West Bend board adopts third-grade reading policy, approves consent agenda; discusses facility fees and course renaming

At its May 27 meeting the West Bend Joint School District No. 1 board unanimously adopted policy 345.41 (third-grade to fourth-grade promotion and retention) to comply with state Act 20, approved a broad consent agenda covering personnel and curriculum items, and held first readings on several fiscal and facilities policies.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the Act 20 policy, which the district said will be effective beginning September 2027 as the law allows an adoption date with a later start. “This is just aligning our course name. Right now, it’s advanced algebra. We’d like to name it algebra 2,” Superintendent Julie Wimmer said in a separate discussion about course-name alignment; that renaming was recommended for placement on the consent agenda.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve the meeting agenda — approved by voice vote. - Motion to approve the consent agenda — approved by voice vote. The consent agenda included minutes of the May 12 regular meeting and executive session, four contracts, two employee transfers, five resignations, out-of-state and out-of-country trip approvals (West boys track; French class), multiple curriculum-resource recommendations (illustrative math grades 6–12, several AP and CTE resources, and ELA grade 5), 2025–26 student fees and meal prices, and other routine personnel/contract items. - Motion to adopt policy 345.41 (third-grade to fourth-grade promotion and retention; Act 20) — motion passed unanimously by voice vote and recorded as unanimous by the board chair. - Motion to adjourn into executive session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(c) for employee evaluation matters — approved by roll-call vote (Ergot: yes; Krueger: yes; Lang: yes; Swigert: yes; Tamez: yes; Pickler: yes; Jenkins absent).

Board discussion and first readings The board received a report from the curriculum committee and learned the committee reviewed the book-club recommendation process and several titles that exceed review thresholds (Ender’s Game, The Glass Castle and The Color Purple) will be brought forward for full board review. The curriculum committee chair, Melanie Aragott, said the committee planned to solicit further staff and family feedback before returning with recommendations.

Administrators also presented first readings on the 600-series fiscal-management policies (purchasing, fund balance, asset management and fraud prevention) and a revised facilities-use policy that consolidates user categories and streamlines charges. The district described the proposed facilities-use changes as a simplification from the prior eight groups and four pricing tiers to three user groups and two pricing tiers and said the administrative rule (fee schedule) will be brought back with an implementation date recommendation to give outside users time to plan.

What passed and what’s next The Act 20 policy adoption satisfies the state-required board action; the district will finalize implementation details, including universal reading-screening timelines and progress-monitoring procedures, through the curriculum committee and administrative processes before the policy’s effective date. The board will also receive additional policy second readings and fee schedule recommendations at future meetings.

Ending Board members scheduled upcoming meetings in June and asked administration to gather constituent feedback on a proposed high-school configuration review process before the board develops a formal, board‑approved process later this year.