I almost made Carrie Churnney show up today, but she lives in Green Bay and I didn't make her because um I this that's huge. Um 71% of our students making growth that has not been that way. Um >> should have been around 10 years ago, >> right? >> Yep. Yep. That's why this so >> it's absolutely remarkable. It's remarkable that our graduation rate continues to increase and remarkable what we're doing at high school and Carrie
029Churnney is um I did had some leadership changes last year but Carrie Churnney is the lead administrator for 6 through 12 and we have some assistant leaders at at middle and high school. Her continuence and thought and student centered leadership has really um been a testament. She started as a math teacher with us almost from the beginning. So she gets every part of everything and she's just a phenomenal leader. You wouldn't know that necessarily if you interviewed her, but she definitely shows the results. So you can see these proficiencies um with our full academic growth uh growing and that 71% met target. So I also um we've really moved into a multi-tered system of support. We've moved into supporting students. One of the things that you'll often see, I'm going quickly as you I'm going
030to kind of skip to um this slide. It's a couple pages and I'm going to come back. But uh you always see the students that are withdrawn. >> And um this is something I've been reporting on for the last several years. But in this bottom graph here, you can see that the students who were in the process of being removed because they weren't attending, they weren't passing, they weren't succeeding. And the students who actually came all the way in front of you to be withdrawn >> is significantly less. >> And and that was a very important strategic change under my leadership that I believe that every student fit. They might have thought it was going to work, but sometimes we have to tell them no, it didn't. But until we say no, it didn't, we
031have to have done everything possible to support them and their family. >> And so anybody? >> Well, we don't turn anybody away ever except well, we have had 30 students who have been expelled already admitted this year and there has been about a dozen that we have not admitted expulsion students. main reason that students who and this is just for this beginning of this year. Main reason is they haven't shown up for their entry conference. >> Yeah. >> If they don't show up for that entry conference, we're not and the other reason would would just be when they get the entry conference, they don't agree to the terms. >> Yeah. >> Um so those are the two reasons we say no to students who've been expelled across the state. um which is another story we
032could talk about sometime is all the reasons kids get expelled across the state and how different it is. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> From Dane County. >> Interesting. >> So, I'm really proud of that. The other thing on this page I want to point out is our special programs data. We have over 24% of our students in special education, students with IEPs, not just special programs. We have 504s, ELELLL, that population is also growing. We may have to entertain bilingual education at some point. But the students with disabilities who we serve and the and how well we do that is something I've never been able to experience in brick and mortar because of the lack of resources across the state. And Erin and I've volied for this over the years of just equal, you know,
033reimbursement. You all know the reimbursement rates we get. we're able to do different able to support them, but they also have somebody at home supporting them. >> But the way our staff do that and wrap around kids is pretty incredible. It's I just can't I'm more and more impressed. So, when you look at that increase over the um year of the number of students that we've had in special programs, it continues to grow. >> I think it's a lot of word of mouth out there, too. Families and with students with difficult difficulties and disabilities have We're close. We're about three um short, but comparative to the rest of the state, what I mean, and just thinking about how desperate we all are looking for special educators, >> special educators who have had a lot of
034trials and tribulations in brick and mortar find that they can still teach with us and take a break from it's it's hard. It's a really hard job out there. >> Craig, we've got a lot to talk about. >> Yeah, >> there's just a lot out there talking about the full switch to inclusion and whether or not we need to rethink that. So, that is kind of out there. Be interesting >> as Erin and I get to spend four days with all of our colleagues this week. I'm just going to backtrack a little bit um and share just the highlight just point out Destination's Career Academy. Of course, this has been a huge shining star um since I started and Jen and I kind of co-led and made this huge change, but just over the the
035enrollment progression just here in the middle of that page is just an incredible feat amongst itself. um and our first full youth apprenticeship with a student in inner city Milwaukee who's working for the um city of Milwaukee um in with operating engineers. It's just a huge amount of growth and excitement in that area. And so the numbers are kind of in here. Um this this picture in the middle is a group of students that we met with in Green Bay and just really really exciting. Um, and then the next page is Insight. And you all hopefully know a little bit about Insight, but um, those are mainly juniors and seniors, usually come in with about three credits. Um, last year you supported and approved us reducing the graduation rate to 15 credits, which is the
036state minimum. Um, we only are get 250 students capped at this school. So, it's really the most at need students in the state. There was a mom who came to us a year ago um about well midsummer. She had two children, was working two jobs and she worked her buns off um and graduated early. So, she came at the beginning of her senior year grad and worked her buns off in independently and graduated early for the first time. I had an early graduate >> at Insight because she knew all she needed was that diploma to move on in life. >> So it gives me a little bit goosebumps to think of them >> for sure >> to think about those stories and when you come to graduation. So Megan came this year when you see
037>> insights graduation and I may Megan and Bruce you came to the big one but insight is a smaller one they come across with their children they I mean just It's just it's very impactful to know there's a place in the state for students who would not have another chance. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. Well, Craig, you're due for another one. >> Because I'm not even sure we're gonna fit in Madison College this year. >> Yeah, it was pretty tight. So, um, but I do get pretty emotional. This is a picture of me handing an award to one of the Insight students a year ago. Um, just really thinking about having early graduates and giving students a different path to success is what we're all about there. Um, so we are on the
