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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Regular Meetings May 1, 2006 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, McDaniels Auditorium Madison, Wisconsin |
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I CALL TO ORDER
The Board of Education meeting was called to order by President Carol Carstensen at 7:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Carstensen, Lawrie Kobza, Lucy Mathiak, Ruth Robarts, Arlene Silveira, Shwaw Vang, Johnny Winston, Jr.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT: Connor Gants
STAFF PRESENT: Sue Abplanalp, Mary Gulbrandsen, Bob Nadler, Pam Nash, Doug Pearson, Roger Price, Art Rainwater, Ken Syke, Barbara Lehman-Recording Secretary
LEGAL COUNSEL PRESENT: Attorney Clarence Sherrod
The current members of Madison's Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) were recognized for their work in helping boost reading opportunities for struggling students. The Superintendent mentioned the success of the Schools of Hope project and the newly created Preschools of Hope project.
Lucy Mathiak and Arlene Silveira were sworn in as newly elected members of the Board of Education.
Carol Carstensen reflected on the past year in service as President of the Board in her efforts to provide increased opportunities for the public to be involved through the task forces and ad hoc committees, televising the meetings, weekly summaries, and the Superintendent's evaluation.
Shwaw Vang nominated Johnny Winston, Jr. for President. It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Arlene Silveira to close nominations. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Ruth Robarts abstaining. It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Arlene Silveira to elect Mr. Winston for President by acclamation. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 6‑0-1 with Ruth Robarts abstaining.
Johnny Winston, Jr. nominated Lawrie Kobza for Vice President. It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Shwaw Vang to close nominations. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Ruth Robarts abstaining. It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Arlene Silveira to elect Ms. Kobza for Vice President by acclamation. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Ruth Robarts abstaining.
Carol Carstensen nominated Shwaw Vang for Clerk. It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Carol Carstensen to close nominations. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 6‑0‑1 with Ruth Robarts abstaining. It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Lawrie Kobza to elect Shwaw Vang for Clerk by acclamation. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Ruth Robarts abstaining.
Johnny Winston, Jr. nominated Carol Carstensen for Treasurer. It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Lawrie Kobza to close nominations. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Ruth Robarts abstaining. It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Arlene Silveira to elect Ms. Carstensen for Treasurer by acclamation. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Ruth Robarts abstaining.
Carol Carstensen nominated Roger Price for Secretary. It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Carol Carstensen to close nominations. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 6‑0‑1 with Ruth Robarts abstaining. It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Lawrie Kobza to elect Mr. Price for Secretary by acclamation. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried unanimously.
II APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Shwaw Vang to approve the minutes of the Regular meeting dated April 3, 2006 as distributed. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
III PUBLIC APPEARANCES
Peng Her, parent to a five-year-old, was kind of leery about the system. When they registered for school in March, it was assumed that their daughter would need an English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) assessment even before she registered for class. Last week the principal held an open house and looked at him then pointed in the other direction to the Hmong parents with the Bilingual Resource Specialist. They were labeled based on their appearance. He did not want anything undone but he thought that the system had become so culturally sensitive to have become culturally insensitive. He asked that the Board look at how LEP/ESL students are classified when registering.
Hilary Cronon, a junior at West, supported nearly every aspect of the proposed food policy but was concerned about not being able to raise funds by selling candy and beverages. She talked about the incredible marketing program with the school store and the nearly $500 in sales every day. That money then helps support DECCA. The marketing teachers are concerned that the store could not continue to exist. She asked that the clauses associated with banning candy and soda sales be amended.
Joe Carlsmith, sophomore at West, also spoke to the effectiveness of using candy as a fund raiser. Alternative fund raisers are not as effective and students would get candy other ways if they want it. He asked that the Board consider the role candy plays in making extracurricular activities possible.
Jesse Ayala, alternate Student Representative to the Board, thought it offensive that high school students could not make their choices with regard to candy and soda. He thought that battling obesity should be done through health and physical education classes. He wanted a waiver to allow for potlucks and those things in the cafeteria.
Henry Skyowiewicz, West student and serving on the Student Senate, opposed the ban on selling candy and soda and thought it would cause economic chaos to clubs and the school. He felt there would always be a market for them and would cost the school over $35,000 per year.
Connor Gants indicated he would be collecting more data and would share it with the Board.
Written registrations included one opposed to cutting library pages, two in support of the proposed food policy and one opposed to food restrictions.
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 Carol Carstensen to approve the Evaluation of Learning Materials adoptions in the amount of $34,695. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
No report.
B Finance and Operations
Ms. Kobza noted the last meeting date was April 3, 2006.
