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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Regular Meetings April 9, 2007 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Auditorium Madison, Wisconsin |
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I CALL TO ORDER
The Board of Education meeting was called to order by President Johnny Winston, Jr. at 7:20 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Carstensen, Lucy Mathiak, Ruth Robarts, Arlene Silveira, Shwaw Vang, Johnny Winston, Jr.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Lawrie Kobza
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT: Jacinth Sohi/Joe Carlsmith
STAFF PRESENT: Mary Gulbrandsen, Steve Hartley, Kurt Kiefer, Pam Nash, Doug Pearson, Roger Price, Art Rainwater, Marcia Standiford, Ken Syke, Barbara Lehman-Recording Secretary
LEGAL COUNSEL PRESENT: Attorney Clarence Sherrod
OTHERS PRESENT: Maya Cole, Beth Moss
II APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Arlene Silveira to approve the minutes of the Regular meeting dated March 5, 2007. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Arlene Silveira to suspend the rules and change the order of the agenda in order to take up Item X E. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
Item X E In accordance with the action taken by the Board on January 16, 2007, the Superintendent recommends that the Board approve one of the following names: Shirley S. Abrahamson, Linden Park, Paul J. Olson, Vang Pao, as the name for the new school at Linden Park.
It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Ruth Robarts that the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education name the new school at the Linden Park site General Vang Pao. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
Recessed at 7:38 p.m.
Reconvened at 7:47 p.m.
III PUBLIC APPEARANCES
Doua Vang thanked the Board for voting in favor of naming the new school after General Vang Pao and thanked the Superintendent for his recommendation. He noted that this was an historical moment for the Hmong community in Madison recognizing the diversity of the city and its third largest student population. He also thanked Shwaw Vang for his six years of service to the Madison community as a member of the Board of Education and to Ruth Robarts for serving for ten years.
Adam Chern chose not to speak.
Rebecca Kemble spoke in support of committing to keep Madison's neighborhood schools open, particularly Lindbergh Elementary which serves many Hmong children. She felt the recommendation to close Lindbergh was based on very flawed enrollment projection figures.
Written registrations included 116 in support of naming the new school at Linden Park after General Vang Pao.
IV BOARD PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
Congratulations to the students of Cherokee and Memorial who won the 100 Black Men of Madison's 13th Annual African American History Challenge Bowl. With their wins, these students and their adult chaperones have earned an all-expenses paid trip to the national competition in Las Vegas, NV in June.
Accounting teachers Darrin Graham from La Follette, Dave Thomas from Memorial, Mareta Van Rens from East and Mary Lehrer from West were awarded 2007 Accounting Careers Awareness Grants. All four schools will participate in an accounting seminar at MATC. LaFollette and Memorial will use their grant money to start a credit union at their schools run by their accounting classes.
Congratulations to all of our schools who participated in state tournaments during the winter sports season. Special mention goes to Memorial's Keaton Nankivil for being named Co-Mr. Basketball for the state of Wisconsin. Keaton will be attending the University of Wisconsin on a basketball scholarship.
Board workshop report related to Communications about funding of K-12 Public Education by the State of Wisconsin, Key Provisions regarding K-12 Public Education in the Governor's Proposed Budget, Tips for Communicating with the Wisconsin State Legislators regarding the State of Wisconsin's Funding of K-12 Public Education, and Communication with other Wisconsin Public K-12 School Districts regarding the funding of K-12 Public Education.
Ms. Silveira reported that on March 29 the Communications Committee supported a board workshop related to communications and advocacy for public education by the State of Wisconsin. The agenda was divided into three parts: Wisconsin K-12 public education funding, key K-12 provisions in the Governor's proposed budget, tips for legislative communications and communications with other Wisconsin K-12 school districts. There will be an ongoing group of people working toward better funding. People interested in joining the Action Team can send an e-mail to comments@madiosn.k12.wi.us.
A copy of the report on the 2007-08 proposed budget is attached to the original of these minutes.
