001Good evening and welcome to the December 15, 2025 regular board meeting of the North Board of Education. Please join me for the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Here is here. Should I say here? >> We do have a meeting. I'll make a motion to approve the agenda and leave the order to the discretion of the chair. >> Second. >> All right. The motion second. All in favor, please say I. >> Our first item on the agenda is a presentation by the building trades program. Let's get in here. Uh, Mr. Layman, for those of you that don't know me, um, Brady Mains, former student, Haley Zot, current student, and Tommy Bird, current student, kind of
002not this trimester, but uh, Mr. Foster just came asked us to come and kind of give you an update on the house and kind of how things are going. Uh, You probably noticed a new house out there, different structure. Um, first year building it. It's kind of been an adventure. It's a little bit different. It's only 18 wide, 52 ft long, 880 square ft, one bedroom. So, we've been kind of working through that. There's been number of different reasons for that change. One of the reasons is it's easier to move. So, we can get it down the road a little bit easier so it's easier to sell. Uh, the other Cox and I have talked about over the last couple years is with so many other opportunities for seniors, our numbers are always kind of
003teetering where we're at. You know, 10 10 students up to 15 some years down to eight other years. So, we wanted a house that we could more reliably get it started and finish it. So, last couple years it's been really hard to get it done, to get all the trim done and every aspect of the of the construction. So, probably the biggest driving factor in changing up the the plan. Um, also I'm kind of sick of building another house. >> I'm just 12 houses later, we're kind of over it. So, yeah. So, that's kind of where we're at right now. We're we're just learning as we go. Both us as a class, also, you know, David and and all the cornerstone kind of from their end too. They have one model of this house in
004Monqua. So they've built it before. I think they've done one other one since then, but everything's different kind of when it's, you know, it's not all panalized like what they're used to. We want to hand frame a lot of it and it's just a different animal when we're, you know, it's not being done inside. So we've been working through that and I hope that we're going to stick with this one for a while. They've got a lot of interest in it, so we'll figure it out and it'll be a little smoother. next go around hopefully. But it's going good. So, I just thought I'd give each of them a chance just to introduce themselves, kind of tell you what year they took the classes or years, and maybe I don't know what they got to
005do, what they learned, what they've taken outside of class. And obviously, if you have any questions, they're probably better off to answer questions. >> They can use the microphone, too. >> Huh? >> We got people listening online, so they can use the microphone. old enough, but I'll go first. I'm Brady. Uh, I took the class my junior and senior year. I graduated in 2024. Uh, my initial plan after I graduated was to go up to Michigan Tech to be a construction manager and uh, got this job where I'm working now uh, the summer after I graduated. And uh, at the end of the summer, I loved working for him and he gave me a really good offer that I didn't want to turn down. So, I ended up just being in the workforce and not
006going to college and it's been really good to me ever since. I've got the opportunity to be a foreman next year. So yeah, and I learned a lot of it from layman and just building that house twice. Uh getting to know a lot of stuff, setting trusses, building walls, layouts, how to use certain tools safely and uh yeah, that's where I'm at now. So yeah, >> I'll go next. I'm I live here. So, I took the class. I took intro my freshman year. It was kind of a good eye opener to the trades. And then I waited until my senior year to take the actual building trades class. Uh first day was kind of kind of scary when he announced we're building a new house because it's been seen the same house for like he
007said for a lot of years. So, it was kind of nerve-wracking to see a different design. Um, but it was cool to look at the layouts and see the plans. And kind of as I grew up, I kind of like kind of building stuff and kind of throwing things together. And it's much different building a house in person and looking at the plans in person than watching a YouTube tutorial online how to put together a piece of IKEA furniture. It's kind of cool. Um, I've learned a lot like like Grady said, setting trusses and setting raptors, putting walls up. I mean, seeing the crane in action, I think that was really cool. Every step that this house has kind of taken is really cool to learn the process. gorgeous. I can go on and on
008what I've learned from this class. Uh, but it's been really fun. It's been really eye opening and uh I just look forward to seeing how how it ends. Unfortunately, I couldn't make the second trimester class but hopefully trimester and finish out the house. But like I said, fun class. It's a great opportunity. >> Hello, I'm Haley. I'm the only in the building. Um, something that I've been doing lately is putting blocking on our walls inside the house. I have put windows in. I have done the floor joist. I workedly outside during the beginning of the trimester. Now that it's getting cold, it's really cold out there. Um, I my parents are big on building. My dad has his own business. I grew up around it a lot, but I didn't really get into it as
009much. But now that I'm in class, I am absolutely loving it. >> Any questions? >> I just want to I just want to say uh thanks to Tim and just so you understand this opportunity that he provides our students. And then the intro class is something we added so that kids could get a chance to taste taste it before they actually got building a whole house. So, thanks for coming in. I know sometimes get alumni to come back and speak on something positive and I think it says a lot about it. I want to emphasize our partnership with cornerstone if those of you that haven't been around. We used to actually build them, cover all the costs yourself and hope to sell them. Um, at one point when I was teaching tech, we had two
010of them out there. Um, the board was like this doesn't seemed like a good idea and that's when Glenn Shiffman stepped up with Dr. Richie and myself met with us and just said, "Hey, I have an idea for doing this. I'd love to see the program go." Dave Cox who's a key part of this, Darren Rubo in the past, um they all our Pines grads and went through this program and said, "Hey, this program can be good for all our community or kids, whether they work kind of trades." I think it's pretty cool. I think most years, majority of the trades, the plumbers and all the others are pine, many of them gone through this program as well. So, kudos. It's just a great I don't know how many school districts stop me and they're
011like, "How do you do building trades?" I tell them and they're jealous. They want it. They they would beg to have this opportunity that we have. One to have a high quality teacher and two to have a program partnership like this to make all that happen. So, >> Cornerstone's really been, sorry to interrupt, but Cornerstone's really been great to work with. I mean, they do everything that they can if we're running short on time or we need help with something. You know, they their schedule doesn't always allow it, but whenever they can. They're they've been awesome to step in and help us out. So, they really have a lot of appreciation for what they do. We work well together. They know that I know enough here that they don't have to be worried about it.
