Board Bits

We extend our welcome the new Menonomee Falls Public Library Director, Jaqueline Rammer. Jackie Rammer is incredibly dynamic and we look forward to working together and continuing with our great partnership with the public library. We would also like to mention the renovation of the Teen Center that will begin on the second floor of the library.

We encourage families to visit our COVID-19 metrics page on our website to view the most current and up to date information regarding the current state of COVID-19 in our community. You will find helpful graphics and statistics as we continue to build tools to help identify the decision making metrics in place.

Board of Education Members Report

If your kids are looking for a variety of books to read over the summer, our public librarians can help provide you with a choice of options through a program called Librarian’s Choice Bundle. All you have to do is answer a few questions and the librarians will select hand-picked books for your children, based on their interests. The bundle of books can be picked up curbside or in the lobby. It is a great program for families to utilize.

The food pantry is in need of donations and can accept your donation 24/7. If you are donating fresh produce items, they do ask that you donate at times when they are open. For further information, please see the food pantry website. https://www.fallsfoodpantry.org/

Committee Reports:

Curriculum & Learning:

A WCTC Business Professionalism transcripted credit course will be integrated into our high school’s business academy capstone class at no cost to school or families. The request has been approved through the Board and students will have this new opportunity next year.

The Curriculum and Learning Team discussed the discontinuation of the accreditation program, the results of the staff and family re-opening surveys, proposed schedule changes for the middle and high schools, proposed instructional models and targeted mask usage. Details can be found in the Curriculum and Learning minutes in BoardDocs.

Policy

The Policy Committee Team proposed a new policy 378 for Equal Access for Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups that will move to the full Board for consideration.

The team reviewed policy 411 Equal Educational Opportunities, Pupil Non Discrimination, Pupil Harassment and approved to move to the full Board for consideration.

The team developed a policy and procedure concerning mask use and the key factors of consideration. This policy and procedure is presented in detail this evening as a discussion topic and can be viewed in BoardDocs.

They also proposed a policy procedure review for the Evaluation of Board of Education Operation, as the Board goes through an evaluation process of their own in the fall. The committee updated a checklist and decided to keep both checklists for the Board to make a final decision in the fall.

Finance & Auxiliary

The soccer turf fundraising and plans are moving along nicely. Now that the funds have been raised, the district contacted the turf vendors using the same contract terms that were included in the football turf contract. The ground breaking is scheduled to begin July 28, 2020. Thank you to the Booster Club, and community donors for making this project a reality!

The Finance and Auxiliary Team discussed preliminary busing plans for 2020-21, the Johnson Bus contract and key provisions, the annual committee review of gifts to the district, summer facility projects, the cost of COVID-19 and budgeting.

Personnel

A warm welcome to our new Director of Human Resources, Leia Scoptur who joined our district on July 1st! Leia will be a great addition to this team.

Communications

The Communications Team’s recent communications activity included the high school virtual graduation ceremony with over 2000 views at the beginning of July. Our virtual graduation earned media coverage from WTMJ4 and the Journal Sentinel. Our social media activity is growing quite a bit. This is great because when doing crisis communication the quickest and easiest way to get important information to families is via email and social media. Families are encouraged to continue visiting and sharing post and liking our social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The team discussed re-opening plans and the best ways to communicate with parents and staff. Information has been shared through E-newsletter, School Messenger, Social Media and our website page. The goal is to maintain consistent and clear communication and to provide easy to find answers for families. A FAQ section has been added to the SDMF COVID-19 School Reopening webpage to assist parents with re-opening questions.

The team is working on a fall season newsletter to go out to the community, a letter to our legislators, monthly ads for Express News, and a process to deliver the highlights from the Board meeting discussions, post meeting.

A recent graduate from our high school’s Design Academy, Davis, has been doing a phenomenal job working on an idea for the new high school phoenix logo. He has spent time over the summer developing and presenting ideas to the team. A huge shout out to our high school kids and their amazing talent. Davis has impressed the team with his detailed work, design and thought process as he tied it in the feathered “F”. Three designs will be presented to the high school students this fall to vote on their favorite logo. The winning design will appear on future apparel.

Legislative Update:

Board of Education President, Faith VanderHorst, attended the SWSA (Southeast Wisconsin Schools Alliance Group) meeting with guest speakers from Children’s Hospital and our County Executive and Health Department representatives. The highlights of the message include the recommendation of if universal masking, physical distancing when possible to slow the spread, current vaccinations for children, and fall flu shots.

They recommend following the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for guidelines for returning to school. They believe it is a social/emotional need and connectedness is important for children. They said anyone over the age of two should be able to manage a mask and often times better than adults manage it. Everybody should go through a symptom checklist every day and if you are not feeling 100%, stay home. A good practice is to wash or sanitize hands each time you enter and exit a room.

The Waukesha Health Department intends to contact the families anytime there is a case in the classroom that has been in contact with your child or teacher. We recognize they might be overwhelmed at times and the school district might have to take over some of the contacting.

Their message is to stay safe to open in the fall. To stay safe, maintain safe distancing, avoid large crowds, wash hands frequently, and wear a mask.

Discussion Items:

SDMF Recognition as the Top Workplace - 6th year in a row!

Proposed updates for Board Policy and Procedure 453

Annual Notice of Student Academic Standards

Action Items:

2020-21 Budget Discussion and Preparation for the Annual Meeting

2020-21 School Re-opening Instructional Framework Recommendation

Vouchers Payable

The next Board of Education meeting will take place on August 10, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Education and Recreation Center, room 102.

Thank you!

August 2020

August 10, 2020

Web page – Guide for re-opening and frequently asked questions

Shady Lane playground

Football

Staffing plans

Partnering with professionals in healthcare

Board of Education Members Report

Wed. 8/5 last day of nutrition program – wonderful service to the community

WI Workforce Development webinar – state wide statistics shared – we are all in this together

Waukesha County Paul Farrow in MF for press conference – Be Safe To Open

Policy Committee Report

Policy – 453.4.2 COVID-19 District guidelines reviewed and moved to full board

Discussed mask policy, procedure and timeline for mask usage

Personnel Committee Report

Review of district website – very accessible for staff

F&Q page for staff to help with questions

Review staffing numbers and trying to fulfill leave requests

Communications Committee Report

COVID-19 weekly communication

Superintendent video over 5,000 views

Return to school guide

Signs in buildings - reminders

Opening in-service for staff

Channels 4 & 6 coverage

Social media growing – good engagement

Re-opening guide is long – relay info effectively and educate parents

Ordering district branded masks and lanyards

Continue weekly updates

On a publication note – Falls newsletter in Oct.

Phoenix logo – 3 designs moving along for students to vote on in fall

Legislative Update

Attended SWSA monthly meeting – highlights:

Districts shared their practices and concerns with staffing on virtual and hybrid days.

DPI released their screening tool kit today.

Some districts are screening every student who comes into the building.

Not every hybrid model is the same with live teaching.

Districts sharing metrics. Ours has become the model for other districts. Everyone grateful there is something out there.

Childcare – struggle for districts to make it work.

State mask mandate until the end of Sept.

Athletics – conference based rather than statewide.

Our timeline is further ahead than others – we are ahead of the pack and should be proud.

Discussion Items

Proposed Policy Updates 152: Board of Education Annual Evaluation of Governance

Proposed Policy Updates: 411: Equal Education Opportunities Pupil Nondiscrimination

Pupil Harassment

Proposed Policy Updates 453: Communicable Diseases Policy

2020-21 School Re-opening Metrics and Decision Matrix

Menomonee Falls High School Athletics Program

Action Items

2020-21 School Re-opening Metrics and Decision Matrix

Proposed Policy Updates 453.4: Communicable Diseases Policy

Proposed Policy Update 824: Access to Public Records

Proposed Policy Update 341.1: Human Growth and Development

Vouchers Payable

The next Board of Education meeting will take place on August 24, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Education and Recreation Building, room 102.

