Jessica Mullikin

The Board meeting included a presentation on Academic and Career Planning, a report on a recent student tragedy, and the approval of a consent agenda encompassing financial vouchers, staff resignations, retirements, hiring, donations, and fundraising activities. Action items included the approval of a charter school agreement, a shared services contract, policy updates, college credit programs, and the purchase of math curricula for grades KG-8. Additionally, the Board entered an executive session to discuss employment, compensation, and performance evaluations for new staff positions before adjourning.

The Board of Education held public hearings regarding the alteration of school district boundaries, approving a petition to attach property from the Prairie Farm School District and denying a petition to detach property to the same district. The meeting featured presentations from students, staff recognitions, and the approval of a consent agenda including vouchers, resignations, staffing appointments, donations, and fundraising requests. Furthermore, the board reviewed informational reports on food service, boiler plant operations, and enrollment. Key action items included the approval of several teacher and coaching resignations, procurement of technology equipment such as Ubiquiti switches and UPS backup power supplies, and the adoption of 2026-2027 course descriptions for the middle school.

This strategic plan outlines goals for the Barron Area School District to be accomplished by the end of the 2025-26 school year. Key focus areas include enhancing academics through curriculum development, literacy support, and staff training; fostering community and parent engagement; expanding extracurricular participation; improving facilities through new construction and team development; ensuring financial stability and planning; maintaining health and safety protocols; strengthening pupil services; upholding school board governance; optimizing school nutrition programs; advancing technology infrastructure and security; and improving transportation services.

The meeting included the Pledge of Allegiance and the reciting of the Mission Statement. Staff members Lorri Hinde and Doug Shipley were recognized in the Spotlight on Staff segment, and the Ridgeland-Dallas Elementary School was featured in the Spotlight on Education. Key actions involved approving the Consent Agenda, which included vouchers, resignations/retirements of several staff members, staffing recommendations for substitute positions, approval of various donations to school programs, approval of overnight trip requests for the Girls Soccer Program and High School Band/Choir, and approval of fundraising requests. Subsequent actions included approving resignations for the Director of Pupil Services and a Varsity Assistant Football Coach, approving the hires of two Special Education Assistants, approving the District's 2026-2027 Open Enrollment Space Determination, approving the High School 2026-2027 Course Descriptions, and approving the purchase of a commercial dishwasher, a planer, and 150 Chromebooks. Informational reports covered correspondence, Food Service, Boiler Plant, and Monthly Enrollment data, as well as committee reports.

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and reciting the Mission Statement, followed by a Spotlight on Education presentation regarding District Report Cards. Key actions included the approval of the Consent Agenda, which covered vouchers, staff resignations/retirements, staffing recommendations, donations received for various programs and student assistance funds, and approval for an FCCLA overnight trip to the Capital Leadership Conference. Informational reports were presented, including correspondence, Food Service, Boiler Plant, Monthly Enrollment, and the School Violence Drill Evaluation. In action items, the Board approved policy updates with NEOLA, revisions to the 2025-2026 Teacher Handbook, the purchase of a new handicapped van, a commitment of funds to the Barron County Sheriff's Department District Liaison, approval of two teacher retirements, and approval of preliminary budget planning for the daycare project.