Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue provided her superintendent's report to the Board of Education and community. She expressed her congratulations to the students in our music program for their outstanding performances at the Wisconsin State Capitol during the Music in our Schools Month Celebration. Both the MHS Sinfonia and Cardinal Orchestra groups represented our District exceptionally well.
Additionally, she thanked everyone who contributed to the success of our 4K Information night, which took place on March 14. We are eagerly looking forward to meeting our newest little Cardinals and their families.
Dr. Monogue also acknowledged the achievement of the Student Services department staff, who secured two grants totaling $380,000 to support initiatives aimed at improving student well-being and academic success.
Furthermore, she wished good luck to all student-athletes and coaches as the spring season has begun, encouraging them to give their best performance.
Regarding the recent cybersecurity incident in the District a few weeks ago, the investigation is still ongoing. A detailed report on the event, as well as the process and software improvements being made, will be presented to the Board of Education in May.
Lastly, Dr. Monogue extended wishes for a restful and enjoyable spring break to everyone.
AGR Report for Sauk Trail
Principal Chris Dahlk and Reading and Math Specialist Rebecca Saeman provided an update on the winter progress of the Achievement Gap Reduction (AGR) program at Sauk Trail. The AGR program, which is funded by the state, is designed to improve student achievement through various strategies including small class sizes, instructional coaching, and tutoring.
The report showcased the various initiatives that have been implemented in each grade level (K-3) this academic year. These include reducing class sizes, providing coaching support, and offering 1:1 tutoring sessions with interventionists.
To measure student progress, a range of assessments were utilized. The STAR assessment was used to evaluate reading and early literacy skills, while math skills were assessed using the STAR Math assessment. Additionally, kindergarten and first-grade literacy skills were evaluated using CBMs, and kindergarten math skills were assessed using a number sense screener.
The assessment data presented in the report demonstrated the percentage of students who achieved or surpassed the benchmark in each grade and subject area, comparing the fall and winter periods. It also highlighted the growth made by students who initially met the benchmarks.
Dahlk emphasized the noteworthy achievements and observations related to the development of students' growth mindsets, skills, participation, and positive behaviors across the grade levels and encore classes.
They also highlighted the ongoing initiatives to enhance basic reading and speaking skills, improve planning based on educational standards, and provide support for social and emotional learning. Additionally, Saeman mentioned the addition of a Spanish reading interventionist to the team for this year.
Multilingual Education Update
The Multilingual Services in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District has been a growing program. In Fall 2022, the enrollment of multilingual learners (MLs or English learners) in the District had surged to 11.5% since 2018-19, with a current enrollment of 497 MLs. In her presentation, Director of Multilingual Services Mandi Sersch-Morstad shared the background and programming of the District's increasing pool of multilingual learners.
MLs is a term that was defined according to federal laws, outlining legal protections, and requirements for supporting students. It acknowledges that MLs are not deficient in language, but rather speak and operate in a language other than English.
Through data shown in the report, the demographics of MLs cover several aspects, including languages spoken, countries of origin, English proficiency levels, academic performance, and graduation rates. The report showed that the largest increase in MLs occurred in the Northside attendance area, affecting several schools like Northside Elementary, Kromrey Middle School, and Middleton High School. Many of the new MLs are Spanish-speakers who are new to the USA, and 56% of the District's MLs were born in the United States. Arabic, Russian, Chinese, and Portuguese follow Spanish as the most common home languages.
According to the report, 34.5% of MLs are at Level 1 (beginner), 20% at Level 2, 33.5% at Level 3, and 12% at Level 4 (high intermediate). This means that before 2022-23, only 7-13.3% of the students were at Level 1, while 29.8-37.6% were at Level 4. This shows that the District has recently encountered an influx of beginner English learners.
The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District offers several programs for MLs. These include English as a Second Language (ESL) with Spanish support, Two-Way Immersion (TWI) programs, and Heritage Language classes. Through these programs, the District aims to cater to the diverse needs of their learners and provide them with an inclusive learning environment.
The District also provides professional learning opportunities for educators to build their capacity in supporting MLs. These include collaboration, site-based training, and external conferences. These opportunities are meant to enhance the skills of educators and provide them with the necessary tools to handle the challenges of teaching multilingual learners.
In the next steps outlined in the report, the District aims to apply for grants, increase course offerings for newcomers, participate in conferences and training, undergo a program evaluation, and strengthen systems and practices. These steps will be the key to continued growth in the Multilingual Services program and building the capacity of the District to support multilingual learners.
Update on Baseball, Softball and Tennis Projects
Assistant Superintendent Jerrud Rossing updated the Board on the progress of the baseball field, softball field, and tennis court projects. The District is currently working closely with different firms and consultants to finalize the design and layout of these projects.
