[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6316163,"mediaKeyId","2377455-d470c22dfebbae9a3189778352f21310","parentId",2377455,"title","District hires H&H for baseball-field planning as fundraising continues; QR-code donations experiencing a glitch","audioSeconds",186,"startMs",1884000,"endMs",2070000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2377455-d470c22dfebbae9a3189778352f21310&start=1884&end=2070","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2377455-d470c22dfebbae9a3189778352f21310/thumbnail_1884000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6316163/Wisconsin/District-hires-HH-for-baseball-field-planning-as-fundraising-continues-QR-code-donations-experiencing-a-glitch","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316163-dbc8830816cf9e2f22cb3bb140a76ff4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775317162&Signature=hwCTmEfTolaOnWwoEEGW3GerNZ3RI3bUw4kzG42135z64-pbsBweomZjih4R0nddFz07QWBZe9nzC4B-lQXJkDoXt0zEqbP~ta7tPkzCXaUHttDI8xVRyBBhpUDZE5xl1eFYoFVOqr10PnIAyF9rQnmon~gKwDsMRs3TsGeo3dIk9DaW~6WtNQ2fxPblSNaHl4rfPIKwk414IGDja2L2uo4MSyCJUPPeEJqOAowvwBwJnAf0pzsoljY1h2Fgd91YLf6R2QxFDNx-iedqEo6jRl3cGaMiQY~IsJUCY7AplPEuzDzogk8~D075tFFffm47RjN8aAOGwM-~ucvdOgJ4CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-21T20:30:05Z","article","Mike, staff member (facilities), reported that the district engaged H&H of Collins for planning and permitting work on a proposed baseball field; H&H's proposal for planning, permitting and related services was $39,500, compared with a competing proposal from Retler at about $90,000.

Fundraising is ongoing: committee members said volunteers and community groups are raising money and have offered contractor leads for lighting and bleacher work. Todd Hadler, a volunteer committee participant mentioned in the discussion, told the group volunteers are contributing but that donations made via a posted QR code may not be routing consistently to the district foundation or the intended fund. The district suggested donors use the foundation website directly until the QR-code issue is resolved.

Why it matters: the district plans to construct the baseball field this year if fundraising targets are met; permitting and planning work now will position the project to begin construction after the high-school baseball season.

Key details:
- Contractor selection: H&H proposal $39,500 for planning and permitting; Retler proposal approximately $90,000.
- Fundraising posture: volunteer groups are contributing in-kind expertise and pledges, but receipts via the QR code are not reliably tracking to the foundation.
- Timing: staff said the district will not begin construction until sufficient funds are committed; planning work and permit procurement could allow a late-July construction start, contingent on fundraiser results.

Next steps: trustees and volunteers will resolve the QR-code routing issue and continue fundraising; planning work with H&H will proceed to position the project for a summer construction window if adequate funds are in hand.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2/20/2025 Finance & Facilities Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The district selected H&H for planning and permitting work for a community baseball field ($39,500 proposal); volunteers and a foundation are fundraising, but a QR-code donation process is not consistently directing gifts to the foundation, slowing receipts.","taxTitle","Manitowoc School District, School Districts, Wisconsin","taxId",53586,"location","Wisconsin","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6316168,"High winds expose masonry and aging systems; facilities staff say some repairs await referendum funding",682,1268000,1950000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2377455-d470c22dfebbae9a3189778352f21310&start=1268&end=1950","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2377455-d470c22dfebbae9a3189778352f21310/thumbnail_1268000.jpg","/articles/6316168/Wisconsin/High-winds-expose-masonry-and-aging-systems-facilities-staff-say-some-repairs-await-referendum-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316168-f507aad95106853f3594a8ffd8b04a59/orig.mp4?Expires=1775317162&Signature=nqPqLPG9BiV5fcB~BWs02hpUwW-qqlWAqLKcitQop~vBIdaMe~qymmXZDDdkiEOWBw0DinK26rdrRBzAzsJLfmTWEwxryrtN~AbDo6ipU0hQOXRqghZFJgM-IqpdETmeBiZ0msmwX0I1KBwmORvAHhiHnRyXa2WokVk~DfeoJgQJFnaOkSa4ZXD4iqWF4wGxtFGmIaxK5dFdNBDb~yNcIkQaqxxNxnIPeUgTgXpsmOn5lyLrii7~RAE3wdMFnbHVDMpZ7zEui9F8xfa6U96ZiplCBjpz-GoYspaEt3GJbq5N~ANuF4BGtFzf8~THGGfuv4fU-HxiIKRCbKbyo4ibkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mike, staff member (facilities), updated the Finance and Facilities Committee on storm-related and age-related building maintenance needs across the district, reporting loose chimney bricks at Wilson and roof lifting and cornice problems at several older buildings after high winds in late January.

