Beaver Dam school board approves overnight student trips, personnel items, policy updates and $7.41M in claims

At its regular meeting, the Beaver Dam Unified School District board approved two recent out-of-state student trip requests, multiple personnel items, a package of policy updates and the payment of claims recorded in the meeting materials.

District staff described two overnight/out-of-state requests: a robotics world championship in Houston (dates given as the 16th–19th of the month) that will include student Owen Hemling and his mother Melissa Hemling, and a Morgridge summer science camp opportunity obtained via a grant application from Melissa Hemling that covers up to five students, lab supplies and an overnight dorm experience (transportation is the only cost to the district). “What a great opportunity,” the presenter said of the robotics invitation.

A board member moved and the board seconded approval of the overnight trip requests; a roll-call vote was recorded and the motion carried.

The board also approved personnel actions: acceptance of resignations and retirements (including one elementary-school retirement effective July 24, 2025 after 33 years of service), approval of two leaves of absence, and two teacher appointments for Washington Elementary School (Morgan Piran, grade two; Summer Salat, grade one) for the 2025–26 school year. Administration was granted authority to issue teacher contract renewals for 2025–26 (contracts to be issued no later than May 15 and signed returns due June 15). The board approved a preliminary notice of nonrenewal for a staff member named Brad Garden as part of staffing alignment and enrollment-driven restructuring.

On policy work, the board approved final readings for a set of updates that included three new policies (Policy 2440.01, summer interim school attendance; Policy 5411, third-grade promotion and retention for at-risk students, aligned with Act 20; and Policy 8125, consultants), 28 revisions, three replacements and three rescissions.

The board approved payment of claims. The meeting transcript printed the amount as "7,411,39347" (formatting unclear). District staff confirmed the intended amount during the meeting vote; the amount recorded in the board packet is $7,411,393.47 and the board voted to approve payment.

A motion to recess into closed session citing Wisconsin Statute 19.85 (employee performance/compensation and deliberations on purchasing/investing public funds for competitive or bargaining reasons) was made, seconded and approved by roll call; the board entered closed session.

Board members voted on the listed personnel and policy actions during the meeting; when votes were recorded the presiding officer declared motions carried.

Next procedural steps noted in the meeting: administration will issue renewal contracts in mid-May; referendum bid packages and contractor selection for referendum projects were expected to proceed in the coming weeks; and transition events for Wilson students moving to Washington School are scheduled in late April and May.