Wisconsin Rapids Board of Education

---

SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENTS MEET On February 1, 2008, the presidents of the School Boards of Wisconsin Rapids, Port Edwards and Nekoosa met and began a positive dialogue about what is best for the students in South Wood County in light of recent economic changes. Many factors have influenced the financial stability of public schools around the state.  Declining enrollment, revenue limitations, and increasing costs continue to jeopardize the quality of education our districts can afford for our children. The recent employment and economic challenges our three communities face will only magnify the impact on our ability to deliver a quality education. Rather than ignoring the challenges or trying to tackle them individually, the board presidents have begun a proactive dialogue, meeting with facilitator Irma Tyler-Wood of Ki ThoughtBridge, to discuss a process for conducting the dialogue.  No decisions or commitments were made because of the need to involve the boards and constituents in the process. The three chairs believe the next step in the dialogue is to hold a joint informational meeting for the three boards and their respective stakeholders.  The date will be announced as soon as they find a mutually convenient date.

The Wisconsin Rapids Board of Education welcomes public participation in its meetings and encourages citizens to express their views on subjects related to the Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools.
 
Wisconsin School Boards deal with local conditions and decide local issues. Their power and authority, as established in the Wisconsin Constitution, is derived from the state. Wisconsin laws provide specific direction for the organization of school boards in school districts such as Wisconsin Rapids.
 
School Board powers are limited to matters for which there is specific statutory authority or to matters, which are essential to the accomplishment of the purposes for which the school district was created. Numerous state and federal laws also affect or limit the way a school board may exercise its power.
 
The District is managed by the administration, working within the meaning and intent of Board policies. The administration is guided by the Superintendent.

Meeting Times
Committee meetings of the Board of Education are held the first Monday of each month. Regular Board meetings are normally held the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The location of the meetings and notice of special meetings is published in The Daily Tribune at least 24 hours before the meeting. Meeting notices are also posted on the District’s WebPages at wrps.org. Inquires about meetings should be directed to the Superintendent’s office at 422-6005.
 
Agenda
A written agenda is prepared for each meeting and is available at the Thomas A. Lenk Educational Services Center, 510 Peach Street, on the Friday preceding each Board meeting. The agenda is also available on the District’s WebPages at www.wrps.org.
 
The customary order of business includes:
1.       Call to Order
2.       Pledge of Allegiance
3.       Roll Call
4.       Student Representative Report
5.       Superintendent’s Report
6.       Board President’s Report
7.       Approval of minutes of preceding meetings
8.       Comments from Citizens and Delegations
9.       Committee Reports
10.     Agenda Referrals/Information Requests
11.     Legislative Agenda
12.     Action on Receipts and Disbursements
13.     Unfinished Business
14.     New Business
15.     Calendar
16.     Adjournment
 
Open Meetings
The Wisconsin open meetings law requires that the Board or Board Committee only deal with subject matter that is noticed on their respective agendas. Persons wishing to place items on the agenda should contact the District Office at 422-6005 prior to the meeting date to make appropriate arrangements.