Menomonie School Board Meetings for 1/13/2025

There will be two school board meetings on Monday night. The first will be the mid-year budget hearing and the second will be the normal school board meeting. The agendas are below:

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE MENOMONIE AREA MID-YEAR BUDGET HEARING
MENOMONIE HIGH SCHOOL - TIERED LECTURE HALL 1715 5TH STREET WEST, MENOMONIE, WI 54751

MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2025, 5:00 P.M.

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

Members of the public are welcome to provide comments to the Board during the Community Communications item listed on the agenda. In-person community communications will be allowed at Monday’s meeting, but comments may also be provided in writing. Please submit your written comments or your request to be placed on the schedule for providing virtual comments by emailing [email protected] by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025.

AGENDA

   I. OPENING ITEMS
Call to Order
Presiding – Rachel Henderson, President of the Board of Education

   II. MID-YEAR BUDGET HEARING
Review of District Budget
District Administrator Dr. Joe Zydowsky and Director of Business Services Eric Nelson will present information regarding the district budget.

There is a difference between the money allocated from the state and the spendable money for the district, since there are spending caps for each district. Menomonie has one of the lower mil rates in the area.

As part of our levy, the costs for the voucher program raises the cost to taxpayers and increases the mil rate. Local property taxes increase by approximately one million dollars due to vouchers.

There are slides in the video presentation. 

Pre-payment of loans and re-financing debt has saved almost $8 million dollars over the years. 

It is anticipated that federal funding will continue for the near future, despite claims that the Dept. of Education will be shut down in the new administration.

Salaries and benefits account for about 76% of all expenditures for the school district. 

If there is no increase in revenue the district will need to do short-term borrowing in 2028-2029 since the fund balance will no longer meet needs. 

   III. DISCUSSION
Public Comment on District Budget
Members of the public are welcome to ask questions or provide comments related to the district budget.

   IV. ADJOURNMENT
       A. Action to Adjourn

Please note that it is anticipated that one-half or more of the members of the school board will attend the mid-year budget hearing.

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE MENOMONIE AREA
NOTICE OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MENOMONIE HIGH SCHOOL - TIERED LECTURE HALL
1715 5TH STREET WEST, MENOMONIE, WI 54751 MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2025, 5:45 P.M.

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 at the end of the article. 

       G. Student Representative Communications

       H. Community Communications

There were no speakers.

       I. Revenue and Expenditure Reports for the Month Ended December 2024
       J. Monthly Employment Report (December 2024)
   II. CONSENT AGENDA

Recommendations for Regular Board Meeting on January 13, 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 Minutes of December 9, 2024

 

2.  Financial Reports - That the board approves general fund checks in the amount of $2,309.342.55 and cash receipts in the amount of $162,675.94 for December 2024, as presented. 

 

3.  Donations - That the board approves donations exceeding $1,000 for the month of December 2024, as presented: 

• A $10,500 donation was made to Wakanda Elementary School by the Wakanda Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) for the purchase of new cafeteria tables.
• A $5,000 donation was made to the Food Service Angel Fund by United Way St. Croix & Red Cedar Valleys Inc.
• A donation of $6,302.25 to River Heights Elementary School from River Heights PTO for a field trip to Madison.
• A donation of $1,403.85 was made to Downsville Elementary School from the Student Council's penny wars fundraiser event.

The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
       A. Action to Approve Consent Agenda
           1. Minutes of a Regular Board Meeting of December 9, 2024
           2. Financial Reports for December 2024
           3. Donations Exceeding $1,000 for December 2024
   III. PERSONNEL CONSENT AGENDA
       A. Action to Approve Personnel Consent Agenda
           1. Resignations/Retirements
           2. Requests to Hire

There were several retirements and one resignation. The assistant director of food and nutrition has resigned. This will not require the closed session that was originally on the agenda. 154 years of teaching experience has retired. 

The personnel consent agenda was approved. 

   IV ACTION AGENDA
       A. Action to Approve 2024-25 Budget Revisions

The changes are the same as were discussed at the last meeting but with some formatting changes at the request of the board. The agenda was approved unanimously. 

   DISCUSSION ITEMS/POLICY REVIEW
       A. Review 30-year Capital Improvement Plan
       B. Clerk’s Report on 2025 School Board Election

An election will take place in the Menomonie Area School District on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Three positions are open for three-year terms that will end in April 2028.

 

Five candidates have registered to run for these positions: Rachel Henderson (i), Josie Pillman, Abe Smith (i), Dominique Stewart (i), and Joyce Uhlir.

 

The order of names on the ballot will be determined by a drawing of lots, taking place on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Administrative Service Center.

       C. Review Process for Building the 2025-26 Budget

There is a new tool for building requests for the budget, making it a more inclusive process.

       D. Review Number of Regular and Special Education Spaces Available for Open Enrollment

Open enrollment starts in early February. In special ed there is no space available in any of the current programs. Regular seats are more flexible. It is rare, however, that there are seats available. 

       E. Review Audit Report

There are 3 internal control matters - use of an accounting firm, segregation of duties, and adjustments in the journal at the end of the year that are common in school financial statements. Changes will be made before the audit. 

       F. Review and Discuss 2025 WASB Resolutions for Delegate Vote

Dominique Stewart is the elected delegate. The resolutions include staff mental health, truancy, and funding for school meal debt. 

       G. Legislative Advocacy
       H. Items Related to Next Meeting Dates, Board Committees, and Reports
   V. CLOSED SESSION (added 1/10/25)
       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. Approve Closed Session Minutes of September 9, 2024
       C. Resignation of the Assistant Director of Food & Nutrition Services
   VI. 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.