Thank you!

August 24, 2020

Superintendent Report

We are monitoring the COVID-19 data specific to the Menomonee Falls area and continue to see stable trending in a positive direction. This is a good indicator that the hybrid model is the best choice for our re-opening plans. In September we will reevaluate and consider next steps based on the movement in data. We appreciate the efforts of our families and staff as we move forward through these unchartered challenges. Thank you for all your support and perseverance.

Board of Education Members Report

It has been a busy couple of weeks as we are preparing for the “Back to School” mode. The schools did a great job coordinating the pick-up and drop-off of Chromebooks. The virtual web presentations led by the principals were very well done and provided valuable information for families. The PTO groups have been busy supporting the schools and the Board of Education President, Mrs. Faith VanderHorst cheerfully welcomed back the staff members during a virtual school opener meeting on August 24th. We also want to express our gratitude for everyone involved in the Pat Heitman fundraising auction event, which benefits the SDMF college scholarship program. There was a good turnout and guests enjoyed sharing dear memories of Pat.

Committee Reports: Curriculum & Learning

The team has been busy planning for the return of our students and have put forth an incredible amount of planning and preparation. One aspect of focus has been the musical instructional design, allowing students to safely participate in music lessons while following strict mitigation standards. Four different music models are in consideration and can be accessed on the BoardDoc Work Session agenda from this evening. The music department has done a phenomenal job in their planning efforts to keep students safe. The team continues to lead detailed discussion around Hybrid and Virtual Learning Instructional Models and what that will look like for students. A detailed presentation can be found on the BoardDoc Work Session agenda from this evening. Policy 341: Controversial Issues was discussed and moved to an action item for clarification of language and to provide clear multiple viewpoints in classrooms.

Committee Reports: Finance & Auxiliary Services

This team has been preparing for the Budget Hearing meeting on September 14th, evaluating the budget impact of COVID-19, assisting with the plans for student meal distribution, purchasing sneeze guards for each building, coordinating mask purchases, reviewing self-funded health plans, review of trust funds, review of capital leasing and review of surplus saving. The committee and board will be reviewing information regarding Bipolar Ionization Air Purifications units to learn more about the safety benefits and determine practicality within the district.

Legislative Update

The Southeast Wisconsin School Alliance group has been meeting biweekly with the Children’s Hospital Staff with the focus around COVID-19 discussions. Many districts seem to have the same questions regarding metrics, child care, data, what to expect, what to look for, transmission, closure, community spread, anxiety, busing, etc. It has been helpful to listen to the recommendations shared by local health care providers.

Discussion Items

Review of 2020-21 School Re-opening Metrics and Decision Matrix Update

Action Items

Approval of Policy 152, Board of Education Annual Evaluation of Governance

Approval of Policy 411: Equal Education Opportunities Pupil Nondiscrimination Pupil Harassment

Approval of Vouchers Payable

The next Board of Education meetings will take place on September 14, 2020 at the Menomonee Falls High School Auditorium.

6:00 p.m. Board of Education Meeting

6:05 p.m. Board of Education Budget Hearing

6:45 p.m. Board of Education Annual Meeting

Thank you!

September 2020

September 14, 2020

Budget Hearing, Board of Education Meeting and Annual Meeting

The highlighted links will take you to the BoardDocs, the SMDF online portal for Board of Education meetings. Learn more about the agenda item and watch video of the selected item as it was presented by clicking on the filmstrip icon on the top left of the page.

Annual Budget Hearing

Presentation by Keith Brightman, Director of Finance and Operations

1.Key factors of the annual budget process

2.Budget recap of the 2019-2020 budget and fiscal year end

3.Review of budget goals, planning, and highlights (2020-2021)

4.Recommended tax levy (2020-2021)

Recognition of Retired Pupil Service Director

Presentation by Corey Golla, SDMF Superintendent

In reflection of the 2019-2020 school year, we have a lot to celebrate as a district as we remain united behind a common vision and a strong motivation to excel. We are proud of our staff’s ability to problem solve and work together through the pandemic. We are appreciative of our Board leadership, their willingness to step up, give of their time and provide wisdom to challenge us. Thank you to the Division leaders who have given so much of their selves and time for the planning involved for a safe return of students and staff. Thank you to the facilities team providing a safe re-open and for taking all the necessary precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19. We are very grateful for everyone’s support in preparing for a safe return for all students and staff.

We welcome the 30 new staff members who joined our district this year with a strong commitment to service excellence, a vision to encourage respect between one another, and the drive to promote teamwork from within. Welcome to the Menomonee Falls team!

Our Big Aims for 2020-2021 is to see that all students will successfully transition to college and work prepared for their future, that all students and families feel they belong in our school community, that all students and adults are engaged, learning and improving, and that all students, families and staff members feel we are a school district of choice.

We are a district that despite the head wind, our students are engaging, they are learning and they are improving. We are fully committed to our vision to be relentless in our pursuit of excellence one person at a time, no matter what is thrown at us. Thank you so much to our Board and our community for all of your support.

Congratulations and happy retirement to retired Pupil Services Director, Kathy Young!

Friend of Education Awards

The Friend of Education Award was established as a way to recognize unique contributions by individuals or organizations to the education of the children of Menomonee Falls. The award is bestowed upon those whose efforts to improve or enhance education within the district were so unique, that if it were not for the individual or organization, the initiative would not have been implemented.

The 2020 Friend of Education recipients include: Paulette Barr, Dave Borucki, Joe Greco, Sr., Sue Ishihara, Catherine Sharkey, Sally Tautges, and Kara White.

The third-grade artwork has become the trademark of the Friend of Education Award. Each year, third-grade art students create original “Busscapes” that depict the famous yellow school bus transporting children to school. The artwork is chosen by the art teachers for consideration as a Friend of Education award. The artwork was framed and presented to each of the Friend of Education recipients at this meeting. The 2020 student artists include: Kiera Levandowski, Tyson Resch, Ronan Fula, Lucas Rossi, Anna White, Katie McShane, Rathika Prajoy, Awa Klos, Maggie Schlotthauer and Reed McGivern.

Distinguished Service Awards

The Menomonee Falls Board of Education established the Distinguished Service Award in 2002 to honor those individuals who have given graciously of their time and talents over a number of years to the improvement of the School District of Menomonee Falls and the community as a whole. Given once a year, the Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor the Board of Education bestows on members of the community.

The 2020 Distinguished Service Award recipients include: the Capital Improvement Campaign and Next Gen Personal Finance. Congratulations and thank you to these two fine organizations who have made a huge impact to the School District of Menomonee Falls.

Recognition of Retired and Departing School Board Members

Thank you to Mark Nadolski and Ron Bertieri for your service to the Menomonee Falls Board of Education. Your leadership and service has been greatly appreciated.

Treasurer’s Report

Presentation by Board Treasurer, Cathy Olig

I’d like to begin by thanking Mr. Brightman, Director of Finance and Operations and his team for all of their hard work. They have implemented cost savings to maintain a balanced budget and have overseen the completion of more than 99% of our referendum projects. Our facilities both inside and outside are in excellent shape. And I’m proud that our district continues to manage operations efficiently and effectively, as good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

For the 2019-20 school year, we have added over $3.0 million to the general & special education fund balance. We began the year at $14.8m and ended the year at nearly $17.9m. During the year, nearly $58.4 was received and $55.3m was disbursed.