The report provided information on the schedule of upcoming meetings with various committees, commissions, and the Common Council in the City of Middleton. These meetings are necessary for obtaining approvals related to rezoning, site plans, and other required permits.
In collaboration with multiple firms, the District is in the final stages of designing and planning the baseball, softball, and tennis court projects. The process of rezoning for the project site has already begun. There will be a public hearing on April 9, 2024, during the Plan Commission meeting to discuss the rezoning.
Discussions involving the Conservancy Lands Committee and Sustainability Committee have taken place. Concerns were raised regarding field materials, student opposition to artificial turf, and potential student injuries.
The rezoning process will involve multiple readings and approvals at Common Council meetings held in April and May 2024. On April 23, 2024, there is a scheduled site plan submittal review during the Plan Commission meeting.
Enrollment Update
Deputy Superintendent Sherri Cyra provided an important update on enrollment projections and open enrollment applications for the 2024-2025 school year. The District has been closely monitoring enrollment trends due to a decline in enrollment, which makes this presentation on enrollment projections the earliest it has ever been done.
Cyra discussed the second page of the report, which illustrates the actual enrollment numbers for the upcoming school year. This includes current students, those who have already enrolled for next year, as well as those who have notified the District that they will be withdrawing.
The District is currently above projections in a few areas, which is positive news. However, Cyra highlighted a few specific areas that she is closely monitoring. For instance, at West Middleton, the kindergarten enrollment is higher than projected, with 70 students enrolled compared to a projection of 60. This may require the District to take some necessary actions to accommodate the increased number of students.
Another area is the enrollment at Sauk Trail Elementary, which is lower than expected. The District is working with the Two-way Immersion (TWI) program, which could increase enrollment in the school.
Furthermore, the enrollment for 4k continues to grow, but it still remains below the desired projection level. Efforts will be made to further increase enrollment in this grade level.
On the topic of open enrollment, the District has received 140 applications, which is a significant number. However, it is important to note that 40 students have withdrawn as part of the normal open enrollment process. Nevertheless, the current open enrollment numbers are strong, and the deadline for applications is April 30, 2024.
This year marks 15 years since the District has had such a large number of open enrollment spots available.
Certified Staff Compensation Model
Superintendent Dana Monogue and Assistant Superintendent Jerrud Rossing provided updates on the work of the Compensation Committee and presented proposals for a new compensation model.
The report highlighted the development of a new compensation model for certified staff, which was created by the Compensation Committee over several months. The goals of this proposed model are as follows:
To create a transparent and easily understandable compensation structure
To address any internal pay disparities among the current staff
To ensure that the district's compensation remains competitive within the Dane County market
The proposed model utilizes a traditional step-and-lane format, where "steps" signify years of experience and "lanes" indicate education level and specific roles. The steps progress in a 1:1 ratio based on years of teaching experience, while the lanes are determined by degrees or certifications obtained from accredited universities.
Three different models were presented to the Board of Education, each offering a starting base pay of $50,000, $51,000, and $52,000 respectively. The higher base pays have a greater fiscal impact but result in fewer current staff members exceeding their appropriate step based on experience.
According to the report, the proposed compensation model aligns with the committee's objectives of transparency, market-driven competitiveness, addressing inequities, and ensuring the district remains competitive within Dane County. The report also listed potential funding opportunities in this regard.
Motion to Approve a Compensation Model for Certified Staff
The Board of Education extensively discussed the compensation model options before ultimately approving the $51,000 starting pay. All three starting pay options were considered, weighing the pros and cons of each choice.
Board Member Gail Shepler introduced a motion to approve the $51,000 starting pay, which was seconded by Member Bob Hesselbein. Further deliberation ensued regarding the proposed $51,000 base pay.
Member Mari Ginsberg expressed concerns about the competitiveness of the pay rate compared to neighboring districts in the area.
Member Bob Green expressed hesitancy between the $51,000 and $52,000 base pay options, acknowledging that the decision was a starting point and that market adjustments would be considered in the future.
Member Todd Berry indicated a lack of sufficient information to make a decision on any of the proposed plans, proposing to postpone the vote to the next meeting.
The motion to approve the $51,000 starting pay was carried with an 8-1 vote, with Member Simernjit Seerha dissenting.
Motion to Approve the 2024-2025 Board Meeting Calendar
The Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the 2024-2025 meeting calendar.
Motion to Approve the Decarbonization Contract with McKinstry
During the Regular Meeting held on March 4, 2024, the Board received a report regarding the contract for decarbonization in our District. The contract was approved by the Board as a step towards achieving the District's sustainability goal.
Second Reading of Board Policy I-E.5
After undergoing several edits, the Board of Education approved the Board Policy I-E.5, which pertains to board committees. This was the final item requiring approval during the meeting.
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