Access Board Meetings Online: Community members can stay informed by watching every board meeting on our YouTube channel, MCPASD TV. In the recap below, we have provided timestamps for the various sections of the meeting. These will help you follow along and jump directly to the parts of the video that interest you the most.
11:58 – Superintendent’s Report
In her Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Monogue started by congratulating the Middleton High School students involved in the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) program. 39 students recently traveled to California to represent Middleton High School at the National Leadership Conference. Middleton High School students took the championship spot in two events, Digital Animation and Parliamentary Procedure, while also placing in the top ten in three other events.
Dr. Monogue also expressed gratitude for all of the staff working in the MCPASD summer school programs. These programs would not be possible without the hard work and talents of our staff.
13:27 – Approval of Donation
The Board discussed the Sunset Ridge Elementary School PTA’s donation of $67,491.50 for the school’s upper playground. Per policy, the Board must approve all donations over $10,000.
The Board approved this donation, and expressed gratitude to the PTA for raising money to support students.
14:26 – Substitute/Attendance Update
Director of Employee Services Dr. Barb Buffington and Talent Recruitment and Retention Coordinator Sherry Smith shared a report on the current general leave requests, attendance data, and substitute fill rates for the District.
General leave can be used for personal matters, illness, or other approved absences and must be approved by supervisors based on staffing and substitute availability. Staff can request a maximum of 5 consecutive general leave days during the school year. Requests for 1-2 consecutive days must be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance. Requests for 3-5 consecutive days must be submitted at least 3 months in advance.
MCPASD began its partnership with EDUStaff for substitutes on July 1, 2024. The current substitute pool through EDUStaff for the 2024-25 school year (323 subs) and the average fill rate for the 2024-25 school year (83% fill rate) both increased from the 2023-24 school year.
The total number of general leave requests decreased by more than 3,000 requests between the 2023-24 and the 2024-25 school years. During the 2024-25 school year, the greatest amount of requests among certified staff came during February 2025, while the greatest amount of requests among support staff came during October 2024. Denials of general leave requests decreased from 2.1% in the 2023-24 school year to 1.06% in the 2024-25 school year. The amount of approved staff requests for 5 or more consecutive days of general leave also decreased (not including FMLA, Funeral Leave, or Workers Compensation).
Substitute fill rates increased from 81% to 83% from the 2023-24 school year to the 2024-25 school year. There were 1,826 more absence requests, while the amount of absences covered by substitutes increased by 1,788 from the previous year. General leave makes up the most frequent need for substitutes.
The amount of teacher absences that the District provided coverage for decreased by 42 absences in the 2024-25 school year. Substitute fill rates improved or remained consistent in the 2024-25 school year in all buildings except Kromrey Middle School, while the percentage of unfilled teacher absences decreased in all schools except Kromrey Middle School.
District leaders will continue to address the challenge of paraeducator coverage, and substitute fill rates at Kromrey Middle School. For more details, read the July 2025 Attendance and Substitute Report.
23:07 – Enrollment Update
Dr. Monogue reviewed the updated enrollment numbers for the 2025-2026 school year as of July 7, 2025. There were enrollment declines and increases across grade levels in the District’s schools.
The overall observed changes between the June 3, 2025 Board of Education update and July 7, 2025, were as follows:
Early Learning Center: Increase (2 students)
Elm Lawn Elementary: Decrease (1 student)
Northside Elementary: Increase (6 students)
Park Elementary: Decrease (2 students)
Pope Farm Elementary: Decrease (2 students)
Sauk Trail Elementary: Increase (9 students)
Sunset Ridge Elementary: Zero overall change
West Middleton Elementary: Decrease (3 students)
Glacier Creek Middle School: Decrease (4 students)
Kromrey Middle School: Decrease (1 student)
Clark Street Community School: Increase (3 students)
Middleton High School: Increase (4 students)
To view the full Board update for July 14, 2025, click here. MCPASD will continue to monitor schools’ enrollment figures throughout the summer.
