SDMA board approves course recommendations and salary scales

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE MENOMONIE AREA
NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RIVER HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL- CAFETERIA
615 24th AVENUE W, MENOMONIE, WISCONSIN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2025, 5:45 P.M.
(Tour for BOE members will begin at 5:00 pm) This meeting will be live-streamed at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCq2Z68-Z717wExwN1mChOQ/streams

Note that the audio on the live stream is not very good. There is no sound system in the cafeteria and the ventilation and refrigeration systems are very loud.

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

Approved unanimously.
   III. ACTION AGENDA
       A. Action to Approve 2025-26 MHS Course Recommendations

Approved unanimously
       B. Action to Approve 2025-26 Salary Scales and Contracts

Approved unanimously

   IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS/POLICY REVIEW
       A. Discussion of Donation from Natural Grid Renewables

These permitting applications have requirements for finances. This has not been approved but there is a financial agreement. This will not be completed until 2027 or 2028. This will help the project move forward. Legal counsel approved this. It is a 20 year commitment.

       B. Review Proposal for Parent Square Communications Tool

This reinforces the communications part of the strategic plan.. This appears to be the tool that has been most successful for local districts. Families can choose how they get notified and allows community members to opt in as well as parents. It is also more selective on what groups will be contacted. 

 It allows more kinds of communication - email has not been successful with many students. You can also select what times of day to receive communications. The cost is approximately $19,000.                              

       C. Review Initial Elementary Class Size Projections for 2025-26    

This is difficult to determine in advance with some people coming and going and the voucher schools. There was a long discussion about balancing Kindergarten classes, particularly since Downsville is down to 7 Kindergarten students.

       D. Review CESA 10 Shared Service Contract for 2025-26

This is renewing the services that the district gets from the CESA districts. The services from 10 are for E-rate, and most of the other services are from 11.

       E. Review CESA 11 Shared Service Contract for 2025-26

       F. Strategic Planning Update

The strategic planning committee has been meeting and they are on track for the timeline.  There have been 18 listening sessions and 277 people had input. There have been productive discussions.           All of that data is being collated.   There will also be listening  sessions with students and a survey that will go out later.
       G. Review Extracurricular Staff Contract Requests
       H. Items Related to Next Meeting Dates, Board Committees, and Reports 

The next meeting will be  at Wakanda Elementary School.
   V. 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 Statute
       B. Action to Approve Closed Session Minutes of February 10, 2025
       C. District Administrator Goals Review (Mid-year Evaluation)
   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.