Northside Elementary School

First, five organizations were honored through the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) Business Honor Roll for their exceptional support of district schools:

1. Weed Man Lawn Care - Middleton provided a $20,000 donation for new classroom furniture at Sauk Trail Elementary.

2. SSM Health At Work established the Employee Health and Wellness Clinic, serving over 1,210 patients and providing numerous health screenings since opening in March 2024.

3. CESA 6 and Josh Borzick provided essential Qualtrics training to enhance district data management and engagement processes.

4. Thermo Fisher Scientific helped launch the Middleton High School CAPS program, offering mentorship and real-world learning experiences for students.

5. Pre-Emergency Planning, LLC developed comprehensive emergency preparedness plans and conducted staff training across district schools.

10:07 - Following these recognitions, the Board celebrated the historic victory of the Middleton High School Cardinal Marching Band and Color Guard, who won their first-ever state championship at the WSMA State Marching Band Championships at UW-Whitewater on October 19th. The band scored 86.650 to edge out nine-time defending champions Oak Creek, while also earning Best Musical Performance and their third consecutive Best Color Guard award. Under the direction of Eric Rothacker, Doug Brown, and Michael Ver Voort, the band had an undefeated season with their performance "Lined With Gold," inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi.

These celebrations highlight both the vital community partnerships that support our schools and the outstanding achievements of our students within MCPASD.

14:37 - Public Hearing Regarding Act 95 Waiver and Board Approval

A public hearing was held regarding Clark Street Community School's request for a waiver from the Wisconsin Guaranteed Admission Program requirement that high schools rank students based solely on GPA by the end of grade 11. The hearing was required because anytime the district petitions the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for something outside the norm, a public hearing must be conducted.

Following the hearing, the School Board approved the request. Clark Street Community School uses a competency-based grading system that focuses on student proficiency rather than traditional grades or GPAs. The approved waiver allows the school to rank students based on their competency achievements rather than using a GPA system. This decision enables Clark Street to continue its individualized grading approach while still meeting state requirements in a modified way.

34:33 Superintendent's Report  

In her report, Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue recognized several of our fall sports teams for winning their respective conference and regional titles. She expressed gratitude to the coaches, families, and support systems for contributing to a successful fall season and extended her best wishes for continued success. After celebrating five state champions last year, she shared her excitement for what this year's teams may achieve.

35:40 - WSAS Report

The Wisconsin Student Assessment System (WSAS) Board Report, presented by Directors Dr. MaryBeth Paulisse and Dr. Jan Chynoweth, along with Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Dr. Silvia Romero-Johnson, offered a comprehensive analysis of MCPASD's assessment performance.

The report examines multiple assessment tools, including the Wisconsin Forward Exam (Grades 3-8), PreACT Secure (Grades 9-10), ACT with Writing (Grade 11), and Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) for students with disabilities. The findings demonstrate that MCPASD consistently outperforms state averages across most assessments and ranks among the highest performers in Dane County. Recent years have shown consistent improvement in all subject areas, with particularly strong performance in the Forward Exam across ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies, though direct historical comparisons for 2023-2024 are limited due to updated standards and cut scores.

The PreACT Secure results reveal performance above statewide averages in all subjects, with stable results over the past two years and most student groups performing at or near state benchmarks. ACT with Writing scores show higher achievement rates than statewide averages in all subtests, with recent results indicating improvement from a previous decline. 

Despite these strong overall performances, the District continues to face persistent achievement gaps among specific student groups, including Multilingual Learners, Economically Disadvantaged students, Students with Disabilities, and Black and Hispanic/Latino students. To address these challenges, MCPASD has implemented several improvement initiatives, including a new Literacy/Biliteracy Curriculum, enhanced professional development for science-based reading and writing, and Multi-Layered Systems of Support (MLSS) for reading intervention. The District is also focusing on improving special education instruction and evaluating its multilingual learner program.

1:10:05 - Adopt the 2024-2025 Budget and Certify the Tax Levy

On or before November 1, the Board of Education must adopt a 2024-25 budget and certify the associated tax levy. This report was presented by Jerrud Rossing, Assistant Superintendent of Operations, and Erin Wheeler, Director of Finance.

The operational budget for the 2024-25 school year totals $127,082,252. District revenue comes from two primary sources: state aid and local property taxes. The tax levy for the year is $91,157,215, which will fund operations, outstanding debt, and community services.

The proposed budget maintains the District's commitment to educational excellence while acknowledging fiscal responsibility.

1:25:51 - Motion to Approve Electric School Bus Purchase

The Board of Education approved the purchase of MCPASD's first electric school bus, as presented by Michael Hamstra, Transportation Services Manager, and Jerrud Rossing, Assistant Superintendent of Operations. The District secured $200,000 (49.4% of the total cost) through an EPA Clean School Bus Program grant. The selected vehicle is a 2026 Blue Bird All American electric bus with a 78-student capacity, costing $404,235. This decision supports the District's environmental initiatives and provides several benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, long-term fuel and maintenance savings, and the advancement of District sustainability goals.

The District received three competitive bids:

• Blue Bird All American (78 passengers) - $404,235

• International (72 passengers) - $376,120

• Freightliner/Thomas SAF-T-Liner (72 passengers) - $387,984

The Blue Bird model was chosen based on its larger capacity, earlier delivery date (Spring 2025), dual charging capability, and superior battery life and range.

1:26:44 - McKinstry Detailed Engineering Study Agreement

The Board of Education approved a Directed Engineering Study by McKinstry Essention, LLC. This comprehensive study follows the District's ongoing commitment to sustainability, which began with the Board's adoption of a sustainability resolution in March 2021. It represents the next phase following the Renewable Energy Roadmap presented to the Board on October 10, 2024.

The study will focus on three key areas: 

• evaluating solar PV design at five District schools

• analyzing geothermal HVAC system feasibility at Sauk Trail Elementary

• conducting a District-wide energy efficiency audit. 

The District and McKinstry will collaborate to seek grants and rebates to help manage costs, marking a significant step in its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency improvements.

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