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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Community Partnerships October 13, 2003 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Room 103 Madison, Wisconsin |
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The Partnerships Committee meeting was called to order by Chair Ray Allen at 5:15 p.m.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Ray Allen, Carol Carstensen, Ruth Robarts
CITIZEN MEMBERS PRESENT: Mary Ellen Johnson, Don Severson
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None
CITIZEN MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Clingan, Bill Keys, Juan José López (arrived 5:25 p.m.), Shwaw Vang
STAFF PRESENT: Jane Belmore, Lucy Chaffin, Valencia Douglas, Mary Gulbrandsen, Kathy Price, Roger Price, Art Rainwater, Ken Syke, Barbara Lehman-Recording Secretary
1. Approval of Minutes
2. Public Appearances
John Olsen, President of Rotary Club of Madison/West Towne/Middleton, supported the Wexford Ridge proposal. The Rotary would support the new center with landscaping or a computer room from budgeted monies. He anticipated that the Rotary would be budgeting more next year. He felt the location was perfect and would open it up to everyone, including people in the surrounding communities.
In response to a question from the committee about why he thought there was a need, he stated that the current facility is woefully short; the new space would be filled up at 11,000 s.f. and they would find more uses for it.
Bob Humke, Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center, relinquished his time.
Janice Alvarado, member of Teen Build Up and a junior at Memorial High School, also supported the proposal for a new center. Teen Build Up is a youth organization that would use the facility for weekly meetings without having to work around the schedules of everyone else. The location close to the school would make it possible to sign out of study hall and do research on the computers that is restricted at the schools. They would be monitored by tutors without getting kicked out by security at the schools.
In response to questions from the committee, Janice stated that there are about 10 members in the organization that started in April. She felt that more people would join if the facility were next to the schools. She has been part of the Neighborhood Center since 8th grade.
Juan José López arrived at 5:25 p.m.
Chamrouen Um, member of Teen Build Up and a senior at Memorial High School, also supported the proposed neighborhood center. Their group could use the facility to hold their discussions. He described himself as a teenager trying to make a difference in the community. He stated that if this project could be completed, it would give them all a good feeling and would help others.
In response to a question from the committee, he described some of the issues Teen Build Up discusses, e.g., how police officers and others in authority treat youth, how youth get into trouble, and how to solve these issues. He indicated that there are others who have left school and use the Center to help other youth and stay out of trouble. The group is racially diverse. He indicated that they have not talked to anyone about using space at Jefferson or Memorial.
Lucy Chaffin, Director of the Madison School & Community Recreation Department, stated that MSCR works closely with Paul Terranova and the Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center, including co-funding. MSCR has time conflicts for space for after-school programs with all of the Madison schools. Dedicated space would be nice. She noted that the Teen Build Up group would have to pay rent to use space in the schools. She would support this proposal in any way she could.
Mr. Rainwater indicated that the Teen Build Up organization could work with the schools but would need a faculty advisor.
Annie Keith, Muir Elementary teacher, in speaking for most teachers at Muir stated that they are very excited about this opportunity to form a partnership and a new community center. It fits needs for all Muir children and fits the MMSD framework. The new center would be crucial for all students, particularly those at risk, where everyone could feel safe and have alternatives for after-school time. The people from Wexford Ridge have been working very hard with the school staff on all kinds of things they could do. They are trying to form partnerships and the teachers are backing the effort.
Written registrations included five in support of the Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center proposal.
3. Announcements
Mr. Allen thanked the citizen members of the committee for their participation and willingness to serve. He indicated that this initiative is very important because there are families that need the after-school support that a community center has to offer. The effort would require a partnership because the district cannot do it all. Ms. Johnson agreed stating that the west side of Madison is woefully short on things for younger kids to do.
4. Personal Financial Education for Students
David Mancl, Chair of the Wisconsin Jumpstart Coalition and a Director in the Office of Financial Education for the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, and Professor Bill Duddleston, Director of the Center for Economic Education at Edgewood College, gave a presentation on the impact of a lack of personal financial education, what is happening nationally, and what the school district might be able to do in the future. Handouts distributed were a copy of the presentation; the final report of the Governor's Task Force on Financial Education (8/02); a syllabus for the Madison Youth Enterprise Academy; a brochure for the Financial Institute for Wisconsin Educators; information on the JumpStart program; information on The Money Conference (copies are attached to the original of these minutes). Professor Duddleston expanded on the teaching examples, the success with at-risk students, summer voluntary programs, grants they have received, and courses to reach industry people and educators.
FOLLOW UP: Mr. Allen asked that a future meeting be set to hear from the administration about what is currently being done in the district, how the district will comply with Assembly Bill 94, and invite Mr. Mancl and Professor Duddleston back to the Partnerships Committee at that time.
5. Wexford Ridge Proposed Neighborhood Center
(Packets included a summary of community consultations, the partnership proposal, and frequently asked questions about the new center project. Copies are attached to the original of these minutes.)
Executive Director Paul Terranova gave a short presentation on the two-year history of the proposal and their mission to strengthen their partnership with the school district without impacting the district's budget. Janet House shared her positive experiences with the center in the areas of tutoring, volunteering, serving the changing population of Madison's west side, and the need for a bigger facility. Tracy Benson, Community Organizer and support person for the Youth Teen Build Up program, has been organizing around youth and education issues for seven years. She spoke about how youth are fighting for survival and are involved in a "quiet war" to be engaged and thrive in the education system. One project they are working on is a video for people in authority and the struggles young people face.
Mr. Terranova introduced other members of the small delegation who were in attendance. He indicated that low-income and minority parents and children are organizing events. He felt there were endless possibilities and that there are a number of alternative ways to make the center happen. They were not asking for any money but for 2 acres on a 40 acre piece of land.
Discussion: Obvious benefits in the way of services. Issues around legality, compatibility, proximity to schools, funding from the city. Alders are in support. Current leasing law and favorable change about to go through in the legislature. Depth of discussion has not reached what the site would look like on the land and use issues. The Superintendent made a statement on behalf of the administration supporting the ideas but he did not believe it good public policy to lease land long-term that the taxpayers have entrusted to the district for education, regardless of what the uses would be. Other issues include who would be at the center during the day, control, access, etc.
The group was asked to give more information about the way the Center currently functions and programs it offers and the physical structure. They were also asked to explain what other alternatives they have considered. Mr. Terranova noted that it is hard to find land in this area, they wanted to bring leadership together, talked about other sites they considered, how this partnership seemed to make sense, and hoped to have some data on who uses the center for the next meeting.
Discussion continued: Needs further discussion with the administration and a vehicle to get feedback from the surrounding communities and the city.
It was moved by Don Severson and seconded by Ruth Robarts that the Partnerships Committee endorse the neighborhood school partnership and recommend to the full Board to move forward with this proposal.
The motion was amended, accepted as friendly by both mover and seconder, to: 1) refer to the administration the collection of questions and get responses; 2) schedule within a reasonable period of time input from the communities; 3) meet and discuss the proposal with the City, affected alders, and the Community Development Block Grant office; 4) return to the committee by November 24, 2003. Motion, as amended, carried unanimously.
Mr. Allen clarified that all questions be directed to Art Rainwater or Roger Price by October 20, 2003.
6. Other Business
There was no other business.
7. Adjournment
It was moved by Don Severson and seconded by Mary Ellen Johnson to adjourn the meeting at 6:52 p.m. Motion unanimously carried.
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