038state improvement plan because graduation is very low and last year was at 47, but I think we will be in the 50s this year because of that shift and we're 57 is where we estimate right now. So 10% increase in graduation this year is huge. Um and and so hopefully we'll be able to get off that list. But I always say 57% is 57% higher than zero. And that's these students would not have graduated. >> Absolutely. >> Um the next page is our this is the first time all of our schools collectively have gotten to 85% of positive um engagement parent satisfaction. So that's a huge win too. Um, and you can see throughout the report there's lots of quotes from families. And um, what when you see that 94% of families say, "I'm proud
039that my child goes here." And 92% of families say, "I feel like my child belongs here." Um, I think, you know, that's what we all want. We want what for every student, no matter what school they go to. So, >> I know. >> Yeah. I know. feel like >> I know. Well, I will say I come a long way in the five years I've been here. And so I've only been here a fraction a third of the time it's existed. And as Megan announced, we've rebranded to WVA to include all of themies, Wisconsin VirtualMies. We're not just Wea. You can see that we have three brands and I talk about that in the introduction. The next page is our graduation rates. Um, and I I have the older 51 here because I haven't seen that
040official 57, but with our summer graduates, we're hoping to get to 57 at Insight. Steadily growing there. Um, I do think the post-graduation survey is something where this is an area of growth for us. We really want to follow and track our graduates and see if they go where they um are are pointing out. Here we did have a capitol day this year where our families went to the capitol the lobby with a part of a parent um program and this student came to that capitol day who was a sibling and so she's a graduate and is in a medtech program. So just really wanting to track those stories I think is is an area of growth for us to find out if these students so you can see 44% going into employment. Um and
041you know a little different when you're looking at that education is as 34% probably different than the makeup you would see here for graduates. So however I always say that we truly are representing the state. If you averaged out all students in the state from Milwaukee to Superior, you would see an equal correlation to what you see at our WBA schools. We are expanding our high school credit. We're going to be partnering with W Green Bay to do their Phoenix program. So, students can get a two-year um associates from them. We students can also get currently a two-year associates from Madison College in business through us as well. Awesome. The next two pages are our state accountability um scores. For the most part, you can see um positive trends. Obviously, the strongest to look at
042is we have a high school. I thought you would all like the tiny little picture there at the bottom. >> That's right. >> Tom Mooney. >> Um that's S who is a student um in the Green Bay area. Um her story is quite moving. We are planning to proctor virtual test proctoring. Um we will be piloting it next month if all goes well and hopefully our students will not in forward will not have to travel to test and they can test at home. >> Oh that's awesome. >> Um that is a huge move. Um and it's still a moving part. >> Yeah. That's been on your list for a couple years, right? >> Yeah. And it's a lot of political maneuvering. Um, so we're still still doing some of that. Um, and then finally, the
043last couple pages. First is the our board um and their voice in our our spring retreat and just what they wanted to see us focused on. So hopefully you see that voice reverberating throughout uh the report. I think um financial health has is definitely a positive moving forward, but we're also thinking it's a balance just as it is for you all of balancing that that um asset balance, but also not having too much asset and ensuring it's going back to students and staff. And of course, our staffing is the most um the area of the most spend. And then you've got some great pictures of how our students make great. Um we have had great stories throughout the state. And if you go to our website, you can see all of these um particular stories
044around our Andrew and Dylan and Sid, Meline um and then just other uh insights students. So there we really are trying to tell the stories of students across the state and um why what we do is so important. And finally, um, just our strategic next steps. So, you can see I've already talked about student stories, um, state accountability, of course, and just hoping one thing I'm we're really working on with state accountability is assuring that the data the state has is accurate data. Um, and I've found that with how complex it is to report our data through our systems that even four or five kids not being correct is is impacting. So that's a focus we're we're doing right now. And then in that um yellow box are kind of 10 big ideas that are
045pushing us to think into the future. Um and they're just different ways that school can look and you know some of them are a little um definitely outside the box. For example, really we're embracing AI. We're the biggest virtual school in the state. >> And my message to teachers is if your assignment is um can be completed with AI, it's not the right assignment. >> Um because I'm using it, so why shouldn't my junior in high school be using it? So, so it's taking a lot of rethinking, but um our teachers have really embraced the idea. We're >> fully using a an app called Magic School. I know some brick and mortars have looked at that as well. So, um to see how how things continue to adapt. Other questions? Of course, I'm happy to
046welcome Bruce as part of the voice this year. He'll be taking going on a big retreat this year um in December with us. So, I'm sure he'll come back with all kinds of knowledge and reports. >> Yes. I'm not sugar coating it either. There are areas of growth and there are areas we're continuing to innovate and make make better. >> Yeah. So, but there has been incredible growth over the last and this is my fourth year on the board and it's always it's just gone up every year the growth and the changes and everything. >> What your enrollment was preco >> less than 2,000. >> We'll be over 5,000 this year. Awesome. >> Yeah. And and we are the biggest um in the state. We continue to be the biggest. I've formed positive relationships with
047my colleagues at the other large larger um some would say my competitors, but you know, it's and we just continually really form relationships with our stakeholders and listen. I think that's the the parent advisory and advisory council um has really taken hold of being leaders in this last year and um I actually would invite any of you who are interested we will be holding cross stakeholder rounding and and our board is invited to this uh once a month and our family council will be co-f facilitating that >> and it'll be in small groups and it's basically three questions. Um, and you go around and say what's working well. What do you want to see improved and who would you like to give a shout out to or appreciate? Um, we did this already with the
