The Stevens Point Area Public School District held its regular January meeting on Monday, January 13, 2020. 

 

Community Partnership and Recognition

P.J. Jacobs Junior High School student, Jaydn Mocadlo, presented the Mandana Bliss award to Karla Landwer. Landwer has been with the district since 2007. 

 

Madison Elementary School principal, Karl Bancker, presented the Mandana BLiss award on behalf of student, Yahir Mondragon, to Michelle Pliml. Pliml has been with the district since 2018. 

Consent Agenda 

Consent agenda items were approved including the minutes of the December School Board Meeting, approval of the schedule of monthly bills and personnel recommendations. 

 

Business Services 

The Board approved Heartland Business Systems LLC for SPASH Structured Cabling Upgrades and accepted the Referendum Progress Report Financial Summary. 

 

Educational Services 

The state of Wisconsin School Report Cards report was accepted and the request to adjust the 2020-21 School Calendar to coincide with UWSP Spring Break was approved. Information was also provided to the Board regarding the possible expansion of grades at Point of Discovery School. 

 

Student Services
The board approved recommendations for Open Enrollment spaces including 4K, unlimited general education, multi-categorical and Project Search.  

 

Technology Services

An informational update was provided to the Board on the costs and e-rate benefits of moving forward with a Community Area Network to provide fiber access to schools. 

 

General
2020 Wisconsin Associations of School Board resolutions were approved.  

 

The next regular meeting of the School Board will take play on February 10, 2020, 6:30 p.m. at the Bliss Educational Services Center. 

 

The Stevens Point Area Public School District held its regular December meeting on Monday, December 9, 2019.

Thank you to Kennedy Elementary students for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Community Partnership and Recognition

Ben Franklin Junior High School student, Hannah Gagas, presented the Mandana Bliss award to Dylan Koss. Koss has been with the district since 2016.

 

Kennedy Elementary School student, Rosslyn Deppe, presented the Mandana Bliss award to Susan Kollross. Kollross has been with the district since 1989.

View more photos from the meeting. 

Consent Agenda

Consent agenda items were approved including the minutes of the November 11, 2019, School Board Meeting, approval of the schedule of monthly bills and personnel recommendations.

Business Services

The Board accepted the 2018-19 annual financial audit report as presented and approved SPASH roofing bids as well as building improvement bids for Kennedy Elementary School.

Human Resources

Revisions to Employee Handbook Policy 2.17 were approved as presented and can be viewed here.

Educational Services

The recommendation that SPASH continues to move forward with the schedule project by revising the Wednesday Advisory schedule for second semester and piloting the SPASH hybrid schedule was approved as presented.

The 2019 Annual School Board School Safety Report was accepted by the Board.

The next regular meeting of the School Board will take play on January 13, 2020, 6:30 p.m. at the Bliss Educational Services Center.

The Stevens Point Area Public School District held its regular November meeting on Monday, November 11,  2019. 

 

From left: Craig Gerlach, Sandy Masterson, Ken Simon, Karla Lockmann

Community Partnership and Recognition
SPASH student and Eagle Scout, Ken Simon, presented the Mandana Bliss Award to Ms. Sandy Masterson for her dedication to the Boston School Forest. 

Consent Agenda 
Consent agenda items were approved including the minutes of the October 14, 2019, and October 28, 2019, School Board Meetings, approval of the schedule of monthly bills and personnel recommendations.  

Business Services
The Board approved the Budget Calendar Guideline for the 2020-21 school year and per-pupil and department/program allocations.  

They also approved designating 2.4 acres on the southwest corner of the Plover-Whiting school site as the Plover-Whiting Elementary School Forest. 

Educational Services 
The board approved secondary course proposals as presented. This approval included updates to computer science offerings, a new course designed to introduce students to careers in education and an exciting new way for students to learn geometry with ‘Geometry in Construction’.  

Approval was granted to establish a 4K site with District personnel at Kennedy Elementary beginning in the 2020-21 school year to provide early childhood and special education programming. The proposal comes with an estimated savings of over $54,000 and will significantly reduce bus ride times for participant students. 

The Foster Grandparent Memorandum Of Understanding through December 31, 2022, was approved, and the Board received the annual Summer School Report. 

The next regular meeting of the school board will be Monday, December 9, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. 

