Germantown School District - WI -

Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter provided a District Administrator update sharing that Dr. Croatt is here with Rockfield students, shoutout to Chalil Jones for being a semifinalist for Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin, GHS Warchix competed in La Crosse at a State Competition and placed 4th, Community Think Tank will be this Friday at the District Office, and Thursday night is the Germantown Community Scholarship Dinner. 

The Germantown School District Student Representative provided an update on what is happening in our schools. AMY BELLE: Parents and students participated in Family Trivia Night called “Smarter than an Amy Belle Student”; students are participating in Winter Olympics activities in PE; Bellefest was today focusing on the character trait of honesty. COUNTY LINE: The monthly Comet Assembly was held and students were recognized for showing the Comet Code; the February focus is empathy; the PTA hosted Bingo Night and Movie Night; District leaders visited for instructional rounding. MACARTHUR: First grade students have a concert tonight; students will have group yearbook photos taken; the MacArthur Carnival is coming up fast. ROCKFIELD: Students are focusing on honesty; tonight students will be presenting at the School Board meeting with their music teacher. KMS: Key Club is collecting donations for the Washington County Humane Society; 7th and 8th grade students will participate in a band concert next week. GHS: FBLA students won their Regional competition; prospective 8th grade families were introduced to GHS. 

Rockfield Elementary School Principal Dr. Dana Croatt introduced music teacher Mr. John Patek and seven first grade students from Rockfield who shared how academic growth and creative expression go hand in hand. This presentation showed how students respond and connect to art through music.

Germantown High School Band Teacher Mr. Jon Bell along with a GHS student and parent shared a presentation about the recent band trip to Madrid, Spain. 

Director Tracy Pawlak shared that the Park & Rec Commission meeting is tomorrow night so there isn’t any information to share at this time. Director Jeff Voyer shared information from the Economics Development Commission. President Russ Ewert shared information from the Village of Germantown Planning Commission meeting.

Motion by Barney, second by Higginbotham to approve the Consent Agenda. Dr. Reuter highlighted the donations. Motion carried.

Ewert provided an update from the January 29, 2026 and February 12, 2026 Negotiations Committee meetings sharing that the discussion items were CPI is 2.63% for the following year and initial offers were exchanged between both groups. 

Pawlak provided an update from the February 3, 2026 Ad hoc Transportation Committee meeting mentioning the discussion around the 2026-2027 school year start/end times.  

The Ad hoc Transportation Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to continue with the current start/end times for the 2026-2027 school year. Motion carried.

Higginbotham provided an update from the February 3, 2026 Teaching & Learning Committee meeting mentioning the update on the 2025-2026 winter growth data, the K5 science pilot plan, and the summer school offerings and proposed budget 2026. 

The Teaching & Learning Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the K-5 Science Pilot Plan as presented. Motion carried.

The Teaching & Learning Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the Summer School Courses, including new and updated offerings and the proposed budget for 2026. Additionally, provide approval for the overnight travel for students and advisors to travel to Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park In Ontonagon, MI from June 11-15, 2026. Motion carried.

Brown provided an update from the February 17, 2026 Personnel Committee meeting mentioning teacher resignations, teacher contracts, the staffing update, the 2025 medical/Rx and dental plan performance report, and the spring coaching and advisor contracts.  

The Personnel Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the spring coaching contracts and one advisor contract. Motion carried.

Loth provided an update from the February 17, 2026 Finance Committee meeting mentioning the approval of the December vouchers, the GSD Financial Series #5 Equalization Aid presentation by CESA 1, the January variance report, the 2026-2027 student fee schedule, the 2026-2027 meal and milk prices, and the purchase request for the District Office Boardroom. 

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the 2026-2027 Student Fee Schedule. Motion carried.

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the 2026-2027 meal and milk prices. Motion carried.

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the purchase of A/V equipment and a Boardroom conference table from multiple vendors for a total cost not to exceed $40,000. Motion carried.

Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter led discussions on the Petition to Alter School District Boundaries. Homeowners Emma and Alex Gooding shared with the Board the reason behind their petition. 

Motion by Pawlak, second by Voyer to grant the transfer of the territory described in the petition. That the reorganization requested in the petition filed on August 21, 2025, be granted and an order entered detaching the territory described in said petition from the Holy Hill Area School District and Hartford Union School District, and attaching said territory to the Germantown School District.

Roll Call: Ewert - yes, Brown - yes, Barney - yes, Loth - yes, Pawlak - yes, Higginbotham - yes, Voyer - yes Motion carried (7-0).

Motion by Pawlak, second by Barney to adopt the School Board Resolution Authorizing Issuance of an Order:

WHEREAS, a meeting of the school board of the Germantown School District was held on February 17, 2026, and 

WHEREAS, a petition has been filed with the clerk of the school board, pursuant to s. 117.11-13, Wis Stats., proposing to detach the territory of 1212 Hillside Road, Hubertus, WI 53033 (Pt of NW NW Doc 1551165; Tax Parcel ID: 0833600B; Location: NW-NW, Sect. 22, T9N, R19E) from the Holy Hill Area School District and attach it to the Germantown School District, and

WHEREAS, a public hearing has been held on the proposed reorganization by the school board pursuant to s. 117.11-13, Wis Stats.,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that an order be issued and filed granting the petition upon which said hearing has been held. 

Roll Call: Ewert - yes, Brown - yes, Barney - yes, Loth - yes, Pawlak - yes, Higginbotham - yes, Voyer - yes Resolution carried (7-0).

Motion by Pawlak, second by Voyer to adopt the School Board Resolution Authorizing Issuance of an Order:

WHEREAS, a meeting of the school board of the Germantown School District was held on February 17, 2026, and 

WHEREAS, a petition has been filed with the clerk of the school board, pursuant to s. 117.11-13, Wis Stats., proposing to detach the territory of 1212 Hillside Road, Hubertus, WI 53033 (Pt of NW NW Doc 1551165; Tax Parcel ID: 0833600B; Location: NW-NW, Sect. 22, T9N, R19E) from the Hartford Union School District and attach it to the Germantown School District, and

WHEREAS, a public hearing has been held on the proposed reorganization by the school board pursuant to s. 117.11-13, Wis Stats.,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that an order be issued and filed granting the petition upon which said hearing has been held.

Roll Call: Ewert - yes, Brown - yes, Barney - yes, Loth - yes, Pawlak - yes, Higginbotham - yes, Voyer - yes Resolution carried (7-0). 

Director of Teaching & Learning Jake Misiak led discussions on the Early College Credit Program and Start College Now Applications. Motion by Higginbotham, second by Voyer to approve the Early College Credit Program and the Start College Now requests as presented. Motion carried (Pawlak - abstain).

Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter led discussions on the overnight travel requests. Motion by Voyer, second by Higginbotham to approve the overnight travel requests for KMS FBLA in March, GHS DECA in February, GHS SkillsUSA in April, GHS Ice Fishing Club in February, GSD DI in April, GHS FBLA in April, GHS Powerlifting in March and April, and GHS Science in March/April. Motion carried.

Director of Human Resources Dr. Martin Castro led discussions on the Teacher Retirements. Motion by Higginbotham, second by Barney to approve the request for retirement at the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year for Todd Schnieder, James Cannestra, Lynn Collins, Kristen Doedens, and Thomas Wilcox and thank them for their many years of service to our district and also many years of enjoying retirement. Motion carried.