24:55 – Board Committee Structure
Members of the Policy Committee are not currently recommending any changes to the Board Committee structure or policy language. They previously discussed potential changes during their meeting on July 8, 2025.
26:13 – Sustainability Update and Borrowing
Representatives from McKinstry, and MCPASD Director of Finance and Operations Erin Wheeler, shared a status update on the Sustainability Phase 1 projects. They discussed project budget updates, impacts of recent federal funding changes on tax credits, solar installation, EV charging infrastructure, efficiency measures, pool system upgrades, the path to renewable energy, and more. Click here to read the full status update.
Wheeler also shared the Background on Phase 1 Projects. The Board approved Option 2 for the phase 1 Sustainability projects on February 10, 2025. Option 2 included the installation of an electric bus charger, energy efficiency updates, and solar arrays at five District schools. Since the February 2025 approval, slight modifications included: cost savings (Sauk Trail Roof Bid, and HVAC Savings), cost neutral (Pope Farm Solar Scope reduced due to Alliant Energy, and solar installation at Park Elementary School), and cost increase (MG&E Additional Requirements). As for net total changes, there are savings of $60,500.
Then, Wheeler shared the background and next steps on Funding. The Board previously approved using $3,000,000 from the general operating budget to finance all of the Option 2 approved phase 1 projects, and will need to borrow up to $7,285,000. District leaders have discussed the pros and cons of two potential options for borrowing strategies:
Borrow the full amount of $7,285,000
A long term borrow of $5,785,000 and short term borrow of $1,525,000
Leaders also discussed the Hypothetical Fund 38 Financing Plan, and the Resolution Establishing Parameters for the Sale of Not to Exceed $7,285,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes (see section below for more detail) – which would allow leaders to move forward with next steps in the borrowing process.
1:05:54 – Resolution Establishing Parameters for the Sale of Not to Exceed $7,285,000 General Obligation Promissory Notes
The Board discussed MCPASD’s Resolution Establishing Parameters for the Sale of General Obligation Promissory Notes, Not to Exceed $7,285,000. Leaders are recommending approval of this Resolution for the borrowing of funds toward the Sustainability Phase 1 projects. The Resolution is meant to provide flexibility for the timing of the sale of the bonds to Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, the “Purchaser.” The District will have the ability to adjust the borrowing amount based on updated project costs.
The payment schedule, which assumes the Promissory Notes are issued in the aggregate principal amount of $7,285,000, includes a total of 20 annual payments – the first being on March 1, 2026, and the last being on March 1, 2045. Interest shall be payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year.
When all of the Notes have been paid in full, any money that might remain in the Debt Service Fund Account shall be transferred and deposited in the District’s general fund.
The Board approved this resolution, which you can read in full here.
1:09:35 – Approval of District Academic Standards
The Board discussed MCPASD’s proposed academic standards for the 2025-2026 school year, which includes various standards for different content areas/subjects.
The District has adopted the Wisconsin Standards for English Language Arts, Health Education, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Personal Financial Literacy, Art and Design, and Physical Education, and the Wisconsin Social Emotional Learning Competencies and Language Standards for Learning Languages.
MCPASD has also adopted the Common Core State Standards for Language Arts and Literacy (for the Two-Way Immersion Program), the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards for Early Childhood and 4K, the WIDA English Language Development Standards, the Social Justice Standards as published by Learning for Justice, the WMEA Wisconsin Music Standards, the ISTE Standards for Library Media and Technology, and the AASL Standards Framework.
The Board approved these standards. To learn more about each of these standards, click here.
1:10:40 – Approval of Independent Hearing Officer
The Board approved its agreement with an Independent Hearing Officer (IHO) for the 2025-2026 school year. The IHO serves as an independent contractor during expulsion hearings on an as-needed basis throughout the school year. The District will pay the IHO $1,400 for each expulsion they hear and decide.
To read the full agreement, click here.
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