NOTE: THE SCHOOL BOARD’S RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY CONCERNS ARE HIGHLIGHTED (SPECIAL BOARD MEETING 5/21/24). THE BOARD REMOVED THE LINKS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY INCLUDED ON THIS DOCUMENT.
Kevin Vodak has been a Baraboo School Board member since 2001. Currently, he serves as the school board president. For the past four years, Kevin Vodak has
The School District of Baraboo has six schools that are considered Title I based on free and reduced lunch percentages. Baraboo’s tax base is lower than many Badger Conference Schools.
The school board wants administrative salaries to compare with Badger Conference Schools, so how does our district compare to Badger Conference school districts in teacher pay?
How about student achievement? BADGER CONFERENCE SCHOOLS COMPARISON: REPORT CARD AND MATH/ENGLISH
2021-22 $170,000 salary + $26,128 fringe
2022-23 $177,990.00 salary + $44,010 fringe
2023-24 $185,110.00 salary + $28,415 fringe
+$15,110 salary increase
AND, after 5 successive contract years of employment, the Board contributes $50,000 to a Tax Sheltered Annuity. Following the 6th successive contract year of employment and each successive year thereafter, the Board contributes $10,000.
2020-21 $131,132 salary + $38,240 fringe
2021-22 $135,948 salary + $38,032 fringe
2022-23 $142,338 salary + $39,037 fringe
2023-24 $148,032 salary + $30,770 fringe
+ $16,900 salary increase
The board’s response was that these dual role compensations were to make it equitable to what teachers do when substituting during the school day. Teachers are paid a flat rate, not per diem. They are only allowed to be paid for one period a day even if they sub more than one period. They do not receive compensation when they are asked to combine a classroom with their students due to the lack of coverage. See May 19, 2023 Teresa Lien's letter (see E. 22.05 Substituting During Workday) that was sent to the school board members only.
Tim Heilman said this number ($400,000) is 1/10 of what has been added, not $400,000. One Director of Teaching and Learning would likely have a salary and benefits of $150,000. There are other new positions as is documented in the link.
The board’s response is that teachers are making more because they cut one day from the contract. This statement was not about contract days.
The board uses the Badger Conference as comparable for administrators, so here is the BADGER CONFERENCE COMPARABLE FOR TEACHER PAY and BARABOO TEACHER SALARY REPORT DPI SUMMARY
“Any transaction entered into between the Board and related parties shall be conducted such that it will pass the reasonable person test for arms-length transactions.”
The school board asks “What transactions?” The school board received the exit interview (April 2021) from a school board member on the personnel committee. This school board and personnel committee member, Nancy Thome, sent it to the full board and included a person who was not employed by the district, making it an open record. Teresa Lien requested these records and received the letter the school board posted. The “transactions” are explained in the exit interview that was originally linked to this statement (“state school board convention”) but removed by the board.
calls into question an act or behavior that gravely violates the moral sentiments or accepted moral standards of our community.
The full police report narrative is available by requesting it from Sun Prairie Department of Police at 30 East Main Street, Sun Prairie, WI 53590-2227 (608) 837-7336 Records (608) 837-7339 Fax (608) 825-1198.
The school board response was to (re)post the Sun Prairie Star Jan 2022 announcement, which was already linked on this original document. However, they altered this original document and removed links.
33.870 Public Complaints added “The Board President may share information with the full Board of Education and/or Board of Education Committees.”
Vodak made a motion to approve the added statement and voted to change this policy.
The board linked 2023-2024 Budget of Staffing.pdfin response. This chart proves this statement is accurate. In the Additions column, Administrative Assistant @ District Office (0.50 FTE) was added and 0 District Office positions are in the Reductions column.
The issue is that the school board uses student enrollment as the rationale for cutting teachers but they do not use that rationale for Central Office staff. This concern Declining Enrollment and cuts (March 2023) was communicated with the school board.
The board response linked Vodak’s letter to assess liquidated damages to Ms. Swanson. Vodak did not reach out to her about her reasons for resignation, nor did the board include Ms. Swanson’s full letter in their response (tampered evidence) The board’s response included, “Resignations (2007-2024) (click on link),” however the following day, the district removed the link. This is a screenshot of the chart. This chart is inaccurate, for example the number of retirements in 2018-19 is not ZERO, it was 7. We are not sure what other numbers might be inaccurate.
The district removed this link and had little response to this statement.
(Amanda Sabol’s full public viewpoint).
This Meraki invoice was sent to Teresa Lien’s open records request. Per the contract the school board posted, there was a second payment of $10,000 that was not received in the open records request.
When processes are made easier for the Business Office, it takes compensation away from staff.
The Baraboo School District rates 3 out of 10 on realtor sites.
If you have any questions about the substance of this list, please contact the school board.
School Board Member Individual Email Addresses
(use individual email addresses, not board@barabooschools.net)
cbonanno@barabooschools.net