We approached the year cautiously which is why the fund balanced increased. When we approved our district budget last year, the state budget was not finalized so the additional state special education aid was not planned into the budget.

Also, we had a good year for medical expenses. This is really positive since medical expenses can be difficult to predict and should not be spent on other items in the district. Since we have a self-funded health plan, we typically like to save a good year of medical expenses in the fund balance to protect us from any unexpected, major medical expenses that could happen in the future.

Finally, we are still adjusting to operations based on expected revenues. While we recognize that the last several years have been very difficult, we are much better positioned from a financial standpoint.

On a side note: Our Budgeted fund balance of $17.9m for General and Special Education Funds represents 30% of our annual spend. It is a fiscal best practice to maintain a fund balance and ours falls in the range of Board policy and best practices. A fund balance reduces short-term borrowing during the year and helps protects the district since we are self-insured on our health plan. Also, having a healthy fund balance helps the district maintain a good credit rating and obtain better interest rates for when we issue short-term and long-term debt. Leading into this year and the next few years, the Fund Balance also allows for prudent contingency planning with the longer term unknown effects of COVID-19 on the State’s economy.

Of the remaining funds combined (such as debt service, food service, capital projects, and community services), we began the year at $6.3m and we ended the year at $5.2m. During the year, receipts in those funds were $8.9m and disbursements were $10.1m.

The district continues to be in a solid financial position as we plan into the next several years. There is much work to do with the pending State budget cycle in 2021 with unknown revenues and its impact on future district budgets. The Board and Administration have already begun looking at financial contingencies, should they be necessary for this year or over the next biennium. We are confident they will continue to adapt and find efficiencies in the coming years. The cost controls we have in place continue to match or exceed expectations.

Discussion Items

Presentation from Athletic Director, Brian Heimark - Athletic Plan Regarding Spectators

Action Items

Approval of Board of Education 2020-2021 Meeting Dates

Approval of Vouchers Payable through 9/10/2020

Consent Agenda – Meeting Minutes Approval

Management and Disposal of District Property

Salaries and Reimbursements of School Board Members

Authorize the SDMF Board of Education to Acquire Property

Authorize the SDMF Board of Education to Lease Suitable Buildings

Authorize the SDMF Board of Education to Lease Sites Not Needed for School Purpose

Tax Levy Resolution

Authorize the SDMF Board of Education to set date/time for the 2021 Annual Meeting

Upcoming Board of Education meetings:

Curriculum & Learning Meeting September 21 at 5:45 p.m. at MFHS Library

Board Work Session September 21 at 6:15 p.m. at MFHS Library

Board Meeting September 28 at 6:00 p.m. at the Village Hall Board Room.

Board Closed Session September 28 immediately following the Board Meeting.

Thank you!

September 28, 2020

Presentation by Leia Scoptur, Director of Human Resources

We welcome our new 2020 staff members to a new sense of belonging in an otherwise complicated year! A special thank you to our new staff members Thomas Ferch, Andrew Hacker, Adam Hardt, Renee Maney, and Joe Greco for joining us at the board meeting and sharing a little something extra about yourself. We are delighted to have you on our team!

Presentation by Corey Golla, SDMF Superintendent

We are proud to present the Friend of Education Award to Joe Greco. The Friend of Education award recognizes the unique contributions by individuals to the education of the children of Menomonee Falls. Joe is always willing to do anything he can for the Menomonee Falls School District. He is an incredible connector with students and is able to earn respect quickly in the most friendly and kind way. Joe is an integral part of the culture in our district. We appreciate all he has done to help the students in need. Thank you and congratulation Joe Greco!

Committee Reports: Curriculum & Learning

Presentation by Corey Golla, SDMF Superintendent

Congratulations to Corynn Nordstrom, Music Teacher of Ben Franklin Elementary School. Corynn was recently published in Wisconsin School Musician Magazine for the work she has done alongside her colleague, Theresa Witt. Corynn is an incredible forward thinking teacher and has done a great job finding ways to continue to offer music to students while we were virtual in the spring and now in the hybrid mode.

Congratulations to SDMF Board of Education Vice-President, Keri Duce for being recognized by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards for achieving Level 1 in the WASB member Recognition Program for her efforts in leadership and board development. WASB awards points to board members for participating in WASB and National School Boards Association (NSBA) activities. These activities include: attending or speaking at sponsored events, serving on WASB committees, serving on non-WASB committees on behalf of the WASB, and serving as a delegate to the WASB Delegate Assembly. Congratulations, Keri and thank you for your leadership in our district and our state.

A face to face instructional model transition was announced last week in a letter to families. Our goal remains to continue to find the right balance between our needs to protect our students and employees from the spread of COVID-19 within our school community and our obligations to student learning and their social and emotional wellness. Please click here to access the transition letter.

We would like to remind and encourage families to please take the parent survey we sent out last week. The survey will remain open through Friday, October 2, 2020. We appreciate your engagement and feedback.

Board of Education Members Report

Reports by SDMF Board of Education Members

Shout out to the IT DEPT and TEACHERS who are being asked to do so much more!

Shout out to the BUSINESS ACADEMY for preparing our students for their next steps!

Shout out to the BOOSTER CLUB/CIC; the soccer fields are finished and look beautiful!

Shout out to the STAFF who prepared the Virtual Parent Night. Great work!

Shout out to the REC. DEPT for doing a great job starting up activities!

Shout out to the ATHLETIC DEPT for overcoming many obstacles to provide team events.

Shout out to AMY SWANSON KIESER and JEFF NENNIG for providing live YouTube sporting videos for us to watch our students play during home events.

A friendly reminder to register for the Booster Club and PTO.

A friendly reminder to register with the village to vote by October 14, 2020. You can register online: myvote.wi.gov.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Please know we have services available in our buildings for assistance. Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255.

Flu-shot drive-up clinics in Menomonee Falls are available through Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. No registration required. Easy drive up access. Click here for more information.

Approval of four year old math and literacy curriculum to better prepare for 5 year old kindergarten and increase rigor.

Approval to pilot phonological awareness literature; aligns with district phonics for vertical planning with five year old kindergarten.

Discussion to consider offering families a fully virtual semester 2 option with a sign up deadline of December 4, 2020.

Committee Reports: Policy

Discussion around proposed revisions to Policy & Procedure 341.

Discussion around the proposed new Policy 378.

Discussion around revisions to Policy 112 based on changes to Title IX.

Discussion around revisions to Policy & Procedure 511.

Discussion around revisions to Policy & Procedure 512.

Discussion around the proposed new Policy 515.

Committee Reports: Finance & Auxiliary

Review of COVID-19 planning, purchasing and estimated budget impact.

Discussion around air ventilation system improvement and funding. The Bi-Polar Ionization System will help ensure the safety of students and staff by dramatically increasing the filtering efficiency of the existing HVAC systems.

Discussion around existing debt and refinancing opportunity.

Discussion around Federal grant compliance review.

Committee Reports: Personnel

Discussion around revisions to Policy 112 based on changes to Title IX.

Discussion around revisions to Policy & Procedure 511.

Discussion around revisions to Policy & Procedure 512.

Discussion around proposed new Policy 5XX.

Discussion around COVID-19 related staffing situation.

Discussion around status of self-insured benefit program.

Committee Reports: Communications

Discussion around parent re-opening communication.

Discussion around social media platforms receiving high reviews.

Discussion around back to school media coverage from WISN and WTMJ.

Discussion around mascot legacy planning.

Discussion around scorecard.

Discussion around bullseye.

Discussion around brand guide.

