Board approves diplomas, field trips, policy revisions, finance reports and moves to closed session

The Sheboygan Area School District Board of Education approved a series of routine motions at its Jan. 27 regular meeting, including awarding diplomas, approving student field trips, revising Policy 8451, setting recommended special-education enrollment caps, approving personnel actions and accepting financial reports and gifts. The board then adjourned to a closed session to consider personnel and collective bargaining matters under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(c).

Key approvals and formal actions at the meeting included:

- Agenda and minutes: The board approved the meeting agenda and minutes from Dec. 10, 2024, and Jan. 14, 2025.

- Diplomas and early graduations: The board approved multiple diploma recommendations, including early-graduation recommendations and GED/Option 2 awards. Named students approved for diplomas included Dante Bennett, Violet Harris Davis, Jocelyn Godinez, Christian Smith (Central High School class of 2023) and Jackson Fornacht (South Hyatt class of 2024). Additional lists of early-graduation recipients by school (Central, North, South, George Warner) were approved as presented.

- Student field trips: The board approved several out-of-country and regional trips: South High School trip to Luxembourg; North High School mini study-abroad to Spain and France; a North High School band field trip; and Warner High School's Lake Sturgeon Bowl regional competition.

- Policy and enrollment caps: The board approved a revised Policy 8451 (referenced at the meeting) and recommended caps for special-education enrollment while maintaining open enrollment for regular education courses.

- Personnel: The Human Resources Committee recommendations for appointments and retirements were approved. The board also formally recognized retiring staff.

- Facilities and finance: The Suburban Theater Company financial report and the Community Recreation Department financial report were accepted. The board approved Fund 41 capital projects and the statement of cash flow, revenues and expenditures, and budget revisions and transfers as presented.

- Gifts and donations: The board accepted and recognized multiple gifts, including a nearly $500,000 donation to support Boys & Girls Club space at Longfellow from the Herbert B. Kohler Jr. and Natalie Black Kohler charity (mentioned in the superintendent's report) and a $466,000 donation from the Black Springs Foundation to support the district's CAP program and special-needs programming.

- Move to closed session: The board voted to adjourn to closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, compensation and performance evaluation of public employees and to deliberate strategies related to collective bargaining for teachers.

Most motions were carried by voice vote with the board's affirmation ("All in favor, say aye. Aye. Motion carries."). Specific named seconders included board members identified in the record as Kate, Leah and Peter for various motions; where individual movers or seconders were not named in the transcript, the record shows motions were made and seconded and carried.

No final votes overturning approved items were recorded in open session; the meeting materials and committee minutes cited at the meeting contain the lists and documents the board approved.

The board recessed to closed session for personnel and bargaining discussions; no substantive public action on those items was recorded in open session.