Medford Area School Board approves pool scoreboard funding, adopts policy readings and moves to closed session

The Medford Area Public School District Board of Education met Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in the district office board room and approved several routine and specific items, including a funding commitment for a new pool scoreboard and multiple policy second readings.

The board approved the consent agenda, which included minutes, treasurer and personnel reports and renewal of the RVA shared services contract with Algoma, Shell Lake, Shawano and Seymour school districts (motion Hallgren/Deml). Presenters from the swim club—Mandy Haenel, Oralee Dittrich and Morgan Wilson—noted the club already had $14,500 committed to a new scoreboard and asked the board to cover the remainder. The board authorized up to $15,000 toward the pool upgrades (motion Hallgren/Deml; motion carried).

The board also conducted policy business. A motion from policy to approve second readings for items including traffic and parking controls, material resource management, use of school equipment, hazardous substances management and school wellness was made and carried. The board approved consideration of open enrollment and class size policy items (motion Deml/Neurnberger; motion carried).

During the meeting District Administrator Pat Sullivan provided a legislative update announcing the district’s legislative dinner scheduled for April 1 at Medford Area Middle School. Board members gave brief reports on the recent Wisconsin Association of School Boards convention and administrators provided building‑level updates, including on anti‑bullying activity and a Character Strong curriculum connection.

Near the end of the open session the board moved (Zuleger/Neurnberger) and recorded an 8‑0 roll‑call vote to adjourn to closed session to discuss administrator employment, resignation and contract non‑renewal under Wis. Stat. §19.85(1)(c) and Wis. Stat. §118.24. The meeting adjourned to closed session at about 7:13 p.m. and later formally adjourned for the night at about 7:33 p.m.

Votes at a glance:
- Consent agenda (minutes, treasurer, personnel, RVA contract renewal): approved (motion Hallgren/Deml).
- Pool scoreboard funding: approved up to $15,000 (motion Hallgren/Deml; motion carried).
- Policy second readings: approved (motion from policy; motion carried).
- Open enrollment/class size consideration: approved (motion Deml/Neurnberger; motion carried).
- Adjourn to closed session to discuss administrator employment: approved by roll call, 8‑0 (motion Zuleger/Neurnberger).

The board’s next procedural step on personnel matters will occur in closed session; no action on administrator employment was recorded in the public minutes. The meeting record shows Nicole Gebert as recording secretary and Jodi Nuernberger as clerk.