001Good evening and welcome to the October 2025 regular board meeting of the Northland Pines Board of Education. Would you please join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Here is here. Susie has the meeting to open. >> Yes, it has. >> Entertain a motion to approve the agenda. All in favor, please say I. >> First on the agenda, school board recognition and appreciation. >> Just want to recognize go. Sorry about that. I just want to recognize the Wisconsin School Board Associate, excuse me, Wisconsin Association of School Boards, WSB, designates October 5th through the 11th as Wisconsin School Board Week in order to build awareness and understanding the vital function that elected Board
002of Education plays in our communities. North Pine School District is pleased to honor local board members for their commitment to the North Pines school community and its children. Our school board members serving our district and their years of service are as follows. Jen Payne, 11 years. Chris Patriquez, eight years. Becky Nordine, seven. Eric Lane, four. Chelsea Romaker, two. Nick Seager, one. And Paul UB's been on since April. It takes strong schools to build a strong community. And these men and women devote countless hours to making sure their schools are helping every child learn at a high level. They make tough decisions every and spend many hours studying education issues and regulations in order to provide the kind of accountabilities our citizens expect. Schoolboard members give the North App School community citizens a voice in education
003and decision-making. Even though we make it a special effort to show appreciation October, their contribution is a year-round commitment. Please join in giving me and the North Pines giving join me in giving the North Pine School Board members a round of applause for their dedication to our students and staff. >> [applause] >> There's a little token from the district um in front of you. Uh there's a mug with your name on the schoolboard that was made by Eagle Manufacturing. So, they did a great job and we thought having our students do that was an added bonus to this process. [laughter] >> That's right. Thanks again for all you do. Makes a a big difference and helps us guide us as we move forward for this year and coming years. >> Thank you very much. Thank
004you everyone. Thank you to my fellow members for your commitment to our students and staff. >> All right, moving on to the next um item on our agenda, the public participation. Anyone wish to speak this evening? No, we do not have any. All right, moving forward. We'll go to board communications. Is there any board member that has anything they'd like to communicate to any other board member? >> We'll move on to committee reports. >> Well, there is one item in here. I'm sorry. That's >> um Paul and myself, speaking of dedicated hours and learning and extra time, um Paul, Tony, and I attended the regional event for the WSB. Um So, additional lots of learning of things going on politically, impacts on schools, um, good networking with some other districts. We sat with the Three
005Lake school board and their superintendent. Um, but one of the things they shared out I thought was really relevant and you have a copy of it at your desk or in front of you. Um, anybody else wants to see this in the public, we have copies that be happy to share. U, but basically I just thought took a little piece from their presentation and really emphasized the first page. Um Iowa did a big study on the key findings of school boards and the work they do. One is high achieving the outcomes where high achieving B boards hold an elevating belief system. They believe all students can learn at high levels and they see their role as unlocking student potential. And then low achieving boards often accept limitations based on social economic factors and focus more
006on ma managing than improving. And then I thought the next one where it says what are the key five key leadership goals of the school board is set clear high expectation hold the system accountable create conditions for success build collective will and learn together as a board team. So I just thought it was um good takeaways. There was other learning we did um currently on some bills and different things going on in Madison in addition to this some preview of the schoolboard convention coming in January. But overall it was a long evening, but a good evening for learning and networking. So, thanks to Paul and Tony for going along and learn some new things. Paul, is anything else? Sure. >> No, I I thought um when they had each board kind of share their success
007for the year, most of them felt it was their recent referendum. But, Three Lakes happen to mention that they just kind of reprogram their spirit pride through the logo and I just thought that's just a simple simple way to reestablish students pride within their school. So, it's just something to think about as we continue to move forward with our students. >> Thank you guys for that's always a good networking event and a good dinner. All right. Our board committee reports uh written minutes are for standing board committees are shared in the board packet in board docs and are in public view. Does any board member have any questions for other board members regarding the minutes of any communication? We talked about the or the school board convention. Everybody needs to get back to Susie with
008their RSVP. Our next item is our consent agenda action items. Is there any item that any board member wishes to remove from the consent agenda? We can discuss any of these items once we make the motion. Not hearing any. I'll entertain a motion for the consent agenda. >> I'll make a motion to approve all items contained in the consent agenda. >> I'll second. Any discussion? >> Yeah, I'd like to ask Jen Le to come up and just share. We didn't bring this to policy. So, I always want to give you a heads up um on something when you've only seen it once. I think it's something you're very familiar with, but um Miss Lee has stepped up to help on some leadership side of it. And this is our planning for next year's field trip
