Rice Lake Area School Board approves consent agenda, proclaims American Education Week and votes to enter closed session

The Rice Lake Area School District Board on Nov. 10 approved routine meeting minutes and a consent agenda that included the district's monthly budget report, cash reconciliation report, monthly bills, three staff resignations and two employment recommendations.

Board President Kevin Jensen read the items and presided as the board moved, seconded and approved both measures by voice vote. "All in favor, signify by saying aye," Jensen said as the motions passed.

The board also unanimously approved a proclamation declaring Nov. 17–21 as American Education Week. Kevin Jensen read the proclamation on behalf of the board, which praised public schools as "the backbone of our democracy" and recognized education employees for their service. The proclamation was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Late in the meeting, Jensen moved that the board convene into closed session under state open-meeting law to "talk over an individual employee contract" and to conduct the district administrator evaluation. The motion was seconded and the board approved the motion by roll call. The clerk called the roll and recorded affirmative votes from the membership present: Bert Richard; Nelly/Nellie Shire; Doug Kuchko; Lori Sarbach; Don Kuskke; Andrew Coop; Phil Henkel; Kevin Jensen; and Miriam (name read as "Miriam Bobrow" in transcript). The board then left the open meeting and entered closed session.

What the board discussed in closed session was not disclosed in the open minutes; the motion identified state open-meeting law as the authority for the closed session. The board earlier noted that a committee had previously gone into closed session Nov. 3 to review district administrator surveys and planned to return to closed session during this meeting to discuss recommendations.

On committee business reported in public session, the finance committee said it had recommended a $250 donation toward electricity costs for a Lake Desaire aerator project, approved an amendment to an LHB child-care architect contract to cover change orders and authorized an LHB study to estimate the cost of adding air conditioning at the high school. Those committee recommendations were presented for the board's information during the meeting; the board did not take a public vote on those specific items during open session.

Next steps: the board provided several routine announcements about upcoming veteran recognitions, concerts and parent-teacher conferences, and then adjourned to closed session to address personnel matters.

Authorities referenced in the meeting included readings of Wisconsin open-meeting and notice statutes and the board expressly cited the state statute authorizing closed sessions when moving into closed session.