Menomonie School Board changes Title IX policy to conform to new federal policy

In this meeting the school board made changes to their policies on Title IX to bring the policy in line with the new federal guidelines. This reverts the policy back to the policy that the board used up until September 2024. 

Per Wis. Stat. § 19.84(2))
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE MENOMONIE AREA
NOTICE OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OAKLAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LIBRARY
500 21ST STREET SOUTH, MENOMONIE, WI 54751 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2025, 5:45 PM
**The building tour for board members will begin at 5:00 PM.** This meeting will be live-streamed at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCq2Z68-Z717wExwN1mChOQ/streams

AGENDA
   I. OPENING ITEMS
       A. Call to Order
       B. Roll Call and Quorum
       C. Pledge of Allegiance and Reading of Mission Statement
       D. Agenda Order and Approval/Revision
       E. Recommendations & Commendations
       F. Highlight on Youth

The Highlight on Youth report is attached below.

       G. Student Representative Communications

       H. Community Communications
       I. Revenue and Expenditure Reports for the Month Ended January 2025

Much of the revenue for the district comes in the middle of the year, which is one of the reasons there needs to be a fund balance.

       J. Monthly Employment Report (January 2025)
   II. CONSENT AGENDA
       A. Action to Approve Consent Agenda
           1. Minutes of a Regular Board Meeting of January 13, 2025, and Minutes of a Special Board Meeting of January 27, 2025
           2. Financial Reports for January 2025
           3. Donations Exceeding $1,000 for January 2025

Recommendations for Regular Board Meeting on February 10, 2025:

 

A.  Action to Approve the Consent Agenda, as presented:

 

1.  Minutes - That the board approves the following minutes, as presented:

            a) Regular Board Meeting of January 13, 2025; and

            b) Special Board Meeting of January 27, 2025;

 

2.  Financial Reports - That the board approves general fund checks in the amount of $3,047,346.19 and cash receipts in the amount of $5,033,339.27 for January 2025, as presented.

 

3.  Donations - That the board approves donations exceeding $1,000 for the month of January 2025, as presented:

• $2,312 in donations from parents and local businesses to fund Wakanda 5th grade field trips
• $4131.05- Teacher Mini Grant Fund from the Community Foundation of Dunn County
  • $1,000 for ELL program at River Heights Elementary School for Hmong History Month Guest Author/Artist, secured by Jen Lee
  • $750 to elementary libraries to purchase acrylic shelf storage, secured by Jessica Graham
  • $800 for MHS Chemistry & Physics department to update classroom equipment, secured by Jessie Weinberger
  • $738.05 for ELL program at MMS for Hispanic Heritage/Latino Cultural project, secured by Natasha Bade 
  • $843.00 to Oaklawn Elementary School for the Just Breathe:  Enhancing Learning Through Classroom Mindfulness Breaks project, secured by Leah Miller.
• $8,568 in grants from the Ann Marie Foundation (November 1 grant cycle)
  • $2,612 to HS Science Department to purchase lab equipment, secured by Jessie Weinberger
  • $1,200.00 to elementary libraries for browsing bins, secured by Anne Olson
  • $4,000.00 to HS Band department for a Yamaha Marimba, secured by Jake Karkula

• $756 to MS Music for Orff mallet instruments, secured by Tara Grubbe

• The Consent agenda approved unanimously

• 
     III. PERSONNEL CONSENT AGENDA
         A. Action to Approve Personnel Consent Agenda
             1. Resignations/Retirements
             2. Requests to Hire

  The personnel consent agenda was approved unanimously
     IV. ACTION AGENDA
         A. Action to Approve Title IX Policy Revisions
             1. Policy 113, Nondiscrimination in District Programs, Activities, and Operations
             2. Exhibit 113, Exhibit 113, Title IX Notice

The SDMA received two notices last week from the Department of Education in regard to Title IX (attached).

 

The first notice officially informed school district's that the 2024 version of Title IX regulations were suspended, and the second notice clarified that the 2020 revisions would be applied to all existing and future Title IX complaints. 

 

Attorneys at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards have advised that school boards take timely action to ensure that Title IX policies align with the 2020 regulations. 

 

District administrators have prepared revised drafts of Policy 113, Rule 113, and Exhibit 113 that align with the 2020 Title IX regulations for the Board to consider. The changes readopt the district's policies that were in place prior to September 2024, with minor editorial revisions and updated contact information for filing a complaint. 

This is clearly an emotional issue for some of the board members. This change is in response to an order from a Federal judge and requires a rollback in policy to the district's previous policy. Member Riddle-Swanson raised the issue that many of the current changes coming down from the White House are floating through the judicial system and would like to postpone this until the situation is clearer. If the district does not change its policy, it will not comply with Title IX as it currently stands. The policies are attached below.

The resolution to change the policy to align with 2020 regulations passed 7-2. 

   V. DISCUSSION ITEMS/POLICY REVIEW 
       A. Review 2025-26 MHS Course Recommendations
       B. Discuss Compensation Plans for 2025-26

The total increase would be about $723,000 in salary. It is based on the CPI.

       C. Discuss Adding Playground Goal to the 2024-25 District Work Plan

A report will be created on playground needs that will be completed in June, 2025.

       D. Strategic Planning Update

There were 24 listening sessions, the last of which is ending right now. There has been a big response. The steering committee will start sorting through the database of comments, which is very big. 

In the next several weeks, there will be a survey to see if things were missed and to validate the results from the listening sessions.

       E. Discuss Federal Policy Changes

The large number of executive orders is hard to keep up with. Many of them potentially have effects on public schools. The district's goal will be to maintain compliance. This does not necessarily change the mission of the district. There may be a statement to that effect from the board soon. 
       F. Legislative Advocacy

       G. Items Related to Next Meeting Dates, Board Committees, and Reports
   VI. CLOSED SESSION
       A. Action to move to closed session for the purpose of considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, pursuant to Section 19.85(1)(c), Wisconsin Statutes.
       B. Action to Approve Closed Session Meeting Minutes from September 9, 2024
       C. District Administrator Goals Review (Mid-year Evaluation)
   VII. ADJOURNMENT
       A. Action to Adjourn

The agenda as noted above was posted more than twenty-four hours prior to the meeting date. The most up-to-date agenda information is available on the district website. This agenda is posted at the Menomonie Area School District Administrative Services Center, and on the district website at www.sdmanonline.com under the School Board link.