Wausau School District

The documented portion of the meeting primarily focused on a request to enter into a closed session to conduct a preliminary discussion regarding potential litigation, as permitted by state statutes. The discussion included a roll call vote to approve entering the closed session.

The meeting began with the approval of the consent agenda and a motion to enter closed session for preliminary discussion regarding potential litigation. The committee then heard a presentation from the Planetarium Coordinator regarding the history, funding, usage statistics, and success of the Wausau School District Planetarium, noting approximately 11,000 annual visitors and significant community outreach across Wisconsin. Following this, the Principal of Wausau West provided updates on various school initiatives, including the Golden Apple award for teachers and the Warriors of the Quarter for students. A successful new cell phone policy, implemented to promote engagement, was highlighted, correlating with a 10% decrease in failing grades. Student representatives shared achievements across numerous extracurricular activities, including DECA, HOSA, FCCLA, Science Olympiad, and athletic successes in wrestling, hockey, and curling. Other news included staff awards and student recognition for dual credit and certification achievements.

The committee meeting served to hear information from the administrative team, discuss presented topics, and determine appropriate action, which includes moving topics to the regular board meeting or not. Key agenda items included a presentation by the Planetarium Coordinator detailing the history, funding structure, annual visitors (approximately 11,000 total, with a third being public, a third secondary, and a third from outside the district), and the educational impact of the planetarium. The presentation highlighted the facility's success in providing guaranteed, curriculum-linked visits to every district child, thereby avoiding significant annual transportation costs. Following this, the Principal of Wausau West provided updates on school initiatives, including the Golden Apple Award for teachers and the Warriors of the Quarter recognition for students demonstrating positive qualities. A new cell phone policy aimed at promoting meaningful conversation and engagement was also discussed, noting a 10% decrease in failed semester grades after implementation. Student representatives then detailed numerous extracurricular achievements across various clubs, arts, and athletics, such as DECA, HOSA, Skills USA, Mock Trial success, and athletic qualifications for state meets. Other school news included staff awards and the Warriors Word magazine receiving a Gold Medalist rating.

The meeting commenced with the call to order and roll call, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. A proclamation recognizing Wisconsin School Bus Driver Appreciation Week was read, highlighting the importance of school bus drivers. A key presentation covered the 'Big Friends' partnership between the 4K program and Wasa West High School, detailing its benefits for both younger students and high schoolers interested in education careers. Public comments focused heavily on concerns regarding equitable opportunities, specifically advocating for the East campus boys hockey team to receive a fair chance to compete. The consent agenda was approved, which included appointments, staff actions, and the approval of donations. Discussions also covered the finalization of 95% design plans for referendum projects at four elementary schools (Franklin, Rib Mountain, Lincoln, and John Marshall) for bidding purposes. The board reviewed legal expenses for the second quarter of 2025-2026 and received a report on demographics for the 2025-2026 school year. Additionally, administration sought and received approval to award the contract for the Wausau West Chiller System replacement project to Forefront Mechanical. The meeting concluded with an informational presentation regarding the disbandment of the East Merrill boys hockey co-op.

The meeting included a presentation from GD Jones Principal Jen Davidson, focusing on team performance metrics, specifically highlighting a 21% increase in math assessment scores at grade level on the winter I Ready diagnostic and a reduction in the percentage of students needing personalized reading support plans. The primary agenda item involved presenting 95% design completion for referendum projects at four elementary schools: Marshall, Rib Mountain, Franklin, and Lincoln, and seeking approval to issue these plans for competitive bidding. Detailed updates covered scope and budget tracking for these projects, noting significant mechanical system upgrades, including HVAC, boiler replacements, cooling system additions, and various ADA compliance updates across the facilities. Specifically for Marshall, site work changes included removing the south drive and updating the bus loop. For Franklin, elevator modernization and a new parking lot were noted. Rib Mountain's work was straightforward with minor scope changes. Lincoln's updates included a change from an analog clock system to mass notification. Budget tracking showed total projected spending of $12,599,500 for the four schools.