4.13.26- Board of Education Meeting

001All right, we're streaming. There we go. Streaming, recording, and the mics are live. There we go. Yeah, All right, it is six o'clock. We will call the regular uh board meeting to order. Roll call, please. >> All right. Miriam and Barbara >> here. >> Bert Richard >> here. >> Nelly Shy >> here. >> Uh Doug Kuchko >> here. >> Lori Zarbach >> here. >> Don Kusky >> here. >> Andrew Coupe >> here. >> Phil Hank >> here. >> And Kevin Jensen >> here. And Randy, was a proper notice given for this meeting? >> Yes. Please be advised that public notice of this meeting as required by sections 19.84 and 65.90 of the Wisconsin statutes has been properly given. Such notice consisted of a notice and agenda to the official newspaper and the rice chroner type

002to the Oaklair leader and to radio stations WJMC and WAQE indicating the date, time and place of the meeting. Such notice was given more than 24 hours prior to the meeting. >> Thank you. It does appear that a proper notice was given for this meeting. We will now stand for the pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Well, I'd like to welcome everyone here tonight for Don's last official meeting. for thanks for coming out and supporting him and his retirement years. >> So, thank you. >> I want to go on record. This is the largest meeting for a retirement that we've ever had. >> So, they heard

003they heard there's one free filling per first. >> I encourage you to give to the hat when it comes around. So, >> all right. So, with that, we are at the appearance section of our agenda. We uh always like to hear from our community and you have uh anybody that comes up to the podium has three minutes to uh talk to us. Keep in mind that it's not an agenda item. So we are not able to interact with you and ask questions and respond to answer your questions. Um but know that we are listening and we are hearing. Uh we ask that everyone be polite and respectful to everybody's time and uh opinions. And with that, um, and I see you guys have numbered these up differently. Does it >> Oh, the other thing with

004three minutes and then also policy 187, uh, states that, um, this time is allotted for 30 minutes. So, um, with that, we will get started. And Patty, let us know when you get up to the podium. Um, let us know who you are and where you're from. Uh, thank you very much. Um, my name is Patty Anderson. Um, I live at 178929 and one quarter Avenue. It's a Rice Lake Street address, but I live in the township of Bear Lake. Um, last evening I met with more than several of my constituents in of district 17. And look at all these constituents. And they're all your constituents, too. So, remember that. I believe it was in 2023 that I spoke to this board meeting about the importance of the Hogan Elementary to the Hogan community and

005the surrounding area. Quoting from the Rice Lake School District website, "Your mission is to partner with students, families, and community members to provide a safe learning environment that ensures students achieve academic and personal success for lifelong learners. The district emphasizes small classes and personalized instructions to support student growth particularly by teaching reading in the primary years. And I will point out that the small classes already do exist at the Hogan School. In 2024 25 report cards for schools overall scores were Tainter was 67.3, Hilltop was 70 and Hogan was 72.2 too with a note attached to the Hogan school that exceeds expectations. And according to the niche.com, Hogan is number one best public elementary in Baron County. So why would you think of closing it? I would like to propose a future agenda item to

006the board to discuss a five-year strategic plan to keep the Hogan School opened and continue to educate lifelong learners. This should have been proposed two years ago. I'm convinced that had this school been promoted as number one for the last two years instead of murmurings of it closing, we would not be having this conversation. And tonight, I did just look at the school district map, and I'm impressed at how strategically located the three schools are. Thank you, Casey. I am Casey Matthews. I have a son that goes to Hogan School. I was here a few years ago with concerns about Hogan School and how we didn't have a lunch lady. I am here now to tell you how great our parent group is. I'm the president of our parent group. Our parent group donates to

007our Hogan kids so much. We pay for their busing, their field trips, class parties, teacher needs, student needs. Whatever our students are lacking, our parent group is strong and as you can tell, we are here to stand together. I had a family member reach out last year. She was part of our parent group and she no longer is enrolled for Hogan Elementary because they open and roll at a different district. They go to Spooner because you closed the 4K at Hogan. You moved it. I understand that Hogan School is small, but we feel if you move those bus lines, Hogan School can have those class sizes back to where they need to be and we can find a balance between all of the schools where all of our students learn and those small classes. Our

008scores will continue to increase because less is more. I'm going to be calling up Chrissy Kodish and she is going to explain to you the positive impact that a small school has done and what our teachers, our staff can do and the power they have on not just our general education but also our special education. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Christine Cotes. I was a substitute teacher for the district for 10 years in all of the schools and this is my fourth year as a paraprofessional at Rice Lakeake Middle School. I am also a parent to students at Hogan Elementary. My oldest child was diagnosed with selective mutism when he was four years old. For those of you who don't know, selective mutism is an anxiety- based disorder in which children who are

009normally very talkative at home and with comfortable people are unable to speak in certain environments or with new individuals. He started his kindergarten year barely able to walk through the doors. He would hide under tables when everyone else went to the carpet. He would freeze sitting in his chair when everyone else went to art or music. For three quarters of the school year, he didn't say a single word. Fast forward to today, you could walk into his classroom and not be able to pick him out from his peers. He is even able to get up in front of his class and present. All of this was possible because he was able to attend a small welcoming school that offered a controlled environment. I've heard the statement from some board members that we need to keep

010emotions out of our decision and we need to look from a financial viewpoint. I say there is more to it than just monetary value. My son has become who he is today because of Hogan School. I can say with confidence that he would not have made these strides if he would have attended any other elementary school in our district. There is value in the fact that Hogan is a small school. There is value in the fact that every teacher knows the name of every single student. There is value in making these kids feel like they are part of a community. I work with and have worked with students in the district who I feel could have also benefited from the environment that Hogan has to offer. Using peer modeling for social skills is significantly more

011efficient when peer groups aren't changing yeartoear. We as a district should be taking advantage of this amazing resource of Hogan Elementary. I leave you with this. I asked my son the other day if a couple friends he were talking about were his best friends. He looked at me confused and asked, "What do you mean?" I said, "Well, are they your good friends? Like friends that you really get along well with?" His response was heartwarming. He told me, "Mom, we are all good friends. I guarantee you will not find that level of friendship in any other school in the district. Thank you >> Ashley. >> Hello. I'm Ashley Kilcoin. I live at 23rd and a half street. Most know it as brill. According to the Institute of Educational Sciences, the sense of belonging refers to the

012extent to which a student feels personally accepted, included, and supported at school. This quote sums up how I felt when I found out that my 4K student was not going to hogen with his older brother. As a mom with kids in two out of the three elementary schools, I can compare. I am saddened to say that the experience of acceptance, inclusion, and support in my littlest does not even come close to what my eldest receives at Hogan. As a parent, I also quickly gained the sense of belonging with my fellow parents. As you can see by the attendance in this room, I have had many conversations with current and future families over the last few years. Many such as the Zealots that look forward to sending their young children specifically to Hogan and many such

013as the Hegnas and the Pattersons, a family of three that chose to relocate to Hogan to specifically enroll in Hogan for the smaller class sizes. There are also multiple families like the Kotishes such as the Petersons that are forever grateful for the success of their students because of the higher level of belonging Hogan creates. Then there are families such as the Walstrom that are excited that many they may finally have the choice to send their youngest to Hogan because they have always heard how great the Hogan School is. Unfortunately though, through many of my conversations, they leave me broken because more families than I would like to admit have told me if Hogan is not an option, open enrollment to find a smaller school is their next plan. I can agree with these families frustrations

014because in the board of education's welcome message, you promote small class sizes in which I agree we all should. Wellsupported research has shown how beneficial smaller class sizes are to the fundamental stages at the elementary level. Not only promoting belonging, but they increase student engagement, decrease negative behaviors, and improves academic achievement. For these reasons, I believe we should find a solution to even out our students to keep our class and school sizes small instead of eliminating a resource in which increases class and school sizes. Thank you for your time, >> Courtney. Hello. Um Courtney Nanstead 273216th Street in Rice Lake, but it's actually um known as known as uh Swamp Road in what just west of Hogan. Um I would uh I would like to address the three action items on tonight's agenda. First, I'm

015formally requesting to delay any vote regarding the closure of Hogan Elementary. This decision should not move forward until the community has been given proper notice, sufficient time to review the information, and access to complete and transparent data. That data should also be reviewed by an independent third party to ensure accuracy, objectivity, reliability, uh, enrollment projections over the next 5 years. As every board member here stated uh at the March 23rd board meeting in in agreement that there would be no vote regarding the closure of Hogan Elementary and I ask that you reference the recording at the 1 hour and 41 minute mark if needed for a decision of this magnitude. The current timeline does not allow for meaningful community input. The proposed boundary changes were introduced at the last meeting on March 23rd. Families were

016notified about this community meeting uh only days before it was held last Thursday on April 9th and the vote is scheduled for tonight. I would not say that this is fair or a reasonable notice. It's been 3 days since this action item was listed on the agenda which was posted on Friday. Second, uh there has been no meaningful data presented to the parents at the April 9th meeting and only some families were contacted directly. This creates unequal access to information and leaves too many questions unanswered, including options that have yet to be fully explored. Prior discussion here noted that keeping three schools open helps with spreading out the risk um such as insurance claims and illness rather than concentrating impacts uh concentrating impacts across fewer schools. The board here does not even know how many

017students they will lose to other districts with the closure of Hogan. These considerations deserve further analysis before any irreversible decisions are made. While we know that moving the attendance line does not fix the budget, it will help alleviate the overcrowding at Tainter and support Hogan. The Hogan parents formally request that the board approves moving the attendance line. In closing, I request that there be no vote on the closure of Hogan Elementary at this time. I request that they approve the attendance boundary, including moving it at least 2 miles south or as determined by an independent expert or even back to its original place in 21. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Britney, >> thank you. My name is Britney Brust and I reside in Hogan, Wisconsin. We want to take thank you for your time,

018your service, and the weighty decisions you carry on behalf of our community. Tonight, we are not asking for a quick fix or for a temporary solution. We are asking for something more responsible, more strategic, and more hopeful. A 5-year plan to keep our Hogan Elementary School open. The school is more than a building. Is where generations have learned, grown, and found stability. It's where relationships are built, not just between students and teachers or families and neighbors. This is truthfully the future of this Hogan community. A five-year plan will give us something that we so desperately need, direction. It allows us to set measurable goals. We can do this by creating marketing plans, exploring budgeting solutions, the combination of classroom sizes, and working to utilize the resources we currently have within the community. Creating this plan

019will replace all of the uncertainty with intention. Give us 5 years. Work with the community to create a plan. give this school the opportunity to prove its value, not just in numbers, but in impact. Because once the Hogan Elementary School is closed, we don't get it back. Thank you, >> Heidi. Good evening. My name is Heidi Small and I'm a second grade teacher at Tainter and a parent of two elementary students. We have heard many thoughts on behalf of Hogan Elementary and its students. Undoubtedly, Hogan has many great opportunities, a wonderful staff, and devoted families. But I'm here in support of all Rice Lake Area School District elementary students. While I hear the concerns of the Hogan families and I most definitely empathize with them, I would like to take a moment to speak about

020the impact on class sizes at both Tainter and Hilltop Elementary. This year's Tainter first grade has classes of 20 and 21 students, while the fourth grade classes each have 24 students. These class sizes mean less individual attention to student needs, loud louder learning environments, more t time spent on behavior and redirection, longer transition time resulting in less learning time, more anxiety among students, to name a few. In my own 16 years of teaching, I have had class sizes ranging between 15 and 23 students per year. I can attest to the fact that class size does have a direct impact on the quality of education our students receive. Just the other day, my first grade daughter came home with a note asking for volunteers for her field trip. She said, "Well, you know, mom, there are

02121 kids in our class, and there is only one Mrs. Van Gilder." While Mrs. Mrs. Van Gilder along with all of our teachers and staff support staff are doing their very best to accommodate class sizes. My first grader is noticing the great responsibility it takes to care for 21 students. I recently read a social media post from Hogan parents urging the community community to save their children. It seems though that we should be taking the students at Tainter and Hilltop into consideration as well. If it is reasonable and feasible to have class sizes of six to nine children at Hogan, what would you consider equitable class sizes at Tainter and Hilltop? In the event that Hogan were to close, rest assured that these students would be well taken care of at either Tainter or Hilltop.

