The Mineral Point School Board held its regularly monthly meeting Monday and tackled a very full agenda.
Video link: https://youtu.be/gYQg6TCPtq8?si=-aZ1dQ49FimgwuIs
— The Board began its meeting by recognizing the following accomplishments:
- Retirees
- State Trap
- State Golf
- State Track & Field
- MS State Track & Field
- United Nations Community Service Award
- Jerry Overture Center Musical Awards
(This begins the meeting video)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Will Harris, Christie Johnston, and Justin Skelding absent) the bills payable and credit card statement. (Go to the 13 minute, 45 second mark)
— The Board held its monthly discussion on School Board Priorities (Recruit and Retain Staff, Providing a Safe Social and Emotional Environment for Everyone, School Board Governance). (Go to the 19 minute mark)
— The Board heard an update from Middle/High School Counselor Erika Brunson on college courses taken during the 2023-24 school year. (Go to the 37 minute mark)
Dual enrollment includes a variety of programs through which high school students are enrolled simultaneously in both high school and college to earn both high school and college credit.
Some of the big ones MPHS is using include:
— Cooperative Academic Partnership Program (CAPP)
- 48 students participated last school year, earning 310 credits
- Partnership with UW-Oshkosh where MPHS teachers are approved to teach UWO courses as an adjunct instructor. Courses currently offered: Writing 101, American Literature II, Creative Writing, Physics, Music & Culture, Music Theory, Badminton, and Archery
— Start College Now
- 18 students participated last school year, earning 114 credits
- Students can take a few courses or enroll in entire programs
- All colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College System participate
— CollEDGE Up
- 49 students participated last school year, earning 305 credits
- Program that creates pathways toward careers
- Pathways include: Criminal Justice, Education, General Education, Nursing, Mechanics, Lab Science, CNC Operator, EMT/Firefighter
— Transcribed Credit
- 15 students participated last school year, earning 60 credits
- Partnership with Southwest Tech where MPHS teachers are approved to teach SWTC courses as an adjunct instructor. Courses currently offered: Accounting, Intro to Business
— Early College Credit Program
- 9 students participated last school year, earning 48 credits
- Students can take a few courses at any public or private university in Wisconsin
Other ways students can earn college credit include:
— Advanced Placement
- 24 students were enrolled last school year, taking 35 exams
- Advanced Placement, or AP courses, offer students opportunities to take college-level courses in high school that are taught by their high school teacher.
- At the end of the courses, students can take the AP exam.
- Depending on their score, they can earn college credit.
- Current offers include: AP Calculus AB, AP US History, AP US Government, and other online AP courses.
— Grand Canyon University
— Signing Online
— OSHA 30
For this past school year, 86 students were enrolled in dual enrollment offerings for a total of 861 credits earned.
— The Board heard updates from building administrators regarding academic goals. (Go to the one hour, ten minute mark)
— Superintendent Mitch Wainwright presented his monthly budget update. (Go to the two hour, 13 minute mark)
— The Board heard committee meeting recaps from Finance and Personnel. (Go to the two hour, 18 minute mark)
— The Board held discussion about which businesses/organizations they may wish to nominate for this year’s Wisconsin Association of School Boards Business Honor Roll. A vote will take place at the July meeting. (Go to the two hour, 23 minute mark)
— The Board unanimously approved tabling (with Harris, Johnston, and Skelding absent) approval of the proposed budget amendments due to the requirements of a ⅔ vote in favor, and only four members were present. (Go to the two hour, 25 minute mark)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Harris, Johnston, and Skelding absent) a softball tournament trip to Gulf Shores, AL for March 2025 with the costs covered by fundraising. (Go to two hour, 27 minute mark)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Harris, Johnston, and Skelding absent) the preliminary 2024-25 budget. This gives the school permission to start ordering supplies for the beginning of next school year. At this time, the projected deficit is $450,000 up to $600,000. There are still unknowns on revenue for next school year and the Board is budgeting conservatively in hopes of being more optimistic once final numbers are known in October. (Go to the two hour, 34 minute mark)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Harris, Johnston, and Skelding absent) the second reading for the following policies:
Second Reading and approval of revised policies:
- 333, Parent Rights in Relation to District Programs/Activities and Student Privacy
- 343.44, Part-Time Open Enrollment
- 343.46, Early College Credit Program
- 361, Selection of Textbooks and Other Classroom Instructional Materials & Resources
- 411.3, Ensuring the Educational Stability of Children in Out-of-Home Care (Foster Care)
- 526.1, Employment References and Verification
(Go to the two hour, 45 minute mark)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Harris, Johnston, and Skelding absent) the Fee Schedule for the 2024-25 school year as presented. (Go to the two hour, 48 minute mark). The fee schedule can be found here: https://mineralpointschools.org/mpsd/fee-schedule/
— The Board unanimously approved (with Harris, Johnston, and Skelding absent) Farmers Savings Bank as the financial institution to use for short-term borrowing in the 2024-25 school year at an interest rate of 4.25%. Each year, the District approves a lender that will provide a line of credit. This line of credit is used to offset the timing of state aid payments. (Go to the three hour, two minute mark)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Harris, Johnston, and Skelding absent) a purchase over $10,000 (as per Board policy) for Math Curriculum and Equipment (CNC Machine). (Go to the three hour, five minute mark)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Harris, Johnston, and Skelding absent) the SWEEP 1 & 2 contracts for the 2024-25 school year. (Go to the three hour, 15 minute, 30 second mark)
— The Board discussed its upcoming Summer Retreat, tentatively scheduled for June 24. (Go to the three hour, 19 minute mark)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Harris, Johnston, and Skelding absent) the retirement of Ed Joestgen (Middle/High School Custodian) and resignation of Alison Sauter (Speech & Language Teacher). (Go to the three hour, 21 minute mark)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Harris, Johnston, and Skelding absent) the hiring of the following Summer Kids Club (daycare) personnel: Erika Brunson (Director), Assistants Addie Ryser and Emma Cullen, Special Ed Assistants Ross Coogan and Rebecca Ditsworth. (Go to the three hour, 23 minute mark)