The Chilton School Board decided last week to seek more information before making a decison about hiring an outside firm

to review and update the district’s policies.

    Superintendent Dr. Claire Martin provided the Board with a cost estimate of approximately $8,000 for the time that she and District Administrative Assistant Dawn Bartel spend working on District policy during one year, including time preparing policy, attending meetings and updating the policy manual.

    Martin compared these costs with those that would be charged by outside entities including WASB, (Wisconsin Association of School Boards), which would charge up to $10,500 for policy review and policy manual consulting, and Neola, Inc., which would charge between $7,000 and $8,500. 

    Board President Paul Meier suggested postponing action on the proposal to hire an outside firm to take over the task of reviewing and updating policy until the services and associated costs could be more fully evaluated.

    Board member Russ Rautmann reviewed additions and amendments to several policy items that were brought to the Board for their first reading, including a new locker room policy added to protect student privacy and an expansion of the harassment policy to include bullying, cyber-bullying and hazing.

    In addition, a gifted and talent policy, written by G and T Coordinator Aaron Juhl, was added, and changes in language were made to policies covering Scholarships, Curricular/Co-curricular Attendance at State Functions, Responsibility for Health Program, Emergency Nursing Service Statement of Standards, and Physician Responsibility.  

    Regarding Board Member convention attendance, at the November Board meeting Meier suggested that no more than 2 board members attend national school board conventions each year, and no more than 3 board members attend state school board conventions each year, with board members taking turns. Meier cited budget constraints as his rationale for this amendment to policy. 

    Policy Committee member Jerry Kolbe informed the Board that no formal change to policy was recommended after discussion at the Policy Committee meeting held December 18th.  Martin noted that the Policy Committee felt that the Board already has the authority to limit attendance at conventions without changing policy.  Meier responded that if everyone else needs to cut the budget, then the Board must be able to do so also, and he sent Board Member convention attendance back to committee for additional review.     

    Mr. Tom Beck, who is a Buildings and Grounds Consultant for the Neenah Joint School District and former colleague of Dr. Martin, gave a brief overview of the services he could provide in assisting Head of Maintenance Dan Kopf in the development of a 5-year maintenance plan for the District.  Beck's services would cost $2,700 for an estimated 32 hours of work which would include a walk-through assessment of the buildings and grounds, and the development of a project list in spreadsheet form that would allow items to be added or deleted as priorities change. 

    Board member Randy Lisowe briefed the Board about concerns addressed at a recent Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting regarding who is responsible for the costs of snow removal from the school grounds when an outside group is using the facility while school is not in session.  Martin was concerned with the liability that the District could face if parking lots weren't properly cleared for a non-school function, but she was also concerned that the cost of clearing a lot, which can run hundreds of dollars, might be prohibitive to some community groups to take on themselves. 

    Martin suggested that perhaps Fund 80 could cover the portion of snowplowing costs that are related to non-school functions.  Kopf said that the cost of snow removal and salting for December was $16,788, including weekends.  Martin added that Fund 80 is not under the revenue limit, so taxes could be raised to cover the costs.  Fund 80 is also used to cover community use of the weight room, pool and Engler Center.   

    The Board approved the resignation submitted by Co-head Football Coach Scott Fritz, who will be stepping down after many years with the team.  The Board also approved hiring Amy Criter to fill the part-time Nutrition Service Clerical Aide position that was vacated last fall.   

    The board approved a gift of 20 new warm-up suits presented by Tim Hephner on behalf of the Chilton Wrestling Club to the Middle School Wrestling Team, coached by John Hostettler.  

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