Summary of Regular Board Meeting Held on March 6, 2000

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

Muir teacher Mary Bostrom and three students demonstrated their algebra skills by solving mathematical problems involving equality. Ms. Bostom participates in the Math Gateways project with the UW Center for Education Research.

Rafael Gomez made a presentation on behalf of the Wisconsin School Counselor Association to John Matthews, Executive Director of MTI.

Public Appearances

Fifteen people spoke to student proposals to improve the performance and educational experiences of Latino high school students in the MMSD.

Board President's Announcements And Reports

Mrs. Carstensen announced:

she enjoyed the 90th birthday celebration for Velma Hamilton. Mayor Bauman declared February 28 as Velma Hamilton Day.
two board seats are up for election on April 4.
the district is engaging in a strategic planning process to update the last plan developed in 1991-92. A number of community members have been involved in focus groups. The Board will have a workshop next week to identify critical issues.
realtors from the Stark Company took a field trip to East High School on February 8 as part of the At Home in Madison project. They will next visit Wright Middle School on April 4.
Madge Klais testified on March 1 to the Wisconsin Legislature on behalf of the Wisconsin Educational Media Association against a bill requiring Internet filtering software on every school computer in order to be eligible for state TEACH technology funds.
on March 20, the Board will honor the winners of the Distinguished Service Award, the Joe Thomas Award and the Kohl Teacher Fellowship Grant nominees.

Superintendent's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Rainwater announced:

Schenk Elementary has been hosting monthly Family Reading Nights at the Pinney Branch of the Madison Public Library. This very successful program was started by Title I Home/School Coordinator Ellen McGaughey, Schenk Elementary Title I teacher Elisa Batterman-Sutton and Linda Olson of the Madison Public Library.
Emerson Elementary will host its Family Science Night on March 7 sponsored by the Downtown Kiwanis Club. Featured speakers representing a variety of scientific fields will be on hand to talk with students and parents.
the "Evjue Express Project," made possible by a grant from the Evjue Foundation to the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, provides free transportation for class field trips to area nature sites. Trips can be scheduled through the Nature Net website.
in recognition of national Dental Health Week, public and private health care providers in Dane County, including the district's health office, provided free dental screenings to 18 Glendale third graders and provided 13 children with dental sealants at no cost to families.
sixth grade students from Spring Harbor recently took pictures of Earth from a digital camera on board the space shuttle Endeavor as part of a NASA project called EarthKam. Spring Harbor was one of only a few schools nationwide to be accepted for the project, thanks to the work of teacher Jim Kotoski and UW astronomer Sanjay Limaye.
parents are invited to meet with Talented and Gifted Program staff at the Doyle Building to learn about the Jet Stream Math project and opportunities for math enrichment.
the Memorial High School Debate Team won the Wisconsin State competition and West High Latin students won first place in the Wisconsin Junior Classical Convention in January at the UW Memorial Union.
congratulated middle school teachers Joanne Cardarella (Black Hawk), Susan Hamblin (Toki), Peter Orlopp (O'Keeffe), Ellen Osterhaus (Sennett), Gail Anderson, Lindy Barden and Sherry Drewsen (Spring Harbor) for receiving the 1999 Gordon Sinykin Award of Excellence from the Law for the Public Committee at the annual Wisconsin Bar Convention.
congratulated Mary Hyde on being named principal at Leopold Elementary School. She will replace retiring principal Donna Saunders.

Committee Reports And Action Thereon

Performance & Achievement: Selection of Program Materials Committee adoptions were approved. Ruth Robarts reported the committee will meet in April and May to discuss test results for stduents and recommendations for changes to the selection of program materials process.

Finance and Operations: Rate increases were approved for facility and equipment rental rates and custodial overtime. No increases were approved for one category of facility rental rates and in the rates charged to child care providers for summer and after school programs. Bids were approved for the switchboard and panel at Whitehorse and for a cooling tower at Memorial. Juan José López reported the committee heard a report on a managment program project regarding direct shipment of supplies. At the next meeting, the committee will discuss the special education transportation contract.

Human Resources: Goals were approved for the Superintendent for the 1999-2000 school year.

Long Range Planning: Students who live in the Valley Ridge attendance area will attend Muir Elementary School. This is a one-year assignment until the attendance zones are redrawn.

Partnerships: Calvin Williams reported the committee discussed the Communities Aligned proposal. Information was requested of EDA about the status of the three goals adopted by the Board of Education.

Legislative: Joann Elder reported the committee received a legislative update on March 2. Topics included special education funding and campaign finance reform. The Board approved the joint Statement and resolution on Campaign Finance Reform prepared and supported by the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, The Wisconsin Alliance of Cities, Wisconsin Association of School Boards, Wisconsin Counties Association, and Wisconsin Towns Association.

Auditing, Purchasing, Transfers & Other Financial Transactions

Auditing: Interim and Building Fund bills were paid.

Purchasing: No items.

Transfers: Funds were transferred from the Reserve for Contingencies to support additional educational assistants based on January enrollment.

Other Financial Transactions: All donations and grants received since February 7, 2000 were approved.

Human Resources Transactions and Reports:

All transactions and reports were approved.

Reports to the Board:

Board of Education/Common Council Liaison Committee: Deborah Lawson reported the committee has not met.

Carol Carstensen noted a special meeting was held to discuss location of the Open Classroom Program. Deborah Lawson explained her position in opposition to keeping the Open Classroom program at Lincoln and building an addition there.

Other Business:

Twenty-seven students were granted diplomas of graduation. Thirteen students were excused from school attendance for the purpose of allowing them to enroll in programs for high school equivalency diplomas. A resolution was approved awarding the sale of $11,000,000 General Obligation School Building Bonds, providing the form of the bonds, and levying atax in connection therewith. ABN AMRO was the successful bidder and the AAA bond rating will be continued. Board Policy 3540 was reaffirmed. It includes a mandate that, in most cases, a student in a 4-block program needs 26 credits to graduate.

Old and New Business: Mr. Lopez congratulated the Memorial hockey team and coach for winning the state championship.

(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