August 2025 Board Considerations
Monthly Update on CFAUSD Board of Education Activities
Purpose
Booster Club Donation
All Staff Kickoff Day
All Staff Kickoff Day
August 26, 2025 Regular Board Meeting
Showcase a School
Booster Club Donation
Steve Gibbs, Booster Club President, presented a $145,000.00 check to the Chi-Hi Athletics Fund for the 2025-26 school year. Due to the Booster Club’s continued commitment to raising funds for our student athletes, participation costs remain low.
Cardinal Care
Jamie Ganske, Mental Health & Resiliency Coordinator, highlighted two mental health supports that are provided to our students. Holly Schindler, owner, and Nikki Witt shared about Holly’s Place, a therapeutic equestrian center that provides equine therapy for our students on the farm and in school settings. Mrs. Ganske also highlighted the work that Christy Langman has done for our staff and students while teaching mindfulness. Students who practice mindfulness are better equipped to problem solve, connect with peers, staff, and other community members and are often more ready to learn in the classroom. These are just two of the many community partnerships provided through Cardinal Care; click here for more information.
District Wellness Action Plan Annual Review
Melissa Panchychyn, Assistant Food Service Director, provided an annual report. The triennial assessment was conducted last school year. The District continues to work on updating the policy and standards for nutrition, physical education, and physical activity to make sure we are aligned with new regulations that may have been implemented; click here for more information.
Introduction of New Administrators
Jeff Holmes, Superintendent of Schools introduced the new administrators for the 2025-26 school year.
- Jill Alexander, Parkview Elementary Principal
- Katie Coppenbarger, Director of Teaching & Learning
- Melissa Olson, Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning & Cardinal 4K
Monitoring Operational Performance
OE-5: Personnel Administration
Sara Denure, Director of Human Resources, provided an overview of the OE-5 Personnel Administration monitoring report. The Board agreed that the District is in compliance, with asterisks, on the OE-5 Personnel Administration monitoring report; click here to view the report.
R-2.2: Personal Interests and Strengths
Katie Coppenbarger, Director of Teaching & Learning; Melissa Olson, Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning; and Scott Marty, Director of Educational Technology, provided an overview of the R-2.2 Personal Interests and Strengths monitoring report; click here to view the report.
Board Consent Agenda
Approval of New Hires, Resignations, Retirements, and Leaves of Absence
The Board approved the new hires, resignations, and retirements as presented by the Human Resources Department; click here for details.
Approval of Financial Reports
The Board approved the July financial reports as presented; click here for the detailed report.
Approval of Board Meeting Minutes
The Board approved the July meeting minutes; click here for details.
Consideration of Monitoring Report Summaries
The Board approved the monitoring report summaries as presented; click here for details.
Superintendent's Consent Agenda
Consideration of 66.0301 Project Search UW-Stout Program Cooperative Agreement between Menomonie Area School District and CFAUSD
The Board approved the 66.0301 Project Search UW-Stout Program Cooperative Agreement between the Menomonie Area School District and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District as presented; click here for details.
Consideration of 66.0301 Project Search UW-Stout Program Cooperative Agreement between Stanley-Boyd Area Schools and CFAUSD
The Board approved the 66.0301 Project Search UW-Stout Program Cooperative Agreement between Stanley-Boyd Area Schools and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District as presented; click here for details.
Consideration of 66.0301 Project Search UW-Stout Program Cooperative Agreement between School District of Colfax and CFAUSD
The Board approved the 66.0301 Project Search UW-Stout Program Cooperative Agreement between the School District of Colfax and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District as presented; click here for details.
Consideration of 66.0301 Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Special Education Services Cooperative Agreement between School District of the Menomonie Area and CFAUSD
The Board approved the 66.0301 Deaf/Hard of Hearing Teacher Special Education Services Cooperative Agreement between the School District of the Menomonie Area and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District as presented; click here for details.
Matters Reserved for Board Action
Consideration of District Brochure for Superintendent Search
The brochures are created by McPherson & Jacobson. Since they already have a template to work from for our District, they would be willing to put together a 4-sided brochure for $250, versus $700. It is an additional cost and is not included in the base cost. The Board approved the $250.00 fee for McPherson & Jacobson, LLC to update the brochure.
Consideration of Woldt Donation Project Proposals
Jeff Holmes, Superintendent of Schools, presented a summary of the Woldt Donation Project Proposals that were submitted by Chi-Hi and Stillson staff. Administration recommended that the Board schedule a special board meeting to further review and discuss the project proposals. The Board voted to postpone the Woldt Donation Project Proposals decision until the Board can hold a special meeting that allows for greater consideration of these and potentially more proposals; click here for details.
Consideration of Employee Handbook Revision
Sara Denure, Director of Human Resources, proposed a change to the employee handbook regarding certified staff evaluation that would uphold State Statutes and allow our staff to receive higher quality feedback that coincides with a reduction in the number of observations we currently require; click here for details.
Resolution Authorizing Temporary Borrowing in an Amount Not to Exceed $6,700,000; Issuance of Tax and Revenue Anticipation Promissory Notes; and Participation in the PMA Levy and Aid Anticipation Notes Program
Chad Trowbridge, Director of Business Services and Finance, provided an overview of the temporary borrowing situation for the 2025-26 school year; click here for details.
Communicating with the Board (if applicable, click on the report heading for greater detail)
Chad Trowbridge, Director of Business Services & Finance, provided an overview of the current enrollment numbers. Since the July update, there has been increases in our 4K, elementary, and middle school numbers.
Superintendent Search Update
Sara Denure, Director of Human Resources, and Chad Trowbridge, Business Manager, provided an update on the Superintendent Search process. McPherson & Jacobson has finalized the job posting, which will be live on their website beginning September 24. The District has also launched a Superintendent Search webpage, where families and community members can access updates throughout the process. The stakeholder survey is available on this webpage and has also been shared through Infinite Campus messenger and the District’s social media channels.
Katie Coppenbarger, Director of Teaching & Learning, provided an overview of this year’s summer school programming.
*Please note that the above information is provided pending the approval of Board minutes at their next regularly scheduled meeting.
Beyond the Bell Podcast; click the picture to listen. New episode Sept. 8!
CONNECTING WITH YOUR BOARD OF EDUCATION
Your CFAUSD Board of Education
Bottom row - Board Members (l to r) - Steve Olson, Dave Martineau, and Sharon McIlquham,
Additional Board of Education Information
The Board of Education of the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District represents, leads and serves the district’s owners and holds itself accountable to them by committing to act in their best interests and by ensuring that all Board and district action is consistent with law and the Board’s policies.
The Board’s purpose is to assure that the District achieves the results described in the Board’s Results policies and that it operates according to the values expressed in the Board’s Operational Expectations policies.
The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District School Board members are committed to maintaining an open line of communication with residents of the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District. Anyone having specific questions relating to board policies or actions should call the Board of Education office at (715)726-2417 or by mail at:
Secretary of the Board of Education
1130 Miles Street
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
Upcoming Board Events
Website Issues
Email: verdonjb@chipfalls.org
Website: https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/
Location: 1130 Miles Street, Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Phone: (715) 726-2417
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chippewafallsschool