Discussion: forecast based on budgeted increase for teachers, item not yet negotiated. Staff is ready to accept budget analysis questions. Final budget decision date is a target date. Possible consolidation/closings are time sensitive issues that affect staffing in the schools and leaves neighborhoods in the lurch. Plan G recommendation--two meetings have already been held in the area and a third meeting is scheduled to be held at Kennedy Heights Community Center on Thursday night.
Joe Carlsmith replaced Jacinth Sohi at this time.
VI COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ACTION THEREON
A Performance and Achievement
1 It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Arlene Silveira to approve the Evaluation of Learning Materials adoptions in the amount of $42,491.08. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
2 It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Ruth Robarts to approve the summer school recommendations for 2007 for kindergarten-ready through high school as presented in the February 2007 Executive Summary for last summer and the recommendations for the coming summer. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
Mr. Vang reported that the committee last met on March 5 and discussed the Alternative School programs and the Student Services Department. There is no committee meeting scheduled.
B Finance and Operations
Ms. Carstensen reported for Ms. Kobza that the committee met on March 7 for a noon meeting which finalized the draft of the Citizens' Budget and identified final pieces they wanted to include. It will come back to the committee at one of the next meetings. No date set yet for the next meeting.
C Human Resources
Ms. Robarts reported that the committee met on March 5 and received the annual report on recruitment of minority and retention. The committee asked questions of the Human Resources Department and the board received a memorandum about one week later indicating by groups of minority teachers what the retention rate had been for every year. This was very helpful. Perhaps next year's committee might look at how this data compares to majority hires. No date and agenda for next meeting.
D LongRangePlanning
Ms. Carstensen reported that the committee met twice, once on March 25 and once on March 27, held as informational meetings on the northeast side. March 25 was held at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center and on March 27 at Black Hawk Middle School. Both meetings were well attended with very interested people. Mary Gulbrandsen provided an overview of the planning process and how long range planning develops across the year and explained the different options that had been presented to the board for possible budget reductions, as well as all the other options. There will be one more meeting on April 12 at the Kennedy Heights Community Center to encourage people in that community to come to a meeting.
E Community Partnerships
Ms. Mathiak reported that the committee met twice since the last regular meeting. On March 12 a second group of community organizations that receives Fund 80 resources gave presentations on what they have been doing and what they have achieved. The committee also met tonight and started with a presentation on large capital development campaigns and best practices. They also talked about some decisions that are pending regarding funding for community partners currently funded through Fund 80 and future funding of community partners through Fund 80. Recommendations will be starred for action next month. They also talked about proposed changes to Board policy 6491 and there will be recommendations next month. No date and agenda for next meeting.
F Communications
Ms. Silveira noted that the last meeting was noticed as a special board workshop discussed earlier in this meeting. No date and agenda for next committee meeting.
VII AUDITING, PURCHASING, TRANSFERS AND OTHER FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
A Auditing
1 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Arlene Silveira that interim bills be approved amounting to $45,067,470.08 covering the period of February 24, 2007 through April 4, 2007. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
2 There were no School Building Fund bills.
B Purchasing
1 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Arlene Silveira that the bid of $61,452 from Pablocki Paving for parking lot pavement replacement at Toki Middle School be approved with funding from the 2007-08 General Operating Budget (Referendum). Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
C Other Financial Transactions
1 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Arlene Silveira that the Board authorize Legal Counsel to use an additional $1,750 for a total of $3,750 from the litigation settlement fund to settle a worker's compensation case. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
2 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Arlene Silveira that the Board accept a donation from the Glenn Stephens Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) in the amount of $12, 270 for the purchase and installation of several pieces of playground equipment. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
3 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Ruth Robarts that all grants and other donations received by the MMSD since March 5, 2007 be approved. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
4 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Shwaw Vang that the contract from Cingular Wireless for a cellular tower at Memorial High School be approved for an option amount of $2,000/year, a lease amount of $1,800/month, and a term of 5 years, renewable for one term. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
5 It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Arlene Silveira that the contract from U.S. Cellular for a cellular tower at West High School be approved for an option amount of $1,000/year, a lease amount of $2,000/month, and a term of 5 years, renewable for two terms. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
VIII HUMAN RESOURCES TRANSACTIONS AND REPORTS
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Shwaw Vang to approve Item VIII 1-125 in its entirety with the exception of any item a board member may wish to have separated out. There were no separations. Student Representative vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
IX REPORTS TO THE BOARD
A Common Council/Board of Education Liaison Committee
Ms. Mathiak reported that the committee last met on March 28 and discussed ways the City of Madison could cooperate with the MMSD to support neighborhood schools in regard to helping reduce transportation for the Marquette/Lapham pair. There was no action taken but she urged the board to consider an option that would revisit transportation of children who live within five blocks of their school--it would cost less than $8,000 per year for a crossing guard vs. a bus route. She was trying to find a way to keep schools open. An analysis was requested.