048board and the fam and the parents um over this summer and now we'll be bringing in family council staff advisory admin and board members in one and everybody will be in small groups. Awesome. Of course, virtual. So, just really seeing them take that on and advocates and problem solvers and not when I first came it was this is a problem. What are you gonna do to fix it? >> Y >> wonderful. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you for being our authorizer. >> We wouldn't be here without y'all. So >> very true. >> Well, we're happy to do >> it. May not be without >> Very true. >> That's also true. >> It's a it's a good symbiotic relationship. Thank you so much. >> True. >> Yes. >> Oh, it does. It does. And
049I can't say how many times I dedication. We really don't have a charge. >> It does. It does. >> That's great. >> All right, Mr. District Administrator, it's your turn. Time for your report. >> I'm going to start off with uh the slideshow just for funsies. You can see our kids. Uh, I don't know if you saw this, the primary school rolled out the red carpet for the students in the the end of that first week. So, it's kind of a what I'm assured will be a new annual tradition for students. It's really >> fun way to start the year. We're going to try to use that red carpet any chance we can get. It's a special day. >> Also, you can see for our 4K learners, you often don't get to see our 4K.
050Don't joke about money. Okay. >> Pretty serious. >> Did she ask for like too much of a discount or something or >> Yeah. Yeah. It did, right? Needed the right change there. So, >> pretty serious. Uh, but it's it's nice to get to see our 4K students, especially this is the group that is actually situated at the primary school. It's the one section that's at the primary school. see them learning. As you saw before, um we have our new school resource officer, Officer Towns, uh started and is just kind of getting his feet wet, understanding the role, a lot to learn, a lot of trainings and things. Um, we are really grateful for the police department for involving the school district in the hiring process on the committee and also for their mentorship over officer
051towns as he begins. Officer Zitzma is um not around um but they are in very he is in very good hands with um a few detective Miller being the main person. He's not as tall as officers. >> He is not. No, most humans are not. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's a good statement. >> Yep. And continue to be. You can see here at Wabisa that some of the sidewalk chalk to, you know, not a red carpet, but just as fun uh to welcome students and get them get them ready for a great start there. The schools are alive and well. A lot of action going on. And these are our eighth grade web leaders that welcomed our sixth grade students for orientation. The program is so successful. Um just a really great way for those sixth
052graders to start their year being recognized and supported by staff and and our eighth graders. So >> they do they do it and they volunteer. a lot of time. >> Awesome. >> Yep. Yep. We're so grateful for their volunteerism. See our 8 to21 program out and about. This was at Grace. >> Yeah. And um you know, just a really positive to get out and do some community building and do some visits out in the community. So this was I think you saw this picture in the other one. This is our our incoming freshman class. So kicked off very similar to the web um program and had a great start. They are a huge huge group and glad to have them and thankful for our upper classmen. >> And then I you know >> I just
053get a >> I well I don't know they probably It probably didn't happen quickly, but um this picture I get a kick out of because it makes me think of like, you know, when you get your your team roster, it's team poster, right? >> So, I feel like it should have their their games underneath, >> right? >> Fun facts about the different players. They're so serious. >> They really are. >> Some are serious, some are less serious. >> Yeah. >> A wide range there. >> Very cute. Um, you saw this and I know we've talked about this, but it's nice to see it when it hit social media. The class of 75 came for a tour. That's them in the in the performing arts center. We actually had the class of 95 come this past
054Friday >> as well. So, words getting out that you um can get tours. So, a lot of fun, a lot of stories to tell. They're open books when they go on those tours. You learn a lot of things. >> Yeah. >> Like what's Yeah. >> Oh, >> no fun thing. >> Um um just you know what I would say is that um >> kids these days uh might take a few less risks at school than they did at least at least among the people that come there. Some pretty pretty good little stories. Or maybe they're just confessing about places to hide and things to do and >> stuffing people in lockers. people >> and something. >> Don't give anybody any ideas. >> No, but I can find a possum. Um, all right. So, uh, so
055this was at the at the start of school um the school improvement. So just to see our staff and kind of learning in in action here um with the staff and people come back early and work hard. >> This you've you've seen this right with our the meal that the administrative team made together. Thanks again to Kelsey Palmer for that. I just don't know if you saw the pictures. >> Those sandwiches look good. >> They were very good. Some of us had more than one. They were exceptional, >> very tasty. So, thanks to Kelsey. Today, uh I think uh this week we recognize our IT professionals. So, they often are those people that do things so much behind the scenes >> and when you need them, you need them. Um but they also do a
056lot of proactive things to make sure our our network is up and running. They they are problem solvers, but they're not just problem solvers. Um but keeping our data secure and making system is running well. So, thanks to them. And in other things, wanted to to share a few other things. Just the start of school involves so many things. Obviously, want to recognize our mentors, um Emily Kinser, our director of teaching and learning as well as the administrators for welcoming our new staff. >> And just it's so important to get them off to a good start. Our building administrative teams planned really comprehensive, effective uh four days of professional development while also giving teachers some time and space to prepare their rooms for those first four days. Thank you so much to uh Jeff Mahome
