Regular Board Meeting: March 20, 2023
Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter provided a District Administrator Update including the start of the Spring season, staff recognition of Stephanie Milmoe on helping a student who was in distress and saved them from choking, and a video presentation from the GEA about the Random Acts of Kindness by staff.
Mrs. Katie Kohel shared a 4K video presentation about what a day in Amy Belle 4K looks like. 4K teachers Ms. Heller and Ms. Stallings shared how 4K students are being incorporated into the K-5 program and how much time students spend their day in learning centers and carpet time.
Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter and Marketing and Communications Manager Mandi Race shared the Internal Communication Results. Staff find the District Update valuable and would like to see this communication monthly, agree that the parent newsletter is valuable to them, find Principal communications valuable/highly valuable, and the website is sometimes/regularly used.
Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter and Board President Brian Medved presented Bob Soderberg (12 years) and Amanda Reinemann (3 years) with a plaque and thanked them for their years of service to the Board of Education.
During citizen comments the following people spoke: Mike Karrels with the GEA.
Motion by Reinemann, second by Pawlak to approve the February 27, 2023 Board of Education Meeting Minutes. Motion carried.
Barney provided an update to the Board from the March 15, 2023 Policy Committee Meeting mentioning the addition of a new standing Teaching and Learning Committee and updates to the following policies: Presiding Officer, consent agenda, attendance, fund balance, payment of invoices, use of tobacco and nicotine, facility, use of social media, and transportation.
The Policy Committee brings forward with a positive recommendation to approve the updates and modifications to District Policies 0100-9800 as discussed excluding Policies 5517, 5722, 8800, and 8802. Board discussion on the policies that are excluded from approval stating that additional clarifications are needed for these policies, the fund balance of 17%, the facility policy in regards to searching of non-students, and the consent agenda. Motion carried.
Motion by Barney, second by Ewert to change the language in 6470 to include “exceptions may occur with Finance Committee or Board approval only.” Motion carried.
Motion by Barney, second by Soderberg to approve the updates and modifications to District Policy 5517 - Student Anti-Harassment. Board discussion on training for staff and administration on how to handle these instances and to address the situations in a timely manner and violations outside of the school day/environment. Motion by Ewert, second by Barney to make an amendment to the last line in paragraph 4 under 5517 - Student Anti-Harassment-Prohibited Harassment to read “violations of this policy that do not occur within the school environment or school day will be reported to the parents of our student and/or to law enforcement to investigate as necessary.” Board discussion on clarification of who these instances would be reported to. Amendment to Motion carried. Motion with Amendment carried.
Loth provided an update to the Board from the March 20, 2023 Finance Committee meeting mentioning vouchers and the variance report.
The Finance Committee brings forward to the Board of Education with a positive recommendation to approve the 2023-2024 Student Fee Schedule. Motion carried.
The Finance Committee brings forward to the Board of Education with a positive recommendation to approve the 2023-2024 Facility Use fee Schedule. Motion carried.
The Finance Committee brings forward to the Board of Education with a positive recommendation to approve the 2023-2025 Student Resource Officer Agreement with the Village of Germantown with one modification to Item 7 to change to 60 days rather than 30 as stated. Motion carried.
The Finance Committee brings a motion to move forward to the Board of Education to approve the replacement of boiler #2 at Amy Belle Elementary using Butters Fettering Corporation in the amount not to exceed $44,000. Board discussion on what boiler is being replaced. Motion carried.
The Finance Committee brings forward to the Board of Education with a positive recommendation to approve the proposed agreement with CESA #6 Math Center for an amount not to exceed $42,500. Board discussion that ESSER funds are being used to pay for this purchase. Motion carried.
The Finance Committee motions to bring forward to the Board of Education with a positive recommendation to approve the purchase of 60 iPads and AppleCare+ from Apple for an amount not to exceed $42,180 using common school library aid. Board discussion on where the iPads are being used. Board discussion that the amount was transposed and should be $24,180. Motion carried.
Director of Teaching and Learning Jake Misiak led discussions on the Early College Credit Program and Start Now College Applications. Motion by Reinemann, second by Ewert to approve the Early Credit College Program (ECCP) and the Start College Now requests as presented. Motion carried (Barney - abstain).
Director of Human Resources Mike Nowak led discussions on Teacher Contracts. Motion by Barney, second by Reinemann to approve the 0.4 FTE limited-term contract for Lynne Milbrath at $8,806 and the 0.6 FTE limited-term contract for Reagan Larson at $6,625. Motion carried.
Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter led discussions on the SkillsUSA overnight travel request and expenses. Motion by Loth, second by Pawlak to approve the overnight travel request for 18 students and two (2) advisors to travel to Madison, WI from April 25-26, 2023 to attend the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference with student lodging and advisor costs to be paid using funds from the Germantown School District Activities Budget for a total of $978. Motion carried.
Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter led discussions on the DECA overnight travel request. Motion by Reinemann, second by Soderberg to approve the overnight travel request for six (6) DECA students and one (1) advisor to travel to Orlando, Florida from April 21-26, 2023 to attend the DECA International Career Development Conference with expenses to be fundraised and paid for by the students for their expenses and budget funds for advisor expenses. Motion carried.
Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter led discussions on the FBLA overnight travel request and expenses. Motion by Pawlak, second by Barney to approve the overnight travel request for 58 students and six (6) advisors/chaperones to travel to Green Bay, WI from April 16-18, 2023 to attend the FBLA State Competition with all transportation and advisor/chaperone expenses to be paid using funds from the Germantown School District Activities Budget for a total of $2663.76. Motion carried.
Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter led discussions on the donations received. Motion by Reinemann, second by Ewert to thank the donors for their generosity and approve all donations as listed. Motion carried.
A recording of the meeting can be viewed here.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Regular School Board Meeting — April 24, 2023