[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6164176,"mediaKeyId","5430647-09ada25cfbfcf7da56b48532b3c76491","parentId",5430647,"title","Board clears routine operational items: Wisconsin standards, WIAA membership, E‑Rate switch and special‑education aide increase","audioSeconds",225,"startMs",3069000,"endMs",3294000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5430647-09ada25cfbfcf7da56b48532b3c76491&start=3069&end=3294","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5430647-09ada25cfbfcf7da56b48532b3c76491/thumbnail_3069000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164176/Wisconsin/Board-clears-routine-operational-items-Wisconsin-standards-WIAA-membership-ERate-switch-and-specialeducation-aide-increase","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164176-ea1930d662ddf4513a4fdd668e3724e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773571112&Signature=EX9odoVzia89xm3F6~LU36NIslg6ajiNu0bO4fjgyCZbsKvaUT1mhqHunmdlt3OWUm8Sm0w1lPfeX9opZr3H6MbOJHIxMw2T09CN-IonfT8AJ0XTZhwWUkdIHK4sJp-bVMgWTNfwl42y7tjd4WLmIDZTMsvEE3fK7nPCktZ7hiafimK0rWSJN-LPL5MmEsaonwkrrZ5etAN35NhJekWFvb1IjHp1doGKccDqpDavvzauuwanhHswb~f-1jjmvQGac5YOKhQVUSs2mtjxiq00EuxyHB-CisYWJY7a4jwTBKOpKIjzP5eeuOq7kQrXLoFnFpV5AWZNZ30edkQT-3lolA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Merril Are School District","date","2025-07-18T17:07:18Z","article","At its July 16 meeting the Merrill Area Public Schools Board of Education approved multiple operational items recommended by committees, voting on each by voice without recorded roll‑call tallies.
Adoption of state standards: The board approved the adoption of the Wisconsin Academic Standards for the 2025–26 school year on a motion that was seconded and carried by voice vote.
WIAA membership and activities code: The board renewed the district’s WIAA (Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association) membership for 2025–26 and approved an updated activities code of conduct and activities handbook for the 2025–26 school year; both motions passed by voice vote.
E‑Rate switch project: The board approved the 2025 E‑Rate switch project for $22,553 to be paid from the district’s technology project fund; the motion was made by board member Ron Liberty and seconded by Mike Hornisher and carried by voice vote.
Special‑education staffing: The board approved an additional 1.02 FTE special‑education aide position to be funded through the special‑education flow‑through, with the motion made by Paul Pru and seconded by Mike Hornisher; the motion passed by voice vote.
Each motion was presented with a topic summary and recommended action from the relevant standing committee (CTP and Finance/HR where applicable). The meeting record shows the motions, seconds and that each carried; no individual recorded votes were provided in the transcript for these items.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","7-16-2025 Board of Education","oneSentenceSummary","The Merrill Area Public Schools board on July 16 approved several operational items, including adopting Wisconsin Academic Standards for 2025–26, renewing WIAA membership, approving an activities handbook, funding a $22,553 E‑Rate switch and adding 1.02 FTE in special‑education aides.","taxTitle","Merrill Area School District, School Districts, Wisconsin","taxId",61096,"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},6164181,"Board approves Phase 3 of strategic plan, turning five‑year pillars into annual action steps",291,2724000,3015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5430647-09ada25cfbfcf7da56b48532b3c76491&start=2724&end=3015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5430647-09ada25cfbfcf7da56b48532b3c76491/thumbnail_2724000.jpg","/articles/6164181/Wisconsin/Board-approves-Phase-3-of-strategic-plan-turning-fiveyear-pillars-into-annual-action-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164181-f81f63173807b35cf0d6cc381c5fab94/orig.mp4?Expires=1773571112&Signature=IXxdHw3yrlFlHJAEEn-hW5ZCCwEEW9FhDSYlP2dO6SBW2D2O4DA47FzNhzQvrKXBdnLrGNyYCUNOvHIEPHuIfqfby0AoEOTIMoZnwEmXRvZF1qfvtVt7o3WVBtLs-VAx7LkfYzGqyHNgpISnOc8r3rF1UKwMesTt-kKx8iWxxwp9MaaZcHymk4IiXgVte4xl8qNTQoZQL1j~CTNg3~QpQRfCbwKjn9y~E3l9wVOGJnzV0z4NccOWWSXsNSrdUdCXriFi~LczWaAJ5SRidqii87U8Ri3MJ72QEorXQRWGkQpmvXtgLX3d9INwJe9tzQsyWjEi9Re4t2kLIpvnvVfDrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Merrill Area Public Schools Board of Education approved Phase 3 of the district’s strategic planning process on July 16, which formalizes the annual action plans that implement the district’s five‑year strategic pillars.
