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Berlin Area School District board adopts DPI standards, names bank depository and approves DPI waiver with ACT‑first‑attempt tiebreaker
Summary
The board voted to adopt Wisconsin DPI academic standards, appointed Farmers & Merchants Bank as the district's official depository and authorized check signers, and approved a DPI waiver (Wis. Stat. 118.3822) with added language that the ACT tiebreaker use the district‑recorded first attempt.
The Berlin Area School District board unanimously adopted a resolution to follow Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction academic standards for the coming year and authorized the administration to notify parents and guardians accordingly.
During the business portion, the board moved to designate Farmers & Merchants Bank as the district depository and to authorize the board president, treasurer and clerk as official check signers; the board also approved adding Samantha Menke as the authorized signer for the middle‑school activity account. The motions were seconded and approved by roll call; chair calls and individual 'yes' responses were recorded and at least two board members publicly abstained on the depository vote.
The board also held the required public hearing for a DPI waiver under Wisconsin Statute 118.3822 concerning identification of top students and tiebreakers. Staff explained the waiver follows prior practice but must be renewed annually. A central point of discussion was whether ACT scores used as a tiebreaker should consider a student's highest score after multiple attempts or the first attempt administered by the district. Multiple board members raised equity concerns about allowing repeated ACT retakes as a tiebreaker, noting cost and access differences. As staff summarized the proposed fix, a board member said the motion would "accept the waiver as is with the addition that the ACT score for tiebreaker purposes is just the 1st attempt that's been provided by the school district." That amendment was adopted and the motion carried by voice vote.
What happens next: staff will file the adopted standards notice as required and submit the DPI waiver with the added language clarifying the district‑recorded first ACT attempt as the tiebreaker. A board member suggested consulting the district testing coordinator (Brian) if further nuance around absences or makeup tests is needed; staff said they would follow up and return the item to a future meeting only if additional complications are identified.
