We can’t wait to welcome our BASD families back for the 2026–2027 school year! Join us on Wednesday, August 26 to meet teachers, visit classrooms, get familiar with your school, and get ready for a great year ahead!
📍 4K – Dyer Elementary: 4:00–5:30 PM
📍 5K–4K Dyer, Winkler, Waller: 5:30–6:30 PM
📍 4K–6th - Cooper Montessori & 4K-5th Wisco: 5:30–6:30 PM
📍 Karcher Middle School & 6th-8th WisCo: 6:30–7:30 PM
📍 Burlington High School: 5:30–6:30 PM
📍 FRC: 5:30–6:30 PM
We’re excited to see our students and families and kick off another fantastic year together! Go BASD!
|
Families can complete student registration through Skyward.
For families who need assistance, Open Registration will be held at the District Office on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from 12:00–6:00 p.m.
Families may also schedule an appointment for in-person registration:
- 4K–8th Grade: District Office — 262-763-0210, ext. 1012
- 9th–12th Grade: Burlington High School — 262-763-0200, ext. 8005
For more information, visit www.basd.k12.wi.us or contact the District Registrar at 262-763-0210, ext. 1012.
|
Our schools are stronger because of the amazing volunteers and chaperones who give their time to support our students! Whether you’re helping in a classroom, attending a school event, or joining us on a field trip, we are so grateful for the extra hands and support you provide.
📢 New this school year: If you are interested in volunteering or serving as a chaperone, please complete your background check before the start of the school year. Background checks are required for all volunteers in BASD buildings and can be completed online through Raptor. See the button below to submit your background check information. When filling out the form, please only mark the school(s) and activities that you would like to be notified about if the school is looking for volunteers.
🔐 A reminder for everyone entering BASD buildings: All visitors will need to have a photo ID available to be scanned through Raptor, even if you have already completed a background check. This helps us maintain a safe and secure environment for our students and staff.
Thank you for partnering with us and for being an important part of the BASD community! We appreciate all that our volunteers and chaperones do!
|
Burlington Buddies Playgroup
Looking for a fun and meaningful experience for your 3-year-old? Join our Burlington Buddies playgroup! This inclusive program at Dyer Elementary brings together children of all abilities for fun, engaging, and educational activities. Sessions meet twice a week for five weeks, with each session lasting 90 minutes.
We are looking for same-age peers who have met all typical developmental milestones to be models for peers with special education needs.
WHO: All 3 year old children
WHERE: Dyer Elementary School
COST: Free!
WHEN: First session is from 9/14/26 - 10/23/26
Sign Up Today !
|
Spark Squad is continuing to try new activities this summer. In the past few weeks students had lemonade stands to raise money for Love INC, Special Olympics, PAC House and Karcher Cupboard - raising over $1,500. They also competed in Spark Tank, creating a new idea and presenting the idea to Spark Tank Judges. |
Burlington hosted Camp Invention for its 3rd year with approximately 40 students engaged in the camp. It is a highly engaging STEM camp for kids K-6th grade where students explored physics, space exploration, forensic science, and engineering by building custom rockets, extracting DNA, and designing an interactive watercraft. It was a great week for the students who participated! |
The BASD Leadership team (which includes all of our Directors, Principals and Assistant Principals) collaborated last week for three days to focus on our continued alignment relating to our strategic plan as we head into the 2026-2027 school year.
It was a great few days and I am so proud of the collaboration, alignment, and focus of our team for the betterment of our students, staff, and the community.
Everyone is excited to welcome back all staff and students in the coming weeks!
|
This year's Annual Athletic Association Golf Outing took place on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at Evergreen Golf Course in Elkhorn with 41 teams and 209 golfers! Thank you to everyone who participated and donated towards our Athletic Association! |
There are still activities and classes for students and community members to engaged in through our Community Education Department. Take a look at the guide and/or share the link with those looking for activities to do! |
This was included in our newsletter in July but wanted to
Thank you to those that assisted with The Focus by providing us with content and/or pictures - Kristen and I really appreciate it!!!
|
There is a generic posting on WECAN for anyone interested in any ExtraCurricular Openings at any time. The list below is what is currently open:
- BHS Girls Flag Football (Fall Season)
- JV2 Boys Basketball Assistant Coach
Positions for the 2026-2027 School Year (posted on WECAN):
- BHS: Anatomy & Physiology, part-time
- Speech & Language Pathologist Elementary Level, full-time
- Long Term Substitute for BHS Science for the start of the school year (must have a bachelor's degree; ability to teach Biology a plus)
- Paraprofessionals
- Custodial Staff
|
Thomas Bus (our long standing regular education transportation partner) has sold their company to GO Riteway Transportation Group. Riteway has been working collaboratively with Thomas Bus through this transition period as we head into the 2026-2027 school year.
