[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6235403,"mediaKeyId","3401972-6ee5ed20e6644ac9740dbf12679d5cb3","parentId",3401972,"title","District outlines expanding student services, flags more students facing housing and mental-health needs","audioSeconds",2190,"startMs",1775000,"endMs",3965000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3401972-6ee5ed20e6644ac9740dbf12679d5cb3&start=1775&end=3965","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3401972-6ee5ed20e6644ac9740dbf12679d5cb3/thumbnail_1775000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6235403/Wisconsin/District-outlines-expanding-student-services-flags-more-students-facing-housing-and-mental-health-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235403-8a4316a2e414ad6a54739dd0c4740f3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967681&Signature=j-xvzg7wqpTlkFkN3WvqqFf1ZqFbY6TgINVGlq3viwM6CZbmQEKQ7CGX~gc3ffEcmb359rSHvXo68Bife08T96MgomwmrzHAOlv~LK0mNfEfi7njbglm5E0w-jmRMB4hfzr39s~LBdmIr-6aJU8DtNNL~Ke9fl2PHAn4yOkdjqzEIh4i~J~f72kSuaykhEjY-yg5xw48-ATSJ8C64TUrJxqpI55t7ZKBm8xahTWkDlsIucPvTC1c4mhErvkMqmvGDqIBZmWQg3SNz762ulrA51Q6dEFgUYILW0YM6uoJAKl0pfKaUN3uzRHMe9GdITncElCICdDmnFlAFqwGAmWieg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District, WI","date","2025-05-20T01:36:47Z","article","Chris Mann, director of student services for the Middleton‑Cross Plains Area School District, told the school board that his department’s work “is to increase access to learning” by removing barriers so students can attend and learn.

The presentation on the 2024–25 school year summarized rising needs across basic supports, social‑emotional learning and mental health. Staff reported an increase in students applying for the free and reduced‑price meal program, a “drastic” increase in students identified as experiencing homelessness (the district reported the current year’s count at about 25 so far), and roughly 27 students identified as unaccompanied homeless youth.

Mann said the district is relying on multiple tools and partnerships — including the Dane County Youth Assessment and a social‑emotional screener (SSIS/SSELB) given to fourth, seventh and ninth graders — to identify needs and target supports. “When we think about student services, I think the easiest way to summarize is that we want to increase access to learning,” Mann said.

Amy Poole, families and transitions coordinator, told the board that homelessness identifications are often families “doubled up” with friends or relatives or living in motels, and that entering shelters in Dane County is “incredibly difficult.” Poole emphasized that federal McKinney‑Vento protections require immediate school enrollment even when proof of residency or immunization records are missing, and that the district must share transportation costs when students remain enrolled outside their attendance area.

Catherine Jackson, a school psychologist, described the district’s screeners and follow‑up process. The SSIS screener flags students with internalizing or externalizing concerns; flagged students receive an individual interview and student‑services staff determine whether an in‑school intervention, small group (for example, Bounce Back or CBITS), or referral to outside services is appropriate. Jackson said many flagged cases do not receive in‑school interventions because students are already connected to outside care, families decline services, or the screener produced a false positive that is resolved in the interview.

Staff also described suicide‑risk assessment (SRA) data. The district reported the highest counts of SRAs among ninth graders, with tenth grade close behind. Mann said the district has added mental‑wellness check‑ins to freshman conferences and increased advisory lessons to improve early detection and adult connection. He noted the district uses the Columbia screener for formal suicide risk evaluation and safety planning when needed.

Health services coordinator Marsha Moe gave an overview of nursing services: the district employs seven nurses and ten health assistants; office visits increase at middle and high school levels; and a large portion of visit records were previously categorized as “no complaint listed,” a data gap the team is working to reduce.

Board members asked about workload and priorities. Bartlett Duran asked for a Pareto view — “what are the 20% of the issues that you’re spending 80% of your time on?” — and Mann and Jackson answered that behavior support at the elementary level and crisis response (suicide risk, students in crisis) at high school take a disproportionate share of time. Several board members thanked staff for their work and asked for trend comparisons over multiple years. Mann said the district has been collecting and analyzing this data since he joined and can break it down further by demographic groups and special‑education status.

