The Wisconsin Rapids School Board voted in a 3–3 tie and failed to approve the district's proposed purchase of Mastery Connect, an assessment-alignment program that integrates with Canvas.

District staff presented the program as a tool to align course assessments to state, ACT and AP standards and to standardize assessments across common courses. "If the purchase is approved, interested staff will have the opportunity to begin exploring the program through DEUs during the 2025–26 school year," Roxanne Filts, district staff who presented the program, said during the Educational Services Committee report. Superintendent Ron Rasmussen was recorded as expressing strong support for implementing the program to support a smooth transition.

Several board members said teachers and department chairs had not had enough opportunity to review the system before a purchase decision. Board discussion repeatedly returned to the need for broader teacher input and whether the timing required committee review (Council for Instructional Improvement) before purchase. One board member noted the district would "get the first year free," and proponents said this short-term arrangement could save the district money over time; opponents countered that staff buy-in is essential for effective rollout.

A formal motion to purchase Mastery Connect for the remainder of the 2025–26, 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years was brought to a roll call. The vote, as recorded in the meeting transcript, was: "Miss Sims — No; Mr. Craines — Yes; Mr. Brembo — Yes; Mr. Indoch — No; Mr. Bier — Yes; Mr. Sparks — No," resulting in a 3–3 tie and the motion failing. The board directed staff to return the item for further review in December.

Transcript notes and committee minutes include two slightly different total-cost figures for the purchase: one speaker cited $68,094 as part of discussion of negotiated savings; the motion language recorded a total cost of $68,984 to be funded through the curriculum and technology referendum acquisition budget. The access-control and other procurement items discussed later in the meeting showed similar small transcription differences in dollar amounts; the board and staff indicated they would clarify numbers when the items return for action.

The board did not take further action on Mastery Connect at the meeting. The item will return to the board in December for additional review with recommended opportunities for teacher and department-chair input.