057Jeff Mahomie. I do call him Mahom. That's why >> that's why I call sorry that slipped. Uh Jeff Booney and Emily Broom um and others involved in making sure our transportation arrival and will go safely. There's a lot that goes involved and through our partnership um with Nelson's bus service really had a successful and safe start uh to the year. Also wanted to make sure I recognize our administrative team and staff for welcoming our new to the district students. >> That's a scary thing to start a new school and they take time to to reach out to them and provide them individual information. our school nutrition department had things up and ready to go on day one. Really outstanding. One of the things um that I was just so impressed with was their customer service
058is so so top-notch and I realized that is a huge um emphasis. So received some videos and and that that led their discussion in their training their training that they do together and customer service is a real focus. >> So you can see that you can see that and I a recipient a recipient of that on a daily basis. So glad to have them back. >> One of the things I wanted to mention too including school nutrition is across the district we are talking about healthy conflict and having healthy conflict that it's one thing to have really strong collegial relationships but colleiality only goes so far. You need to yes get along but also be able to disagree professionally and >> learn and push push back sometimes do it in an appropriate way. So that's
059a real focus across the district. And interestingly, there's a video we've been showing in different buildings and school nutrition department also showed that. So it's just kind of a good coincidence. >> Lots of things coming up this month. It's attendance awareness month and suicide prevention month. Uh we also had 911 uh remembrance day last week. Today starts National Hispanic Heritage Month where we learn about the histories, amazing cultures, and awesome contributions of Hispanic people from places like Spain, Mexico, and more in a in a great exciting way. So, we celebrate that all month long. Tomorrow is Mildred Fish Hack Day. Now um as you will recall during World War II Mildred Fish Harack became a spy and provided important secrets and information to the United States and allied forces. So we recognize that uh D
060and executed by the Nazis. We don't talk the dark part but um yes did great things. She gave her life and in the state of Wisconsin all public school districts recognize her. Um and then other things. Um tomorrow night we have the K5 parent learning um night at it's going to be at the primary school this year from 5:45 to 700 p.m. So if you're able to stop that that's wonderful. Wednesday is US Constitution Day where we recognize of course the document that created the foundation for our country's laws and government. And then Wisconsin Day is on the 18th where we celebrate uh Wisconsin history and becoming a state in 1848 as you know. I thought you'd jump in um with that but um um so celebrating our country >> the flag. >> Yeah. Um
061the 19th is PM MIA recognition day and um and then Rashashana starts on the 22nd through the 24th. do not have school on the 26th professional development. They I mean I have school, our staff have school, students do not have school. And that also is the start of the community festival that day. The 28th is Francis Willard Day. Francis Willard was an educator and women's rights activist from Jainsville, Wisconsin. >> And then on the 1, we have the youth center barbecue open house from 5 to 7. and then we've got a board meeting after that. So, I will stop with all those wonderful things. Do the board members have any recognition for us today before school started. Um, and it was really nice to meet um staff and teachers who I have only heard names
062of, so new and existing. Um, which is really nice. So if I awkwardly introduced myself, thank you for your grace. Um and it was very nice to see all the the bright smiles and positive outlook. So um give me really good hope um for another great school year. So thank you to those who attend and also um transer travels number one. >> Nice job. Very nice. >> Well done. >> I forget about that sometimes. >> Um I wanted to highlight a couple of things. It's been so long since we had a board meeting. I was like, "What happened in the last month?" Um, but like the I went to the primary school's welcome back night and when the kids are dropping off their stuff and it's been a long time since I've been in the
063primary school. Um, and it was so wellrun and these our youngest learners were so fun to watch. like the Brooke and Greg did a great job organizing the event and making sure that people were or that you know teachers were prepared and that rooms were set up and um and I love Monasuri education and one of the things that I was reminded about at the primary school was that all of the environments are prepared for them so it's like to their size the sinks are lower, the desks are lower, you know, like it just makes >> everything so much easier. And >> um It was just really fun to see the kids so excited. I miss those drop off days with >> they're so full of hope. >> They're just like >> they're just >>
064Yes. And >> all of our schools >> so I think every time I walk in that school >> kind of >> it just really really looks nice. Yeah, it does. It's It's really phenomenal. >> Um, and then school photo days when we were we had the board table there and I wanted to shout out Angie for >> um setting that up for us and organizing it and making sure it looks so good and Erin for making our flyer. >> Um, but just like parents and family members and siblings dropping off their, you know, student their students for picture There's never a line. >> Like people were really amazed at how >> well run it was. So that was impressive >> and it was really fun. So I'm just apparently going to keep talking, but it
065was really fun to h an unexpected highlight was that my So Alex, my son, hung out with me while we were at the booth for one. >> That's right. And you know, I've talked about earlier in the year like how our district is getting better and better at um getting our older learners in with our younger learners. So, we're getting that cross that that cross action there. And um Alex, who participated in a lot of the in camp kindergarten and summer school this summer, um knew all these kids coming in and they'd like come up to him and talk to them and like who are these kids? And then the their parents were like, "Oh, don't you I'm sorry." And he's like, "No, no, I know them." And like it was just really fun to
066see that connection even continue a month or, you know, six weeks after he had actually met with them. So, I appreciate that. So, if >> only our adults could behave that way. >> True. True. That's all I have. I'm done now. >> One last for being quite the >> Oh, yeah. Well, and I thought both you and did a great >> I mean, you're not wrong, but no pun intended. uh for the public. Um I would like to share yeah uh the welcome back. The theme was about not chasing squirrels, getting distracted and chasing squirrels. You can call from the movie up as our example. So our board member was dressed as a squirrel. >> Was >> sweet. Our board president was dressed as a squirrel >> and we did not rehearse. That was improv.
