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Kohler board approves $710,000 KTEA grant, shared-leave program and routine consent items
Summary
Trustees unanimously approved a $710,000 donation from the Frederick and Herb Kohler Trust for Education Advantage to fund staffing and accessibility projects, authorized open-enrollment seats, approved a shared-leave program for 2025–26, and carried routine consent agenda items including administrative contracts and resignations.
The Kohler School District board unanimously approved several actions, including acceptance of a $710,000 KTEA donation, allocation of open-enrollment seats, adoption of a shared-leave program for 2025–26, and routine consent-agenda items.
Superintendent Mike presented the KTEA (Kohler Trust for Education Advantage) donation of $710,000 from the Frederick and Herb Kohler Trust. The board was told the funds will support reading interventionists and a STEAM teacher (staffing that can be funded for up to five years), continue a bathroom accessibility project (phase 2), and finish a playground accessibility upgrade, along with related professional development and retention supports. The trustees moved, seconded, and voted to approve the donation and related expenditures.
On personnel and routine business, the consent agenda (which the chair read aloud) included approval of the Dec. 10, 2025, board minutes; various invoices; employment recommendations; approval of administrative contracts for Natasha Rau and Andrea Walter; and resignations by Eva Stokes (effective after the 2025–26 school year) and Isaac Peterson (effective Jan. 30, 2026). The board also authorized the expenditure of 2026–27 funds as a placeholder in the budget cycle. Because employment recommendations were on the consent agenda, the chair requested a roll call; trustees voted unanimously to carry the consent agenda.
The board approved recommended open-enrollment spaces (the chair read a detailed list by grade) and acknowledged special-education space determinations based on the DPI factor caseload formula. Tara (board member) noted the numbers reflected minor fluctuation from the December presentation and some recent enrollments and exits.
Superintendent Mike introduced a proposed shared-leave program to let employees donate unused sick leave to colleagues facing catastrophic events; the board approved the program for 2025–26 and directed staff to finalize language for potential inclusion in future handbooks.
The board also discussed upcoming WASB convention representation and empowered Kelly (board member) to break ties as the district delegate if needed. The meeting moved to closed session for a superintendent evaluation check-in after the votes.
Votes at a glance: unanimous approval for the consent agenda (minutes, contracts, resignations, expenditure authorization); unanimous approval of the open-enrollment allocations and special-education seats; unanimous approval of the $710,000 KTEA donation and associated expenditures; unanimous approval of the 2025–26 shared-leave program.
