Fond du Lac board approves 2025–26 employee handbooks 4-3 after debate over inclement-weather pay

The Fond du Lac School Board on March 24 approved the district’s 2025–26 employee handbooks, including teacher professional staff, ESPA, custodial/maintenance and specialized employee handbooks, by a 4-3 roll call vote after public comment and several board members asked for revisions or separate votes.

Maintenance and custodial staff raised concerns during the meeting’s public-comment period about changes to the handbooks’ inclement-weather provisions. “If and only if you worked the 8 hours, you had the opportunity for either 1 day of vacation or 8 hours of pay. Now, not only will those 2 perks be removed, but now we can be called off completely altogether. That will be no work, no pay,” said Mike Schmidt, speaking on behalf of himself and “the maintenance and custodial group.” Schmidt told the board the change would cost a brand-new custodian “over $170 in wages, pre-tax,” and he said a typical week off could translate to about $850 for some employees and about $1,648 for others (figures given by Schmidt as pre-tax estimates).

Superintendent Dr. Flagg told the board the change in language grew from decisions made during extreme cold in January, when he canceled school and required employees to stay home for safety reasons. Flagg said the district has not historically required staff to come in under such dangerous conditions and that the policy clarifies when staff may remain home. He also said custodial staff previously could receive either an extra paid day or an extra day of vacation tied to inclement-weather work and that the district now recommends removing that perk to align with other employee groups. Flagg said custodial employees may instead use existing vacation or personal days; he noted year-round employees receive 20 vacation days and 12 sick days per year.

Several board members pressed for more time to work with custodial staff. “I feel that you cannot rush through this and it deserves your due diligence,” public commenter Schmidt told the board. Board member Miss Lombardo and others asked to separate the vote for custodial/maintenance handbooks or table the item to continue discussions with affected staff; that motion was not adopted.

The motion on the floor, moved by Mr. Labyrinth and seconded by Mrs. Horth, carried on roll call: Horth — yes; Labyrinth — no; Motor — no; Pinnell — yes; Godfrey — no; Henshall — yes; Schrider — yes. The board recorded the outcome as approved, 4–3.

Board members and administration repeatedly framed the change as a safety-driven clarification rather than a cost-cutting move. Dr. Flagg described the January cancellation and the decision to keep people safe during extreme wind-chill conditions; other board members said they had fielded concerns from custodial staff and recommended additional language or follow-up conversations to show partnership with those employees.

The handbooks vote was the only divided roll call on the evening’s agenda. The board approved several other items by unanimous roll call earlier in the meeting.

The approved handbooks will govern employee expectations and pay practices for the 2025–26 school year. Board members who asked for further discussion said they expect continued outreach to custodial and maintenance employees before similar policy changes are finalized in future years.