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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 October 8, 2007 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street 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. in Doyle Room 103.
The meeting began in executive session then went into open session.
The meeting began in open session at 6:02 p.m. in McDaniels Auditorium.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Carstensen, Maya Cole, Lawrie Kobza, Lucy Mathiak, Beth Moss, Arlene Silveira, Johnny Winston, Jr.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STUDENT MEMBERS PRESENT: Joe Carlsmith (arrived 6:45 p.m.), Laura Checovich (left at 6:45 p.m.)
LEGAL COUNSEL PRESENT: Attorney Dan Mallin
STAFF PRESENT: Steve Hartley, Art Rainwater, Marcia Standiford, Ann Wilson-Recording Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT: Consultants Marvin Edwards and Jim Rickabaugh from Hazard, Young and Attea
OPEN SESSION - WORKSHOP
4. Approval of Minutes
It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Lucy Mathiak to approve the minutes of the Open Session - Workshop dated September 17, 2007as distributed. Student representative advisory vote - aye. Motion unanimously carried
5. Announcements
There were no announcements.
6. Leadership Profile Report from the Superintendent Search Consultant and Identification of Characteristics to Assist in the Recruitment and Screening of Superintendent Candidates
(Written materials provided in advance: Leadership Profile Assessment for Madison Metropolitan School District September 19-20, 2007 Executive Summary and MMSD Desired Superintendent Characteristics, both developed by Hazard, Young and Attea and dated October 8, 2007 - attached to the original of these minutes.)
Arlene Silveira stated the Board of Education is pleased with the amount of feedback received from the community and the serious nature of the participation by a wide variety of community members.
Consultants Jim Rickabaugh and Marvin Edwards of Hazard, Young and Attea provided an overview of the contents and organization of the Leadership Profile Assessment and noted it will be available on the district's website. Mr. Rickabaugh reviewed the background information included in the report and highlighted key elements. He conservatively estimated that approximately 400 responses were received. The report reflects the perspectives and perceptions received from a wide variety of people. The consulting firm did not attempt to verify the accuracy of any perspectives or perceptions; it is a report of what people had to say. The criteria used to determine whether an item was included in the report were: (a) how often it was heard; and (b) whether it had broad impact.
Based on the Leadership Profile Report, the consultants developed a short, one-page list of Desired Superintendent Characteristics which will be used to prepare the advertisement for the position.
DISCUSSION:
· A process that focuses on areas of shortcomings or that are in need of improvement might result in a job description that is based on weaknesses rather than strengths. (Descriptors are mostly consistent with strengths. Not problematic as long as challenges do not unduly dominate and narrow characteristics.)
· Not much detail in the desired characteristics. (Report is a tool, gives context for conversation with candidates, can construct scenarios, helpful to Board when designing questions.)
· Hope to concentrate on strengths; don't want to lose positive focus. (Will concentrate on strengths and be sure candidates are up to the challenge.)
· Characteristics are very general. (Although brief, includes salient parts of a package that would lead good candidates to solicit more information. Only the link that candidates will use to probe the package. Key words are enough of a hook. Goal is to over-attract, then ask for tangible examples, and work to demonstrate match.)
Suggestions were made to edit the first section of the Desired Superintendent Characteristics.
It was moved by Lawrie Kobza and seconded by Carol Carstensen to approve the following as the first section of the Desired Superintendent Characteristics:
The Board of Education of the MadisonMetropolitanSchool District, after consulting staff, students, parents and community members, seeks an educational leader who is student-centered and demonstrates the following characteristics:
Possessing:
· Leadership experience and demonstrated success in a diverse community and school district.
· Leadership experience and demonstrated success in challenging and engaging students at all points along the educational performance continuum.
· Effective communication skills.
· Strong collaborative and visionary leadership skills.
· Unquestioned integrity.
· Excellent organizational and fiscal management skills.
Student representative advisory vote - aye. Motion unanimously carried.
