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Board adopts new math curricula, hears facilities and tech updates; Baird briefs financing context
Summary
The East Troy board approved Bridges third edition for K-5 and Amplify Desmos for grades 6 through Algebra 2, received a facilities update on LED, water-main and security projects funded from operations, and heard a technology update on Chromebook replacement and cybersecurity.
The East Troy Community School District Board of Education approved two major curriculum moves at its March 23 meeting and received updates on facilities and technology funded from the district's operating budget.
Curriculum leaders said math materials follow a scheduled six-year cycle. "The last time math resources were adopted was 2017," a district leader explained; the elementary team recommended updating Bridges and Number Corner to Bridges third edition for kindergarten through fifth grade because the second edition is no longer available. Secondary teachers piloted multiple curricula and recommended Amplify Desmos for grades six through Algebra 2; the board adopted that recommendation.
Superintendent/administrators explained the purchases are budgeted within the curriculum line and that subscriptions and digital licenses are structured to cover a six-year cycle. "We will purchase both workbooks for students and also the online components," the curriculum lead said of the Amplify Desmos adoption.
On facilities, Director of Buildings and Grounds Gage Johnson described operational upgrades completed or scheduled with operating funds, including LED lighting retrofits, a middle-school water-main replacement, upgraded kitchen ventilation and ceiling work, added exterior lighting for safety, and secure-entrance improvements. Johnson emphasized the goal of preventive maintenance and long-term utility savings and said many projects are scheduled for spring break and second-shift work to avoid disrupting instruction.
The technology director presented annual staff-survey results that showed improved perceptions of equipment, wireless coverage and software access. He confirmed Chromebook replacement cycles for elementary students and staff this summer and described an upcoming migration from VMware to Microsoft Hyper-V for on-premises virtualization to contain licensing costs. The tech team also highlighted ongoing cybersecurity measures including phishing simulations, WAZA monitoring for log-based threat detection, and a planned AI-policy committee.
Finance consultant Marquez Guzman of Baird Public Finance had earlier explained why many Wisconsin districts pursue operational referenda: per-pupil revenue is set by a revenue-limit formula that lags inflation while district membership often declines, producing pressure for local ask. Guzman's presentation supplied context for the board's request on the April ballot.
What the board approved: Bridges third edition (Kâ) and Amplify Desmos (6 /Alg 2). Procurement and staff training are scheduled for the coming months, and administrators said implementation updates will be provided to the board during the 2026-27 school year.
Funding note: The curriculum and most facility upgrades discussed were presented as covered by the current operating budget and referenced the proposed referendum only as a factor affecting long-term operational capacity.