012And, you know, whatever they can do, however they can keep the program going, they're always 100% in on that. So, that's really important for sure. Other thing I would also add that we encourage kids to at least explore the trades. You know, we we want every kid to graduate Pines chasing a dream or goal and it's great a great time to consider a trade. It always has been, I think. But I also would say even if you don't go into the career, it's amazing what it does. I mean, how many people know what the inside of their walls look like or how to fix something or when to quit trying to do it themselves and bring in a professional versus trying to do it yourself or confidence to build a garage or out cabin or
013something in the future, too. So, I think it just is a great I think when we say prepare for life, it's career and life focused this class and all lead up to it. I think it's pretty amazing that we were able to offer it here in ours and get a chance to take a look at where it is. I think it be pretty cool. Those all those windows are south facing and the sun coming in there would be pretty awesome to live in and have that heat there. So >> it helps now. >> Well, I think that's the other kudos to the kids and Tim is like needs to get done. So no matter how cold it is, we do try to find inside work on certain days, but It needs to get done. Kids
014are they have a locker room with their insulated pants and jackets and they're out there working cold and it's just that's what they do on a job so they have to do it here too. So, and their teachers >> Thank you everybody and thank you kids for coming up and telling us all about your project. do you want to do the sawmill right away? >> I didn't know that was part of >> Mr. Fuller. Mr. Fuller, you can come. >> Thanks for volunteering again. >> You were really serious about this. >> I'm Tim Layman. uh what a tech teacher is. No, we wanted uh just wanted to take the opportunity to kind of inform you or fill you in on on another project that we're doing. All three of us actually are are working on
015this. Um we've been working on fundraising for a wood woodm for a sawmill. So, we've reached out through some email communication, through some just personal connections that we have, talked to some businesses about uh what how they feel about supporting this initiative. And kind of our vision is is to get this sawmill and to use it not only as obvious with our woods classes, but to use it with Eagle Manufacturing, which would be a big one. Um, mantels, live edge stuff. kind of stuff like that with our student run business. Um, and then also using it with the science department, hopefully the math department, kind of pulling that in and tying together like the forestry unit that Joy does, Kelov, they calculate basil area and you know how much lumber there is in a log
016and things like that. So, we want to kind of use this as a centerpiece to tie some of that other stuff in. The other side of it is is that we're going to be able to use it to offset our costs on lumber. We probably spend 6,000 a year >> $6,500 last year just in pine oak cherry boards for all the way from seventh grade up to you know through through woods too. So if we can even if we can just do the pine to offset our cost all the way through middle school with a lot of projects in high school that we figure we could save at least half of that cost each year. by making our own lumber and then you can imagine just the value and the kids seeing that from the
017tree, you know, to a project that they built would be pretty cool. >> So, so far we're doing good, right? >> Right. We've raised almost $25,000 so far. >> Yeah. Yeah. So we don't remember what we attached all we attached to just kind of the one pager that we had showing kind of what we want to do, why we want to do it. Um the budget overview of what we're looking at. Uh the machine itself is right around 29,000. So we're almost there for the machine. We've talked to Allorn Equipment. He's willing to donate any any and all safety related equipment that we need. and that would be an ongoing partnership with him. Um, which those you that know Woody, he's always been really good about that stuff. Um, Classic Tree Service that's going to
018take care of logs. You know, he said anything that's under a 100 inch thick, they'd be willing to give us. The city we're going to still talk to, I think, about cleanups and stuff that they do in town, what they do with that material. Um, someone else >> there was we put a Facebook post out that this is a initiative that we're doing and somebody within the community posted on that saying that they would like to donate money as well as blogs that they come across over over their different job at their different job sites as well. >> Yeah. The other big piece of this that I didn't even touch on is we've already talked to the local school districts and we want to set it up so that they can essentially rent, not really
019rent like it's a money adventure, right? um they can borrow the machine and take it to their school and use it with their students. And that all started last year during our season 9 districtwide in service when we started talking with Rylander and some of the other schools and they were like we should all buy one together, you know, and then we just share it and everything. And it I really like the idea and so did Mike Watusk from Rhinellander. And the more I thought about it and we talked about it, it was like somebody's got to own it. Like someone needs to own it, needs to maintain it, take the logistics. And apparently we had a bunch of extra time and we thought we should make it. Um, so that's when I talked with
020Mr. Foster about is this realistic? Could we do it and then and work it that way. So that's kind of why we put this together to see how much help we can get with buying it. And then we've commitment from Phelps, Rhyland, and Three Lakes that they would be interested in that. So, our our vision is is that we'd probably do a teacher training this summer, have them pay a a fee to come to the class. We train them on the machine, and then they would have to have their own saw blade, saw blades, their own blade lubricant stuff, and then it would come to them without that on there. They use their own consumable stuff, use it forever, whatever the frame is and then we would get it back. So, kind of a little
021bit bigger vision than just for our kids to use it, which I thought was unique that we have districts and administrators that'll work together on stuff like that to make it available, you know, and then there's obviously there's other benefits that come along with just that type of a relationship with our neighboring schools. >> Deon introduce herself and tell us who she is a little bit. Hi, Leo myself. Um, I'm Deb Fuches. I stepped in for Rob Exposition last year. Um, and now I'm here as the contented teacher for the middle school tech classes and woods one and two. >> And she's doing a great job. >> She's doing pretty okay. >> When Tim said time, I actually different direction. I think it was talent and hard work and passion. These three including Mr. Fuller
022sitting back there. Um it is on your agenda tonight. One thing Tim didn't mention is they are they want to raise more than just the machine. Um there's some realistic things to make this a long term. We understand that you know you can't just leave it sit in the parking lot and hope it just stays nice. Um Tim's worked really hard with a localum to help maybe get us a really good deal on a steel structure to put around it so that we can store it indoors also for just working conditions and taking care of it all and have a place to put wood. There's a lot of pieces components to this whole thing and then you got to store wood eventually hopefully dry some wood and so really proud of this team. Um what