It was moved by Johnny Winston, Jr. and seconded by Lucy Mathiak to approve the following section of the Desired Superintendent Characteristics as presented:
Ability to:
· Deal directly and fairly with faculty, staff, students, parents and community members.
· Be accessible, open-minded and consider all points of view before making decisions.
· Build consensus and support for a shared vision for the future.
· Develop positive working relationships with a wide variety of constituent groups.
Student representative advisory vote - aye. Motion unanimously carried.
The last part of the document was unchanged and reads, The Individual selected is expected to be highly visible in and engaged with the schools and community. Successful experience as a superintendent or district level administrator in a similar urban environment and school district size is preferred.
The consultants reviewed their schedule until meeting again with the Board of Education on January 7 to provide information about potential candidates. They will be recruiting, sorting information, meeting with candidates, and communicating with colleagues. They will reduce 40-60 applications to a group of about 15 face-to-face interviews and then present the Board with their perceptions about those candidates and their readiness for the position.
There was a break from 7 until 7:12 p.m.
7. Use of Tax Income from the Closing of Tax Incremental Finance Districts in the City of Madison
(Written materials provided in advance: Memorandum from Art Rainwater dated 10/4/07 re: Tax Increment Finance District Rebate; Memorandum from Donna Williams dated 10/4/07 re: $1.5 Million TIF Money Used to Pay off Debt; Memorandum from Art Rainwater dated 10/8/07 re: Latest Estimate of TID Rebate - all attached to the original copy of these minutes.)
Art Rainwater detailed the written information he provided regarding possible uses for the rebate the school district will receive as a result of the City's closing of two Tax Incremental Finance districts in the fall of 2008. The latest estimate is that this action will provide the school district with a rebate in the amount of $5,569,424. It is the Superintendent's recommendation that most of the funds be used to close the 2008-09 budget gap and use any remaining funds to pay down debt currently funded under the revenue cap. There are strong grassroots efforts to change funding for schools in the state; using the funds to cover the gap for this one year maybe enough to buy time until changes are implemented. He noted it is the opinion of the City Attorney that these TIF districts must be closed and the funds would come to the district.
Arlene Silveira noted that uses for the TIF income are also on the agenda of the Finance and Operations Committee meeting on Wednesday of this week. Lucy Mathiak stated the committee plans to have a more robust discussion and bring recommendations to the full Board. It was recommended that there also be discussion at this meeting of the affect of any recommendation on the question of whether to hold a referendum.
There was a request to discuss the status of the district in view of cuts that have been made and how those cuts have affected the functions of the district. It was suggested this may be an appropriate discussion for the Performance and Achievement Committee or another committee. Lawrie Kobza indicated this could be discussed at the next Board Officers meeting.
DISCUSSION:
· The $400,000 made available under the revenue cap by paying short-term loans would be ongoing, not annual, and is about the maximum that could be gained (pays off most debts).
· Too early to determine the impact of cuts - need to know what the state budget will be.
· Not possible to analyze impact of budget cuts without knowing what alternative cuts would have been made. Need time to adjust; no question that the district is not the same. Need to trust prioritization.
· Timeline for holding a referendum is driving decisions more than the state budget.
8. MMSD 2007-2008 Final Budget Approval Process
(Written materials provided in advance: Memorandum from Art Rainwater dated 10/4/07 re: Final Budget Approval Process - attached to the original of these minutes.)
Art Rainwater noted the 2007-08 Budget must be finalized before November 1, 2007. A Board Workshop will be held Monday, October 22 to present the final budget information, with another meeting on October 29 for final adoption. In response to a question, Mr. Rainwater indicated the district does not expect any major changes such as those that occurred last year (salary savings deficit and receiving less for special education).
9. Other Business
There was no other business.
10. Adjournment
It was moved by Beth Moss and seconded by Maya Cole to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Student representative advisory vote - aye. Motion unanimously carried.
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