School board approves Good Neighbor Festival on district grounds, waives two policies for Aug. 22–24

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Board of Education voted Monday to allow the Good Neighbor Festival to use the high school’s south parking lot and adjacent green space for the carnival portion of the festival Aug. 22–24, 2025, and to suspend two administrative policies for those dates.

Board President Bob Hesselbein called for a motion after festival organizers described why previously used spaces are unavailable and outlined a site plan. The board then approved “suspension of administrative policy 3122.01 and administrative policy 7434 for the dates of August 22 and August 24, 2025, and approval of use of school district grounds” for the festival; the motion passed with all members present voting in favor.

Organizers told the board they must move much of the event because a previously used parking lot and portions of Lee Street will be unavailable this year. Festival representatives said the carnival would be located in the south parking lot, with the main festival activities on the adjacent grassy area commonly called South Beach. “The beer tent would be what the stage would be at the southwest corner of the grounds,” Mark Kopits, a member of the festival executive board, told the board while describing a layout that places the stage and service areas to minimize impacts on nearby residences.

Why it matters: the vote clears the way for a long‑running community event to proceed on district property but requires follow‑up work to address safety, insurance, parking, accessibility and site condition. Board members pressed organizers on how the layout would affect traffic, accessible parking and school access, and asked staff to verify insurance coverage before the event.

Board and staff discussion and follow-up items

- Liability and insurance: Board members asked whether the district’s liability insurance would cover the festival and whether organizers would add the district as an additional insured. Festival organizers said they typically list the district or city as an additional insured and that they would continue that practice; the board asked district staff to confirm coverage with the carrier.

- Alcohol and policy suspension: Because sales of alcohol on school property conflict with administrative rules, the board voted to suspend the two specified policies for the festival dates so the beer tent may operate on district grounds. Board members discussed fencing and separation of alcohol service from family and children’s areas.

- Site logistics: Organizers said they would use generators and supplemental lighting and hire overnight security and multiple Middleton Police Department officers for the event. They suggested keeping certain driveways and accessible entrances open for emergency access and proposed working with the district on a detailed site walk‑through. Organizers also noted South Beach is being reseeded and that staff planned to confirm the field condition and timeline (organizers mentioned a hoped‑for completion date of about Aug. 1) before the event.

- Parking and accessibility: Festival representatives said they currently have no dedicated accessible parking on the proposed site but are exploring options, including using the driveway near the main entrance, the Masonic Lodge lot, and other nearby street frontages. The board asked organizers to work with the district and neighborhood representatives on traffic circulation and temporary closures where needed.

- Safety and separation: Organizers said they would fence the beer tent area and separate it from carnival and family areas; they also said the festival traditionally limits alcohol to fenced areas and does not allow alcohol in the art fair or carnival areas.

What the board authorized

- Use of the south parking lot and adjacent green space for the Good Neighbor Festival on Aug. 22–24, 2025. - Suspension of administrative policy 3122.01 and administrative policy 7434 for those dates to permit alcohol sales on district property during the festival.

Next steps and conditions

Board members and festival organizers agreed to schedule site walk‑throughs with buildings and grounds staff, verify insurance coverage with the district’s carrier, coordinate with the police department about street closures and officer staffing, and confirm the playing field seeding timeline. Board members said that if insurance or other conditions are not met, they may reconvene or call a special meeting to reconsider the approval.

Organizers told the board the festival has a multi‑decade history in the community and emphasized that they plan to work with district staff and neighbors to limit disruption.