The presentation also described the district’s expanded partnership with Children’s Wisconsin, which places therapists in every building to reduce wait times and transportation barriers and increase access to services in school buildings. Mann described the district’s use of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction mental‑health framework to organize a multi‑layered system of support (universal, supplemental, intensive).

Board members asked for follow‑up materials. Mann and his team said they will bring more longitudinal breakdowns by grade, demographic groups and earlier years and will continue work to tighten data collection in health visits. No formal action was taken; the item was presented for information and discussion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MCPASD School Board Meeting May 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Chris Mann, director of student services for the Middleton‑Cross Plains Area School District, told the school board that his department’s work “is to increase access to learning” by removing barriers so students can attend and learn.","taxTitle","Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District, School Districts, Wisconsin","taxId",38580,"location","Wisconsin","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235387,"District recognizes eight students earning Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy",254,108000,362000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3401972-6ee5ed20e6644ac9740dbf12679d5cb3&start=108&end=362","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3401972-6ee5ed20e6644ac9740dbf12679d5cb3/thumbnail_108000.jpg","/articles/6235387/Wisconsin/District-recognizes-eight-students-earning-Wisconsin-Seal-of-Biliteracy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235387-ed90ec0a69d86444f6408bf79d0757be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967681&Signature=cjVxgQroB0cThabCq2PJB5JYveHYmb1Nl~wlTlhGppZWS55ZLgmzR8pz-NlQv8LTv8aaT7npUDJRoymJjRMgUF03NILdk31Aj7Q27WMQT6zymWdKlSeE1shzDvNqx36D9MluVobzAloGyARjaRwMpdPLe8w4uqviOclwIE0IS9X1IoARKex4aw1zN9kk2U2ekpb2iC7PgssLZr7Bfu0jt2xiboU3pLD1Uh-cB0G6iiavHrKpWQ94Z-COXBsahnV8bZNuMd~g6Mz-tySOFbQE4oOymDGv8y9C3OqT6p9V55nS2VH0u0UimQoCXGmAcXrXhM8jTlYBiTSAoNaa-0NQ7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dana Monogue introduced a recognition of the district’s 2025 Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy earners and invited Mandy Serschmoorstead, director of multilingual services, to present the students.

“This year, we have 8 students who have demonstrated high levels of proficiency in English, a partner language, as well as socio cultural competency,” Serschmoorstead said. She explained that students had to pass language proficiency testing and complete two of three socio‑cultural competency projects to earn the seal.

Teachers who advised the students read the names and languages for those being honored: Jada Mand (Spanish); Mike Cahis (Spanish); Sofia Altusar (Spanish); Lydia Sabat (Polish); Oskar Stimson (German); Emma Cavazos (Spanish); Sofia Inclan (Spanish); and Sofia Ortiz Linova (Spanish and Russian). The district noted that Russian and Polish seals reflected student effort rather than in‑district course offerings and thanked families and staff for their support.

The board and audience members congratulated the students and invited families and teachers for a group photo following the recognition. The item was ceremonial recognition and required no board action.","Middleton‑Cross Plains Area School District recognized eight students who earned the Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy in various languages, including Spanish, Polish, German and Russian.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235389,"Board approves employee handbook revisions, parking‑lot agreement and administrative appointments",112,5116000,5228000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3401972-6ee5ed20e6644ac9740dbf12679d5cb3&start=5116&end=5228","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3401972-6ee5ed20e6644ac9740dbf12679d5cb3/thumbnail_5116000.jpg","/articles/6235389/Wisconsin/Board-approves-employee-handbook-revisions-parkinglot-agreement-and-administrative-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235389-fa3b8eef5dd8725d1c0a37cc18d50f5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967681&Signature=AzdDXUuxPCtgrIOelIKjld2wAt2SzDG0DuwsTX4iBoWTVp6f5CS9LrPmYG5hHV~iByygdYmumD0GgG0Zip75J11HnI4Tj1UUUFRV8l7fnEf2J-gwFSKxdTDvfo~HiBeW-BWKsAWwc7ffDQe~7-Awv4rtKAWhgHNWYQB4vdQHW6keQAEud2oOihsxNm4rIc4s-KZpZ8ikQiYOH8NEh3gDfHyOcxdgk3nDNHtNDbhFN29wn7BGn-cbDY81Hx3BYqDE7Q9KfRq2gGbffoRnL~TGGYWSm5twAYfJs4P2buVXoK5qID58vGXIdNG4SKPygdS3b6onZ0p7dOTMTTQ0c9PggQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The school board approved three consent‑agenda items during the meeting: revisions to the district employee handbook, a three‑year parking agreement with the Middleton Ionic Lodge for additional high‑school staff parking, and the appointment of administrative staff to assist the board.

