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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 April 30, 2007 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Room 103 and Auditorium Madison, Wisconsin |
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Special Meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Johnny Winston, Jr. at 5:05 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Carstensen, Maya Cole, Lawrie Kobza, Lucy Mathiak, Beth Moss, Arlene Silveira, Johnny Winston, Jr.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Attorney June Wilson, Barbara Lehman-Recording Secretary
OPEN SESSION-WORKSHOP (Auditorium)
Joe Carlsmith, Student Representative to the Board joined the meeting at this time (6:13 p.m.).
Other staff members joined the meeting at this time: Sue Abplanalp, Lisa Black, Lucy Chaffin, Mary Gulbrandsen, Steve Hartley, Doug Johnson, Jack Jorgensen, Bob Nadler, Pam Nash, Roger Price, Art Rainwater, Marcia Standiford, Ken Syke, Lisa Wachtel, Donna Williams, Nancy Yoder
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 April 17, 2007 as distributed. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
4. Announcements
There were no announcements.
5. Finalization of 2007-08 MMSD Budget
(Packets included a chart of Board budget amendments. A copy is attached to the original of these minutes.)
It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Arlene Silveira to adopt the entire 2007-08 budget of $339,480,423 as amended by the Superintendent.
Discussion:
§ How to proceed making motions.
§ Reviewed the process from year.
§ When to make the decisions on the closings/consolidations.
§ Prioritizing based on the number of times a similar item is mentioned, biggest dollars, etc.
§ Clarified that these are four-vote items.
It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Arlene Silveira to deal with closing and consolidations recommendations first. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Lucy Mathiak to take the entire proposal, Plan G, off the table, including the source of funds for the amount of the whole proposal of $1,034,058. Payment would be made through increasing salary savings by $769,450 and eliminating other additions to the amendments in the amount of $264,608.
Johnny Winston, Jr. suggested a friendly amendment to also consider moving the Alternative Programs into district-owned spaces (location(s) to be worked out at a later date) and reducing the cut by $769,450. This amendment was not accepted as friendly. Beth Moss then seconded the amendment.
Alternatives to MMSD $226,071 $94,790
Reduce Salary Savings $448,589
Discussion:
· Using Doyle or Hoyt for the Alternatives - details can be drawn up later.
· If the consolidation does not go through, the Alternatives will need to be placed in some of the schools.
· Issue involved with district-owned space vs. donated space that may not be up to code.
· Salary savings cushion.
· Further clarification was given on the district's bond rating and "rainy day" funding (actually means amount of money for cash flow balance through the end of the fiscal year to pay the bills through June and July). Interest rate has been good but, if it is needed for a longer period of time, that margin goes down. It is not costing the district anything right now but ,if it goes down further, that would not be the case.
· A chart was shown of the district's equity and how it compared to other districts - "General Fund Balance" from Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.
· Explained the average balance of salary savings over the last three years. District has realized about all it can do. Budgeting very closely.
· Explained spring budgets compared to the fall, general fund totals, and estimation of expenditures. Every line is looked at for what it will cost next year. A different fact is applied to everything. Money the district gets has very specific uses.
· Concerns about reducing equity, putting children and staff first before buildings, advantages to consolations, freeing up space for the alternatives, equity across the schools, educational quality improvement with a larger middle school.
· Lindbergh concerns - people and relationships, children can walk to school, parent involvement, smaller schools and class sizes.
Question was called by Johnny Winston, Jr.
Amendment: Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Amendment carried 6‑1 with Carol Carstensen voting no.
Original motion: Student Representative advisory vote was nay. Original motion failed 3-4 with Carol Carstensen, Beth Moss, and Johnny Winston, Jr. voting aye.
It was moved by Lucy Mathiak and seconded by Beth Moss to modify Proposal G by moving the Alternative Programs into district-owned buildings, eliminating bussing for the Marquette/Lapham pair, including in the considerations $10,000 built into the original C19 proposal for moving costs associated with Shabazz, and adding back 1.0 clerical staff as part of the proposal to close Marquette and Lapham by reallocating 1.0 FTE from Teaching and Learning, and by having one principal for both schools ($119,122) and to consider realizing $50,000 in cost savings because bussing will not have to increase because 2/3 of the students come from that side of the Isthmus.