Legislative Update

Report by Keri Duce, SDMF Board Vice-President

Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance put together a Statutory Flexibility Agenda regarding COVID-19 for the 2020-2021 School Year. The topics below will be of focus during the next legislative session:

-Broad flexibility in teacher & professional Staff licensure

-Retired teachers/staff returning to work

-Pupil counts – September, January and summer school

-Transportation aid

-Immunity from civil liability for schools

-Student assessments

-School and school district performance reports

-Open enrollment space determination

-Long-term capital improvement trust fund flexibility

Discussion Items

Policy 341, Controversial Issues – Ms. Casey Blochowiak, Director of Curriculum & Learning.

Policy 378, Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups – Ms. Casey Blochowiak, Director of Curriculum & Learning

Policy 112, Nondiscrimination – Ms. Leia Scoptur, Director of Human Resources

Policy and Procedure 511, Equal Employment Opportunity – Ms. Leia Scoptur, Director of Human Resources

Policy and Procedure 512, Discrimination and Harassment of Employees Prohibited – Ms. Leia Scoptur, Director of Human Resources

Policy 515, Student Non-Fraternization – Ms. Leia Scoptur, Director of Human Resources

Action Items

Approval of Bi-Polar Ionization System and Funding

Approval of Vouchers Payable

Upcoming Board of Education meetings:

October 12, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room

October 26, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room

Thank you!

October 2020

October 12, 2020

The highlighted links will take you to BoardDocs, the SMDF online portal for Board of Education meetings. Learn more about the agenda item and watch the video of the selected item as it was presented by clicking on the “View the recorded presentation” in the text below.

Introduction of Student School Board Members

Presentation by Faith VanderHorst, SDMF Board President

Each year our junior and senior high school students have the opportunity to apply for a student position on the Board of Education where they can experience the functions of local government. These are not ‘voting positions’ as students are not electors of Menomonee Falls. We are very excited to welcome our new 2020-2021 Student School Board Members to the table to share their valuable insight from a student’s perspective. Congratulations to Sara Booher and Sahil Shah.

Sara Booher is a senior, and is serving her second term as a Student School Board Member. Sara is the Co-founder and President of Model United Nations, a member of the basketball and tennis teams, a Future Business Leaders of America State Parliamentarian, a senior class officer, an umpire for the Little League organization and is involved in many, many more school activities.

Sahil Shah is a junior at the high school and is an active member of the Future Business Leaders of America, a member of the soccer and tennis teams, on the Teen Court and is in the Business Academy.

We look forward to working with these two inspiring young adults who are very eager to share their perspectives and high school experiences.

Please click here to view the recorded Student Board Member presentation.

Please click here to view the recorded New Staff presentation.

Presentation by Leia Scoptur, Director of Human Resources

Welcome to our new 2020 staff members; we are so happy to have you join us and become a part of the School District of Menomonee Falls family. We hope this new journey brings you comfort, happiness and a new sense of belonging. A special thank you to our new staff members Erin Isaacson and Emily Leonard for joining us at the board meeting and sharing a little something extra about yourself. We are delighted to have you on our team and we look forward to working with you!

Presentation by Megan Schulz, sophomore at MFHS

We are extremely proud to have Megan Schulz, a sophomore at Menomonee Falls High School, join us to share her experiences in working to achieve the Girl Scout Gold Award. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors can earn. Megan is committed to helping her community learn more about the importance of giving to those in need and is compelled to help families who are struggling because of financial issues. Meagan created eight community food pantry / school supply cupboards that can be found throughout the village. The cupboards serve as an opportunity for community members to give back. Megan has received news coverage and is here today to share her story. To learn more about Megan’s project and how you can help support this program, please visit her website at https://communitygivingcupboards.weebly.com.

Please click here to view the recorded Superintendent Report presentation.

Presentation by Corey Golla, SDMF Superintendent

This week is National School Lunch Week. The national lunch program serves nearly 30 million children every school day. President John F. Kennedy created National School Lunch Week in 1962 to promote the importance of a healthy school lunch in a child’s life and the impact it has both inside and outside of the classroom. The COVID-19 pandemic has without a doubt shown just how incredibly important school meals are for students and their families. A special thank you to all our school nutrition staff members. And a shout out to Sue Kirchstein, Director of Food and Nutrition who is now a community Board Member for the Falls Food Pantry. Thank you ALL for your extra efforts in providing a safe and healthy lunch experience for our students and staff.

Thank you to Jaskowiak Chiropractic and FedEx Distribution Center in Germantown for their generous donation of school supplies, clothing and other essential supplies for our Resource Reach-Out Room. The Resource Reach-Out Room is located in Ben Franklin Elementary School and is available to all families within our district.

Congratulations to MFHS seniors Sirtaij Arora, Veronica Goveas and Daniel Otchere who each earned a spot as a National Merit Semifinalists. These academically talented high school seniors will have the opportunity to compete for 7,600 Merit Scholarship awards this spring worth more than $31 million. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship ® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Congratulations and continued success to each of you!

I invite you to check out the premier episode of Focus on the Falls, a monthly production to showcase all of the great things happening in the Falls Schools. Focus on the Falls is hosted by John Mercure of WTMJ Radio and myself in partnership with Falls Cable Access. The first episode aired on 10/9/20 and features the district’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to view the October recording. Future episodes will be available to watch on the Falls Cable Access webpage and will be linked to our school district webpage.

Last week was Wisconsin School Board Recognition Week. Thank you to our Board Members for having the courage to lead and for making the sacrifice to serve. We so much appreciate your service every year and we know we have leaned on you especially hard this year. Thank you for your time and energy. You do a remarkable job and we appreciate everything you do for the district!

Board of Education Members Report

Reports by SDMF Board of Education Members

Shout out to:

The Facilities Team for all of our really wonderful and well maintained athletic fields in the district. And we love the new soccer turf!

The PTO organizers at Riverside and Ben Franklin. Thank you for your leadership and meeting coordination.

The Band Bunch Metals Drive for an event well done.

The fully virtual teachers for making things as painless as possible for parents. You are all dong a great job!

The teachers working in two models every day. You amaze us!

Riverside for putting together the amazing fully virtual student library.

Ben Franklin fully virtual picture day organizers for a well ran event that was very easy for families.

A friendly reminder to get your flu shot and have your children get a flu shot. Be safe and be well.

October 12th was Indigenous People’s Day. It is a holiday that celebrates and honors Native American people, their memories, history and culture. We are proud of our history here in Menomonee Falls.

Student Board Members Report

Reports by Student Board Members

Shout out to:

The Leadership Teams for creating the awesome block hybrid distance learning model for the middle and high school students. We are off to a great start!

The study groups participants for being available and super helpful. This is a great way for students and teachers to connect.

The hybrid and virtual homecoming spirit week participants. Students were able to send pictures to the Student Council Instagram page and prizes were awarded.

The sophomore and senior powder puff kickball team participants. Great job sophomore’s on your victory. It was a great time, the students raised awareness and collected donations for the food pantry.

The newly elected class officers who have been hard at work finding ways to connect with their classes.

The Career and Technical Student Organizations for all you do. We are grateful to have great representation at the high school.

The Writing Center for working hard to assist students with college essays.

Mrs. Gonyer, a MFHS Art Teacher and her students for their community presence. Their artwork will be featured on the walls at our local Fiddleheads Coffee Shop.

The National Merit Semifinalists: Sirtaij Arora, Veronica Goveas and Daniel Otchere and the two honorable mentions students: Brynn Mitchell and Anna Wattenbach. Congratulations!