009to Washington DC. [cough] >> Oh, okay. All right. Um So, I am taking over the Washington DC trip. Um, they're actually going in a couple days for this year's trip and then we are planning for [snorts] pretty much the same week um for next year. We are currently going like every year, but we're going to go every two years moving forward or at least the hope is um we get the numbers uh and to take freshman and sophomores and so every two years the freshman and sophomore will have that opportunity. Uh we looked at a couple two different places to get quotes this year and we are going to change the company um and go with who the music has gone through which is Bob Rogers travel. Um it was a couple $100 cheaper and
010we hear good things from the music people too. So, um I don't know if there's other details there. It used to be at one point a five day, four night trip, but we kind of cut it back a little bit, save a little money, so we'll be going four days, three nights. >> It's a large event by families, staff, and our students most importantly. And currently, Dr. Marine and Mr. Grapha are working through with some closures out in DC right now. We have to work our way through navigating that. So, Dr. Marine and Mr. Graph are working through that with some updates coming tomorrow. So, we obviously want to have our kids have a great experience if they're spending the money and going all the way out there. So, thanks to the whole social studies
011team that's worked on this in the past and then Dr. Marine will get answers to those students and families about the next trip. But tonight, you'd be approving all the planning and fundraising and that are needed so they can be ready to go. It's been a great experience for our students and we try to get them some of them come in and share. >> Everything I look at is that capped at like 35. >> So to get the current estimate that we have and it's just an estimate quote um they they set it at the 35 mark if we got significantly less like under 30 then it would probably raise a little. Um, and so if we got a whole heck of a lot more than that, it would probably mean two buses. And that
012would be kind of a maybe we'd think about going back every year if we got that many kids. >> And that's students and chef. >> Yeah. Um, yeah, it would be a total a combined number. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Are you traveling this fall? >> No, I am not. Um there's a graph on there is um and actually the provider is still going to um and then there's a handful of other chaperones going to I think a couple of our school employees. So >> Wilson who's currently still autist >> but it's always nice to have somebody knows more of the kids too. So >> I did I did that trip many many years ago as a ninth grader and I still remember >> yeah it um they just I mean you can pack
013so much in DC because it's just >> there's a lot right there to see. So >> just want to give Carrie thank you. >> I want to give Carrie a chance just to mention um we board policy anytime we get a thousand dollars or more we need to approve it. And then also just want to thank um the Eli Memorial UCC community outreach. So Carrie, I just want to mention what you plan on using those the $2,000 donation for. >> Sure. Um I will also do a plug for them. So this is the committee that hosts a gigantic grab sale the first weekend in August. There's the land of Lakes is a communitywide. Well, this church specifically that crew does this and they give all the money raised from the grab sale back into the
014community. So, it's always a huge success. Any grab sailor, I highly recommend Land the first Saturday. Um, but they've always been very generous with us and we're usually one of the first stops to say, "What do you need? What can we help with?" We generated some ideas from the teachers and Miss L, you know, has asked for new V suits or for additional ones for the kids and Miss Beni said our gardening gloves and things need to be updated and they also have paid for um a couple of the North Lakeland Discovery Center for them to come and do programs with the kids. They're doing uh two programs in a couple of weeks out at the old Conserve School campus where Sore Middle School is doing a sleepover there. And then we already have a
015date set for them to come on the lake. So, we just we just they're great neighbors and love to support the kids. >> Then the other donation which is kind of a fun um the Muskies Inc. Headarters chapter 12 local group who's been very generous in multiple ways to our school district um did give $1,000 for the fish lab. And I actually put a link in the agenda if you want to see the muskies swimming around. It might be dark in there right now, but They are actually in Eager River Elementary. I think there's two in there right now, last count. So, it's kind of fun seeing the DNR. They are local muskies that were caught or through the DNR process and then will be raised and released again. So, the kids get very excited.
016They learn a lot. Um, we do different different fish in different schools and but it's a great project. So, that's also in there. So, that's all I have. >> Any other questions on any other items? Thank you to those community partners for those hands on things for our students. All right, all in favor please say I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> All right, we're going to get into our discussion and action items next. So, first is our approval of the 202526 budget amendments and setting our tax levy. I will make a motion to approve the 2025 2026 budget amendments as presented and to approve and set the tax levy amount at 20,680,355 consisting of 20,000 I'm sorry 20,545,138 in fun 10 $45,217 in fund 380 in fund 39 and $90,000 in I'll second that.
