Neillsville District Administrator Discusses Items From Annual Meeting and Regular October Board Meeting

Friday, October 23rd, 2026 -- 11:00 AM

The Neillsville School Board held their Annual Meeting and their monthly October meeting on Monday.

I spoke with Neillsville District Administrator Corey Peterson and he discussed items from both meetings in more detail.

Listen to the interview with Mr. Peterson here!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns on what’s happening at the District, you can contact Mr. Peterson.

(AI assisted transcription via Otter.ai)

Mr. Peterson: "Yeah, taking a look at our budget for this year, as we take a look across the board annually, our budget for our Fund 10 will be at roughly 13.9 million, which is a little bit of an increase over last year, so it'll be about a 6% increase over last year for our fund 10.

"And part of the reasons for that is that ultimately, when we take a look at our debt service on our fund 39, has increased this year, but also the state aid as a proportion to our district has gone down."

"So, in the past couple years, we've had roughly 59% of our aid come through the state this year will be down to 57%. So, those factors, coupled with a solid growth rate in our property value, has increased in the state, which means that has impacted also the revenue coming from a local source."

"So, increasing the local source support will take place. We also know that has been publicized in the news, there is not increases in general aid coming through the state in the 2025-27 biennium, which ultimately lands back on local taxpayers as well."

"So, as we take a look at that, all things being considered, we did land with our fund 10 levy for a roughly $4.7 million fund 10, with our fund 39 levy being 941,000, and fund 80 at 75,000, leading to the final levy of five point roughly 5.7 million."

Riley: "One other thing I wanted to touch on from the annual meeting too is something that's done every year at the annual meeting is the board did approve temporary borrowing for cash flow purposes. Can you explain what that is, please?"

Mr. Peterson: "Yeah, we take a look at, ultimately, throughout the year. If we were in a position where we would need to borrow cash for specific purposes throughout the year, that gives us the authority to do so on a short-term borrowing process, so that we can continue to fund the necessary elements that the district would take place."

"Luckily for our taxpayers, we're in a very good position as far as where our budget lands compared to a lot of districts, which is a great thing. You know, and we continue to build that and support with what we have."

"We have a lot of security in what we're doing as far as fiscally responsible actions, but it does give the authority for the board and myself to short-term borrow if we would need to do that."

Riley: "And switching gears, the board also had just their regular October meeting on Monday as well. One of the items that was discussed was by the elementary PBIS staff, and they talked about the recent color run and the playground project. Can you update us on that?"

Mr. Peterson: "Yeah, very exciting. You know, our elementary PBIS has been very involved over the last roughly year or so with our playground project, and they're looking to get more of an all-inclusive playground look for our for our setting here at school."

"They gave us a great update on their color run, which raised several $1,000 from some local donations as well, and just local community members that help support that along the way and businesses was much appreciated."

"Unfortunately, we had to reschedule because it got rained out the first time around, but the second time around proved to be very successful. It was great to see it in action. They're working towards with their fundraising projects to be again all inclusive playground."

"We're taking a look at that as we get updated bids, unfortunately, you know, playgrounds cost a lot of money in this day and age, and so trying to keep the actual current bid with what we're able to host here, capacity-wise, where they're at in their updates."

"So, we continue to build that fund up to see what we can do and help support that with what they're raising, also locally here as a district and what we can do to support that as well."

"So, while it's not an immediate project as far as it's going to happen next month, we are looking at this, saying how can we make this happen sooner than later, and it's all led by our students, which is a great thing."

Riley: "You also provided a progress report on the implementation of the district strategic plan. How is that going?"

Mr. Peterson: "It's going very well. Appreciate everybody who's been willing to be part of that so far along the line. I'm going to start by another outreach here. We do have some committee work coming up here that we're going to be taking a look at in the next couple months, looking mostly at our K 12 behavioral matrix and what we would like that to look like moving forward."

"That was a portion that came out of our strategic planning survey last year was just making sure that we had a different look to it, updated look, make sure it was consistency there."

