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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 May 22, 2007 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Room 103 Madison, Wisconsin |
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Special Meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President Arlene Silveira at 5 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Carstensen, Maya Cole (arrived 5:15 p.m.), Lawrie Kobza, Lucy Mathiak, Beth Moss, Arlene Silveira, Johnny Winston, Jr.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE
PRESENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Art Rainwater, Barbara Lehman-Recording Secretary
1. Interviews with Consultants for the purpose of Evaluating the Consultants to determine which Consultant will be Selected to Conduct a Superintendent Search
(Packets included a vendor interview schedule, a scoring template, and the Request for Proposal (RFP) dated 3/19/07. Copies are attached to the original of these minutes.)
The Superintendent reviewed the packet materials and explained that the scoring template was proposed as a guide based on the RFP.
Julie Underwood and George McShan from BWP & Associates gave some information on their professional backgrounds and gave their presentation. They distributed copies of their proposal (a copy is attached to the original of these minutes).
Highlights: national search firm, work to understand MMSD challenges and opportunities with the UW-Madison.
Maya Cole arrived at this time.
Presentation continued: previous searches; importance of the network; learning about Madison; getting feedback from many different community groups; development of profile; commitment to diversity and mentoring; focus on children; process; flexibility; focus group questions/reporting out themes; one-on-one meetings with board members; meetings with teachers, administrators, staff, community groups; recruitment phase; use of web site; public records issues; short list then finalists; appointment and closing; measures of success.
Board questions/comments:
§ Changing demographics in the MMSD.
§ Importance of diverse pool.
§ Contact persons with BWP.
§ EEO information.
§ Focus group composition and size. Set up in partnership with the board.
§ Employment in April.
§ Ongoing communications with the president of the board but board as a whole plans these things.
§ Number of meetings with the board: entire group, to do the profile, review candidates, session on interviewing, negotiations.
§ Interviewing outside the area.
§ Board visits to the candidates' home districts.
§ What happens if candidates pull out.
§ Firm will not recruit to another district.
§ Issue of politics.
§ Referendum issues.
§ Contract negotiations.
§ Citizen committees.
Recessed at 6:31 p.m.
Reconvened at 6:45 p.m.
Gary Ray, Don Kussmaul, Dennis Conti, Ronald Wynn from Ray and Associates gave their presentation and distributed their materials (copies are attached to the original of these minutes).
Highlights: Professional backgrounds; overview of the process; proposal; years in business; associates; national recognition; attendance at conventions; previous searches; name recognition; recruitment process; building the profile; individual board member interviews; board survey; matching stakeholders with board; research based; timeline; promotion of MMSD; flyers; web site; competition with other districts; placement of women and minorities; politics on the board; semi-finalists; process that gets the board to consensus; objective and open; importance of the matrix; tailoring the process; confidentiality; site visits; contract terms; facilitating the transition period; board operations; two-year guarantee.
Board questions/comments:
§ How do you go about getting community input other than focus groups. One-on-one conversations, public forums, television and radio, focus groups, informational meetings, can do press conferences, talk with unions, etc.
§ Firm finds target groups with the board and also alone. Many public meetings are done with just the firm representatives, others with board members present. Purpose is to build the profile, not hold complaint sessions. Looking for honest responses.
§ Will meet with the board as often as it wants. Normal contact is with board chair and someone in-house. Meetings include the initial planning meeting, approval of the profile, narrowing down the number of candidates, finalists. Includes how the candidates were narrowed down and assistance with interviewing.
§ Total timeline—3 to 4 months.
§ Candidate "waves" September, November and after the winter break.
§ Difficult to get input over the summer. Proposed two timelines beginning in October.
§ State conventions mostly held in the fall.
§ More detail on the matrix that helps arrive at the top candidates. Data driven. Brings board together on points. Takes personalities out of it. Good way to sell it to the community. Score will surface top candidates. Objective and not secretive.
§ Site visits - fewer than in the past. Firm will identify people to meet, organize some questions, validation.
§ Have to move quickly at the end.
§ What we should know the candidates are looking for: what the board is like, finances, stability, vision, planning, how people get along, relationship with superintendent, micromanaging, etc.
§ Knowledge of Wisconsin financing system—how common is it? Very common. No legislature understands funding for education. Very limited in Wisconsin.
§ Strengths - cosmopolitan, university, capital, lot of draws here.
2. Adjournment
It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Lucy Mathiak to adjourn the meeting at 8:16 p.m. Motion unanimously carried.
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