The Mineral Point School Board met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night October 14.
The Board began by recognizing the following accomplishments:
- WI Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Mitchell
- WI Basketball Coaches Association Steve Randall Award Winner Dan Burreson
- Cornish Bard Sandy Weitzel
- MP American Legion Citizen of the Year Mo May Grimm
- College Board National Rural/Small Town Award Winner Matthew Goninen
- WI Association of School Boards Business Honor Roll Recipients: AB Electric, Barnscrapers, Dodge-Point Country Club
(This begins the meeting video)
Video link: https://youtu.be/iW7XlPBURN8?si=wRbUtrWFlAFIBU1h
Other business:
— Superintendent Mitch Wainwright shared enrollment numbers for the 2024-25 school year, following the 3rd Friday count in September.
799 students are in our school buildings at this time, the highest enrollment since Wainwright has been employed in the district (2011).
102 of those have open enrolled into the district, also the highest number since Wainwright has been employed.
28 Mineral Point resident students are open enrolling out of the district, the lowest number since Wainwright has been employed.
(Go to the 26 minute, 30 second mark)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Will Harris and Joni Heisner absent) the 2024-25 School District Budget as presented, which includes a $494,526 projected deficit.
This number includes an anticipated increase in private school voucher money, as required by the state.
The 2024-25 projected deficit is down from approximately $580,000 this summer when the preliminary budget was approved.
Last year, the District ended the 2023-24 school year with a surplus of $5,000.
Final numbers will be coming from the state in the coming weeks, therefore the levy certification meeting October 28 will have the most up to date information.
(Go to the one hour, 31 minute, 30 second mark)
— The Board held its monthly discussion around the latest updates to its priorities Recruit and Retain Staff, Providing a Safe Social and Emotional Environment for Everyone, School Board Governance). (Go to the 20 minute, 15 second mark)
— Building principals and District Reading Specialist Rachael Schroeder discussed results of the latest testing data released and more information on the new Act 20, which is dedicated to reading and literacy practices. (Go to the 38 minute, 30 second mark)
— The Board heard an update on the Cell Phone Ad-Hoc Committee from co-chair Matt Austin, High School Principal.
The group’s mission:
- Bring community, staff, board and administration together to discuss the growing concern of cell phone use and social media and its impact on the academics, and social and emotional state of our kids
- Goal is to understand how cell phones and social media in school is impacting kids academically, socially, and emotionally
- Look at best practices how other districts have managed cell phone/social media use to minimize student harm and also maximize learning
- Can we better educate our families on cell phone use and social media use
- Review current policies and do they align to current thinking, best practices, etc.
(Go to the 33 minute mark)
— The Board discussed some housekeeping Board business items as upcoming FYIs. (Go to the one hour, 40 minute mark)
— Superintendent Wainwright presented his monthly budget update. (Go to the 25 minute, 45 second mark)
— The Board held a first reading for the following policies, which will then be brought back for a vote next month:
- 112: Non-Discrimination
- 131.1: Board Member Qualifications
- 165.1: Board Member Conflict of Interest
- 171.1: Public Notification of Board Meetings
- 188: Board Member Participation in Meetings Via Technology
- 223: Administrator Professional Development Opportunities
- 225: District Administration Evaluation
- 310: Instructional Goals
- 321: School Calendar Year
(Go to the one hour, 18 minute, 30 second mark)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Harris and Heisner absent) a second reading of the following policies:
- 113: Non-discrimination in District Programs, Activities, and Operations
- 423: Full-time Public School Open Enrollment
- 652: Revenues from Investments
- 665: Fraud Prevention and Reporting
- 671.5: Employee Compensation Paid From Federal Grants
- 723.1: Emergency Drills
- 723.2: Threats of School Violence (policy & rule)
- 724: Indoor Environmental Quality Management
- 725: Asbestos Management
(Go to the one hour, 30 minute mark)
— The Board unanimously approved (with Harris and Heisner absent) the credit card statement and bills payable. (Go to the 12 minute, 15 second mark)
— Another Operational Referendum Community Information Meeting will be held Wednesday, October 23 at 6 pm in the middle/high school cafeteria. More information is on the website: https://mineralpointschools.org/2024-referendum/
— The Board will hold a special meeting Monday, October 28 at 6 pm to certify the levy.
— The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be Monday, November 11 at 6 pm.