Madison board approves $8,500 fencing donation and adopts several policy updates; minutes approved with one abstention

The Madison School District Board of Education approved five consent and action items on its agenda, including an $8,500 private donation to Daniel Hand High School’s fencing program and multiple policy updates required by state guidance.

Votes at a glance

- Donation (Action item 10): The board accepted a donation of $8,500 from John LaRiviere to the Daniel Hand High School fencing program to purchase fencing equipment. The motion was seconded by Board member Kathy; the board approved the donation, recorded as an affirmative vote with no recorded opposition (motion carries; 8‑0 reported).

- Disposal of used books and equipment (Action item 11): The board approved the disposal list included in the packet; motion seconded by Diane; approved with no recorded opposition (motion carries; 8‑0 reported).

- Rescind policy 06/2002 (Action item 12): The board voted to rescind the older curriculum policy (policy 06/2002). The motion (moved and seconded by board members Diane and Maureen) passed with no recorded opposition (motion carries; 8‑0 reported).

- Adopt revised policies (Action item 13): The board approved a set of updated policies for second reading and action, including: • 2,300 (Retention/Destruction of Records; updated per Office of the Public Records Administrator guidance) • 5131.911 (Bullying prevention and intervention; updated; effective July 1, 2025) • 5131.914 / Safe School Climate Policy (board noted a clerical renumbering during the vote) • 6070.1 (Curriculum development; replaces former curriculum policy) • 6146.3 (Credit for online courses; model policy revised by Shipman & Goodwin)

The motion to adopt these policies was moved by Maureen and seconded by Diane; board members approved the package with no recorded opposition (motion carries; 8‑0 reported). Board members also noted a friendly amendment clarifying a numbering/renaming detail for the Safe School Climate policy during the vote.

- Approval of minutes (Action item 14): The board approved the minutes of the March 18 Board of Education meeting. The motion was seconded by Kathy; the minutes passed with one recorded abstention and otherwise affirmative votes (motion passes; 1 abstention recorded).

Board comments and context

Board members thanked the fencing donor and noted the high cost of equipment for the sport. “This is a very generous donation,” a board member said during the vote tally and discussion. The board also discussed operational details for disposing of surplus books and equipment and noted that many of the policies were updated to comply with new state guidance or model policies.

What happens next

- The fencing donation will be used by Daniel Hand High School to purchase equipment; the athletic program and boosters will coordinate details. - The rescinded curriculum policy will be removed from the district policy manual and replaced by the updated curriculum policy (6070.1). - The district will implement the updated bullying prevention and Safe School Climate policies with an effective date noted at or after July 1, 2025, per the state guidance cited in the packet.

Ending

The board handled the consent and action items in a single series of votes and closed the business items without further public comment. No contested roll‑call vote totals beyond those noted in meeting proceedings were supplied in the packet.