Germantown School District - WI -

Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter provided a District Administrator update thanking Mr. Eric Brown for his service to the Board. Also mentioned were the presentations at tonight’s meeting, Spring Break is right around the corner, and congratulations to GSD athletes on finishing up their season. The preliminary staffing plan for music programming will be discussed later in the meeting..

The Germantown School District Student Representative provided an update on what is happening in our schools. AMY BELLE:  Students and staff participated in a Read Across America dress-up week; the monthly Bellefest focused on cooperation; families will enjoy the event, Dinner with the Arts. MACARTHUR:  Students focused on honesty in February; students completed the Heart Scavenger Hunt Challenge; the schoolwide focus in March is cooperation; 3rd-5th grade students will take Forward assessments. COUNTY LINE:  Staff are engaging in professional learning around strengthening teacher clarity; positive student behavior is celebrated through Comet Code Celebrations; March’s school theme is courage. ROCKFIELD:  March’s focus is on cooperation; students are preparing their Student-Led Conference materials; 5th grade students will take part in the Bi-Annual Germantown Sings Concert; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students will have their annual music concert in May. KMS:  Students are participating in the Wisconsin  Forward Exam; the school remains focused on recognizing positive student contributions; 7th grade students participated in Career Day; the school is preparing for parent-teacher conferences, end of the third quarter, and spring break. GHS:  Freshman-Juniors will be taking the Pre ACT or ACT; spring sports have begun.

Kennedy Middle School Principal Mrs. Jess Gieryn introduced students who participated in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) program to share their experiences in FBLA and how these experiences will help them throughout their student careers and in their life. 

Food & Nutrition Supervisor Jill Seefeld provided a Food & Nutrition Report sharing information on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, the equipment study and assessment, the summer food service program with free breakfast, what is new this year (menu system, hydroponics, card system at elementary schools, new staff uniform tops, new menu display at GHS), and what’s cooking in the kitchen. 

Director Tracy Pawlak shared information from the Park & Rec Commission meeting. Director Jeff Voyer shared information from the Economics Development Commission. President Russ Ewert shared information from the Village of Germantown Planning Commission meeting.

The following citizens spoke: Cassie Zarder, Brandis Zarder, Aidan DeBisschop, Gavin Chapin, Zoey Grekso, Madison Matuszewski, and Chloe Reimer regarding Kennedy Middle School changes; Sarah Knusten, Andrea Breen, Alexa Tucker, and Jon Bell regarding the music program

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

Higginbotham provided an update from the March 3, 2026 Teaching & Learning Committee meeting sharing the February 23rd professional development day update and the Bridges Third Edition Transition Kits purchase which was forwarded to the Finance Committee for approval.

Pawlak provided an update from the March 3, 2026 Buildings & Grounds Committee meeting mentioning the work order completion report, the OpEx projects update, the Rockfield entry cabinet heater, the GHS batting cage revamp, and the GHS Main gym February 12th incident. Also shared was information on the GHS main gym floor resurface and elementary monument signs which were forwarded to the Finance Committee for approval.

Brown provided an update from the March 17, 2026 Personnel Committee meeting mentioning teacher resignations, teacher contracts, the staffing update, the spring coaching contracts, and the preliminary 2026-2027 teacher staffing plan.  

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

The Personnel Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the proposed staffing plan for the 2026-27 school year, with the exception of the K-12 Music Department, and to issue 277.02 teaching contracts. Committee discussion.  There is no reduction in Music staff. Motion carried.

Loth provided an update from the March 17, 2026 Finance Committee meeting mentioning the approval of the February/March vouchers, the GSD Financial Series #6 Grants presentation by CESA 1, the February variance report, the WiSNP agreement, the 2026-2027 chromebook lease refresh, the chromebook purchase, the exterior monumental signs, the GHS main gym floor resurface, and the Bridges Third Addition Transition Kits.

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the agreement with WiSNP to join the Wisconsin School Nutrition Purchasing Cooperative. Motion carried.