022These schools too have great administration, caring staff, and supportive families. your children would have access to amazing interventionists, specialists, and support staff. I assure you that the resources and opportunities available to you at Hogan won't disappear if you were to join one of our other great schools. In a perfect world, enrollment would allow us to fill up all three schools. Ideally, you would be able to find a way to keep Hogan open while securing reasonable class sizes across the district. I'm here neither in favor of nor against closing Hogan. I'm simply here asking you to consider equable equitable learning environments for all students districtwide. Thank you. >> Good evening. Uh I am a village trustee in the village of Hogan. So I'm here in support of the Tainer School closing. Well, Jeff Blanch, sorry. Um,

023closing the school would be detrimental to the village of Hogan. Uh, the village of Hogan is getting younger. There are younger families moving in because of the school district in Hogan, the school in Hogan specifically. To go ahead and get rid of this would be detrimental to the village of Hogan. You talk about it. I realize that you're not responsible for the village of Hogan, but it is part of the Rice Lake district and it will have a detrimental effect on the district of Rice Lake. So closing it is going to go ahead and increase class sizes in other schools. It's going to have an impact on the village of Hogan and its residents to where kids are going to be going to other schools. And I don't think any of you would like that

024to happen. You don't want to see the school district of Rice Lake going downhill. And that's if you close Hogan, that's what's going to happen. The village of Hogan is here to support the school district, has done a great job supporting the school in Hogan and will continue to do so as long as it stays open. It needs to stay open. I can sympathize with you all for the budgetary things and everything that you have to decide as I am in that position as well. But we need to go ahead and keep moving forward with the Hogan School to keep the Hogan community open, to keep students in the Rice Lake District to continue growing, to continue developing and to not only graduating high school, but to become individuals that can go ahead and Hogan

025School provides a great opportunity for these kids to grow, to be great people. A lot of people think a small school can't do that, but hogging can and is. So, I am suggesting that you go ahead and push off a vote on closing to go ahead and expand the boundaries and let's get something planned together because in 5 years, if this school closes and now you send all these kids to Tainter and Hilltop, what's going to happen in five years? Are you going to be asking for a referendum for $10 million or whatever the cost would be because you need another building? That's something that also has to be weighed into this decision. It's not something that can happen quick and easy. There's got to be a lot of consideration into it and I know

026you put a lot of time in and I thank you for that. But closing Hogan School right now with such short notice is not going to be the answer for now or in the long term. The village of Hogan is going to suffer from it. There'll be residents that are going to be moving out. When we've started to get residents in, there's a development going in to get more families into the village of Hogan to go ahead and keep that school open, younger families. And that's what we as a village need. And that's what the district of Rice Lake needs as well. So, I implore you to put off a vote on closing the school tonight. Chad. >> Good evening. My name is Chad Langanger. I'm a third grade teacher at Tanner Elementary School. I'm

027speaking today as a staff member who cares deeply about the students and families across our entire district. We understand that maintaining multiple buildings and balancing enrollment is complex. This is not about one school versus another, though. It's about equity and stability for all students of Rice Lake. Right now, we're seeing a significant difference in class sizes across buildings. Some classrooms have as few as 6 to 12 students, while others are now in the low to mid20s. Previously, our district had a class size cap of 18 in grades K through three. As that has been removed, the gap between class sizes has now widened. If the district plans to keep all buildings open, we are asking that class sizes be made more equitable, potentially by revisiting a district-wide cap so that all students have access to

028similar levels of support and attention. We are also concerned about the proposal to shift students between buildings. While it may be help while it may help balance numbers in the short term, it can create real emotional and academic strain. Students may be asked to leave their friends, teachers, and routines only to potentially move back again a year later. That kind of instability can have lasting impacts. We respectfully ask for clarity on the district's long-term plan. Is this a sustainable solution or a temporary measure? Understanding that vision will help us better support our students with consistency and care. Thank you for your time and your commitment to all our students in the district. >> Danielle, >> good evening. I'm Danielle Peterson. I'm actually speaking on behalf of Rachel LS who could not be present tonight. Um,

029good evening and thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak tonight. Obviously, I'm not Rachel. I'm Denil. But I'm She's a parent of students at both Tainter Elementary and the middle school. I also help lead the Tainter parent group. Education is something that's always been important in my life. Both of my parents are retired public school teachers as well as I am. So, I've seen firsthand the lasting impact strong public schools can have on a community. I truly believe that a thriving public school system is one of the most important investments a community a community can make. Strong schools attract new families and businesses. And we've seen this in Hogan. They create a sense of pride and they bring graduates back. People who want to raise their own families here, including my son, my

030future grandchildren would go to Hogan and invest in the future of this area. That's what we all want. We want our kids to attend schools like Hogan. Schools that offer a small town community feel where students are known, supported, and valued. A big part of that is maintaining small class sizes across all grades from 4K through 12th grade. Right now at Tainer, a fourth grade class has three classrooms with 24 students in each class. That is not small. That is a significant number of students for one teacher to teach effectively. This is a concern. Larger class sizes make makes it harder to provide individualized attention. Harder to build strong relationships and harder to meet the diverse needs of every student in that room. When classrooms are this full, both students and teachers feel the impact.

031If we truly value the small town school experience that so many of us want, like what we see in places like Hogan, that we need to prioritize smaller class sizes. That's where students thrive. That's where they are seen, supported, and set up for success. I've seen this personally this year. I served as a yearbook adviser and worked with seven fourth graders. Even that small group, I quickly realized how much more effective it would be to split to even smaller groups to be better support them. That experience really highlighted for me how important manageable group sizes are for learning and engagement. I also want to be honest about something. Fundraising alone will not save our schools. GoFundMe pages and small fundraisers can help us extras, but they're not long-term solutions to the challenges we're facing. What

032we need is communitywide commitment. We need the entire Rice Lake school community to invest not just financially, but with time and energy. That means volunteering in classrooms, supporting teachers, showing up for events, and being actively involved in our schools. If we want to preserve what makes our school special, it's going to take all of us working together. Our kids deserve that. Our teachers deserve that. And our community depends on that. Thank you for your time, >> Mike. Good evening. I'm here for a different agenda item. I'm here for the uh agenda item entitled revised OPEB language. And I would guess there's hardly anyone in the audience that knows what that is. Um about a year ago, the finance committee um investigated some updated retirement language and uh there was interest of staff and community at

033the time and if you recall it was more or less tabled at that time. no action was taking place and at that time the agenda item was quote updated retirement language end quote updated retirement language for the last five finance committee meeting agendas there's been an acronym or an abbreviation on the agenda OPEB without any explanation without any detail uh the minutes from the past four meetings just state discussed current OPEB language. And now tonight you have in your packet some revised language. Tonight is not the night I think for that item. I would respectfully request that you table that item so that staff can be provided the time and the opportunity to be informed, possibly even have some input. Thank you. >> Sherry. >> Hi there. I'm Sher Breast and I'm a grandma. I

034had two of my three kids that went to Hogan. Loved it. Fabulous. I then later in the years had daycare for 15 years which most of them kids went to Hogan who were amazing. I now have five grandchildren who have attended Hogan and they're amazing. They love it. The small groups are just they're just impeccable. I just have one question and this may take you back a few years and I don't envy any of you guys and I definitely don't envy you Mr. draws. And I know they're tough positions, but I want to go back a few years and I want to see 3, four years. When did this decline start? How did it happen? Um I that's my main question. How did we get to this position where we're now voting on closing one

035of the best schools that's been around in years? And I guess that's it. Thank you for everything. >> Lisa, >> hello. My name is Lisa Hankle and I am a parent of two kids that go to Hogan right now and I have a third that will attend Hogan in the future. Um, I just kind of piggybacking off of them. I don't really understand how we got to this point. You guys changed the line, the boundary line. We aren't even supposed to go to Hogan. We're supposed to go to Hilltop. And we live closer to Hogan than we do Hilltop. So when you guys saw the decline of the school, we should have been talking about moving the line before this point, before a do or die point. My children have thrived at Hogan. When I

036asked parents in the community where I should send my killed children, everyone said Hogan. My dad has been a substitute teacher for many years. He's substituted at Cameron, Turtle Lake, Cumberland, all of the Rice Lake school districts. and he has said Hogan is the best school because of the class sizes because of the community that you feel you feel like family there. My middle child is very shy. He does not like when people are looking at him. He does not like to be the center of attention. He was actually student of the month back in December. And all the other kids stood proudly next to their teacher. He clung to his teacher's leg because he felt safe next to her. Otherwise, he probably would have been sitting on my lap because he wouldn't have been

037able to face a group of strangers talking about his student of the month award. But he felt safe next to his teacher. He clung to her the whole time. I also take my boys to a million sporting events at Rice Lake. We go to basketball games. We go to soccer games, football games, and their teachers see them out at their basketball games, and they know exactly how to make them light up. They are not just a number. They thrive in the smaller class sizes, and you can just tell when you're out and about that those teachers just make such an impact on their lives. So, I hope that you guys would at least try and move the line, promote the school a little bit better, and save Hogan School. Thank you, >> Jesse Gross. I'm

038a father. Um, as everybody has said, um, I understand how hard of a decision you folks have to make today. Um, I don't appreciate the hastiness of it. Um, seems like it could be solved in another way and as everybody said, Hogan School has done wonders for our son. Um he is a very smart kid. Um looks forward to going to school every day. Um so we really hope that you'll take all this into account and see if we can work on a solution to keep hoging open. Please. Thank you. And that concludes our 30 minutes. I want to thank everyone for being here and expressing uh your thoughts. And uh we we appreciate all of our family uh support. With that, we will move on to the next agenda item, which is to approve

039our regular session meeting minutes for Monday, March 23rd. >> So moved. >> Motion has been made. Is there a second? >> Second. Motion has been made and seconded. All uh any further discussion. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed and the minutes have been approved. Next we have our consent agenda where we have our monthly budget and cash reconciliation report, our board bills. We have three employment resignations and 20 employment recommendations. And I would entertain a motion to approve our consent agenda. Move to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second it. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. And the consent agenda has been approved. >> Are you going to get teen tissue box

040in front of Miam? >> Thank you. Thank you. Cheers. Join. And yes, it's wonderful that all these folks came came out tonight for you. All right. And and I won't make this too long, but that's all right. >> Uh Don Kusky uh was initially elected to the Rice Lake Area School District Board of Education in 2006 and served until 2018. Then then we let him take a little break and then again has served from 2022 to present and has served as the vice president since 2024. Uh while on the school district board of education, Don has served on um some of these committees that maybe don't even exist. You've served on, I think, every buildings and grounds, curriculum, policy and legislative advocacy, de district administrator, observation committee, negotiations committee, compensation committee, finance committee, parks and

041recck committee. He's also served as the WSB public policy correspondent, um as an OPED trustee, and as the CISA 11 representative. So that's pretty much anything almost that you can do. >> Yes. So, uh, with that, ladies and gentlemen, this is Don's last meeting, and so, uh, you bet. We've got a couple of things for Don. One is a plaque that says, "Presented to Don Kusky for your dedicated service to the Rice Lake Area School District Board of Education, 2006 to 2018 and 2022 to 2026." >> Good picture, uh, Colleen. I have a question. Don't dentist hate plaque? >> Good one. Good one. He's been holding on to that one for a while. >> And a and a bell for Don as well. That signifies those states. So, thanks Don. And I too will just

042say one thing on behalf of the board, Don. It's been a pleasure and an honor to have you help get us through some difficult times over the years. Um, and uh, your leadership has been greatly appreciated and will be missed. >> I'll miss all of you. Thanks, Jeff. Thanks. Thank you. All right. Now, we will get into our report section where it'll be the child development day and 4K enrollment update. First >> this one first child development day. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. >> Pre year uh we offer a child find and combine that with our child development day um where we do 4K enrollment as well. So gives families a chance to see a snapshot of what 4K looks like. The kids can come to school and meet some teachers um learn about

043all the school and um what will happen in 4K. And with that we also have child find that Lori will talk. >> Yep. So child find um is a requirement by law that we try to find any students in our district that potentially might have a disability. So, as part of our child development day, we bring in um specialist um we do the hearing checks, we do vision checks, we have our speech language pathologists there, uh special ed teachers and just kind of do observation and screening um to potentially identify any students with um disabilities and that's free to the the people that come. So, this year we had um two different evenings where we did child development days. Um on Tuesday, January 27th, we were at Hilltop. And then on Thursday, January 29th at

044Tanger. We did these both in the evening because now we have um 4K all day, 5 days a week. Um we promoted it um on social media. Postcards were sent, flyers were sent out, it was on the radio on and in the newspaper. Um we um many of our Rice Lake Area School District staff attended, but we also had some help from Lions Club who helped us with the vision screening. We appreciated that. Um, all students when they walked out the door got a little goodie bag with a book and some other fun fun um things as well as well as some information about 4K as as well as our summer academy. And then as far as attendance, we had a really good turnout this year um and was pretty even between the two buildings.

