Appleton Area School District Packet Summary — 2026-08-24
Regular Board of Education Meeting - August 24, 2026 - 6:00 PM
The Board of Education is scheduled to consider English Language Arts instructional materials, two policy changes, educator personnel actions, an emergency superintendent succession monitoring report, and the 2026-2027 educator compensation issue that was tabled at the August 19 meeting. The packet also includes a year-end financial report showing a projected deficit and a General Fund balance below the district's stated goal.
Key Items on the Agenda
Educator Compensation Returns After August 19 Tabling
The agenda again includes the 2026-2027 Compensation Increase for Educators. At the August 19 meeting, the Board tabled this item until the August 24 regular meeting.
The resolution in the packet states that the district and the Appleton Education Association for Educators reached an impasse over 2026-2027 base wages. It calls for implementation of the district's last offer: a 2.63% CPI base-wage adjustment over the 2025-2026 base wage, along with supplemental increases.
The resolution lists:
- Base wage increase: $1,667,628.
- Supplemental increases: $635,932.
- Total compensation increase: $2,303,560, described as 2.72% of total wages.
- Level advancement: $1,574,540 for eligible educators.
- Compensation structure adjustments: $729,020, including $500 added to each level and additional adjustments at specified points in the compensation framework.
The packet's copy of the resolution bears an approval date of August 19, 2026, even though the August 19 meeting minutes state that the item was tabled to August 24. The August 24 agenda lists the compensation increase under Board Business, so the packet supports treating it as an item returning for Board consideration rather than as a completed August 24 action.
New English Composition Textbook for Dual Credit Course
The Superintendent's Consent Agenda includes a proposed purchase of Steps to Writing Well with Additional Readings, 12th Edition by Jean Wyrick for English Comp 1 (1275). The district plans to partner with Fox Valley Technical College on the three-credit general education course, with AASD described as the first and only district piloting the course for 2026-2027.
The estimated cost is $8,775 for print copies for three high school instructors and digital resources for teachers and students. The packet says the expense is within the 2026-2027 AC&I budget, and administration recommends approval.
The materials were made available for public input for more than 30 days. The packet records zero responses during the June 8-July 21 input period.
Secondary ELA Reading Materials
The Board is also scheduled to consider a substantial set of English Language Arts material updates covering courses in grades 6, 7, 10, 11, and 12. The proposed titles span multiple genres and courses, including ELA/Humanities, American Literature and Composition, AP English Language and Composition, American Studies, AP American Studies, and World Literature and Composition.
The packet says the books have previously been purchased and used at another grade level or as supplemental resources, so the proposal does not identify an immediate new purchase cost. Future enrollment-related purchases or replacement copies would be funded through AC&I. Administration recommends approval.
Public input was solicited for more than 30 days. The packet reports one response, which was supportive, citing themes including empathy, perseverance, global awareness, and gratitude.
Major Financial Items
2025-2026 Year-End Budget Report
The Board is scheduled to receive a 2025-2026 Budget Summary covering fourth-quarter projected year-end revenues, expenses, and fund balance.
For Funds 10 and 27, the presentation reports:
- Projected ending revenues: $267,455,134.
- 2025-2026 expenses: $275,973,928.
- Wages and benefits: $184,513,120.
- Other operating expenses: $69,514,305.
- Transfers: $21,946,503.
- Fund 27 interfund transfer: $25,780,100.
- Approximately $18.9 million in new multi-year leases were not in the original budget; the presentation says their full value is recognized in the first year under GASB rules.
The presentation shows revenues of approximately $267.5 million against expenses of approximately $276.0 million, producing a roughly $8.5 million deficit. It also identifies a $13 million recurring deficit moving forward.
The projected 2025-2026 ending General Fund balance is $27,490,790, equal to about 10% of expenditures. The presentation states that the district's current fund-balance goal is 20%-25%, making the gap between the projected balance and the district's target a significant financial issue to watch.