017>> All right, motion has been made and seconded. Is there any other discussion? >> Terra's here tonight. We just want to um share a couple of changes since um we can only give you so much data. We did some estimates and now those estimates became firm numbers based on the state and other things. Um so since our meeting it seems like that that long ago, but a lot of information and data shares changed. So you you want to work off of the um budget levy update. Is that what she chair? >> Yeah. >> Um so kind of two pieces of this. First, we get data from DPI um to help us set the final levy because if your aid is adjusted by the state or if you have a whole bunch of voucher, that's going
018to impact how much you ask your taxpayers for. Um so our revenue limit was not impacted greatly. Um the final property value was slightly So that will push the rate down a little bit. That was the only thing that changed. Um our final FTE was 10 less members than we had projected. Um total levy is 60,177 more. That is mostly due to the fact that we got a bigger chunk of dollars that we can ask our taxers for exemption. And then we did have some students in voucher program. So we need to collect from our tax and send it to the state in June. So overall did increase slightly and that will push the rate up. So from $322 per $323 it's a decrease from last year. So, I want to be just clear that
019it went up a penny from last month estimates, but it's a decrease from what they saw in their tax bills last year. So, I think that's really important. I [clears throat] also want to mention um before going into a couple of the other items, she mentioned vouchers. One thing we had not seen on our tax bill um even even what was recommended for us to put in our budget was zero. When this information came out, we saw that we will be collecting on behalf of the state of Wisconsin and our taxpayers $39,157. We collect this and then ship it out right away. But when people see their tax bill, they think it's going to North Pines and it's not. One of the frustrations I have with it is we just celebrated boards and representation of
020the local taxpayers. Well, that's 39,000. We don't even know what school it's going to. We don't even know what it's connected to. We just know it's going away. So, but unfortunately in your tax bill, you get that money comes on your taxes, comes to us. We never see it. It just goes to Madison, but it doesn't show that way. There's been multiple bills that wanted to put the actual voucher amount on each tax bill, but it keeps getting shot down. It's a political hot potato. Um, so right now, that's something we didn't, nobody projected that and came kind of a surprise to us, but it is um we didn't we haven't had it for a few years. So, we just want to make sure you and our taxpayers understand that that is a system. There
021are no voucher schools in Onida or by this county either. So, this money isn't staying local in any way. It's being shipped out and >> I'll just say to go along with the rate and the levy then we also can make budget amendments. We can make budget amendments at any time. Um I found it works best for us to do them now right after everyone saw it in September. There were a few small adjustments made mostly due to aid that we're going to be receiving that I wasn't sure on before salaries and benefits that we had estimated over the summer. So those budget amen please say I >> I Any opposed? Motion carries. Next item on the agenda is our committee. I'll make a motion to approve that the board and district will discontin the
022recording of all board committee meetings due to low views and sometimes no work involved to create and post recordings. Noting that the district will still continue to live our regular board meetings as the board meetings have had more views and therefore maintain value. I'll second. Any discussion? >> This is something we said we would try um based on feedback at the time and anything like much of our curriculum and other items we review every two to three years. Um the data would say it's not being used. The amount of time and resources it's absorbing. I want to be clear will not change. Not only do we record our board meetings, they are on our uh district YouTube channel as well. So, it's not just even a stream, it is record. Some districts don't even record
023them. They just stream them. But we do that way if you miss the meeting, you could go back and all the final decisions are made at the board meeting. The committee meeting has some discussion. But also, we've seen lack of attendance since the start of streaming as well. So, that's why some boards and including county and town and others don't stream because they feel people But I think compromises the school board meeting is still streamed discussion right in favor please say >> I motion carries our next item on the agenda is approval of renewals for insurance I'll make a motion to approve renewals of all of the following insurance and life insurance. Is there any other discussion? Any other discussion? All in favor, please say I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. We'll move on to
024administrative reports. Is there any administrative or principal administrator or principal that wants to add anything to their reports? Thank you for being so thorough. reports any highlights or anything like that. What's going on this week? Wednesday. >> Yeah, sure. Absolutely. Uh Wednesday is our kind serves the community day. So, we uh decided this morning that the weather is going to be good and we're going to get that done in the fall, which is always our last couple years has been our hope. I think we've only actually been able to go off once. Um but it's great for our kids to see our staff members out there working and uh to be able to build upon those relationships throughout the year make a lot more sense than doing it in May. Um, and then having three