045We had 40 children show up on Tuesday and 39 um children show up on Thursday. So that was a really good turnout this year for the students. um in our district, right? As I said, we also um encourage enrollment at that event. Families can enroll um other ways online and coming here in person and filling out their paperwork. Um but we do encourage them to bring their enrollment paperwork to this event so that we can collect it and help them out. So um currently for our 4K enrollment as of today um there are four students enrolled at Hogan, 40 students at Hilltop and 52 students at Tanger. So currently we have 96 students enrolled in our upcoming 4K class. We would anticipate that would be six sections um which would mean three teachers. You can

046see the historical enrollment for 4K um over the past the pre this year and the three years prior across the bottom. So tell your friends and neighbors if they have a four-year-old or will have a four-year-old next year. Um look online, you can enroll now. Um we are just want to get the word out and get all the foury olds enrolled. Big thank you to all of the staff who helped that night. We had a lot of people making this happen, planning in advance, setting up um spending the evening, >> um >> meeting families, meeting students. Yes, the kids have a blast. >> So, thank you to everyone who helped. >> Any questions? >> All right. Thank you. I sound. >> Next, we have our update on the changes and expanded 4K program for the

0472526 school year. >> That's me again. There were a lot of changes that took place this year in 4K. We went to uh four five days a week. Previously, we had 4K 4 days a week. We also offered what we called extended day 4K, so children could stay all day rather than half a day. Um the students spend half of their day with the certified teacher and the other half the day with aids um to help continue the instruction um and the social emotional learning that happens during during the day. Um the students attend the school in their attendance area within their attendance boundary. Um and then they'd attend the same school for K through grade four. Um, so this year, however, we did have 4K at both Hilltop and Tanger Elementary Schools. Previously, um,

048we didn't have 4K at Hilltop, but with the additional space that we now have, we were able to have 4K at Hilltop. Um, it was offered at Hogan, but there were only four students, so we weren't able to to have 4K at Hogan this year. Um the extended day portion of the day as we said students can stay all day at no cost to the families. It's available for all all families in the school district. We offer school lunch and transportation for students in the morning and after school. >> So it's a wonderful environment for do you mind if I just interrupt you? Can you go back one slide there and just um tie some pieces in? So, we offered the afterchool uh piece as well. Uh 4K students could stay until 5:30, I think

049it was. On an upcoming >> Oh, all right. I'll be quiet. Um but then >> you're always a step ahead. >> I'll be quiet. I'll leave it. Sorry. >> That's okay. Yeah. >> Um the focus is getting kids ready um to learn with their friends, um to get along with others, to build relationships, to solve problems. um to to recognize and regulate their emotions. So that's a big piece of the day. And while while they're doing all that, they are playing with their friends and um learning those early literacy and numeracy skills. They get viad, music, art. Um of course, there's story time and rest time and all the other things that four-year-olds need. um the students would either participate with 4K taught by the classroom teacher in the morning and then go to the

050extended day portion of their day in the afternoon or vice versa. So they're with the certified teacher for half of the day. Uh we keep uh two two adults in the room at all times. So either a teacher and an aid or two aids with that group of students. Um the playbased approach to learning. So students um might just look like they're playing all day, but as you know, that's how how little children learn by playing. And the teacher directs that play and asks questions that helps encourage those students to learn those early learning skills. Um we offer the opportunity families can pick up their child midday or drop them off midday and only attend for the the 4K portion of the day with the teacher. But at this point, 92% of the students stay

051all day. They want to be there with their friends all day. So there were just a couple a few a handful of students who started the year and only attended half day, but by this point of the year, 90% stay all day. So I think they're enjoying it and families seem to really appreciate it. We knew this was a big change and we had a lot of new staff to help support all of this. So we wanted to provide the support that that's needed for our staff so they can support our students. So you can see throughout the year we offered a wide variety of professional learning opportunities for our staff during our inservice days before school started ongoing professional learning throughout the year. You'll see back on the professional learning you'll see the words

052pyramid model quite often. So what is pyramid model? It's a framework that promotes that social emotion social emotional competence um and prevents challenging behaviors by helping students learn to recognize their emotion and manage their emotion to get along with their friends. Um it's built on a foundation of nurturing relationships and those best practices for young children. So the parent model starts with that base of the effective workforce and knowing how important that effective workforce is. That's why we um spent so much time supporting our staff in the 4K um so that all of our students could be part of that nurturing environment and the supportive environment in school. Tier two is so tier one is universal supports. That's what all students receive. If there are students who need a little extra support, it's layered on

053top of that. So our tier 2 supports, social emotional supports, and then if they still need a little more support, that's layered on top. So it's always the universal supports for all and layered on as needed for more students. In order to support that, we offered practice-based coaching for our 4K staff this year. So putting the pyramid model into practice and supporting the staff as they're using those practices. Um so we had um specialists from the Wisconsin pyramid model um come and and coach our teachers observes them. They set goals together um and then are coached to achieve those goals. That's the practice based coaching process that's used. We also had internal staff who were trained in pyramid model coaching so they could support our 4K aids as well with practice based coaching. So this

054slide just shows the um the main components of that coaching process. Just through that quickly if you want to just take a look ask any questions otherwise we'll move along. All right with all of that we all grew a lot this year. Our students and our staff. If you could see all the staff that got together in August, sort of wideeyed and what are we getting into and there was a lot to learn and a lot to do. But we persevered. We worked together. Um and and really made a big difference this year. Um we learned to use data to look at how to change things for the better for the practices that we're using um to help to better support our students. Um and we received commendation for the work that we've done from

055the Wisconsin Pyramid Model um state team and some of our staff will be presenting at the Wisconsin Pyramid Model Institute um to share about all that we've done and the work that that they've done and the success that we've had this year. So they should all be very proud of the work that they've done. In addition to all that happens during the school day, we also offered after school care at our schools so that um families who needed care for their child after school could the child could stay at school. All the all the supports that were offered during the school day were offered free of charge. After school care was for a charge. So families signed up and paid a fee for the afterchool care. Um, but they could stay till till the end

056of the school day until 5:30 with our wonderful staff that was trained in all those those wonderful practices to support students. And this summer, we're also offering opportunities for our four-year-olds, our 4K students who are graduating. They might be five by now, graduating 4K and moving on to kindergarten. So, we'll have our Warrior 4K summer club this summer for the first time. Um, so for those students getting ready for kindergarten, that will be held at Hilltop Elementary School starting uh the week after school's out. So June 8th through August 14th, Monday through Friday. The doors will open at 6:00 and and students can be there till 5:30. Um, and that is at a cost of $200 per week. We've started registration for that. Right now we have about 10 students. We just just opened up

057registration. So we expect that that will be a popular option as well. Any questions on the summer club? And >> I will just to point out and just because Lori is here um people may question and ask a question about boys >> taking care of these kids. >> No boys and girls club I meant in your role at boys and girls clubs. Um once students start kindergarten so these kiddos in the fall once they start kindergarten then they would be eligible to go to boys and girls club. So just a a conversation point >> and we are supporting it during the summer. Actually our the kids are coming to boys and the 4K kids will come and eat with us at >> boys and girls club this summer. So >> it's a good partnership. >>

058I do have a question on the enrollment part. Is there a what's your ratios in the classrooms for the 4K students? I'm assuming it's probably lower than the higher levels. >> We always have an aid and a teacher or two staff members. So we try to keep that no more than um 10 students to one adult. Okay. So generally that means a teacher and an aid. So about 20 students class of 20. >> Yes. >> Any other questions? >> Huge thank you to all of our 4K staff who worked with our students this year and and were um did so much to make all of these wonderful things happen. our classroom teachers, special education teachers, speech and language paths, OT's and all of the 4K aids and pair prepare professionals who are so important help

059our students and have done so much this year. Huge thank you to all of them. All right, thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Next on the agenda, we have a proclamation. April 1st through the 30th of 2026 is the month of the military child. Whereas every community in Wisconsin is home to military members and their families, including approximately 10,000 school-aged children. And whereas over the third of the military children are impacted by the development of a family member, our deployment of the family member. Whereas military children move frequently, typically three to six times during their peak uh prek to 12 years of education, demonstrating resiliency and adaptability. And whereas the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will continue to active collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, educational associations, and school districts to provide

060the strongest support to our military children. And whereas the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has implemented a specialized program, the Purple Star Schools, to help every school and district to provide specialized connections and support for military children and their families. And whereas we understand that we and are grateful that our military children contribute unique skills and strengths when they join our schools and communities. Whereas the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction invites all schools and communities to join us in celebrating the month of Military Child uh with the 2026 theme military children and youth strength in every story. Therefore, I Kevin Jensen, the president of the Race Lake Area School District, declare that April a month of the military child and encourage everyone to join me in honoring our military youth and the families who care

061for and support them. So, I >> I would move to accept the proclamation. >> Motion has been made. Is there a second? >> Second. Motion has been made and seconded. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Opposed. And it has been proclaimed. Next, the 26 uh academic excellence scholarships and the technical excellence scholarships. They are being presented. They were in our packet. The academics excellence that is um the academic e excellence scholarships are awarded to Wisconsin high school seniors who have the highest grade point average in each public and private high school throughout the state of Wisconsin. The number of scholarships each high school is eligible for is based on the total student enrollment grades 9 through 12. Rice Lake High School is awarded two scholarships. In order

062to receive those scholarships, a student must be enrolled on a one-time basis by September 30th of an academic year the following academic year to which he or she was designated as a scholar at participating Wisconsin colleges that can be an independent technical UW or tribal college. Scholarships are awarded for $2,250 per year, divided into equal amounts and dispersed each academic term to the participating Wisconsin college for up to eight semesters or four years for a total of 9,000. In the case of the GPA tie, the following criteria is used as a tiebreaker. GPA, the declaration of attending a Wisconsinbased school, the ACT score, and then fourth, the student uh with the most points from the following criteria based on their schedule to end of term two. Uh two points for every high school credit earned,