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to  lease purchase Chromebooks from BDJ Tech and finance the lease-purchase through a 4-year lease arrangement with First American in an amount not to exceed $406,720.00 with an annual P&I payment not to exceed $109,442.99, as presented, and charge to the appropriate capitalization & lease accounts in the general fund. Motion carried.

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the purchase of 180 Touchscreen Chromebooks, corresponding Google licenses, and 6 charging carts from BDJ Tech for an amount not to exceed $75,075.00 using Common School Library Aid. Motion carried.

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to proceed with Lemberg Signs for the monumental sign installation project at Amy Belle Elementary, County Line Elementary, Rockfield Elementary, and District Office in an amount not to exceed $117,476.24. Motion carried.

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to proceed with the GHS Main Gym Floor Resurface project using Schmidt Flooring, as part of the 2025-26 Capital Projects within the 2025-30 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan, for $89,875.00, funded out of the Fund 41 Capital Improvements budget. Motion carried.

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the purchase of Bridges Transition Kits. Motion carried.

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

Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter led discussions on the overnight travel request. Motion by Barney, second by Higginbotham to approve the overnight travel request for County Line School in October 2026. Motion carried.

Director of Human Resources Martin Castro led discussions on the certified teaching staff wage increase for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Negotiations with the GEA began in November 2025. Motion by Voyer, second by Barney to approve a 2.63% pay rate increase for certified teaching staff as presented for the 2026–2027 fiscal year, effective July 1, 2026.

Roll Call: Ewert - yes, Brown - yes, Barney - yes, Loth - yes, Pawlak - yes, Higginbotham - yes, Voyer - yes

Motion carried (7-0)

Motion by Barney, second by Pawlak to approve the Resolution of the Board of Education:

WHEREAS:  Representatives of the Germantown School District (hereinafter, “District”) and the Germantown Education Association (hereinafter, “Union”) have been engaged in negotiations for the 2026-2027 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the parties; and

WHEREAS: The District’s last proposal to the Union for the 2026-2027 school year was a total base wage increase of 2.63%, which aligns with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and represents the largest increase in total base wages the District is permitted by law to offer the Union without a referendum approving a greater increase; and

WHEREAS: The Union has not agreed to the District’s last proposal, and the Union has indicated to the District that the Union does not intend to present any additional proposals to the District; and

WHEREAS: Based on these representations by the Union, the District has determined that the parties are at an impasse in negotiations over the 2026-2027 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of Education of the Germantown School District (hereinafter, “Board”), that:

(1)    The Board declares that the parties are at an impasse in negotiations over the 2026-2027 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the District and the Union; and

(2)    The Board’s last offer to the Union for a total base wage increase of 2.63% be implemented for the 2026-2027 school year.

Roll Call: Ewert - yes, Brown - yes, Barney - yes, Loth - yes, Pawlak - yes, Higginbotham - yes, Voyer - yes

Motion carried (7-0): 

Director of Human Resources Martin Castro led discussions on the certified teaching staff one-time stipend for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Motion by Pawlak, second by Higginbotham to approve a $750 stipend for certified teaching staff with base salaries of $90,000 or greater for the 2026–2027 school year, to be paid June 30, 2027. 

Roll Call: Ewert - yes, Brown - yes, Barney - yes, Loth - yes, Pawlak - yes, Higginbotham - yes, Voyer - yes

Motion carried (7-0).

Director of Human Resources Martin Castro led discussions on the professional technical, support staff, and administration wage increase for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Motion by Pawlak, second by Voyer to approve a 2.63% pay rate increase for Professional Technical, Support Staff, and Administration (excluding the District Administrator) as presented for the 2026–2027 fiscal year, effective July 1, 2026.

Roll Call: Ewert - yes, Brown - yes, Barney - yes, Loth - yes, Pawlak - yes, Higginbotham - yes, Voyer - yes

Motion carried (7-0).