Thank you to students from Jefferson Elementary School and Washington Elementary School for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

The Stevens Point Area Public School District held its regular October meeting on Monday, October 14, 2019. 

Community Partnership and Recognition

 

Jefferson Elementary student Haylee Cisewski presented the Mandana Bliss Award to Ms. Karen Salienko. Salienko is a kindergarten teacher and has been with the District since 2000. 

 

Washington Elementary student Khadeejaat Odogba presented the Mandana Bliss Award to Ms. Dana Nelson. Nelson is a fifth-grade teacher and has been with the District since 2008. 

See more photos from the meeting. 

Consent Agenda 
Consent agenda items were approved including the minutes of the August 12, 2019, School Board Meeting, approval of the schedule of monthly bills and personnel recommendations. 

Human Resources 
The board approved revisions to the Emergency School Closing Employee Handbook Policy 4.05. A review of the policy stemmed from the board’s approval to utilize e-learning days when school is canceled for inclement weather or other emergencies. 

The board approved partnering with WEA Trust to provide health insurance and wellness programming to District staff effective January 1, 2020. After detailed review, staff recommended that WEA Trust become the provider following a bid process where WEA Trust offered the most cost-efficient health insurance and wellness programming to District employees without major changes to plan design, as well as excellent service and additional resources.  WEA Trust presented a circle of care that is intended to target employee engagement, integrate pharmacy and health care and develop innovative partnerships. WEA Trust has both a state-wide and national network that allows employees to remain in-network, regardless of their location. WEA Trust also offers an out-of-network benefit.

The change to WEA Trust will result in an approximate 5.28% reduction in cost, or $545,513.99 this fiscal year. 

Educational Services 
The board approved the adoption of Wellness Policy 8510. 

Student Services 
The board was informed of new memorandums of understanding for mental health services in schools with Children’s Hospital in Wisconsin, New Directions Counseling, Focusing on Success, Ascension St. Michael’s Hospital, Advocate Psychotherapy Services. There is no cost to the District for implementation/continuation of this program.

General
The committee meeting schedule was adjusted by the board to: 

• Educational Services Committee - 6:00 p.m. 
• Business Services/Human Resources Committee - 7:00 p.m. 

The board will hold the annual Budget Hearing, followed by a Special Board Meeting on October 28, 2019.  

The next regular meeting of the school board will be Monday, November 11, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. 

 

The Stevens Point Area Public School District held a special board meeting on Monday, September 9, 2019 to interview candidates for an open school board seat. 

Ed Morganroth, Jr., was selected to serve the remainder of the vacated seat’s term ended April 2020. Thank you to Mr. Morganroth for your willingness to serve and provide leadership to our District. 

 

Following the special meeting, the school board held the regular September meeting. 

 

Community Partnership and Recognition

Dan Hoppe, a teacher at Stevens Point Area Senior High School, has been named the 2019 Wisconsin History Teacher of the Year, an award presented annually by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to K-12 American history education.

 

Consent Agenda 
Consent agenda items were approved including the minutes of the August 12, 2019, School Board Meeting, approval of the schedule of monthly bills and personnel recommendations. 

 

Business Services 

The board appointed Ms. Are Vang and Mr. Ted Kowalski to serve as citizen community members on the Business Services and Human Resources Committee. 

 

Student Services 

The board approved the use of an independent hearing officer to determine student expulsion cases as presented. 

 

General

The superintendent’s goals for 2019-2020 were reviewed and approved. 

 

The school board's 2019-2020 goals of 1) Oversight implementation of district strategic plan, referendum facility projects and referendum operational objectives; and 2) support of ongoing communication regarding implementation to internal and external stakeholders - students, parents, staff, and community, were also reviewed and adopted. 

 

Superintendent Gerlach provided an update on bonding projects, operating projects, and referendum financial progress. 

 

The next regular meeting of the school board will be Monday, October 14, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. 

The Stevens Point Area Public School District School Board held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, June 10, 2019.

 

Consent Agenda

The Consent Agenda was approved. It included the May 13, 2019 meeting minutes, the schedule of monthly bills and employment recommendations

Business Services

The first series of referendum projects included work at Washington Elementary, Plover-Whiting Elementary, and Ben Franklin Jr. High. The Board approved bids for initial project work on May 6, 2019. At that time plumbing remained open. The board approved Wisconsin Mechanical Solutions for plumbing work at Plover-Whiting Elementary for the bid price of $349,990.

