Board of Education Meeting Recap

Marcie Pfeifer-Soderbloom

May 22, 2025

Board of Education meetings can be viewed live on YouTube here and previous meetings can be reviewed here.

Superintendent’s Student Advisory

Students serving on the Superintendent’s Advisory at Verona Area High School (VAHS), Badger Ridge and Core Knowledge Middle Schools (BRMS/CKMS), and Savanna Oaks Middle School (SOMS) were recognized for their leadership. Graduating seniors from the VAHS Advisory were highlighted for their contributions. Students Faith Rush and Aaron Yarbro spoke about their experiences, both highlighting their appreciation for opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations with other students and Dr. Clardy, provide input on important topics and communications, and see their work and contributions reflected in various decisions, practices, and documents. Member White stated that he has shared information about this structure of incorporating student voice during his international travels and that educational institutions around the world are very impressed with this format.

Onsite Healthcare Clinic Construction Proposal

Relevant Policy: Operational Expectation (OE) 12: Facilities

Director of Human Resources Rachelle Hady provided an overview of the draft three-year contract between the Verona Area School District (VASD) and SSM Health Dean Medical Group to operate an onsite health clinic. The contract includes a 5% annual increase aligned with medical trends and provisions ensuring continued operation regardless of the district’s insurance provider. The clinic will support staff well-being through timely care and services such as behavioral health, minor illness treatment, and new employee physicals, while also helping to control insurance costs. The proposal aligns with Operational Expectation 12: Facilities and is part of the district’s broader efforts to support staff well-being, improve access to care, and manage rising healthcare costs.

Board members raised questions about clinic operations, staffing, and costs. The proposed staffing model includes 3.8 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) staff, including advanced practice providers. The clinic would be open year-round, and care provided at the clinic would not generate insurance claims, helping to contain overall plan costs. It was clarified that advanced practice providers are able to treat workers compensation cases and that there will be close monitoring of clinic utilization, capacity, and services provided.

Board members also emphasized the importance of clear communication to staff about the availability of the clinic, the available services, and benefits. Director Hady confirmed that plans are underway to introduce clinic providers during Welcome Week and to provide new employee physicals at the clinic to begin connecting staff with the clinic as soon as they begin their employment at VASD.

There was discussion about contract costs and potential savings. While some members noted the upfront cost is higher than expected, it was also clarified that the proposed clinic is cost-neutral compared to the projected increases that would have occurred if the district had stayed with Group Health Cooperative (GHC) as its insurance carrier and faced those rising costs. The contract includes a 90-day termination clause, providing flexibility. Data on clinic usage and outcomes will be collected to inform future decisions.

Board members expressed appreciation for the innovative approach and its potential to enhance staff wellness and retention. They noted the importance of clearly communicating to the community that the clinic will not create new costs for taxpayers. Ongoing conversations with employee groups such as the Verona Area Education Association (VAEA) and the Verona Education Support Professionals Association (VESPA) helped shape the proposal to ensure employee voice was incorporated, and awareness building started early in the process of exploring the possibility of having an onsite health clinic.

The administrative team will revisit the compensation language in the contract with SSM Health Dean Medical Group to discuss the possibility of revising it to clarify that payment for SSM clinic staff salaries will be based on actual cost.

Vote to Approve the Academic Achievement, Technologically Fluent Monitoring Report

Relevant Policy: Academic Achievement R 2.3

Director of Educational Technology Jason Rubo and Executive Director of Academic Services Amy Engelkins presented the R2.3 Academic Achievement-Technologically Fluent Monitoring Report. R2 holds that each student will be literate and numerate, able to achieve their personalized goals. Accordingly, R2.3 holds that all students will be technologically fluent and discerning consumers of knowledge and information, able to create, navigate, and use tools critically, ethically, and safely. Executive Director Engelkins and Director Rubo reported evidence of compliance for all indicators. The full report is available here under Monitoring Reports.

Key highlights included the following:

• Device Access and Infrastructure: Increased student device use, especially at middle and high school levels; improved repair turnaround times (from over 16 days in 2023–24 to 1.32 days in 2024–25); expansion of the K–5 opt-in device take-home program.
  