1 It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Carol Carstensen that the Board direct the Administration to develop an Advertising and Sponsorship policy in accordance with the parameters approved by the Finance and Operations Subcommittee, as amended by the Finance and Operations Committee, to prohibit any advertising and sponsorships based on political activity. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
Johnny Winston, Jr. report that the committee on eight separate occasions over the school year and the subcommittee met four times. He listed the items discussed and thanked staff and those who served on the committees (a copy of his statement is attached to the original of these minutes). Some of the items included collaborating to meet technology needs, nontraditional communication strategies, communications matrix, review of the number of type of staffing for the Business Services Department, $100 budget process, budget calendars, 2004-05 financial audit, placement of cell towers on district property, constructions costs, five-year budget forecast, and computing services for board members.
C Human Resources
No report.
D LongRangePlanning
No report.
E Partnerships
Ms. Kobza reported that the committee did not meet in the last month. She reported on the issues taken up over the school year - revision of Board policy regarding donations, the work of the After School Task Force, presentations from the fine arts committee on an equitable plan for district students, a presentation from MSCR on its budgets and programs. Matters still being worked on are a list of community organizations that the district partners with, and the administration is working on creating an internet discussion program on the web site for PTOs to share information.
F Legislative
No report.
VII AUDITING, PURCHASING, TRANSFERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
A Auditing
1 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Shwaw Vang that interim bills be approved amounting to $24,687,530.64 and covering the period April 3, 2006 through April 28, 2006. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
2 There were no School Building Fund bills.
B Purchasing
1 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Lawrie Kobza that the bid of $51.50/hour from Forward Electric for an electrical service contract district wide be approved with funding from the 2006-07 General Operating Budget. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
2 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Shwaw Vang that the proposal of $51,000 from Honeywell, Inc. for automated building controls at Lake View Elementary school be approved with funding from the 2006-07 General Operating Budget. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
3 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Shwaw Vang that the proposal of $23,300 from Honeywell, Inc. for automated building controls at Toki Middle School be approved with funding from the 2006-07 General Operating Budget. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
C Other Financial Transactions
1 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Ruth Robarts that all donations and grants received by the MMSD since April 3, 2006 be approved. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
VIII HUMAN RESOURCES TRANSACTIONS AND REPORTS
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Shwaw Vang to approve Item VIII 1-91 in its entirety with the exception of any item a board member may wish to have separated out. Lawrie Kobza requested separation of Items 82 and 83.
With regard to approving Items 82 and 83, 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
No report.
B Report by Lawrie Kobza and Arlene Silveira regarding the creation of a Communications Committee to replace the Legislative Committee
A change was anticipated to broaden the scope of the Legislative Committee to include more proactive communications within the community but would still be responsible for governmental relations. The recommendations include having four community members, one from each of the high school attendance areas. Membership would get into specific strategies and talk with all shareholders of the district. Ms. Carstensen had a change to Item 5 of the procedure and would be submitting language for next week's final action. There was some discussion about keeping the citizen members as voting members.
C Report by Carol Carstensen regarding the Long Range Planning Committee appointing a district wide task force to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the District's five-year long range plan.
Ms. Carstensen indicated that she would like to reconvene the area task forces but add to them representatives from La Follette to look at the long range plan and make recommendations for anything they think might need to be in the plan.
X OTHER BUSINESS
A It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Ruth Robarts that a claim filed against the District on April 19, 2006 by the grandparent of an elementary school student alleging that the student slipped and fell which required stitches to his head due to the District's failure to remove or otherwise treat ice on the school sidewalk. The claim requests reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering for a total amount of $10,250 and was referred to legal counsel and the District's insurer for investigation and recommendation. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
B It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Carol Carstensen that the Board approve the attached resolution designating officials authorized to declare official intent, under reimbursement bond regulations.
Ms. Kobza asked that the information be updated.
It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Ruth Robarts to table this motion. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
C It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Carol Carstensen that the Board create a three-member Food Policy Ad Hoc Committee with Lawrie Kobza serving as the Chairperson and Lucy Mathiak and Arlene Silveira serving as the other two members of the Ad Hoc Committee with a final committee report on May 22, 2006 and final Board action on June 5, 2006.
There was some discussion on the history of the motion, the sense of urgency, a timeline, the number of meetings that might be needed, having something in place before the end of school, and the need for an ad hoc committee vs. the whole board.
Ms. Carstensen amended the motion to change the dates of the final report to June 5 and final Board action on June 12. Accepted as friendly by mover.
It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Ruth Robarts to table this motion. Student Representative advisory vote was no. Motion carried 6-1 with Ruth Robarts voting no.
D It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Ruth Robarts that, pursuant to the provision of Section 118.15 of State Statutes, 14 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.
E It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Arlene Silveira that 32 students be granted diplomas of graduation based on completed requirements. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
F There was no old or new business.
XI ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Ruth Robarts to adjourn the meeting at 9:43 p.m. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Roger Price
Secretary to the Board of Education
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Previous: 2006-04-03 || Regular Meetings || Next: 2006-06-05