Menomonie School board decides not to have a referendum in November

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE MENOMONIE AREA

NOTICE OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE CENTER

215 PINE AVENUE E., WISCONSIN MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2024, 5:45 P.M.

This meeting will be live-streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCq2Z68-Z717wExwN1mChOQ/streams

AGENDA

1. OPENING ITEMS
   1. Call to Order
   2. Roll Call and Quorum
   3. Pledge of Allegiance and Reading of Mission Statement
   4. Agenda Order and Approval/Revision
   5. Community Communications
   6. Revenue and Expenditure Reports for the Month Ended July 2024
   7. Monthly Employment Report (July 2024) The district is looking for a few more hourly employees, particularly para-educators
   8. CONSENT AGENDA

   9. Action to Approve Consent Agenda

      1. Minutes of a Regular Board Meeting of July 8, 2024, and Special Board Meeting of July 22, 2024
      2. Financial Reports for July 2024
      3. Donations Exceeding $1,000 for July 2024

      Consent agenda was approved unanimously.

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

Approved unanimously 

1. DISCUSSION ITEMS/POLICY REVIEW
   1. Review 2024-25 Back-to-School Plans

The detailed plan is attached to this article.

As noted in the attached Back-to-School Newsletter and on the district calendar, school in the SDMA begins on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.

K-5 MEET & GREET DAY (ALL ELEMENTARY SITES) TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2024, 8:00am – 4:00pm

Students and parents are encouraged to spend an hour per child at their school, meeting the teacher, putting away school supplies, and becoming familiar with the building. Student medications can be dropped off, and staff will be on hand to answer any questions you might have regarding your son/ daughter’s school year. Student forms are available in Skyward to complete prior to the start of the school year and each building will be sending out information to enrolled families prior to the Meet & Greet Day.

6-8 GRADE MEET & GREET DAY (MMS) TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2024, 7:30am – 3:30pm

Students and parents are encouraged to stop by the middle school and pick up their finalized schedule on this day. Plan to spend some time connecting with the pod teachers, putting away supplies in lockers, dropping off medications, and paying fees. Staff will be on hand to answer any questions you have regarding your student’s school year. Pictures are also taken during this time.

FRESHMAN FIRST DAY (MHS) TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2024, 8:00am – 3:00pm 

Incoming 9th grade students will have an orientation day at the high school on August 27. Parents can start dropping students off as early as 7:30 a.m, breakfast will be provided. All students will spend freshman first day with LINK leaders. The LINK program is designed to have trained upperclassmen as leaders to help freshmen have an outstanding first day of high school. Freshmen learn each other’s names and get to know a few juniors and seniors in a small-group setting. The freshmen get a tour of the school, have lunch, and will go through an abbreviated schedule. Students and families will receive additional information about freshman first day later in August.

1. Annual Community Education Report
2. Annual Athletics & Activities Report
3. Review Exhibit 371- District Sponsored Student Activities & Organizations
4. Annual Legal Services Report
5. Review Updated 2024-25 Budget Projections

With the new budget projections the board is considering postponing a referendum vote for this year. This is not an ideal situation but that postponing for a year would demonstrate to the public that the district is attempting in good faith to cut the budget and to continue operating on the current funding for at least a year. The new budget has very little room to accommodate unexpected financial changes. Following this budget it is very possible that the board will not be able to balance the budget every year. This is particularly changeable due to health care expenditures, which are unpredictable. 

1. Review District Goals and Major Activities for 2024-2025
2. Review Annual Meeting Agenda
3. Items Related to Next Meeting Dates, Board Committees, and Reports
4. ACTION AGENDA

   1. Resolution Authorizing the School District Budget to Exceed Revenue Limit by $2,500,000 Per Year for Four Years for Non-Recurring Purposes

   2. Resolution Providing for a Referendum Election on the Question of the Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the School District Budget to Exceed Revenue Limit by $2,500,000 Per Year for Four Years for Non-Recurring Purposes

The board had some discussion about whether they should have a referendum this year. None of the board members were willing to make a motion to have a referendum in view of the budget discussion earlier in the meeting. There will be no referendum this year. 

1. ADJOURNMENT
   1. 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.