A significant portion of the meeting highlighted the district’s advancements in supporting English Learners. The Appleton Highland building reported an impressive rise in EL proficiency rates from 0% two years ago to 53.6% currently, surpassing the state average of 28.3%. This success is attributed to increased bilingual support, emphasizing the importance of first-language assistance in acquiring a second language. However, challenges remain, particularly in staffing ratios; the secondary school has a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:88, notably higher than the state average of 47.3. Despite this, the district’s efforts to increase the number of English language teachers are showing promise, with more students exiting EL services than in previous years.

Strategic planning by the Multilingual Learner Planning Committee seeks to further integrate ELs into all aspects of school life, including extracurricular activities. The district has also introduced new service models for multilingual learners, allowing high school students to earn English language development credit, integrating them more fully into the curriculum.

Financial planning discussions were another focal point, with the board examining various budget line items to address both current and future needs. Safe schools funding was also highlighted, earmarked for enhancing security infrastructure, including new camera installations.

The district’s financial health was characterized as positive, supported by compensatory funding increases due to changes in lunch count programs. This boost will fund new positions in elementary and middle schools. The board also discussed long-term facility maintenance funding, with a budget of $330,000 per year, and plans to allocate insurance claim funds for significant future repairs.

The meeting included updates on multilingual programming, emphasizing the importance of tailored educational approaches for ELs. Staff professional development and collaboration were noted as key components in improving language acquisition methods.

Operational updates also covered infrastructure and technology improvements. The board approved a new snow removal plan and discussed transitioning to a new internet service provider, expected to result in cost savings.