Elementary/Middle School Principal, Michelle Savatski informed the board about the number of children eligible for the 4K program that qualify for the early childhood special education program. Ann Doyle, Special Education Teacher, had concerns for 5 out of the 7 students that qualify for special education and how they would be able to adapt in the community based programs.
The administration looked at different options of having all the students go to one site during the morning and Doyle would then go there or splitting the students up at different sites but the school would have to provide additional support to those locations. They felt that the best option for the students would be to keep them at DEMS and to have 6 other students also join them to be peer appropriate role models. It is totally voluntary to have their child attend the 4K program at DEMS next year.
“We know that this is most likely a one year thing because our goal is to have kids in the community based program but we have got so many that we have concerns about them being successful,” Savatski commented.
 The school would be using staff that is currently at DEMS and no additional teaching staff will need to be hired. Since the students would not be going to the community based programming it would save the school $22,000. The school board approved the 4K programming at DEMS for the 2016-2017 school year.
The school board also discussed the request by James Rinzel, on behalf of the Wisconsin DOT, to hold a public meeting addressing State Road 23 improvements on May 3 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the DEMS Large Group Room.
Board member Joe Schilling asked if the school charges for the use of the room. District Administrator Denise Wellnitz stated that the school does not based on it being a community service.
“If we charge our students, why don’t we charge the state?” Matt Crist asked.
 “You got a community that didn’t pass a referendum because it cost money. It cost money to have the lights on in your school,” Schilling added.
The request passed with Schilling voting no.
The school board also approved:
having a special meeting on Wednesday, April 27 to discuss the August Operating Referendum.
and accepted a donation from Bard Material for one yard of sand, valued at $30.00 to DEMS for the playground sandbox.
and accepted the retirement of Marilyn Carpenter as LMC Assistant at DHS after her 31 years of service to the District.
the 8th grade dance to be held on Wednesday, June 1 in the DEMS cafeteria.
Ben Muhlstein’s request to volunteer as an assistant baseball coach.