067>> It was total improv. I haven't even taken an improv class. >> Me neither. >> I know. >> I did. I pretended I had a very serious phone call and had to leave. >> Quite a squirrel. She was. >> All right. Back to work. >> Thank you, Meredith. Fun. >> All right. >> Everyone I've spoken to said it's a great start to the year. I've been through I went through three of the schools and just everything was kind of up and positive and >> it's it's really a good feeling. >> That's awesome. >> All right, Mr. Mahomes. >> Mom. >> I honestly don't know if I can call you Mahomie from now on. Like Mahomie just really works. >> It does. It really does. >> And both of those are both nicknames that I coined
068J. >> Okay. All right. >> I think you need a shirt. >> J. >> I like J. >> I mean, it does make sense given his role. >> Appropriate. >> Yes. >> Well, he's here with me. >> 2526 budget update. >> Yes. >> For our annual meeting. >> Yeah. So tonight you have an action item um related to our annual meeting and this is when we provide notification to the newspapers about our upcoming annual meeting. So um Erin's passing out this lengthy fivepage document. >> I was gonna say I'm looking at right now it's pretty quick. Yeah, there's a five-page presentation and we should be able to get through it. I mean, we're almost through the cover sheet. I like >> um while Erin's doing that, I will add one more strategic department that should
069get some uh accolades. uh your uh payroll, HR, business, uh student services departments that were very instrumental in making sure that people had contracts and their first paychecks >> and also did a lot of last minute hiring and uh you know a lot of people in the district office had to just stop and do a lot of things to make sure that there were staff in the buildings. >> Um as we had some late uh withdrawals, we'll call them. So anyways, uh you know, the whole district office had a lot to do >> insurance changes. >> Yeah, insurance changes. That's certainly fun, you know, because that also started September one. So, you know, people are migrating through a lot of new as employees as well. So, >> all righty. >> All right. We're already on
070page two of this five, six page document. Um you've seen this before tonight. We're at September 15th. We're giving notice of the annual meeting and budget hearing for from another month from now. We'll have the annual meeting in which all of our citizens, including our schoolboard members who are citizens that evening, get to come and vote on our annual meeting. The action item tonight will be a notice of budget hearing and also a notice for the annual district meeting. good at this. >> You're just cruising. >> We're working on it. I'll get a little lengthy on one other topic. Sorry. Uh annual meeting. So, we know it's October 20th, 2025, 7 p.m. for the annual meeting and the budget hearing. There'll be an election of a chairperson. They'll be parliamentarian, which means we'll have a
071attorney that will be phone a friend if we need them. Uh minutes of the 2024 annual meeting. Treasurers Treasures report, hearing on the budget, adoption of a tax levy, determining salaries for schoolboard members, reimbursement of school board members expenses, disposal of surplus property, and then also the ability to set a annual meeting for the following year or give that responsibility back to the school board and then other new business within the powers of the annual meeting. Um, and then an endurement. So that's comes up on October 20th. >> Usually it doesn't take too long. >> No. Like I was surprised last year. >> Yeah. >> I don't think they can make it long. >> No. >> My goal is not to do what I used to do, which was closer to about 50 slides. So,
072we're down to I think less than 20 the last couple years. So, >> amazing. >> I think we're doing pretty good. >> All right. Here's the big note. Um the big final piece even though we know that enrollment's still coming in, we get finalized with this uh equalization value which you know just distributes where the taxes go. U it's state aid. State aid is the top of the conversation has been ever since our state of Wisconsin did not increase or keep up with CPI or do anything with state aid. Um, and so I I just thought it'd be really interesting for when you think about revenue cap minus state aid equals property tax. And you know, in November and December of 2023, we had to outline where we thought state aid would be coming in
073as we were progressing through uh referendums. So when we go back that far, we're not actually too far off from where We thought the state might come in which was going to be pretty stagnant. Um but you know and how everything shifts between enrollment goes somewhere and different projects take money different places. There are winners and losers in state aid. As we know in July one state told us we're going to go backwards 4.2%. So um that certainly wasn't expected um not after having seven years of 5.2% average annual growth. So that that makes our estimates a few years back not look as great at all. But um the good news is the only good news I can say right now is there are four school districts as of last Friday that are very large
074outside of Madison that haven't finalized their expenditure audits from last year. >> How do you do that? >> They're I don't know. I'm not there. So >> true. >> I I I don't >> It's historical. Craig, that there's a very few large school districts that just never get their financials taken care of. When the state finally can get what they feel is the most accurate, then they'll finalize state aid for everybody, which is October 15. Last year, they had, you know, some big shifts. So, we'll see what happens with that. That's why I can't say what our final state aid is until October 15th. Um, but if you were kind of thinking about, boy, we're dropping $700,000 from last year after going up a million from 2324 to 2425, about 900,000. These big swings can
