
MTSD Momentum Newsletter
February 28, 2024

Happy Public Schools Week, MTSD!
🍎 Here are TEN ways to support our public schools! 📚
✋ Volunteer with your school PTO or PTSO!
🤳 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn!
🚌 Become a substitute teacher or bus driver!
💵 Donate to the Mequon-Thiensville Education Foundation!
🗳️ Vote in local school board elections and attend school board meetings!
💼 Encourage local businesses to partner with the MTSD Academic & Career Planning Program!
🏦 Read up on school finance and advocate for increased public school funding!
🤗 Thank you child's teachers and principal!
🤝 Participate in parent/teacher conferences!
✍️ Maintain regular communication with your child's teacher!
💐 Congratulations, Dr. Anderson! 🎉
Congratulations to Dr. Deborah Anderson, principal of Steffen Middle School, who has announced her intent to retire at the end of the 2023-2024 school year! Dr. Anderson’s retirement was approved by the MTSD Board of Education during last evening's regular business meeting. With 22 years of experience in the role, she holds the distinction of the longest-serving principal of Steffen Middle School. Dr. Anderson’s passion for cultivating meaningful relationships with students has been a truly valuable asset in supporting the academic, social, and emotional development of all middle school learners that have passed through Steffen during her tenure. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Anderson as she prepares for this next chapter in her journey!
2024-2025 School Year Budget Update
The MTSD Board of Education is working in collaboration with District administrators to address MTSD’s budget crisis. Despite the finalization of what was described as a “historic” 2023-25 State Biennial Budget, the state of Wisconsin continues to provide school districts with inadequate, sustainable funding and MTSD does not stand to benefit substantially from state funding as a lower-spending, property-rich community. School districts around the state are forced to do more with less to provide the programming and resources students deserve and meet the expectations of their communities. To learn more about the budget crisis, how we got here, and what comes next, please visit our new School Finance & Budget Crisis website.
Zero-Based Budgeting
For the 2024-2025 school year, MTSD is using zero-based budgeting (ZBB) to build the upcoming school year budget. ZBB is a budgeting approach where organizations start the budgeting process from scratch rather than rolling over prior budget history. In this method, every expense must be justified and approved, and budget allocations are based on the actual needs and costs of each activity rather than historical spending patterns. Unlike traditional budgeting, which often involves incremental adjustments to existing budgets, ZBB requires a thorough review and justification of all expenses, fostering cost-conscious decision-making and resource optimization. ZBB aims to ensure that every dollar spent contributes directly to organizational objectives, promoting efficiency and accountability in financial management.
At this point, all of our school buildings and department leaders are deeply engaged in the ZBB process. Internal initial presentations regarding proposed building and department budgets are scheduled to take place in early March. With guidance from the MTSD Board of Education, the superintendent’s office is also beginning to explore timelines related to a possible community survey related to school funding, projected deficits, and the budget crisis. More information on the budget crisis and 2024-2025 budget development will continue to be provide as the process continues.
Correction to HHS 2024-2025 SY Calendar
February 21, 2025 is a Regular School Day
Please note the updated 2024-2025 school year calendar for Grades 9-12, which reflects a correction to February 21, 2025, which was incorrectly listed as a No School Day. Friday, February 21, 2025 is a regular day of instruction for Grades 9-12. Click here to view the updated 24-25 Homestead calendar.
Student Support Services Learning Series: Terry Carr, Social Emotional Coach
4K and New-to-MTSD 5K Pre-Registration NOW OPEN!
Each year, MTSD holds a designated pre-registration window for four-year-old kindergarten and five-year-old-kindergarten (5K eligible students who did not did not attend 4K this year in MTSD). The purpose of pre-registration is to get an idea of 4K and 5K enrollment projections in order to develop class rosters and determine staffing needs. 4K families can also indicate their morning or afternoon class preference, and gain other useful information about the program. Online pre-registration for 4-year-old kindergarten and new-to-MTSD 5-year-old kindergarten students is NOW OPEN! Please feel free to share this information with any families in your networks with 4K or 5K students new to MTSD.
Board Briefs
The Mequon-Thiensville Board of Education held one working meeting, one legislative committee meeting, two policy committee meetings, and one regular business meeting this month.
February 5 Working Meeting
The Board heard a presentation on MTSD employee benefits update from Sarah Viera, Executive Director of Business Services & Operations and Amanda Sievers, Chief of Staff.
The Board heard a presentation on next steps regarding MTSD Strategic Planning from Dr. Joynt and engaged in subsequent discussion.
The Board heard a first reading of Policies #5460 - Graduation Requirements and #0152.1 - Organization - Term of Officers (Active).
The Board engaged in discussion regarding the Board Governance Check-In.
February 13 Legislative Committee Meeting
The Legislative Committee engaged in discussion around planning and next steps.