063one point for every term of core course successfully completed, uh one point for each advanced placement course, and then a written paper independently judged. And this year's primary recipients are Clara Drossst and Samuel Wallace. Our alternative recipients would be Abby Dong, Carter Kuchko, and Lucas uh Rue. So those are our academic excellent. And then for our technical excellence, it's the same criteria only for Wisconsin Technical College, uh 2250 would be the scholarship awarded for up to six semesters for a total of 6750. And our primary recipients are Tyler Manel and Kate Pier. Uh, alternative recipients are Brillin Buckleman and Ella Scar and Avery Weintock. So, congratulations to our uh, RECIPIENTS. All right, next hours of instruction and the school calendar. Randy, >> Curt's gonna come up and talk about the high school piece and Josh

064a little bit about the middle school. I t-shirt. >> Good evening. Mr. Tomish and I are here to talk a little bit about our March 27th. Uh we did a virtual day uh based on uh inclement weather that we had uh past our instructional minutes. So Mr. towish and I worked with staff and collaborated on a option opportunity to use a virtual format and that was on inservice. So we duplicated inservice and and virtual learning. Um just to recap in your board packets you have three links from me specifically. One was a letter just u kind of explaining the the kind of the outcomes and expectations for for staff but also for students. Second was an activity bingo card that uh we duplicated, found some other districts doing that in the early childhood and uh

065we had some fun with it at the high school. And third um a written recap that I'm just highlighting tonight. So overall um for our first uh first round, I thought it went rather well. We found more engagement with our um students that are in more of the advanced placement courses or core classes. based on the last day of the term, we we tried to emphasize to the kids to do a course reflection and some meaningful activities um and do the best we can and and overall we had over 70% attendance um when we posted the assignments on Thursday night and had it open through Sunday evening to give some families that were traveling because it was an unplanned day that we expected students to do that. So they were able to do that material

066as we expected. Um so that's kind of the recap of that day. We had also uh at the conservancy our uh we took advantage of that day. We had uh over 35 students show up to a 4-hour leadership retreat. We were planning to do it the following week and they would have missed some class time. So we asked the students if they'd be willing to come in and 36 came to the conservancy and they were co-led by Mr. Luiki, Mrs. Lucas and uh Mr. Tradel as well as some other adults that were there and did uh sessions of seminars and they found it very very impactful to set goals for this year to finish strong to reset and obviously look at improvements of system and communication. So those are some things we achieved the bingo

067card we had 55 students send pictures in justifying their clean rooms, their meal preparation and their clean backpacks. Um out of those 55 uh we had uh some winners. of the top prize was uh student selected was uh AirPods and some other gift cards to local area businesses that were purchased um through the warrior leadership team to encourage future participation for clean backpacks and meal prep for all you families at home. So >> I want to know how many picked the no social media from 12 to three. Did anybody get that? You should put that in the middle. Maybe >> I don't know that I have a lot to add from the the middle school side. The one piece that um would definitely be different is uh we didn't send Chromebooks home. Chromebooks live in

068our our charging cart at the middle school and they tend to lose them there. And so uh when uh you take them and send them uh with 642 kids home, I'm sure the bus garage would have been calling us like, "Hey, we got 25 Chromebooks uh that don't have a home." So, we ended up doing more hard copy um projects. We we did a very similar uh bingo card with some different things. And I would say overall um 85% of the students brought back um you know items completed, turn them in. It was a little tricky with it being at the end of a a quarter because our avanguard staff um basically kind of wrapped up with those those um groups and so you know the on Monday when they came back they were going

069to a new class and so there wasn't really that opportunity but uh through our home room process they were able to turn items into the avanguard staff. So, uh, overall I would say worked. Um, you know, we'll continue to kind of look at those things if it is an option for future, um, makeup time. So, yeah. >> And secondary to Josh shared, uh, based on our after we had this proactive plan, we had another inclement weather day. So, looking at the instructional minutes, Mr. Dross and I have looked at it. Um, based on the middle school schedule, they have bus pickup is not till 3:20 because of the transportation. So their day is 7 minutes longer by design just based on where the buses pick up. So at this time uh we are one day

070in need at the high school. So I want to thank you for allowing us to try this on March 27th. My ask this evening is to have the high school have the same opportunity on May 8th. That is the final inservice day for our calendar year. Um the middle school and elementary would not need to do a virtual learning day. It would just be the high school. and I feel we um are more prepared based on the Chromebooks. In addition, it won't be the last day of the term. They'll be going continuing with their sequence of their teachers. I have uh great support from collaboration at the high school. The high school team is supportive of this. Um they feel this is the best case scenario. Um having a virtual day on May 8th for

071the high school rather than having them attend andor add a date to the end of the school year, which uh I don't think anybody wants to do. So I that's our our pitch tonight is um redo it, continue with this uh at the high school May 8th only um to do a virtual day. We'll be communicating with parents. We'll be ready. We'll communicate in classrooms, make sure they know what the expectation and uh rally up some prizes for another bingo card uh for some prizes. Um in the future as we look at this for next year, uh in your packets, I just have a little summary. If we would plan on at the high school specifically, we we can rec we can discuss this for next year, but having this in our pocket. Um it

072won't work perfectly. If it was a Monday after Christmas break, we pro we can talk through that obviously future, but that maybe is just a typical snow day. But if we have time and planning to switch it to virtual learning in the system in the sequence in the term that it happens so we don't have to play this catch-up game would be my proposal based on the fact that next year our calendar does end on Friday before Memorial Day in the entire district. We do not want to go past Memorial weekend with that calendar for nobody. So, I would love to have this as an option that we would consider virtual learning be part of our solution as we hit an inclement weather if it makes sense and that would be based on timing of

073the inclement weather. For example, we had one earlier this year. We know the snowstorm was coming. Mr. Josh was communicating with us as a community and groups and it was it was coming and it did come. We would have been well prepared for students to have what they needed in advance. But if it was a Monday, sometimes tricky. But with that said, thank you. I guess >> a question about the um I know we let talked about this when you first brought this up the accessibility and on your bingo card the single the center one is logged into all classes all kids on that day have the opportunity to be able to log in do they have accessibility within their at their homes have we determined that >> yeah you know based on co we

074did the survey and it was shocking it was you're 100% we had no students that requested paper packets going into this um this opportunity this year and we had some students duplicate it we didn't prepare that but um they did >> they had that option to have a paper copy is what >> yes they did. Yes. >> And then my other question you said 85% so there's you've got 15% is that considered then just a a day of absence then that's what they >> the day of absence at the high school they took attendance on Monday. So we waited till and looked at all the summary of work and there was some students that attended some of did some of the work for some classes because it's a block schedule so they got a credit

075for attendance. Uh we didn't hold a heavy hand on that. Obviously, it's attendance day. Um but there was obviously some were already receiving the grade that they felt they earned. Maybe they're a solid B. So that they elected the assignment. Maybe they did part of it and they they satisfied the thing, but they did miss some attendance on that. >> Were you 70 and he 85? >> Which was Yeah. >> Overall as a building I was 70. We had classes that we had 100% attendance and you know just in general 70 you're about 85. >> Yeah. you know, it's basically the way we took attendance was based on work completion. So, it's, you know, some of them may have done really well with math and English, but maybe they didn't get this done because they

076were struggling on it. So, you know, that's I would say that's an estimate, but overall, we felt like pretty high engagement. >> Good tool for our toolbox. So, >> absolutely. >> Assuming we're probably not having snow days next year, but I mean, >> we'll call you. Yeah. >> All right. Any more questions? This is an action item to uh do the virtual makeup day for the Rice Lake High School for on May 8th. So, I would entertain a motion to approve that. >> Motion to approve. >> Motion has been made. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. And that virtual makeup day for May 8th has been approved. >> Kevin, we have to

077go back to the last one keeping us on track. That's an action item per policy. >> Oh, so >> yes, the academic excellence. >> Yes. Good catch, Colleen. All right. I need a uh motion to approve our excellent scholarships. >> Move to approve. >> Motion has made. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion has made and seconded. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. And those have been approved. Next then we have our 2627 preliminary staffing report. This is the second reading. So this would be an action item. >> And there weren't uh Kurt and Josh, I don't believe you had any any changes. Um and at the elementary u level, I don't think anything significant. The only piece was uh is Matt here or

078Nate? Yeah, there you go, Matt. and they sitting right next to each other. Um I don't know if I had it in there last time. Uh you guys help me. Uh the current first grade um is four sections. Was that the one and we proposed going to five, five for second grade. Um they're in that 2021 kiddos a class and so that'd bring them down to 16. And then um I was recommending in the since um CO uh we've had seven what we've called full-time substitutes um and those have been on one-year contracts. I'm recommending that we go down to three. one at Tainer, one at the middle school, and one at the high school uh for the coming year because we need to make some reductions and um that'll yeah, that'll be challenging, but

079um we need to that's what I'm recommending at this point. And those were the only changes. >> Any questions? If not, this is the second reading. So, I would entertain a motion to approve the preliminary staffing report. So, moved. >> Motion has been made. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. And that motion. The preliminary staffing report has been approved. Next, our Littlest Learner Child Daycare Center parent handbook. This is a second reading. Hello. Okay. >> Um, any questions or anything that needs clarification in the handler? >> That was in our packet. Anybody have any questions? >> All right. >> Good. >> And can I interrupt? Okay. Just for the people that are

080here, this is Bren Sheer. She's our uh child new child care director. um childcare center is opening a week from today. >> Um at the former uh student center uh on the Wclair Baron County campus um taking children from 6 weeks old uh up through that 4K level and um yeah. So >> all right. So with that I would entertain a motion to approve the parent handbook. >> I would move to approve the parent handbook at Littlest Learners. >> Motion has been made. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed and that has been approved. The next item then is the employee handbook second reading for our littlest littlest learners. Anything you want to

081add there? >> Um, we just had adjustments that we made since the first reading. Um, those have been any changes have been made. Um so again entertaining any questions. >> Could you take some of that out of state? >> The state >> Yes. The department of children and families has certain languages that they want to see in their um requirements for um the child care facility. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. >> Any other questions? If not, I would entertain a motion to approve that handbook. >> So moved. >> Motion has been made. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. And that handbook has also been approved. Thank you. >> Fantastic. Thank

082you. Have a great night. >> Good luck. >> Nice work. >> All right. Next, we have our uh finance committee meeting update. Doug. >> All right. >> We met and >> quick restroom break. I take the chickens. >> Yeah. >> Pause momentarily. >> You can hum the Jeopardy song. >> It is getting a little warmer >> a little bit. >> It's giving me awake, I guess. >> You guys cold down there? >> Yeah, I'm really cold. >> It's like freezing. It's better now. It's getting better. It was roasting in here earlier, so Victor called Ben and said, "Turn her down a bit." >> Somebody put it on like 63. >> I put my jacket on. >> I wore a golf shirt cuz I thought it would be hot. >> Wow. >> I'm getting old. What

083are you doing? >> We can do the art club. Okay, Doug, go ahead, please. >> All right. Uh, yes. The finance committee met on Thursday, uh, April 9th at 3:30. All members were present. >> Oh, sorry. >> Is that >> should be okay. >> All right. That's not usually my problem. Uh we met on April 9th at uh 3:30. All members were present. Uh we statement of notice was given. The minutes were approved uh from the previous uh board uh finance committee meeting that was held on March 12th. Uh we received a proposal for a middle school art club. Uh the committee recommended for board approval the middle school art club and a club advisor and then we uh went in and discussed our fund 39 which is our debt service fund. Uh the committee

084approved uh an recommendation to continue to pay off our bonds that we've got uh paying off them paying them off early for 2032 and 33 uh from the 2019 or I'm sorry uh referendum uh and we were paying let's see here 2013 bond payments by June 30th of 2026 to reduce future interest costs. uh the administration will work with the bond council uh for the required board resolution. And then we did uh talk about the OPEB uh discussion again uh with regards to the language uh changes that are being proposed with the first reading being held tonight. Um so that was discussed uh with that piece of it. Randy, did you put together a >> Vic Victor did >> a slide or something along those lines kind of outlining what that is for everybody? >>