075take and make any type of projections we provide >> not that great. It's difficult to be able to share with people that well it could have been worse last year. Well, yeah, it could have been $400,000 worse last year if it was closer to what we are projecting, but it was better. Now we're back down again. >> Um, and if you couple that with 2.9%, it's as if we're a million short in state aid from where the state had been tracking. So, it's really come down to our legislature. I don't know what message they're trying to send other than this is now being put on the taxpayers even though our state has a good fund balance. There is noise in the newspapers talking about this fall session. I think everybody kind of tries to use
076that as cover like we're going to try and do something before taxes go up. It never usually happens. always is good. So, I don't want our public to think that our legislature is coming in with a false sessions that it's really going to do anything. But, so with all that good news, um we can point to the fact that back in 2023 and 2024, we're pretty close to where we thought uh state aid might be. And we're off $400,000. Um that's better than where we could have been thinking. Um so we can point to that. We can point to the fact that we're we were a million up between 23 24 and 2425 even though we're expecting 600,000. Um so you have some good years and this is going to be one of those years
077where more will be on the taxpayers than state aid eating into it more. So what will change you know enrollment we're doing our final counts we is doing their final counts so that helps us too uh equalized value that comes out October 1st you know we've had some companies that always send out stuff ahead of time saying you're going to be at 8.2 or 7% or 5%. I think we'll be about the 7% which is kind of where we thought you know things were going to come in state equalization aid October 15th and we get to do the revenue cap and do the final tax levy amounts for our annual meeting and then thereafter we start to do revised budgets and then December we start that five-year projections process again. I didn't put that on
078there, but we take kind of a month off for a moment. Uh community, um Aaron, I think we're going to be sending out a summary budget update that you have as well in front of you that will go out to our parents and staff and also on our Facebook page just to kind of remind people of the annual meeting and how the budget comes together. Lots of information. Any questions? >> How you feeling? Optimistic. >> Well, I'm I'm very realistic on the fact that I'm thankful we still have a revenue cap that at least lets us grow a little bit if the state aids down because it could be the opposite where There's a cap on state aid and a cap on property taxes, >> which then would just be a cap on anything you
079want to do to educate your students. >> There's been worse years. We've got a lot of things to never start out early in March or April through this time of year. That's very helpful to >> I think if all of us could start to read our state a little bit better, that'd be a little bit more helpful. But it's really kind of went off the rails to be honest. But yeah, Craig, I I think, you know, our district's in a good spot. Our community supports this school district. We had successful referendum. Um, we're able to hit targets with our compensation plans for this year. uh we know what's not in the state budget even for next year, but we know that we know what the second year of the bal budget is. So that's another
080positive. >> We know what we're playing with, which is really kind of the same as this year. Revenue cap increase, no state aid. >> Thanks, Jim. >> Thank you very much. Okay, that takes us into our action items this evening. Um, so our first one is action on the approval of the WIAA boys volleyball cooperative team sponsorship. Um, administration recommends approval of the application for the WIAA boys volleyball co-op team sponsorship agreement. Um, presented to the board. I have a motion. I move to approve the WIAA boys volleyball cooperative team sponsorship agreement as recommended by administration. >> Second. Any questions or discussion? >> I'll just provide a little background for the public. >> Yeah. >> So, the M uh the Spartan Volleyball uh organization has been working. and they were established in the spring of
0812024. And we've had several uh students interested in forming a boys volleyball program here. They've been active in um this the club sport and partnering with other districts and they've showed significant um interest from students and participation from students. So this would be the request in front of the board is for us to to enter a cooperative agreement with four four total districts us and Manona Grove, Oregon and Deerfield. We do have other cooperative agreements as you know um girls hockey, uh wrestling, lacrosse and so this uh is a bit unique in the sense that this one is we would be the lead school and the fiscal agent for this. Um our district has made a commitment to the athletics that we have uh currently. So adding any additional support does require uh that the
082the cost of the program in the budget is not provided by the the school district district but is provided through fundraising and through student participation otherwise we just won't be able to have it. And we are very unique >> uh in the amount of sports that we have for a for a district of our size. We have all except for gymnastics. >> So, um it's very unique and and we want to provide our kids with as many opportunities as we can and this is the the only way that we think we can we can do it. Um we have several students interested and um being willing to participate next year. And this is really a testament through two parties. Primarily the Spartan volleyball organization very determined group has done a great job partnering with us.
