Board approves final $25 million referendum notes, personnel consent items and policy updates
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Summary
The Appleton Area School District Board approved the final $25 million issuance tied to the 2022 referendum, accepted a superintendent consent agenda including new hires, and adopted two policy updates; the board also accepted an OE-7 monitoring report with one noncompliant technology indicator.
The Appleton Area School District Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a resolution to issue $25,000,000 in general obligation promissory notes and approved a package of routine and policy items during its April meeting.
The board approved the superintendent's consent agenda that included 17 new educator hires, five contract changes, one rescinded retirement and four resignations. Trustees also approved minutes from prior meetings and adopted two updated board policies, Policy 151 and Policy 154. The board accepted the monitoring report for OE-7 (asset protection) with 19 compliant indicators and one indicator (7.4.0.3) marked noncompliant related to technology security controls.
The $25,000,000 issuance is the final tranche authorized under the November 8, 2022 referendum that covered $129,800,000 of bonds; the district previously issued $90,000,000 on Jan. 4, 2023 and $14,800,000 on June 3, 2024. Administrators said the $25,000,000 issuance would close April 21, 2025.
Board members moved and seconded the motions to approve the consent agenda, the resolution for the notes, and the policy updates; roll-call votes recorded all participating trustees as voting yes. During review of OE-7, district technology staff explained efforts to secure the network but acknowledged one monitoring indicator had not been met, which led the board to record that indicator as noncompliant pending further remediation.
The actions were presented as routine business but drew questions in roll-call and discussion on monitoring and implementation timelines. Administration said staff would continue follow-up on the OE-7 technology item and provide updates to the board at future meetings.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes (March 10 and March 18 expulsion minutes): Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. Vote: James Bacon (aye), Jason Kolpak (aye), Peng Tao (aye), Nick Ross (aye), Ed Ruffalo (aye), Chris Sauter (aye).
- Superintendent's consent agenda (8a–8d): Items included 17 new educator hires; five educator contract changes; one rescinded retirement; four educator resignations. Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. Vote: James Bacon (aye), Jason Kolpak (aye), Peng Tao (aye), Nick Ross (aye), Ed Ruffalo (aye), Chris Sauter (aye).
- Resolution to award sale of $25,000,000 general obligation promissory notes (closing 04/21/2025): Motion by Nick Ross, seconded (unnamed second in transcript); outcome: approved. Vote recorded as unanimous among trustees present: Chris Sauter (aye), Nick Ross (aye), Ed Ruffalo (aye), Jason Kolpak (aye), James Bacon (aye), Peng Tao (aye).
- Policy update: Policy 151 (policy manual housekeeping): Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. Vote recorded as unanimous among trustees present.
- Policy update: Policy 154 (school board advocacy): Motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. Vote recorded as unanimous among trustees present.
- Monitoring report OE-7 (Asset Protection): Board accepted the report with 19 compliant indicators and one noncompliant indicator (7.4.0.3) related to technology security controls; motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (monitoring acceptance). Vote recorded as unanimous among trustees present.
Administration noted the final referendum issuance will complete the bond series authorized in 2022 and that closed transactions and policy votes were routine actions required for ongoing district operations. The board directed staff to continue work on the OE-7 noncompliant technology indicator and to return updates to the board.