085You want to look at that now >> or should might as well >> let's look at it now >> just for the public. OPE stands for other postemployment benefits. So it's kind of >> when we're talking OPB that's what we're talking about just postemployment. >> Which one are you talking about? the side by side. >> Yes. >> Piece. >> Yes. >> Bear with me a second here. Do you want do you want to talk about that or >> Sure. >> Go ahead, Nick. >> Want to do it for me? >> How long have we been using OPED as as language for retirement? Long time. >> Post employment benefit. >> So it stands for other post-employment benefits. So it's benefits that employees receive after they retire uh you know um after after employment. So basically um

086this is the proposed changes. Basically the left side is the current OPAD benefit. The right uh hand side is the proposed changes. So kind of lays it out. Um so the proposed changes would take effect after people retiring after June 30 of 2027. Um basically retirement age the current age is 55. The proposed change would go to 57. Um years of service required to be eligible for the benefit is currently 10 years of service. It would go to 15 years of service. Um, with that the board was going to do a kind of a phase and I'll call it you could still retire with 10 years of service till 2031, but you'd have a reduction in your benefit because of the you weren't the 15 years of service. Um, the the actual benefit is currently

087a premium premium only HR. So that means that the table below that you get a credit each month for that amount. Um so someone had mentioned last year we made the change we had to make a change to make it more um compatible with the IRS. So basically you get a credit each month of 990. You can use that on our insurance on whatever insurance you want basically is what you can do now. So but it can only use be only be used for premium only on a health insurance plan. The change would make that a lump sum payment at retirement into a full HR. So, I know Randy, I brought I sent you an email that the other attachment in that email if you want to bring that up. So, F fuller H allows

088you to use the HA dollars for all of the eligible expenses on top there. So, deductibles, co insurance, co-pays, you can use it for any medical expenses there. Essentially, it's two section 213D. That's an IRS code that defines eligible expenses below there. You can also use it for premium expenses. So, if you can scroll down just a little bit. So, uh HAS can be used for health insurance, dental, vision. It can be used for Medicare supplement. It can also be used for uh um what do you call it? It's on there long-term care premiums. So, basically the HA can be used for any of those premiums and any of those expenses on top. So basically the proposed change would at retirement um we'd make a lump sum payment into their full HA be used for

089premiums, deductibles, co-pays, anything on on that sheet. >> And we're not currently doing that. >> No, currently it's a premium only H. So it can only be used for premiums on health insurance. >> Correct. Um, so if you go back to the other attachment, Randy. Um, so, so basically, um, this isn't the full language. I just try to do a summary to make it easier to follow. Basically, when you hit your 15 years of service, you would be locked in at your lumpsum payment. if so basically the full benefit would be reached at 15 years of service and age 57. So if you worked at 64 let's say you still get your full benefit lump sum amount which is in the next uh section down there. Um so basically the left hand side it's a

090current premium only HA that you receive. It's a monthly as I said a monthly credit. The right hand side would be the the lump sum benefit you would receive at retirement. That's assuming the max payout at 57 and 15. If you reach 15 years of service at 58, you essentially would lose 12 months times the 990, you know, or the the other amounts on there. Um, so that explains the benefit. Um, and then the next line down there, currently you're allowed to stay in the district's insurance. With this proposed change, you would get the money in your HA, but cannot be used towards insurance for the district. you'd have to get on the exchange or any other um private insurance. And the next down line down there kind of explains the estimated district liability for

091each benefit there. Uh about 14 million for the proposed change and around 24 million for the current uh plan. So that's all I got. Any questions? >> So we had Randy, you held listing sessions for the staff, correct? >> Last year. Okay. So these changes were they in there? >> Oh, no. No. This came out of the last finance community meeting. So no, I just listening sessions that we didn't talk about any of this. >> Right. So, I'm I guess I'm just kind of struggling with it because I've got phone calls from staff and they felt like they were told what the changes were going to be in the listing session and then they found out on Friday when the board packet came out that the retirement age has changed and the um not being

092able to be on the district insurance. Last slide in those for that listening sessions was that was open up and just no changes had been made at this point other than people hired after July 124 get $1,700 in H um support staff money. >> So I guess my concern is that it it doesn't look like we're being transparent when it wasn't in the listening sessions and now here we are proposing it. It just feels so, you know, so quick and I feel like we maybe could have done a better job communicating to the staff with such a significant change, especially if, you know, a 54 year old's planned in retiring and now Oh, so or let's say 53 because yeah, technically we could, but >> so I I guess I'm just struggling with that because

093I felt like we should have let people know um with a little more notice. >> When does the decision on this have to be made? Tonight's the first reading, >> right? I'm just I guess it have to be made after the I mean what is the timeline because again I'm with Miriam like this is the first we've seen of some of it. So in all fairness that's a difficult thing for us to make a decision on right now. >> I had gone around a couple times last year when some other potential changes were proposed but then nothing was changed last year. But I guess the timeline on this are we expecting I mean this is the first reading I understand but do we have time or what is the I guess >> yeah there's there's

094anything we have to make a decision by next >> come up with the final numbers >> uh Thursday afternoon when they met >> so that's why it is just being rolled out is the proposal that is coming from that committee >> um came to us typically This could could have been voted on tonight. We didn't have to it doesn't have doesn't have to be done in a first and second reading, but the committee wanted to make sure that everybody had a chance to hear about it. Not only the board, but our staff and then they can ask questions, they can find out more about it and then we can hear from them and uh at some point in the future we'll be able to um move forward. Has this been sent to staff then? Has

095this been ruled out? Okay. So, obviously that needs to happen. >> Well, and when we elected to not make any changes last year, was it communicated to staff that we're still looking at changes? >> I had made that u announcement and on multiple board meetings with finance committee that that we are still looking at potential changes um that we have to give consideration to. >> Okay. You mentioned support staff. Are they applied to this or will they continue benefit >> but they get something put into their H right now? >> Yes, they get $500 per year. >> And will that be staying the same? Yes. Yeah. Okay. So that can go towards premiums only or >> it's a fuller it's a full HA like I just like Randy just showed. It can be >> expenses,

096premiums, whatever you want. Yeah. >> Okay. I think Victor, could you explain that what one of the big things we're trying to do is fix our cost that if we have one bad year or two bad years? >> First of all, if if we keep the plan we have, we have to increase our contribution rel pretty quick here. We're not making it >> right. >> We got a bell curve on our our costs that are coming up and we're going to get crushed. So, we got to either significantly increase our contribution and our budgets 1.2 2 million hole right now. So, we got to figure that out or we got to make some changes that can reasonable changes that make it uh sustainable, I guess, is how I'd put it. >> And to the finance

097committee, did you guys research and look at other plans other districts are doing? Is this >> This is pretty standard. Yeah. 57 and 15 for most school districts in >> in especially in the north northwestern Wisconsin for sure. we did a comparison and it's it's comparable to that. >> Um, one other thing too, Victor, right, the if I'm understanding it correctly, the the monthly uh stipen uh that just goes right now towards the premiums up until age 65. Correct. >> Yes. Right. >> Whereas if they take the lump sum now upfront, they can use that beyond age 65 forever. if that money is available, they get to take it and use that >> as well for future needs. >> And on top of that, Victor, correct me if I'm wrong, but if a teacher decides

098not to retire at 57, but stays until 65, they still get that. >> Yes. Basically, once they hit 57, 15, they're guaranteed that lumpsum forever. When they retire is when they get the money. Correct. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Which they weren't getting now. I mean, put in the language. We could pay over a three-year period if we have a big crush of retirements and it's, you know, it's going to be $2 million if we got to figure out the money or something. But yes, >> and Randy, you're planning on doing listening sessions again on this information? >> I'm going to I'm going to have to. Yeah. >> Yeah. Like I said, this just came out in the board packet on Friday. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? Oh, I do have

099a question. Uh, did I hear correctly that it it used to be in the um handbook that they had to have 20 years of service? >> Yeah. As of Yeah, it was uh it used to be ago >> hired after 06 I believe was 20 years of service what it used to be like in 2022 I believe. >> Okay. And when did it change to 2022? Okay. >> Yeah. >> 22. I believe it was 20 years of service hired after 06 around there and then it was 15 years before that. Hired before that I don't have it on me but that was before I was hired. So >> it was it's roughly right around there somewhere. >> One more question is the finance committee feel like this is a sustainable method or are we still

100continuing to look beyond this? >> No I no make this change we got to figure out how to pay for it. I mean it's it's more of a locked in number because it's an HR. We know the amount we got to pay. The other plan >> healthcare premiums are going up 20% this year. >> You're trying to fund a unknown amount. This number is locked. >> We have a stop loss uh amount of a million dollars and then once you hit the stop loss of a million dollars, anything above and beyond that uh it's the responsibility of the district to pay that. And so if you have a couple of major medical issues for just two individuals and if you have transplants or anything along those lines, uh it puts us at risk of trying

101to figure out how to pay the bills. >> Any other questions? >> Oh, plus Victor, I I think um you mentioned to me that this year we can potentially save a sizable contribution. Yeah, this year we're trying to decide if we'll make the contribution based on basically budgetary reasons. So yes, and if we maintain maint 27e. So I can't do the calculation yet. So um it'll be a while. So, >> and then if our future actuarial liability is >> correct >> controlled that should reduce our future >> reduce our actu arc our required contribution. Yes. So, we could future budgets we could decrease our contribution. Correct. >> Yeah. I know the committee, just speaking for myself, the committee put a lot of thought into how we can do this in a way that saves the

102district financially in the future from excessive liability, but is also as fair as possible in making the transition for employees. because we re after we had the listening sess sessions last year, we realized that people number one just need to have time to make a preparation. And as I think it's been brought out, there are a number of things here that are way more beneficial in this proposal than there were in the last one. >> Essentially, you're getting the same amount of money. It's just you can't be on insurance. That's really really only the change between the current plan and the new plan >> and the age of retirement. the AS. >> Any other questions, comments? All right, this is a first reading. This will be brought back to the board at a later date.