083And then I would also say Paul Ackley as the athletic director for his leadership in working with them and helping them understand the process so that we can make sure that we don't create a new sport and not have students to participate. So this would be a two-year agreement and then it would be reassessed at the end. Other schools may be added, some may leave, maybe the interest raises so much that we're able to have our own program or another school >> as well. So that's kind of a little orientation. I know you have all that information, but just to provide that for the public. So >> thank you. >> Yes. >> Entertain any discussion and questions the board has before taking action. I know that uh they're competing very well with all the opponents
084that come in. >> They've played everybody from a JB2 level team to a varsity played the Monte Varsity boys last week and they very well >> I think I unless I'm mistaken Paul you can help me with this. We have one young man from Deerfield on our boys team currently. >> It's seems to be going very well. >> They get a nice group of people to come watch them, you know, and they market themselves >> pretty well organized. >> Yeah, I think it's a to echo what you said, Erin, but just what a group of motivated people can get done in a short amount of time, you know, with a willing partner and Paul athletes. So, that's I think it's um I think it's great that we've been able to provide this opportunity and still
085remain fiscally responsible as a district. So, thanks for everyone for being flexible in that. All right, any other questions? Okay. Um all in favor? I >> Any opposed? All right, motion carries. Um, so next we're looking at the action on um the McFarland Community Ice Arena Agreement. Um, administration recommends approval of this agreement between the McFarland School District and the McFarland Community Ice Arena. Um, so I would entertain a motion >> as recommended by Second, any discussion or you want to provide background? >> Sure. So, what um what is before you for your vote tonight is entering into a 20-year agreement with the McFarland Community Ice Arena. Um essentially, it is for the district to be able to rent their space for community recreation programming. So the with the expansion of the ice arena and
086a new beautiful space, it offers the ability for us to provide programming uh for recreation purposes including adults and pre u before school age kids to uh use the facility for different recreational activities whereas we are unable to do so during the school day because we are running a school here and we don't have community spaces unused. So, it's a real great opportunity to take advantage and make sure that space gets used well and provides for an authentic need here in our community. So, real win in in my opinion, real win-win situation both for um the ice arena and for our community members to have recreation program at a beautiful addition to that facility. All right. Thank you. Any other questions about it? >> Forward as a new school board member that this has been
087a long time in the works and a lot of conversations. So, thank you to Todd for the hard work on this as I'm sure there are many others. It's a really good opportunity um for us as a school district to come together as our community partners um and all of us succeed and grow. So, thank you for the time and effort it took to create this >> agree. >> Yeah, their boards have been great partners and the members are very dedicated. Another good example similar to what we're saying about volleyball, just wanting to provide more opportunities for kids. very organized, very driven, >> and um that can make us feel like it's a good agreement for all parties. >> Awesome. All right. Um all in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Motion carries.
088Okay. Then we have um our action on the notice of annual meeting and budget summary to be published prior to the annual meeting. Um so we are here to hopefully um approve the attached budget summary to be published prior to the annual meeting that is as we know will be held on October 20th. Um and we need to do this so that we can um give proper notice to the community um for posting. >> So >> you said the 20th >> October 20th >> 20th Thank you. All right. Any discussion? All right. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> All right. Motion carries. So, now we're going to move on to the action on the first reading of some policies. Um, and we can fight over who gets to read all of the policies.