 

The School Board approved the revised 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan as presented.

 

The board approved the preliminary 2019-2020 budget as presented.

Human Resources
A credit reimbursement for up to twelve credits to employees pursuing licensure in Special Education per policy 5.04 of the Employee Handbook was approved by the board.

 

The board approved proposed supplemental pay for certified staff salary schedule and steps 5-20 of Level 2 Classroom Support staff to reflect local market comparables using referendum dollars that had been designated for retention and recruitment of staff. The proposal from administration used average market comparables to establish compensation that is competitive with neighboring school districts.  

 

The 2019-20 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the District and AFSCME was ratified as presented.

 

The 2019-20 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the District and the Teamsters was ratified as presented.

 

Educational Services
The “Updated Advisory/Wednesday Schedule” was approved for 2019-20 as SPASH continues to move forward with the project working to implement a hybrid block schedule.

 

Similarly, the Junior High Schools presented a request for increased advisory time to allow for consistent delivery of curriculum to include topics such as academic and career planning, digital citizenship, and social-emotional learning which was approved.

Student Services
The preliminary contract between the District and CESA 5 for the 2019-20 school year was approved.

 

Technology
The lease agreement with Wells Fargo to purchase 310 iPads at an annual cost as described in the payment schedule was approved.

 

Closed Session
The board voted unanimously to move into Closed Session under the statutes:
19.85(1)(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.  Specifically to consider Administrative contracts. Closed Session

19.85(1)(e) Deliberating or negotiation of the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. Specifically to consider compensation for all non-represented staff including Administrators. Closed Session

19.85(1)(e) Deliberating or negotiation of the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session.  Specifically to consider compensation for teachers in hard-to-fill positions and negotiations with individual employee compensation requests.

 

The school board will meet on July 9, 2019, for a Board Retreat to review and set goals for the 2019-20 school year.

 

The next regular meeting of the school board will take place on August 12, 2019, at the  Bliss Educational Services Center.

The entirety of the school board meeting can be viewed online, www.PointSchools.net.

The Stevens Point Area Public School District School Board held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 13, 2019.

 

Thank you to Jefferson Elementary students for leading the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

Student and Staff Recognitions

Washington Elementary School student Izzy Golla presented the Mandana Bliss Award to teacher Allison Bancker.

 

SPASHstudent Mitchell Ries presented the Mandana Bliss Award to teacher Matt Ramlet.

 

Sophie Cegelski, SPASH Senior, was named a Wisconsin State Senate Scholar for the 24th Wisconsin Senate District.

 

 

Teacher Kris Kunkle from Bannach Elementary School was recognized on April 28, 2019  as an outstanding educator who has demonstrated a sustained pattern of mentoring pre-service educators for 5 years or more.  

 

Jon Vollendorf was named the High School Administrator of the Year for the Wisconsin Association of School Councils. Dr. Vollendorf was nominated by his students for his outstanding support and leadership at the local level and honored regionally for his accomplishments as the Region 2 Administrator of the Year.

 

CESA 5 and Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services (WCASS) Regional Awards collaborates to present a Special Education Teacher of the year award. This year the award was presented to Andrea Marty, SPASH Special Education Teacher.

 

Thank you to SPASH student Lauryn Kinney for serving as the SPASH Student Representative on the School Board for the 2018-19 school year!

 

The Consent Agenda, including previous minutes (April 22, 2019, May 6, 2019), the approval of monthly bills and employment recommendations were approved following amendments to the minutes.

Business Services

Following the successful passage of the November 2018 referendum, the Board moves into Phase III which includes executing the necessary contract agreement documents required for Nexus to continue work. Services paid on a progress billing basis, as outlined in Attachment C of the September 12, 2016 Master Agreement is incorporated into the two Phase III agreements presented herein. The Board approved the AIA Documents Agreements B144/ARCH-CM and B101-2017 with Nexus as presented.

 

Human Resources

The District has the opportunity to hire its own VI and O&M teacher. At the May 6, 2019 meeting, the Business Services/Human Resources Committee reviewed and forwarded the VI and O&M teaching position to the full Board for approval. The Board approved the hire of a District Visually Impaired and Orientation & Mobility teacher.

