Summary of Regular Board Meeting Held on April 2, 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

No item.

Public Appearances

One person spoke in support of the Board's action to hire a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning (GLBTQ) staff person.

Board President's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Williams announced:

• An invitation to attend the Madison public hearing on the 2001-2003 Biennial Budget of the State's Joint Committee on Finance in support of removing or increasing the revenue caps and greater state support of special education funding.
• Construction of Chavez Elementary is proceeding on schedule and the school will be open at the start of the 2001-02 school year. An estimated $110,000 has been saved in sales taxes because of the District's direct purchase of construction materials.

Superintendent's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Rainwater announced:

• Jefferson Middle students took high honors in the citywide Spelling Bee, the Geography Bee, Math Counts, the Battle of the Books, and the African American History Challenge Bowl. Andy Trevino won the city Spelling Bee.
• 110 middle school students, mostly girls, attended the 4th Annual Lilith Fair. More than 70 volunteers assisted with this year's fair, encouraging young people to explore careers in computer science and technology.
• Tom Hardin was named an Excellent Educator through the Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth's 2001 Educator Recognition program.
• Randall librarian April Hoffman and Lincoln teacher Rebecca Rosenberg will be Fulbright Fellows and visit Japan.
• Crestwood teacher Candy Nerge received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
• Lowell Elementary has been nominated as a Comprehensive School Reform Program Promising Site identified by the DPI and nominated to the U.S. Department of Education.
• Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Roger Price qualified as a Registered School Business Administrator by the Association of School Business Officials International.
• Promotional events for the schools' food service programs brought 736 dads, 940 moms and 1414 additional students into the elementary schools for breakfast. The program may be expanded next year to grandparents.
• Start and ending times at some schools will be adjusted to either 7:45 am or 8:30 am for the 2001-02 school year. This would save $360,000 per year by making bus transportation more efficient and combat tightening revenue caps.

Committee Reports And Action Thereon

Performance & Achievement: Evaluation of Learning Materials Committee adoptions were approved. The committee will hear administration proposals for future evaluations of the Transition Education Program for homeless students, vote on its response to the recommendations from the NAACP, discuss the staffing pattern for next year's TEP program at Emerson, Lapham and Marquette, and hear proposals from the administration for complying with the new state laws on graduation and promotion requirements.

Finance and Operations: Bids were approved for new emergency circuits and a new generator at the Doyle Administration Building and new fire alarm installation at the Hoyt Building with funding from the 2001-02 General Operating Budget. A Lease Purchase Financing Agreement was approved for the districtwide telecommunications system for a seven year term. The committee heard an update on Chavez Elementary construction and the 2001-02 budget. Budget meetings are scheduled through June. Two board members will testify before the Joint Finance Committee of the State Legislature.

Human Resources: Update on filling the position for GLBTQ support person.

Long Range Planning: A meeting is scheduled to hear the concerns of the Leopold PTG and discuss with them issues regarding space and boundaries.

Partnerships: There was no report.

Legislative: The committee will pay close attention to items related to the Governor's budget. The superintendent will testify before the Assembly Education Committee on various provisions that affect special education, SAGE, and the need for revenue flexibility. A board member, teacher, administrator and parent will testify at a special session and lobby the legislature on these issues.

Auditing, Purchasing, Transfers & Other Financial Transactions

Auditing: Interim and School Building Fund bills were paid.

Purchasing: Bids were awarded for musical instruments.

Transfers: No items.

Other Financial Transactions: All donations and grants received since March 5, 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: The committee discussed city and school district interests in acquiring land for a possible future east side school.

Other Business:

The Joint Swim Team Sponsorship between LaFollette High School and Sun Prairie High School will be retained for the 2001-02 through the 2002-03 swim seasons. Board Policy 8005 and Human Resources Policy 203(a)II were amended. This change would allow principal interns the right to an interview for an open position for which they qualify without going through the screening process. Four students were granted diplomas of graduation based on completed requirements.

Old and New Business: Juan José López and Joann Elder made closing/congratulatory comments. Ruth Robarts reported on the NSBA Convention.

(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