Policy and Governance Items
Policy 731.3 — Security Cameras and Electronic Monitoring
The Board is scheduled to consider adoption of new Policy 731.3, Security Camera and Electronic Monitoring Equipment. The policy was previously presented as an informational item and is returning for consideration.
The proposed policy establishes district-wide rules for surveillance and electronic monitoring, including:
- Regular video surveillance in areas where individuals do not have a legally enforceable expectation of privacy, such as hallways, entryways, libraries, gymnasiums, cafeterias, parking lots, outdoor facilities and, absent exceptional circumstances, classrooms.
- A prohibition on cameras or similar image-recording equipment in restrooms, locker rooms and designated changing areas where individuals could reasonably be expected to be partially or fully undressed.
- Restrictions on audio surveillance, generally requiring express authorization before audio capabilities are enabled.
- Administrative oversight for newly installed monitoring equipment.
- Procedures for limited, special-purpose surveillance related to suspected misconduct or particular safety or security concerns.
- Authorization for lawful audiovisual recording inside school buses, subject to applicable Wisconsin law.
- Rules governing access, retention and disclosure of recordings.
- Possible disciplinary consequences for unauthorized interference with monitoring equipment or unauthorized use of recordings.
The packet says the new policy also addresses Wisconsin law expressly authorizing audiovisual recording on school buses under Wis. Stat. § 347.446. Administration recommends approval.
Policy 870 — Public Concerns and Complaints
The Board is scheduled to consider an update to Policy 870, Public Concerns and Complaints. The principal change is intended to reflect the addition of the Deputy Superintendent position to the district's administrative structure.
Under the revised process, concerns generally begin with the teacher or staff member most directly involved, followed by the building principal or administrative supervisor and then the Assistant Superintendent. If the matter remains unresolved, a complainant may seek final administrative review from the Deputy Superintendent or Superintendent, with a further appeal to the Board available.
The procedures strongly encourage written complaints and discourage anonymous complaints. Administration recommends approval.
Operational Oversight
Emergency Superintendent Succession
The Board is scheduled to review the OE-2 Emergency Superintendent Succession monitoring report. The Superintendent certifies the district as compliant, with one compliant indicator and no noncompliant indicators.
The policy requires an emergency succession arrangement so another qualified executive staff member can temporarily assume superintendent responsibilities if necessary. The evidence identifies two positions on the emergency succession list:
- Deputy Superintendent.
- Assistant Superintendent – School Services.
The Board's finding section remains blank in the packet, indicating that the Board's determination is still to be made rather than documenting an already-completed finding.
Personnel and Consent Items
The Superintendent's Consent Agenda includes professional educator new hires, contract changes and a resignation. Administration recommends approval of the personnel items as submitted.
- Nine professional educators are recommended for contractual positions for 2026-2027, with assignments ranging from elementary classroom positions and special education to English Language Arts, theater and STEM. Salaries are to be based on education and experience.
- The packet proposes multiple educator contract/FTE changes intended to address 2026-2027 student enrollment needs. Many of the temporary adjustments increase assignments above 100% FTE for specified periods during the school year.
- One professional educator resignation is presented, effective at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. The packet says a qualified replacement will be sought and the fiscal impact will depend on the replacement.
The Board's separate consent agenda also includes approval of meeting minutes from August 10 and August 19, 2026.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The August 24 agenda brings several items from earlier stages of Board review into consideration for action. The ELA materials and Policies 731.3 and 870 were previously presented to the Board and are now scheduled as consideration or consent items.
The educator compensation resolution is especially notable because the August 19 minutes document the Board's decision to table the matter until this meeting amid an impasse with the AEA. The year-end budget report also provides broader financial context, with the packet identifying an approximately $8.5 million 2025-2026 deficit, a $13 million recurring deficit moving forward, and a projected General Fund balance at 10% of expenditures compared with the district's 20%-25% goal.
The meeting is scheduled for 6:00 PM on August 24, 2026, at the Scullen Leadership Center Community Room, 131 E. Washington Street, Suite 1A, Appleton. The agenda includes a public input period before the Board's decision-preparation, consent, reports and Board Business sections.
