Special Meeting - Open Session - March 12, 2007

Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Special Meeting - Open Session March 12, 2007		Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Auditorium Madison, Wisconsin

Special Meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Johnny Winston, Jr. at 6:14 p.m.

OPEN SESSION - Auditorium

Board Members present: Carol Carstensen, Lawrie Kobza, Arlene Silveira, Shwaw Vang, Johnny Winston, Jr.

Board Members absent: Lucy Mathiak, Ruth Robarts

Student Representative Present: Joe Carlsmith

Staff present: Sue Abplanalp, Steve Hartley, Bob Nadler, Pam Nash, Doug Pearson, Roger Price, Joe Quick,

Art Rainwater, Clarence Sherrod, Marcia Standiford, Mary Teppo

3. Approval of Minutes

It was moved by Arlene Silveira and seconded by Carol Carstensen to approve the minutes of the Special meeting in open session dated February 26, 2007 with the following correction: page 6, paragraph 1, change vote for Lucy Mathiak to aye and for Lawrie Kobza to nay. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. The motion to approve the minutes as corrected carried unanimously with Lucy Mathiak and Ruth Robarts absent.

4. Public Appearances

Clay Yapp, senior at Shabazz, wanted Shabazz to be around for future generations and spoke about what makes it work so well. The students want to be there and want to learn what they want to learn. It allows them to follow their own paths and think for themselves. They want to be seen as more than the future economic workforce. They prefer the smaller class sizes realizing there is very little money.

Disa Lee Carneol, Shabazz alumni, agreed with the reasons for why Shabazz works. Hoped it would be able to remain autonomous from the alternative programs in the same building.

It was noted that Shabazz would not be affected in any way other than the reduction in clerical and administrative positions. The change to the English teacher position is not the result of budget cuts but a grant running out and Shabazz is a little overstaffed in English; change would have happened regardless.

Erin Casper, junior at Shabazz, appreciated the personal aspect of Shabazz and described it as a life-line and family.

Mike Wolter stated that Shabazz should stay the way it is currently structured with its community aspect and its current environment. Where they are located is important and what they have available to them. They have no problem being with the alternative schools but would like to remain where they are in the building.

David Merrick, current student at Shabazz, everyone is one, people can be trusted, he wanted to see Shabazz remain as an alternative to school.

Charlie Jenstead, current student at Shabazz, what he felt had already been said, it saves a lot of kids and they enjoy going there.

Gekka Chapman, described the principal as the cornerstone of Shabazz who makes decisions and helps make the students who they are. Ms. Schultz is very important to her and she wanted her to be the principal of Shabazz only and not part of another school.

Vincent Borleske, east side parent, stated that the east side parents have gone through their share of redistricting. He works at the University and commented on the middle school size research saying that he learned that the only significant variable in standardized testing is poverty. They could not find anything else. Capacity and cost justification is what the Board needs to look at for the consolidation issue. Projected enrollment indicates that in 3-5 years the district will have two schools almost at 100 percent capacity which will only create problems between Black Hawk and O'Keeffe Middle Schools. The estimated $769,000 is quite a savings but if broken down individually might not add up. He was not sure the cost/benefit would be a good payoff for the district.

Sandy Meuer hoped the room would be overflowing about the budget cuts. She knew there were no good cuts. She has children at all levels in the district who will all be affected. She was frustrated with the fact that administrative contracts have already been ratified and that the QEO and health care and benefits are off the negotiations table. With 85 percent of the budget as salaries and benefits, the only thing left is kids. She was tired of being here year after year and her kids are getting less and less. Education of the children is being strained. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, teachers are making 8 percent less than the national average but health care and benefits are 39 percent over. She did not want to look at cutting administrators or teachers but there is no where else to turn. MTI says the district has to go to referendum every year and she did not know if she could support that every year. Only 22 percent of Madison households have children in the district. She did not know what else was left to do. She would be glad to get the laws changed. She was very concerned with the loss of SAGE knowing that it would not come back.

