Erik Backhaus

The budget hearing and annual meeting included discussion of the local property tax levy, revenue budget, expense budget, fund balance, debt service, equalized valuation and mill rate.

The School District of Wisconsin Dells' PI.26 Education for Employment Plan for 2025-26 outlines strategies to prepare students for postsecondary education and employment. It focuses on enhancing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, implementing comprehensive Academic and Career Planning (ACP) using the Xello software for grades 6-12, providing individualized student support, and promoting parent engagement. Key goals for 2025-26 include increasing postsecondary preparation, completing Xello curriculum guides, integrating 4-Year Plans, improving family communication, providing career-specific guest speakers, raising awareness of ACP among non-CTE staff, expanding Pre-ACT utilization, incorporating Xello into IEP considerations, and increasing in-school work-based learning opportunities, all with the aim of fostering academic and individual excellence for a stronger community.

The School District of Wisconsin Dells' 2025-26 Education for Employment Plan focuses on enhancing postsecondary preparation, completing Xello course curriculum guides, and improving communication to families regarding Academic and Career Planning (ACP). Key goals include increasing enrollment in postsecondary prep courses, integrating Xello into student-led conferences, providing career speakers for CTE courses, and ensuring staff awareness of ACP and career connections. The plan also aims to expand work-based learning opportunities and utilize Xello for IEP considerations.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's strategic plan focuses on ensuring every child graduates college and career ready. Key goals include increasing the graduation rate to 92 percent, improving career and college readiness to 67 percent, closing achievement gaps by 50 percent, and increasing proficiency in reading and math. The plan outlines four key areas: Standards and Instruction (implementing internationally benchmarked standards, expanding early interventions, using digital learning); Assessments and Data Systems (changing assessment proficiency levels, implementing an online assessment system, measuring college and career readiness); School and Educator Effectiveness (replacing No Child Left Behind requirements, replicating best practices from high-performing schools, advancing educator evaluation); and School Finance Reform (guaranteeing minimum state aid, incorporating a poverty factor, establishing funding sustainability).

A community survey was reviewed, but no action was taken. The board went into closed session to discuss the hiring of professional staff and then approved a one-year teaching contract for a part-time 7th Grade ELA/Math Teacher.