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Take "G" off $1,034,058
Alternatives to MMSD $226,071
$94,790
Eliminate bussing Lapham/Marquette $73,554
C19 moving comes off $10,000
1.0 clerical to Lapham/Marquette from
Teaching and Learning $61,580
1.0 principal for Lapham/Marquette $119,122 Total $585,117
Cannot eliminate all of the bussing; need another $153,733, also drops T&L to six clerical workers ($37,090), $585,117 - $37,090 = $122,943
Raise the building permit fees for Fund 10 ($100,000) doubling the fees, leaves a balance of $22,943. Balance of allocated efficiencies and savings would be found at the discretion of business services (salary savings). Then take 2.0 clerical FTEs out of Teaching and Learning rather than salary savings ($61,580 X 2).
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Discussion:
v This would leave the schools like they are but moves the Alternatives into district-owned facilities.
Staff can present an idea for the Alternatives within one week.
v Does not close Lindbergh.
v Bussing issue is a concern and further cuts to Teaching and Learning. Have to retain one bus but eliminates four buses (Tab C9). In this case, the buses are doubled up. District analysis assumes working with the city and having the city provide crossing guards at their expense. Some of these intersections may not be considered hazardous; city has criteria. Board will have to address with the neighborhoods. Resource teachers and coordinators would have to assume more of those duties.
v One principal can be done but not something the administration believes should be done.
v K-8 would be a completely different organizational structure; difficult to get that in place by the fall.
v Explained that the building permit fee would increase 50 percent; compared to market would not put the district out of line.
v No learning coordinators or coaches (not an administrative position) at those schools.
v There is ample room for growth for the Alternatives in either Marquette or Lapham.
Question was called by Johnny Winston, Jr.
Student Representative advisory vote was nay. Motion failed 1-6 with Lucy Mathiak voting aye.
Recessed at 8:30 p.m.
Reconvened at 8:48 p.m.
It was moved by Maya Cole and seconded by Lawrie Kobza to:
Take off Proposal G $1,034,058
Move Alternatives to Marquette $94,790
Work and Learn-Park to MMSD space $226,071
Put back Proposal C $201,087
Consolidate two elementary schools
Consolidate golf program $14,895
Eliminate Wright and Spring Harbor buses $238,338
Leaves $5,731 to the good
Discussion:
Ø Structure of golf teams, fees and WIAA regulations. Difficult to consolidate the teams.
Ø Creating class-based system by raising athletic fees to find money.
Ø Difficulty with eliminating buses for Wright. Working with Metro. Adding distance or additional routes will cost the district. None of the other middle schools have a direct bus. Provides more flexibility for the district in the future if transportation is not provided to the middle and high schools. Safety is a districtwide issue. City should help.
Ø Need permanent home for the Alternative Programs; maybe Doyle.
Ø Closing Marquette moves more children across the isthmus. Removes resources from a low-income population.
Ø Consolidation would save the cost of a principal, a librarian, rental costs, and clerical.
Question was called by Mr. Winston.
Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 4-3 with Carol Carstensen, Lucy Mathiak, and Johnny Winston, Jr. voting no.
It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Arlene Silveira to add back 2.0 TAG teachers with the Teaching and Learning restructuring and in its place cut $113,224 from the Teaching and Learning budget, other than those TAG teachers, with the decision to be made by Teaching and Learning where the cuts are to be made.
Discussion:
· Reviewed packet materials for this proposal.
· District pays for travel expenses when awarded grants by DPI. How extended employment funds are used; often used during the academic year on after-contract hours.
· Administration not to give up staff.
· Funding for Science Materials Center and general supplies.
· ELM (Evaluation of Learning Materials) funds.
· How other districts structure this work.
· Curriculum review, implementation, staff on grants, using off-the-shelf materials, developing materials, production of frameworks for how to use materials.
· Success of the district depends on professional development and materials provided to teachers. Highly trained, highly skilled teachers in a small class.
· Expenditure for Cherokee Marsh naturalist—suggestion was made to collaborate with the University of Wisconsin to free up this expense.
Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 5-2 with Carol Carstensen and Lucy Mathiak voting no.
