One City Schools
Minutes
One City Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday August 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Location
3rd Floor Conference Room
1707 W. Broadway
Madison, WI 53713
This meeting of the One City Board of Directors will take place in-person, at the Pleasant T. Rowland Leadership Campus. For those outside of Madison, or who are traveling, please use the following link:
https://onecityschools.zoom.us/j/87275142442?pwd=VGU5c1BFLy83QnAzekZXY2IxOWJjUT09
Passcode for the meeting is OneCity
Directors Present
B. Curley-Prestine (remote), C. Gaines (remote), D. Dantzler Jr. (remote), G. Ladson-Billings (remote), J. Howard, J. Johnson, J. Krupp, N. Wray, S. Campagna, S. Stroman (remote), T. Pedracine
Directors Absent
D. Aguayo, G. Derzon, S. Klug
Ex Officio Members Present
K. Caire
Non Voting Members Present
K. Caire
Guests Present
B. Pickett, C. Hampton (remote), G. Wiseman, J. Vertz (remote), M. Dyslin, M. Ruffin, N. Navarro-Albaladejo
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
II. Approval of the June 24, 2025 Regular Board Meeing
A.
Approval of the June 24, 2025 Board Minutes
III. Approval of Minutes from the July 22, 2025 Regular Board Meeting
A.
Approval of the July 22, 2025 Board Minutes
IV. One City Board of Directors Vice Chair Position
A.
Discuss Vice Chair Position
V. Review and Approve June and July 2025 Financials
A.
Approve June and July Financial Reports
S. Campagna and J. Vertz presented the June financials, reminding board members that approval of June financials was postponed due to closing of the books for the fiscal year.
June 2025 Financials:
- Increase of deferred revenue that will be recognized on July 10.
- Accounts payable and receivable higher than normal due to the WCSP grant
July 2025 Financials:
- Payroll expenses appear higher as there were three pay periods in July
Audit Status:
- Financial audit is nearly complete for fiscal year 2024-25
- Single audit is in progress
VI. Review and Approve Revised Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26
A.
Approve Revised Budget
Per the Boards discussion at it's meeting on July 22nd and following similar discussion at the closed session meeting on August 19th, members reviewed and approved the revised 2025-26 budget.
VII. Review and Approve One City Schools Handbooks Updates
A.
Review Proposed Updates to the One City Employee and Family Handbooks
Board members reviewed proposed updates to One City Schools Employee and Family Handbooks approval. Staff will share final copies of updated handbooks with board members, electronically.
VIII. Department Reports
A.
Department Updates
M. Ruffin reported that seats are available in several grades, with waitlists in others. Enrollment at the preschool is down from previous years. Filling open positions is tied to enrollment.
J. Howard highlighted the fact that families usually drive to schools for two main reasons: 1. academic achievement and 2) for safety.
K. Caire reported on the partnership and conversations being held with Edgewood University, One City Schools and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU).
K. Caire and C. Hampton provided an update on advocacy. One City Schools will meet with Governor Evers on September 5, 2025. Before this meeting, One City will create a petition to be circulated and signed by influential people in support of our proposed demonstration school status. N. Wray reminded board members of the importance of parent voices as a part of the petition.
G. Wiseman shared that due to a grant, One City vans have been wrapped as a means of honoring members of the community who have helped our schools and as a marketing tool to help spread awareness throughout the community. Board members are encouraged to attend a ceremony for unveiling the vans at a brief event to be held the eveing of September 26, 2025, at the Pleasant T. Rowland Leadership Campus.
IX. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Longtime board member and past chair Noble Wray shared that this was his last official board meeting, but that he will always remain a supporter of One City Schools. Dr. Wray expressed gratitude for everything that One City has meant to him and given him. He reminded board members and staff to remember always that what we are doing affects lives and future generations. Staff and board members expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Wray for his incredible and inspiring leadership throughout his tenure on the board. His unwavering support for our schools has helped immensely. Dr. Wray will remain an Emeritus Board Member.
Chair Howard stated that the position of Vice Chair is open and requested that board members reach out to him and staff secretary to the board by September 9, 2025, if interested in the position.