  

• Digital Literacy Growth: Implementation of platforms like Typing Club and expansion of robotics, 3D modeling, and cybersecurity opportunities.
  
  

• Digital Learning Environment: Use of student and staff surveys to assess access and progress; alignment with Wisconsin DPI Digital Learning Plan; improved cybersecurity awareness and lower phishing rates among staff.
  
  

• Professional Development: Delivery of Chromebook and EdTech training through in-person, virtual, and newsletter formats; summer Lunch and Learn sessions tailored to 12-month staff roles.
  
  

• Looking Ahead to 2025–26: Plans include enhancing cybersecurity (e.g., stronger student passwords, AI-assisted threat detection), expanding AI-focused professional development, and strengthening digital citizenship lessons in partnership with Library Media Center staff.

During the Board’s discussion of the R2.3 Academic Achievement-Technologically Fluent Monitoring Report, members focused on how technology access and use supports student learning and well-being. The conversation highlighted the importance of ensuring equitable internet access, particularly for middle and high school students whose learning is device-dependent. Board members asked how the district identifies students in need of hotspots, especially when outreach itself may rely on internet access. Director Rubo shared that school social workers connect families to the Technology Team when support is needed.

Board members also reflected on the monitoring indicators, noting a desire to shift the focus from operational processes to student outcomes. Suggestions included placing greater emphasis on how educational technology contributes to academic growth, digital citizenship, and student mental health. Members expressed appreciation for student involvement in tech initiatives, such as device and Wi-Fi refresh projects, and encouraged more data on how students are being prepared to use technology responsibly and critically.

Overall, the Board commended efforts to keep staff and students connected and encouraged continued focus on how technology access and instruction support student success and well-being.

Member Peguero motioned to approve the Results (R) 2.3: Technologically Fluent Monitoring Report as achieving reasonable progress. Member White seconded the motion. The motion carried 7-0.

Vote to Approve the Communicating With and Support for the Board Monitoring Report

Relevant Policy: Operational Expectations (OE) 8

Superintendent Dr. Clardy shared the Operational Expectation (OE 8): Communicating with and Support for the Board Monitoring Report. OE 8 holds that the Superintendent shall ensure that the BOE is fully supported and adequately informed about matters relating to BOE work and significant district concerns. The monitoring report focused on how the Superintendent ensures timely, transparent, and comprehensive communication with the BOE. The report included updates on how VASD communicates about significant district issues, financial matters, administrative actions, media coverage, and Board representation in district communications. The report demonstrated full compliance with OE 8. The full report is available here under Monitoring Reports.

During the Board’s discussion of the OE-8 monitoring report, members engaged in a thoughtful conversation about internal communication practices and the clarity of existing procedures, specifically related to Indicator 8.8. While the report was generally viewed as compliant with current expectations, the conversation surfaced the need to revisit how and when Board members receive information, especially in fast-moving situations involving media or public interest.

Board members expressed a desire for clearer, shared expectations regarding the flow of information between the Superintendent, Board President, and the full Board. Several members emphasized that without agreed-upon procedures, it is difficult to hold anyone accountable for communication practices. Ideas included establishing parameters around group texts, identifying what types of updates should be shared broadly or held for weekly summaries, and reviewing relevant policy language under Operational Expectations (OE) and Board-Superintendent Relations (BSR).

The discussion also expanded to broader communication topics, such as how the Board receives input from internal and external stakeholders and how Board members can report back from the various groups they participate in. There was shared interest in exploring the possibility of adding a student representative to the Board to strengthen student voice.

These reflections will help inform future improvements to policy language and Board communication norms, potentially during an upcoming Board retreat.

Member Hanes motioned to approve the Operational Expectations (OE) 8: Communicating With and Support for the Board Monitoring Report as in compliance. Member Porco seconded. The motion carried 6-1.

End of Year Visits to Schools

End of Year visits are underway at schools. These visits provide BOE members and VASD leaders with the opportunity to hear from schools about their goals and progress in various domains over the school year, as well as their areas for growth and plans for the future. School visitors spend time in classrooms seeing education in action. Member Murphy thanked her fellow BOE members for continuing to sign up for the visits.