It was moved by Beth Moss to restore 15:1 class sizes in 10 schools in K-1 in literacy and math blocks at a cost of $735,995 by: raising building permit fees Fund 10 ($100,000), raising student fees all schools ($146,154), raising athletic ticket prices ($56,335), cutting private school bussing ($36,331), adding $5 to extracurricular activities fees $38,877, increasing instrument rental from $35 to $70 per semester in the amount of $75,000 and the balance from salary savings ($283,298).
Discussion Topics:
o Extracurricular fees can be raised as long as the cost for what is being provided still exceeds what is being charged.
o Oppose use of salary savings.
o Cost to restore 15:1 in kindergarten about $509,000.
o Restores class sizes to schools that do not have low-income population enough for SAGE by charging high school and middle schools more.
o This is 22:1 for K-1 except for reading and math.
o Strings provides something special for the district.
o Block at least is very beneficial.
o Cost to restore strings $272,108.
o Small school allocations provided to Spring Harbor and Wright (tab C5). Level of poverty in those schools (Wright one of the highest, Spring Harbor one of the lowest).
o Governor's proposal for state funding for special education.
o Changes to Ropes course coming up.
o Use of maintenance funds.
o Savings from consulting fees.
o More details were given on the athletic fee increases proposal. Revenues have been less than the expenditures.
o Issues with raising student fees; some classes do not have books.
Student Representative advisory vote was nay. Motion failed 2-5 with Maya Cole and Beth Moss voting aye.
Recessed at 10:55 p.m.
Reconvened at 11:03 p.m.
It was moved by Arlene Silveira and seconded by Johnny Winston, Jr. to restore K-1 class sizes in the literacy and math block format at the 10 elementary schools for $735,995 and 5th grade strings for $272,108 for a total of $1,008,103 by cutting private school bussing in Fitchburg $36,331, increasing athletic ticket prices $56,385, rental fee for instruments $75,000, increase in building permit fees $100,000, use of maintenance funds $200,000 for a total of $540,387.
Lawrie Kobza made an amendment to the motion to use the Spring Harbor small school allocation $56,615 and change salary savings to $483,822. Accepted as friendly by mover and seconder. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Amendment carried 4-3 with Carol Carstensen, Arlene Silveira, and Johnny Winston, Jr. voting no.
Original motion: Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion unanimously carried.
Discussion:
§ Proposed cut to special education and the director's rationale (written information was provided in the packet). If additional revenue comes in from the state, how that would be allocated and how it would assist with the transition.
It was moved by Carol Carstensen and seconded by Lucy Mathiak to maintain current class sizes for specials in those schools that have more than 65% poverty using Salary Savings in the amount of $275,148 (6 schools—see Tab C1). Ms. Mathiak withdrew her second. Beth Moss then seconded the motion.
Lucy Mathiak amended the motion to leave salary savings alone but use 2.0 clerical from T&L ($123,160) and then also meet the Virtual Campus by reallocating two resource teacher positions to work on Virtual Campus rather than new hires in the amount of $113,232. This was not accepted as friendly.
Lucy Mathiak proposed another amendment to freeze purchased services at the 2006-07 levels saving $80,000 and leaving $511,874 for purchased services, $40,000 from freezing T&L supplies and materials at the 2006-07 levels $1,524,983 (may already have been cut, $113,00 was at their discretion, additional $40,000 at their discretion). Seconded by Lawrie Kobza. Student Representative advisory vote was nay. Motion failed 2-5 with Carol Carstensen and Beth Moss voting aye.
Student Representative advisory vote was nay. Main motion failed 2-5 with Carol Carstensen and Beth Moss voting aye.
It was moved by Arlene Silveira and seconded by Johnny Winston, Jr. that any monies from the governor's budget be used to pay back salary savings ($483,822)with any additional going to the Reserve for Contingencies. Student Representative advisory vote was aye. Motion carried 6-1 with Lucy Mathiak voting no.
The original motion to adopt the entire 2007-08 budget of $339,480,423, as amended by the Superintendent and as amended at this meeting, carried 6-1 with Lucy Mathiak voting no.
FOLLOW UP: Provide information on payments on loans for additions to schools.
6. Other Business
There was no other business.
7. Adjournment
Student Representative advisory vote was aye. The meeting was adjourned at 12:03 a.m. by unanimous consent.
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Previous: 2007-04-25 || Special Meeting - Open Session || Next: 2007-05-07