Mike said maintenance crews removed loose bricks and unsecured ornamentation for safety and that some tuckpointing and more extensive repairs will await further planning. He also reported a frozen unit vent at Lincoln that caused a loss of heat after water from condensate froze and drained across the system; the district temporarily bypassed the affected unit to restore heat.

Why it matters: multiple older buildings show deferred-maintenance problems that can present safety risks and disrupt school operations; district staff said ongoing failures in heating plants and electrical systems are part of a larger capital plan.

Key points from the update and committee discussion:
- Immediate safety work: crews removed easily detachable masonry and secured loose roofing sections; Mike asked crews to remove any pieces that could be pulled off by hand.
- Heating systems: staff noted aging boilers and univent heaters; replacement parts and new units (Trane Corporation univent heaters were cited) are subject to long lead times; Mike said Trane has the district on a three-year waiting list for replacement univents.
- Capital plan and costs: Mike referenced a broader capital estimate (discussed in district planning) in the order of $160 million for replacing heating plants and major electrical work across the district footprint; for specific emergency rectifications, he estimated roughly $150,000 would be needed to \"get it really back in and stuck together.\" (estimate provided in meeting discussion.)
- Referendum timing: some repairs will proceed this spring or sooner if budgeted, but colder-weather repairs must wait until spring; several committee members and staff acknowledged that larger projects will depend on the outcome of the upcoming referendum and broader funding choices.
- Political and strategic context: a committee member urged ongoing emphasis on creating a sustainable maintenance budget and told the group that a lack of political will and shallow state funding had contributed to deferred maintenance; another member suggested consolidation and operating-efficiency measures as part of the long-term solution.

Next steps: facilities staff will prioritize emergency and safety repairs, identify projects that can proceed without referendum funds, and present cost estimates and timelines for referendum-funded capital projects if the referendum passes.","Facilities staff reported wind-related damage to masonry and roof components at multiple schools and ongoing failures in aging heating systems; some repairs will proceed with available funds while larger projects may depend on the pending referendum.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6316173,"District says teacher-negotiation season underway; staffing realignment to rely largely on attrition",520,970000,1490000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2377455-d470c22dfebbae9a3189778352f21310&start=970&end=1490","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2377455-d470c22dfebbae9a3189778352f21310/thumbnail_970000.jpg","/articles/6316173/Wisconsin/District-says-teacher-negotiation-season-underway-staffing-realignment-to-rely-largely-on-attrition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316173-26495389b2061c2ef0c2f70bd6257fba/orig.mp4?Expires=1775317162&Signature=U3PRSCcuq4zullbW7M8T4wAe0e-Ye7VU1BKAeL8FGqsijYd5ZDPljVGpki8GcAL0jm2akG0p2S~~YCtztZXG5~XPDCkoNfCzSIF1bjguJ~j2uFotQnHm1IfMvFCQyqFldcjN1LBaNPeLbimNtQAbAbTKxzH6nq0Q08ASv~tuMI7w1Dd3MtKCbyL7WyPN3v3BVe3576-axNuQebesSlr~1vDrg~0TNvWWRQphygHJp9Vj9KXt1VNnZnXeqw546BfZHmO4eUz18WFNI18PGwubSCo1~NK0vINWC~UkLpGREa-JyrcInpjRZ9dP~YAtvOH1NHsT5hTV7x4Kk0PoSbhr6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ken, district finance staff, updated the committee that budget work for fiscal 2025\u00002626 is focused on personnel costs and salary negotiations. He said teacher negotiations will convene in early March and that the outcome of those talks will affect other employee groups and overall personnel planning.

Lee, staff member (personnel), told the committee the district is preparing a staffing-realignment plan for elementary, middle and high schools to better match staffing ratios with current enrollment. Lee said the district's preliminary analysis indicates roughly 80% of projected reductions could be achieved through attrition rather than layoffs. He also told the committee that the district is not proposing cuts to programs or services as part of this staffing realignment.

Why it matters: personnel costs are the largest portion of a school district\u0000budget. How the district manages retirements, vacancies and negotiated salary increases will affect class sizes, program delivery and long-term operating costs.

Key details:
- Negotiations: staff reported a full-session meeting for teacher negotiations scheduled for March 4; district leaders said they could not release negotiation positions while bargaining is active.
- Cost assumptions: staff provided scenarios for non-capital object costs using 0%, 1%, 2% and 3% increases; 3% was highlighted because current published CPI is about 3%.
- Supplies and services: staff said holding supplies and materials to a 0% increase is a goal but likely difficult due to inflation and contract renewals, particularly for busing contracts that include inflation factors.
- Staffing: Lee said the district aims to rely on attrition; the projection that roughly 80% of reductions could be met through attrition is preliminary and conditioned on upcoming retirement notices (March 15 deadline) and ongoing market movements for teachers.

