The Argyle School Board changed around the class fees for the 2026- 2027 school year at their regular board meeting on Wednesday, March 11.
Business manager Megan Leonard told the board all of the changes to the school fees for the 2026-2027 school year. The district is looking increase all class fees by $10, with technology fees staying the same. The reason for the increase is due to the district looking into the option of purchasing school supplies for the entire district instead of having parents purchasing the supplies.
Leonard said that if the district is able to purchase the supplies in bulk, they can get a good deal. The thought is the increase in fees will help cover some of the cost but it will essentially take the burden off families having the purchase the supplies.
“It is a great to give back to the communities and families,” Leonard said.
Other increases include band and instrument rental from $50 to $75. The district is seeing higher fees in replacement and repairs. Driver’s education has also increased by $25 due to insurance increases.
There will be no sports fees increases except for they are changing the individual max with a decrease from $150 to $100. Hockey has been removed from the sports list.
The district is waiting to revise the food service prices until the end of the year fund balance.
Board president Heath Isley asked what was the percentage of the district that uses free and reduced lunch. Middle/high school is around 25-35 percent but elementary school is higher (unknown of percentage at time of meeting). The district gets a higher reimbursement for those who get free food. During the summer the district gets reimbursed at a lot higher rate. Everyone who participates during summer school gets free breakfast and lunch.
Superintendent Dr. Randy Refsland stated that one of the reason they have such a high attendance rate during the summer is the free breakfast and lunch.
Dr. Refsland commented that they received information from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) about their Title I reimbursement. Title I funds in Wisconsin are allocated by the DPI to school districts based on formulas that prioritize high numbers or percentages of children from lowincome families. According to the US Census, in 2021-2022, Argyle had a 15.06 percent poverty rate. DPI is predicting for 2025-2026 a 17.45 percent and in 2026-2027, they are predicting 21.64 percent.
The board felt it was an interesting demographic but the increasing was not a positive thing.
Isley stated that compared to the district’s test scores from the Forward Exam, they have been doing great despite their poverty numbers.
“We are still moving upwards in the test scores compared to the state. Yes, it is a thing we are facing but we are doing something right, making progress,” Isley said.
Dr. Resland gives credit to Principal Travis Erickson for the work he has done on getting students ready for the exams.
Action agenda
The board also approved:
- the resignation of Bob Lawinger effective March 9 (waiving the early resignation fee)
- soliciting an RFP for bids for transportation services. They received information back from Lamers and Davis Bus out of Darlington.
- the CESA 3 contract which went down $2
- two open enrollment requests.
- first readings of policy revisions, deletions and new policies
- donations: $500 Check from Argyle Fish Fry for Argyle Trap Team; $250 Check from Grande Cheese Co for Tech Ed Club; $1000 Check from Argyle Fire Dept for Argyle Trap Team; $1000 Check from Pec-Argyle Youth Football towards Concession Stand Popcorn Machine Purchase; $1150 Check from Argyle Booster Club-$650 towards Cafetorium Table Purchase & $500 towards Concession Stand Popcorn Machine Purchase; Argyle 3 on 3 Tournament Donations C/O Kevin Slater-Slater Electric: $100 in Life Jackets for Canoes, $207.59 purchase of 2 Milwaukee Batteries for Maintenance Use, $302.59 Wal- Mart Gift Card for Middle School Use, $190.23 in Basketballs for use in the gyms, $374.41 in various building supplies that indude: Event Sign, Staple guns and staples with storage bucket for Homecoming Float decoration use and Fishing Rod Covers, $132 in Traction Mats for Basketball teams use, $650 towards Cafetorium Table Purchase, $547 towards Concession Stand Popcorn Machine Purchase, $1,382.53- for the Purchase of a set of Portable Bleachers, $500 to Boys Basketball team to use as needed, $500 to Girls Basketball team to use as needed, $500 to Volleyball team to use as needed; $6000 Check from Argyle FFA Alumni towards Cafetorium Table Purchase; Lit War T-Shirts from Dr. Randy Refsland and Gia for students participating in Lit Wars; $350 Check from Yellowstone Outdoor Resort & Camp for Argyle Trap Team; $500 Check from Holmesville Dairy for Argyle Trap Team; $500 Check from Argyle EMS for Travel Club; $300 Check from RBS for Argyle Trap Team; $5250 Check from Anonymous Donor for Ole’s Cupboard; $35 Check in the Memory of Ruth Stamm for Ole’s Cupboard; $1500 Check from Argyle FFA Alumni for Argyle Trap Team; $600 Check from Argyle American Legion Post 251 For Argyle Trap Team; $40 Check in the Memory of Rose Daley for Theater Club.