Board approves purchase of new maintenance van; student‑fee relief and playground upgrades discussed

At the Sept. 8 meeting the Wisconsin Rapids School District board approved Business Services Committee recommendations, including the purchase of a new maintenance cargo van and the acceptance of several community donations. Trustees also discussed unpaid student fees and potential funding options.

Van purchase and vote

The Business Services Committee recommended replacing a 2008 Chevy Express 2500 maintenance van with extensive rust. Committee members reviewed multiple quotes and recommended the district purchase a 2025 cargo van from Wheeler’s Chevrolet for $43,244.50 to be paid from the 2025–26 buildings and grounds budget. The board approved the purchase.

Student fees and playgrounds

Business Services reported approximately $8,000 in unpaid student fees last year (supplies, materials, registrations). Board members discussed options to eliminate or reduce fees for families who do not qualify for waivers, including using funds donated from the planned solar project or requests to community partners such as the Legacy Foundation. Committee members described common fees: elementary student fee $20; secondary student fee $45; Chromebook optional insurance $25 per year; many consumable CTE fees are about $10 each. Staff said the district reduced science fees by about $7,000 for the current year.

Donations and other purchases

Staff noted donations and miscellaneous purchases: Rapids Kickers donated $1,000; Roberts donated $1,000 for a scoreboard; Solaris donated $6,000 to Partners in Education; and Carrie Bailey donated $100 for district discretionary use. The committee also reported multiple playground upgrades funded in part by the Legacy Foundation; staff said walking paths and fences at Washington had been completed.

Approval of receipts/disbursements

The board approved a motion to note August 2025 receipts of $1,394,014.38 and to approve August 2025 disbursements of $2,782,862.68; a roll‑call vote was recorded.

Speakers

- John (Business Services presenter) (government) - Ed (maintenance staff) (staff) - Aaron (board member) (government)

Actions

- Motion to approve purchase of 2025 cargo van from Wheeler’s Chevrolet for $43,244.50, funded from the 2025–26 buildings and grounds budget—approved. - Motion to note August receipts $1,394,014.38 and approve August disbursements $2,782,862.68—approved.

Provenance

topicintro: {"block_id":"block_696.56","local_start":0,"local_end":420,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you, John. Business services met on Tuesday, September 2. Our meeting was called to order at 06:42. We did not have any public comment and in our meeting we only had 1 actionable item. Does anybody have any questions on it?"}

topfinish: {"block_id":"block_1210.495","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"I have a motion to approve the meeting minutes of the Business Service Committee of 09/02/2025. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries."}