D C Everest board approves bond defeasance, several contracts and policy first readings; moves to closed session

The D C Everest Area School District board approved a resolution to defease portions of its 2018 general obligation school building and improvement bonds and approved a set of routine contracts, a senior-high principal job description and first readings of updated policies during a regular meeting. The board then voted to adjourn into closed session.

The defeasance resolution, which pertains to the district’s General Obligation School Building and Improvement Bond Series 2018 (dated 07/02/2018), was presented as a measure that will reduce future interest costs. Kelly (staff member) told the board that the transaction will yield interest savings “of just over $2,000,000” this year and that over the past five defeasances the district has saved “just over $9,800,000.” The board approved the resolution by roll call with all members voting yes.

Why it matters: The board and staff framed the defeasance as a way to stabilize local levy pressure while capturing interest savings for taxpayers; board members urged the administration to publicize the savings to the community.

Details and other formal actions

- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda with items l and n removed. Motion to approve the consent agenda with items l and n removed was seconded; the approval was recorded by roll call with all members voting yes.

- Approval of removed items l and n: After separate consideration the board approved agenda items l and n in a subsequent roll-call vote (all yes).

- Season 9 shared services contract (2025–26): The board approved the district’s participation in the Season 9 shared services contract (annual membership and services) by voice vote. Staff described a roughly $30,000 decrease in cost from the prior year tied to changes in student-specific services.

- Wisconsin School Nutrition Purchasing Cooperative (procurement specialist): The board approved a resolution authorizing member districts to share the cost of a procurement specialist and related administrative expenses pursuant to Section 66.0301 of the Wisconsin statutes. The motion passed on a roll-call vote (all yes).

- Senior-high principal job description: The board approved the updated job description for the senior-high principal by voice vote.

- First reading of multiple policies: The board approved the first reading of a set of revised policies while pulling policy 2210 (curriculum development) for revision and striking a paragraph from policy 8510 (wellness). The motion to approve the first reading with those exceptions passed by voice vote.

- Adjourn to closed session: The board voted to adjourn into closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1) for matters involving personnel and for competitive or bargaining reasons related to public property and investments. The roll-call vote to enter closed session was unanimous.

Quotes from the meeting

Kelly (staff member): “This is the first defeasance I’ve done with you, but the fifth defeasance for D C Everest. This year, we will have interest savings of just over $2,000,000. And over those last 5 years, you’ve saved just over $9,800,000.”

Board discussion and next steps

Board members said the district should share the savings with taxpayers; one member urged proactive communications so the community understands the cumulative savings and the district’s current levy stability. Policy 2210 will be returned to staff for editing, and the wellness-policy paragraph that board members flagged will be removed before the next reading.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution authorizing defeasance of certain Series 2018 bonds — Motion: approve resolution as distributed; Second: Shannon (second recorded). Vote: Shannon—yes; Josh—yes; Katie—yes; Larry—yes; Ben—yes; Presiding officer—yes. Outcome: approved.

- Consent agenda (with items l and n removed) — Motion: approve consent agenda with items l and n removed; Second: Josh. Vote: roll call recorded as all yes. Outcome: approved.

- Approval of items l and n (separate vote) — Motion: approve items l and n; Second: (recorded). Vote: roll call recorded as all yes. Outcome: approved.

- Season 9 shared services contract (2025–26) — Motion: approve contract as presented. Vote: voice. Outcome: approved.

- Wisconsin School Nutrition Purchasing Cooperative (procurement specialist, Sec. 66.0301 Wis. Stats.) — Motion: approve resolution authorizing cost sharing for the procurement specialist. Vote: roll call recorded as all yes. Outcome: approved.

- Senior-high principal job description — Motion: approve job description. Vote: voice. Outcome: approved.

- First reading of revised policies (with policy 2210 pulled and paragraph removed from 8510) — Motion: approve first reading with identified exceptions; Second: Katie. Vote: voice. Outcome: approved (with items pulled for further work).

- Motion to adjourn to closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1) — Motion: move to closed session; Second: Michelle/Josh (recorded). Vote: roll call recorded as all yes. Outcome: approved.

Clarifying details

- Defeasance savings: staff stated interest savings of just over $2,000,000 this year and cumulative savings of about $9,800,000 over five defeasance transactions (Kelly, staff member).

- Season 9 shared services contract: described as about $30,000 lower than the prior year due to a change in student-specific services; specific line-item detail was discussed in background materials (staff comment).

Proper names referenced

D C Everest Area School District (district); General Obligation School Building and Improvement Bond Series 2018 (bond series); Wisconsin School Nutrition Purchasing Cooperative (cooperative); Wis. Stat. § 19.85 and Sec. 66.0301 of the Wisconsin statutes (statutory authorities).

Meeting context

Engagement level: multiple agenda votes and several staff reports; roll-call votes used for major financial and cooperative-authority items. Implementation risk: low for contracts and job-description approval; medium for the defeasance transaction pending settlement mechanics and public communication. Historical continuity: staff noted prior defeasances and cumulative savings over five years.

Searchable_tags:["bonds","defeasance","budget","contracts","policies","D C Everest","school board","procurement" ]