089>> Do you want me to do it because I can do it pretty quick. >> Sure. So then you would make the motion. >> Okay. >> So then you'll have to make the motion. >> Okay. I move to approve the 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 absences. Leaves of absence fitness for duty 3120.08 employment of personnel for cocurricular extracurricular activities 3431 short-term leaves of absence 3432 employee sick leave 4124 letter of reasonable assurance 4213 student supervision and welfare 4431 short-term lease of absence 4432 employee sick leave 5112 entrance age 5464 early graduation 5451.02 technical excellence higher education scholarship. That's it. >> Well done. >> Thank you. >> Well done. >> Nice job. Thank
090you. >> You are welcome, >> Chman. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. How are we? All right. So, I think it's worked pretty well in the past if we um go through them each, you know, each policy at a time. I'm just waiting for my notes to pull up here. Um, all right. We can start going through it. So, um, there's the definitions, policy 01000. Does anyone have anything to discuss on that one? Okay. How about board member behavior, communications, and code of conduct? Okay. All right. Um, Consent agenda there. >> Yep. >> Oh, >> thank you. Um, yeah, and that was the one thing that I was going to note in there is that at the bottom of that one, I think like the actual procedure like of how to do
091that. And so I think that's a good reminder. >> Um I don't know knew that we could really do that a couple years ago. So that was that's a good thing >> um to remember that we can always talk about other ones if we need to. Okay. Um unrequested leaves of absence fitness for duty. Um there were a couple of things for let's see for this one. since my notes aren't coming up. So maybe Erin, you can tell me. But um this one I thought was a little um unclear about who it was for. And so um just adding administrator like referencing the administrator definition earlier in the policy. >> Um and then Aaron pointed out too that it was part of a like the larger packet is just for administrators. So >> yeah, the
092section is titled. So when you see section at the top of this now it says 34.2 policies for board approval and the actual policy uh that is on our website it is administration. So it's clear but one of the things that we can do is just move um into that first sentence where it first mentions that render administrators as referenced in the policy as defined in policy 0100 definition. So to be clear that's specific to administrators. It doesn't change it's really a technical correction. It doesn't change the contact but content. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um employment of personnel of for co-curricular or extracurricular activities 3120. All right. Shortter term leaves of absences or absence >> and this is one to a policy to resend. So what has happened with some of these policies is
093we uh were very specific about different leaves of absence for some absences and not for others and those change routinely through our collaboration with our employee relations committee in types of absences. So um that's referenced in our employee handbook and and isn't necessary to have in policy. >> Yeah. Yep. Yeah. So these are all recisions. Um, and I think what makes me feel more comfortable about the having the recision is that not only do we have those, but like there's a process in place for continuing to review the handbook. And >> so without that, that would it would be harder to, but okay. So, and that applies for to several of the next ones. Um, to sick leave letter, let's see, >> 3432. Y yeah. So all the way through employee sick leave >> and
094then you also see those come up in the 400s um which are >> the same policies for support staff. >> Yes. Yeah. So if there is any I'm just going to kind of group those all into one. Does anyone have any questions about that? >> The next policy. >> That's right. >> No, I know I'm asking. I don't know exactly what >> are we ready to move on to that >> I think so yeah I think >> no that's fine we were >> just a step ahead of us >> I was grouping I was helping then so it's fine um so the letter of reasonable assurance um do you want to talk about a little bit Erin Sure okay >> yeah and so that is basically saying it's a guarantee of employment >> reasonable assurance
095that you're continuing your employment >> from one end of the school year to the beginning of the next >> kind of covers that summertime period. >> Yep. Exactly. >> Yeah. I mean, it's not it's more a policy change for clarity. It's not No actual >> change in current practice. >> Right. All right. Any changes or questions there? >> All right. So the next one 4213 student supervision and welfare. >> Yes. My understanding >> correct Yes. Yes. That was my concern. >> There are some situations where it happened. How do you avoid that? >> I don't know how you can. >> I mean, if it's if you're talking about in the case of emergency, that's one thing, >> but I think what we're we're Yeah, we're talking about just common duties. That's what they be asked
096to do. >> Yep. >> Regular daily planning stuff. >> All right. Good question. All right. So then the next um short-term leaves of absence and again I'm going to kind of group the next two 4431 and 4432. >> Those are the recision ones. Um any questions there? Okay, great. Um then we move on to 5112 entrance age. Okay, sounds like nothing there. Again, it's, you know, a lot of these policies just for the public's benefit. The revisions are often due to change in the statute or a lack of clarity. So, providing more uh clear >> clear clear and updated language And they often emanate from someone that thought they were following a policy and you realize, oh, that's not what we meant for. >> Yeah. >> We better change the language. >> Yep. And I
097think the benefit to we've been in this regular SK process of review now that we've reviewed a lot of these already within the last three years and so the changes are not as significant and >> less numbers. Yeah, >> that's the goal. >> Yeah. >> Um Okay. So then anything else for that one? >> All right. So then early graduation. >> Yeah. So the change is for the public. It basically just says if a student does graduate early and continues to participate in things like let's say the graduation ceremony, they still need to follow >> rules. Yes. >> Can't be like I'm graduated. What are you going to do? >> Right. >> Well, >> right. Um >> and you can imagine there's probably a story behind why >> probably >> our consultant uh recommended this
098change. >> Right. Okay. And then the last one that we have is 5451.02, the technical excellence higher education scholarship. And this is another one. Well, for me it feels like we're it's not being rescended, but there's so much detail that was taken out. Um, and that as Erin confirmed for me is just to make updating it more simple because we have the actual criteria >> that's elsewhere and and gets updated more regularly in the right place. >> We already follow the the the guidance provided by the higher education aids board and so that may change slightly from time to time and then we don't have to go back and change our policy. We just say we follow what they do. >> Yep. And we can of course change that at any time as well. >>
099Yep. >> All right. So, what I'm hearing, normally we have some changes that we have to do from now until the second reading. Um, but just to summarize anything that came out of this, we don't really have any. >> So, correct. >> That's okay. >> Yep. That is okay. >> Yeah, that's great. That's great. >> All right. So, then I would um we're ready to vote. So, all in favor? I >> I any opposed? All right, motion carries and then we'll just double check, but I think we're ready for adjournment. >> I second. >> All right, >> in full effect. >> All in favor? >> I Any opposed? All right, we are adjourned at 8:37 p.m. My friends, >> well done.