Colfax school board establishes community program and services fund
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — Finances for the Colfax school district will now include a Fund 80, also known as a “community program and services” fund.
The Colfax school district’s budget for next year will be tight, said William C. Yingst Jr., district administrator, at the Colfax Board of Education’s April 22 meeting.
If the school district sets up a Fund 80, there is no requirement to use the fund, but it does give options for funding certain areas that are not curricular, he said.
The primary function of the fund is to serve the community, Yingst said.
According to the Department of Public Instruction’s website, “The Community Program and Services Fund (CPS) Fund 80 is used to account for activities such as adult education, community recreation programs, such as evening swimming pool operation and softball leagues, elderly food service programs, non-special education preschool, daycare services and other programs which are not elementary and secondary educational programs but have the primary function of serving the community.”
The DPI website goes on to say, “Districts may adopt a separate tax levy for this fund. Building use fees charged for utilities and other operational costs must be recorded in the General Fund if no cost allocation was made for these to the Community Service Fund.”
The website notes the Fund 80 tax levy no longer has a levy limit and that the levy limit on Fund 80 disappeared as of June 30, 2015.
Fund 80 will provide some viable options for the school board to discuss later, and there is no cost for establishing the fund, Yingst said.
Like the food service fund, Fund 80 can only be spent on certain things, he said.
Fund 80 would have a zero balance now? asked Jaclyn Ackerlund, school board member.
“Yes. It will show up on the financial statements with nothing in it,” Yingst said.
Fund 80 would give the school district some additional flexibility, said Ken Neuburg, school board member.
The Colfax Board of Education voted unanimously to create Fund 80.
Non-discrimination
In additional business at the April 22 meeting, the Colfax Board of. Education approved a preliminary report on the five-year school self-evaluation summary for the status of pupil non-discrimination.
The objective of the self-evaluation is for districts to collect an analyze data and reflect and improve upon practices to eliminate barriers to educational and extracurricular opportunities, according to the report submitted by Polly Rudi, pupil services director.
Regarding board policies and administrative procedures, working with NEOLA on policies has helped keep the Colfax school district current with state and federal regulations, Rudi said.
As part of the evaluation, curriculum materials, assessments and instruction were analyzed for equity.
School posters and curriculum could have more diverse representation, Rudi said.
According to the report, the Colfax school district does provide annual training in areas of under-represented populations, such as English Language Learning students, homelessness and students with disabilities using a slide presentation.
The school district could improve by providing more opportunities for training in mental health and trauma, although staff members have been approved to attend training if they asked, Rudi said.
Staff members reported that they would like more training opportunities in these areas, she said.
Students reported there were equal opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities, such as clubs, athletics and drama. The district has a support fund to assist students in participating for those who cannot afford what is required to participate, the preliminary report states.
Some parents have said they would like to have a “late bus” provided for students participating in activities after school. The district does not provide this option due to driver availability and financial resources, Rudi said.
Awards and recognitions were found to be equitable, although students stated they would like to see more scholarship opportunities for career fields outside of the medical field and technical trades, she said.
Technology and electronic communication has been made available to all students through the one-to-one Chrome devices. Students and staff members who do not have access to the internet were provided a hot spot so that all students and staff had equal access to technology, Rudi said.
Staff, parent and student surveys did show that a small percentage still do not have access to high speed internet services. The school district website is accessible to all families regardless of protected class. The school district is aware of continued infrastructure efforts within the community, she said.
A full written report will be completed and submitted to the Board of Education and to the Department of Public Instruction, Rudi said.
Other business
In other business, the Colfax Board of Education:
• Learned that 13 students from Colfax High School participated in the state Science Olympiad competition on April 13 at UW-Stevens Point. Colfax came in 32nd out of 63 teams.
• Learned that Jeanette Hydukovich was named the Rotary Award recipient for Colfax High School and was honored at the April 3 award ceremony in Menomonie.
• Learned that Colfax High School earned a Gold Star April 19 for the transcripted credit classes for students. Criteria for earning a Gold Star is to have a transcripted credit agreement for five or more classes; have current high school academy participation; and engagement in high school relations events.
• Learned that the following students competed in the state Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition in Green Bay on April 8 and 9: Amanda Lemur, Amelia Schmitt, Abigayle Fruit and Stella Darmstadt.
• Learned that the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) students competed at the STAR events April 8 to 10. Elizabeth Schmitt competed in Culinary Creations and received a gold medal. Carmella Gullickson competed in Job Interview and received a silver medal. Nathan Boesl and Jordan Johnson competed in Baking and Pastry, and Nathan received a bronze medal while Jordan received a gold medal.
• The following forensics students competed in the state competition April 19 and 20: Aydren Beebe (Extemporaneous); Marek Neuville (Poetry); Stella Darmstad (Prose); Amelia Schmitt (Poetry); Amanda Lemler (Farrago); Alex Rose (Farrago); Allison Schmitt (Prose); Abigayle Fruit (Prose); Rainer Neuville (Poetry); Kendal Wilson (Moments in History); Rosemary Lowe (Poetry); Nathan Boesl (Farrago); Elizabeth Schmitt (Prose).
• Learned that Megan Christianson was the first ever Colfax 8th grader to compete in the National Civics Bee. Megan placed second overall in the National Civics Bee, and she will be moving onto the state competition in Madison on June 14.
• Learned that graduation for the Colfax High School Class of 2024 will be May 17 at 7:15 p.m. School board members Jaclyn Ackerlund and Andrew De Moe will be handing out diplomas.
• Learned that Colfax High School students cleaned up around Colfax parks and the fairgrounds on April 22, Earth Day. The students remarked on how much garbage they had picked up while walking around the village, said John Dachel, high school principal.
• Learned that Colfax High School has joined Wisconsin Direct Admit. All 13 of the University of Wisconsin campuses have joined, and students will be enrolled automatically without fees or applications. The universities will review the students, and for those who are qualified, will reach out to them about whether they want to attend that particular university. Dachel said he has talked to Colfax High School juniors and their parents about this new program.
• Learned that kindergarten graduation is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9, in the Colfax Elementary gymnasium.
• Learned that 190 students have signed up for summer swimming lessons June 3 through June 14.
• Learned that parents can register their students online with Skyward for summer school, which runs from Monday, June 17, to Friday, June 28.
• Learned that Summer Saunters is scheduled from July 8 to July 12.
• Approved a resolution authorizing the transfer of funds and the establishment of an escrow account for the defeasance of certain general obligation refunding bonds dated March 2, 2017. Approving the resolution and establishing the escrow account allows the school district to prepay debt, Yingst said. The money will be applied to the outstanding debt in March of 2025, he said.
• Approved Security Health Plan as the health insurance provider for the 2024-2025 school year. The health insurance is obtained by the health insurance cooperative through the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA). The cooperative has had health insurance with Security Health for three or four years, and the cooperative will do a Request for Proposals for 2025-2026 to see what comes back for health insurance rates, Yingst said, noting that three more school districts were added to the cooperative recently and that there are now 27 schools total.
• Approved Delta Dental as the dental insurance provider for the 2024-2025 school year with a zero percent increase. The Colfax school district is self-insured for dental insurance, Yingst said.
• Approved holding the July meeting on July 15 because of the school district’s annual audit.
• Approved the following school district policies: district-sponsored clubs and activities (new policy); district-supported/sponsored student activity accounts (new policy); computer technology network and internet acceptable use and safety (update); volunteers (new policy; requires a formal background check); public requests, suggestions or complaints (update).