023a what an amazing opportunity for our students. There's a few high schools that have these and they've been working with them to see what what lessons learned that we can skip that process and move right to the things they've done. We we're close enough that um there's some deals with cost and also keeping this project move forward that I have an account that where people in the past have donated money that will cover the difference so we can get this ordered and hit the timeline of the deals that Woodmeiser was willing to give us school district and some price savings. So, you will see this on your agenda tonight. That doesn't mean we're done raising money. We need to raise more money. Um, so if you know anybody, um, please let Tim Deon know. Um,
024but, uh, they have done a fantastic job with this. Um, professional, a lot of great response in this community. Some very large donations which we'll be accepting at future board meetings. Um, we will have a nice sign up there with the machine that people know what community members stepped up and do some of that as well. So, it's well thought out, well done. I'm excited. Um, I think there's a lot of other just unique projects you can do in woodworking with this machine. Slabs is a real popular thing right now with tables and different things. So, you can cut those in different shapes. There's all kinds of different materials, different kinds of wood. Um, we've had to bring this machine in before to the school to show the kids and we've also had it out
025at the school forest for loggers different days. So to have our own really be a big deal. And as Tim said, I think the collaboration between the schools and our community just goes a long ways in continuing to improve all of us and show our communities what a great other opportunity for trades or or a personal hobby to this. >> How much have you guys raised? >> Yeah, we had a couple and we did get some grants. >> Yes. >> Josh wrote a grant. a mini grant, Carl Perkins mini grant. So it's 5,000. Uh there was a grant through Eagle Power and Light for $2,500. Um but then I mean Waldman stepped up with 10 grand. So it's a pretty big deal and call is stepped up with five grand. So now we got some
026smaller ones in there. But we we I think we did a really good job on setting up levels like so people knew if I do this level, this is what I can expect, you know? because we wanted to I've seen that too much with fundraising where people donate and then I'll use the library as an example. We did a bunch of signage for them a few years ago and they spent so much time like no that name needs to be bigger because they gave more and you know this way we outline like this is what you you can expect from us so that when they come out and they see their name plastered on the building or whatever if we get a building um then they'll be like yep they said they were going to
027do that there it is. So, we tried to approach it, you know, in a way that people knew what they were getting and and then we have to follow through and make sure they do. >> Where's where's the building going? >> Did you get one? >> If uh our vision would be on the norththeast corner of the building trades fence there and then maybe open the fence up so we can store material for the house project also so it's not outside. There's power out there for that. And eventually if we did want to do something on the other side of the park on the grass, >> I just figured he would say only because Tim and I go back a few years where the pickle ball courts were just >> Thank you guys very much.
028Very exciting. >> Thank you. Great job. Next item is participation. Just one to come up. >> Hello, I'm Norman Jagger, president of the board of the Headarters Council for the Performing Arts. I'm here tonight to extend our thanks to you for your incredible cooperation and facilitation of what we do to coordinate with what you do. Um, I also wanted to be sure that you knew what the Headarters Council for the Performing Arts is. We're an organization that's been in existence since 1986. Jack and Jane O'Brien, who was an act of an attorney in town, actually wrote the incorporation papers for organizations. They're still in town. They still attend. We bring in five or six professional ing shows each year and um we bring them to your amazing venue and more often than not the talent
029will say to us, "Can we please come back? This is the most amazing place we've ever performed." And one other compliment I want to share with you. Um this year we're working with some different talent agencies and we had a gentleman who was in the state from New Jersey um who represents a lot of talent and so we said, "Yeah, we'd like to work with I said, "Well, while you're here, would you like to come see the school?" So I brought him over an afternoon. Um it turned out that Praise in the Pine Band was actually rehearsing on stage so we could actually see it in motion and he looked at the school and he said, "How old is the school?" I said, "Well, it's going on 20 years." He said, "No." He said, "It's
030so clean. It's so accessible. There's no graffiti." That was his New Jersey experience. And he was extremely impressed. And I think that will probably aid us in using him to bring his talent to our school. Um so I wanted to to extend an invitation to you. Um, of course you're always welcome to come to any show, but our special show coming up on Friday, November the 20th is called Saxational. A gentleman who is a former band member and a specialist in the saxophone will be coming to school all Friday afternoon. Work with our concert band students and our jazz band students. Uh, Bethany Puffer already has the music that will be in the program and so she's teaching it to the students now and gradually incorporating it. So the kids who rehearse with him will
031actually be on stage in the show that night. Um some of you remember Dave Anderson who was the music teacher here for many many years. Um served on the board at one time but his family created a memorial fund in his name for us to use for student outreach. And so we think this is just the perfect use for it to start to bring students more um to the show to be in the show. And the other aspect of bringing the students in is the kids who are involved in the high school music musical each year are picking up incredible skills in stage management, lighting, and sound. And we've invited them to work with our texts um to learn how it is at the professional level. So that's another way that we're doing outreach. So
032I invited some of my other board members to come tonight, but none were available. So I brought them in the hall. We'd like to extend our thanks to you. It's been a wonderful working relationship. Thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> What an awesome opportunity for students to really we are really trying hard. We know how busy they are, how many other activities they have. But some of the kids who do get into the musical, they realize they have a knack for it and it's something they didn't know they could do. Um, and it's just a skill they can take lifelong into community theater and community arts. So, thank you for this opportunity. >> Real quick, Norma, what was the date for that saxophone? Friday, March 20th of next of this Friday. >> Okay,
033>> hope to see you at the show. Thank you very much. >> Move on to our board communication. Does anyone have any information they'd like to communicate to their fellow board members? Not hearing any. The next item is school board election notice of non candidacy which uh information is in their packet. Pretty self-explanatory. The incumbent does not want you to file and that would be Chris myself and three candidates for election. All right, moving on to committee reports. With the minutes of the reports in the packet, is there any other uh any board member that has any questions for the other board members on the other? We'll go to the consent agenda action items. Is there any item in the consent agenda that any board member would like to remove and vote on separately knowing