 

The Board approved the contract with Parallel Education to provide substitute services from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021.

 

Educational Services

Approval was granted the written parent requests to exercise their choice to "opt out" their student from the state testing program to the full board.

The Board approved the district entering into a 66-0301 Affiliated Member Agreement:  Shared Virtual Learning Services Between Rural Virtual Academy (RVA) and Stevens Point Area Public School District for 2019-2020, a consortium with RVA.  Resident students choosing RVA would enroll in our school district, and the district would pay RVA for the educational services provided.

Connie Negaard, director of secondary education, submitted a report on professional development completed by district teachers/specialist during the 2018-19 school year.

 

Technology

The purchase of a new District IP phone system from Heartland Business Systems was approved.

 

Closed Session

The board voted unanimously to move into Closed Session 19.85(1)(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.  Specifically to consider an Administrative Support contract and the contracts of an Administrator. Closed Session 19.85(1)(e) Deliberating or negotiation the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session.

The next regular meeting of the school board will take place on June 10, 2019, at the  Bliss Educational Services Center.

 

The entirety of the school board meeting can be viewed online, www.PointSchools.net.

The school board held their organization meeting on Monday, April 22. Highlights include:

 

• Congratulations to Ann Vang, Jeff Ebel and Barb Portzen on being elected to the School Board for a three-year term. We appreciate your service and commitment to students, education, and our district.
• Meg Erler was elected President, Chris Scott, Vice President, Amy Dailey, Treasurer, and Barb Portzen, Clerk.
• A change to the committee structure was made. The Policy and Legislation Committee will not meet in the upcoming year. Policies will be addressed within the committee structure. Human Resources and Business Services committee were combined and will meet on the first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. with Amy Dailey serving as chair. The Educational Services Committee will meet on the first Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. with Barb Portzen serving as chair.

 

Thank you Roosevelt Elementary students for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Congratulations to Mr. Chistopher Heitz, PoDS teacher, on receiving the Mandana Bliss Award.

Congratulations to Ms. TJ Pharo-Kozak, Bannach Elementary teacher, on receiving the Mandana Bliss Award.

 

Gretchen Marshall, Wisconsin Forestry Education Program and SPASH graduate Dan Lindner will award the 2018 Statewide School Forest Award to Karla Lockman.  Each year, LEAF (the Wisconsin K-12 Forestry Education Program) recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to school forest programs. They acknowledge excellence and outstanding teachers who have worked above and beyond to make the school forest an exceptional learning environment for students.

 

The School Board recognized Dan Kontos for his service to the Board from April 2016 to April 2019 and wished him well in future endeavors.  

 

View more photos from the School Board Recognitions.

 

The Consent Agenda, including previous minutes, the approval of monthly bills and employment recommendations were approved.

 

Business Services

Motion to adopt the Resolution Authorizing Entry into an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement relating to the "Wisconsin Investment Series Cooperative" and authorizing participation in the Investment Programs of the Fund was approved.

 

The Board also approved the resolution designating qualified financial institutions as public depositories for funds of the District.

 

Key Benefit Concepts, LLC GASB 45 was awarded actuarial services for the next two years.

 

ABM was approved to provide custodial service per their RFP. RFP for Contracted Maintenance 2019 | 2019 Custodial RFP Evaluation Summary | Board Agenda Memo

 

The Goerke Park running track resurfacing and structural spray bid to Upper Midwest Athletic Construction at a cost of $176,198 was approved.

 

The bid to American Asphalt of Wisconsin for Contract “A” Base Bid and Alternate 1-Drainage Improvements for a total of $181,634.30 was approved.

 

Educational Services

A revision of the charter school contract between Point of Discovery School and the Stevens Point Area Public School District School Board to reflect the following statement on page 3:

School Calendar and Schedules: Point of Discovery School will organize the school calendar and schedule to promote and support deep, personal, and rigorous teaching and learning. Classes shall be taught within a flexible yearly calendar and daily schedule while meeting the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction requirements for public school instructional hours at each grade level was approved.

 

The board also approved a calendar adjustment for the 19-20 PoDS school year.

 

Human Resources

The health plan renewal with Security Health Plan and the dental plan renewal with Delta Dental were approved.

