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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Communications October 23, 2006 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Auditorium Madison, Wisconsin |
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Communications Committee meeting was called to order by Arlene Silveira at 7:20 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Board Members: Arlene Silveira, Lucy Mathiak, Ruth Robarts.
Citizen Member: Deb Gurke
MEMBERS ABSENT: Citizen Members: Tim Saterfield and Wayne Strong
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Carstensen, Lucy Mathiak
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT: Joe Carlsmith
STAFF PRESENT: Sue Abplanalp, Mary Gulbrandsen, Pam Nash, Art Rainwater, Marcia Standiford, Ken Syke, Ann Wilson-Recording Secretary
1. Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Deb Gurke to approve the minutes of the Communications Committee meeting dated September 25, 2006. Motion unanimously carried.
2. Public Appearances
Don Severson, representing Active Citizens for Education, noted disappointment at the turnout of community members at the referendum information meetings. He stated the Board of Education needs to reach out and look at how the meetings were promoted in an effort to get more public participation. He encouraged being more proactive and aggressive in the future. He was also disappointed that Board members did not attend the sessions. It would be respectful of those in attendance if Board members were present, and they should be the ones answering questions. He noted the next meeting is on October 25 at Jefferson.
Deb Gilbert, whose two sons are excited to be entering Leopold in the fall, spoke in support of the November 7 referendum. She appreciated the unanimous support of the Board of Education for the referendum. She noted the growth occurring in the district and the need to move dollars out from under the revenue cap. She encouraged getting the word out to the broad, general community, especially those without children in school.
3. Announcements
Arlene Silveira announced that, in June, the Board voted unanimously to go to referendum. The $23.5 million referendum is a single question with three parts. It allows for building a new school at Linden Park on the far west side, financing for more classroom space at Leopold Elementary School, and providing revenue cap relief via refinancing. The referendum is Tuesday, November 7. Information is available on the District's website at www.mmsd.org.
4. Resolution Supporting Moving Security Expenditures outside the Revenue Cap
(Written materials provided in advance: Resolution language - attached to the original of these minutes.)
Art Rainwater introduced the resolution and noted it places a cap of $100 per student on the amount that can be spent each year. For the school district, this would represent about $2.5 million. Mr. Rainwater stated his support for the resolution as it is in the best interests of the school district to set security expenditures aside from educational expenditures. Rules will be established that will identify what could be considered security related expenditures.
Ruth Robarts thanked Representative Spencer Black for his constructive legislative proposal and noted it resembles the current revenue cap exemptions for community service (Fund 80). Ruth Robarts and Lucy Mathiak noted concern that when the rules are developed they take into account a variety of needs beyond enforcement such as equipment or changes to old buildings or problem areas that are a cause of unsafe conditions. Superintendent Rainwater noted another critical area is training in areas such as conflict resolution and de-escalation strategies. All these needs are noted in the proposed resolution.
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Lucy Mathiak to recommend to the Board of Education for review the following resolution moving Security measures outside of the revenue cap:
Whereas, Representative Spencer Black has introduced a measure to remove school security improvements from under the revenue limits, and;
Whereas, the measure will be re-introduced when the Legislature reconvenes next January, and;
Whereas, the proposal places fiscal limits on security-related expenditures and offers legislative oversight through the rule-making process, and;
Whereas, in Madison there is one Educational Resource Officer at each of our four high schools, but only a select number in our eleven middle schools, and;
Whereas, Madison Schools have a small crew of fourteen security assistants monitoring the activities of over 13,000 middle and high school students, and;
Whereas, Madison Schools have identified the need for more video monitoring in remote areas of old school buildings and outside of schools, the need for expanded staff development opportunities for conflict resolution techniques, the need for two-way communication devices for administrative staff and security personnel and, the need for better door locks at older schools are just a few of our critical needs, and;
Whereas, the need for safety and security measures compete with educational needs under the revenue limit law;
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Madison Metropolitan Board of Education urges the Legislature to pass Representative Black's proposal to improve safety in Wisconsin's schools during the 2007 spring legislative floor period.
Motion unanimously carried.
The Superintendent noted Ken Syke and Joe Quick will work on a plan for providing information. Lucy Mathiak suggested Mr. Rainwater consider using this topic for a future column or article.
5. Statewide Superintendent's Response to Revenue Caps
(Written materials provided in advance - "One Voice, One Future" - attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
Art Rainwater reviewed the written information provided that gives background information about theOne Voice, One Future project which is the result of the work of a group of Superintendents. It has received the support of superintendents throughout the state and has been adopted by some Boards of Education, including Green Bay. The Resolution supports the concept of "adequacy" - that there must be a permanent, positive funding base for education and the state should, based on research, provide the necessary resources to meet the standards it has set (also adopted by "No Child Left Behind"), or lower the standards. The Resolution asks the Wisconsin Association of School Boards to support and place the One Voice, One Future initiative on their agenda. The Superintendents feel that, in order to create the political framework to bring about a change in funding, all groups need to work together as a broad coalition and support the same agenda, reflected in this initiative.
In response to a question about how this initiative compares with that of the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools or Allen Odden's Adequacy Study, Mr. Rainwater responded that the fundamental approach is the same. Resources need to be defined and funded. Districts may not continue to have as much local discretion, but if the current situation continues nothing will be funded.
6. Resolution Relative to Educational Leadership for All Students
(Written material provided in advance: Proposal for the 2007 Delegate Assembly - Educational Leadership for All Students - attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Lucy Mathiak to recommend to the Board of Education for review the following resolution relative to Educational Leadership for All Students:
Resolution: That the WASB support WASDA's One Voice, One Future initiative to unite educational groups in Wisconsin to support adequate resources for schools, with necessary program and needs defined by quality research, to enable all students to meet Wisconsin's instructional standards.
Rationale: Over the years, opponents of public education have kept educational groups apart by driving wedges between administrators, teachers, school boards, parents, and the general public.
The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education believes the WASB should join WASDA to take the lead in advancing the research-based adequacy model for Wisconsin's educational future. We could continue our slow death by 1000 cuts, or we can forge a united front and work for change.
The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education believes we owe it to our state's children to be leaders for them. We urge the WASB to join members to coalesce around a research-based adequacy model and work with other education groups for change. The future of public education and the economic vitality of Wisconsin depend on our leadership.
Motion unanimously carried.
7. Next Steps for Community Conversations
Arlene Silveira reported she would work with staff to put together an updated, more concrete plan for Community Conversations and bring it back to the committee at the November or December meeting. Input and ideas from committee members are welcome as the plan is developed.
8. Other Business
There was no other business.
9. Adjournment
It was moved by Lucy Mathiak and seconded by Ruth Robarts to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
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