034that we can discuss any of those items? >> All right, not hearing any. I will entertain a motion for the consent agenda. >> I'll make a motion to approve all items agenda. >> Motion to second. Any discussion or information? >> I just wanted to point out I just want to >> in the part where you're approving the WSB delegate to vote on your behalf as a school board, there's a packet of resolutions in there. This is your association making a decision. These have not been voted on. It is what they what Jen will vote on when she's down there. I thought there was some interesting ones in there. Um, if you haven't had a chance, the voting on how schoolboard um, school report cards should be changed. Some of the things that we've discussed here
035locally with that um there isn't two of them. Um, kind of interesting. One is to decouple public schools from private school funding and one is to not to decouple school funding. So, I think Jen might hear a very lengthy discussion on that one. Um there is one other one in there. Um I think it's a great idea. Obviously you have to live within a budget and I think that's always a challenge at state government. Um there is a recommendation to support universal um covered meals for school students for all students. So that's been something that's been tried many times. I just think the cost of it is something that we pay for. one that did not get a vote and go through there though that I think future boards may want to consider or a
036future DA might want to consider um is looking to move spending on school safety outside of the revenue limits. That's something that's been discussed and the cost of school safety continues to go as we continue to have tragedies and different schools having things sir was evacuated the other day and do a reunification. A lot of the terms we use here they were using we just came in shared on some things Platville school district had going on today called swatting which we've been trained in and understand what that is as well. The other one there I thought it'd be really interesting someday it's been brought up another tough one but um the real inequity across the state is transportation because certain districts spend lots on it certain spend very little. That would be another one to
037see if you ever wanted to do transportation outside of the revenue limit so that you know your money all local money would go to educating kids and state cover all the transportation costs. So just something that if you get a chance those resolutions those are just some highlights of ones that I thought pertain to you as a board here. And I know Chris at one point you were on the resolution committee, right? To see what resolutions actually get to go to the convention and for our newer board members it's resolutions are presented by different school districts and then they're voted on um as all of the delegates from each district. Everybody has a representative and you're in the room and basically it's it goes forward to the legisle forward to the state. So it's more
038suggestions from all the school districts not necessarily that we're saying it's going to be into law or anything but just suggestions in the one year was it last time I went two years ago we actually didn't finish because we were out of people started leaving >> so that was that was interesting. All right. Anything else in the consent agenda? >> Are you okay? I'm assuming you won't be sick because you're never sick. So >> I love my delegation. Actually, it's very interesting. I think the most interesting thing is, you know, we're all as school districts trying to serve our children and staff and taxpayers and every school has similar needs. Obviously, more money, you know, all those things, but every school district is different. So, but ultimately the goal is try to do what's best
039for students and taxpayers. We're all kind of in it for you. So, >> all right. And not hearing any other discussion on any items. All in favor, please say I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Sorry. Okay. First discussion and action item is approval of a resolution to start school on Monday, August 31st, 2026. >> Maybe this is one we want to give some information before >> because we didn't talk about this any committee. >> Do you want someone to read the resolution resolution? No, just a motion. >> Just before you make a motion, let me explain because and that is legal within our board operating system. So, in all there's a new calendar proposal out there did get to go through finance and personnel. But in all three proposals tonight for calendars, there's Monday the
04031st. State law says that you cannot start until the first of the month. However, the state law also has the ability for the board to ask for permission for um Okay, there's not a lot of reasons. There are some that you can start early. This came up at my meeting on Thursday or excuse me, Wednesday after the two committee meetings. Um DPI was on there talking about this exact issue. Like why is it that we can't start on Monday? I mean it's common sense. It would be easier for families. We're not going to impede um tourism. We're not going to impede workers. We're going to have students come on Monday instead of Tuesday. You know they I think everybody understands we're not trying to go weeks ahead. So within statute is ability to ask for
041this. DPI is going to try to get statewide permission for everybody, but they don't see that happening until after January 1st deadline. So they said if you're interested, you may want to try. DPI may say no. Um so whatever calendar we have approved tonight, Monday the 31st would be changed to having school if DPI approves your resolution. First you have to do the resolution. That's first ask has to get on for a vote. You can choose to do that or not. Uh the second would be that DPI would have to approve it or not. If they didn't, then we'd have to wait and see if the statewide opened up or we just want to have school on the 31st like it is currently planned out. The reason I bring this up is because as we
042work through these calendars, we really want to try to find more days of learning. In the calendar X we're calling it, we'd love to see another day in trimester 1. I would love for you to have three to four snow days for next year. I'd like to have none. I would like Tony to have his first year not having to call snow day. It's not the of all the things I love doing in this job, it is not that one. I do it because it needs kids need to be safe and our staff, but it would get us to three snow days in all three calendars. It would help. Um, I'd rather use a day in August than ever to have to get piled up and push days into the second week of June. Um,
043staff still would have the Friday before school off. So, they'd get a three weekend day weekend then and we'd have Labor Day the following weekend. This is one of those odd years where we're actually starting before Labor Day. That confuses a lot of families, a lot of people in the community like, "You can't start before Labor Day." I'm like, "No, it's September 1st, not Labor Day. We'd be another whole week later." Um, I I really don't see an impact on our student workers in the community. And I really think for some parents who do daycare and other things, starting on a Monday versus having to send your kids somewhere on a Monday and then Tuesday you send them to school, why not just open the day up and start it on that Monday? So, I
044found a way to do this without I'd mentioned school u how some schools are starting to try summer school the week before school. This I stayed away from that. Kind of read the room on those couple days said that doesn't seem like a good idea. This was the way at my association they said many schools are considering this. I don't know how many will go through with it. And then two, maybe the state will allow I wish the legislation would change it to be school could start the Monday that the first falls that week because we run into this all the time and gaining one to three days in a calendar is huge. It creates opportunities for learning. It creates opportunities for staff. It gives us a better flow to the school year. Um it
