Summary of Regular Board Meeting Held on May 1, 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

VISTA volunteers were honored for their work in 18 elementary schools that match reading tutors from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, America Reads work-study programs, and the community at large with students from kindergarten to grade three who need additional support in reading. The United Way of Dane County Volunteer Center collaboration with the MMSD on the Schools of Hope Literacy Project through a grant from the Corporation for National Service was highlighted through photos and narration.

Bill Keys and Juan José López took the official oath as newly elected members of the Board of Education. Officer elections: Calvin Williams, President; Ruth Robarts, Vice-President; Juan José López, Treasurer; Ray Allen, Clerk; Roger Price, Secretary.

Public Appearances

Kate Lyman, Lisa Benitez, Angele Wolcott, and Rosa Murillo spoke about the ESL program and allocations at Hawthorne Elementary School.

Board President's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Williams announced:

• he wished to begin his tenure as Board President with an overview of the calendar for the coming year to meet deadlines and continue the good things the district is doing. He expressed appreciation to his colleagues for electing him. Board members were asked to submit their requests for committee assignments.
• progress on updating the Learning Center at Allied Drive.
• the Path of Voices exhibit will open at the Elvehjem Museum of Art on May 6
• a bi-partisan amendment by Sen. Russ Feingold to the $150 billion tax cut bill that would funnel $30 billion into fully funding IDEA failed. Instead, a "perfecting amendment" was passed that supports funding of IDEA in theory but not with real dollars.
• By acclamation, Carol Carstensen was formally thanked for her service as Board President.

Superintendent's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Rainwater announced:

• Lowell School received the U.S. Department of Education National Title I Distinguished School of the Year Award.
• Toki Middle School received this year's annual all-city African-American History Contest sponsored by the Madison chapter of the 100 Black Men of America.
• Hamilton's sixth grade team of Future Problem Solvers (Ashley Adams, Nathaniel Haack, Katie Remington, Corey Watts) won this year's State Bowl and will go on to an international conference in June.
• Sandburg students wrote grant applications to fund "Good Deeds" in response to the Martin Luther King Jr Coalition's challenge to do 1000 Acts of Kindness and Justice.
• Randall Elementary teacher Mark Wagler was selected to receive the Kohl Fellowship award.
• Steve Hartley was appointed as Director of Alternative Programs. He will oversee the Brearly Street Alternatives, Dane County Jail program, Dane County Shelter program, Huber Center, and Shabazz High School.
• Jane Belmore has been selected as the new Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools, replacing retiring Shirley Baum.
• John Olson, recently retired Coordinator for Athletics and Safety, has been inducted into the national High School Sports Hall of Fame. John was honored by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association for his work at Madison Central and Madison Memorial between 1959 and 1974.

Committee Reports And Action Thereon

Performance & Achievement: Selection of Program Materials Committee adoptions were approved. Ruth Robarts reported public hearings were held at Lincoln and Hawthorne to get information about educational priorities and suggestions for budget deliberations.

Finance and Operations: Bids were approved for a new service/panel at Memorial, for installation of new HVAC equipment at Whitehorse, for asbestos abatement work at Allied Drive Center, for parking lot upgrades at the Maintenance Building, and for playground pavement replacement work at Lowell. The operational policy for Carryover of Unused Budget was approved. Juan Jose Lopez reported the committee discussed the budget carryover policy, document prototype, travel reimbursement policy, Cross Country school budget and the plan for repair or replacement of playground equipment.

Human Resources: Ray Allen reported on a recruitment initiative between the president and superintendent, working with a citizens group, to advise and provide addtional input on recruitment techniques at a time when the professional labor pool and additional minority staff is dwindling and the number of retirements is so high.

Long Range Planning: Carol Carstensen had no report.

Partnerships: Ray Allen had no report.

Legislative: Joann Elder reported the the committee received a progress report from Joe Quick on current status of education legislation. Citizen member Carrie Templeton will no longer serve on the committee because she is moving out of the district.

Auditing, Purchasing, Transfers & Other Financial Transactions

Auditing: Interim and School Building Fund bills were paid.

Purchasing: There were no purchasing items.

Transfers: There were no transfers.

Other Financial Transactions: All donations and grants received since April 3, 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: There was no report.

Other Business:

Eleven students were granted diplomas of graduation. A task force was convened comprised of up to twenty community leaders representing the city's major populations and members of the Board of Education to seek broad-based community and school district solutions to drop-out prevention. Memorial High School facilities were named as follows: the football practice fields named the John R. Olson Athletic Fields; the junior varsity baseball field named the Howdie Olson Baseball Diamond; and the field house named the Conrad Andringa Fieldhouse. A resolution was approved authorizing and approving a governmental lease purchase agreement with TEACH Wisconsin regarding wiring projects.

Old and New Business: Mr. López: congratulated students, mentioned celebrations, is working with a group to rename or name schools. Mr. Keys: thanked campaign supporters and administration. Promoted an event. Mr. Allen: congratulated the Business and Education Partnership Mini Business World. Joann Elder: congratulated DSA winners. Carol Carstensen: asked that the issue of naming schools be put on a future board agenda. Calvin Williams thanked board members for the votes of confidence and thanked Mrs. Carstensen for her years of service.

(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