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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Community Partnerships February 7, 2005 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Room 103 Madison, Wisconsin |
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Partnerships Committee meeting was called to order by Chair Johnny Winston, Jr. at 5:39 p.m.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Ruth Robarts, Shwaw Vang, Johnny Winston, Jr.
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None
CITIZEN MEMBERS ABSENT: Mary Ellen Johnson
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Carstensen, Bill Clingan, Bill Keys, and Student Representative Oliver Kiefer
STAFF PRESENT: Jane Belmore, Lucy Chaffin, Robert Darm, Valencia Douglas, Mary Gulbrandsen, Chris Nelson, , Art Rainwater, Attorney Clarence Sherrod, Ken Syke, Barbara Lehman-Recording Secretary
1. Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Shwaw Vang to approve the minutes of the Partnerships Committee meeting dated January 10, 2005 as distributed. Motion unanimously carried.
2. Announcements
There were no announcements.
3. Public Appearances
Please see Item #4.
4. Public Hearing on the Proposed Policy to Issue Permits to use Madison School District Outdoor Facilities
(Packets included a background memorandum (1/6/05), proposed process and policies, a statement of purpose, sample field rental rates from other cities and school districts, a 2004-05 budget worksheet, and a list of groups notified about the outdoor permit process and meeting. Copies are attached to the original of these minutes.)
Larry Winkler agreed that a case has been made for regulation of the district's outdoor facilities but not for charging fees and paying an ambassador salary. He stated that the board should approach the situation by collecting specific data on what fields are being overused to what extent, what would be required to repair them, what could be used to replace them, which clubs are causing concerns, and then apply a solution and set direction. He added that the matter should be delegated to MSCR to set up cost estimates for each alternative and return to the Partnerships Committee.
Lawrie Kobza felt that permitting should be limited to those fields that are being overused. She indicated that the City of Madison charges for the use of its fields and they will reserve a field if people want exclusive use, but on a first come-first served basis. The City does not hire ambassadors which would cost the district over $17,000. Fees would not make money. She felt the current proposal should be rejected and that the taxpayers' money should not be spent on things that do not benefit kids.
Rob Summers, representing the MAYSA and Regent Soccer boards, stated that the time frame for getting permits would not allow their organizations to schedule games on any school fields because they produce their schedules in January and February and permits cannot be requested until after that time period. The net effect would preclude kids from playing any games on these fields. People in the community feel they have supported the district and that they have been good users and this feels like a slap in the face. The door is open with these organizations and something could be done that would benefit everyone. They have an agreement with the city which names certain fields in return for maintaining those fields; there is no such agreement with the school district.
Patrick Lennon, MAYSA, indicated that his organization has game schedules but practices are held on the school fields. There is not much coordination and they would welcome that. They show up to practice and work it out with other teams that show up. They can handle things well themselves. They could pay for some upkeep for the fields but that it not true for other leagues.
Bob Anderson, representing the North Side League, stated that this proposal would have a significant financial impact on their league. They generally do not have problems with other teams; there is no space issue on their side of town. They keep their registration fees to a minimal level to allow everyone to play recreationally.
Mark Flood, representing Kennedy Little League (not for profit), offers baseball, football and T-ball for kids 4-18 years old and rely heavily on the school playing fields. They are a volunteer organization and have a population that cannot afford to charge any more in fees. Rain will create a huge scheduling problem if the proposed policy goes through. He did not know where else they could go if the fields were not kept on a first come-first served basis. They have never had problems getting a field and co-exist quite well with other teams without having a permit schedule. They do have their own facility for games.
Chuck Cook wanted to make sure the youth in our community have the opportunity to succeed. He has been involved with sports in Madison for 40 years and never had a problem with conflicts with the fields. Things are always worked out with the high schools. They have made donations. Fees will eliminate a lot of kids who cannot pay. The needs of k-12 children are not being met by the schools and all kids have to be on equal terms. Their registrations are down by 33 percent tied directly to fee increases. They pay fees to use the fields during the day but they have to use their own equipment and are not hurting the tracks. The coaches at the high schools do not have keys and people cannot get in without a permit. He indicated that many families have left Madison because of what they are not getting in extracurricular activities.
