Board hears Summer Excel plans, student activities update; approves consent agenda and moves to closed session

At its regular meeting, the Stoughton Area School District Board of Education heard a student representative's update on athletics and arts, and a report from Dr. Keyser on the Summer Excel program. The board then approved the consent agenda, adopted a small governance wording change to Policy 1210, approved a DPI waiver to use local tiebreaking criteria for top-5/10% admissions, and entered a contemplated closed session.

Student activities and arts: The student representative reported spring and end-of-year student activities including athletic awards, a safety day at elementary schools, Riverbluff eighth graders' Give Back Day, and a skilled-trades boot camp invitation for high school students. Athletic highlights included multiple track qualifiers for state, girls soccer heading to playoffs, a first-ever 20-win softball season and a boys golf fourth-place finish at a regional meet.

Summer Excel report: Dr. Keyser outlined Summer Excel (program dates start June 15 and run through July 3) and said the district plans multiple sessions for learners in 4K through grade 8, with about 385 students expected at Sand Hill once construction-related moves finish. Programming will include arts, STEM and active recreational options; the district noted a partnership with Madison Ballet for a dance offering. Board members asked for a demographic breakdown of registrants and confirmation that Summer Excel teachers must be licensed; Dr. Keyser said the district will provide demographic data and confirmed licensed educators staff the program.

Consent agenda and votes at a glance: The consent agenda was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. Highlights discussed before the vote included questions about PECard charges and a special-education executive-function training purchased through federal flowthrough funds for a private partner school. The board also approved the DPI waiver for tiebreaking criteria (motion carried) and adopted the Policy 1210 wording change by roll-call vote (all recorded votes in favor). Finally, the board moved into a contemplated closed session by roll call; members were told no actions were likely to emerge from that closed session that night.

The board scheduled a governance work group meeting in the next month to revisit minutes and policy items, and requested staff provide Summer Excel demographic registration data at a future meeting.