Director Barb Buffington presented the handbook revisions at a prior meeting on May 12 and administration recommended approval as presented. Trustees approved the revised handbook by voice vote. The board also authorized a renewed three‑year agreement with the Ionic Lodge; the administration reported the only change in the agreement was updated dates.

In the same consent block, the board approved the appointment of Jared Rosing, assistant superintendent of operations, as deputy clerk and designated the executive assistant to the superintendent as board secretary. Board members discussed whether to name by position or by person and decided to name Jared Rosing specifically as deputy clerk while keeping the board secretary appointment by position. The motion carried by voice vote.

All items on the consent agenda passed; no separate roll‑call tallies were recorded in the transcript transcript beyond standard “aye”/“opposed” voice votes.","The Middleton‑Cross Plains Area School District board approved updates to the employee handbook, renewed the three‑year parking‑lot agreement with the Ionic Lodge for staff parking and approved routine administrative appointments.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235394,"School board elects officers, names deputy clerk and board secretary",4619,651000,5270000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3401972-6ee5ed20e6644ac9740dbf12679d5cb3&start=651&end=5270","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3401972-6ee5ed20e6644ac9740dbf12679d5cb3/thumbnail_651000.jpg","/articles/6235394/Wisconsin/School-board-elects-officers-names-deputy-clerk-and-board-secretary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235394-a08d39726c8aa93c715f062c8c0e01ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967681&Signature=IEg2KMmMfQIJykJ50G4o~OCXPSnZU8QcSZ8mZQdq0FYd0IrXQOtk0aobS7sTQrQ6i9laV6a6Khxuo9GpFiz0RCjkbtGfQxk5omYVSv55eEJIFMWQyFK2ovI5PNtWX6E1R4lcNq1P6QQ5eOtdTQPhp8aPccwuzafcx4zAUV8M7RM3hagTsCUrd8Kn9IPairxHxefQCzx~xcmOyOX66TUoJ6B~LDeL~qzGjqH-iBPhuqKgpt9l62bXY5qhu0qkTDrf5oCkIemu9TrypeC5-hneLiYUMWVXkYyF5RR6PlPB9s1spffo0XVRX~nTuaE~a~LDeDlRhcFrd0Ln5wjPWNq8Fw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the start of the meeting the Middleton‑Cross Plains Area School District board completed its annual organization and officer elections. Bob Green, who presided over the opening, announced results from nominations and ballots: “I’d like to congratulate, Bob Hesselbein as our new board president,” Green said.

The board also announced the vice‑president, treasurer and clerk positions. The meeting record shows Catherine (last name recorded variously in the transcript) as elected vice president by board vote, Jim Corsi elected treasurer by acclamation and Marnie Ginsberg elected clerk. The board considered nominations, conducted ballots or voice votes as appropriate and approved each officeholder; roll‑call or voice votes were used but raw tallies were not specified in the transcript.

Later in the meeting the board appointed Jared Rosing, assistant superintendent of operations, as deputy clerk and named the executive assistant to the superintendent as board secretary after a motion and second. The motion carried by voice. No additional administrative duties beyond the standard annual appointments were specified in the record.

