Summary of
Regular Board Meeting - January 4, 1999

Regular monthly meetings of the Board of Education will now be close captioned. They will be shown again on Tuesday evenings with captions for those unable to watch on Monday evenings.

Recognition

The scheduled guests were delayed in California because of the weather and the presentation was cancelled.

Public Appearances

A Hawthorne kindergarten teacher and a parent asked for additional help for the kindergarten classroom. There was one written registration in support of this request.

Board President's Announcements And Reports

Mrs. Carstensen announced:

• the next Special Meeting "listening session" would be held on January 14 at Huegel Elementary. Suggested topics are class size and boundary changes.
• Toki students presented to city planners their traffic study project on Raymond and Whitney Way and the use of a new drop-off area.
• Glendale, Lowell and Mendota received a three-year grant ($360,643) to transform their schools into Community Learning Centers. They will be able to offer educational, social and recreational services and activities to youth and adults after school, evenings, weekends and during the summer.
• MMSD received a TEACH Wisconsin grant ($165,350) to upgrade library computer networks and pay trainer salaries. Trainers will teach electronic information access skills to MMSD teachers, parents and community members.
• Wright Middle received a one-year DPI grant ($71,000) to continue its efforts to fulfill the parts of its mission related to integrated thematic curriculum and technology integration.
• MMSD received a planning grant ($5,000) from the City's Art in Public Places Program to bring 1985 West High graduate and nationally recognized sculptor Brad McCallum back to Madison to create a new outdoor artwork in a community setting.

Interim Superintendent's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Rainwater:

• announced Madison schools have once again been recognized by Expansion Magazine and received the top score of 150 for student performance. Overall, the magazine gave MMSD its "blue ribbon" distinction.
• congratulated Alexandra Lubniewski, West senior, for earning a perfect score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.
• congratulated Memorial juniors Ian Coe, David Kurtyez, Po-Shen Loah and sophomore John Peregrine for winning a statewide computer competition sponsored by the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
• congratulated Hamilton Middle eighth graders on their Penny War which raised $1,122.59 which they contributed to Habitat for Humanity of Dane County.
• noted the many contributions to organizations and service projects made by Madison students. Mike McCabe compiled a list of charitable activities that can be found on the district's web site under the headline, "Students, Staff Demonstrate Holiday Spirit All Year Round."
• noted The Making a Difference Youth Council (M.A.D. Youth) is planning a leadership workshop on March 24 at the Memorial union to teach youth to be leaders in their communities. Sponsored by the Superintendent's Leadership Committee, E/D/A Department, and MSCR, invited speakers will include UW Badger players, government officials and local media personalities.

Committee Reports And Action Thereon

Performance & Achievement: Recommendations from the Selection of Program Materials Committee were approved. Recommendations for the 1999 Elementary/Middle and High School Summer School Programs were approved.

Budget and Finance: At the January 19 meeting the committee plans to discuss the EPA Green Lights program and maintenance funding issues.

Human Resources: The committee approved the Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Commission plan for 1998-2003. The committee will meet in closed session on January 11 to respond to any applications for the position of Superintendent.

Long Range Planning: Strategies for deaing with overcrowded elementary schools were approved. Language will be proposed for incorporating the strategies into Board policy.

Partnerships: In February, the committee will discuss the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County and the MATC/UW effort to look at the truancy model which is operating in Milwaukee Public Schools.

Board of Education/Common Council Liaison Committee: On January 28, the comittee will meet with representatives from the Madison Police Department and some city alders and district administration to discuss truancy.

Legislative: The committee will begin on January 7 to discuss the spring state legislative agenda and WASB resolutions.

Auditing, Purchasing, Transfers & Other Financial Transactions

Auditing: Interim and Building Fund bills were paid.

Purchasing: No purchases were made.

Transfers: There were no transfers.

Other Financial Transactions: There were no other transactions.

Human Resources Transactions and Reports:

All personnel items were approved.

Reports to the Board:

Carol Carstensen was appointed to attend the Wisconsin Association of School Boards Assembly January 19-20 as the alternate delegate. Board members voted to reject the proposed WASB Resolutions #2 and #8 and to accept the rest (#1, 3-7, 9-16).

Other Business:

There was no other business.

Old and New Business: Juan López congratulated West High School graduates who played in the Rose Bowl. He noted several events scheduled for the celebration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Three Wise Men celebration sponsored by Centro Hispano.

(A complete copy of these minutes is available from the Board of Education Office, 261-9000. This summary may have been published before the minutes were approved by the Board of Education. Please call to check on any changes.)

Regular Meeting Summaries

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Last Updated: 1999-01-21 3:37PM