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North Cape board weighs iReady math coaching as superintendent warns special education aid will fall short
Summary
The North Cape School Board discussed contracting iReady math coaching through Matt Hayden (CESA 2) for under $10,000 to support instruction, and Superintendent Dr. Lehnen said state special education aid is expected to drop to about 35% from earlier projections, reducing revenue and increasing local fund transfers.
The North Cape School District Board on Dec. 15, 2025 discussed pursuing contracted math coaching to support iReady instruction and heard a warning from Superintendent Dr. Lehnen that state special education aid will be less than had been estimated when the district set its budget.
Board members reviewed a proposal to contract coaching and classroom support for iReady Math delivered by Matt Hayden through CESA 2. The minutes record that coaching would build teacher capacity and would not be an expense expected to exceed $10,000. The board did not take a formal vote on a contract at the meeting; Dr. Lehnen said he would keep the board informed as the district pursues the resource.
During the new-business discussion, Dr. Lehnen told the board that the anticipated special education revenue allocation agreed upon by the state—previously described in the budget assumptions as 42% for this year and 45% for next year—is now expected to be about 35%. "This will have a negative impact upon our revenue, resulting in a higher operating expense transfer from Fund 10," the minutes state. The district recorded that the reduction represents roughly a 7 percentage-point decrease from the earlier assumption and said the change "will have a big effect on districts," without listing specific dollar amounts in the minutes.
Treasurer Ryan Menken also noted at the meeting that the district had received only modest additional revenues and that benefits and compensation expenditures are on track; board members asked for continued updates as the fiscal effects become clearer.
The discussion left next steps with administration: Dr. Lehnen will pursue the coaching arrangement and report back, and district financial monitoring will continue while the board considers budget implications of the lower state special education allocation. No formal motion or budget amendment on the SPED estimate was recorded at the meeting.
The board moved to an executive session later in the meeting to discuss specific students’ behavioral and social and emotional needs; the executive session was conducted under Wisconsin State Statute 19.85(1)(f).