We do not anticipate many changes due to this adjustment at the start of the school year. As we move into the school year there may be some adjustments as Riteway learns more about our systems. They work with over 50 school districts and we are confident in their ability to become a strong partner with BASD.
The number for the bus company is not changing (262-763-7564) and former Thomas Bus employees are staying on with Riteway.
Go Riteway is hiring Part-Time and Full-Time School Bus Drivers to safely transport school-aged children to and from school. This role offers morning and afternoon hours, Monday through Friday making it ideal for parents, retirees, career changers, veterans, or anyone looking for meaningful, community-focused work. No prior experience is required - we provide paid training and help you earn your CDL. Use the link below to apply!
|
The Burlington Area School District shares information from community organizations as a service to families. The events and programs listed below are not sponsored, endorsed, or supervised by the district, and the district assumes no responsibility for their content, operations, or activities. |
Taylor Wishau, Board President - April 2027
Marlo Brown, Vice-President - April 2027
Paul Kobernick, Clerk - April 2028
Benjamin Puffer, Treasurer - April 2029
Andrea Brewer - April 2029
Rosanne Hahn - April 2029
Kate Johnson - April 2028
|
Andrea Brewer, Ben Puffer, Paul Kobernick, Taylor Wishau, Marlo Brown, Kate Johnson, Rosanne Hahn
Absent: None
|
Burlington Area School District (BASD) is so grateful for the continued generosity of our community. This month, we have received over $24,270 in donations that directly support our students, programs, and schools. These gifts make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and staff. BASD is truly fortunate to be surrounded by such a caring and supportive community.
Larger donations to note:
- Whole Foods Market Foundation donated $3,500 to the Edible Garden at Cooper
- WI MET donated $4,000 to teachers at Cooper
- United Way of Racine donated $7,722 to the Dyer, Waller and Winkler Community Closets
|
Along with the Assignments, Resignation and Retirement approval, the board also approved the updates to the Support and Professional Staff Handbooks. |
The BASD Foundation came to this month's board meeting to provide an update in regards to the funds raised for the 2025-2026 school year. They also shared their plans as we had into the 2026-2027 school year. The BASD Foundation was created 3 years ago so that BASD has a 501(c)(3) for businesses and community members to gain the benefits for tax purposes.
The BASD Foundation fundraised $65,220 for BASD! THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who assisted and supported BASD!
We are thankful to the group for their efforts and support to BASD.
|
Kristen Dixon Director of Teaching & Learning presented an overview of the Curriculum Review Cycle, as well as discussed which departments are scheduled for curriculum review to anticipate when curriculum resource adoptions may come before the Board for approval during the school year. For this school year the focus will be on exploring Science and Tech Ed / STEM curriculum. Additional Social Studies will begin the curriculum review process this year. |
Per Board policy 2623 Student Assessment, the program of testing and assessment shall be annually reported to the Board. Therefore, the following information was shared with the School Board pertaining to Student Assessments.
State Level Assessments that are mandated/required by the state are:
Additionally the following state required assessments per DPI:
-
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) at grades 3-11 in ELA and Mathematics, at grades 4 and 8 - 11 in Science, and at grades 4, 8, and 10 in Social Studies - is required for special education students IF they qualify to fall under the DLM versus the Forward Exam. Less than 1% of our total population can take the DLM.
- “Assessment for ELs Federal and state laws require that students identified as English Learners (ELs) be assessed annually to determine their level of English language proficiency (ELP) and ensure that they are progressing in achieving full English proficiency. This includes students who receive special education services. Most ELs will take the ACCESS for ELLs assessment annually. ELs recognized under the individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 2004) as having a significant cognitive disability and who are expected to participate in the Wisconsin Alternate Assessment are eligible to take the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs in place of the ACCESS for ELLs®.”
- “Early Literacy Assessment for Reading Readiness Wis. Stats 118.016 requires an early literacy screener to be administered to all 4 year old kindergarten to 3rd grade students, and a diagnostic assessment for students below the 25th percentile on required screening in 5K through 3rd grade students enrolled in public school districts and charter schools.”