045helps us with inservice also. Um it helps with community support. Um, one of the feedback we did receive from staff is why do we have such a choppy October? You know, you have a Friday, then you have a Monday, and then you have parent conferences. Well, we take the Friday of Cranberry Fest. It's something our community is very grateful for. We do PD date because then ideas like the Woodmiser and other things like that come out of that. We build relationships and get better. And then parent conferences, we moved up in all three calendars based on high school, middle school, and high school teachers and our elementary. I want to see the kids earlier in that trimester, make sure their grades and everything are there. So that's why October is a little choppier. But with
046the first vote on, you will vote on calendar next. If you choose to make a motion and have a second and have a conversation to vote on this, then it's up to you. But as I mentioned, kind of three scenarios. Um, you don't do anything with it. Um, if you vote yes, DPI could reject it. And we still don't have anything. And then we have to wait and see if the legislator or this DPI will allow us to do it. And then third, um if you voted yes and DPI accepts our resolution, um then then we're okay. The main one in the statute I went for was the natural causes and we do have 12 years of historical data of averaging almost four snow days a year. So having three built in would really make
047it more beneficial to staff and students and our local economy. That's my pitch. It's a new idea. First time we're trying it. Just wanted you to have all the background so you knew what you're either taking a motion to do or vote. >> If you do nothing, we'll move on to the calendar. >> I will make a motion to approve the resolution to change the school start date to August 31st, 2026 as presented. All right, motion's been made second. Any other discussion or comments, feedback? >> I do I know we've raised this issue on multiple occasions in the past. We've talked about it over several times. Um I thought my perception has always kind of been the board stance to you about not trying to bring this back to us, but apparently that's been misconstrued
048a little. So I get it. It's a new calendar. I get it. It's this, it's that, it's going to be convenient. I think Tony's more than capable of being able to call a snow day if needs to be with the virtual opportunity. So, I would just I mean bring it to vote. Let's see where the other members constituents feel on this topic, but I would request a roll call vote for this. >> And I guess one of the key words you said to me is we should state and that's is within the state statute that it's actually in there. So that's why I brought >> Yeah, I know in the past I've said a lot of other things you're requesting, but here we are discussing. >> I I have no other information in front. >>
049Well, I tried to look for minutes. I didn't see the information that was said at prior meetings documented in there, so I can't really bring it forward. Basically, I think this topic, if I can summarize it real quick, has been several discussions about trying to start school in August or before September 1st. And I know on other meetings I've said, let's just table that, stop wasting or spending time on it. Let's move forward knowing that the state law is September 1st. Um, and I know there's been other trainings or topics where, you know, there's yearround there's this alternative schedule and um I just I know my constituents would not want me to vote to say hey let's start August 31st and now next week or next year it's August 15th and it's something else. So
050I know you say that you say no but here four months ago I'm pretty clear that I thought I said please just stop spending more time bringing it forward to the board. I thought the board even kind of all agreed or in the majority to not continue to address this issue, but uh maybe again my perceptions off. >> I was directed to listen to staff. I did multiple listening session. Okay. >> And and the key things they came up with was more days in trimester 1, more snow days built in and and have more days of learning. And this was the only tool where we sit today that could do that. >> Can any staff member say please start school before September 1st? >> This is the tech. This is the tool. >> Yes. >>
051There are staff that would be happy over the all the years I've listened, there's many staff that would be happy to start and get things going and be done sooner. >> Well, a lot of our coaches who are already in the building every single day working and being here. We have staff in the building. They would rather give up inservice days and do learning days in August. I know that that has come up. How do we reduce that and make those learning days? So, I mean I mean that's where I hear it from. But that's why I brought it forward because it met the criteria the majority of the things we're trying to do. So that's why I did bring it forward and it's within the state law. >> I think one of the things
052One of the things too is when we've talked about moving up the start date is how does that impact you know teachers with inservice and that kind of thing but if this is leaving their inservice and back you know pre inservice pre studentent days back to the same you know I know that in the past I just never wanted us to have um students starting on the 10th or 15th >> makes sense that it would go in the first if it's in I mean I shouldn't say makes sense logically more logic because it's not always going to happen because last year. I think September 1st was the day after Labor Day or was that Wednesday? So, the calendar is just obviously it's not always, >> right? >> I just know that I haven't had a
053person that I represent tell me, please start school before September 1st for multiple different reasons. I haven't had one. So, um if you have, well, put it to vote, but I would ask a roll call on it. Uh you coaches and other people come to you saying, "Please start school beforehand." Uh, I think it would have been good instead of going to a vote, but let's bring it because I'd like to see where everybody's at or stances and then we can move on to the next topic. >> I think in this case >> one day seems logical. As a teacher, I would be fine with going to school that day. I mean, I'd rather see the kids actually service and building in that day. I was one question I have calendarwise is if we have
054we don't ever say, "Oh, we didn't have any snow days. We get some time off, do we?" >> No, because you're you're still within your contract that you contract to staff, but this moves to 190, which is what you contract, which counts holiday pay, parent conferences in that 19. So, >> we have weird days in April, you know, ice One reason, one of the ideas you're bringing up is to some have done we'll have school if we need it or we won't in the spring. Some districts have tried that. I just find that when I talk to other places that school if you as a parent need to plan a day, you're going to take that day not knowing for sure and then you know I think it put our staff at a disadvantage that
055way. So that's why proposed that might be something for the board to consider in the future. Um, I I would agree that it's one day in this scenario, but I also agree that I don't want to revisit this year after year. Um, in this situation, being a fall coach, it would benefit me. I think there would be some correlation there with educators, too. Um, I guess in the for this one year I would make an exception to the rule because it is only one day but I do support what you're saying Chris that we don't want to revisit this year after year after year. >> Well that to me that's what it is. It's a recurring conversation that I feel like we've been discussing this topic and there's any way that we can try to
056get And I just feel like this is where we're at again. It's another year. Every year it's the same thing over and over and over. One day is one day. So you give a little and then you give a lot. So >> except this we've tried before, right? And we've been denied. >> I've never brought this I've never brought this resolution forward. I've tried. You do vote annually on a calendar. That's why we do it annually. So you're you take tell me and you'll be telling Tony get us the calendar possible for learning. Meet the requirements of your contracts with bus staff. Also, the best day possible for learning for students and families and our community that supports us in taxes and other things. So, I do think there's variables every year to reconsider. And