Peter Openeer, soccer coach for a little league on the north side of town, felt that the proposal was a solution that would create problems. There really are no concerns with field uses; they only have problems with permit holders. Great scrimmages have broken out as a result of more teams showing up. Partnerships have developed between the parents and the schools. The kids that play on those fields are at the lowest level, have no money, or even raw athletic ability. They play with their friends at their neighborhood school. Parents pick up fees (which are not significant) for some of the kids. This policy requires permits for practices and that was his concern that it creates more problems than it solves. There is a quasi-informal mechanism for scheduling that has worried beautifully.
Bill Strand, president of MAYSA and former president of the MAGIC soccer league, stated that his organizations have bought a number of goals for the schools that everyone uses. They also are involved with the city to maintain the parks and some schools. All the teams are school-based and play at their schools for home games. If a field should have to be taken out because it is dangerous, they would find some other location to play. Parents of soccer kids want very little travel.
Bob Darm indicated that Building Services goes out from April through November and aerates the fields. Currently only the high school fields or stadium fields are closed if they need to be. Lucy Chaffin indicated that part of the reason for the proposal was to find out who is using the fields so that communication could happen.
Alan Krozly was concerned that the policy seems to imply that permits are required for all events, including practices. He referred to page 4 of the proposal stating that he did not understand what the rates are and who they apply to and when. He felt that a system was already in place for using the fields and that it was natural and appropriate for the schools to be the center of these activities.
Philip James, president of the Regent Soccer Club, stated that their club is one of many that make up MAYSA that would be affected very much by the proposed policy. They have 180 games alone on school fields and serve over 1,200 kids that are all Madison School District families. It is a volunteer organization that tries to keep registration fees low for the kids. He stated that some fields are in horrible condition and they have tried to improve them and everyone uses their equipment. They line fields and have done seeding with the knowledge and permission of the district but without any help from the district. There is a strong feeling among their members that asking them to pay for those fields is not an act of good faith. If the proposal passes, he was not sure if the Regent Club would move their games away from these fields. The district would be losing much more than it would stand to gain. MAYSA is the largest user of the school district fields and he calculated that annual revenue for the district would be less than $24,000 and would have no chance of making any money.
Mike Pressman is involved with a baseball league that charges minimum fees and uses the Midvale fields. There is not much in the way of conflicts and gives many kids a chance to play
Matt Finn, East High School student, said that the proposal makes him nervous because having to pay for use of the fields will push kids to private clubs and some cannot afford that and they cannot maintain their own fields. He has never seen a conflict over the use of a field.
There was one written registration in opposition to charging fees for field use.
5. Proposed Policy to Issue Permits to use MadisonSchool DistrictOutdoor Facilities
Discussion: District has no way of knowing who is using the fields during the summer time so they cannot contact people about the condition of the fields and coordinate solutions.
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Johnny Winston, Jr. to direct the administration to identify all the school playing fields with problems from overuse and return to the Partnerships Committee by May 1, 2005 with recommendations to address those fields without imposing new fees or permit requirements.
Discussion: Want a range of things that can be done and give everyone a chance to communicate. Problems are not universal and can be focused. Also should have a process in place where people have to notify the district when they are using fields for fundraising events and charging fees. Need to find out who is using the fields and get them into the loop.
Attorney Sherrod indicated that there was a lot of misunderstanding; that the policy was targeted for those who have overused the fields primarily at certain locations and that permits would only be required for games for those who are overusing the fields. Everyone else could continue to do what they are doing. A districtwide solution was needed. He was not sure if a substitute motion to deal with organizations that are for profit vs. not for profit was legitimate because they may not be the over users.
Question was called by Johnny Winston, Jr.
The motion carried unanimously.
6. Other Business
There was no other business.
7. Adjournment
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Shwaw Vang to adjourn the meeting at 7:08 p.m. Motion unanimously carried.
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