The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District Board of Education on Feb. 24 approved multiple administrative and financial measures, including acceptance of a $125,000 grant from the Pat Connaughton Foundation, final approval of the district’s annual audit, and a resolution urging the state to increase special-education reimbursement and raise the low-revenue ceiling.

The board voted by voice to accept the grant and the audit and to adopt the advocacy resolution. Each action was approved during the regular meeting following staff presentations and brief board questions.

Grant for Central field house

The board voted to accept a Connaughton Foundation award that will fund new wood courts at West Allis Central High School. Staff said the award includes stipulations: placement of sponsor logos, limited naming rights consistent with board policy, and a first right of refusal for the foundation should the district later refurbish the court.

District presenters told the board the $125,000 award should cover the new floor materials; some other field-house upgrades (bleachers, sound system, waterproofing) were included in the district’s prior referendum planning and could be reallocated if the Connaughton grant reduces the district’s outlay. "We applied back in September… their program provides new wood courts, and in a dollar amount, of 125,000," a staff presenter said. Board members discussed how any surplus referendum funds could be redirected to other district projects during later budgeting and bid processes.

Audit approval

The board also accepted the district’s annual audit. The district’s presenter told the board that the audit from Baker Tilly showed a positive financial position and noted a single material weakness tied to the firm’s role in preparing financial statements — a common arrangement for many Wisconsin districts. The presenter described that outcome as the product of conservative budgeting, strong enrollment forecasting and alignment of staffing to projected enrollment.

Board advocacy: state funding resolution

In a separate motion, the board unanimously approved a resolution urging the state legislature and governor to increase special-education reimbursement to 90 percent and raise the statewide low-revenue limit to $12,500 per pupil in the first year of the 2025–26 state budget. The resolution also asked the state to provide "spendable" operating dollars for public schools.

Why it matters

The Connaughton grant funds an immediate, visible facilities upgrade at Central High School. The audit approval completes the fiscal year reporting cycle that auditors use to evaluate internal controls and financial stewardship. The advocacy resolution expresses the board’s priorities for the upcoming state budget — higher special-education reimbursement and an increase in the low-revenue ceiling would meaningfully increase district revenue if enacted.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (minutes, employment summary, supplementary contracts, financial summary): approved by voice vote.
- Pat Connaughton Foundation grant acceptance (new wood courts, $125,000): approved by voice vote; board noted stipulations on logos/naming and a foundation right of first refusal on future refurbishments.
- Annual financial statements and Baker Tilly audit acceptance: approved by voice vote; audit described as showing no reportable findings except for the firm’s preparation of the financial statements.
- Resolution endorsing state budget asks (increase special-education reimbursement to 90%, raise low-revenue ceiling to $12,500): approved by voice vote.

Ending

Board members said they will take further budget and referendum-implementation decisions in future workshops and will return to the district’s facilities and enrollment plans as bidding and design work proceeds.