8/11/25
Public Comment Emails
Recreation Department Director Hiring Process
Deb Palec raised concerns about transparency in hiring Ted Martin as Recreation Department Director. She questioned the lack of comparison between old and revised job descriptions, noted that changes allowed Martin to meet qualifications, and requested adherence to standard hiring practices. She also expressed interest in collaborating on adaptive recreation programming.
Community Engagement and Strategic Planning
Chris Merker, representing the 2030 Task Force, described the group as a 130-member community-led initiative formed to address district challenges through collaboration. He invited board members to participate, emphasized transparent dialogue, and encouraged alignment between district decisions and community priorities.
Board Member Policy Violation
Justin Dux alleged that Board Member Jason Wautier violated board policy, referencing a report from Dr. Woehrle. He requested clear accountability measures and public acknowledgment of the violation.
Concerns About Wauwatosa Virtual Academy and WSTEM Contracts
Justin Dux questioned governance and accountability for the Wauwatosa Virtual Academy. He attached contracts for both the Wauwatosa Virtual Academy charter school and the Wauwatosa STEM (WSTEM) charter school which the school board voted to close in spring 2025. He raised concerns about compliance with contractual obligations, decision-making transparency, and oversight practices.
Wauwatosa School Board Meeting
1. Meeting Opening
A. Call to Order/Roll Call (0:14)
Board President Lynne Woehrle called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. in Room C of the Fiser Administration Building at 12121 West North Avenue. Roll call confirmed the presence of board members Sarah Burzynski, Chris Bauer, Heidi Bach, Phillip Morris, Liz Heimerl-Rolland, Lynne Woehrle, and Jason Wautier. Woehrle acknowledged recent community challenges, including the loss of a student and flood-related stress, thanking Superintendent Dr. Demond Means for his leadership.
2. Superintendent Update - August 2025
A. August Superintendent Update (1:21)
- Dr. Means provided a brief update, introducing the Positive People and Family Supports report to be presented later by Luke Pinion. He reflected on post-COVID challenges, including student dysregulation and fights, and the district's balanced approach of increased discipline (more expulsion hearings) with compassion and support through added staff like deans and social-emotional learning (SEL) specialists.
- Means announced the school year start dates: September 2 for grades 1-12 and September 3 for kindergarten. He welcomed new staff and noted minimal flood damage to facilities, with ongoing support for affected staff and families. Safety drills and community events were planned for the school year's start.
- No board members asked questions during the update.
3. Public Comment (15:34)
Concerns About District Leadership and Transparency
- Heather Berg (20:27): Expressed concerns about transparency in district leadership, particularly regarding handling of complaints and staff reassignments. Urged the board to address community trust issues openly.
- Chris Merker (23:51): Criticized the board for not addressing ongoing issues, including the reassignment of McKinley principal Ted Martin, high staff turnover, and DPI reports on racial disparities in special education. Questioned the board's accountability and responsiveness to community concerns.
Concerns About Budget and Financial Practices
- Derek Gottlieb (27:08): Raised questions about budget allocation, emphasizing the need for greater scrutiny of expenses and transparency in financial reporting to ensure funds are used effectively for student outcomes.
4. Consent Agenda (30:27)
- Several items were pulled for separate discussion: Policy 2431 (Interscholastic Athletics), Employee Handbook sections XX and YY, Policy 6152 (Student Fees, Fines, and Charges), and Policy 6152.01 (Waiver of School Fees). The remaining consent agenda items, including minutes from prior meetings and routine personnel actions, were approved.
- Board discussion on pulled items:
- Sarah Burzynski (31:00): Questioned the clarity of Policy 2431 regarding athletic eligibility requirements. Dr. Means clarified that the policy aligns with WIAA guidelines and includes academic performance criteria.
- Phillip Morris (32:00): Asked about updates to Employee Handbook sections XX and YY, which cover staff conduct and professional development. Means noted revisions were made to reflect new state regulations.
- Liz Heimerl-Rolland (33:00): Inquired about the process for waiving fees under Policy 6152.01. Means explained that waivers are evaluated based on financial need, with a streamlined application process.
- Heidi Bach moved to approve the remaining consent agenda, seconded by Liz Heimerl-Rolland. The roll call vote was unanimous, with Sarah Burzynski, Chris Bauer, Heidi Bach, Phillip Morris, Liz Heimerl-Rolland, Lynne Woehrle, and Jason Wautier voting yes. The pulled items were approved separately after discussion, with a unanimous roll call vote.
