Summary of
Regular Board Meeting - April 12, 1999

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

David Vogel, President of Vogel Brothers Building Company, was recognized for his generous contribution of school supplies for low income students enrolled in the Madison schools. For last school year, Mr. Vogel raised more than $41,000 to provide supplies for over 6000 students in 60 schools throughout the county. Cherokee Middle Social Worker Ann Colville and several students shared their stories about what Mr. Vogel's contributions have meant to them and to their school.

Public Appearances

Four parents and a student spoke about the coaching situation at LaFollette and the arbitration process and decision. Six additional registrants yielded their speaking time on this topic to others. A LaFollette teacher opposed cutting the School Within A School Program at the school. There were 19 registrations in favor of allowing non faculty to coach the LaFollette varsity soccer team and get the arbitration decision overturned.

Board President's Announcements And Reports

Mrs. Carstensen announced:

• the state legislature's Joint Committee on Finance will hold a public hearing on April 15 to receive input on the 1999-01 state budget. The Board's Legislative Committee has made a priority to provide testimony about the lack of special education funding and its impact on the district.
• the UW-School of Education Rockwell Award will honor teachers Claudia Blum (Orchard Ridge), Lona George (Thoreau) and Ric Saenz (Jefferson) for their help mentoring and supervising student teachers.
• the School Within A School program at Neighborhood House has been awarded a service learning grant through CESA and DPI to conduct research about the Greenbush neighborhood.
• the Board and community are invited to a Sherman School/Neighborhood/MSCR/NESCO production of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" on April 30.
• the Badger Baby Bus Tour on April 20, 12:30 pm at East High School.

Interim Superintendent's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Rainwater announced:

• local celebrities read to Kennedy students, including Police Chief Williams, Mayor Bauman, Fire Chief Amesqua, Senator Chuck Chvala, radio and television personalities and Bucky Badger.
• a five student team from Randall and Hamilton won the State Scholastic Chess Championship held at the UW-Oshkosh.
• Hamilton Middle School won the MathCounts competition and the Jefferson team finished second in the event sponsored by the Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers.
• Mendota student and staff participation in a "techno-fair" at East Towne Mall showing Mendota's use of technology in the curriculum.
• girls from Jefferson, O'Keeffe, Sennett and Wright Middle Schools participated in the Second Annual Lilith Computer Fair on the UW-Madison campus.
• the "Very Special Arts Wisconsin Children's Art Collection" will be on display at LaFollette High School for the next month.
• a variety of individual student and staff awards received.
• the current issue of Dane County Kids parenting magazine features Elvehjem Elementary's inclusive kindergarten program on the front page.

Committee Reports And Action Thereon

Performance & Achievement: Recommendations from the Selection of Program Materials Committee were approved. The full committee heard a presentation by staff about changes in the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). The next meeting will be held jointly with the Long Range Planning Committee. The Performance & Achievement Committee will come back to the Board with recommendations for reconciling the Schools of Hope and E/D/A Audit recommendations.

Budget and Finance: A bid was approved for freezer replacement at West High School. The Subcommittee and Committee met to review the prime vending contract. Next agenda items are for the committee to hear an update on the Madison Schools 2000 Fund feasibility study and for the subcommittee to begin discussion of the 1999-00 budget.

Human Resources: The subcommittee is continuing to discuss negotiations.

Long Range Planning: Overcrowing and growth continue to be looked at. The subcommittee is near reaching recommendations about building another school in the southwest corner of the district and for reducing class sizes in the early grades.

Partnerships: No report. The next agenda item is to hear a presentation on a "Communities United" proposal.

Board of Education/Common Council Liaison Committee: No report. New member appointments will be made in May.

Legislative: The Board of Education identified as its one overriding priority that the State of Wisconsin 1999-2001 Biennial Budget fairly and adequately fund special education needs that the state and federal government require to be met and the district agrees need to be met. It is hoped there will be good representation to testify at the Joint Finance Committee meeting. Another issue is raising revenue caps to allow the district to meet its other obligations.

Auditing, Purchasing, Transfers & Other Financial Transactions

Auditing: Interim and Building Fund bills were paid.

Purchasing: A three year contract was awarded for district periodicals subscription services. A contract was awarded for food conveyor packaging equipment for the Food Services Department.

Transfers: None.

Other Financial Transactions: All donations and grants received since March 1, 1999 were approved. All educational technology block grant funds received shall be deposited in the MMSD General Fund by direct deposit from the WI Dept of Administration and shall be used for any purpose related to educational technology, except that the monies shall not be used to pay the salary or benefits of any MMSD employee.

Human Resources Transactions and Reports:

All personnel items were approved.

Reports to the Board:

Science Coordinator Lisa Wachtel, Planetarium Director Geoff Holt, and Observatory Director Ben Senson spoke about how the Planetarium and Remote Observatory will enable students to experience more direct and interactive opportunities in Earth and space science.

Other Business:

Seven students were granted diplomas. The Joint Swim Team Sponsorship between LaFollette and Sun Prairie High Schools will be retained for the 1999-2001 swim seasons.

Old and New Business: None.

(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: 1999-05-11 2:43PM