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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Communications July 9, 2007 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Room 103 Madison, Wisconsin |
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Communications Committee meeting was called to order by Chair Beth Moss at 5:15 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Board Members: Carol Carstensen, Lawrie Kobza, and Beth Moss Citizen Members: Deb Gurke and Wayne Strong
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Arlene Silveira
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Sue Abplanalp, Steve Hartley, Joe Quick, Ann Wilson-Recording Secretary
1. Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Wayne Strong to approve the minutes of the Communications Committee meeting dated February 26, 2007. Motion unanimously carried.
2. Public Appearances
There were no public appearances.
3. Announcements
Beth Moss announced that there are two vacancies for citizen members on this committee. She will work with the Board President Arlene Silveira and Board Secretary Barbara Lehman to begin the process to solicit applicants.
4. Goals for the Communications Committee for the 2007-08 School Year
(Written materials provided in advance: PowerPoint presentation - Recommendation to the MMSD BOE Communication Committee - Legislative Action for Madison Educational Advocacy Network, 2007-09 Biennial Budget Issues "Talking Points," Goals for the Communications Committee 2007-08 - attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
Beth Moss noted the written materials which contain the list of potential goals for the Communications Committee generated at a previous Board meeting and information about two potential goals that had been previously discussed: a) a proposal to develop a report about referenda that have taken place around the state in comparable districts; and b) ways to involve the community in advocating for state funding reform.
It was noted that some of the goals on the list generated by the Board could be identified as short-term goals, such as those related to crisis communications and student/family communication. Several of the others fit with the two major committee goals (referendum and community involvement) or with the Board's strategic communication plan. There was a caution that any work on the referendum communication needs to correspond with board action related to a referendum.
DISCUSSION:
· May be difficult to accomplish more than two major goals.
· Useful to have some short-term goals as well.
5. Referenda in Wisconsin School Districts Comparable to the MMSD
(Written materials provided at the meeting: Recommendation for Citizen Input into Referendum/Superintendent Search dated 6/14/07 by Deb Gurke - attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
Beth Moss reviewed the proposal to develop a report about referenda that have occurred across the state, emphasizing the methods used to gather input. In response to her question about possible parameters for the report, responses were: survey of districts within Dane County; survey of districts with a student population over 10,000; deliberative polling (as described in Deb Gurke's written materials); other districts that requested a significant operating budget increase (above $5M); referenda that occurred within the last two-three years; prior experiences in the district with successful referenda. For preparing the report, it was also suggested that several MMSD board members contact board members of other districts directly to gather information, that information be included about opposition groups working against the referendum in those districts, and to include a graph showing how the number of referenda have increased.
There was discussion about gathering community input for the referendum and superintendent search and how/whether they might be connected:
· Looking at the format or process for both questions.
· Expect to rely on superintendent search consultant for suggestions about community input process.
· Can only ask the public once for both topics.
· Keep the process separate; need to be careful about combining.
· Concern that the superintendent search and district communication strategy work can be accomplished in a short period of time.
· Interested in an example of deliberative process used on an operating budget referendum. How long does the process take?
Beth Moss indicated she would compile information gathered at this meeting into a spreadsheet and present it to the committee at the next meeting on July 23.
6. Ways to Involve Community in Advocating for State Funding Reform
Beth Moss referred to previous discussion at the February 26, 2007 meeting and proposed keeping the momentum going by planning for a public information meeting in the fall and possibly inviting a speaker. In the discussion about a possible date, it was noted that the League of Women Voters is planning a meeting in early September and there will be a Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools Rally (WAES) at the end of October (in conjunction with the Sondy Pope-Roberts resolution). Collaboration with ABC Madison was also suggested; perhaps developing a formal process to do that, perhaps centered around legislative goals.
Beth Moss will look at dates for a fall meeting and bring a recommendation to the next meeting, along with the dates for the other meetings, the rally, and when the Pope-Roberts resolution will be out.
7. Other Business
There was no other business.
8. Adjournment
It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Deb Gurke to adjourn the meeting at 6 p.m. Motion unanimously carried.
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