Superintendent Shannon Murray told the board Phase 1 and Phase 2 work — mission, vision, SWOT and strategic objectives — were already approved at prior meetings and that Phase 3 produces the public‑facing brochure and the annual continuous performance plan that translates pillars into one‑year action steps. In the coming year the district will focus on high‑impact instructional strategies, a district instructional playbook, deeper work on student engagement and expanded community engagement (including scaling the Community Education program).
The motion — made by board member Mike Hornisher and seconded by board member Nussashbeck — passed by voice vote after discussion. Murray displayed the alignment from the five‑year plan to the annual plan and to hundred‑day and 15‑day challenge cycles used for instructional improvement.
Board members asked clarifying questions about how one‑year cycles tie to building practice and measurement. Murray said administrators will do brief “look‑fors” and walkthroughs, record results and share school‑ and district‑level feedback to support improvement cycles rather than as punitive individual evaluations.
The plan approved July 16 will guide the district’s work through November (the next hundred‑day plan cycle) and serve as the basis for proposed initiatives in instruction, staff well‑being, facilities and operations.
","The Merrill Area Public Schools board voted to approve phase 3 of its strategic planning process, which converts previously approved five‑year pillars and strategic objectives into annual action plans tied to hundred‑day cycles and district initiatives such as the instructional playbook and community education expansion.",{"_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},6164186,"Merrill’s new Community Education program reports 165 participants and plans 50–70 fall classes",902,506000,1408000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5430647-09ada25cfbfcf7da56b48532b3c76491&start=506&end=1408","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5430647-09ada25cfbfcf7da56b48532b3c76491/thumbnail_506000.jpg","/articles/6164186/Wisconsin/Merrills-new-Community-Education-program-reports-165-participants-and-plans-5070-fall-classes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164186-008c7bbce15de585e282cd1c9117a9cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773571112&Signature=RCTdWfRBZrQVK5uxIHJBYyPT3DgkNpxHyip50yeufauj4JhEl23WEdEm9XqdpjMWB9WLshiH1WkgkvIEkkkHoYBBE5lGooycrJTYJW8tGZxtYEiZXGoTT~j4OMrPpkBpEZLDYoEDODZKL7k5VTUM~h9sz68NRKYEzlyhXqcZCfKj6lsjqKSMXml~oJeowxrUoPN0Pqjs9RhckjUC3WkbO4DJwbxzF8vCz89YR5DEbplRsCAx0cWZFTFmSGEmF6XEakD~J2~w0Qxa3spU6clqrldmIlJ9V1xJJ06TWjuGRF1MHmzSfJNuMmqbTipb2J2gvXhKOq-NWW79BHU4c~VWbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Angie Drew, the district staff member leading Merrill’s new Community Education program, updated the board on July 16 about the program’s spring launch, participation and plans for the fall catalog.
Drew told the board the program went live after a January 15 launch timeline and offered 34 classes in the spring catalog. About 300 community members registered through the program’s new online platform and 165 people attended classes, she said. Popular offerings included cookie‑decorating (multiple sold‑out sessions), watercolor and glass mosaic; several instructors expanded class size to accommodate wait‑listed participants.
Drew said the program built registration and payment processes from scratch and centralized payments for other district activities (for example, aquatics), reducing paper registrations and daily cash handling. For fall, she said she expects at least 50 classes and possibly up to 70, pending final instructor paperwork.
Planned fall actions include paid social‑media advertising, targeted print placement (for example, City Pages), increased signage at the high school to help attendees find classrooms, more weekend offerings, expanded family classes and options to let youth under 16 attend with a paying parent. Drew said community partners such as the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) have offered free classes to the catalog.
