AUGUST 2023 Board Considerations
Monthly Update on CFAUSD Board of Education Activities
Purpose
August 22, 2023 Regular Board Meeting
Mr. Lowe, new Halmstad Elementary Principal, with Heidi Olson, Administrative Assistant
Showcases
Booster Club Annual Donation
Trevor Bohland, Booster Club President, thanked the Board for their continued support of the Booster Club and the annual Extravaganza. He shared that, due to the Booster Club’s efforts, Chi-Hi students are able to join athletic teams with very little fees to pay, which sets us apart from other area schools. Mr. Bohland presented Mike Thompson, Chi-Hi Activities Director, with a check for $130,000 for the Athletic Department; see photo below.
Chi-Hi Focus on Personnel
Donna Goodman, Chi-Hi Principal, Adam Zenner, Chi-Hi Assistant Principal, and Tami Slowiak, BARR Coordinator, presented a slideshow about OE-5 Personnel Administration and the initiatives that have been implemented to sustain staff and provide a positive work environment. Mr. Zenner shared examples of the work that the Our People Pillar has done to increase staff-leadership relationships, school climate, staff’s sense of belonging, and opportunities for staff to build connections with colleagues. Those examples include: district onboarding, mentor-mentee programming, staff potlucks, staff appreciation, rounding twice a year, Excellence in Education banquet, and teacher appreciation night. Ms. Slowiak shared that the BARR (Building Assets and Reducing Risks) program allows time for teachers to hold small block meetings with representatives from each core class with the intention of sharing strengths and concerns around students. Ms. Slowiak and administrators have noticed camaraderie developed within the teams across all departments. Mrs. Goodman presented a video to the Board with staff testimonials about “Why do we keep coming back to Chi-Hi?”
District Wellness Action Plan Review
Melissa Panchychyn, Assistant Food Service Director, provided an annual report. Melissa shared that the meal prices will remain the same as previous years, despite dropping meal replacement rates and increased food costs; click here to see presentation.
New Administrator Introduction
Jeff Holmes, Superintendent of Schools, introduced Ryan Lowe as the district’s newest administrator and the principal of Halmstad Elementary School. For 20 years, Ryan was a classroom teacher in Eleva-Strum and then at Halmstad Elementary. Most recently, he has been working as an instructional coach with the Southview and Halmstad staff. Ryan has already begun communicating with the Halmstad families and staff, and looks forward to the upcoming school year; see photo above.
Focus On Results and Monitoring Operational Performance
OE-5: Personnel Administration
Tim Johnson, Executive Director of Human Resources & Public Relations, provided an overview of the OE-5 Personnel Administration monitoring report; click here for a copy of that report; the Board agreed that the District is in compliance with monitoring report OE-5.
Board Consent Agenda
Approval of New Hires, Resignations, Retirements, and Leaves of Absence
The Board approved the new hires, resignations, retirements, and leaves of absence as presented by the Human Resources Department; click here for details.
Approval of Financial Reports
The Board approved the July financial reports as presented; click here for the detailed report.
Approval of Board Meeting Minutes
The Board approved the July meeting minutes; click here for details.
Superintendent's Consent Agenda
Consideration of 66.0301 Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Special Education Services Cooperative Agreement between SDMA and CFAUSD
The Board approved the 66.0301 Deaf/Hard of Hearing Teacher Special Education Services Cooperative Agreement between the School District of the Menomonie Area and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District as presented; click here for more details.
Consideration of 66.0301 Teacher of the Visually Impaired Special Education Services Cooperative Agreement between SDMA and CFAUSD
The Board approved the 66.0301 Teacher of the Visually Impaired Special Education Services Cooperative Agreement between the School District of the Menomonie Area and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District as presented; click here for more details.
Consideration of 66.0301 Cooperative Agreement between ECASD and CFAUSD
The Board approved the 66.0301 Cooperative Agreement between the Eau Claire Area School District and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District as presented; click here for more details.
Matters Reserved for Board Action
Resolution Authorizing Temporary Borrowing in an Amount Not to Exceed $7,000,000; Issuance of Tax and Revenue Anticipation Promissory Notes; and Participation in the PMA Levy and Aid Anticipation Notes Program
Chad Trowbridge, Executive Director of Business Services & Finance, provided an overview of the temporary borrowing situation for the 2023-24 school year and the Board approved the resolution authorizing temporary borrowing in an amount not to exceed $7,000,000; issuance of tax and revenue anticipation promissory notes; and participation in the PMA levy and aid anticipation notes program and to authorize Chad Trowbridge to sign documents on the Board's behalf; click here for more details.