 

Policy

The Board approved the adoption of all policies presented to date.

Closed Session

The board voted unanimously to move into Closed Session 19.85(1)(c)Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. Specifically to consider non-renewals, the contract of the Superintendent and the hire of an Administrator; and  19.85(1)(e) Deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session. Specifically, for the purpose of discussing bargaining for the 7/1/2019 - 6/30/2020 contract agreements.

 

The school board will hold the organizational meeting on April 22, 2019, at the Bliss Educational Services Center.

 

The next regular meeting of the school board will take place on May 13, 2019, at the Bliss Educational Services Center.

 

You can access the agenda and materials or watch the entirety of the meeting online.

 

Thank you to students from McDill Elementary School for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

The Consent Agenda, including previous minutes, the approval of monthly bills and employment recommendations were approved.

 

Student and Staff Recognitions

 

 

Charles F. Fernandez Center student Cheyenne Cummings presented the Mandana Bliss award to volunteer, Tom Ness (not pictured).

 

 

Jefferson Elementary students Lydia Johnson and Sophie Durkee presented the Mandana Bliss award to teacher, Renee Oestreich.

 

 

Charles Fernandez Center principal, Jen Knecht, presented the Charlie Awards to students: Cheyenne Cummings, Elijah Kluck, Christian Lochner-Zanon, Samantha Miller, Caleb Stroik, Ryan Wilcox, and Dominique Williams. The Charles F. Fernandez Center for Alternative Learning (Fernandez Center) created a way to reward students that demonstrate the resiliency, positive attitude, and drive to succeed regardless of obstacles or hurdles that they face in life. This year we are proud to announce the fourth annual “Charlie” awards that will be awarded to five qualifying students that embody these characteristics. These students have truly exhibited the skills required to face challenges and adversity while maintaining focus on his/her educational path.

 

 

SPASH principal, Jon Vollendorf recognized SPASH Student Senate members for receiving the Wisconsin Association of School Councils Spirit of Excellence Award.  SPASH was one of six regional winners in Wisconsin. The Spirit of Excellence Award requires that schools submit a thorough application showcasing their school’s achievement, student activities, and other unique things that connect the school to the community.

 

Business Services

 

Representatives from Nexus Solutions provided the board an update on referendum projects including building renovation plans for Washington Elementary, Plover-Whiting Elementary, SPASH, and the Ben Franklin Junior High entrance.  

 

The recommendation for a sale of bonds to borrow a portion of the $75.9 million approved by voters in November to occur in two phases was approved. The first phase, currently taking place, consists of the sale of $60 million in bond. The second phase $of selling the remaining $15.9 million bonds in the spring of 2022.  The bonds were sold at a lower interest rate than estimated in referendum planning. This lower interest rate will save local taxpayers 15 cents per 1,000 of assessed value, or, $150 less for a 100,000 home than previously anticipated.

 

Educational Services

The Four-Year-Old Kindergarten Program and Site Agreement contracts for 2019-2022 were approved as presented (Imagination Center, UWSP, Non-UWSP).

 

Student Services
The recommendations to amend open enrollment seats available for Project Search for the 2019-20 school year were approved as presented.

 

The School Board received a report from Portage County Health and Human Services Kathy Reynolds, School Nurse Coordinator on nursing services in the District.

 

Human Resources

Beth Bakunowicz, Director of Human Resources provided an update regarding Teachers on Call including district substitute statistics, requests and fill rate.

 

Policy

The district is currently working with school district policy experts, Neola to update all district policies. Remaining policies that had not been addressed were presented for review and eventual approval by the School Board for implementation once all policy series have been reviewed and approved.

 

General
Superintendent Gerlach presented a Mid-Year Strategic Plan update to the school board with an end of the year report to be presented in June.

 

The Board moved to designate Karlyn Krautkramer as Deputy Clerk to assist the Board Clerk in administering the responsibilities of Board Clerk to the extent permitted by law, and remain as such until replaced by the Board.

 

Closed Session

The board voted unanimously to move into Closed Session per State Statute 19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiating the purchasing of public properties, the investing of public funds, or conducting other specified public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session specifically for the purpose of discussing bargaining for the July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020 contract agreements and to review the administrative contract for the superintendent.

 

The next regular meeting of the school board will take place on April 8, 2019, at the Bliss Educational Services Center.