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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 June 5, 2006 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, McDaniels Auditorium Madison, Wisconsin |
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Special Meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Johnny Winston, Jr. at 5:06 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Carstensen, Lucy Mathiak, Ruth Robarts, Arlene Silveira, Shwaw Vang, Johnny Winston, Jr.
STUDENT MEMBERS PRESENT: Connor Gants
MEMBERS ABSENT: Lawrie Kobza
STAFF PRESENT: Sue Abplanalp, Mary Gulbrandsen, Pam Nash, Roger Price, Art Rainwater, Marcia Standiford, Ann Wilson-Recording Secretary
OPEN SESSION
1. Public Appearances
Don Severson - Please give consideration for any referendum questions to provide all information about the decision and place it on the website, make sure all information is accurate in all places, document all costs, list alternatives that are considered and the rationale for decisions, provide clear enrollment projections with sources, and provide timelines.
Deb Gilbert - Provided a written Comparison of MMSD Long Range Options Dated 5/30/06. She noted new plans do not adequately inform the public of what will happen. Need to inform the public of what the consequences are of not building. Thanked the Board for keeping Swan Creek at Leopold.
2. Announcements
There were no announcements.
3. Five-Year Districtwide Plan for Construction and Land Acquisition Needs Relative to Elementary Schools in the MadisonMetropolitanSchool District
(Written materials provided before the meeting: Conceptual Long Range Elementary School Construction and Land Acquisition Plan dated 3/2/06. A copy is attached to the original of these minutes.)
Art Rainwater reviewed the five-year plan, noting it represents a broad view of needs for the future that will be updated every year as the Board goes through the planning process. Currently, the plan focuses on the elementary schools because projections do not show the same problems in the middle or high schools during this planning period. The document could be the administration's guide for reviewing long range needs, or it could be adopted by the Board of Education.
DISCUSSION:
· Would like to see capacity addressed in the document and much more detail - what, where, population, funding options and debt service.
· Parcels large enough for more than one school - currently Leopold site or the Sprecher Road site.
· Report should be considered as a baseline facilities plan. Is only part of a long range plan. Would like to see curriculum, charter schools included (as examples).
It was moved by Lucy Mathiak and seconded by Shwaw Vang to refer the Five-Year Districtwide Plan for Construction and Land Acquisition Needs relative to Elementary Schools to the Long Range Planning Committee for further development and articulation. Student liaison advisory vote - aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
Long Range Planning Committee chair Carol Carstensen noted that it would be helpful if any suggestions noted at this meeting or otherwise be forwarded to the committee in writing.
4. Referendum to Construct an Elementary School on the LindenParkSite.
(Written materials provided in advance of the meeting: Timelines for Referendums 9/12/06 and 11/7/06; updated Sequential Set of Questions the Board of Education may want to Consider to deal with West/Memorial Overcrowding in Elementary Schools; Memorandum from Doug Johnson dated 6/1/06 re: Finance Options for Construction/Refinancing - all attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
Art Rainwater noted the next step in the process of constructing the new school is for the Board of Education to instruct the administration to prepare resolutions for referendum.
It was moved by Arlene Silveira and seconded by Shwaw Vang to direct the administration to draft a Resolution to go to referendum for the construction of an elementary school on the LindenParksite.
Arlene Silveira amended the motion, seconded by Carol Carstensen to direct the administration to draft a Resolution for a referendum question to be placed on the November 7, 2006 ballot for the construction of an elementary school on the LindenParksite in the amount of $17,700,000.
There was discussion about the differences in the two possible referendum dates - September 12 or November 7 and how that would affect the timeline for opening the school. There was also discussion about the possibility of approving funding for design so that process could begin before the referendum (as was done for the last Leopold building referendum), which would move the timeline up by possibly four-five months. There was discussion of design costs. The timeline presented presumes approval of the referendum before beginning the design process.
DISCUSSION:
· September date allows major construction during the summer rather than fall. Opportunity to go to referendum again if it fails. One or two Constitutional amendments on the November ballot; not a Presidential election year.
· September is so close to the beginning of the school year. November would allow settling in period. Could support either date.
· Concern about October occupancy. Very difficult, if not impossible, to shorten timeline.
· In general find September turnout lower than November. Primaries don't draw as many people.
FOLLOW-UP:
· Information about voter turnout for September and November elections.
Arlene Silveira amended the amended motion, seconded by Carol Carstensen, to direct the administration to draft a Resolution for a referendum question to be placed on either the September or November 2006 ballot for the construction of an elementary school on the Linden Park site in the amount of $17,700,000. Student liaison advisory vote - aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
5. Plan CP2a - Boundary Changes Necessary if the Referendum to Construct an Elementary School on the LindenParkSite Fails.
(Written materials provided before the meeting: Revised Plan CP2 labeled CP2a - attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
Mary Gulbrandsen explained the plan. Art Rainwater stated a decision should be made before the referendum takes place.
6. Plan CP3a - Boundary Changes Necessary if the Referendum to Construct an Elementary school on the Linden Park Site Passes
(Written materials provided before the meeting: Revised Plan CP3 labeled CP3a - attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
Mary Gulbrandsen explained the plan. Art Rainwater noted City planners have predicted 13,000 new homes for the area and (over a period of time) 2300 elementary students. Carol Carstensen indicated that one of the first items on the agenda for the Long Range Planning Committee would be a presentation on projections by the Madison and Fitchburg city planning departments. She hopes the committee can also look long range at considering additional middle school and high school space as these will be more expensive projects and need a longer lead time.
DISCUSSION:
· Over the next five years, middle and high school capacity will not be an issue.
· Still have capacity in middle schools.
· Should consider enough land for another facility when purchasing land for high school.
· New school anticipated to be about the same size as Chavez.
· Concerns about capacity - when planning should include capacity numbers at all stages.
7. Referendum for the Reimbursement for the Funding of the Renovation and the Construction of an Addition at LeopoldElementary School
It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Arlene Silveira to direct the administration to include the borrowing for the Leopold addition in the referendum question. Student liaison advisory vote - aye. Motion carried 5-1 with Ruth Robarts voting no.
Ms. Carstensen clarified that the motion is for one referendum question. Art Rainwater indicated he would come back to the Board if Bond Counsel indicated it could not be one question.
The Leopold addition is currently an item in the operating budget. There were questions about how this funding would be used if the referendum passes. Board members indicated they would like to discuss how this money would be applied to the budget if the referendum passes.
DISCUSSION:
· Talk with voters about their preferences for one or more questions, what they might be more willing to support - have some background information.
8. Referendum to Refinance Existing State Trust Fund Loans that are Currently Being Funded Out of the Operating Budget
It was moved by Arlene Silveira, seconded by Ruth Robarts, to direct the administration to prepare a resolution to take to referendum the refinancing of existing State Trust Fund loans that are currently funded out of the operating budget. Student Liaison advisory vote - aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.
Board members indicated the need for clear and concise information about the cost for homeowners incurred by the referendum questions as well as the district general budget.
9. Other Business
There was no other business.
There was a break at 6:24 p.m.
The meeting resumed in executive session.
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