Consideration of Coherent Governance Committee Meeting Notes
The Board approved the Coherent Governance committee meeting notes for the 07/31/2023 meeting as presented; click here for more details.
Second Reading of Coherent Governance Policy Revisions
Jeff Holmes, Superintendent of Schools, provided an overview of the second reading of the coherent governance policy revisions; the Board approved the coherent governance policy revisions as presented; click here for more details.
Consideration of PO 8500
Chad Trowbridge, Executive Director of Business Services & Finance, provided an overview of the recommended revisions to policy 8500; the Board determined that it should be referred back to Policy Committee for further consideration: click here for more details.
Consideration of Public Records Schedule; click here for more details
Jeff Holmes, Superintendent of Schools, provided an overview of the recommended adoption of the updated public records schedule; the Board approved the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education for the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District (Board) hereby adopts the records management schedules approved by the Public Records Board (PRB), and approves/authorizes as follows:
1. the 60 days' notice to the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) shall be issued by the District.
2. the Board hereby adopts the General Records Schedules and directs that the required adoption forms be completed for submission to the PRB; and
3. the District will submit any remaining, unique records with less than 7 year retention to the PRB and submit the required records Disposition Authorizations (RDA) form(s).
Communicating with the Board (if applicable, click on the report heading for greater detail)
Hillcrest & Jim Falls Air Conditioning Update
Jeff Holmes, Superintendent of Schools, and Chad Trowbridge, Executive Director of Business Services and Finance provided the update; Since the last update, electrical contractors have been on site to determine how to supply adequate power to add some temporary cooling options. The updates are as follows:
Jim Falls - Relocation of electrical outlets is underway. Window air conditioners have been purchased from Amundson Appliance, and will arrive Tuesday afternoon, 8/22. They will be installed as quickly as possible. Cost for 10 window units is $4,000.
Hillcrest - Electricians are identifying outlets that can be used without overloading circuits that are shared between spaces. This will require that most non-educational items be unplugged at this time. Spot coolers have become the logical temporary solution, and have been rented from United Rentals. Spot coolers will be installed 8/23 and require temporary ducting from the area where the outlets are located. Cost of the spot coolers for a month is $14,800.
Both options require some prep work by our maintenance crew. Work has been ongoing for the past week to prepare for installation.
Chad Trowbridge, Executive Director of Business Services & Finance, provided an update on the current enrollment numbers.
Sue Kern, Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction, provided an overview of the summer school programming that was held at Southview Elementary, the Middle School, and High School.
Jeff Holmes, Superintendent of Schools, presented the elementary and high school student handbook updates for the 2023-24 school year; CFMS only has technical and date changes for this school year.
*Please note that the above information is provided pending the approval of Board minutes at their next regularly scheduled meeting.
Reminder of October Regular Board Meeting Reschedule
Due to a scheduling conflict, the Board approved moving the date of their regular Board meeting and budget hearing to Monday, October 30 to accommodate for that situation.
CONNECTING WITH YOUR BOARD OF EDUCATION
Your CFAUSD Board of Education
Bottom row - Board Members (l to r) - Steve Olson, Dave Martineau, and Peggy McKillip
Additional Board of Education Information
The Board of Education of the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District represents, leads and serves the district’s owners and holds itself accountable to them by committing to act in their best interests and by ensuring that all Board and district action is consistent with law and the Board’s policies.
The Board’s purpose is to assure that the District achieves the results described in the Board’s Results policies and that it operates according to the values expressed in the Board’s Operational Expectations policies.
The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District School Board members are committed to maintaining an open line of communication with residents of the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District. Anyone having specific questions relating to board policies or actions should call the Board of Education office at (715)726-2417 or by mail at:
Secretary of the Board of Education
1130 Miles Street
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Upcoming Board Events
About Us
Email: burlincw@chipfalls.org
Website: https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/
Location: 1130 Miles Street, Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Phone: (715) 726-2417
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chippewafallsschool/
Twitter: @MightyCardinals