103Um, Doug, can we go back up to the uh middle school art club? That is an action item. >> I would move that we uh approve the middle school art club funding. >> Second. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Any further discussion? >> Seeing none, all in favor signify by saying I. I >> opposed >> and that middle school art club position uh has or club has been approved. >> Next we have okay uh then we discussed the uh 2627 budget uh further uh including uh talking about Hogan Elementary and what options we have from a budgetary standpoint um to move forward. Uh as Victor mentioned, we do have a $1.2 $2 million deficit that we're carrying and we need to figure out how to get there to manage that as best we can

104to get uh to balance the budget. Um we've been carrying it for a couple of years now and it's not sustainable uh with where things are at. Uh so we've got to try to figure out solutions. So that's what uh we're trying to do I guess in terms of this discussion tonight. And with that, I'd like to uh read kind of I prepared a statement as to as being the chair of the finance committee meeting and committee and some of the challenges that we face. I do see that uh Representative Armstrong and Senator Quinn are in the audience. So, if you want to direct them uh to see how they can get us some more funding, that would be great because that's kind of led to where we're at right now. Um uh we as

105members of the board of education have been entrusted by the community to provide the best quality education for our students while being fiscally responsible with the financial resources that we are provided in the current economic environment. It would be it would not be prudent to approach our community with an operating referendum resulting in higher taxes. As you have all experienced probably somewhat, taxes have gone up last year already. And some of that has to do with the state funding formula and the funds that we get and we approve a budget, preliminary budget. And then it comes uh to the final budget. Well, the money, we don't know what we're getting until we get to the final budget. And we got less almost $2 million less money from the state. And that's why taxes come back

106down on the local level. and that's why our taxes go up because we still have to fund the schools. I have empathy for those that are affected by the potential closing of Hogan Elementary. This is a difficult decision and it is not be being taken lightly. Declining enrollment is a significant issue that will not be going away. If we don't if we close Hogan now, don't close Hogan now. Right now, as it stands with where we're at with the student population, we will probably be forced to do that do that in the near future. Uh we have the capacity to incorporate our Hogan Elementary students into one of our other schools and they will receive the same quality education. closing Hogan would an estimate that uh Victor has put together for us would be roughly

107about I'll I'll be conservative on a range, but his proposal suggests it would be about a $765,000 saving to the district. Um and uh that information should probably be shared in detailed with the community so you can see the numbers and and uh look at it from that standpoint like we get to see through our lens. If we choose not to close Hogan, we'll be forced to make cuts elsewhere. Some of the cuts could be detrimental to future educational opportunities for all of our elementary students. Or if the programming is cut in the middle school or the high school and to balance the budget, those are opportunities that may be lost for our elementary kids. It's our responsibility for all students and that's what puts us in such a difficult precarious situation when we have

108to make these decisions. We also need to ensure that the school district remains competitive in retaining staff and by giving them the raises that they earn and deserve. I'm not I'm not is an easy decision, but if we do close don't close it, we are facing some long-term potentially consequences uh to the quality education that our students will receive uh that could be used for future uh academic and career success if we have to cut programming like I said at the middle school and the elementary or excuse me at the uh high school levels. So, like I said, that's kind of where I'm at on things. I try to be as fair and balanced in everything and my approach to this. There is no easy decisions. And like I said, if uh you can talk

109to our representatives and figure out how we can get some more money to help fund everything, that would be great. And it would be put a lot less pressure on us. and and and Doug, I will um just to be fair, I'll I'll share um because I've been having some some emails back and forth with Courtney and just as far as budgetary pieces and uh with Victor as well and it just won't be hogging. I mean, just we'll try and we'll try to consolidate it into um Victor's a certified public accountant. He understands all of those different lines. um try we'll try to put it into a form that is more more easily understood I I think by everyone. So I think we can and I mean I know we do that at our October

110uh budget meeting but you know we can do that for work to do that for all the schools. >> All right. Anybody have any other questions or comments? >> Is this time for discussion or >> this is the time for discussion. Well, I respect Doug's position. He and I have had some back and forth on this and this the deficit is is real. Um, but also I think the bottom line when something has to be done is if you do it too quickly, uh, you're going to miss, uh, potential angles, potential solutions. And I know we're somewhat limited in that, but not completely. Our primary focus does have to be on the quality education of our students. And as I've mentioned many times to different people, including our representatives. Um, my focus and our focus

111shouldn't be just on squeezing the budget, but how do we use our dollars to produce quality results for kids that are wellprepared for life? And that's what we have to do. And my favorite example of that is the career and teched program, just as an example, where I think our communities and schools could benefit from spending more money on that. Um, we've heard tonight and every source you talk to, Hogan School adds quality. Um, whether it's the DPI rating, you know, which is four star, and I know that's somewhat controversial, but it's good. Four star, solid academic results. If you talk to people uh that are familiar with all the schools in the district, that includes private schools, they'll say Hogan is the best school in the district. Has really good results. We heard some

112moving testimonials tonight. I think just the way you folks gave your presentation, the organization that you showed, the substance that you presented, the different points you brought up, um the respect that you showed is in itself a tribute to the Hogan School District. This is really what democracy looks like. You guys should be proud of yourselves. And that gives me some hope that if we do um go ahead with changing the boundary rather than just closing hog and tonight which I think is a precipitous action that there is hope because you folks are committed you folks are thinking and I think you know what you're doing. Um, also we've talked about um some of the other advantages that schools offer and they've been mentioned a little bit. Just having three schools instead of two is

113an advantage. If someone unfortunately comes into a school and threatens one school, the other two are not threatened. If you had every kid in one school, for instance, which is what we're headed to, they'd all be threatened. If you have a utility break, it affects the whole school. It doesn't affect the other schools. Um, if there's a threatening illness that comes up, it affects one school. It doesn't necessarily affect the other schools. So, it diversifies risks. Um, the other thing I do want to mention is that there is a $70,000 savings available from redoing the bus routes to Hogan. I've talked to our representatives and serious discussions about the budget have again come up in Madison. There's a $2.5 billion surplus and both on WASBY and on from personal communications. Um there they are trying

114to work through uh hopefully increasing special education funding which could result in several hundreds of thousands of dollars more for us. Again, um what they're talking about is um and both sides have talked about $200 million total divided by $421 school districts. That would be an average of about $450,000 per district. Now, we're probably not going to get that much, but hopefully we'll get a substantial amount from that, which will go a long ways. I heard people say and and the increased class sizes in some places are a concern for me. I was in Tainter last year. 24 kids per class. That's pretty tough. uh does it seem to me to make sense to take a Hogan school with lower class sizes that by all estimations is a very good quality school and close it

115down and put those students in other schools rather than taking some of those students from larger classes in other schools and see if they want to go to Hogan which is a really good school um a school which offers the only small rural environment that we have which is very beneficial to some students. It offers parents choice. Uh each school is allowed to take a little bit of a different approach. It has different administration. They might have different interests, uh different ideas, different uh standards of discipline in each school. Uh that choice is something that would be taken away from parents. So I am not in favor of closing the Hogan School. I think it's a precipitous action. I think it would be an example of act and haste, repent and leisure. Um, I would

116like to restore some of the things that were done that reduced the enrollment at Hogan years ago and one of those is just uh moved the boundary south to 23rd Avenue. I do not think it's hopeless that we would have to close Hogan in the future. Randy, do you have that slide that shows the students if we bumped the boundary to was it 24? Is that where the boundary or was it 26? I can't remember. >> 23rd 20 >> 20 moving south to 23rd. >> Yeah. So, this was to Yeah. So on here, this is just what I showed Hog in the other night. Um, you know, there is the current district boundaries for Hog and it's been um come across MB to the country in go up a mile to 26th Avenue and slide

117all the way across. Um, so Bel and I said, you know, what would it look like if we moved it two miles south all the way across? Um, and there was always flexibility. You know, it's technically this is 25th Avenue. I live on 25th Avenue. All the Cirks over the hill from me lived on 20, you know, live on 25th, they all went to Hogan. U there's people down the road from me that go to Hogan. So there was some flexibility there. Um so when Nate and I or Nate put numbers together more than I did, um so there's 131 kiddos living in that area um in those grades. And so we had called all the 4K and K and um with that those are the ones at this time that had committed. We maybe

118started to call a few in first, second, third, fourth, but not not many that would have to be done yet. So and we just wanted to call and talk to people because everyone's got their story and um uh versus trying to you know send out something paper electronically. We just started to call parents. So >> Randy, can I ask how, uh, what is the capacity of Tainter? >> Uh, Tainter was built as a sixtrack. Um, uh, just a second six track K1, two, three, four, but not, uh, and those three end rooms were intended to be, I think the first two were preK and one was Monasuri when we had that program. Um, six, fourth grade wasn't a six track. Uh how many how many fourth grade rooms are on that side? Four, five, four,

119five on that side. Yeah. So, um, just K through it was built. Now, I'm not saying there's there's other, you know, interventionist needs and things like that. Originally, as a sixtrack school or when it I take that back when it was originally built, same time Hogan was, it was three track school, um, give or take, and two two track two track, thank you. was originally built as a two-track school and then when it was added on to in 2013 um and then in 2015 I have on slide here is when Jefferson closed and those students went to Tainter so >> so there's no student count you know right now there's what 420 kids there and >> uh yeah I mean six >> um I six o'clock if we were at the 18 cap Mr. Langanger

120referenced um you'd have about 108 kids of grade level. So K123 um so 432 plus you know whatever you're five 550 >> and how about Hilltop? >> Um let's see Hilltop has been a threetrack. Um, we added six classrooms but then also added 4K back in. So really I mean >> three it's Yeah, it's still basically a three track with adding the 4K back in. So, uh, you know, if you had 18 in a class, let's 54, 4K, 2, three, four, six, three something, three and a quarterish, give or take. >> Okay. >> And Hogan, >> how much has six rooms? So, um, well, on the side it's kindergarten first and four, you 4K K and one on one side and 234 on the other. Um, back when there was no 4K, there was K5,

121a K5 building. Um, and then when fifth grade went to the middle school, that coincided with bringing 4K to Hogan that year. So, it's been a 4K through four building. So, there's six classrooms and then the one big room on the west side is the art music room. So, >> so the capacity is >> I mean roughly 120ish, you know, if that'd be 20 kids in a classroom, 20 times six. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> But I mean that's at its highest point. Uh 90 whatever I said >> 95 96 >> there was 146. I looked that year there were 28 fourth graders and 26 fifth graders and it must have been packed. >> Yeah. Um, I appreciate the passion you all have for your school. I really do. I'm a hill topper. I'm

122not. My kids are. But, um, I would be just as passionate if if they were going to close, you know, my neighborhood school as well. I I understand that you guys think that your school is the best and and and to you it is. That's that's your reality. I I feel bad for the other schools because they're they're just as good, frankly. Um I I feel like they're getting kind of the shaft that um you know that you're saying that your school is the best, but theirs isn't as good and and that isn't the case at all. Um as far as I mean, we're in an impossible situation here. I'm frustrated this is happening now. Um I think you know some of us have talked about it. This came up at a retreat back in

123January and um frankly we thought you know there was movement on it or there wasn't because it all of a sudden came up again. Um and to defend finance uh I I think I heard it said um that you know why why weren't you informed before this? Um I think for years they've been kicking this can down the road because they didn't want to close it either. Nobody wants to close it. Um they so they kicked the can down the road for as long as they can. Found savings in other places. Found other ways to cut. Um and and it's come to this now. Um 46 kids is hard to justify and I know they're your 46 kids and so to you they mean the world. I really understand that. Um, but there's 2,000 kids

124in the district that we have to think about. And honestly, to go back to the other schools, I think about, yes, class small class sizes are awesome. I wish we could do it at all the schools. It just isn't feasible. Um, and I think about, you know, this, not only are the teacher loads, but the secretarial, the janitorial, um, basically they're they have twice the workload as as teachers and staff at Hil or at Hogan. Um, and they're getting paid the same amount, and that is hard for me to wrap my brain around. um and and and frankly I don't want it to cause animosity between um staff. So, uh I don't support moving the boundary lines. Let me rephrase that. I I support moving the boundary lines if it's volunteer if if they're if

125they're able to choose if they can go to one or another. I don't want to make somebody in the middle there who has a kid in second or third grade move their kid again, especially if we're looking at closing it, you know, a few years from now. Who knows? Um, so somebody asked about uh how did we get here? Well, honestly, it's declining birth rates. Um, and it's not a Rice Lake problem. This is a United States problem. uh replacement birth rate is 2.1 and right now in the United States we're at 1.7. So we're just not having enough babies. >> That's how we got here. So >> So go forth and go forth and multiply. Is that what you're saying? >> Those that are still able >> Dave Armstrong says that all the time.

