The Sun Prairie Area School District Board of Education held its regular meeting on April 27, where members discussed student academic outcomes, approved several program requests, and made third-quarter budget adjustments.
The meeting included updates on student performance and important administrative actions. The discussion is significant as it reflects the district’s ongoing efforts to address achievement gaps and manage resources effectively for the benefit of students.
During the session, Isaac Sung and Kaleena Stephens were sworn in as board members following their success in the April 7 election. Sophomores Maha Lakshmi Kothinti from Sun Prairie West and Collin Lyons from Sun Prairie East also took oaths as new student representatives. Diana McFarland was elected president for the upcoming year, with Melissa Grayson as vice president, Sung as clerk-governance officer, and Amanda Davis as clerk.
Superintendent Brad Saron and Assistant Superintendent Stephanie Leonard presented an update on Student Results Policy 2. Saron said there had been a “robust discussion about student academic outcomes at a regular meeting in December.” Leonard reviewed data showing reasonable progress in most categories but highlighted that black students and students with disabilities remain focus areas. “We are seeing growth, more than we have in the past. But yet we are not to the point where those students don’t have to continue to be an area of focus,’’ Leonard said. “We want to see those students grow even faster.’’
The board also approved applications for Summer and Fall 2026 Early College Credit Program and Start College Now Program requests, allowing over sixty students to take college courses primarily through Madison College or UW-Madison. Expenditures for these programs increased from over $29,000 in 2020-21 to nearly $75,000 in 2024-25.
Third-quarter budget adjustments were adopted after Director of Business and Finance Matt Clark described them as routine at this time of year. More than half of Fund 10 revenue changes were related to common school funds.
Other approvals included active threat drill reports required by Act 143, a proclamation recognizing May as Jewish American Heritage Month—drafted by Bryn Horton—and authorization for issuing professional educator contracts without language changes from last year. Colleen Uhlenkamp was appointed CESA 2 delegate again this year.
Looking ahead, board members discussed evaluating initiatives aimed at increasing attendance rates across subgroups while keeping class sizes manageable where needed most.
