Appleton Area School District Packet Summary — 2026-08-10
Meeting: Regular Board of Education Meeting - August 10, 2026 - 6:00 PM
The Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 6:00 PM at the Scullen Leadership Center. The agenda includes curriculum and instructional materials, the district's 2026-2027 revenue outlook, several Board policy actions, student-results monitoring, property and tax-bill matters, and employee compensation proposals.
Key Items on the Agenda
Elementary Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum
The superintendent's consent agenda includes a proposed transition to Sources of Strength as the district's universal K-5 social-emotional learning curriculum. AASD has used Second Step for universal elementary SEL instruction for more than nine years and selected Sources of Strength following a curriculum review.
- The proposed K-5 implementation is estimated at approximately $65,000, paid from the Student Services Department budget.
- The purchase would be a one-time cost rather than an annual subscription.
- The program would align classroom SEL instruction with school counselors' Life Long Skills lessons and with the Sources of Strength peer-to-peer program already used in grades 6-12.
- The curriculum was available for public review from May 21 through July 3, 2026; the packet reports no written public feedback.
- Teacher training is scheduled for August 25, 2026, pending approval.
Administration recommends approval.
Small Engines & Transportation Course Update
The Board is scheduled to consider updates to Small Engines & Transportation (7420), a dual-enrollment course offered in partnership with Fox Valley Technical College. The curriculum has been revised to reflect Wisconsin Technology & Engineering standards updated in 2024.
The proposed materials purchase is $4,380, already included in the Assessment, Curriculum and Instruction budget. Students would continue to have an opportunity to earn dual-enrollment credit while studying areas including engine repair, precision measurement, energy and transportation systems, and related careers. Administration recommends approval.
Wisconsin Career Readiness Standards
Administration recommends adoption of the updated Wisconsin Career Readiness Standards, which the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction designed for integration across K-12 subjects and grade levels. The framework addresses academic skills, self-management, career awareness and exploration, postsecondary planning, technology, communication, global competence, and leadership.
The packet identifies no financial impact because standards resources and state-aligned Academic and Career Planning tools are provided by DPI.
2026-2027 Budget and Revenue Outlook
The Board is scheduled to receive a presentation on projected 2026-2027 district revenues. Among the estimates presented:
- Fund 10: $240.6 million in total revenue.
- Local Fund 10 sources: $80.3 million, including a $75.8 million tax levy.
- State Fund 10 sources: $136.6 million, including approximately $119 million in equalization aid.
- Federal aids and grants: $4.5 million.
- Open enrollment revenue: $19.2 million.
- Estimated special education funding in Fund 27: $51.05 million, including a $26.65 million transfer from Fund 10.
- Total all-fund property tax levy: approximately $88.37 million.
- Estimated mill rate: approximately $6.24 per $1,000 of equalized property value, based on an assumed 5% increase in equalized value.
The presentation also explains Wisconsin's revenue-limit formula. For the calculation shown in the packet, the district uses a maximum allowable revenue-per-member figure of $12,108 and an estimated three-year average membership of 13,907, producing maximum allowable revenue of approximately $168.39 million before applicable additional increases and exemptions.
English Language Arts Materials
New Dual-Credit English Composition Textbook
The Board will receive information on a proposed textbook purchase for English Comp 1 (1275), another dual-credit partnership with Fox Valley Technical College. AASD describes itself as the first and only district piloting this three-credit FVTC course for the 2026-2027 school year.
The proposed resource is Steps to Writing Well with Additional Readings, 12th Edition by Jean Wyrick. The estimated $8,775 cost would cover print copies for three high school instructors plus digital resources for teachers and students and is within the 2026-2027 AC&I budget.
The materials were available for public input from June 8 through July 21. The packet reports no responses.
Secondary ELA Reading Materials
The Board will also receive information on a substantial group of novels and other texts proposed for use across grades 6, 7, 10, 11, and 12, including ELA, Humanities, American Literature, AP English, American Studies, and World Literature courses.
The packet says the titles have previously been purchased and used at another grade level or as supplemental resources, so future costs would be limited to enrollment growth and replacement needs covered by AC&I. Public review produced one supportive response and no unsupportive responses.
Policy and Governance Items
Staff-Student Boundaries and Communications
Two new policies are scheduled for consideration to comply with 2025 Wisconsin Act 89, which requires school boards to establish standards governing staff-student relationships and communications by September 1, 2026.
- Policy 528 — Professional Boundaries and Staff-Student Relationships would establish expectations for appropriate staff-student boundaries, address grooming and other prohibited conduct, establish reporting expectations, and provide for consequences when violations occur. The law also requires annual employee training beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.
- Policy 528.1 — Staff Communications with Students would establish standards for both the content and methods of staff-student communications. Among other provisions, it generally directs staff to use district-provided or district-approved electronic communication methods, with limited exceptions for emergencies, time-sensitive safety or logistical needs, or specifically authorized circumstances.
Administration recommends approval of both policies.
Security Cameras and Electronic Monitoring
Policy 731.3 — Security Camera and Electronic Monitoring Equipment is presented as an Item of Information, meaning it is being introduced for Board discussion and feedback rather than final approval at this meeting. The packet says it would later return as an Item for Consideration.