It was clarified that health insurance or benefits have not been taken off the table and that negotiations have not yet begun with the teachers. It was also noted that the Board would be holding a special meeting on March 29 at 6:30 p.m. to pass along information to the community about lobbying the state legislators on the governor's budget and long-term planning regarding funding of K-12 education.

Sharon Redinger, PTG president at O'Keeffe Middle, indicated that the overriding concern of people is that if there is forward movement on this option, that reconfiguration of staff and children and other school needs be taken care of because of the change. Wanted the board to be mindful of these things. Her concern today was that Marquette staff were given surplus notices.

The Superintendent clarified that the schools would not be receiving their allocations until Wednesday. He also pointed out that surplus notices have nothing to do with this but can occur because of enrollment changes. No staffs have received surplus notices from the administration and they do not presuppose that the Board will consolidate schools; there is a secondary plan should they choose to do this. He gave some general information about how consolidations are negotiated. It was suggested that the Board discuss timing of this issue.

Matt Calvert commented on how many cuts he thought fell on the elementary schools vs. other parts of the district. He added that the administration included in that same budget getting rid of SAGE-like elementary class size reduction and specials allocations. He wanted to see the new SAGE money applied to class size reduction or protecting specials in SAGE schools. People really agree on class size as the number one priority.

Ms. Kobza commented on the 19 SAGE contracts the district has and how the money from the state has to go with those SAGE contracts. There is no option of taking that money and applying it to other schools or deciding to lower class size in a different way. The district is also funding from the taxpayer money all elementary schools under this proposal exactly the same and it is the SAGE money that allows for reduced class sizes. Every elementary school is being treated the same. SAGE contracts are specific to a school.

Debra Wynne, parent representing Crestwood Elementary School, supported maintaining SAGE for this school for the 2007-08 school year. Their free-and-reduced numbers are projected to go up to 30 percent. They will be losing children to the new school and receiving students from Falk the following year. Muir is retaining their SAGE and cannot share; the exceptions are paired schools. They believe in the importance of a cohesive faculty.

Denise Clearwood, also from Crestwood, spoke of the differences between Falk and Crestwood and how disruptive it will be for everyone.

The Superintendent noted that their proposal would take SAGE from Crestwood for next year, leave it at Muir, then take it back to Crestwood the following year when their number goes up to 30 percent. The Board can look at it.

Diana Whayland also supported keeping SAGE at Crestwood and all the children it serves. This program levels the playing field for all the children in the district.

Mark DuRussel, Crestwood parent, supported keeping SAGE at Crestwood as it benefits children with differing needs.

The Superintendent confirmed that there are no more SAGE contracts to apply for; no additional funding.

Written registrations included one in opposition to cutting administration for Shabazz, one in support of keeping Shabazz a community, two in support of the Elvehjem Playground Improvement Committee, and one in opposition to SAGE cuts at Crestwood.

5. Announcements

There were no announcements.

Packets for Item 6 included background/analysis/recommendation memorandum from the Superintendent (3/8/07), a letter from the Elvehjem Playground improvement Committee (3/7/07), and a memorandum from Legal Counsel providing further background and a recommendation (3/8/07). Copies are attached to the original of these minutes.)

6. It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Arlene Silveira that the Board, per board Policy 6177 approve: (a) the acceptance of the Boundless playground and $10,000 from the Elvehjem Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO) should the District be awarded a Boundless playground as a result of Elvehjem School winning the Boundless Playground contest; (b) granting permission to allow the Boundless playground to be built on the Elvehjem School site; and (c) such approvals and permission to be conditional upon: (i) the District not incurring any costs whatsoever to support the project which would include, but not be limited to, costs related to construction, equipment, design, fencing, landscaping, installation, etc.; and (ii) that the construction, installation, placement and safety, etc., of the playground and its equipment meet the requirements promulgated by the National Playground Safety Institute. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.

