Germantown School District - WI -

Superintendent Dr. Chris Reuter provided a District Administrator update sharing the great festivities involved with homecoming: pep rally, powder puff game, dance, spirit days; fall sports playoff season has begun; in January the new Communications Manager, Justin Marien, will be coming to the Board to share an update; look for changes to the website; and next Tuesday, October 28th is the budget hearing and annual meeting at the PAC starting at 6:00 p.m.

The Germantown School District Student Representative provided an update on what is happening at Germantown High School: homecoming festivities wrapped up and were a success, the cafeteria has been serving lettuce and microgreens thanks to the new hydroponics room, congratulations to the two National Merit semi-finalists, and conferences were recently held.  

Germantown High School students who participated in the German/American exchange program shared their experiences with the program.

Performing Arts Center Coordinator Heather Ellis provided a PAC update sharing the 25-26 usage, public events and the rehearsals and meetings associated with the events, the Dramatic Impact 25-26 season, the KMS musical is in February, a breakdown of the outside rental groups, the Community Series events for 25-26, the Community Advisory Team and the 26-27 planning, thank you to all of the volunteers that help make the events possible, the expense/revenue review, current projects (orchestra pit net, vendor tables, technology updates, increasing online foot traffic), and website information.  

Food & Nutrition Supervisor Jill Seefeld provided a food and nutrition update sharing information on the hydroponic lab set-up at Germantown High School, the Kennedy Middle School remodel, the new card system being implemented at the elementary schools, and the goal for the year is to increase meal counts by creating student food groups at each school to discuss student likes and dislikes. 

Director Tracy Pawlak shared information from the Park & Rec Commission meeting. Director Jeff Voyer did not have any information to share from the Economics Development Committee. President Russ Ewert shared information from the Village of Germantown Planning Commission meeting.

The following citizens spoke: Kerie Schwarten with the GEA, Dominic Damien with some general information and to say thank you.

Motion by Barney, second by Brown to approve the Consent Agenda A-D. Dr. Reuter highlighted the donations. Dr. Castro highlighted the long-term sub teacher contract. Motion carried.

Pawlak provided an update from the October 7, 2025 Teaching & Learning Committee meeting sharing information regarding the 2025-2026 state report card updates, the Grace Commons-Beyond 18 Program, the comprehensive counseling model process and timeline, the September 29th professional development day, and the English 11 course description and UbD.

The Teaching & Learning Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the English 11 course description and to add English 11 as a required course in the ELA course progression pending a review and approval of course material. Motion by Ewert, second by Pawlak to replace the wording from the motion “pending a review and approval of course material” to read “The review and approval of course materials and the Understanding by Design (UbD) unit plan for English 11 shall occur prior to June 1, 2026.“ The amendment to the motion carried. The motion now reads “Motion to approve the English 11 course description and to add English 11 as a required course in the ELA course progression. The review and approval of course materials and the Understanding by Design (UbD) unit plan for English 11 shall occur prior to June 1, 2026.” Motion with the amendment carried. 

Pawlak provided an update from the October 7, 2025 Buildings & Grounds Committee Meeting sharing information regarding the work order completion report, the 2025 summer project recap, and the Amy Belle overflow lot paving project which was moved forward to the Finance Committee.

Brown provided an update from the October 21, 2025 Personnel Committee meeting sharing information on teacher resignations, teacher contracts, a staffing update, the administrator and professional/technical employee group comp study, the insurance and benefit renewal, and the advisor and DI contracts. 

The Personnel Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the proposed UMR options for Health Insurance, Delta/Dental, and Delta/EyeMed coverage for the 2026 plan year to include the enhancement to the Delta Dental coverage and the associated cost increase to be covered by the District, with all costs noted in the Germantown School District 2026 Benefit Rate Sheet provided. Motion carried. 

The Personnel Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the advisor and DI contracts. Motion carried. 

Barney provided an update from the October 21, 2025 Finance Committee meeting mentioning the approval of the September vouchers; the $100,000 United Way Grant; and the requests for hydroponic gardens, the Amy Belle overflow lot paving project, the snow removal bids, and the district-wide loaner laptops requests. 

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve an additional expense of $2,619.65 for the construction project of classroom A102 for a Hydroponic Vegetable Garden at GHS to be funded from the Food and Nutrition budget. Motion carried.

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board to approve the Amy Belle Overflow Lot Paving, using Johnson and Sons Paving, for the amount of $57,184.00, funded out of the Fund 41 Capital Improvements budget. Motion carried (4-3).

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board of Education to approve the three year snow removal service agreement with De Angelis Construction, LLC. Motion carried.

The Finance Committee brings forward a positive recommendation to the Full Board of Education to purchase laptops from Bluum using Common School Funds for a total not to exceed $26,795.76. Motion carried. 

German Teacher Michael Knox led discussions on the overnight travel request to Germany. Motion by Voyer, second by Pawlak to approve up to 20 students and 2-3 chaperones to travel to Bensheim, Hessia in Germany in June 2027 (estimated June 13-30, 2027). Motion carried. 

School Board President Russ Ewert led discussions on a proposed state report card resolution. Motion by Barney, second by Voyer to adopt the Germantown School District DPI State Report Card resolution as presented. 

Roll call: Ewert - yes, Brown - yes, Barney - yes, Loth - yes, Pawlak - yes, Higginbotham - yes, Voyer - yes. 

Motion carried (7-0)

Director of Teaching & Learning Jake Misiak led discussions on the Early College Credit Credit Program and Start College Now Applications. Motion by Higginbotham, second by Pawlak to approve the Early College Credit Program and the Start College Now requests as presented. Motion carried (Barney - abstain).

Director of Teaching & Learning Jake Misiak provided a summer school report sharing that programming was held at Kennedy Middle School for 4K-8th grade students and Germantown High School for students in 9th-12th grade with 814 students attending across the two sites. Literacy booster sections were added. 

The Board entered into Closed Session at 8:47 p.m. and returned to Open Session at 11:17 p.m.

Motion by Pawlak, second by Higginbotham to approve the following: “I move that the Germantown School District Board disallow the claim submitted by Olivia and Matthew Braz, received September 19, 2025, pursuant to Wis. Stat 893.80(1g), and that notice of disallowance be provided to the claimants in accordance with the requirements of the statute.” Motion carried.

Motion by Barney, second by Pawlak to authorize the Board President to issue a determination of agenda item XI. 2. B. as discussed in Closed Session. The determination shall be issued to the complainant and respondent in accordance with Board Policy. Motion carried.