These organizational actions were conducted under the board’s standing practice for annual elections and appointments and required no additional policy changes. The item was part of the regular agenda of business and the board moved on to information items after completing the elections and appointments.","At an organizational portion of the meeting the Middleton‑Cross Plains Area School District board elected officers for the coming year, approved routine consent items and appointed an assistant superintendent as deputy clerk and the executive assistant to the superintendent as board secretary.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235398,"Middleton Youth Center reports stable participation, high share of students of color and free‑meal eligibility",1125,3975000,5100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3401972-6ee5ed20e6644ac9740dbf12679d5cb3&start=3975&end=5100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3401972-6ee5ed20e6644ac9740dbf12679d5cb3/thumbnail_3975000.jpg","/articles/6235398/Wisconsin/Middleton-Youth-Center-reports-stable-participation-high-share-of-students-of-color-and-freemeal-eligibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235398-71a173ad4a502a1db2d5237d6ecf87ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967681&Signature=EIJ8R16Wt1w~dAwlB8jmGDkeeR-sBMY0mi6c9pOeGU7O7fxfe7SbzoQfzxCyZWVOq6DOAUT9FbutRNl5tlUdNdid8aATWoxK2h6C8UMLqmYsBonz4W5rb4dEGSUiqU7esVNVxt9ExmmQxqjsQvdj-DbGzAQqmqlqz716MkNKwBRLbuaCMPkGaIK8Q50hzomvZqjE9E4DlY3NItRvxxILshtf4eWc8wGjuxMfFNRHn-w6ERJjT81W8C9cYjpONk4SvoFJL6eHIqaIGcJgt1B7BpdIODO-KCR76HAmzzT2goXZuZkzdlTAl0NSXh6HgrSHGn8Wx9ReTJxb66uh89yTmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Hunter, director of the Middleton Youth Center, told the school board that the program serves students after school and during summer with a focus on social‑emotional learning and mentoring. “We are open every day that school is open,” Hunter said, describing the after‑school schedule and the center’s on‑site snack, homework time, activities and rotating mini‑courses.

Hunter and assistant director Laura Gessling reported 2024 figures showing 97 unduplicated youth (a decrease from the prior year, which staff said reflects stronger retention rather than falling demand), 121 hours of community service completed by middle‑school participants, 63% of youth served identifying as youth of color and 51% qualifying for free or reduced‑price lunch. In a pre/post assessment (DESA) reported to a United Way grant, 63 of 82 assessed youth increased their SEL score by at least two points.

The youth center said it has about 65 guaranteed slots for returning students each summer, a short wait list (about 20 on the list at time of report) and that staffing and space constrain growth. Hunter said the local AmeriCorps program that had provided summer members was cut at the federal level; the youth center intends to employ the same people as city staff this summer rather than as AmeriCorps members.

Hunter described program elements including a cultural showcase, monthly guest‑artist workshops, pool trips and an annual overnight camping trip. The program reported 62 one‑to‑one mentoring sessions in 2024 and said most participants return year to year, increasing sibling enrollment.

Funding for the youth center comes primarily from the city of Middleton, a United Way grant (recently increased), Dane County support and donations. Hunter told the board that the center’s participant demographics show it serves a higher share of students of color and students with economic need than the district as a whole.

Board members asked what it would take to eliminate the summer wait list; Hunter said both space inside the school and additional ongoing operating funding would be required and that at a certain scale the program would need structural changes (for example, splitting by grade group) to preserve a community feel. He said staffing costs alone could increase roughly 33% to expand capacity while maintaining current staff‑to‑student ratios. The board asked for a follow‑up report showing concrete numbers for expansion and potential funding sources.

No formal board action was requested; the item was for information and discussion.","The Middleton Youth Center presented its 2024 activity summary to the school board, reporting strong retention of participants, a majority of youth of color, high free/reduced‑price meal eligibility among attendees, and continued reliance on city funding, United Way grants and Dane County support.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District outlines expanding student services, flags more students facing housing and mental-health needs

District recognizes eight students earning Wisconsin Seal of Biliteracy

Board approves employee handbook revisions, parking‑lot agreement and administrative appointments

School board elects officers, names deputy clerk and board secretary

Middleton Youth Center reports stable participation, high share of students of color and free‑meal eligibility