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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Special Meeting - Open Session December 15, 2003 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Room 103 Madison, Wisconsin |
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The Special Meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Bill Keys at 7 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Ray Allen, Carol Carstensen, Bill Clingan, Bill Keys, Juan José López, Ruth Robarts, Shwaw Vang
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Jane Belmore, Amy Christianson, Jason Demerath, Mary Gulbrandsen, Roger Price, Art Rainwater, Ken Syke, Ann Wilson-Recording Secretary
LEGAL COUNSEL PRESENT: Attorney Clarence Sherrod
1. Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Shwaw Vang to approve the minutes of the Special Meetings dated November 17, 2003 and November 24, 2003. Motion unanimously carried.
Carol Carstensen noted Board members have not yet received additional information regarding the Teaching and Learning budget requested at the November 24 meeting.
2. Public Appearances
Speakers in support of the proposal for the Nuestro Mundo Community School:
Amy Osario Benefits go beyond academics, interaction of different cultures breaks down barriers, opportunity to interact with immigrants, students meet challenge of multiracial, multicultural society, students are able to function in a global society.
Sandy Magana Social justice, equity issue; two languages should be valued but the situation has not improved much; want to acknowledge, value, recognize students who have a second language; value of culture/language lends to self esteem, ability to gain in society.
Jose Santin School would be a life-saver, meet key needs of his child for bilingual education and visual impairment; lose much acceptance for cultural identities in homogenous education; school such as this would allow learning about cultural identities, promote understanding and tolerance; not just a school for Latino kids.
Luis Gomez Cost to study Spanish at university; why not promote learning in public school; nation understands the importance of learning Spanish, but students in MMSD are suspected as gang members; Spanish speaking students are not being invited to join Spanish Clubs at some schools losing talent if continue with business as usual.
Nicklos Penchaaszadeh School would be a place where his daughter could learn both English and Spanish comes from a bilingual household. Communication gaps between parents and children if children have to learn in English.
Dan Guerra First step to breaking down cultural barriers problems between Latino and white students at La Follette. Give accountability / power to ten volunteers to implement the school.
Lauren Rosen-Yeazel Seen growth in international population. Dual-immersion is best way for children to learn to talk to their neighbors. Best time to learn is when children are young. Now is the chance people are ready. Mobility the dual language allows for literacy block in first language gives tools to become literate. Now is the time to make a change like this.
Angela Byars-Winston Multicultural education promotes cognitive development, promotes cultural understanding of other groups.
Sal Carranza Research on charter schools. Promising, exciting proposal, timely and necessary to consider. "Win" situation for all. Send message to Latino community that no child will be left behind.
Jennifer Hayes Finds herself "painfully mono-lingual." Would be best opportunity for any child.
Sandra Arquetta Hoping our dream will come true. Latino community in Madison growing tremendously. Came to Madison because it is a safe community.
There were 14 written registrations in support of the Nuestro Mundo Community School.
3. Announcements
None.
4. Hawthorne Elementary School Application for Reading First Grant Funds
It was moved by Juan José López and seconded by Ruth Robarts to support the district's application to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for Reading First grant funds on behalf of Hawthorne Elementary School. The Board further commits the district-level staff time needed to support Hawthorne School's implementation of their proposed Reading First program and to fulfill the district's accountability responsibilities to DPI. Motion unanimously carried.
5. Nuestro Mundo Community School Project Inc. Charter School Proposal
(Written information distributed included MMSD Communication with Nuestro Mundo Charter School and the Nuestro Mundo Community School Charter School Proposal, both attached to the original of these minutes.)
Nuestro Mundo Board Members Dr. Roger Hammer, Sara Alvarado, and Lilliana Saldana presented the Nuestro Mundo Charter School Proposal dated December 2003 and provided an overview. He noted the proposal reflects two and one-half years of commitment and preparation and answers some of the questions posed at earlier meetings. Questions still remain related to budget, staffing, and the site. He introduced charter school board members who were present and stated that the goal remains to open the charter school by September of 2004.
DISCUSSION: Comparing costs of educating students in regular public school setting vs. charter schools; selection of students to attend charter school.
It was moved by Juan José López and seconded by Ray Allen to direct the MMSD administration to find two to three possible sites to meet the needs of the Nuestro Mundo Community School and to prepare a proposal to full implementation with a complete cost budget and with additional resources for consideration by the Board of Education at the January 12, 2004 meeting.
Bill Clingan moved a friendly amendment requesting the administration to: a) select an elementary school that has high numbers of Latino children and prepare a proposal for the Board of Education for consideration on January 12, 2004 that provides an innovative analysis of what a charter program would look like including curriculum, parent involvement, the school as a center for families who are seeking additional resources, and recruitment of bilingual staff; b) assemble a Latino work group composed of half district staff and half community members that would address issues.
Juan José López did not accept the amendment as friendly and Bill Clingan withdrew the amendment.
DISCUSSION: Selection of students, transportation, service center options, migration of students to surrounding districts, access to foreign language, impact on budget, compliance with legal standards for selection/admission, compliance with board policy.
The main motion carried unanimously.
6. Other Business
There was no other business.
7. Adjournment
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Juan José López to adjourn the meeting at 8:58 p.m. Motion unanimously carried.
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