February 14 Policy Committee Meeting
Policies discussed included: #5460 - Graduation Requirements, #0152.1 - Organization - Term of Officers, #5600 - Student Discipline, #5516 - Harassment and Other Prohibited Behavior, #3139 - Staff Discipline.
February 26 Regular Business Meeting
The Board heard the Treasurer’s Report from Board Treasurer Paul Buzzell, an Oriole Lane PTO SOAR Report from PTO Co-Vice President Nancy Stoehr, and a Superintendent’s Report from Dr. Joynt.
The Board heard an update and report from the Legislative Committee.
The Board approved February Employee Transactions, including the retirement of Dr. Deborah Anderson, who has served as the principal of Steffen Middle School for the past 22 years.
The Board took action to approve Policies #5460 - Graduation Requirements, #0152.1 - Organization - Term of Officers.
The Board discussed next steps regarding MTSD Strategic Planning for the 2024-2025 school year.
The Board heard a first reading of Policy #5600 - Student Discipline.
February 28 Policy Committee Meeting
Policies discussed included: #5600 - Student Discipline, #5516 - Harassment and Other Prohibited Behavior, #3139 - Staff Discipline, #5460 - Graduation Requirements, #5451 - Student Recognition, #5451.01 - Wisconsin Excellence Scholarship, #8900 - Intellectual Property, Proprietary Information and Use of Trademarks.
All Mequon-Thiensville community members, MTSD families, and staff members are encouraged to attend meetings of the MTSD Board of Education. As a reminder, all Board of Education meeting agendas and video recordings of past meetings can be found on the MTSD Board of Education website. For detailed agendas and PDFs of Board presentations, please visit BoardDocs.
M-T Recreation Department News
Summer Program Registration Starts Friday!
Registration for summer programming through the Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department begins on Friday! Click here to view the program guide, which will be hitting resident mailboxes soon. This guide highlights all SUMMER activities, classes, and sport camps for preschool, youth, adults and families. You will also find information on Summer Camp, Summer Academy, Kids' Campus, and 4K Wrap Care. Don't miss out on all the great classes we offer!
Save the Date: 2nd Annual VIP Dance!
Registration is filling up and will close on April 23, 2024! The 2nd Annual VIP Spring Dance will be held on Friday, May 3, 2024. Boys and girls, it’s time to take your VIP (Mom, Dad or that special adult) out for a night of dinner, dancing and memories that you will cherish forever. Once again, Shully's will be hosting this wonderful event at the Watermark venue. The evening includes dinner, refreshments, photos and dancing with Kart Tunes DJ. Click here to register now, as spots are filling up quickly.
Register NOW for Summer Academy!
Registration is NOW OPEN! Check out the Summer Academy course offerings through the Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department! Summer Academy is taught exclusively by MTSD educators with classes for students entering Grades 4K-9.
This year, Summer Academy will offer two sessions:
Session 1: June 17th–21st, Monday-Friday
Session 2: July 22 - Aug 1st Monday - Thursday
Visit our website to see all of the fun and enriching options we have planned for Summer 2024!
Recreation Department Survey Coming Soon!
Do you participate in rec. programming through the Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department? Do you want to provide your feedback to share celebrations and ideas for improvement? Stay tuned for a survey to be shared soon!
📣 MTSD is Hiring! 📣
Though the school year is more than halfway over, opportunities for employment at MTSD are ongoing! We encourage all community members to regularly check our certified and support staff listings on WECAN. Current highlighted positions include:
- Special Education Paraprofessional - Steffen Middle School
- Assistant Gymnastics Coach - Homestead High School
*NEW* Increased Substitute Compensation Rates
Connect With Us! 💻
Throughout the school year, be sure to check out the great things going on at your school building by following your school's page on Facebook, as well as the MTSD Facebook page, MTSD Instagram account, and by finding us on LinkedIn.
Follow us on Facebook:
Follow us on Instagram:
Find us on LinkedIn:
Please note: The accounts linked above are the only official social media presence managed and moderated with support from MTSD Communications.
Important Dates 🗓️
MTSD Board of Education - Working Meeting
Monday, March 4 @ 6:00 p.m.
Range Line Community Center
End of Trimester 2
Thursday, March 7
Early Release for Grades 6-12 ONLY
NO SCHOOL - Staff Inservice
Friday, March 8
MTEF Giveback - Milwaukee Wave Game
Sunday, March 10 @ 1:05 p.m.
Gather for fun with friends and neighbors at the March 10 Milwaukee Wave
professional soccer game while giving back to MTEF. Click here for tickets.
MTSD Board of Education - Regular Business Meeting
Monday, March 18 @ 6:00 p.m.
Range Line Community Center
NO SCHOOL - Spring Break ☀️
Monday, March 25 - Monday, April 1