057I considered this one is I didn't bring things forward last year because as Chris said, didn't want to hear it anymore. This opportunity to me was too good to pass up and I'm I know I'm taking the risk that you were going to be upset with me, but I felt like this is what was what staff gave me the best feedback on was this getting the criteria that I listed under this was what they were asking for. >> Just so we're clear, I'm not upset. I just feel like the board gave you direction and here we are addressing it again. So, it's it's fine. It's fine. We're going to move on tonight, but I just ask for a roll call vote so it's clear for all those that are watching to know where each board
058member stands on this. I'm I'm just I thought we gave you clear direction before, but here we are again. So, I'm not upset about this is the first time, so I haven't experienced this before, but I will say since we are on trimester type schedule, it definitely makes more sense to me because then you can end that trimester, have those in service days and then then you go into the Thanksgiving break instead of having trimester right up to the last second there. That just doesn't it didn't seem to make sense to me. >> Yeah. And that's on that one day that really kind of makes things better. >> Just uh two points of clarification that I have. Um, I know like last year when we were discussing calendar options, um, >> okay, last year we
059were discussing calendar options and having like the whole week or two full weeks off at Christmas. It was going to be a oneoff thing because that's just the way that days land. So, I'm just wondering, have we looked at the 2027 Labor Day holiday to see if it's going to land like that again for two years in a row? I'm trying to pull it up on my computer. 27th in 2027. The first is >> the first. >> Okay. Thank you. And then the second question I had um do you know the time frame on when this would be approved at the state level? Like because I know Susie always says like people want to know our calendar. So are we pushing off calendar for essentially like another month or two? >> I would think within
060a month we'll find out and you'll be having 99% of your calendar just be whether we start on that Monday or not. everything else, whatever the other three options, they would all be there. >> Basically, we still if we if we go through and we pass the resolution, we have to still wait for DBI to approve it. That may not happen. So, we still could start on the first just depends on their approval. >> And you can reorder on this calendar multiple times, >> right? >> So, if you say you change your mind and you don't like it or whatever down the road, you can change We think about every three weeks we change the calendar those us many many chang >> so this >> we had to adjust the calendar outside of years >>
061but this resolution will be specifically for this 27 calendar >> correct so that being said down the line if that was would the legislature also or DPI approve that year by year would that be expected to be yearby year or >> there's been multiple bills tried to change start. If that ever happens, the only thing that changes is you still vote on the same calendar. So, if Eagle River Northland Pine says, "I want us to start on the first or a Monday near the first," you would always have that. Districts are clamoring for this change because it's impacting not just us, it impacts lots of people. So, and learning and other things um that happen. So, you will always have, as far as I can tell, I've never law to take away your rights as
062a local school board to vote on your calendar. The the box that you're boxed into is the number of minutes and the start date right now. And they that's the two things and multiple times it's been tried to change the start date. Not that's just the way it's because so many districts are saying this makes it really hard to build a calendar where kids get done in time that summer can begin and they go to and do the other things they want to do or any creative ideas or you want to support your local community by having a day off here or there. Um support your staff in different ways. So that's yes, no matter what you seven will vote on a calendar that's best for Northland Pines and our community. >> When did you
063say we might find out? >> I think about a month. And then with that shift the end date. >> No, we won't mess the end date. Nothing will change. This will gain us a day of learning in first trimester which is the challenge right now with calendar X and even the other calendars. We would love to have another day of learning in any calendar. That's just the bottom line. >> All right. So this vote is specifically on the resolution and then the next motion uh most discussion will be on the actual approval of the calendar. So um are we ready to call the question? >> All right, I will do a roll call vote. All in favor? >> Oh yeah. No, I did make the motion. >> Sorry. Okay. >> Becky. >> Yes. Jennifer is
064yes. Chris, >> no. >> Chelsea is absent. Nick, >> yes. >> And >> yes. >> All right. Motion carries. Sorry. Thank you everybody for the discussion. Now we will go to the approval of the school calendar. I will make a motion to approve the 2627 school calendar option X with a start date of August 31st 26 if the state approves the resolution. However, if the state does not approve the resolution, the start date would remain September 1st, 2026 as presented. I want to be clear too. If they deny the resolution and change the law, it would take a seven member vote to change it at that point too. So know that there is no automatic trigger. If we get the resolution is told no, then they change the state statute or get a a rule
065change. That's what they're calling it. It would will take you revoting on that calendar before school started. Just to be clear on that, I just want to clarify that. The reason we brought you calendar X was it was loud and clear during listening sessions that staff really would like um especially middle and high school staff. Middle and high school staff were faced with two challenges after every trimester. One, they have and Dr. Marine can speak to this in Harlem. Um, but after every trimester, middle and high school teachers have two things. Report cards and they could have anywhere from one to five new classes or zero to five technically, but one to five typically everybody. So, you have to get all new stuff, get everything ready. Sometimes for your lab teacher, you have to everything
066ready to go teach new classes. So, you go, you end Thanksgiving. We have two days in Thanksgiving. attendance um is starting to decline but not rapidly but I will say it's getting less it's not for the good it's going the other direction so when we were talking to staff they're like we how can we get you do already have this after trime we have inservice day after trimester 2 how can we do this after trimester one so one idea they threw out was the Monday after Thanksgiving week and we were Tony and I were on those calls and he can speak to this too we didn't really like that idea him and and I talked about it um we already talked about moving February in service or getting rid of it and option one and
067two um because we really want to improve the flow and add learning days. Um well by moving them so we talk about Monday Tuesday that still comes up all the time because we have off Thanksgiving week. So we moved the month we took the December inservice day which helps the flow of December. We moved the February day up and moved the the flow of that. We still would gain PD time on Monday. Students will be able to come that day. Uh that's a big thing. We'd have those days throughout the year. Then on Tuesday, that would really become a work day. It's yours. Get ready for class. I would say part of Monday would be that I'm speaking. I should let Tony speak to this part. It's his calendar um once you vote on it.
