Summary of Regular Board Meeting Held on February 4, 2002

Regular monthly meetings of the Board of Education are telecast live at 7:15 p.m. on the Charter cable TV system in the Madison area on channel 10 with closed-captioning for the hearing impaired. The meeting is replayed on cable channel 10 on the Tuesday evening immediately following the meeting at 9:00 p.m. with closed-captioning.

Recognition

Ken Syke spoke about the Business & Education Partnership and what it does for the school district and Edgewood High School students. He introduced 11 teachers who were honored for their long-time involvement, at least 15 years, in the Partnership.

Public Appearances

Ten speakers shared concerns and comments about experiences at temporary locations while mold remediation continues at Chavez Elementary School. There were two written registrations in support of addressing these issues.

Board President's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Williams reported:

• State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster will hold a discussion on February 13 to address issues of school finance throughout Wisconsin called "Community Dialogues On Investing in Quality Education." Cable channel 10 will telecast live.
• Kindergarten registration for the 2002-03 school year is scheduled March 4.
• The Walt Disney Company is accepting nominations for extraordinary, creative teachers to be recognized in Disney's American Teacher Awards. Honorees are saluted with monetary awards, national recognition and teacher professional development opportunities.
• Applications are being accepted from February 4-22 for the State of Wisconsin's public schools open enrollment program.

Superintendent's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Rainwater announced:

• The Business & Education Partnership is currently conducting their annual "School Makes A Difference" initiative. Speakers volunteer to share their career journeys with students at nine Madison middle schools.
• MMSD students were recognized for their volunteerism and service to the community during the annual Martin Luther King Jr Outstanding Young Person Awards Breakfast on January 20. Highest awards were given to Woodie Mogaka (West) and Pahoua Thao (East). East High Assistant Principal Lee Thomas received the 2002 Humanitarian Award. Board member Juan Jose Lopez accepted a Heritage Award on behalf of the United Migrant Opportunity Services.
• Artwork of Wright Middle School students was a featured exhibit at the opening celebration for the UW-Madison Community Partnerships Office at the Villager Shopping Center. The center is an outpost site for UW's Urban and Regional Planning Department and was developed to provide a space for community interaction.
• Third and fourth grade students at Falk, Shorewood, and the Lincoln Open Classroom became architects and engineers by designing and building box cities in the recent Terrace Town project held at Monona Terrace.
• The East High School "Encore Show Choir" advanced to finals competition and placed fifth at a Midwest competition held in Sauk Prairie. The "Encore" group is comprised of Music Director Brooksy Beilke-Skoug, 34 singers/dancers and a 10-piece show band.
• The district's new standardized elementary school report card went home on January 25. Staff worked to create this new report card in order to improve and make consistent the way children's progress is reported to parents toward the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards and the expectations of their teachers.
• Standardized testing takes place this month for many MMSD students. Information was provided through school newsletters.

Committee Reports And Action Thereon

Performance & Achievement: Recommendations from the Evaluation of Learning Materials Committee were approved. The budget supporting the recommendations and course offerings for the 2002 Summer School program were approved. Ruth Robarts reported the committee heard two reports, one on progress toward the Early Learning Initiative (ELI) and another on the budget and offerings for next year's Summer School programs.

Finance and Operations: A bid was accepted for restroom facility design/build services funded by the Lussier Stadium fund. Juan José López reported the committee received an update on the Functional Analysis. The budget timeline is based on state legislative action but final action is expected in June. There will be at least a $5 million deficit, but it could be higher.

Human Resources: Bill Keys had no report.

Long Range Planning: Carol Carstensen reported the committee met to hear the administration's long and short term proposals to address overcrowding at Leopold Elementary School. Leopold's parent and staff committee presented their own proposals. The committee will meet again to review the options.

Partnerships: Shwaw Vang had no report.

Legislative: Ray Allen had no report.

Auditing, Purchasing, Transfers & Other Financial Transactions

Auditing: Interim and School Building Fund Bills were approved.

Purchasing: No items.

Transfers: There were no transfers.

Other Financial Transactions: The 2001-02 budget was increased to support the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Program at Hawthorne Elementary School and the Teachers & Personnel Grant program. All donations and grants received since January 7, 2002 were approved.

Human Resources Transactions and Reports:

All transactions and reports were approved.

Reports to the Board:

Common Council/Board of Education Liaison Committee: Ray Allen reported the City of Madison Committee on Committees recommended that the Common Council/Board of Education Liaison Committee be eliminated but that the school district will probably propose the committee meet on an ad hoc basis in order to have a means of communication.

Bill Keys reported on his attendance at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) Annual Convention. Mr. Keys was the Board's delegate and was instructed to vote in support of all resolutions.

Assistant Superintendents Jane Belmore and Valencia Douglas presented information regarding upcoming applications for the Comprehensive School Reform Grants. Hawthorne and Mendota received grants for $90,000 for three years. For the first time, the district is applying for a grant at the secondary level for Affiliated Alternatives.

Other Business:

-- The 2002 contract was approved between the City of Madison and the school district to allow the Madison School-Community Recreation Department to provide recreation programs at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center.
-- Changes to Board Policy 4025 were approved.
-- Twelve students were granted diplomas of graduation based on completed requirements.

Old and New Business: None.

(A complete copy of these minutes is available from the Board of Education Office, 663-1659. 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