The Phoenix mascot designers, Davis Corazzari (2020 grad) and Isabel Atkinson (2018 grad) for their incredible design work. We are excited to bring the mascot designs to the student body for voting soon.

Girls Tennis double partners, Deanna Hebbring and Brittney Boreson for making it to sectionals.

The Girls Golf team member Lily Pietz for advancing to Sectionals.

The Boys Cross Country team for placing fourth at Conference

The Boys Volleyball team for the start of their first official season and also for winning their match against West Allis Central.

The Boys Varsity Soccer team for their win against Germantown.

The Football team for their huge victory to Catholic Memorial. Menomonee Falls now ranks third in the state.

Committee Reports: Personnel

Discussion around Procedure 547: Grievance Procedure.

Discussion around Performance Pay.

Discussion around Staff Survey Results

Please click here to view the recorded Committee Reports.

Committee Reports: Communications

A shout out to Amy Swanson Kieser for the coordination of media coverage for the following topics: Bipolar Ionization Installation, Hybrid Decision Making and the Student Led Community Cupboard Program. Our stories were featured by WTMJ News, Fox News, Wisconsin Education News, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Waukesha Freeman and The Express News. The Menomonee Falls Schools continue to draw positive attention by local viewers.

The social media communication continues to show growth by our viewers. Facebook posts have reached an estimated 20,238 viewers. Twitter averages three new followers per day. Instagram is up to 795 followers, with men and women ages 35-54 as our top audience. LinkedIn now has 304 total followers. Families are able to receive school communication through a wide variety of outlets.

Discussion around COVID-19 communications and key messages.

Discussion around publication of the fall newsletter.

Discussion around Native Heritage Month planning.

Discussion around Veterans Wall class project to be complete end of year.

Discussion around brand guide – new mascot designed by alumni students will be voted on soon.

Legislative Update

Report by Keri Duce, SDMF Board Vice-President

The Southeastern Wisconsin School Alliance’s next meeting is October 13th. The members of this team advocate for policies and practices that benefit the students, teachers and communities of Wisconsin. The Children’s Hospital will be joining the meeting and providing an update.

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards is busy looking into substitute teaching licensing flexibility in an effort to get more qualified teachers licensed and in the building during the pandemic.

During a SWSA school group meeting last week, one of the discussions centered on the difficulty all districts are experiencing in filling the vacant educational assistant positions. It seems to be a common problem within all districts and the group is looking into ideas to improve the hiring pool.

In our legislative update, there has been a lot of discussion around liability legislation for K-12 and other state wide agencies. They are looking to alleviate transmission litigation and monetary liability for school districts.

The Donovan group did a presentation on Board communication and one key take-away was that the School District of Menomonee Falls does a nice job keeping in touch with the community by sending out emails and keeping current on social media. Nice work everyone!

Please click here to view the recorded Legislative Update

Discussion Item – Survey Results

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 30-day pulse checks. The survey included parents, staff and students in grades 6-12. We had a very high response rate and gained a lot of valuable information that allows us to note the things that are working well, take action in areas for improvement and understand the key themes that people are experiencing. We are committed to listening and responding to your experiences as parents, guardians, students and employees in our school system. Thank you for your time and commitment to help us stay connected.

Please click here to view the recorded Survey Results presentation.

Discussion Item – COVID-19 Response

Last week we announced our intention to all families that we would like to bring back our 4K- 2nd grader full time to Shady Lane and Ben Franklin. In preparation for our next step, we have referenced our metrics, our experience with COVID-19 and looked at all the information we have learned. Our goal, as initially shared over the summer, has always clearly stated that our intension is to maximize face to face instruction. With that, we have maintained a commitment to balancing our obligations to community health with our obligations to student learning. We are faced with two very important questions: How do we balance between community health and our obligations to student learning? And how pandemic resilient is our system?

Please click here to view the COVID-19 Response presentation.

Discussion Item – Third Friday Enrollment Count

The enrollment numbers came in pretty close to what we were expecting and very similar to last year. The overall impact to our revenue is minimal. Each school year, a student count is completed based on the attendance on the Third Friday of September. Once compiled, the data is submitted to the Department of Public Instruction. For district purposes, the ‘student count’ is used to determine membership from which revenue is based and ‘student enrollment’ is used to factor in the number of students the district is responsible for educating.

Please click here to view the Third Friday Count Presentation.

Action Items

Policy 341, Controversial Issues – Mr. Jeff Nennig, Director of Technology and Assessment

Policy 378, Non-Curriculum Related Student Groups – Mr. Jeff Nennig, Director of Technology and Assessment

Policy 112, Nondiscrimination – Ms. Leia Scoptur, Director of Human Resources

Policy and Procedure 511, Equal Employment Opportunity – Ms. Leia Scoptur, Director of Human Resources

Policy and Procedure 512, Discrimination and Harassment of Employees Prohibited – Ms. Leia Scoptur, Director of Human Resources

Policy 515, Student Non-Fraternization – Ms. Leia Scoptur, Director of Human Resources

Approval of Vouchers Payable

Upcoming Board of Education meetings:

October 26, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room

November 9, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room

November 23, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room

Thank you!

October 26, 2020 • Board of Education Meeting

The highlighted links will take you to BoardDocs, the SMDF online portal for Board of Education meeting agendas. To learn more about the agenda item and watch the recorded video from the meeting, please click “view recorded presentation” in the text below.

The Finest

Presentation by Bob Vitale, Principal of MFHS

Joining us tonight are five senior students from the high school who scored extremely high on their PSAT tests last spring. They earned a spot as a National Merit Semifinalists or Honorable Mention Semifinalists and have been invited to the board meeting to be recognized for their outstanding accomplishments. Congratulations to Sirtaij Arora, Veronica Goveas, Daniel Otchere, Brynn Mitchell and Anna Wattenbach. These students make up the highest-scoring program entrants in each state and represent the top 0.5 percent of the state's senior students. To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, the semifinalists will have to fulfill requirements to advance to finalist standing. We respect and acknowledge all of your hard work and commend your parents for their support. Your achievement is a product of great partnership and we are very proud of distinguished accomplishments! View recorded presentation.

Student Board Member's Report

Reports by Student Board Members Sahil Shah and Sara Booher

Shout out to:

The Girls Volleyball Team for their numerous victories last week and for winning the Regional Championship.
The Boys Volleyball Team who concluded the season with great competitive stride.
The Boys Soccer Team for a close scoring first round game.
The Football Team for a victorious win against Brookfield East. The Menomonee Falls High School Football Team is in 1st place in Division 2.
The freshman students who took the lead in organizing the upcoming community service project, GIVE THANKS FOOD DRIVE. Volunteers will be available to receive your donations at the MFHS Schumann Stadium parking lot on Thursday November 5th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and from 4 - 6 p.m. or on Friday November 6th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thank you for your support!
The German National Honor Society for gearing up to sponsor a Socktober Sock Drive. Stay tuned for more details on how you can support this cause.
The Global Scholars Program (previously known as the Global Education Achievement Certificate) for recognizing students who go above and beyond by taking a course load that represents a global perspective, engagement in community service and other cultural learning activities. This is a great program and has a rolling enrollment so that students are accepted at any point during their high school career. Ms. Backhaus is looking into new and exciting ways for students to complete their requirements virtually.
The new MFHS Book Club led by Ms. Leonard. The first five students who sign up to join the Book Club will receive a free copy of the current read, The Assignment by Liza Wiemer. Copies are also available in the Library Media Center for check out. The author is local to the Milwaukee area and will be joining the next Book Club meeting virtually on Tuesday, November 10th at 3:30 p.m. Amazing things are happening in the Library Media Center!
The Student Services office, Ms. Hanley and the other Guidance Counselors for doing a fantastic job helping everyone, especially as the November 1st deadline approaches for seniors who still don’t know where they are heading. A new tool called CALENDLY has been introduced to allow students and parents the ability to schedule a meeting face to face or virtually with a counselor. The team is available for student support, regardless of a student’s location. Some of the most common topics of discussion include: the college application process, schedule changes or adjustments, and academic, personal, social or emotional support. View recorded presentation.