068But if we did this, this is what we talked to staff about. Monday would be more of a traditional inservice, usually half and half, but Tuesday would be their day. get ready for classes, finish your grading, do all those things. And and also Dr. Marine brought up, I think, a really valid point. It would really help allowing teachers to use those last couple days to their highest ability because they know they have time to finish grading and getting everything ready for next class. When you try to teach up to the last day and then you're starting new class right after Thanksgiving, the only time you have to work is your own vacation time when you're, you know, we hope they spend time with their family at Thanksgiving and those kinds of things. So, I don't
069know, Tony, Dan, I know Dan, you talked about this with your staff a little bit as well. >> Yeah, it was difficult for quite a few of them to be ready for that first of December because the grades were due that Wednesday the 3rd at midnight. Um, but they also had to prep for new classes and the only time they really had to do that was over Thanksgiving break. So, I talked to one teacher who does a phenomenal job and he was very excited because the first week of trimester 2 went great, but he also worked three days over Thanksgiving break to close up trimester 1. So, I know staff would be extremely appreciative if we had some days built in at the end of the first trimester to give them time to wrap that
070up and then also focus on, you know, the next trimester because things do change some sometimes dramatically for a teacher from one trimester to the next. As you can see that Monday would be an optional day. So if it is child care is difficult for a family having that Monday and Tuesday off they still have the option of sending the kids to school that Monday. And in our handbook it does say that staff can't take personal days on um PD days but maybe be flexible on that Tuesday just because it really be on that staff member that if they wanted to do their work like over the holiday weekend rather than Tuesday they could save us and be helpful to So policy this did not come through policy because it was not ready at that
071time for you guys. So we heard it finance and that was after getting feedback that Tony and Dan got from staff. >> We asked elementary teachers and they liked it too. They felt it helped the December day of inservice was useful and helpful and productive but it was really choppy in December like okay we had a week four days week and concerts, other things going on. It'd be nice just to have school every day in December and then also February we have an inservice right away at the end of January and then so like you it just felt like the flow would work a little bit better and we have more snow days in trimester 2 so it is a little heavier in trimester 2 but a lot of times trimester 2 gets impacted by
072snow days and other things that came from staff. Yeah, I was uh eager eagerly waiting these uh results or feedback because we didn't get to discuss them in our policy meeting. Uh I thought when I first saw option X creative uh a lot of brainstorming must have went on there feedback from the staff. I I like it. Did you mention at the beginning there, Scott, that student attendance that week is slowly declining? That's I've gotten feedback from the travelers and the deer hunters, too. That would support a little decline in attendance for that week. Um, great feedback from the staff about being slammed to get the trimester reset through the last day for seniors that Wednesday >> Wednesday before graduation Wednesdayifically the graduation the last day of school. >> Yeah, we've had it both ways.
073This we've had it this way before. >> Any other comments or questions? I don't get a chance to talk about the policy. >> Are you? >> No, I don't need to talk about it. I read it. I agree with what Nick said. Um like I said earlier, it makes a lot more sense to me to be able to end the trimester before like that those two days before Thanksgiving that just seemed to me make no sense to put that kind of pressure on students and staff to try and finish up testing. They can now do it on the 20th and then do the 23rd and 24th is their teachers in service days. Like Nick just said, families wanted to pull their kid out then go ahead. It happened this exact same way. There's another local
074school that is on trimesters that tried this this year for the first time and principal said that staff was very happy. >> Yeah. Within service days being two days before Thanksgiving. >> Then you have three full weeks I know one of the days is November basically have three full weeks in December to get going before you break. I'm good with option X as well. Um I was a little disappointed maybe in the the lack of um I don't know enthusiasm about simply adding five more minutes to 12. >> You can still do that on any of these three. >> Yeah. And that might be something if we get burned you know next year on days that might take a harder look at because I feel like we're trying really really hard to accommodate staff opinion
075but this one to me seemed like well it makes logical sense. help with that busting situation and alleviate our weather day our inclement weather days. Kind of felt like a no-brainer, but it was it was not well received apparently. So, >> I would there were there were a few that were interested in gaining the time for snow days. >> So, I wouldn't say it was 100% all against. There were some that were like if it gets a snow day then I'm all in on it you know because they didn't feel the feedback I got from some was we don't they didn't feel like you would have the impact on learning to gain snow day >> you know like wasn't a good tradeoff and then going one day full of school like 31st is the trade-off
076they're looking for that gain a day of learning >> versus the minutes yeah over time it does but it doesn't feel like you're really boy this class really was different because I added But I, you know, I look at Dan and and Harland, maybe they can find a way like if we were to add minutes differently, you know, this year to your point of reconsidering next year, maybe if they look at it, maybe there's a way of implementing in a way that would be helpful to the calendar to get more learning out of a need to be given out homework that I won't be next year. >> Any other discussion on options. The motion is on the table for approving option X at this time. All right, not hearing any. All in favor, please say
077I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. The next item on the agenda is to approve the sawmill. The motion to approve the purchase of a sawmill and accessories of that line in the quote. Wisconin of Wisconsin for an amount not to exceed $28,947 as presented. >> Challenge accepted. >> I'm glad we had the presentation from Mr. and I'm glad that sounds like they've got a lot of the money already. positive impact on our students. Any other discussion on the purchase of not hearing? All in favor, please say I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Next item is recognition of a donation from Triggs for turkey roast for Thanksgiving. >> Yeah, we just want to give Triggs a shout out here. They uh we were, as you can see in the notes, um Thanksgiving dinner before
078kids go home for that week has always been a big hit and unfortunately we got cut off of our turkey for that lunchon. So Erica asked Tara worked with her Erica's been working well with us and um asked Terra if she could go out and look for it locally and Tara said sure this is important then let's try to get do and uh Triggs was able to get it and then brought came back and said we're just going to give it to you. So for it's for the students and that so I think it's not only a great thing for this maybe some brainstorming of ideas in the future but we want to local business steps up and supports our kids just we want to say a shout out since it happened here Thanksgiving first
079board meeting since then. >> Next would be our administrative reports. Is there any uh principal or supervisor that would like to share anything outside of their thorough reports other than everybody's working hard and counting down which are great trimester 2 is going along well I would imagine all right and then we also have our school resource officers month reports in the board packet as well to district administrator's report >> this is long pretty quick. Um, band concert tonight at 7. Uh, one more to go up in Land of Lakes Thursday at 2 o'clock. Want to give a shout out to our music department. Mrs. Anderson is new at the Eagle Elementary. He's done a fantastic job. Got some direct comments from parents about how great the concerts were there. There was a nice little 4K