"So, anybody in the community that's interested, maybe in sitting in on that, helping out, likely having several meetings over the next couple months to try to iron out what we'd like that to look like."

"Have a good blended approach from staff to community members to parents, just trying to get a good representation of that, but overall we carry forward with what we're aiming to do in our year one."

"So, on our year one task was a couple things. One was to hire a math interventionist. We did do that at the board meeting on Monday night, which is going to be a local person here with Reed Lehman being selected there."

"However, like we know that we have to wait until we would have a replacement in the classroom before we would move anything forward. There, we also take a look at dashboards. We want to make sure and publicize what we're doing and where we're at with that."

"That was a discussion topic on Monday night, and with our different templates that we're looking at and trying to create a visual dashboard for people to track the progress alongside us as we move through this year and beyond."

"And then finally, we're taking a look at just looking for the future a salary benefit compensation package, and looking at that study over the next several months as well to bring forward to the board in late winter, early spring, so that we can consider that with our future actions to make sure that we're comparable when we're looking to attract and retain our staff compared to nearby districts and the like."

"So, another key point that came out of our studies was to make sure that we are comparable and making sure we're keeping an eye on that. So, all that work is coming together, and we're working on that together over the next couple months. And again, if there's people out there that would like to be part of that, please reach out to me, and we'll get you involved."

Riley: "The board also heard some pretty cool information in regards to a potential joint trip to the Galapagos Islands. Can you talk about that?"

Mr. Peterson: "Yeah, very exciting trip opportunity for our kids. We take a look at our Spanish and Ecology Club. We're going to partner together in June of 28 for a trip opportunity for students and parents themselves."

"You know, are going to be in mixer too. When we take a look at the Galapagos Islands and looking at just the the uniqueness that is, and they're going to be working through a company called EF, and it's it's such a charted out, well documented process that it's very very student oriented."

"I mean, top down as far as a great cultural experience, but also a great learning experience across the board, whether it be cultural, just the dynamics of kids getting out of the country, having flight patterns, and everything else that maybe haven't experienced in the past, and giving the whole well-rounded look to it, and getting making sure Neilsville students have a chance to explore the world."

"And so, it was explained to the board and everybody that just kind of a background on it. She's led many of these trips in the past and has a great background to be able to make this a huge success."

"So, parents and students will be hearing about that coming up shortly. And so the launch for that will be getting going here this fall, giving them an opportunity to get signed up and ready to go for June of 28."

Riley: "And now the board also approved a few donations at the meeting. Can you touch on that?"

Mr. Peterson: "Yeah, much appreciated. Know we continue to have our support from our community here, and we have several of those going towards what we've talked about with our PBIS fund towards the all-inclusive, with what we're looking at for that playground."

"When we take a look at it, we've had several in the mix. The first of which was from the booster club and roughly $3,800 from our booster club, which helped out with boys and girls basketballs, guardian caps for our football team and the like."

"Then we do have a couple that were specifically earmarked towards when we look at the PBIS playground. We had a donation from Motorhead Mafia. We had a donation from Atmus Filtration. We also had a donation from the Neillsville Lions Club, you know, and great donations."

"Atmus roughly $1,600, and the Lions Club $2,000. Motorhead Mafia gave us $500. So I mean, we are very fortunate towards our community and what we're getting in return from them investing in our students and it's giving our kids opportunities, which is just so impressive. So, thank you very much."

Riley: "Anything else you'd like to add?"

Mr. Peterson: "Couple upcoming elements for people just to be aware of and that is, number one, I would like to say thank you to our school board and our principals. We advertised that at the meeting that it is School Board Appreciation Month and Principal Appreciation Month. So, thank you for what they're doing."

"Our fall sports are winding down, so starting to turn the page here in November to the winter sports season. So, be ready for that. For those of you looking ahead, our Veterans Day program will be coming up on the 11th at 10:30 in the field house."

"So just a couple items coming up here: high school students and the like are and the quarter one is October 30 already. So, we are finishing off the first quarter and heading our way towards the winter sports season in quarter two and beyond."

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.