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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Board of Education - Common Council Liaison Committee August 16, 2006 |
Madison Municipal Building 215 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Madison, Wisconsin Room 260 |
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Common Council/Board of Education Liaison Committee meeting was called to order by Chair Lucy Mathiak at 4:35 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Alder Cindy Thomas, Alder George Twigg, Board of Education Member Lawrie Kobza, Board of Education Member Lucy Mathiak, School District Staff Mary Gulbrandsen
MEMBERS ABSENT: Alder Isadore Knox
STAFF PRESENT: Jim Morgan (Parks Department), Doug Pearson (MMSD), Ann Wilson (MMSD) -Recording Secretary
1. Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Laurie Kobza and seconded by George Twigg to approve the minutes dated June 21, 2006. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
2. Public Appearances
Don Severson requested that the Committee and Board of Education members take a look at the demographics of residents in the Ridgewood complex to see how changes in the complex (rehabilitation, increased rentals, condominiums) might affect Leopold School. He also suggested dealing proactively with traffic flow increases around Midvale school resulting from redevelopment through the Midvale Plaza project. He noted there are forty-nine more scheduled "in-fill" projects coming up in the city.
Mary Gulbrandsen responded that the district will monitor enrollments. She shared the latest information about enrollments coming out of Ridgewood (305 to Chavez, 330 to Leopold), noting there is currently 70% occupancy which is projected to rise to 90%. Lucy Mathiak stated traffic safety is a critical area that needs follow-up. She would appreciate input on what can be done to be proactive.
3. Announcements
There were no announcements.
4. City of MadisonRequirements for Mowing MMSD Fields
(Written materials distributed in advance: e-mail from Douglas Pearson to Mary Gulbrandsen re: Mowing Grass dated 8/9/06 - attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
Doug Pearson, school district Director for Buildings and Grounds, noted the school district has been cited by the City for having grass over eight inches tall on the Sprecher property. It was necessary to rent equipment so that this large parcel could be mowed. His purpose in addressing this item is to find out how the school district could obtain an ordinance exemption similar to that held by the Parks Department.
Jim Morgan, Parks Superintendent, explained the process for obtaining an exemption. Drafting an ordinance change would need assistance from the City Attorney's Office and would go through Planning and Development (application for land management change, 2705F). He noted that taking care of the perimeter of properties sometimes satisfies people who live nearby or people who might complain about grass not being mowed. Exempted lands still need to be managed, e.g., weed control; there is cost involved. The Parks Department has successfully rented land to farmers who also assume responsibility for perimeter mowing and weed control. He will share a list of farmers with Doug Pearson. Other possible ideas for use of the land were as urban agriculture - high school science classes and as community gardens.
FOLLOW-UP:
Cindy Thomas will keep Alder Lauren Cnare informed of this discussion and any follow-up. She noted the importance of having the support of the Alder if an ordinance exemption is sought.
5. City of Madisonand MMSD Cooperation on Forestry and PestControl
Lucy Mathiak shared her understanding that the Parks Department has offered to assist the school district with efforts to control gypsy moth infestations on school district property but there have been public challenges to doing that work because of concerns with using insecticides. Doug Pearson confirmed that the City has been treating trees on the Cherokee property and that the district has contracted with a private company for work at Allis.
Jim Morgan, Parks Superintendent, noted the City has been cooperating with county agencies. There is a county-wide infestation with moths at many sites in the City. City crews work "hot spots." He felt one or two years of effort may help to reduce the problem. City crews will include school district property when they are working in the area near school grounds. The cost is negligible. He will work with the school district to get information out to parents and property owners about the materials which will be used to control the moths, which are not pesticides. Doug Pearson will survey to see where there are infestations on school district property and communicate that information to City staff. Jim Morgan will keep the Parks Department, Board of Education, and Forestry updated.
FOLLOW-UP:
It was suggested Ken Syke be provided with information so that he could arrange/prepare information for the news media/community about both the work to fight gypsy moths and the materials that will be used and district cooperation with other agencies.
6. Demographic Changes Affecting Neighborhoods and Schools with Focus on Economic and Linguistic Changes and Comparison between Allied Drive and Other Parts of Madison.
(Written materials distributed in advance: Neighborhood Report for City Neighborhoods Defined Prior to 1996. Written materials provided at the meeting: Weed and Seed Progress Report Year 3 Grant, January 1-June 30, 2006. All attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
There was discussion about a Board of Education representative to the charrette planned for the Allied Drive neighborhood this fall. It was determined this is an informal process so a specific representative does not have to be appointed.
Mary Gulbrandsen reviewed written materials, focusing on the information provided in the Weed and Seed report. She is working on retrieving original data and will check on any current data, particularly from the Police Department. There was discussion about how the data was collected and its comparability to other data.
Lawrie Kobza explained that her original question for this discussion was why it is perceived that the affects of low income differ in the city. Allied Drive is served by three elementary schools. Crestwood has relatively low numbers for low income and receives reduced class sizes. The other two schools have a higher number of low income, but do not get lower class sizes. The response has been that not all low income is the same. She would like to know, if this is the case, why Allied Drive low income is qualitatively different for basing resources.
DISCUSSION:
· More a case of anecdotal data. Everyone views their own case as the most severe. Need to define how to provide resources.
· Need to do a regression analysis - to see what the neighborhood severity factor is. Child-by-child academic achievement data is available. Mobility is a factor. Need to determine elements that predict severity. Ultimately a budget issue.
· How can this be determined? Use data from police department, courts, social services, census, city health? All part of the determining package.
· Some information can be shared - more than in the past.
· Were some major grants that collected information - Joining Forces for Families, Safe Schools/Healthy Students. No longer funded or falling under stricter sanctions about how money can be spent.
· Full Board may be interested in meeting again with the police department. Meetings are held annually between police department and school principals.
FOLLOW-UP:
Mary Gulbrandsen will attend the next Weed and Seed meeting in early September and present this question. An important issue is to agree on a definition so that there can be longitudinal data.
7. Traffic Safety in School Areas
This item was not discussed. "Changes in crossing guard staffing" will be included on the next agenda. The second item, "Planning for changing traffic patterns in school zones" was divided into two issues - a) development or redevelopment changes and impact on schools, and b) how to change a problem. Only one of these two issues will be included on the next agenda.
FOLLOW-UP:
· Cindy Thomas/George Twigg will ask for the City Council approved policy on crossing guard staffing, request a sample traffic impact study (Midvale), and invite David Dryer or his representative to the next meeting.
· Mary Gulbrandsen will provide the school district definition of a hazardous route.
8. Next Meeting Date and Future Agenda
The next meeting was scheduled for September 27, 4:30 p.m., at the Doyle Administration Building.
9. Other Business
There was no other business.
10. Adjournment
It was moved by Mary Gulbrandsen and seconded by Lawrie Kobza to adjourn the meeting at 6:10 p.m. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
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Previous: 2006-06-21 || Board of Education - Common Council Liaison Committee || Next: 2006-09-27