025weeks to take advantage of those that just a different depth of relationship. So, uh, but yeah, we're going to go we have 66 locations right now that we're going to clean up on Wednesday um throughout the district. So, uh, working with the bus company and getting all of our routes and everything figured out, but uh, yeah, we're going to do that on Wednesday, which will be great. Um, are you going to mention cross country? >> You can. I I looked at your items. I didn't I don't want to take anything away from you, but uh we So, we're transitioning uh right now from fall to winter sports. Um all of our high school sports are are finished, uh except for one of our cross country runners that qualified for state, uh which is this Saturday
026in Wisconsin Rapids, Ethan Miller, uh who's a junior. Um so, it's very exciting for us. We're going to do a bit of a send off for him Thursday afternoon, even though he doesn't leave till Friday. Uh but with no school Friday with kids, we're going to do a Thursday afternoon at the end of the day. So, uh, uh, AJ's done a great job of organizing that event and that's the important uh, kickoff for him and a very exciting time for us. And then the other only other thing I have is tomorrow night at 7 o'clock is the public, uh, performance for our one act play. So, it's uh, they're the only time that the that they'll do a public performance tomorrow night at 7 o'clock. So, our students have the opportunity to see it during
027Eagle Time on the 12th of November, but as far as the public goes, tomorrow night's the night. >> I will just for this week for Sor High School. With it being Halloween, Sor High School does the uh at the school forest, we do an event where we uh decorate along the trails, which Sor High School does work to maintain the trails at uh the school forest. We do a during the daylight, we do a trick or trail, they call it, where younger kids can come and trickor treat along the trails in the school forest. And then at night, they turn it into the trail of terror. Um and then others can come, we do it as a a food uh a food raising um donation. So, they can either bring a canned food item or
028a donation for sore high school expeditions and then they can walk the trails at night of the uh school forest and get scared by groups of students that uh would like to do that. So, it's just a really good opportunity for to do something for the community, but also the kids really like to to do that. >> Trail of Terror. I'm glad the Trail of Terror isn't at All right. And then we have um so all the written reports from the uh principal, directors, and supervisors are in your work packet and also the reports from our school resource officers. And then we will go on to our district administrator report. >> Yeah, there was a sheet when you came in in the back. One of the always gets to be a highlight when I talk
029to community members. our kids. I think it's one of the great learning experiences similar to the service learning day where they realize that this community does so much for them. Um it's great to give back to it and and interact with the different community members and staff. But our veterans day program on November 11th, 9:00 here at the fieldhouse. Very large event. Our all of our students on this campus attend as well does many community members. And then if for veterans, we do have some treats and coffee afterwards made by our by our high school students. And then in St. Germaine, it's at 2:00 and in Land Lakes, it's at 1:30. So, um, two all three great events. Um, I know the local communities appreciate having it in all three and it's great learning, not
030only learning, but our kids do engage during process with some singing. And we also honor multiple alumni this year. Each year we we recognize an alumni with a special recognition and they come and say some words. So, we have here in New River. The other thing that's came up at my Veterans Day chat that I did last week was um there is this the federal government has wanted to honor the Vietnam vets this year with a special pinning and there's only one group that can do that and they are going to try to get to all three ceremonies. Um they're all volunteers, but they will then pin this commemorative pin that only they can give out and it has to be given out I think by November 11th. So, um, we're going to, we are
031following their lead how they want to do that. We thought about making it part of our ceremony, but they kind of want to do it afterwards and then leave it up to the Vietnam vets that want to. Some are not um, wishing to get it right now. So, that's up to them. We don't want, we respect and honor all they gave and however they would like to be recognized, we will honor that as well. So, just want to add that. Um, another way this community has stepped up in a huge way and you as a board also contributed to this um the um Halloween on the 31st we will have the ribbon cutting for the girls locker room. So that will not only be exciting time to open it, but our student athletes um will
032be able to be used this year, which is so crazy and amazing that a group had a dream and worked really hard and this community stepped up in many ways, time, money, um all kinds of ways to make this happen. So at 3:00 on October 31st out at the at the rink, there will be a ribbon cutting and celebration of that locker room. Um Mr. Z will be speaking at that event as well. So, if somebody can make it, that would be great. Um, we did share a letter. Um, all of you signed it. We want to thank Sheriff Bath for his years of service and partnership with the North Pine School District. Him and I have worked closely on things such as SRO and other school safety and then other topics over the years.
