The Board of Education meeting began with a moment of silence in remembrance of two Sauk Trail students who recently passed away.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, the broader Sauk Trail community, and the entire District," expressed Board of Education President Sheila Hibner. "During times like these, you are left with an empty desk chair, an empty seat at the lunch table, and untouched playground equipment. For this reason, we have asked our District family and our entire community to wrap a loving embrace around Sauk Trail.”
The Boys Swim and Dive team were recognized by the Board for their remarkable achievement of winning consecutive D1 state titles. This victory brings the total number of state championship teams for the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District to four this academic year.
Throughout the season, the team displayed remarkable improvement in both individual and relay events. They set a new Wisconsin state record in the 200-yard Medley relay with a team consisting of three sophomores and one senior.
At the state meet, the team secured three first-place finishes and four second-place finishes. With a total of 273 points, the Cardinals surpassed the runner-up team from Madison Memorial, a fellow Big 8 team.
This victory marks the largest margin of victory for the Cardinals since 2016.
Superintendent's Report
In the Superintendent's Report, Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue commended the achievements of students at Middleton High School (MHS) and expressed appreciation for the swift response of the technology team following a recent cybersecurity incident.
First and foremost, Dr. Monogue highlighted the MHS Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), recognizing the selection of 85 talented team members to participate in the State Leadership Conference in Green Bay this April. This opportunity allows students to showcase their skills and represent MHS at a statewide level.
The Superintendent also proudly shared the accomplishments of the MHS Girls Ski Team, who secured an impressive 6th place finish at the state level competition, marking their best result to date. Additionally, she acknowledged the Boys Ski Team for their exemplary performance at the state competition.
In addressing the recent cybersecurity incident, Dr. Monogue expressed gratitude towards the technology team for their thorough and competent approach in resolving the issue. She also recognized the flexibility, collaboration, and patience displayed by staff, students, and families during the system recovery process. The decision to cancel school was made to prioritize the safety of all individuals involved.
The Board of Education has received a comprehensive briefing on the incident and assures the community of ongoing updates throughout the investigation. The District is committed to fulfilling its legal obligations, understanding that a thorough investigation may require weeks or even months to reach a conclusion.
4K Level Report
4K Principal Brett Humphrey and 4K Teacher Gina Steele provided an update to the Board of Education on the MCPASD 4K program. They discussed how the program is a voluntary initiative that follows a community-collaborative model, offering a child development curriculum for all 4-year-old children in the District with an emphasis on holistic growth and kindergarten readiness.
Humphrey and Steele explained that the MCPASD 4K program utilizes a play-based curriculum that focuses on enhancing social-emotional learning and developing important skills such as academics, social interaction, motor skills, and communication. They highlighted that the curricula used in the program are research-based and have been proven to be effective, including the Creative Curriculum for Preschool and Second Step Early Learning.
Regarding the structure of the program, Humphrey and Steele mentioned that it operates across nine different sites within the District, including options for before and after-care. The program aligns with the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards and emphasizes the involvement of families and partnerships to provide a comprehensive educational experience for the children.
In terms of assessing student progress and preparing them for kindergarten, they explained that the program uses the GOLD assessment system. This assessment system helps track student development and enables tailored instruction based on individual needs. Humphrey and Steele also highlighted that the program facilitates a smooth transition to kindergarten by sharing assessment data, strengths, and attendance information with the elementary schools.
They also outlined ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing the MCPASD 4K program. These initiatives include professional development opportunities for educators, improving communication channels, and streamlining enrollment and marketing efforts to align with community site regulations.
General Leave Update
Director of Employee Services Dr. Barb Buffington, and Talent and Recruitment Specialist Sherry Smith, presented the latest quarterly update on leave requests, attendance data, and substitute fill rates.
Despite an increase in absence requests from certified and support staff compared to the previous year, the number of consecutive day leave requests has decreased for both groups. The District's general leave policy, implemented in July 2023, offers staff greater flexibility for personal time off and allows schools to better prepare for coverage when employees are absent.
The District has realized significant improvements in substitute fill rates, with the rates now averaging about 20% higher than last year. Notably, the fill rate for teachers stands at 87.8% and for paraprofessionals at 60.6%. The recent addition of 13.4 permanent building substitute positions has notably improved fill rates for teachers.