126So he's here. And honestly, >> he's got three. I heard he's working on more. So, I don't know. I heard him say six or seven. But >> another part of this is um I mean, you have all seen it. All the all the kids that are being homeschooled. I mean, that is sucking the life out of districts everywhere. And uh I I'm tired of having to defend it, but we are not indoctrinating anybody here. I can promise you that is not happening. So, if you hear people talking about how there's all this indoctrination going on in the schools, it's not happening here. Um, so get those kids back in the schools. That would help. That would help a ton. >> I guess I agree with Phil and I guess I agree a little bit with

127Nelly, but as a manager, I always like plan A's, plan B, and plan C. And one of the ways that if plan A looked like the only alternative, then maybe you get a few more people involved and say, "Hey, maybe there is a plan B. Maybe that plan B is even better." I would not vote for this now, but I would vote to have it tabled for maybe a year. I don't know about two years, but I'd say for a year. And as a manager, I also told you I like the collaboration. I get people involved. I'd almost propose that two of our board members that might be on the finance committee, two teachers that are in Hogan and possibly two parents can get together and say, "Hey, maybe there is a plan B. Maybe

128there is a plan C and we hold off a year and see what they come up with because maybe it's inevitable. I don't think so. I think you put good heads together, you can come up with some pretty good stuff. I don't know if we have many committees where you have board members, parents, and teachers. Maybe this would be a first and maybe it mean something down the road. Oh, I'm sorry. That's my proposal. >> Um, I really appreciate all the work that finance has put into this because I am not on that committee and I I know it takes a lot to go through this. But I will admittedly say that this uh this is new news in some respect to have to be voting on it tonight to take action. Um, I've been

129out of the country and during that time a meeting was called for a Thursday night. I could not get back in time for that meeting. I feel a little bit lost as a board member and I do not feel that we have the information to make those decisions tonight. So I do want us to be very aware of that. I appreciate the effort gone into it, but I think we really are make being very hasty in this decision. If we were to say something tonight, I think we all deserve the opportunity to sit down and really go through this a little bit more with more understanding with the information that we're getting from the people that are there. These are the people that are living there. Their kids are there. But we also have to

130look at the other pieces. As you said, Nelly, all the schools here are great. What are some other solutions we have though and we haven't given at that time. Um, I think there's other districts that have gone through this that we can talk to that we can ask how they came up with solutions. We're not the only ones that are suffering through this, but we do need to take the time. And I know it's hard because time is of the essence, but in all fairness, I think we need to respectfully do that for our district and for those that are involved. Well, and I think um Lori and Miriam and I I know went to that breakout session at at the WASBY convention um and we brought that back to the board about um doing

131some long range looking at things like this. Uh you know the problem is of course I think Courtney you had mentioned doing a third party evaluation. The problem with that is it costs money. Um, and so yeah, I mean I think that was a great plan, but it's going to cost money. >> Well, and it takes time, too. And we're, you know, none of us wanted to be here. None of us wanted to close Hogan. And so I think it's something that was in some ways easy to put off, but here we are. And we are here for a reason because we are in a $1.2 million deficit. So obviously we need to talk about this. And you know, I don't like how quick this is being done. I don't think it's fair to the

132community, but I also understand that we have a budget to look at and I don't want to see this come affect, you know, our staff and having to let go of staff or their retirement as well. So, I'm trying to look at the whole picture here. Um, so keeping that in mind, no, I don't want to close it this year. I think we're pushing it too fast. However, I think that it's we also have to be honest in that unless something drastic happens, it's it's going to have to close next year. And I think we have to be honest about that. I think we all know that. And um looking at the budget, it's like what are we going to do? You know, we we don't have a lot of choices here. And I think

133honesty and communication is really important. And so my heart says okay let's wait a year but what can we do even I mean we can't run it as a 46 student school either. So um you know and obviously Doug's put a lot of work into this and he knows the finances better than me much better than me. Um so we are in trouble. We need to make some changes and moving kids to the school is not going to help us financially. So what changes can we do to keep hogen open at least another year? So we have three different items on the agenda as possible action items. We can look at any one of the three as an action or we can also look at tableabling this um for a future meeting. >> I have

134one question on the moving the boundaries. That doesn't save any money. It's just moving just populating that school more >> and depending on how that looks. We were told that it may add a little bit for extra busing. So it actually could cost us more money. >> Correct. again some information that would be helpful. >> That is not the information I got from the bus company when I talked to them. >> But if you bring kids from Rice Lake to go up to Hogan, that's a cost. >> I would say if >> because we have to provide busing >> if uh people from other the areas that normally would go to another school want to send their kids to Rice Lake, they should request that. And if they want to transport their children themselves, they

135should be able to do that. >> Do we allow that? Do we allow them to choose a different school? >> We we could if they they'd have to do the transportation on their own, though. I mean, if if someone lives down by Tainer, we're not I mean, the first buses leave at 6:00 a.m. in the morning. And so, >> Right. But if I was if my school was Hilltop, I could request to go to Hogan. >> Yeah. I mean, we we've never had we never had those requests, but you know, like years ago when I was a principal there, maybe someone moved or something and so they would transport their own kiddos to that school or something for the remainder of the year. But yeah, we could throw that out there. >> So, we're not

136required, Randy, to provide busing then? >> I don't think so. And I'll double check one more time. But yeah, so Doug's question is if say I say someone did live by Tainer and said, "Yep, I want my child to go to to uh Hogan, but you have to transport." You know, I don't think we're required to do that. I think we can say, "Well, you can do that, but you have to voluntarily correct >> do that." >> I'm just not in favor of tableabling this, you know, because we waited way too long on this. The other piece, if you're going to approve revised attendance boundaries, I would ask you to approve the second piece there, implementation potentially of a multi-age classroom. Uh, just as M Mr. Velc had a teacher come forward come forward and

137say, you know, that individual would be willing to look at doing a multi-age classroom. So, >> you know, I I know this is my last meeting, so I'm trying not to weigh in a lot, but >> throw us under the bus. Yeah, I'm not trying to throw the board under the bus. Um, I'm really, if I had to make a vote tonight, I would be hesitant to vote to close this. I think we haven't parsed it enough with this group. >> Um, I I like kind of feathering that with the multi-age classroom. I think we could maybe save a little money that way. Um, you know, it's kind of putting the community on notice a little bit of we got trouble >> and uh we're trying, but we're we need a life preserver. Um, so

138I think it would give everybody a a little cooling off period. Um, that would just be my recommendation for this body. I don't, you know, want to >> You going to make that in a motion? I I can certainly move it forward if you would like. I like I said, I'm kind of not going to be here uh the end of April, but I just feel like this needs to kind of move forward like Miriam said and uh we need to have some closure. I don't need to have, you know, 80 people at, you know, every meeting from now until, you know, June or July or the next time this comes up. It will come up. >> Great. >> Um, >> Mr. Dostel said he appreciates seeing all his old teachers. So, he's going to

139attend all board meetings from now on. >> I love to have the people here. It's great because, you know, we sit and wrestle with all this uh, you know, on a monthly basis and, uh, you know, now you kind of have been brought in to what we talk about all the time, which I think is actually good for everybody. It's democracy at its best, like Phil said. Um, I I do think, you know, that at this point, I know we're going to run negative and our CPA back there just got some more gray hair, but um >> well, and to that point, I'd like cuz this is something I learned that I didn't I didn't know before this, but um being in the red like this, this negative budget affects our bond rating. So, it

140was um suggested that we go to referendum or you know that Randy was proud that we haven't gone to referendum and frankly I'm proud of that. I mean, we're all being taxed to death. So, I'm proud of that. But, uh and and a part of that, too. I had a couple questions about that um at Hogan the other night is, you know, when we need, you know, we're really good shape roof wide. I'll just talk roofs specifically in the district. Um we're good. We've been knocking them off about one a year for the last five years and we're in really good shape for a while now. And the problem with some of those things going to referendum going to referendum on things like those. Um it's like right now we're doing tuck pointing. We're taking

141money out of savings right now or some of our buildings need to be tuck pointed. You go to referendum on that. If the referendum fails, you still got to fix it. And then you look like an idiot because oh, you told us you needed money and it didn't pass and you're doing it anyways. So those are some of those things, those maintenance pieces why I I wouldn't recommend going to referendum on some of those things. >> So Randy, with the staffing report, I mean, we need to get that finalized obviously. >> So if we were to keep hoging open for another year and do the multi-age classrooms, would would we be able to bring in like prek again and do prek, second, third? >> Yeah, I think that's what we'd be looking at. We'd be

142looking at probably a a prekk and then we would look at um we'd start calling more parents um and you know seeing if they had an interest in switching their kids to hard. Do you have a rough idea what we would save if we went to the multiclassroom? >> Um, >> two teachers, >> you know, just couple hundred grand a teacher, you know, >> depends on and it depends on balance and so on and so forth with kiddos, but >> um you might not save anything, but you're not spending anymore either. So >> again, I think this is why we have we need more discussion on this. We have opportunities that we have not discussed to this point and that alone the multiclassroom like what is that impact and multi-age classroom like I I think

143this needs to be pushed back. So to your point Don I think we need to move forward with >> what you were going to say because you're better at emotion than me >> and I want you have your swan song as you're going out. >> Well I just I think I'd like to see it move forward so we can right >> keep working on it um and not just table. Uh I just >> but we keep tableabling and and so that's why I I want to see us come up with at least somewhat of a plan for the staffing report. >> The current staffing report we had um had the same teachers there for next same staff, not just teachers, same staff um for next year that were there this year. That's what the current

144staffing report had because we just left it the same. We didn't know what was going to happen. So Randy and Victor, maybe you can chime in on this. If we don't do anything, how much are we going to still where are we at in terms of being short on making cuts to not make the deficit any worse than the $1.2 million that we are currently at? >> Uh did you know I'll give you my two cents and then Victor can tell me if I'm right or wrong. Um uh no, sorry. back. Oh, where' my Oh, I moved it. Um, so this is just a little bit of a summary for the board and others. Um, you know, it's been an issue we've continued to work on. Now, I haven't figured in, you know, I I

145don't have additions in here like when we give raises or things like that. These were just pure reductions. Uh, so for 2425, uh, we reduced a little over 1.4 million. Uh we did lay off some staff members. I think three positions and then we had a number of retiring staff members um primarily teachers that we didn't need to replace because of declining enrollment. So that's where that came from. Now um again there were additions to things too, but these were the the flatout reductions uh for this year was almost a million dollars. Again, not replacing retired staff, reduced a couple of bus routes. Worked with the bus garage to do that. Um, you know, that's about $50,000 a bus route. Um, for next year, uh, Victor's got district supply budgets squeezed about as tight as

146they can. Uh, the staff reductions would be not replacing, uh, retiring staff member. And then those, uh, full-time substitute positions I mentioned. Uh, staff members are going to pay more uh, for health insurance. And then we're think we can reduce one more bus route. So that's kind of where we've been at. As far as looking to next year, I'm Victor might say I have rosecolored glasses on a little bit. I'm hoping we can keep it at the 1.2. You know, it will I mean some of the things that will factor in, you know, where we're where will healthcare costs be between now and the end of the year. Uh different pieces there. You know, Phil and Victor talked about the OPED contribution. Um some pieces there. So I I'll say it'll be the 1.2. I

147would say probably best case scenario. I I don't see it being it's not going to be any better than that. So I'd say one two and 14 probably best case scenario. So >> any other questions, comments? >> Can we make a motion to keep it open another year? I mean, maybe longer if they're hogging people. >> Start having babies. >> Babies. >> Yeah. Start having babies. >> Yeah. >> Careful, Miriam. You're going to cross paperwork here for me shortly. Careful. >> Sorry, >> I'm teasing. Um but also I mean can we add in that we look at combining the classes and also um that if people want to come >> explore voluntary >> yeah on voluntary basis I mean I think that's >> I mean how would we how would we phrase that I guess

148is my question and is that something that >> can we move the line and have it be voluntary >> or is that not >> right so you're saying Yeah. So, you're saying um approve the revised attendance boundaries um approve the implementation of multi-age classrooms um you know within reason and um yeah u if it's you know if it's not going to if it's okay um just as we check on it allow parents to transport you know that maybe aren't within that area to transport their own children to and from Hogan. Well, I mean, I know that's not going to have fixed the budget, but hopefully, you know, if people come from Tanger or the other schools that are feeling really crowded, hopefully that will take some pressure off of them as well. >> Yeah. >>