Board of Education Member's Report

Reports by SDMF Board of Education Members

Shout out to:

The fully virtual schooling program. All continues to go well. Nice work!
Our families for showing support with the PTO efforts. Last week Ben Franklin and Riverside facilitated a virtual PTO meeting and are now a joint Parent Teacher Organization. Parent participation was great and it will be fun to see how this team evolves.
The hybrid teachers and the support teams for all of their efforts. Everyone seems to be getting into a rhythm and the teachers are extremely responsive to concerns and are very committed to finding ways to make it all work.
The Guidance Counselors at the schools. If your child needs assistance, please reach out the guidance office. They are a great resource, at all levels and are available to meet with students or consult with parents if you have questions.
To the students of our district for adapting to the new models of learning. It has been a big adjustment, but they are learning how to utilize their time more efficiently when they have in-person instruction. The block scheduling is working better and more conducive to the hybrid model. Students appreciate that they are able to spend more time on specific subjects with the block schedule.

Committee Reports: Curriculum & Learning

Presentation by Corey Golla, SDMF Superintendent

We enjoy having students back in the classrooms and look forward to the day when we can have all students return to the classrooms. We recognize the uncertainty of the pandemic makes it very difficult for families to plan or anticipate what the future holds. The School District of Menomonee Falls will extend the fully-virtual option to all families for the second semester. Registration will take place from November 16th through December 4th. Additional registration information will be shared with all families in the upcoming weeks. Families who chose the fully-virtual option for the first semester will have to register again for the second semester. If interested, please be sure to register within this window to allow us time to reschedule and re-staff as needed. Our goal is provide options that will best suit the needs of all families.

Menomonee Falls was recently recognized as one of the top twenty best places to live in America, according to a national list in Money Magazine. We are exceptionally proud to be a product of a thriving economy, a diverse community, a provider of excellent schools and a safe community. Thank you to everyone across our community for leading that effort to make Menomonee Falls a great place to live and work!

I am reminded how very fortunate we are to be able to offer our high school students the opportunity to earn a Global Education Achievement Certificate. The name of the program has recently changed at a state level to the Global Scholars Program. This program recognizes students who demonstrate a knowledge of global citizenship and global competencies and have completed the necessary Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction requirements. These students have an appreciation for cultural differences and an understanding of how other cultures operate. Recently I received at outreach from someone working on their PHD who wanted to do research on us because Menomonee Falls is in the top 10 districts in the state that offers the Global Education Achievement Certificate. We appreciate Ms. Jessica Backhaus, our Spanish Teacher at the MFHS for leading this effort and providing our students with this amazing opportunity. View recorded presentation.

Presented by Casey Blochowiak, Director of Curriculum & Learning

In light of the new hybrid and virtual learning models, we want to thank our teachers, students and families for your resilience and commitment to education during these challenging times. We are working diligently to understand the challenges that may be arising early in the school year and use our short cycle improvement plans to respond and adjust where we can. We are using our available metrics to understand our students’ current learning experience. The areas of concentration include: attendance, elementary reading, elementary math, and middle and high school grades. Much of this data is in progress and will continue to change, yet it provides us with the ability to monitor and respond to significant needs in student learning.

Discussion around Hybrid & Virtual Learning Update.
Approval of Semester 2 Fully Virtual Learning Update.
Approval of Educator Academy Course Approval Request
Approval of 6th Grade Algebra 2 Math Curriculum Pilot Recommendation
Discussion of High School Block Schedule
Discussion of ACT 11 2019-2020 Report
Discussion of Advanced Placement 2019-2020 Analysis

Committee Reports: Policy

Presented by Faith VanderHorst, Board President

Discussion around brochure “Welcome to a Meeting of the SDMF Board of Education”
Discussion around Policy and Procedure 443.4 Alcohol and Drug Use updates
Discussion around Policy and Procedure 447.1 Use of Seclusion and Physical Restraint

Committee Reports: Finance & Auxiliary Services

Presented by Keith Brightman, Director of Finance and Operations

Discussion around Closing out 2020-21 Budget Cycle
Discussion around Draft Revision of Policy 654: General Fund Balance
Discussion around 2020-2021 Budget Update Following October 15 Aid Certification

Legislative Update

Report by Keri Duce, SDMF Board Vice-President

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards met as a region several times throughout the month. The focus of the meetings have been around:

The discussion of COVID-19 reports on expenditures.
The discussion of Speaker Robin Vos’ task force on racial disparities – members have been appointed.
The discussion of Legislatures who are retiring this cycle– there will be movement after election next week with different key committees at state level that will have new membership. A shout out to Senator Luther Olson who is retiring. He has been a great advocate for education and served on a school board for 20 years prior to his service in the Assembly.
The discussion of the 2021-2023 budget – WASB’s priority is to keep in pace with inflation, special ed. funding, increased spending for mental health. The state of Wisconsin won a ten million dollar grant around mental health. There is application information on DPI’s website to increase mental health access for students.
The discussion of potential expansion of full day 4K in the 2021-2023 budget.
Future WASB agenda topics: The discussion of Tobacco 21, Budget Carry Over, Medicaid Spending and Insurance Costs.

COVID-19 Response View recorded presentation.

Discussion Items

COVID-19 – Guiding Metrics View recorded presentation.

Policy & Procedure 447.1 View recorded presentation.

Action Items

Update to COVID-19 Guiding Metrics View recorded presentation.

2020-21 Budget Adoption and Tax Levy Certification View recorded presentation.

Compensation Approval View recorded presentation.

Vouchers Payable View recorded presentation.

Upcoming Board of Education meetings:

November 9, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room
November 23, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room
December 14, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room

board@sdmfschools.org

Thank you!

October 26, 2020 • Board of Education Meeting

The Finest

Presentation by Bob Vitale, Principal of MFHS

Student Board Member's Report

Reports by Student Board Members Sahil Shah and Sara Booher

Shout out to:

The Girls Volleyball Team for their numerous victories last week and for winning the Regional Championship.
The Boys Volleyball Team who concluded the season with great competitive stride.
The Boys Soccer Team for a close scoring first round game.
The Football Team for a victorious win against Brookfield East. The Menomonee Falls High School Football Team is in 1st place in Division 2.
The freshman students who took the lead in organizing the upcoming community service project, GIVE THANKS FOOD DRIVE. Volunteers will be available to receive your donations at the MFHS Schumann Stadium parking lot on Thursday November 5th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and from 4 - 6 p.m. or on Friday November 6th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thank you for your support!
The German National Honor Society for gearing up to sponsor a Socktober Sock Drive. Stay tuned for more details on how you can support this cause.
The Global Scholars Program (previously known as the Global Education Achievement Certificate) for recognizing students who go above and beyond by taking a course load that represents a global perspective, engagement in community service and other cultural learning activities. This is a great program and has a rolling enrollment so that students are accepted at any point during their high school career. Ms. Backhaus is looking into new and exciting ways for students to complete their requirements virtually.
The new MFHS Book Club led by Ms. Leonard. The first five students who sign up to join the Book Club will receive a free copy of the current read, The Assignment by Liza Wiemer. Copies are also available in the Library Media Center for check out. The author is local to the Milwaukee area and will be joining the next Book Club meeting virtually on Tuesday, November 10th at 3:30 p.m. Amazing things are happening in the Library Media Center!
The Student Services office, Ms. Hanley and the other Guidance Counselors for doing a fantastic job helping everyone, especially as the November 1st deadline approaches for seniors who still don’t know where they are heading. A new tool called CALENDLY has been introduced to allow students and parents the ability to schedule a meeting face to face or virtually with a counselor. The team is available for student support, regardless of a student’s location. Some of the most common topics of discussion include: the college application process, schedule changes or adjustments, and academic, personal, social or emotional support. View recorded presentation.