Board members praised the start‑up. A board member said, “I just wanna applaud Angie” for building the registration platform and reaching far beyond the initial 10‑class goal. Superintendent Shannon Murray and board members noted the program furthers the strategic plan’s community engagement pillar and creates additional district contact with adults in the community.
There was no vote on program funding during the meeting; Drew asked the board to support outreach and sign‑posting plans as the district ramps up fall offerings.
","District staff presented the first‑season results for Merrill’s newly launched community education program: 34 spring classes, about 300 registrants in the system and 165 people who attended; administrators aim for 50–70 classes in the fall and are pursuing targeted advertising and partnership offerings.",{"_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},6164192,"Merrill parent urges board to fund $6,500 fee so girls can join regional high‑school hockey co‑op",294,78000,372000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5430647-09ada25cfbfcf7da56b48532b3c76491&start=78&end=372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5430647-09ada25cfbfcf7da56b48532b3c76491/thumbnail_78000.jpg","/articles/6164192/Wisconsin/Merrill-parent-urges-board-to-fund-6500-fee-so-girls-can-join-regional-highschool-hockey-coop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164192-f5b11ee449577b64f3ab5a1db86cd4b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773571112&Signature=NU1T1RNt04aHczmuAso0k1VJg1jnjYBZtNbLGTa9ES35ETjtvL7L3cg1Z7BzF8GR5soQ4eh9yMFUcUic095cT~LDIQmDw57VqHKJSh7rLnzSbaUPy6U8zk3AR4RLpUSbO9MXXwHhaQOKkO7saIpnztEAHm9FC4rcKv~f-b7RA6bDlMbTuoKwIb4h5aBF2sIwEMA2zgllZuzHrbZ1qAiTNn0bRX-iw7Rw1O2WaWj~1nKHRdHyt4MkHZifw9Qz-4mnXi8AppHv5yTx85wu~24Qx2rtcY0Acc-yIQx0BySnpIIfVvDYX2eld6ekG1LsnM60G~-KCMhBSmRgZJzhfduCKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kelly Grama, a parent and organizer of a local girls hockey camp, asked the Merrill Area Public Schools Board of Education on July 16 to allocate funds so Merrill can rejoin the Central Wisconsin Storm girls high‑school hockey cooperative.
Grama said Merrill previously co‑oped with the Central Wisconsin Storm (based in Wausau) but currently is not in the co‑op because “we don't have any players currently in high school on it right now.” She told the board there are six to seven middle‑school girls who plan to play in high school and that the co‑op requires a $6,500 annual fee for a joining district.
The parent said her summer girls hockey camp drew 18 local girls ages 10–14 — more than double last year — and that the co‑op application window opens Aug. 1 and runs through Feb. 1. “So please consider allocating funds to Merrill, to allow Merrill District to coop up with Central Wisconsin Storm so our girls can have an open door in the future of girls hockey and to to play in high school,” Grama said.
Superintendent Shannon Murray said the district is mid‑cycle in a two‑year cooperative schedule and confirmed Merrill has joined and left the Storm co‑op multiple times in the past. Murray told the board the application window is Aug. 1 to Feb. 1 and that, if pursued, the application would be for future school years (not the immediately upcoming season).
No motion or vote on the request occurred during the meeting; Grama’s remarks were part of public comment and the item was informational.
The board may decide later whether to pursue a cooperative agreement; Grama and other parents said they will follow up with the co‑op’s coach and WIAA contacts to begin the application process.
","A parent told the Merrill Area Public Schools board that local middle‑school girls need the district to rejoin the Central Wisconsin Storm girls high‑school hockey co‑op and requested the district cover the annual $6,500 co‑op fee so local players will have a girls high‑school team to join.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board clears routine operational items: Wisconsin standards, WIAA membership, E‑Rate switch and special‑education aide increase

Board approves Phase 3 of strategic plan, turning five‑year pillars into annual action steps

Merrill’s new Community Education program reports 165 participants and plans 50–70 fall classes

Merrill parent urges board to fund $6,500 fee so girls can join regional high‑school hockey co‑op