January 2026 Board Considerations
Monthly Update on CFAUSD Board of Education Activities
Purpose
Chi Hi Social Studies Department Showcase
2026 WASB State Education Convention
Staff Holiday & Years of Service Recognition
January 27, 2026 Regular Board Meeting
Student Representative Report
Chloe Johnson and Josiah Isenberger, Co-Student Representatives, provided their monthly report; click here for the full report.
Showcase a School
Chippewa Falls Senior High School
Principal Donna Goodman introduced John Kinville and Jason Bobb, who highlighted the Chi-Hi Social Studies department and their focus on The Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) attributes. Mr. Bobb emphasized that the five PoG attributes are being taught every day in social studies classrooms. Students are becoming engaged citizens, effective communicators, resilient thinkers, problem solvers, and continuous learners through real-world simulations, debates, evidence-based writing, and role-play activities connected to real-world issues. Two notable achievements include a 100% proficiency rate on the state civics exam since 2017 and high student engagement, indicated by enrollment numbers that have recently exceeded graduation requirements; click here for more information.
Focus On Results
R-2.1.d: Academic Performance (Social Studies)
Katie Coppenbarger, Director of Teaching & Learning, provided an overview of the R-2.1.d Social Studies Academic Performance monitoring report; the Board agreed that the District has made reasonable progress on R-2.1.d for the past year; click here to view the report.
Review of Board Policy, R-2.1.d: Academic Performance - Social Studies and Discussion of Potential Indicator Revisions
No changes were recommended at this time.
Monitoring Operational Performance
OE-9: Communicating with the Board
On behalf of Superintendent Holmes, Chad Trowbridge, Business Manager, provided an overview of the OE-9 Communicating with the Board monitoring report; the Board agreed that the District is in compliance with OE-9 for the past year; click here to review the report.
Review of Board Policy, OE-9: Communicating with the Board and Discussion of Potential Indicator Revisions
No changes were recommended at this time.
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 December financial reports as presented; click here for the detailed report.
Approval of Board Meeting Minutes
The Board approved the December 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 2026-2027 Open Enrollment Caps
The Board approved the 2026-2027 Open Enrollment Caps presented; click here for details.
Consideration of Chippewa Falls High School and McDonell Central High School Girls Gymnastics WIAA Cooperative Team Application Renewal for the 2026-2027 School Year
The Board approved the Chippewa Falls High School and McDonell Central High School Girls Gymnastics WIAA Cooperative Team Renewal Application for the 2026-2027 school year as presented; click here for details.
Consideration of Chippewa Falls High School, Menomonie Area School District, and McDonell Central High School Girls Hockey WIAA Cooperative Team Application Renewal for the 2026-2027 & 2027-2028 School Years
The Board approved the Chippewa Falls High School, Menomonie Area School District, and McDonell Central High School Girls Hockey WIAA Cooperative Team Application Renewal for the 2026-2027 & 2027-2028 School Years as presented; click here for details.
Consideration of 66.0301 Cooperative Agreement for Speech Language Services with Eau Claire Area School District and Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District
The Board approved the 66.0301 Cooperative Agreement for Speech Language Services with Eau Claire Area School District and Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District as presented; click here for details.
Consideration of 66.0301 Cooperative Agreement for Project Search with Eau Claire Area School District and Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District
The Board approved the 66.0301 Cooperative Agreement for Project Search with Eau Claire Area School District and Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District as presented; click here for details.
Matters Reserved for Board Action
Resolution Authorizing the Issuance and Establishing Parameters for the Sale of Not to Exceed $40,000,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds
Chad Trowbridge, Business Manager, introduced Brian Brewer from Baird and Erik Kass from PMA Securities. They provided an overview of the debt refinancing resolution and parameters, which the Board approved as presented; click here for more information.
Consideration of Senior Graduation Party Donation
The Board approved a donation of $500.00 to the 2026 Chi Hi/McDonell Senior Graduation Parties; click here for details.
Consideration of Student Representative Position
The Board voted to proceed with a two student co-representative model, to have the policy committee update po0141.1 - Student Representation at Board Meetings at their upcoming policy committee meeting, and to open the application period from February 23–March 13, advertising to juniors and seniors for representative to the Board; click here for details.
Communicating with the Board (if applicable, click on the report heading for greater detail)
Chad Trowbridge, Business Manager, provided a status update on the current year budget.
Sara Denure, Human Resources Director, provided an update on the compensation study and initial cost-out for certified staff, schedule C and substitutes. The next update will be in February.
Student Code of Conduct Review Ad Hoc Committee
Chris McMasters, Director of Student Services and Special Education, provided a brief update on preparation for the upcoming student code of conduct review. The ad hoc committee’s first meeting will be held on February 11, 2026.
*Please note that the above information is provided pending the approval of Board minutes at their next regularly scheduled meeting.
Latest episode: January 12, 2026
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