| BOE Minutes | BOE Home Page | |
| Previous: 2006-03-06 || Regular Meetings || Next: 2006-05-01 | ||
| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
|---|---|---|
| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Regular Meetings April 3, 2006 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, McDaniels Auditorium Madison, Wisconsin |
|
I CALL TO ORDER
The Board of Education meeting was called to order by President Carol Carstensen at 7:26 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Carstensen, Bill Keys, Lawrie Kobza, Juan José López, Ruth Robarts, Shwaw Vang, Johnny Winston, Jr.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT: Connor Gants
STAFF PRESENT: Sue Abplanalp, Amos Anderson, Frank Crisafi, Mark Evans, Mary Gulbrandsen, Steve Hartley, Joan Lerman, Bob Nadler, Pam Nash, Doug Pearson, Roger Price, Joe Quick, Art Rainwater, Barbara Lehman-Recording Secretary
LEGAL COUNSEL PRESENT: Attorney Clarence Sherrod
Michael Tobin from the State Bar of Wisconsin presented an award to Affiliated Alternatives teacher Erik Shager for law-related teaching excellence.
II APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Bill Keys and seconded by Juan José López to approve the minutes of the Regular meeting dated March 6, 2006 as distributed. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
III PUBLIC APPEARANCES
Monica Gonzalez, representing her classmates, wanted to continue with her education, wanted more job opportunities, and have a better life. She and her classmates wanted to join the march on April 10 and stand up for their rights without consequences for being there. She stated that if they have their parents' permission that no one could prohibit them from going. She asked the Board to respect and understand and give them permission because their families have many needs and many dreams. They wanted to be heard.
Tania Viveros stated that it did not matter whether she was an immigrant or not, she did not want to lose her education just because she does not have documentation. She wanted to continue studying to be someone in this life and they are worth just as much as other people. On April 10 she wanted justice for all immigrants. She wanted the schools to give them permission to go to the march and not to be marked absent.
Annabel Torres, English as a Second Language science teacher at Memorial High School, wanted all the students to get the education they deserve without feeling discriminated against. She asked the Board to help her and other educators to support the students by not marking them absent. She also wanted the support of other teachers.
There was some explanation given for why the Board could not take action at this meeting regarding the concerns raised by the speakers.
Jamie Wichman, Bilingual Resource Specialist in the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), supported all the students and their families who would be attending the rally on April 10. She thought it important that the MMSD have a sense of understanding that the students are not protesting but representing themselves and their families. It is unfortunate that the rally takes place during the school day, but she would have expected the MMSD to celebrate. She was working on many things to prepare for the rally as an important and empowering day. She asked that they be granted the understanding they deserve.
Raul Garcia was not in agreement with the laws because they affect all the immigrants without documentation and the students. He is not here because he wanted to be but because his parents brought him here. He wanted to take advantage of the education he has been given and did not want this right to be denied. He did not want to be denied permission to attend the rally and stated that it was his decision and the decision of his parents.
Cesar Perez did not understand the motive of not supporting this cause. He stated that if the Board did not excuse this absence that they themselves would also be putting the immigrants on the outside of the schools when the idea of this march was to put them in the schools. He asked for their continued support.
Aria Walsh-Felz, native of Madison, asked for support of her classmates and friends and everyone affected by the proposed legislation. She felt there was no better way to learn than to be around to participate in this coming march. They would be marching to protect their rights, not to skip school.
There was some discussion regarding the untenable position the policy creates for the Superintendent.
Vanessa Solis and Alma Ruiz, UW-Madison students, supported the Memorial High School students and stated that the Board should be looking at this as a human rights rally. They felt that it was unarguable if the parents of the students thought it was appropriate for their children to attend the rally.
There was consensus to schedule a special meeting to deal with Board Policy 4031 - Attendance.
There were no speakers who addressed the 2006-08 DPI AODA Competitive Grant Proposal or the 2006-07 Educational Technology Grant Proposal.
Written registrations included five in support of granting excused absences for those students who wish to attend the upcoming rally on April 10.
IV BOARD PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
A copy of the report is attached to the original of these minutes.
A copy of the report is attached to the original of these minutes.
VI COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ACTION THEREON
A Performance and Achievement
1 It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Juan José López to approve the Evaluation of Learning Materials adoptions in the amount of $26,018. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
2 It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Juan José López to suspend the rules and allow the Board to take action on the summer school budget. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Juan José López to accept the budget as presented for summer school.
There was some discussion about the summer school budget and how it comes out of two fiscal years. It was suggested that the summer school budget be made more understandable in the budget book. The project balance will be used for start-up costs. They also talked about the fees recouping expendable things and recruiting more students.
Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
Mr. Vang noted that the last meeting was March 26 and the committee received a report on the status of the elementary strings program. The next meeting has not yet been set.
B Finance and Operations
Mr. Winston noted that the last meeting was earlier in the evening. The committee heard recommendations from the Advertising and Sponsorship Subcommittee and also heard a report from Roger Price regarding computing services for Board members. The next meeting has not yet been set.