The proposed policy would establish rules for regular and special surveillance, audiovisual recording on school buses, access to and retention of recordings, and prohibited uses. It would prohibit surveillance cameras in restrooms, locker rooms and other designated changing areas and would generally require audio surveillance functions to remain disabled unless specifically authorized.
Public Concerns and Complaints
A proposed update to Policy 870 — Public Concerns and Complaints is also an Item of Information. The revision would add the Deputy Superintendent as another point of contact for receiving and addressing public concerns and complaints, reflecting the district's current administrative structure.
Other Policies Scheduled for Consideration
The Board's business agenda also includes:
- Policy 173 — Closed Sessions, following a policy audit conducted by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.
- Policy 422.1 Rule — International Exchange, adding the Pan Atlantic Foundation to the district's list of recognized sponsoring organizations. Administration recommends approval.
- The two new staff-student policies, Policies 528 and 528.1, described above.
Student Results Monitoring
Essential Life Skills
The Board is scheduled to review the 2025-2026 R-3 Essential Life Skills monitoring report. The superintendent certifies that the district is making reasonable progress with noted exceptions, based on improvements in 15 of 29 measures.
Highlights identified in the report include:
- Personal Financial Management reached 91% Competent/Mastery, compared with an 87% baseline in 2023-2024.
- The share of 11th graders reporting no postsecondary plan declined from 29.0% in spring 2022 to 14.0% in spring 2026.
- Among 12th graders, that measure declined from 31.9% to 8.6%.
- Most grades reported 85%-90% of students saying Academic and Career Planning experiences were preparing them for college, career and life after high school.
The report cautions that most Essential Life Skills measures are based on student perception surveys and therefore do not necessarily demonstrate actual skill development or behavioral change. The Board's monitoring determination remains an agenda item for Board action.
Districtwide "Mega Result"
The R-1 Mega Results report similarly certifies that the district is making reasonable progress with noted exceptions toward its goal of graduating students academically, socially and emotionally prepared for their lives, careers and continuing education.
The report highlights increases in four-year graduation rates between the 2021-2022 baseline and 2024-2025, including an increase for all students from 86.5% to 91.5%. It also reports substantial gains for students with disabilities, English learners, Black students, Hispanic students, economically disadvantaged students, and students identifying as two or more races, while noting that graduation-rate disparities remain for several groups.
Property and Taxpayer Issues
Badger Elementary Right-of-Way and Easements
The Board is scheduled to consider a Town of Grand Chute offer involving district property needed for the W. Spencer Street Project. The proposal covers:
- 27 square feet of additional right-of-way.
- A 7,122-square-foot Temporary Limited Easement, expiring when the project is completed.
- A 280-square-foot Permanent Limited Easement.
The Town has offered $8,600, based on appraised value. District administration reports that the proposal would not affect use of the Badger Elementary site and recommends approval.
Tax Bill Transparency Resolution
The agenda includes a proposed resolution asking local governments within AASD's attendance area to show on property tax bills the amount of the AASD levy used to fund private voucher and independent charter school payments.
The resolution states that these payments increased from $8,304,393 in 2024-2025 to $9,305,208 in 2025-2026, an increase of $1,000,815. It seeks cooperation from Outagamie, Winnebago and Calumet counties and municipalities within the district's attendance area.
Employee Compensation
Several 2026-2027 compensation proposals are scheduled for Board consideration.
- Administrators, administrative assistants, Administrative Support Unit and maintenance employees: Administration recommends an approximately 2.63% total compensation increase, with an estimated cost of $596,300. The proposal also implements a revised compensation framework for several employee groups.
- Paraprofessionals: The district and Appleton Education Association have reached a tentative base-wage agreement, subject to union ratification later in August. Administration recommends a 2.63% base-wage increase, including level movement, plus supplemental adjustments. The estimated additional cost is $249,300, representing a 2.79% total compensation increase.
- Superintendent: The proposed adjustment includes a 2.63% annual increase to salary and tax-sheltered annuity amounts. The packet identifies increases of $5,808 in salary and $278 in the tax-sheltered annuity, with the travel reimbursement stipend to be adjusted in accordance with IRS regulations.
The meeting agenda also calls for a closed session under Wisconsin Statute 19.85(1)(c) to discuss compensation for professional educators, administrators, administrative support, maintenance, secretaries, the superintendent and paraprofessionals before returning to open session.
Personnel and Consent Items
The superintendent's consent agenda includes professional educator hires, a contract change, resignations, administrative personnel actions, and internships.
Among the proposed actions, administration recommends nine professional educator hires effective August 24, 2026 and an administrative hire effective August 11. Four first-semester internships are also recommended effective August 24; the packet states a $5,000 total internship cost, consisting of a $4,500 intern stipend and a $500 DPI professional-development fee.
The Board's separate consent agenda includes the July 27, 2026 Board meeting minutes.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The agenda combines several decisions with items that are only beginning the Board's review process. The proposed security-camera policy and Policy 870 complaint-process revision are information items expected to return later for consideration, while the curriculum proposals, compensation packages, property transaction, tax-bill resolution, results-monitoring reports, and several other policies are positioned for Board consideration at this meeting.
The packet also identifies upcoming meetings: a Board Work Session on August 19 at 7:30 AM, a Policy Committee meeting on August 21 at 8:15 AM, the next Board meeting on August 24 at 6:00 PM, and a Financial Planning Committee meeting on August 25 at 4:00 PM.