Board of Education Member's Report

Reports by SDMF Board of Education Members

Shout out to:

The fully virtual schooling program. All continues to go well. Nice work!
Our families for showing support with the PTO efforts. Last week Ben Franklin and Riverside facilitated a virtual PTO meeting and are now a joint Parent Teacher Organization. Parent participation was great and it will be fun to see how this team evolves.
The hybrid teachers and the support teams for all of their efforts. Everyone seems to be getting into a rhythm and the teachers are extremely responsive to concerns and are very committed to finding ways to make it all work.
The Guidance Counselors at the schools. If your child needs assistance, please reach out the guidance office. They are a great resource, at all levels and are available to meet with students or consult with parents if you have questions.
To the students of our district for adapting to the new models of learning. It has been a big adjustment, but they are learning how to utilize their time more efficiently when they have in-person instruction. The block scheduling is working better and more conducive to the hybrid model. Students appreciate that they are able to spend more time on specific subjects with the block schedule.

Committee Reports: Curriculum & Learning

Presentation by Corey Golla, SDMF Superintendent

Presented by Casey Blochowiak, Director of Curriculum & Learning

Discussion around Hybrid & Virtual Learning Update.
Approval of Semester 2 Fully Virtual Learning Update.
Approval of Educator Academy Course Approval Request
Approval of 6th Grade Algebra 2 Math Curriculum Pilot Recommendation
Discussion of High School Block Schedule
Discussion of ACT 11 2019-2020 Report
Discussion of Advanced Placement 2019-2020 Analysis

Committee Reports: Policy

Presented by Faith VanderHorst, Board President

Discussion around brochure “Welcome to a Meeting of the SDMF Board of Education”
Discussion around Policy and Procedure 443.4 Alcohol and Drug Use updates
Discussion around Policy and Procedure 447.1 Use of Seclusion and Physical Restraint

Committee Reports: Finance & Auxiliary Services

Presented by Keith Brightman, Director of Finance and Operations

Discussion around Closing out 2020-21 Budget Cycle
Discussion around Draft Revision of Policy 654: General Fund Balance
Discussion around 2020-2021 Budget Update Following October 15 Aid Certification

Legislative Update

Report by Keri Duce, SDMF Board Vice-President

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards met as a region several times throughout the month. The focus of the meetings have been around:

The discussion of COVID-19 reports on expenditures.
The discussion of Speaker Robin Vos’ task force on racial disparities – members have been appointed.
The discussion of Legislatures who are retiring this cycle– there will be movement after election next week with different key committees at state level that will have new membership. A shout out to Senator Luther Olson who is retiring. He has been a great advocate for education and served on a school board for 20 years prior to his service in the Assembly.
The discussion of the 2021-2023 budget – WASB’s priority is to keep in pace with inflation, special ed. funding, increased spending for mental health. The state of Wisconsin won a ten million dollar grant around mental health. There is application information on DPI’s website to increase mental health access for students.
The discussion of potential expansion of full day 4K in the 2021-2023 budget.
Future WASB agenda topics: The discussion of Tobacco 21, Budget Carry Over, Medicaid Spending and Insurance Costs.

COVID-19 Response View recorded presentation.

Discussion Items

COVID-19 – Guiding Metrics View recorded presentation.

Policy & Procedure 447.1 View recorded presentation.

Action Items

Update to COVID-19 Guiding Metrics View recorded presentation.

2020-21 Budget Adoption and Tax Levy Certification View recorded presentation.

Compensation Approval View recorded presentation.

Vouchers Payable View recorded presentation.

Upcoming Board of Education meetings:

November 9, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room
November 23, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room
December 14, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room

board@sdmfschools.org

Thank you!

November 2020

November 9, 2020 • Board of Education Meeting

Welcome to Board Bits! This document serves as a summary of the topics discussed at the last SDMF Board of Education meeting. The highlighted title links will take you to the related meeting agenda in BoardDocs, our online meeting portal. To learn more about a specific agenda item please click on the “view recorded presentation” text following the topic summary. Our aim is to provide you with a quick meeting overview and easy access to view meeting details. Enjoy!

S tudent Board Member’s Report

Reports by Student Board Members Sara Booher and Sahil Shah

Shout out to:

The MFHS junior and senior leaders for promoting the celebration and observation of the Native American Heritage Month throughout November. Each morning during the daily announcements the junior and senior leaders have been sharing new facts about the heritage and culture of local Native Americans to the Menomonee Falls area. We are Menomonee Falls proud.
The many volunteers and supporters of the drive thru Give Thanks Food Drive last week. The process was super easy and a great way to contribute to the food pantry. We appreciate your support and value our strong connection with the community.
The MFHS Student Council for finding new ways to adapt with the social changes while continuing to provide community services as a team. They are taking a safe approach and sending out small teams to rake leaves for local residents during the next couple of weeks. Our students are out in the community and doing great things.
The German Honor Society students who are being recognized at the German Honor Society Induction Ceremony this week for their outstanding academic achievement of learners of German language, literature and civilization. Great job!
The MFHS clubs for utilizing the hybrid model and engaging students to participate in school clubs either virtually or in person. All students can safely feel connected and included in after school activities.
The Writing Center for helping students with their college essays. The turnaround time is fantastic and the comments are very helpful.
Freshman, Aidyn Pederson for taking 1st place in a nationwide Carnegie Mellon University Creative Task Challenge. Aidyn created an interactive program using the Python programming language. The link to his program can be found on the Falls High School website page.
The MFHS Athletic Department for a great fall season of sports. Most of the fall sports have concluded and conference awards have been presented. The football season is still in progress.

Congratulations to…

Girls Golf team member Lily Pietz - 2nd Team All Conference
Boys Soccer team member Aidian Martin - 1st Team All Conference
Boys Soccer team member Nate Songstad – 2nd Team All Conference
Boys Soccer team member Donovan Draghicchio - 2nd Team All Conference,
Boys Soccer team member Brentell Handley – Honorable Mention
Boys Soccer team member Myles Igunbor – Honorable Mention
Boys Soccer team member Ty Sardina – Honorable Mention
Boys Soccer team member Brayden Neumann – Honorable Mention
Boys Soccer team member Sam Bonesho – Honorable Mention
Girls Volleyball team member Kady Stigler - 1st Team All Conference
Girls Volleyball team member Katie Lockwood - 2nd Team All Conference,
Girls Volleyball team member Taylor Larson – Honorable Mention
Girls Volleyball team member Brielle Lynde – Honorable Mention

The MFHS Football team for their victory last Friday against WI Lutheran. The team finished the season undefeated 8-0 and are ranked 4th in state. They will get a first round bye in the playoffs and await the winner of Franklin and Arrowhead. Hopefully we can go far this year!

