SEPTEMBER 2024 Board Considerations

In an effort to keep our constituents more informed, we will regularly provide this newsletter regarding the Board's activities by the end of the week of our regular monthly meetings.

Student Representative Report

Addison Zimmerman, Student Representative, provided her first monthly report (see photo above); click here for the full report; Welcome Addison!

Showcase a School

Halmstad Elementary School

Ryan Lowe, Halmstad Principal, highlighted some of the community service opportunities that are provided at Halmstad Elementary. At the elementary level, students may be doing less community outreach, however there are ways students work to make their school community a better place. Some examples include:

• Lunch Helpers wipe down tables to prepare for the PE class that starts shortly afterwards.
• Kindergarten Helpers include 5th graders that help kindergarteners line up after recess and go to lunch and also put on their winter gear.
• Pledge Leaders recite the Halmstad Pledge and Pledge of Allegiance over the loudspeaker
• Flag Raisers were trained by a former marine how to fold, care for, and raise the flag.
• Snack Delivery helpers deliver morning breakfast cards to the grade level hallways each morning.
• Daily Hawk Crew consists of 5th graders who provide the morning news program.
• Safety Patrol students help students get to school safely each day.
• The Kindness Crew spreads kindness to improve the school culture.

The Halmstad PTO also provides elementary students with new learning opportunities, including a first grade field trip to Toppers. The students were able to make their own pizzas at Toppers and then enjoyed their pizza in Irvine Park.

Click here for the full presentation, which includes photos of our students contributing to the well-being of others.

Focus On Results and Monitoring Operational Performance

OE-11: Instructional Program

Sue Kern, Curriculum and Instruction Director, provided an overview of the OE-11: Instructional Program monitoring report; the Board agreed that the District is in compliance with OE-11 for the past year; click here to view the report.

Board Consent Agenda

Approval of New Hires, Resignations, Retirements, and Leaves of Absence

The Board approved the new hires, resignations, retirements, and leaves of absence as presented by the Human Resources Department; click here for details.

Approval of Financial Reports

The Board approved the August financial reports as presented; click here for the detailed report.

Approval of Board Meeting Minutes

The Board approved the August meeting minutes; click here for details.

Consideration of Monitoring Report Summaries

The Board approved the monitoring report summaries as presented; click here for details.

Superintendent's Consent Agenda

Consideration of Seclusion and Physical Restraint Annual Report

The Board approved the seclusion and physical restraint annual report as presented.

Consideration of Girls Swim Co-op Agreement for the 2025-2026 & 2026-2027 School Years

The Board approved the Girls Swim Co-op Agreement for the 2025-2026 & 2026-2027 School Years as presented.

Consideration of 66.0301 Agreements

The Board approved the 66.0301 Project Search UW-Stout Program Cooperative Agreement between the Eau Claire Area School District and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District as presented.

Matters Reserved for Board Action

Elementary Attendance Boundaries

Jeff Holmes, Superintendent of Schools, provided an overview of the proposed EAB review timeline;

The Board approved the Elementary Attendance Boundaries review process and timeline as presented; click here for more details.

Possible Contract with Go Riteway (Bus Transportation Services)

The Board approved Go Riteway's bus transportation contract as presented and negotiated in executive session; click here for more details.

Communicating with the Board (if applicable, click on the report heading for greater detail)

Enrollment Update

Chad Trowbridge, Business Manager, provided an enrollment update. The third Friday pupil count took place on Friday, September 20, 2024 and those findings will be reported to DPI on October 2nd. Since June, the enrollment numbers have remained relatively consistent, however the pupil count will allow us to finalize the OE-in and OE-out numbers (Open Enrollment).

Exploration of Artificial Intelligence

Scott Marty, Educational Technology Director, provided an overview of how the District is working to implement artificial intelligence (AI) for staff and students. Mr. Marty emphasized that students will need to learn how to use AI effectively, efficiently, and responsibly. In order for this to happen we need to ensure teachers can gain AI experience and knowledge themselves to better guide students and their learning, before we even consider giving students access to AI on district devices.

CFAUSD Dual Credit Enrollment Report

Sue Kern, Curriculum and Instruction Director, provided an overview of the Dual Credit Enrollment Report. The student participation numbers are up in AP coursework; from 447 to 993. This is in part due to the addition of Pre-Calc, Stats, and Environmental Science. The numbers have also increased in transcripted courses; from 1,085 to 1,091.

*Please note that the above information is provided pending the approval of Board minutes at their next regularly scheduled meeting.

As board members, we are elected to represent the interests of our community. Meeting with community members is a key process in this role. If you are interested in having board members come to your community or civic organization to talk about our district and answer questions you might have, please reach out to our Board Secretary, Angela Feils at (715) 726-2417, ext. 1803. We would be honored to visit you.

Top row - Board Officers (l to r) - Dave Czech, President; Sharon McIlquham, Vice-President; Sherry Jasper, Clerk; and Dennis Fehr, Treasurer

Bottom row - Board Members (l to r) - Steve Olson, Dave Martineau, and Peggy McKillip

The Board of Education of the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District represents, leads and serves the district’s owners and holds itself accountable to them by committing to act in their best interests and by ensuring that all Board and district action is consistent with law and the Board’s policies.

The Board’s purpose is to assure that the District achieves the results described in the Board’s Results policies and that it operates according to the values expressed in the Board’s Operational Expectations policies.

The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District School Board members are committed to maintaining an open line of communication with residents of the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District. Anyone having specific questions relating to board policies or actions should call the Board of Education office at (715)726-2417 or by mail at:

Secretary of the Board of Education

1130 Miles Street

Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

Click here for a copy of that calendar.

Email: verdonjb@chipfalls.org
Website: https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/
Location: 1130 Miles Street, Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Phone: (715) 726-2417
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chippewafallsschool/