Convening on Monday March 28 in the high school library, the Stanley-Boyd Board of Edu – cation and superintendent Jeff Koenig covered many topics, including the recent reading audit that had been done. First though, there were two motions to make, one to remove consent agen – da item 4.5 from the consent agenda moving it to April, another to remove closed session from the first motion. S-B alumnus and current staff member Nick Mahr had been listed in "Person – nel Changes" for March as filling the new post.

"I would like to take the job description or a Dean of Students/Activities Director from the agenda and place it in next month's agenda in closed session," Chad Verbeten made known as the board considered approving the consent agenda. "I think it's worth a discussion." Seconded in this by Denise Hoffstatter, the need to place the item in closed session was questioned, leading to a procedural motion to re – moved "closed session" from the initial motion moving item 4.5 to next month's agenda.

"Then I'll make a motion to amend the mo – tion," president Bob Geist said with reference to the matter being covered in closed session, being seconded by Lewallen, the vote passed.

Procedural matters on the consent agenda out of the way, it was into the reading audit update, given by superintendent Jeff Koenig.

"They actually commented that they were re – ally impressed with our teachers," Koenig said of the audit that took place March 28 and March 29. The purpose of the reading audit was to see how things could be done even better in terms of teaching literacy at Stanley-Boyd, the focus being on systems and structure. Koenig reported that the auditing team had gone into each class – room to see how things were being done.

"They've been going into every classroom, picking things apart, so that we could have a thorough report on how we could be teaching reading better," he said. Saying that staff mem –

bers had been nervous, Koenig said he had reas – sured them that the audit was not about pitting teacher A against teacher B, but focusing on the systems. "I think its really important to do just so that we can make sure the students are even more proficient at reading," Koenig said, with board member Chad Verbeten comparing the audit to a post-game analysis after a football game.

"You look at what you did well, but also how you can improve as a team," he said.

Next moving to consider a resolution to au – thorize a land sale in Chippewa Falls by CESA 10 (in which the district is a 1/20th stakeholder) and for which CESA needed 3/4s of the school UPDATE

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districts to agree, "CESA 10 wants to sell a parcel of land that's next to their building they own," Koenig said of the parcel just north of the CESA building on County Highway J in Chippewa Falls. "And they need 3/4s of the school districts in CESA to vote in favor of that for them to do the sale," he said.

With a motion by Verbeten seconded by Jeff Boie, the resolution approving the proposed land sale went forward, Lanse Carlson abstaining due to holding a posi – tion on the board for CESA.

From there it was into the bike trail planned between Chapman and Oriole Parks, extending from McKenzie Street onto school property, after the district opted to allow the use of some of its trail portions to construct the trail from Chap – man Park.

"My rationale for supporting this is we have limited routes for our students to get safely to school," Koenig said as he shared that the $15,000 the district would contribute to improving the trail wasn't a donation. Once a trail is established it can then be designated as a Safe Route to School, extending from Sixth Ave – nue behind the Grant Street Apartments to McKenzie on a right-of-way the city had for road purposes, then extending on to school property. The Safe Routes to School Program currently falls under the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website, and would make the trail eligible for state investment. In the meantime, it has to be built first.

"What will happen is we'll scrape some of the topsoil off and put some gravel down," Koenig said, saying that anything to make getting to school safer was something he supported. Verbeten then chimed in to add that his under –

standing of the eventual crushed lime – stone surface (on top of the gravel) was that it packed hard and gave a smooth surface, even in rain.

"There's a bike trail on an old rail grade where I grew up," he said, adding that this had crushed limestone.

Following approval of the consent agenda as amended with a motion by Denise Hoffstatter that was seconded by Ryan Lewallen, it was into ancillary mat – ters, the short rundown being as follows: • A meeting of the board with LHB Architects of Superior on April 7 with more to share at the conversation and board meeting for April, said conver – sation being on April 18 of this month. • A Handbook Personnel Committee meeting April 4 to look over the dis – trict's policy handbook. Handbook Committee members are Toni Seidl, Lewallen, and Hoffstatter. Also dispensed at the meeting were some board awards from the Wis – consin Association of School Boards (WASB), awarded to Bob Geist and another to Lanse Carlson respectively.

The land parcel (shaded) that CESA 10 wants to sell, located just north of its building on County J in Chippewa County. Image from Chippewa County GIS.