Board of Education Member’s Report

Reports by SDMF Board of Education Members

Shout out to:

The SDMF teachers and principals for doing such a wonderful job preparing for the parent teacher conferences last week. The conferences were all virtual and done very well.
Riverside Elementary School and the Community Center for organizing the Veteran’s Day celebration drive thru parade to honor our local Veterans. What a great way to honor our Veterans while maintaining social distancing and keeping them safe.
Families and community members for your donations totaling 65 boxes of food and over $100 in cash for the food pantry. The event went extremely well and we thank you for your support.
The PTO groups for taking time out to care for the teachers during the parent teacher conference days. A quick easy meal in between conferences was much appreciated.
Andrea Karras, a Special Education Teacher at Ben Franklin for putting together an amazing sensory pathway for students. It is an incredible obstacle course designed to build motor skills, develop spatial awareness and provide brain breaks for students. Ms. Karras has spent countless hours planning, designing and rolling out this incredible sensory pathway. The staff and students of Ben Franklin are very grateful for all of her efforts.

Presentation by Corey Golla, SDMF Superintendent

We would like to recognize Lori Oertel, a Director at the Community Ed. and Rec. for coordinating the Veteran’s Day celebration and thinking outside of the box. This year the students and staff from Riverside Elementary School and the CE & Rec will be holding a reverse parade outside to honor our local Veteran’s. The Veterans have been invited to “drive thru” the parade route while students and community members hold up signs and wave to offer thanks for our Veterans’ service.

It's National Young Readers Week, so please grab a book and help support language and literacy skills in our schools! Parents who read with their young child help strengthen brain development. Reading also empowers and allows children to explore, learn and grow. You can help boost your child's literacy skills by leaving a variety of books around the house for encouragement. It's also a great idea to let them catch you reading too!

Congratulations to our state swim participants! The Menomonee Falls High School is in a co-op program with Hamilton High School and together they will be competing in 7 individual swims and 3 relays at state level. Good luck to you all!

200 Medley Relay - Seebach, Benoit, Johnson and Westfahl
200 Freestyle - Maddie Paar
200 IM - Kailyn Benoit
100 Butterfly - Faith Johnson and Kailyn Benoit
500 Freestyle - Maddie Paar
200 Freestyle Relay - Fitzgerald, Westfahl, Ripke and M. Paar
100 Backstroke - Faith Johnson and Autumn Seebach
400 Freestyle Relay – Benoit, M. Paar, Johnson and Seebach

Committee Reports: Personnel

Presented Michele Divelbiss, SDMF Board Clerk

Discussion around Policy 547: Grievance Procedure

Discussion around Staffing and Substitute Fill Rate

Discussion around Employee Handbook Updates

Legislative Update

Report by Keri Duce, SDMF Board Vice-President and Faith VanderHorst, SDMF Board President

Recent Election Results – The WI State Legislators remain the same. Now is a great time for the Board to revisit our legislative platform, determine priorities and schedule a meeting with our three legislators.
Board Development – in general, districts are still seeing issues with staffing, facing challenges with virtual teaching, and seeing virus transmission inside and outside of the schools.
The Wisconsin Association of School Board legislative notes indicate they are watching for a new Federal Education Policy to be developed under the new administration. No activity at this time.
WASB is looking into the management of booster clubs and will be offering suggestions for those types of organizations.
The Annual WASB State Education Convention is scheduled to be held virtually this year towards the end of January. They have great speakers lined up to provide school districts inspirational keynotes and resources.
The Southeast Wisconsin Schools Alliance recently met and local school board members agreed their biggest concerns continue to focus around staffing needs. It is challenging to find subs who are willing to teach virtually.
The next SWSA virtual meeting is on 11/10/20. Doctors from Froedtert will be at the meeting to discuss their views with COVID as it relates to children. We will also hear from one of the candidates who is running for State Superintendent.

Discussion Items

COVID-19 Response

COVID-19 Guiding Metrics Updates

Proposed Updates to Board Policy 447.1: Use of Seclusion and Physical Restraint

Action Items

COVID-19 Guiding Metrics Update

Vouchers Payable

Student Board Member’s Report

Upcoming Board of Education meetings:

November 23, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room

December 14, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Village Board Room

To reach the Board of Education: board@sdmfschools.org

Thank you!

November 23, 2020 • Board of Education Meeting

Reports by Student Board Members Sahil Shah and Sara Booher

Shout out to:

The MFHS football team for completing a successful season ranking number three in division one. Congratulations to Coach Lutz for being awarded Coach of the Year by the Greater Metro Conference and Waukesha County Freeman. We are very proud of our team’s accomplishments!
Our winter sports teams who are busy preparing and practicing for the new season. The girls first basketball game takes place on November 24 against Brook Central at home. The boys first basketball game will be on December 1 at Marquette. The first wrestling match is scheduled for December 9.
HOSA and FBLA groups who are busy preparing for the upcoming regional leadership conferences. This year the conferences will be virtual.
The German National Honor Society for inducting new members last week in a virtual induction ceremony. The German National Honor Society also did a great job leading the Socktober drive, collecting a very generous amount of socks for Hope Street Ministry in Milwaukee.
The Menomonee Falls High School and the Phoenix mascot designers. The Phoenix logo was recently voted on by the high school students. The senior class officers released a logo reveal video sharing in their excitement of the new name and design. A special thank you to the senior officers for putting together this spectacular video.

Presentation by Corey Golla, SDMF Superintendent

We are pleased to report that we are continuing in the Hybrid learning model for the remainder of the week, November 23 and 24, with the exception of Ben Franklin and Shady Lane schools who are attending face to face. As we announced, we will be switching to a fully virtual model the week following Thanksgiving break which will allow us some time to be well following the holiday break. We hope to avoid some of the potential bumps like we experienced following Halloween. We appreciate the opportunity to get well and still continue instruction. We fully anticipate to return to our current learning model following this proactive step.

Athletics and activities are not affected by the fully virtual model and will continue as scheduled over the break.

Free meals will continue to be available for pick up on Tuesday, December 1 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at both the Menomonee Falls High School and North Middle School.

Community Ed. & Rec. programs and activities will continue as scheduled unless communicated differently from Community Ed. & Rec. team.

Kids INC, 4K wrap-around and preschool families will receive communication directly from CE & Rec. We know care is important for many families needing to work.

Please continue to report positive COVID-19 cases to schools. This has been very helpful in our effort to help mitigate the spread. We are very much reliant on our families to report positive cases within your household. To report a positive COVID-19 case or for questions specific to exposure, quarantine or isolation please email Covid –sdmf@sdmfschools.org and one of our school nurses will follow up with you. This information is also available on our website. You can access additional information on the SMDF Forward Together website.

We’ve updated our COVID-19 metrics dashboard to better illustrate our internal and external decision making considerations. A special thank you to the School Board for their partnership with the development of this useful tool. To find school-level data regarding quarantine and positive cases, click on the button labeled School Level Student Impact Details. There is also a Staff Impact Detail button to see the health and wellness of our staff members. The wellness of the staff is an important decision driver in determining our designated learning models.

The school district will again offer a fully-virtual learning option for the second semester which begins Monday, January 25 and ends Thursday June 10, 2021. Registration for the second semester fully-virtual option will close Friday December 4 at 4 p.m. Families who chose fully-virtual for the first semester and would like to continue fully-virtual for the second semester will need to register for the second semester. Families who choose this option are making a semester-long commitment independent of potential changes in learning models at the district level. To register, please visit the fallsschools.org website.

The needlepoint bi-polar ionization systems installation process is going well and should be fully completed at all of the buildings upon our return from the holiday break.

Thank you to all of our students, employees, board members, coaches and all of our teaching partners at home for your help in getting through this first portion of our school year. We are very proud that we have not had to shut our doors to students on a single day during the school year. We contribute this to our great partnership with all of you - our families and our teachers. We look forward to continuing to get well and we hope everyone has a great holiday break!

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