Committee members asked whether staffing realignment would affect program offerings; staff replied that programs and services are not scheduled for cuts at this time.

Next steps: staff will present proposed staffing levels and a more complete budget at the larger policy and personnel committee meeting; negotiations will proceed on the scheduled timeline.","District finance staff reported ongoing work on the 2025–26 salary and personnel budget and said a teacher negotiation session is scheduled for March 4; personnel adjustments to align staffing with enrollment are expected to be largely met through attrition, with administrators saying programs and services are not scheduled for cuts.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6316178,"Auditor issues unmodified opinion but notes late filings, cash-reconciliation problems; district fund balance rises",700,20000,720000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2377455-d470c22dfebbae9a3189778352f21310&start=20&end=720","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2377455-d470c22dfebbae9a3189778352f21310/thumbnail_20000.jpg","/articles/6316178/Wisconsin/Auditor-issues-unmodified-opinion-but-notes-late-filings-cash-reconciliation-problems-district-fund-balance-rises","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316178-554532391d3cbdcee4519574ad249fdf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775317162&Signature=Kx4TFdjcWGq2jEypTtEwTKB048mUwVFfuoVezsC6InO~T4-kTKkyiLv-mD-919g14iIZIzPC1TqM0ttr~FeNpzgBsrWz~C1JBJfTkjUAPX9jACU-4Z4mfXblqQjEiF9vBvMiFyyb5uUVYjtJUdSwB-fbQ13sDKzqbQn60I~DmDqDYgrkHGlkxbTJ07yqhWRUB9ISs26aqpKFPRYc4AXGack5NMMvZlIt6VgAjLfuhxR6tzfgugbwGBCjoRUfJUeba29PNYpT-bkzEP8QnByPBKHYozXb-r9ekFFfUkD53omNEUwN5bQpBi9Aa~ToPfEy1Dl~ug2eVVCf1njF~1oeuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mister Mitchell, auditor, told the Metropolitan Public School District Finance and Facilities Committee that the district\u0000received an unmodified opinion on its fiscal year 2023\u000024 financial statements but the auditors reported three findings and a number of post-audit adjusting entries.

The audit report, Mitchell said, flagged that auditors prepared some of the financial statements and recorded material audit adjustments after the auditors\u0000on-site work; the district also filed its state aid certification on Sept. 25, after the statutory Sept. 1 deadline. Mitchell said the late filing\u0000did not reduce overall aid but delayed payments. The auditors also reported timing issues reconciling cash and delays in providing requested documents.

Why it matters: the audit\u0000findings highlight internal control and timeliness problems that can complicate accounting and cash flow even when the financial statements receive a clean opinion. Committee members discussed the potential operational effects of timing issues and the need to tighten reconciliation procedures.

Details from the audit and committee discussion:
- The auditors reported three findings, including auditor-prepared financial statements and timing/reconciliation issues; they proposed 17 adjustments and documented 10 proposed adjustments in their working papers.
- The district\u0000statement of financial position was reported at about $37,000,000.39 and the governmental fund balance increased from roughly $19,000,000 in 2023 to about $21,000,000 in 2024.
- The auditors noted difficulties reconciling cash tied in part to a recent software change; Mitchell said timing differences and month-to-month reconciling items drove the variance, not evidence of theft. \"It wasn't anything stolen,\" Mitchell said.
- Committee members pressed staff about whether the cash-reconciliation discrepancies would persist; staff said they plan to devote time this year to close-out and to use a DPI cash-adjustment mechanism if residual differences remain.
- The audit commentary also included an advisory note on compensated-absence footnote changes driven by accounting pronouncements.

Committee response and next steps: No formal action to accept or reject the audit was taken during the meeting; committee members thanked auditors and staff and asked district finance staff to continue work on reconciliations and post-audit adjustments.

The committee also discussed a related operating issue: the district's participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for school meals. Mitchell and staff reported an anticipated annual loss of about $200,000 in the food service fund attributable to CEP participation and lower reimbursement rates; the district\u0000has sufficient fund balance to cover that shortfall for multiple years but acknowledged the need to model longer-term sustainability if reimbursements or participation rates change.

The committee scheduled continued follow-up on reconciliation processes and internal controls.

","An external audit for fiscal 2023–24 concluded with an unmodified opinion but cited three findings including late state aid certification and cash-reconciliation timing; the district’s overall fund balance increased from about $19 million to $21 million.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District hires H&H for baseball-field planning as fundraising continues; QR-code donations experiencing a glitch

High winds expose masonry and aging systems; facilities staff say some repairs await referendum funding

District says teacher-negotiation season underway; staffing realignment to rely largely on attrition

Auditor issues unmodified opinion but notes late filings, cash-reconciliation problems; district fund balance rises