(Packets for Item 7 included a Statement of Support from the Association of Madison School District Administrators (AMSDA) (3/12/07). A copy is attached to the original of these minutes.)

7. It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Arlene Silveira that, beginning with the July 1, 2007 health insurance coverage, the Board of Education require district administrators who have elected health insurance coverage to contribute 10 percent of the cost of the premium for such coverage and that the entire amount of savings generated from their contributions be added to the administrative salary/benefit package beginning July 1, 2007. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.

8. Requests for Proposals/Qualifications for Consultants to Conduct a Superintendent Search

(Packets included a cover memorandum (2/27/07) and a revised Request for Proposal (RFP) document. Copies are attached to the original of these minutes.)

DISCUSSION:

· Changes from the last meeting were incorporated.

· Process once five finalists are selected.

· Section on oral presentations and site visits supports and clarifies the proposals.

· Examples of previous RFP interview questions that delve deeper into the written information provided by the vendors.

· Section on Award and Final Offers—flexibility if unable to enter into a contract. Change language from "top ranked firm" to "candidate of choice."

· Calendar is satisfactory.

It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Arlene Silveira that the Board direct the Administration to use the RFP that was submitted dated February 7, 2007 with the changes identified tonight. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.

9. 2007-08 Proposed MMSD Budget

(Packets included Superintendent's 2007-08 Budget changes (Reductions to Balance the Budget) dated 3/9/07 and a one-page summary of the reductions. Copies are attached to the original of these minutes.)

Mr. Rainwater highlighted the proposed budget changes (a copy of the PowerPoint is attached to the original of these minutes). The full budget is expected to be ready by April 19, 2007.

DISCUSSION:

· Interested in trying to make decisions before beginning of May. Could move it up one week but staff could not do analyses on requested items during that time; all analyses would come after publishing the budget.

· Need time for hearings and discussions.

· Timing of swearing in the new board members.

· Some need the full budget books, others do not.

· May not know about state budget until June or July. There are 109 jobs involved with this; people who may end up getting laid off need to know that. Under the contract, they have to be notified in May. All retirements, seniority, etc., has been factored in.

· Decision on the consolidations needed by mid-April. Public hearing is scheduled for March 28 with a decision on April 9. All the plans will be included in this week's packet.

· Many proposals for the naming of the new school; expecting good number of people. Many comments on the web site.

· Switch budget impacts to 5 p.m. and construction plans into April. Take Communications off March 26 and put in Finance and Operations meeting. Move up public hearings. Working on the process for the budget hearings.

· Proposal to go to referendum for three years for $6 million on a permanent basis every year to avoid destructive cuts, not eliminating SAGE and adding it for those three schools that do not have it, restoring staffing at middle and high schools and not going through closing and consolidating schools. Share concerns about enrollment projections. Also want to restore things already cut (4^th and 5^th grade strings, TAG back to 8 and lack of supplemental staff at middle and high schools for high levels of low-income students). Third year would allow sufficient money to consider implementing four-year-old kindergarten. Ms. Carstensen would be sending an e-mail detailing this proposal.

· Timing for a referendum - six weeks for legal notices. City has asked for eight weeks.

· Public hearings are about the reductions, not the publishing of the book.

· Have to make decisions before April 23.

· Board changes on fourth Monday of April.

· Board responsibility for going through the numbers and doing the best job possible with what there is.

· Probability of a referendum passing right now. Community then makes the decision. Board needs to discuss. Some things may be irreversible or very difficult to reverse. Allows the community to weigh in. Still lack of real understanding. Would need wide-spread community support. Going too soon after November. Next year may be more of a sure thing. Do not know if the district is ready.

FOLLOW UP: Switch public hearing and long range planning item on March 19. Administration will work out a proposed schedule.

10. Other Business

There was no other business.

11. Adjournment

It was moved by Arlene Silveira and seconded by Lawrie Kobza to adjourn the meeting at 9:39 p.m. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried by those present.

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