New Glarus board approves handbooks and routine personnel actions, renews girls soccer co‑op

The New Glarus School District board on April 13 approved a slate of routine personnel and policy items, adopting an administrative recommendation to absorb a 0.02 FTE youth‑apprenticeship position and approving teacher, support and exempt staff assignment letters for 2026–27.

Superintendent‑level staff explained the apprenticeship position would be absorbed into existing staff because recent graduating cohorts freed capacity; the administration said the district’s partnership with CISA 3 also reduces administrative burden for operating a larger apprenticeship program. The board voted to approve the committee recommendation by voice vote.

The board also approved the 2026–27 elementary, middle and high school handbooks after adopting an amendment to place "4K" before "K" in handbook language and to add a mandated‑reporting notice (the amendment was proposed and approved by the board during discussion). Board members discussed the high school conduct language clarifying that students attending graduation‑time gatherings during “pre‑established times” would not automatically be treated as in‑possession violations; administrators said the wording was intended to give some discretion to avoid penalizing students who attend family‑organized events without evidence of substance‑use behavior.

Board members also approved the renewal of the girls soccer cooperative for two more years. Administration said enrollment numbers for the co‑op fluctuate by year and the renewal keeps the program viable; the board clarified that Belleville continues to employ the coaching staff and that routine transportation for Belleville students to events at the host site remains Belleville’s responsibility unless otherwise requested. The motion to renew the co‑op passed without opposition.

Committee reports included a handbook and personnel committee update that recommended forming a special‑education leadership team and a policy committee update noting review of multiple policies; the board was notified of a projected health‑insurance cost increase reported in staff materials and was told that the budget committee will consider related budget items at a meeting scheduled before the April 27 reorganizational session.

All motions reported in meeting minutes carried by voice vote or unanimous recorded tallies where specified; the meeting adjourned at about 8:13 p.m.