C Human Resources
No report. The next meeting is set for May 8 to talk about contracting and more items may be added.
D LongRangePlanning
No report.
E Partnerships
Ms. Kobza reported that the committee had not met since the last Regular meeting. The next meeting is set for May 15 to talk about the district's cooperative Launching into Literacy program.
F Legislative
No report. The next meeting has not yet been set.
VII AUDITING, PURCHASING, TRANSFERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
A Auditing
1 It was moved by Juan José López and seconded by Johnny Winston, Jr. that interim bills be approved amounting to $28,600,368.20 and covering the period March 6, 2006 through March 31, 2006. Motion carried 6-0 with Shwaw Vang and Connor Gants absent.
2 There were no School Building Fund bills.
B Purchasing
1 It was moved by Juan José López and seconded by Bill Keys that an award be made to FitNet Purchasing Alliance in the amount of $25,333 for "MIO Wave" heart rate monitors with funding from the Physical Educational Program (PEP) grant. Motion carried 6-0 with Shwaw Vang absent and Connor Gants absent.
2 It was moved by Juan José López and seconded by Bill Keys that the bid of $1,005,910 from Bauer & Raether Builders for building renovation at Sandburg Elementary School be approved with funding from the 2006-2007 General Operating Budget. Motion unanimously carried. Connor Gants was absent.
3 It was moved by Juan José López and seconded by Bill Keys that the bid of $388,003 from Joe Daniels Construction for tower, pediment, and cornice rehabilitation at West High School be approved with funding from the 2006-2007 General Operating Budget. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
C Other Financial Transactions
1 It was moved by Juan José López and seconded by Shwaw Vang that all donations and grants received by the MMSD since March 6, 2006 be approved. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
VIII HUMAN RESOURCES TRANSACTIONS AND REPORTS
It was moved by Johnny Winston, Jr. and seconded by Juan José López to approve Item VIII 1-147 in its entirety with the exception of any item a board member may wish to have separated out. Ruth Robarts requested separation of Item 70.
It was suggested that, in the future, which contracts are subject to Board policy and which contracts are subject to state statute be clarified. It was suggested that the Board review the policy to make contract renewals more consistent with the budget period.
With regard to approving Item 70, Administrative Contracts, Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 6-1 with Ruth Robarts voting no.
With regard to approving the remainder of Item VIII, Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
IX REPORTS TO THE BOARD
A Common Council/Board of Education Liaison Committee
Ruth Robarts reported that the Committee met on March 29 and heard reports and discussed the truancy report. They asked the City to consider some recent costs to MMSD students and to add additional bus service for La Follette. They also heard a report from Ted Balistreri regarding problems on the Metro buses including those sometimes caused by MMSD students and a recent decision by the City to add video cameras to some of the buses. They continued their discussion on how to serve new developments with the schools and City infrastructure. They will probably continue to meet on that. The next meeting date was not set. The chair on the City side may stay the same but the school board members may change.
X OTHER BUSINESS
A It was moved by Johnny Winston, Jr. and seconded by Bill Keys that the Board direct the Administration to investigate funding of $600,000 from the Bureau of Public Lands to pay for the Linden Park site. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
B It was moved by Johnny Winston, Jr. and seconded by Bill Keys that the Board approve proposed Board Policy 6800 relative to the placement of Telecommunication Facilities on School District property.
It was moved by Juan José López and seconded by Ruth Robarts to table and reconsider to allow for public comment. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
C It was moved by Johnny Winston, Jr. and seconded by Ruth Robarts that the Board approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 6177 relative to the acceptance of grants, bequests, contributions, donations, and other types of gifts. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
D It was moved by Johnny Winston, Jr. and seconded by Juan José López that the Board approve the proposed changes to Board Policy 4502, the Student Conduct and Discipline Plan part of the Student Code of Conduct relative to: (1) adding kicking and spitting as prohibited conduct under Section 209; (2) adding two new Sections 217 and 323 that pertain to the inappropriate and misuse of computers; and (3) modifying the title of the heading of each of the four levels of misconduct that are in the Student Conduct and Discipline Plan to make them easier to understand.
Ms. Robarts made a friendly amendment to add the word "use" in item (2) after the word "inappropriate." Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion as amended carried unanimously.
E It was moved by Johnny Winston, Jr. and seconded by Juan José López that the Board approve the offer to purchase Lot 34, Rustic Acres, for the La Follette Building Trades Program. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
F It was moved by Johnny Winston, Jr. and seconded by Juan José López that, pursuant to the provision of Section 118.15 of State Statutes, five students be excused from school attendance for the purpose of allowing them to enroll in programs for high school equivalency diplomas. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
G It was moved by Johnny Winston, Jr. and seconded by Juan José López that ten students be granted diplomas of graduation based on completed requirements. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
H Old and New Business
There was no old or new business.
XI ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Juan José López and seconded by Johnny Winston, Jr. to adjourn the meeting at 9:56 p.m. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Roger Price
Secretary to the Board of Education
bl
Previous: 2006-03-06 || Regular Meetings || Next: 2006-05-01