- “National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) NAEP is a survey assessment; each year a sample of schools are selected to participate. It provides results at the state and national level and produces the Nation's Report Card. Districts that receive Title 1 funds agree to have schools participate, if selected, in Main/State NAEP in grades 4 and 8 reading and mathematics.”
|
District Level Assessments:
Progress Learning (9-12)
- This diagnostic assessment is utilized at the high school so that students are able to be given access to retired ACT questions and practice in regards to the ACT. Students are given a score within progress monitoring and will give a predictive score for how they would perform on the ACT. Teachers are able to see their students' scores as well and utilize this information to inform instruction.
iReady (2nd through 8th grade)
- This is an ELA and math diagnostic assessment that allows our staff to assess how students are doing throughout the school year to inform their instruction. iReady assessments are done three times per year: Fall, Winter, and Spring within the areas of ELA and Math.
AIMSweb+ (PreK through grade 4)
- This is a state required literacy assessment platform tied to Act 20 that allows our team to gain data on individual students regarding literacy. Staff use this data to inform decisions in regards to reading intervention, enrichment, and classroom instruction to inform their overall instruction with individual students and groups of students.
Fastbridge (5K through 1st grade)
- This is an assessment platform that the district utilizes for screening and diagnostic purposes in the area of math in grades 5K and 1st. Data obtained from screening is used to identify student needs and organize instructional groups. The district utilizes Fastbridge as a progress monitoring tool for students K-12 for both literacy and math. Teachers progress monitor students involved in small group interventions to determine their level of response and instructional next steps.
Classroom Level Assessments:
Grade level teams develop common formative and summative assessment to utilize throughout the school year to assess students progress towards grade level proficiency on grade level standards.
- Formative Assessments are used “for” learning and assist students and staff with their progression and understanding of the standard.
- Summative Assessments are “end of unit” assessments and are used when students should have the ability to show their level of mastery regarding a specific grade level standard.
|
Under state requirements, school districts that provide Human Growth & Development instruction must convene a committee every three years to review the plan, provide feedback, and recommend any necessary revisions.
BASD has chosen to incorporate Human Growth & Development instruction into our curriculum. In spring 2026, the district pulled together a Human Growth & Development Committee, which included less than 25% staff representation, as well as students, parents, a school board member, and community members. The committee reviewed the current plan and provided feedback and recommendations for continued improvement.
Kristen Dixon, Director of Teaching & Learning, presented the committee’s recommendations to the School Board with the plan of incorporating the committees recommendations for the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
The School Board reviewed and unanimously approved the updated Human Growth & Development Plan, which will be implemented beginning with the 2026–2027 school year.
|
Reminder: Policies go through the first reading at the policy committee level. This is the second reading of the policies.
Changes made to this policy :
- in multiple areas replacing "shall" with "are encouraged to" or "may"
- In the Standards for Foods and Beverages Sold Outside of School Meals section added ", including outside of school hours, during BAC, clubs, and other afterschool programming, (“competitive” foods and beverages) are encouraged to"
- Adjusted verbiage: Celebrations, sponsored by the district, that involve food will be recommend to only one per month.
- addition of "Physical activity will not be used as a punishment in any classroom setting."
- addition of: "Nonfood alternatives should be encouraged as a reward for students and to strongly encourage physical activity as a reward when possible."
- removed: "Recess shall not be used as a reward or punishment."
- added: "Physical Education should be taught by a licensed teacher. Physical Education for grades K-12 is required to be taught by a certified teacher who is endorsed to teach physical education."
- adjusted outside the normal school day to when not in use by the district.
- removed specific staff wellness activities and added "have an organized wellness program available to all staff"
- Added that the triennial assessment will be posted on the school district's website.
This additional verbiage clarifies that the Superintendent and District administration are responsible for supporting the Board in carrying out its core governance responsibilities, including policy development, financial oversight, fiduciary duties, and legislative decision-making. It reinforces the administration's role in providing the information and assistance the Board needs to govern effectively.
-
ADDITIONAL VERBIAGE ADDED: The Superintendent and District administration shall facilitate the Board's ability to exercise its legislative, fiduciary, financial oversight, and policy making responsibilities.
|
Additional Verbiage added to clarify expectations for Board agenda materials and ensures Board members have access to the information they need to make informed decisions. It states that agenda items should include adequate supporting documentation, allows any individual Board member to request additional information before final action without needing approval from the full Board, Board President, or a committee, and requires the Superintendent to make reasonable efforts to provide the requested information in time for meaningful review. It also increases transparency by requiring all publicly disclosable agenda materials to be posted with the agenda when it is published, with any additional materials posted as soon as they become available.
