Board approves student academic standards and preliminary 2025–26 budget; grants limited authority to finance officer on real estate transactions

Oak Creek — At its July 14 meeting the Oak Creek Franklin School District Board adopted academic standards for English language arts, mathematics, social studies and science and approved the district’s preliminary 2025–26 budget; the board also granted limited authority to the chief business and finance officer and the superintendent to sign purchase and sale agreements related to district real estate matters. Board member Meredith Whitman moved approval of the academic standards; Whitman’s motion to “approve the adoption of the attached standards in the area of English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science” was seconded and approved by voice vote, with no recorded roll‑call dissent. Whitman then moved to approve the 2025–26 preliminary budget as presented. The board discussed state budget changes affecting revenue limits, special education aid and open‑enrollment transfer amounts during that agenda item. The administration told the board it expects a $3.25 per‑pupil increase in revenue limit authority and noted increased state special education aid percentages and higher open‑enrollment transfer figures, but also warned equalization aid was not increased to offset the revenue‑limit change. After discussion the board approved the preliminary budget by voice vote. The board also approved a motion authorizing Chief Business and Finance Officer Blaise Paul or Superintendent Dan Thielen to enter into purchase and sale agreements for certain Knight Construction‑related real estate transactions, “subject to sharing information with the school board and approval by electors as required by the state statute,” the motion said. The board approved that authorization by voice vote. Separately, the board approved the consent agenda (minutes, personnel items and required safety reports) and accepted donation reports for the quarter. No further policy changes were acted on at the July 14 meeting; the board recessed into executive session later in the agenda to consider superintendent compensation under state statute 19.85(1)(c). Votes reported during the meeting were voice votes for the listed motions; an executive‑session roll call was recorded when the board convened that closed session.