A small percentage of certified and support staff have used up all of their available leave time this year. Despite the challenges posed by increased absences, the combination of the general leave policy and enhanced substitute fill rates has been beneficial in meeting staff coverage needs. Staff appreciate the flexibility and options for time off provided by the policies.
Continuous monitoring of attendance and substitute performance will allow the District to make any necessary adjustments. The improved fill rates and positive feedback on the leave policies bode well for the remainder of the school year.
Decarbonization Contract with McKinstry
McKinstry submitted a comprehensive proposal to support the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) in achieving their sustainability objectives, specifically related to the Board of Education Sustainability Resolution. Assistant Superintendent Jerrud Rossing reviewed the proposal with the Board of Education.
McKinstry's proposal aims to create a Decarbonization Roadmap for MCPASD, assisting the District in reaching their goal of meeting 100% of their energy needs from renewable sources by 2035, as stated in their Sustainability Resolution.
The proposed scope of work consists of three phases: Discover, Development & Analysis, and Synthesis. This process involves data gathering, facility assessments, identification of decarbonization measures (such as efficiency improvements, electrification, renewables, and EV charging), financial analysis, and development of a long-term implementation strategy that aligns with the District's capital planning cycles.
The proposal includes several deliverables, such as a project charter, strategic capital planning program, analysis of decarbonization measures, a roadmap for achieving zero emissions over time, a final report, and presentations.
The estimated timeline for the project is approximately 26 weeks.
The proposal highlights McKinstry's expertise in decarbonization, their experience with K-12 projects, and their local presence, making them an ideal partner for MCPASD in achieving our sustainability goals through a comprehensive technical and financial roadmap.
Report on Strategy Map Progress
Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue presented an update on the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District's progress towards their 2023-2024 strategy map goals. The report, which serves as a mid-year update, highlights key points which demonstrate the District's commitment to achieving their priorities.
One of the main areas of focus for the District is reading achievement. To ensure success, specific proficiency goals have been set for students in grades 3, 8, and 11, with the aim of achieving them by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. As part of their efforts, the District has provided focused training to teachers on literacy instruction. Additionally, they are actively working on developing an equitable literacy curriculum framework, ensuring that all students have access to quality education in this important area.
The District has also implemented Multi-Layered Systems of Support in order to address literacy interventions across all grade levels. Schools are using assessment data to pinpoint areas where instruction and innovation are needed to bridge achievement gaps and provide tailored support for students.
At the secondary level, the District is taking steps to develop new career-oriented courses and learning paths. They have embarked on expanding the existing CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) program by establishing new industry partnerships and offering additional courses. These initiatives aim to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in their chosen career paths.
Recognizing the importance of staff retention and recruitment, the District has made this a priority. In particular, they are focusing on attracting and retaining staff members of color, as well as those in high-need areas such as special education and bilingual education. Strategies being implemented include changes to benefits and compensation frameworks, professional development opportunities, and the implementation of the "Grow Your Own" program, which aims to develop a pipeline of qualified educators from within the community.
The District is also actively engaging with the community and stakeholders in various ways. These efforts include gathering student feedback, holding meetings with business leaders to ensure alignment between education and workforce needs, updating safety protocols, developing sustainability plans, and preparing for emergency response training.
The report provides an overview of the specific actions taken during the current school year and outlines the next steps for the District to continue progress towards their priority goals and focus areas for the remainder of 2023-2024.
WASB Update
Board of Education Vice President Bob Green summarized his experience at the WASB Legal Conference, highlighting the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. He emphasized the importance of establishing effective policies for educators to maximize the benefits of AI as students integrate it into their learning.
Approval of Budget Amendment for 2023-2024
The Board of Education passed the recent budget amendment, presented by Director of Finance Erin Wheeler. This is an item that periodically needs approval throughout the year.
Approval of Sale of .4 Acres (Park Elementary)
The Board of Education unanimously passed this item in which administration recommended approval of the sale of .4 acres of land west of Park Elementary School to Plastic Ingenuity. This purchase is intended for the company to construct additional parking spaces for their employees.
Second Reading of Board Policy II-C & Second Reading of Board Policy III-F
The Board approved both policies, which pertain to high school graduation materials and the Board of Education Employee Handbook.
Approval of Pope Farm Lot
Assistant Superintendent Jerrud Rossing presented a new offer for the final Pope Farm lot to the Board, which was approved. Once the sale is finalized, the District will no longer be selling any more of these lots.
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