Board recommends public‑access rules for Rubik and Steinbecker fields, approves middle‑school conference change and policy updates

At the Feb. 5 workshop, staff presented an attorney‑reviewed public‑access policy for Rubik and Steinbecker fields based on a historical federal land gift to the city and then to the district that the attorney advised requires public accessibility with reasonable parameters.

Stacy (Speaker 5) summarized the policy elements: fields open 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday–Friday; locker rooms, press box, concession stands and bathrooms would not be opened to the general public as part of ordinary access; the superintendent (district administrator) may restrict access for school functions, maintenance, federal holidays or city or police direction; signage would show hours and include a no‑liability notice; public users would be financially liable for damage. "So this is really a policy that just protects us, and keeps us in compliance with having that open to the public to be able to use," the presenter said.

Board members raised safety and liability questions and asked that signage include no‑liability language; staff confirmed signage will be posted once the policy moves through board approval and staff will coordinate with city contacts for any off‑hour special events.

Separately, Katie Eichman (identified by staff as director of secondary curriculum) proposed making the March 5 middle‑school parent‑teacher conference a full day to allow morning access for families and to free time for planning for the following school year. A motion to recommend the calendar change passed with aye votes.

The board also reviewed several policy updates, including energy‑conservation work that staff said had helped reduce utility costs and a terminology change noting that Wisconsin statutes now refer to a superintendent as a "district administrator." Trustees asked the policy committee to review policy 75.10 for clarity on facility use and holidays to ensure consistency with facility‑use procedures.