Menomonie School Board Meeting 2/14/2022

This week items of particular interest will include the approval of a contract to live stream school district events, and a discussion of the possible improvements to the sports complex. The complex has been an issue of contention having caused some discussion at the last board meeting about the possible non-transparency of these improvements being put on the long-term plans for the district, and the publication of a pointed letter to the editor from three former board members. WQOW also ran a news story about this earlier in the week. 

There will also be a discussion about whether the district should maintain its membership in the National School Board Association and curriculum transparency in the district.

(Per Wis. Stat. § 19.84(2))

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE MENOMONIE AREA

NOTICE OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE CENTER

215 PINE AVENUE E., MENOMONIE, WISCONSIN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2022, 5:30 P.M.

This meeting will be live-streamed at: https://ensemble.cesa10.k12.wi.us/Watch/j2TAb89N .

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 jennifer_mikesell@msd.k12.wi.us by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, February 14, 2022.

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 and Commendations

F. Highlight on Youth - Downsville

G. Student Representative Communications

H. Community Communications

I. Revenue and Expenditure Reports for the Month Ended January 2022

J. Monthly Employment Report (January 2022)

II. CONSENT AGENDA

A. Action to Approve Consent Agenda

1. Minutes of Regular Meeting of January 10, 2022 and Special Meeting of January 24, 2022

2. Financial Reports for January 2022

3. Donations Exceeding $1,000 for January 2022

4. Renewal of Girls Hockey Co-Op

III. PERSONNEL CONSENT AGENDA

A. Action to Approve Personnel Consent Agenda

1. Resignations/Retirements

2. Requests to Hire

IV. ACTION AGENDA

A. Approve Contract with Just In Live Stream

V. DISCUSSION ITEMS/POLICY REVIEW

A. Discuss MHS Sports Complex

The following is not part of the agenda but has been posted as an addendum on the district website:

The sports complex addition to the high school campus has provided opportunities for a large number of students, staff, and community members who use the complex for a range of academic, extra-curricular, and recreational activities that occur both during and outside of the school day. Collaborating with UW Stout continues to be a good solution for varsity football, but there is a real need for expanded spectator capacity at MHS for soccer, track, and lower-level football events. The current seating arrangement at the MHS Sports Complex is not adequate for parents and fans, and the lack of a press box and suitable bathroom facilities has been problematic.  When spectator restrictions were implemented at UW Stout during the 2020 football season, the school district did not have a suitable alternative for hosting a varsity football game. Completing Phase 3 would provide the district with an emergency alternative for hosting larger events with limited capacity and make it much more likely that all parents would still be able to attend events.  The SDMA maintenance department has done a great job improving the playing surface at the sports complex, but the natural grass turf limits how much the field can be used. The grass takes such a beating that the number of events held on the field needs to be limited mostly to games only for soccer and the lower-level football teams. The MHS physical education teachers have also been limited in their use of the grass field for PE classes, and even with the field not being used for practices, a lot of work is needed to regrow the grass each year. Because of the durability and safety profile of artificial turf, many schools in the BRC conference (and across the state) have installed artificial turf on their football/soccer fields (see WIAA list).  The Board could consider designating long-term capital improvement funding (Fund 46) to address the needed improvements at the MHS Sports Complex. Phase 3 of the MHS Sports Complex includes bleachers (not more than 1000 seats), press box, bathrooms/concessions, and artificial turf. Phase 3 is projected to cost $2.632 million if the construction is completed during the 2022-2023 school year.  The updated costs estimates were provided at no charge to the district from the project engineer who developed the original plans for all phases of the MHS Sports Complex (Point of Beginning). The final budget figure for Phase 3 (which accounts for inflation) was provided by SDMA Director of Buildings and Grounds Kevin Tomaszewski. While the steps included in Phase 3 of the MHS Sport Complex could fit into a design for future growth of the complex, it is not recommended that the SDMA replicate a large stadium solution on the MHS campus (for varsity football) as long as arrangements at UW Stout continue to be favorable for the school district.  The following conceptual designs provided by Point of Beginning at no charge to the district are attached:  

1. A conceptual design for Phase 3, with bleachers that have 800 seats on the school-side of the facility.
2. A conceptual design if the district needed a larger stadium in the future with seating for 4,000 people.
3. A conceptual design if the district needed to expand buildings for larger bathrooms and concessions.

 

B. Discuss Curriculum Transparency in the SDMA

The following is an addendum from the district website:

Based on an agenda request from Clint Moses and other conversations within the district, a report was prepared related to curriculum transparency in the SDMA.

 

The Board of Education will hear an update on curriculum resources accessible to families and community members within the SDMA. Resources available include; content standards, curriculum maps, learning targets, assessment results, the district library media catalog, textbooks used, and learning management systems.- Brian Seguin

 

Beginning with the 2018 school year the SDMA opened up public online access to curriculum maps for courses taught throughout the district. At that time, the district was highlighted for being a leader related to providing this type of open access, and the SDMA continues to be highlighted as a leader in the region related to curriculum transparency as a result of the wide-variety of curriculum resources that are easily accessible to families and the community at large.  In addition to the items currently available, plans for the future include the following planned next steps:

 

• Review existing common expectations for the use of Learning Management Systems (SeeSaw and Google Classroom) in use within the SDMA and update as needed.
• Plan and deliver training for both new and expanded use of SeeSaw and Google Classroom to staff ahead of the 2022-2023 school year during summer learning opportunities and back to school professional development days.
• Make available on the district website a list of clear directions for families on how to access items available within SeeSaw and Google Classroom. 

C. Review Strategic Planning Goals and District Work Plan for 2021-2022

D. Report from the 2022 State Education Convention

E. Discuss SDMA Membership in the National School Board Association (Policy 163.1)

This agenda item was requested by Clint Moses.

 

Policy 163.1 defines the memberships of the school board and currently includes membership in the National School Board Association. The SDMA's annual dues for NSBA this year was $4,165.

 

The NSBA provides a number of services for school districts across the county, including advocacy for public education at the federal level. More information about the services the NSBA provides can be found on their website. From a practical standpoint, some Board members over the years have found the annual NSBA conference to be very good, with special emphasis on staying current with best practices for schools.

 

The NSBA was in the news earlier this school year in relation to criticism for advocacy efforts made at the federal level related to violence and disruption at school board meetings. Discussions have taken place at the state level and the Wisconsin Association of School Boards in response to these concerns: 

 

• Wisconsin Examiner Article- November
• Wisconsin Examiner Article- January 

F. Discuss School Board Retreat

G. Items Related to Next Meeting Dates, Board Committees, and Reports

District & School Events

Due to spring break, it is recommended that the Board postpone the February 28 special school board meeting to Monday, March 7.

 

 

FEBRUARY 15 PRIMARY ELECTION

***No meeting on February 28 due to change in March schedule for spring break.

 

MARCH 

7   SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, 5:30 P.M., ASC

14-18 SPRING BREAK

28 SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, 5:30 P.M., ASC

 

 

APRIL 5 SPRING ELECTION6 JOINT PAC/BOARD MEMBER MEETING AT TURTLE LAKE 11 REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, 5:30 P.M., ASC 

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.