5. Strategic Goal #6: Operations (1:09:23)
B. Construction Manager Recommendation
- Kevin LaFountain (Director of Building & Grounds) presented a recommendation to enter an agreement with J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. for secondary school facility planning and potential construction management, pending a referendum. Four firms responded to the RFP issued on 3/13/2025, with Findorff and VJS Construction shortlisted. The evaluation team, including Dr. Means, Scot Ecker, Nicole Marble, Luke Pinion, Jessie Tuttle, Kevin La Fountain, Kevin Hues, Doug Kunde (Plunkett Raysich Architects), Stu LaRose (Zimmerman Design Group), and Curt Wiebelhaus (Building Solutions), conducted interviews on 7/1/2025.
- Findorff scored higher in three of five RFP criteria (firm qualifications, project approach, and interview). Their $17,500 facility planning fee covers support through November 2026, credited back if a referendum passes. Reference checks from Madison Metropolitan, Sun Prairie, Nicolet, and Middleton endorsed Findorff's K-12 experience, ability to minimize disruptions, and resource depth.
- Board discussion:
- Phillip Morris (1:19:00): Asked about the timeline for referendum planning. Means noted community engagement would continue through 2026, with Findorff's input on cost and logistics.
- Liz Heimerl-Rolland (1:21:00): Inquired about cost differences between firms. Means explained Findorff's costs were 3% lower on one hypothetical project, with minimal overall difference (less than 0.2%).
- Chris Bauer moved to approve the recommendation, seconded by Heidi Bach. The roll call vote was unanimous.
6. Strategic Goal #4: High-Quality Staff (1:21:03)
A. WSD Employee Health Insurance Plan 2025-26 Presentation
- Sarah Zelazoski (Chief of Talent) discussed employee benefits, focusing on insurance as the most significant benefit. Virtual training sessions and recordings were offered in the past year, noting the district's self-insured status.
- Charts showed monthly insurance cost volatility, with medical and prescription expenses paid as incurred, offset by quarterly rebates from the CVS Caremark prescription plan. Costs have remained consistent in recent years.
7. Strategic Goal #5: Culture + Community (1:56:25)
A. Division of Pupil and Family Supports Annual Update
- Luke Pinion discussed secondary school activities, noting most schools have administrative athletic or activities directors, but Wauwatosa's middle schools use stipended directors, making the district an outlier.
- Pinion suggested increasing after-school activity participation, especially for underserved groups, as part of the strategic plan, citing research that bored children make poor choices.
- Board discussion:
8. Board Governance (2:52:51)
A. First Reading of the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan
Heidi Bach introduced general governance updates, focusing on aligning board procedures with state requirements and improving public communication.
9. Second Readings and/or Action to Approve Policies (3:27:12)
- Heidi Bach presented policies for approval after second readings, including 2461 (IEP recordings), 3425.01-05 (benefits for various staff groups), 0144.5 (board member interactions), 2260-2460.03 (non-discrimination), 511.01-5120 (admissions and transfers), and 5215-6700 (various operational policies).
- Liz Heimerl-Rolland (3:29:23): Suggested language changes in 511 for clarity. The board agreed.
- Bach moved to approve the policies, seconded by Sarah Burzynski. The roll call vote was unanimous.
10. First Readings of Policies (3:38:11)
- Heidi Bach presented first readings of new policies, including 7440.03 (small unmanned aircraft systems, e.g., drones) and 4430.01 (personal communication devices).
- Policy 7440.03 addressed drone use during high school athletic events and other activities (e.g., graduation), aligning with WIAA rules and requiring permission for use.
- Policy 4430.01 required employees using personal cell phones for district business to retain communications per state requirements and clarified procedures for departing employees.
- Board discussion:
- Jason Wautier (3:56:48): Asked how many employees receive district-issued devices. Dr. Means noted all staff receive laptops, and some (e.g., administrators, nurses) receive cell phones, with no exact number provided.
- Sarah Burzynski (3:58:10): Clarified that 4430.01 applies to personal devices, emphasizing the need to remind staff to retain communications. Suggested exploring district-issued phones for special education teachers to improve family contact.
11. Adjournment (3:59:29)
Sarah Burzynski moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 p.m., seconded by Jason Wautier. The roll call vote was unanimous, with Sarah Burzynski, Chris Bauer, Heidi Bach, Phillip Morris, Liz Heimerl-Rolland, Lynne Woehrle, and Jason Wautier voting yes.