7/14/25
Public Comment Emails
Ongoing Concerns with McKinley Leadership
- Annie Marino urged the board to respond to continued staff resignations and loss of morale at McKinley Elementary. She highlighted the departure of two respected educators and called for leadership change, survey transparency, and independent review of Principal Martin.
- Lindsey Skaife, a former McKinley staff member, defended Principal Martin, blaming staff behavior and lack of district support for McKinley's challenges. She criticized the targeting of Martin and expressed concern over possible privacy violations by staff.
District Instability and Family Departure
Ashley Peterson shared her family's decision to leave the district, citing cumulative frustrations with the McKinley climate, WSTEM closure, communication failures, and policy conflicts-especially the middle school track assignment under Policy 5120. She criticized how leadership handled major decisions and their lasting effects on students and families.
Questions About Mandatory Employee Physicals
Kristin Fischer questioned why all district employees are required to complete physicals, expressing concern over the financial cost to taxpayers.
Wauwatosa School Board Meeting
1. Call to Order (0:07)
- The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. in Conference Room C of the Fisher Administrative Building.
- Roll call confirmed a quorum with Sarah Burzynski, Phillip Morris, and Lynne Woehrle excused. Present members were Chris Bauer, Heidi Bach, Liz Heimerl-Rolland, and Jason Wautier.
2. Superintendent's Update (0:43)
- Dr. Demond Means presented updates, emphasizing the district's mission to provide equitable access to academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional opportunities.
- Highlighted summer school success: 876 high school students in credit courses, 28 in enrichment, 1,178 in junior kindergarten through fifth grade, and 187 in middle school, supported by 167 full-time equivalent staff.
- Noted a 93.6% graduation rate across Wauwatosa East, West, and Virtual Academy, with a 95% rate for East and West alone, and improved rates for students of color.
- Reported 78.9% of students scored 3 or above on Advanced Placement exams, the highest in five years, with gains among African-American and Hispanic/Latino students.
- Discussed state budget challenges, including no general aid increase, but positive steps in special education reimbursement.
- Shared a 91.7% teacher retention rate and 95.2% fill rate, with challenges in hiring special education teachers.
- Jason Wautier asked about teacher and administrator hiring cycles. Dr. Means clarified teacher hiring wraps up by September, with administrator hiring concluding by July 1.
3. Public Comment (22:00)
Concerns About Staffing at Madison Elementary
- Bob Doherty (22:24): Expressed concern about high teacher turnover at Madison Elementary, noting eight teachers left in two years, suggesting administrative issues and requesting board investigation.
- Chris Merker (26:32): Cited a 2030 task force report, alleging systemic governance failures, retaliation, and administrative misconduct, particularly at Madison, and DPI flags for racial disproportionality in special education.
Support for Policy Changes
Kelly Goldman (24:49): Thanked the board for revising Policy 5120 on intra-district transfers, addressing enrollment imbalances and supporting equitable school environments.
4. Consent Agenda (28:33)
- Jason Wautier discussed an ADA improvement project, countering community criticism by affirming the district's commitment to accessibility.
- Dr. Means highlighted annual policy updates (items E, F, G) and community donations (items C, D).
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously by Bauer, Bach, Heimerl-Rolland, and Wautier.
5. Strategic Goal #6: Operations (31:27)
Architectural/Engineering Planning Services (31:47)
- Kevin LaFountain presented a concept agreement with PRA and Zimmerman Design Group for secondary school planning.
- Jason Wautier asked about the RFP process; LaFountain confirmed two firms responded out of five contacted.
- Scot Ecker clarified fees: PRA for ad hoc consultation, Zimmerman for facility analysis, budgeted for 2025-26.
Capital Improvement Plan (39:12)
- LaFountain reviewed the two-year plan, noting completed 2024-25 projects and $122,000 in remaining projects.
- Ecker discussed deferring projects at Wauwatosa West to maintain a $1.2 million Fund 41 balance for emergencies.
- Wautier asked about Fund 41 replenishment; Ecker noted surplus goes to Fund 10, with potential future allocation to Fund 41.
State Budget Update (46:19)
- Scot Ecker reported the state budget's impact: $187,000 less in state aid, offset by property taxes; 10% increase in special education aid; and increased voucher payments impacting property taxes.
- Wautier asked about budget timelines; Ecker outlined the process, with final approval in October and 2026-27 planning starting immediately.
Jefferson Elementary School Water Main Repairs (56:50)
Ecker discussed a $70,000 emergency repair due to multiple breaks, unrelated to nearby city construction.
Action to Approve Budget for Publication (59:00)
The board approved the budget for newspaper publication, with final approval set for July 28.
6. Board Governance (1:06:21)
Legislative Advocacy Committee Update (1:06:28)
Chris Bauer reported on the committee's work, including reviewing past resolutions, engaging city partners, and creating a playbook for advocacy.
Second Readings and/or Action to Approve Policies (1:09:48)
Policy 2461 (IEP meeting recordings) was approved unanimously.
First Readings of Policies (1:10:32)
Heidi Bach led reviews of multiple policies, including:
- 3425.01-05: Updated benefits for administrators, teachers, educational assistants, buildings/grounds, and administrative assistants, with changes to health insurance, sick leave, and personal leave. Wautier questioned child-rearing leave and holiday pay differences.
- 0144.5: Minor edits to board member interactions, reviewed by legal counsel.
- 2260-2460.03: Updated for legal compliance, with language changes (e.g., "disabled person" to "person with a disability"). Heimerl-Rolland suggested replacing "alienage" with "national origin" in 511.
- 511.01-5120: Updated or new policies for compliance, including intra-district transfers (5120), addressing community concerns about enrollment balance.
- 5215-6700: Various updates for federal and state compliance, including fiscal policies. Wautier and Ecker discussed adding annual review language to 6210 and Fund 41 targets in 6235.
7. Adjournment (1:55:47)
The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m. with unanimous approval.