The agenda item regarding structure and function of the committee was discussed in response to a request from Alder Cindy Thomas who has retired from the City Council and has been on this committee for a number of years. It was suggested that it would have been helpful to have someone from the County in the discussions as well as from the Department of Health and Human Services and Child Welfare. The Mayor and his staff will be suggesting a different sort of structure that will that will be a combination of key administrators and elected people on the committee rather than people who are not the decision makers. This model would include the Mayor, the Superintendent, President of the City Council, etc., and would put key decision makers at the table and avoid some redundancy of school staff that meets with the city staff. No other meeting has been scheduled for this school year. Suggestions/comments included holding three summit meetings per year and that this is a positive track about how to make the committee more effective.
B Student Representative Report
Mr. Carlsmith reported that they last met on March 20 and discussed their recommendations for the new school at Linden Park. Also discussed school consolidations and the possible referendum. The next meeting is tomorrow and they will be discussing legislative lobbying, continuing work on the Student Code of Conduct and upcoming Student Representative elections. He noted that Vang Pao would have gotten his vote for the new school. He also announced that he has chosen to run again for the Student Representative position on the board. The term ends on June 30.
X OTHER BUSINESS
A It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Arlene Silveira that the Board approve, effective April 16, 2007, the proposed changes to Board Policy 8905 - Leave of Absence for Administrators.
Issue of giving administrators less options than the teachers.
Student Representative abstained. Motion carried 6-1 with Ruth Robarts voting no.
B It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Ruth Robarts that the Board approve the contract with the Dane County Coalition for Neighborhood Child Health (DCCNCH) in which DCCNCH partners reimburse the District $51,048, which represents .5 FTE plus additional summer extended contract hours for a Program Support Nurse to coordinate the DCCNCH Health Check clinics. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
C It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Ruth Robarts that Herff Jones, Inc. be awarded a one-year contract for the 2007-08 school year to take portraits and high school dance/prom photographs of MMSD students, to produce MMSD student and staff identification cards, and to pay MMSD a commission on the sale of the photographs to the students/families.
Formal survey of parents, staff and students feedback was overwhelmingly satisfactory. That, in addition to the pricing they provided, was the best bid for next year. Worked through the issues from last year in order to provide a better working understanding of what the district expects from them. Typical commission rate. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
D It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Ruth Robarts that Empire Photography be awarded a one-year contract for the 2007-08 school year to take panoramic senior class pictures, senior graduation pictures, and high school athletic team pictures and pay to the District a commission on the sale of such pictures. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
E Item taken up after Public Appearances portion of this agenda (see page 1).
F It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Lucy Mathiak that a student over the age of 20 be allowed to continue enrollment in the Madison Metropolitan School District for purposes of graduation. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
G It was moved by Shwaw Vang and seconded by Ruth Robarts that eight students be granted diplomas of graduation based on completed requirements. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
H Old and New Business
There was no old or new business.
XI ADJOURNMENT
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Arlene Silveira to adjourn the meeting at 9:24 p.m. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
Respectfully submitted,
Roger Price
Secretary to the Board of Education
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Previous: 2007-03-05 || Regular Meetings || Next: 2007-05-07