033Um, he's always been there when pick up phone call or stops. He stops in from time to time too. Most time I'll walk around the lecture, he's sitting there talking to kids. So, it's great. and they see him out there and doing those things. So, I want to say congratulations and thank you for an extremely dedicated career. Um, we are as we have um I think one of the things you know we talk about giving back our students but as a district and our mission is called community. Just a reminder that we have Fab Lab events that you're free to come in 4 to 6 p.m. in our Fab Lab. Same group that made the mugs. Our staff are there to help and support you. If you have an idea or dream that can make
034that happen. Holiday season's coming up. If you need to make a Christmas gift for that individualized special item, we'd love for you to come in. Um we also and Mr. Lucync and our staff volunteer for tech help. If you have a phone, a laptop, an iPad, any kind of electronic device, um we give one-on-one help. If you want to call ahead, please make sure um that we have enough people to help. But it's great to have people come in. We have some people that come almost every month, which is fine because you keep wanting to learn, spoon feed, and learn a little bit all the time. And then finally, just a reminder, it starts getting I know I want to say that word snow, but it will come eventually, but when it gets icy and
035it's dark early, um great time to come and use our walking track, all free multiple times that you can come in during the day and use our track and uh that does get a lot of community use. So, um just want to remind everybody about those things coming up. Um, one thing u next on the agenda, um, I tried an idea. Um, thanks to my administrative team, we kind of talked through some, um, positives and challenges to it, but we ended up doing it. Uh, we're going to do one no tech Wednesday every trimester. So, the teachers were told they could not use technology in their lessons and when they're teaching for safety, attendance, um even prepping for the next day, they could go back if a student had an IEP, they could use it.
036And really, let's get our staff to think about how we're instructing. Um there are some classrooms they're not heavily used of tech and and others use it a little more often. Um we have this tremendous campus. If you really look at all of our schools, we have great campuses to get kids side of learning, um, practical learning, hands-on. Um, it was good because I think it caused us some staff to start thinking about some of our curriculum. Um, it caused us as administrative team to think about some of the things we do. Could we do it differently? So, really wasn't meant to be quoteunquote painful or change. For some staff, it was no big deal. Some really appreciated it and kind of thought of it as a different way to look at their lessons. And
037maybe um, how do we reach all kids? Maybe some kids have enough time already. Um, a lot of classes it was like, "Oh, we weren't going to use tech that day anyway." So, but it just something different. We wanted to try to make sure that we're using tech effectively. So, it's not only not using it, but it caused us to reflect how do we use it effectively on the other days when we are using it. So, something different and try it. Um, if it didn't go well, I told Tony he could just get rid of it next year and blame it on me. Um, but it it did cause some good conversation with staff and some students I talked to. So, we'll see what the next one does and just kind of give you a
038full end ofear report when we're all done. Gave you a copy of your district goals in a clean format. We're redoing this poster. Our students are printing that for us as we speak. Get that up there. We also in November will be bringing you action plan for each of those items. Your district continuous improvement team made up of staff and edmond are going to finalize those. We worked on it once. Um, and we'll keep continuing on. Some of those goals they don't need to work on. um that we will focus on such as the fiveyear budget plans and those things that leaders are already working on those. Um last one for me or excuse me yeah I'll just make this my last one. Um I mentioned [clears throat] my veteran coffee chat which was great
039turnout and really great conversation. Um found some things that we can help out some of our veterans and we found some things that they're going to help us with. So, it was a really productive morning of coffee and and hope to see a lot of them at our veteran state. But I also wanted to just end with kind of sharing where we're at with enrollment. As we sit today, we have,59 physical students in our district or doing PLPS. That is slightly that is down from the prior year. Um, we are still up by over 20. I think it's almost 30 right now. Um it varies a little bit each day but right around 30 positive for open enrollment in versus enrollment out. So we continue to go in the positive direction there. But again as
040Tara shared with the budget tonight that's why you have the document with the pupil count. Um that shows that open enrollment and overall count and then we have to report those FTE in that left or far right column is really what the state of Wisconsin reports on. So it's not just because remember we only get six for 4K students. So, and even less for preK. So, just want to share that. I I've been sharing that all basically end of summer through start of school year. So, just want to keep you in the loop and make sure you know what we're doing and how things are going and we'll keep an eye on that. So, that concludes my report. [clears throat] >> All right, that being said, that concludes the business of our regular board meeting.
041Thank you all for being here. Have a nice evening and I will make a motion to go into close session. So that being said, >> all right, motion to convene. I will make a motion to convene in close session pursuant to Wisconsin statute 19.85 subsection 1 and D to consider the district safety plan and safety drill reports. And secondly, pursuant to the Wisconsin statute 120.13 subsection 1 and C and 19.85 subsection 1 and F to approve the special meeting close session minutes of October 13, 2025. The board may take action in close session and I will do a roll call. >> Oh, yes. >> Becky, yes. Jennifer is Chris. Yes, >> Chelsea Roaker. >> And >> yes, >> we are enclosed. >> Thanks everybody.