080concert out in St. Germaine. And then the band choir, the choir concert last Monday was awesome. Um, the full Haloir up there on st is always a big treat of the year. Um also, um Kane and their crew with and Bethany at the Highland High School, they've got these kids out and about really make an impact on community. Lots of joy there. So, just want to pass that along. Um update on pickle ball. I think most of you have seen an email. There's stuff out in the community. Um, in the end, after much effort, and I think it was good faith effort on both sides, um, just not feel either of us felt like we could bring something back for you to even vote on. Um, it really came down to if they're going to
081raise the hundreds of thousands of dollars and probably close to a million dollars to the courts out here. They just needed a lot of control of that and that's understandable. Their membership wanted one thing. I think I need to protect the voice of this board and our community. I mean, as the ground as well. It's not just the school district. We we were caretakers for them. Just didn't feel like it was a good tradeoff any further and we just both parties just kind of got to the spot where this isn't going to be to the best interest of both parties. So we they've decided to look elsewhere and I think still leaves a lot of opportunities out there to have green grass use it for um our disc golf and our cross country and and
082our school community garden that already exists out there. So, we're not out anything. It was just a little bit of our time and but I think it was great dialogue and maybe the partnership can be strengthened. We talked about maybe where they do build that we could use them for other things. Um, maybe I think they're wanting to get engaged a little more than they have in the past. They still use our fieldhouse in the winter. Um, so we still have a partnership there, just not they won't be building the courts out there. Any questions on that? I want to thank Tony and AJ um and Dave Bon for working hard with me to see where we could go with that and and unfortunately ended where we're at. So your ball is still available those
083rackets and balls for Christmas. >> Um I just put in there the Speak Up Speak Out annual report. I think it's always um we do use Speak Up Speak Out annually or we use it. We train our students on it. parents do use it. There was, you can see in the report, almost 7,000 tips this school year across the state. We had 103. Um, our Chromebooks tend to be the number one way that it gets done. And between 9 and 1:00 is when we get most of our tips. We do get some on weekends. Uh, we do get some other times as well. I just want to point that out that um, it's a very productive. It's something really positive for the state. Um there is on the back some more information about submissions um
084that we'll talk about later this evening, but we do keep so the community knows. We do give turn in all of our submissions um to the state. They're uploaded into a Department of Justice and I've actually been called and talk about our submissions and what we put in there and been very complimentary and said they're really thinking we're doing a good job. And then finally at the very end talks about unification and standard safety protocol and using I love you guys. 75% of the districts um plan to use this for their staff student reunification. So just so you know that's what we use and our we did send out all that information home to parents as well. Um just real quick community nights in there. Um our staff does a great job. Harlem leads the
085community tech help. It's always fun working with community members especially after Christmas. They bring in boxes. I got this. How do I use it? It's always a fun one. Harl and I enjoy it. Can I open it and will you show me how to use it? So, have a lot of fun. A lot of repeat customers, but always have some new faces. So, if anybody out here, anybody even in the room wants to come to volunteer andor be part of it, we'd love to have you. Um, the schedule in the district, just a reminder, Becky touched on this. This is a very unique year that we are off of school for two full weeks, December 22nd through January 2nd. I think sometimes and I am reminded by our staff there is a lot of us
086including administrators and year- round staff that don't have off every day over those two weeks. Our district open operates our wellness center. We have activities athletics going on. Um we are we are busy as well. So just so you know um it is a great break. U we hope our staff does take some time with their family especially the holidays and the new year but um our students are off and our certified staff support staff that work with student are off summer December 22nd through January 2nd and we're looking forward to making 2026 a great one. Uh one of the things I've been for feedback of trying to go out to coffee chats and different I've done public speaking events. I've done coffee chats tried lots of things. Um one of the things I thought
087would be beneficial um is to our partnerships with our township. So Susie assisted me. We've reached out to every city and town in our district and um three of them have already invited me in. Um I'm saving Eagle River till spring because of some topics. Also a chance for Tony probably to come with me to that one as well. But I am going to New bowl in January and Land of Lakes in February. I think it's really important to keep these partnerships and sometimes you ask everybody to come to you but you need to go out to them. So, I thought this was a great opportunity to represent our district and answer questions. Um, New Bold specifically asked me to talk about school finance. So, we'll bring them one pager and talk about that. Taxes
088are going out right now, so that's probably very timely. Um, shared with you what goes out to parents and what's on our website for inclement weather days. And then finally, I just wanted to let you know um we're seeing more kids and families in need with things going on. Um so one of the things fork or feed our real kids who I will just for transparency um say that I'm on the board it's all volunteer 100% there's no paid positions in port um but the we voted this time to support kids of three legs Phelps North Pines students who typically get the backpack or have been identified as a family in need not just each family but each student gets $25 are getting two $25 5 voucher for they're good for a month. And the
089good thing about this and this is something we've learned in our training um is we really want to keep that money local. So those vouchers are good at Three Lakes grocery store um market up in Atlanta St. Germaine at camps and then at Triggs and Eagle River. Those grocery stores are willing to work with us and take these and then they ask for us to pay for that. So if a family choose not to use them, they're not just wasted. All the people that donated for this stuff, then their money is being used wisely. It's for we hope families, it says they're on there for fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, kind of the staples that maybe would help a family for two weeks off is a lot. If you all of a sudden those of you
090had teenagers would know your refrigerator would look very different. Mr. Seager, good luck for two weeks of uh two boys eating out of your refrigerator. So, we see what they eat on a given day here. So, all kidding aside, um it is something that I'm proud that Fork and the communities that supported Fork is able to do for families in all three school districts, including ours. So, those went home, those go home tomorrow and throughout this week to those different grades. And this we have expanded it in the last couple years and now impacts 4K through 12. used to be only elementary in our district because we were so big. The Fork has decided to help support middle and high school students at both at the S Middle School's always been involved, but now we're
091doing the middle and high school building here and in S High School. That concludes our business of the regular board meeting. Thank you everybody for being here and happy holidays, merry Christmas and will go into close session. I will make a motion to convene in close session pursuant to Wisconsin statute 19.85 subsection C for the purpose of one to consider the renewal of administrator contracts as well as the new 26 2026 2028 district administrators contract all as related to performance. Two to discuss support staff evaluations performance and related changes. Three in accordance with Wisconsin statute 19.85 subsection to discuss an school district safety plan noting that the board may take action in close session. All right. And we'll do a roll call. So, >> yes. >> Becky, >> yes.