Summary of Regular Board Meeting Held on May 6, 2002

Regular monthly meetings of the Board of Education are telecast live at 7:15 p.m. on the Charter cable TV system in the Madison area on channel 10 with closed-captioning for the hearing impaired. The meeting is replayed on cable channel 10 on the Tuesday evening immediately following the meeting at 9:00 p.m. with closed-captioning.

Recognition

This year's VISTA Volunteer Team was introduced. Board of Education members recognized the VISTA volunteers for their contributions to the children of the Madison schools.

Public Appearances

There were speakers regarding fourth grade strings, REACH, Stress Challenge, Librarians and miscellaneous other topics.

Board President's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Keys announced:

• The public is invited to attend Path of Voices installations at East and West High Schools. Funds to support the project have come from grants and individual donations. West is the second of five planned installations at high school sites in Madison and was commemorated with two events on April 29.
• Congratulations to Madison's six All-State Scholars - Mike He, Liana Prescott and Abraham Sorber of Memorial High School and Anna Jackson, Li Lin, and Jenni Staley of West High School. Both Mike He and Li Lin are also among Wisconsin's 13 Presidential Scholarship semifinalists.

Superintendent's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Rainwater announced:

• In a KTI or "Kindergarten Through Infinity" UW partnership, Lincoln Elementary third grade students have been investigating the life cycles of Wisconsin plants and butterflies.
• Madison schools have won both the high school (West) and middle school (Cherokee) Science Olympiad state level competitions.
• Spring Harbor Middle School hosted their 5th annual Environmental Conference on May 2, celebrating the school's focus as an environmental science magnet school.
• Friends of the Madison School Forest purchased 72 acres of adjacent farmland which will serve as a critical buffer zone for the health and well-being of the forest. UW Landscape Architecture Professor Evelyn Howell and her students have adopted the land and are mapping out a blueprint for landscaping a future prairie that will provide for student study and environmental preservation. Two of the founding members of the Friends of the School Forest are Lincoln staffers Dave Spitzer and Eileen Potts Dawson.
• Toki seventh grade language arts teacher Peggy Glynn extended her cross-curricular lesson into the community. After engaging in a special unit on healthy babies, Peggy and her seventh graders participated in the annual March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon, raising over $2,000.
• United Way of Dane County recently recognized exceptional MMSD students with the annual Community Service Volunteer Awards. Memorial junior Caroline Camic won the award for initiating the Senior-Link program to teach older adults computer skills. Camic also won a Discover Card Tribute Scholarship for her work in the program. Members of the Sherman Youth Resource Center were recognized with an award for their volunteer activities.
• A LaFollette team placed second in Gallaudet University's Midwest Academic Bowl and went on to place fifth in national competition. This is the first time Wisconsin has been represented in this prestigious event.
• Memorial High School has the State Champion Forensics Team. Thirty-two students along with Coach Tom Hardin participated in the Wisconsin Forensics Coaches Association competition against 79 teams from public and private schools. Jessica Steinbach and Rachael Jenison took first place in their individual events. This is the first time a Madison school has won the state title; the Madison City Council will present the team with an official commendation.

Committee Reports And Action Thereon

Performance & Achievement: Recommendations from the Evaluation of Learning Materials Committee were approved. Bill Clingan reported a meeting will be scheduled to discuss use of funds that had previously been budgeted for RISE.

Finance and Operations: A bid was approved for new electric service, panels and feeders at Hamilton/Van Hise. Carol Carstensen reported the committee approved a recommendation by the administration to restore fourth grade strings to the proposed budget using funds that were freed up as a result of receiving more than was anticipated in federal ESEA funding. The committee will look at proposed additional cuts the administration is making to cover the $500,000 of former RISE funding that was reinstated.

Human Resources: There was no report.

Long Range Planning: There was no report.

Partnerships: Shwaw Vang had no report.

Legislative: Juan José López had no report.

Auditing, Purchasing, Transfers & Other Financial Transactions

Auditing: Interim and School Building Fund Bills were approved.

Purchasing: A bid was accepted for volleyball equipment.

Transfers: There were no transfers.

Other Financial Transactions: A resolution was authorized that application be made for a State Trust Fund loan for the purpose of building an addition to Leopold Elementary School. Application was approved for a State Trust Fund Loan for the purpose of building a new athletic facility. All donations and grants received since April 1, 2002 were approved.

Human Resources Transactions and Reports:

All transactions and reports were approved.

Reports to the Board:

Common Council/Board of Education Liaison Committee: Carol Carstensen had no report.

Other Business:

--A use agreement was approved to allow West Madison Little League to use the softball diamonds at Jefferson at specified times on certain dates and for a fee. --A lease agreement was approved between FNB Properties and MSCR for a 9-month extension of a contract to use space at 2227A S. Stoughton Road. -A claim was referred for investigation. -The MMSD will remain an herbicide-free district where use of herbicides is not permitted except as specifically authorized by the Board of Education. Bi-annual herbicide application was approved for Lussier Stadium to maintain a safe and functional varsity level athletic field. -Consent was given to Attorney Jim Ruhly to represent the Oregon School District relative to a land agreement between the Oregon and Madison school districts. - An easement request was approved for Madison Gas & Electric at 702 Pflaum Road. -A proposal was approved from Bachmann Construction for the reconstruction of Chavez Elementary School under Board Policy 5000.2.a.2, "Exigent Circumstances", with funding from the bond proceeds. - The Alliant Shared Savings program agreement was approved. -Diplomas of graduation based on completed requirements were granted to seven students.

Old and New Business: Juan José López congratulated Jennifer Lopez on receiving the Joe Thomas Service Award and for being named Youth of the Year by the Boys and Girls Club.

(A complete copy of these minutes is available from the Board of Education Office, 663-1659. 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