Board approves consent agenda but pulls policy 8700; superintendent outlines referendum schedule and finance details

The Burlington Area School District board approved its consent agenda by voice vote at its Feb. 10, 2025 meeting after removing one policy for further review: Policy 8700, a proposed title change to replace “nursing mothers” with “lactating employees.” The board voted the remaining consent items approved on a voice vote; the board directed that Policy 8700 be returned to committee for a new first reading before any change is adopted.

A board member moved to remove Policy 8700 from the consent agenda to restore the prior title “nursing mothers.” During discussion board members and staff said the proposed change was intended as a wording update and would not change the policy’s substance, but several trustees preferred to retain the original language. The board confirmed that the removal will require returning the item to the policy committee for a formal first reading.

Superintendent Jill (name given in the meeting as the superintendent) provided the superintendent’s report. She announced a community connection series meeting on funding and budgeting scheduled for Feb. 19 and detailed four operational‑referendum informational meetings: Feb. 26 at 7 p.m., March 5 (7 a.m. and 7 p.m.) and March 12 (7 p.m., at Veterans Terrace). She said the district is entering its third operational referendum attempt and emphasized outreach opportunities ahead of voting.

Ruth, the district business manager, briefed the board on pupil counts used for state general equalization aid. The superintendent and business manager described three counts used in district reporting — head count (butts in seats), the DPI resident count, and the state “membership” figure that converts certain programs (early childhood, 4K, speech‑impact students) to full‑time equivalencies for aid formulas. They noted that membership, not raw head count, determines the district’s state general aid.

Facilities and buildings staff described recent installations of Data Wrangler meter devices at elementary schools and the high school to accurately allocate kitchen electrical costs to the food service fund (Fund 50). Staff reported an observed savings of about $100,000 this school year from earlier installations; they projected an additional roughly $40,000 in annual savings after extending the meters to remaining elementary buildings.

The health services update said the district has been designated a “heart‑safe” school district by Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Project Adam; the district’s Seal a Smile oral health program began at Winkler with 55 students participating to date. In teaching and learning, the superintendent said the district was already implementing science‑of‑reading training and that 39 kindergarten through fourth‑grade teachers are participating in Keys for Literacy training to meet Act 20 requirements.

On the consent agenda vote: the board approved the consent items by voice vote. The board did not record a roll‑call tally for the voice vote on the motion approving the consent agenda items (Policy 8700 excluded). Board discussion clarified the reason for removing Policy 8700 was limited to the policy title wording and that substantive policy language would remain unchanged unless a future first reading proposed edits.

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Speakers (as identified in the meeting): - Jill — Superintendent, Burlington Area School District (presented the superintendent’s report) - Ruth — Business manager, Burlington Area School District (finance/pupil count) - Roseanne — Board member (made board reports earlier and participated in discussion) - Paul — Board member (requested retaining original policy title; speaker identified in discussion) - Board president/meeting chair — presiding officer (called the meeting to order and called the vote)

Actions taken at the meeting: - Motion: “Approve the consent agenda items excluding Policy 8700.” Mover: not specified in transcript; second: not specified in transcript. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Notes: Policy 8700 was pulled for further review and will return for a first reading; vote was by voice and no roll‑call tally was provided.