-
ADDITIONAL VERBIAGE ADDED: Agenda materials should contain sufficient supporting information to permit informed Board deliberation. Board members may request additional supporting information relating to any agenda item at any time before the final Board action. The Superintendent shall make reasonable efforts to provide requested information sufficiently in advance of Board consideration to permit meaningful review whenever practicable. Nothing in the section shall be interpreted to require prior approval, authorization, or direction from the Board as a whole, the Board President, or any committee before an individual Board member may request information relating to an agenda item. All materials related to an agenda item that are available for public disclosure shall be posted with the agenda at the time the agenda is published. Any material not available at that time shall be posted promptly upon becoming available.
This additional language clarifies that individual Board members do not need approval from the Board President to request information related to Board business, as outlined in Policy 0143.2. While the Board President may help facilitate communication between the Board and the Superintendent, they are not required to approve or act as a gatekeeper for Board members seeking information.
-
ADDITIONAL VERBIAGE ADDED: Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted to require Board members to obtain the approval or authorization of the Board President before requesting information pursuant to Policy 0143.2. The Board President may facilitate communication between the Board and Superintendent but shall not serve as a prerequisite for individual Board member access to information.
|
This addition establishes the Superintendent's responsibility to provide both the full Board and individual Board members with timely, accurate, complete, and responsive information needed to fulfill their governance responsibilities.
-
ADDITIONAL VERBIAGE ADDED: The Superintendent shall ensure the Board of Education and each individual Board member receive timely, complete, accurate and responsive information necessary to fulfill their statutory, fiduciary, financial oversight, policy making, and governance responsibilities. See Policy 0143.2 Board Member Access to Information.
Additionally 2 new policies were introduced and approved for adoption.
po0143.2 BOARD MEMBER ACCESS TO INFORMATION
|
Updates from committees that met since the last monthly board meeting:
Personnel Committee (Marlo Brown - Chair)
- Committee met Wednesday, August 5, 2026 - virtually to discuss appointments, retirements and resignations that were presented tonight. There was no closed session.
Policy Committee (Paul Kobernick - Chair)
- Met on August 6,2026 to review the policies that were presented for the 2nd reading at the board meeting tonight.
- The Wellness Policy was requested to be reviewed again in the policy committee.
- 4 policies were reviewed for updates.
- 2 new policies were introduced.
- Orientation on the new Board Policy Website.
Board Governance / Communications Committee (Kate Johnson - Chair)
- Kate Johnson that the Board Governance & Communication has not met since the last board meeting.
Finance Committee (Ben Puffer - Chair)
- Finance Workshop was held on July 27, 2026, where the Director's presented their budgets and talked about the School Perceptions Survey.
Teaching & Learning Committee (Andrea Brewer - Chair)
- Met on July 4, 2026 with the focus being on the curriculum review cycle that was presented tonight and 4K adjustments for the 2027/2028 school year.
The following committee has not met since the last Board Meeting.
-
Building & Grounds Committee (Rosanne Hahn - Chair) - will schedule as needed or requested.
|
-
Southern Wisconsin School Alliance (SWSA) Monthly Meeting - Tuesday, August 11 at 7:30 am, Virtual
-
Board Governance & Communications Committee Meeting - Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 5:30 pm, at District Office
-
Annual School Board Meeting - Monday, August 24, 2026 at 6:00 pm at District Office.
-
Finance Committee Board Workshop - Monday, August 24, 2026 at 6:15pm at the District Office
-
Southern Wisconsin School Alliance (SWSA) Monthly Meeting - Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 7:30 am, Virtual
-
Personnel Committee Meeting - September 9, 2026 at 2:00 pm, Virtual
-
Policy Committee Meeting -September 9, 2026 at 5:30pm at District Office
-
School Board Meeting - Monday, September 14, 2026 at the District Office
-
Teaching & Learning Committee Meeting - Friday, September 25, 2026 at Burlington High School.
|
BASD Proud,
Dr. Jill Oelslager, Superintendent
Taylor Wishau, Board President
Marlo Brown, Vice President
Paul Kobernick, Clerk
Ben Puffer, Board Member, Treasurer
Andrea Brewer, Board Member
Rosanne Hahn, Board Member
Kate Johnson, Board Member
|
|
|
