Waukesha board ratifies vacancy interview format, approves preliminary 2024–25 budget and policy revisions; superintendent compensation approved

The Waukesha School District Board of Education on Aug. 14 ratified a procedure to fill the board seat vacated in July, approved a preliminary 2024–25 budget and tax levy, adopted revisions to district social media and technology policies and, after an executive session, approved compensation for the superintendent and executive administrators.

The vacancy procedure ratified by the board sets interviews for Thursday, Sept. 5 beginning at 5 p.m. in the boardroom. The district received 10 initial applications for the seat; two applicants withdrew and eight remain eligible for interviews. Each candidate will be allotted up to 25 minutes; standardized questions will be asked of all applicants and recorded, but interviews will not be live streamed. Balloting among board members will proceed in rounds, eliminating the lowest vote-getters until one applicant receives a clear majority. Because the board currently has one vacancy, a majority requires five votes. If the vacancy is not filled within 60 days (the time window identified in board policy), state statute gives the board president authority to appoint a replacement.

The board also approved a preliminary 2024–25 operating budget and tax levy. The preliminary budget shown to the board lists total revenues of $215,578,258 and total expenditures of $223,200,835 and a preliminary tax levy of $82,211,374, a 1% increase over the prior year as presented. District staff said the levy is based on assumptions, including a 4% increase in equalization aid; the administration will present a final levy and budget after the district’s third‑Friday pupil count and state aid certifications in October.

During committee reports the board approved revisions to policy 7544 (Use of Social Media) and policy 7540 (Technology). The social media policy ties existing references to one document, distinguishes district versus personal use by employees, restates expectations for professional conduct and limits staff personal social media use to breaks and mealtimes on personal devices. The technology policy clarifies device security and users’ responsibilities for damage caused by malware or other prohibited content.

After adjourning into executive session and reconvening, the board voted to approve compensation adjustments for the superintendent and executive administrators “as discussed, as presented.”

All actions voted on during the meeting passed unanimously in recorded roll calls (8–0).

Votes at a glance - Ratify vacancy procedures and schedule interviews for Sept. 5 — motion by Diane Voigt; outcome: approved 8–0. - Approve minutes for July 10 regular meeting and July 30 special and executive sessions — motion by Diane Voigt; outcome: approved 8–0. - Approve consent agenda (4 resignations, 19 new/confirmed contracts) — motion by Mark Borowski, seconded by Betty Koenig; outcome: approved 8–0. - Accept gifts: Waukesha North received a $560 food donation from Golden Chicken for a rugby banquet; SDW Environmental Education received youth waders and boots (value stated as $14.60) from Wisconsin House Outdoorsman’s Club — reported, accepted 8–0. - Approve preliminary 2024–25 budget and tax levy (revenues $215,578,258; expenditures $223,200,835; levy $82,211,374) — motion by Keri Kozlowski; outcome: approved 8–0. - Adopt Policy 7544 (Use of Social Media) — motion by Mr. Wadd; outcome: approved 8–0. - Adopt Policy 7540 (Technology) — motion by Mr. Wadd; outcome: approved 8–0. - Approve compensation for superintendent and executive administrators (executive session) — motion by Mark Borowski, seconded by Anthony Zenobia; outcome: approved 8–0.

Context and next steps Board members emphasized fairness and transparency for the vacancy interviews: candidates will be asked the same primary questions; follow-up questions must be relevant; interviews will be recorded but not live-streamed. The administration will distribute application materials in the board packet the Friday before interviews. If a board stalemate persists through the balloting process, the board agreed in advance to take a membership vote after two identical rounds to decide whether to continue voting.

On the budget, district staff and board members cautioned that state equalization aid certifications remain uncertain and that prior statewide reporting problems have shifted levy responsibilities between districts. The administration said it will present the final levy and budget at the Oct. 28 meeting after state aid and valuation certifications are complete.

No new board action was taken in response to public comment at this meeting.

Ending The board scheduled interviews for Sept. 5 and will present a public budget hearing and final levy action in late October; its next regular meeting is Sept. 11 in the boardroom.