Summary of Regular Board Meeting Held on March 5, 2001

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

Recognition

Thoreau Elementary Principal Margaret Planner shared her experiences from her three weeks in Japan on a Fulbright Memorial Fund teacher exchange.

Public Appearances

There were no public appearances.

Board President's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Williams announced:

• citizens should pay close attention to the state budget process this year because the Governor has recommended reductions that will have a major impact on the MMSD.
• DPI will conduct three public hearings on a proposed rule spedifying that social studies credits for high school graduation include a semester course in local, state, tribal and federal government. Students must currently earn three credits in social studies to graduate.
• the 2001 MMSD Recognition Awards Ceremony can be viewed live on March 19.

Superintendent's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Rainwater announced:

• Sandburg Elementary will host a career day.
• Shorewood Elementary celebrated Black History month with three school-wide events.
• seventh and eighth graders at Spring Harbor will be controlling a telescope in Sydney, Australia from computers at Spring Harbor.
• Memorial senior David Mericle is one of two Wisconsin students to receive the Prudential Spirit of Community Award for his work in establishing a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve relations between the United States and Cuba.
• the Herb Kohl Foundation Award for Excellence in Academics Initiative Scholars Kathryn DeBroux of LaFollete and Linsay Pruitt of the Work and Learn Center are students who have shown promise to succeed in college and beyond. Shabazz social worker Jane Hammatt-Kavaloski and West math teacher Don Vincent were selected for Kohl Teaching Fellowships.
• Candy Nerge of Crestwood was chosen to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science.
• the Madison Community Foundation has funded a grant for a special Hmong Parent/Student Career Workshop.
• he looks forward to working with the action teams for the recently announced District Strategic Priorities: instructional excellence, student support, staff effectiveness, home and community partnerships, and fiscal responsibility.

Committee Reports And Action Thereon

Performance & Achievement: Evaluation of Learning Materials Committee adoptions were approved. The committee heard recommendations from staff regarding staffing and allocation for the Transition Education Program (TEP). Future agenda items include the TEP evaluation, response to an NAACP report, and graduation and grade promotion tests.

Finance and Operations: The committee heard a presentation on Food Service operations and Contract Compliance. Future agendas include update on Chavez Elementary School construction and the 2000-01 budget.

Human Resources: There was no report.

Long Range Planning: Major work related to boundary changes is complete. An issue that remains to be addressed is mapping out the next phase for Leopold students who have been out-posted.

Partnerships: There was no report.

Legislative: Report on the Governor's proposed budget and implications for the district.

Auditing, Purchasing, Transfers & Other Financial Transactions

Auditing: Interim and School Building Fund bills were paid.

Purchasing: No items.

Transfers: No items.

Other Financial Transactions: All donations and grants received since January 8, 2001 were approved.

Human Resources Transactions and Reports:

All transactions and reports were approved.

Reports to the Board:

Board of Education/Common Council Liaison Committee: There was no report.

Other Business:

A lease agreement was approved with the West Madison Little League to provide softball facilities for a girls softball program. The administration was authorized to attempt to negotiate, for the 2001-02 school year, a one-year contract with each one of the four vendors presently under contract with the District to provide transportation services for regular education students. Captain Michael Masterson was appointed to the Madison School-Community Recreation Advisory Committee. Fifty-eight students were excused from school attendance for the purpose of allowing them to enroll in programs for high school equivalency diplomas. Sixty-seven students were granted diplomas of graduation based on completed requirements.

Old and New Business: Carol Carstensen asked whether Board members would be interested in attending the Dane County School Boards Consortium monthly meeting. Juan José López reported on his visits to schools. Joann Elder encouraged attendance at Opera of the Young with Muir Elementary students participating.

(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