149And if we merge those classes, what's the ideal like would we merge third and fourth grade to get 18 students in a class to make it more even with the other district or other elementary schools? I think there will be some some parents who want to move their kiddos um there. I don't know how many off top, you know, we got to start calling, but I think there will be some who want to move uh their kids and they're maybe some who would be willing to transport their own. But yeah, we can we'll report back on that. Um what are we at? Uh beginning of April. Yeah, within a month I would say we'll report back on that. And then this would have to stay on the stove top for the next nine months. >>

150Perfect timing. Nine months. >> 9 months. >> Those babies. >> All those babies. >> Bun in the oven there too somewhere. >> Baby booming. Baby boom and hoging. >> Right. But if we see the increase coming, >> if we see it coming, then we can, you know, projections. >> I would make that motion. >> Motion has been made. Is there a second? >> Can you repeat the motion, please? >> Yeah, repeat your motion. >> Well, I was going off of the list that Randy just went >> to approve the approve the revised attendance boundaries, imp approve the implementation of multi-age classrooms, and approve um parents u being allowed to self-transport their own kids who are not in the not who don't live in the area. >> And revisit this again in 9 months. >> I

151would also >> I can't put that in the motion, but that could certainly be something that >> part of that motion. I would also like to see um as far as the multi-age grade uh com combination within reason. So, we're not, you know, >> going to have 25 kids, right? Yeah. No, >> in the dual grading system that >> is that >> everybody on board with understanding what I'm motioning >> that I wonder if we could add something about Bert's idea of >> I think I would do that on a separate if you don't mind. I just >> that's a little dicey. So does that clarify that's not closing this year is what you're saying. I just want to make sure that's clarify that is not closing it at this point. >> No. Yes, I

152guess if that needs to be in there. So, it's >> so revised attendance boundaries, multi-age classrooms, parents can transport their own. >> No, I'm uh at this point. No, I I think it's too quick. >> We are moving the boundaries. >> Yes. >> What's the motion basis basis? >> No, the bound. >> Yeah. the if you say if you say if you say um approving revised attendance boundaries, >> you're saying you approve dropping the line >> those two miles or well three whatever two or three miles. >> No. >> Well, that's what >> the issue would be the busing then, right? Like the issue that's going to happen is when you move that line, you're changing how you so you can't really make it voluntary, but you voluntarily could go to another school if you

153transport yourself. That's what people in that in that area that are already going to Tainter or Hilltop >> would suddenly lose lose busing. >> Is that what you're saying, Randy? >> I think I think Tell you what, I I think we're all on the same page in terms of what it is. The revised attendance boundaries, moving it two m, you know, two or three miles south. um approve the implementation of multi-age classrooms if it makes sense and then approving parents transporting their own kids um you know to Hogan Elementary you know if they live in one of the other zones. Um and I would just say if that's your motion give Nate and I we meet again in two weeks. U we're not going to have it all figured out by then or I know

154we're not going to we're not going to have we're not going to have every parent contacted by then. I can guarantee you. Um, but we'd have a better sense of where we're at. Nate, does that sound? >> We'll do our best. So, I would say we'll just continue to report. We'll give you an update on we'll give you an update at, you know, board meetings until uh things are finalized. >> Can I clarify that one more time? >> And and I I'm would want to amend mine if they're in the new section. >> Sure. They can remain in their school. >> Sure. Yep. And that's I think what you were saying, but I was trying to say I think and >> Yep. >> But will they receive busing, >> right? That's what I want. >>

155I think I think that'll be okay. Yeah. >> That was >> that one little zone. They're either going to have busing go to Hogan or to their other school. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> What was done? >> Or Jeremy will pick him up in his plow truck. >> So, how's that but how's that going to work? We're we're I got to talk I got to talk to Kevin Fry. I >> How if you got neighbors, one's going to Hogan and the other one's coming to Rice Lake and you've got two buses covering the same route and how does that work? >> Well, you've got because you've got you've got kiddos saying you've got kiddo I mean we've got middle school and high school kiddos up in Hogan. So, they're already coming. I >> mean, it's

156just the >> So, they still have to come to town. >> So, it shouldn't affect it shouldn't affect them >> cuz you might Yeah. I mean, you and I live across the street from each other. Yours go to Hogan. Mine are going to Rice Lake. But, I mean, they're doing it anyways because >> when our when our kids get to middle school, they're they're going to have to trans. So, I think it'll be okay. We'll have to sit down with with Kevin and go through that. >> All right. My motion >> go back to Okay. So, now what is the motion? >> All right. All right. Say it from the beginning. Doug's done. >> And we'll and Colleen will we'll have to what Colleen usually what we usually do. >> What we usually do is

157get together the next morning and she'll watch the video. So, uh, just to get to get clear. Um, and I'm sorry I'm hugging this because my wife keeps texting me and saying she can't hear me on the microphone. Guess she I don't know what to take that as. So, um I'm going to approve the revised attendance boundaries for Hogan Elementary with the understanding that students living in that new zone. If they still want to go to their old school, which is, you know, Hilltop retainer, they can. I think that's what you're saying. >> Keep going. >> Approve the implementation of multi-age classrooms, you know, if it makes sense. And again, we'll work on that and get back to you on that. Um, but I I think that's going to work. And then, um, uh, approve

158um, as long as it doesn't cause the district to incur any additional cost, approve parents being able to transport their own students, um, back and forth to Hogan Elementary if they would like from one of the other two schools. >> And yeah, >> and I and I'm but I'm not going to in town. I don't want anybody listening or hearing this to think if you you know Nelly you lived right by Hilltop. If you say oh I want my kids to go to to Tainer that's not happening. I'm saying if you're in town you're in the zone and you're staying in your school otherwise that'll cause a huge mess >> and currently then not closing Hog >> not closing >> and um coming school >> and revisiting it. >> Yeah. >> And that would be

159my motion. >> Sure. as you just stated. >> I'll second that. >> Motion has been made and seconded. Is there any further discussion? >> Just I just really don't want to let this just lay though. You know, we need to we need to have a committee. We need to work on this. >> We need to have a plan. >> Move not to let it lay. >> Are you going to come bug us? >> I don't know. Uh yeah. Any further discussion? All right. Seeing none. Motion has been made and seconded. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? >> No. >> And the motion carries. >> Uh, next we have second reading for policy 351 with the rules. >> Wait, we'll just let everybody finish. >> Hey, the meeting's not over yet.

160>> I thought you were done. Well, that was >> fair weather fans along here. >> See you. >> Take care. >> We're just going to cut our throats if we're going to have two board or not. >> What you got left? >> Uh, we got we do an approval of the bills. >> Next meeting dates to be determined. >> To be determined. >> Yeah. Should have done all that and then we went back. Yeah, we got him. >> Yeah. >> Got to be impressed with that group of people. >> Organized, respective. >> Yes. >> Group of people and their comments. >> Great. All right, Doug, can you uh >> Yes, I'll finish up my report. >> Um, yes, we reviewed the bills and then left our next meeting date to be determined uh with the

161new uh board member being present that will be taking Don spot. >> So, meeting was a journal. >> Thank you for that update. That was probably the longest one on record. >> Yeah. And uh that being said, we will move on to our second reading of uh policy 351 with rules 1 2 3 and 4 along with exhibits 1 2 3 four and five. I would entertain a motion to approve policy 351 with the rules and exhibits. >> So moved. >> Motion has been made. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion has been made and seconded. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I opposed. >> And those uh that has been approved. Next we have our Warrior Connections Committee meeting minutes from April 9th. That was in their board packet. Randy, anything

162you want to highlight? >> I was there to start but uh had to leave. So Phil and Nelly were there for the whole meeting unless there's anything they wanted to add. Well, the three main we had a very nice discussion actually and the three ma main points that came out of if I if I can remember them because I can't find where I wrote them down right now were that we wanted to provide support to the warrior leadership team and the recommendation was maybe to try to free up some time for Zach and maybe for Dale uh to put a little more time into that if possible >> by approving the staffing report. You did that for Zach. Okay, gotcha. And now I can't think of the other two points. >> Uh, parent ed, um,

163>> uh, community education and mentor, mentoring program was that >> mentoring program. Those were the three. Yep. >> All right. Anybody have any questions? If not, um the uh election results were at your place this evening and congratulations to Doug, Nelly, and Jason. >> Boy, Jason got the vote. >> They uh um are another they Nelly and Doug have three more years to go and Jason is getting started for his first term. So, congratulations. Next, we have the board of ed pack meeting update. Bert, Andrew, got a quick little uh report. Go >> ahead, Bert. Very short. >> Andrew is the AI guy. Um, we had a very interesting and uh, I think a very humorous presentation by an expert on AI, at least how teachers can implement AI. I think some of us knew

164that. I'm sure Andy did a little bit. But it was interesting um, because it's here. It's not going away. And uh there's a lot to be said about AI, not only in the classroom, but in our schools and every place else. Um I did read either on the news or I did maybe it was my grandson's school of Kimberly may have come out and said they are not using AI at all in their system. I thought that was kind of an interesting proclamation, but uh yeah, we're we're even us old guys are going to learn. Go ahead, Andrew. Take it away. >> Yep. Just to follow up, um he also talked about ways that kids can you can use AI to get kids together in the classroom and engage. Um he presented like a script

165that he had AI create and they had two people get up and present. It was kind of a fun activity to bring students together using AI. So, there's a lot people think that AI is just sitting in your computer and having it do all your work, but there's ways to engage um have students engage teacher engagement in the classroom go up with um AI. >> And if you don't mind me adding, we had some that same gentleman put on a workshop during the day for staff members and I know Aaron Johnson and maybe a couple other staff members from Rice Lake went to that. So, >> all right. Thank you for that update. WSB public policy correspondent update. Phil, >> I'm going to keep it extremely abbreviated unless there's popular demand. Guess there is none.

166Um, the governor signed a whole bunch of bills and vetoed a whole bunch more. Uh, I won't go into that right now. Um, and the interesting thing I mentioned before that the negotiations about what to do with the budget surplus are heating up and they I guess continue to be serious and there are some common uh positions on both sides and one of them as I think I mentioned was that both sides are offering $200 million in total for extra special education aid. So hopefully something will come of that. There's also possibility of more school general school aids as well. So that's another reason why I think the you know closing Hogan would have been a little bit uh rash this year. The end. All right. Thank you for that update. Any questions? Upcoming meeting

167schedule. Those meetings were in your packet. We won't uh go into detail on those. If you can attend any of those that need registration, please let Colleen know so she can get you registered and uh ready to go for that district administrator comments. >> Couple of things. Thursday, April 23rd is the middle school spring band and jazz band concert beginning at 6:00 in the high school auditorium. And then also uh for any parents uh watching, listening, registration for the 2526 summer academy is now open, closes on May 8th. And so you're going to want to visit the district website for more details and continue to check uh Loris car's school district social media pages for great things happening. >> All right, thank you for that update. And with that, I would entertain a motion to

168convene into close session pursuant to Wisconsin statutes 19.851C and that is for considering employment and promotion. That is a uh preliminary non-renewal and also approval of our close session meeting minutes from March 23rd and then a 19.8 9851E and that's uh for an individual employee contract. >> Motion has made and seconded. >> Lori and Miriam, >> got it. Lori and Miriam >> and roll call, please. >> Richard, >> yes. >> Nella Shire, >> yes. >> Doug Coo, >> yes. >> Lori Zarbach, >> yes. >> Don Kusky, >> Andrew Cop Coup, sorry. Andrew Coupe, yes. I don't think I've ever done that. Phil Hankle >> here. Kevin Jensen. >> Yes. >> And Mary and Barbara. >> Yes. >> Sorry, Andrew. I know how to pronounce your last name. >> How are you? Well,