Summary of Regular Board Meeting Held on June 5, 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

Katharine Goray, Sugar Thomas, Amber Shavers, and Jeanne Strickland talked about the Sin Fronteras project. Shabazz, Cherokee, Lincoln and Hawthorne participated in this year-and-a-half-long integrated curriculm study of the culture, history and art of Meso-American countries. The project ended with an exciting interactive exhibit at the Madison Children's Museum and a parade down State Street.

Public Appearances

Kathe Crowley Conn spoke and provided written information in support of reinstating funding for transportation to outdoor education sites.

Board President's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Williams:

• congratuated all high school graduates. The Latino Graduation ceremony was a tremendous success, attended by over 300 people.
• Summer School supplemental, enrichment, MSCR recreational and Community Learning Center programs are underway. Late registrations are scheduled this week.
• Summer Food Service program offers meals to needy children at 30 city-wide sites when free and reduced-price meals are not available. The program runs through August 4 and includes breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.

Superintendent's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Rainwater announced:

• Recent awards in the form of grants and high honors for staff and students indicate the district is doing a fine job of targeting resources and educational expertise. The year ends with a great feeling of confidence and pride. Work toward strengthening school/community connections has helped to identify goals and challenges for next year and the future.
• Sandburg principal Linda Kailin and teacher Ellen McGaughey were awarded a $2,000 grant from the Carroll Heideman fund for Enhancing the Educational Enterprise, a series of parent/child workshops on children's literature and primary reading skills support.
• Sports and recreation opportunities for middle school students will be enhanced through a grant from the United States Tennis Association. This spring's program expanded to include fourteen teams.
• The district has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for energy performance achievements at four high schools and has been added to a select list of EPA Honor Society Members. Cost savings is estimated at $370,000 annually.
• Under the leadership of MSCR Director Lucy Chaffin, the Community Learning Centers have served over 50 percent of the student populations at Lowell, Mendota and Glendale. A second 21st Century Community Learning Center grant has been received for $602,000 per year for three years. The new centers have already opened at Allis, Falk, Hawthorne and Leopold Schools.
• Credit for the Community Learning Center Award also goes to grantwriter Howard Landsman. He has worked to secure other grants including the Collaborative School Reform and Beyond the Textbook projects.
• Cherokee eighth grader Sandra Becerra is the first recipient of the Sanchez Scholarship for Hispanic students.
• Congratulations to all high school graduates. Memorial graduate Po-Shen Loh is one of twenty students named in USA Today's All-USA High School Academic First Team.
• Memorial High School was included in Newsweek Magazine's list of the nation's top ranked high schools for their efforts to encourage students to take college level courses.
• Seven of this year's twelve semifinalists for the Presidential Scholars award were from Madison public schools; two were included in the list of 141 national finalists. Andrea Les (West) and Louis-John Janowski (Memorial) will participate in National Recognition Week activities in Washington DC.

Committee Reports And Action Thereon

Performance & Achievement: Selection of Program Materials Committee adoptions were approved. Proposed policy changes regarding the Evaluation of Learning Materials were approved. The plan for reporting on progress toward the district's three priorities was approved. Priorities are 1) reading at or beyond grade level by the end of 3rd grade; 2) algebra completed by 9th grade, geometry by 10th grade; and 3) attendance at least 94%.

Finance and Operations: A bid was approved for roof replacement work at the Hamilton/Van Hise school site. Juan José López reported the committee received the 2000-2001 proposed budget. The Board has held two public hearings. The Budget in Brief document is available. Board members' proposed amendments are due June 8. Reviewed timeline for budget approval. The proposed budget is at the level of the revenue limits.

Human Resources: Bill Keys had no report.

Long Range Planning: A letter will be written to all parent groups before the end of the school year to identify, as a means of communication, contacts for space and boundary issues. The letter will include information on the upcoming June 5 meeting, the procedures and guidelines for undercrowding and overcrowding and a timeline. Carol Carstensen reported the committee discussed the process of including parent input. There was discussion of the timeline and the sequence of events which will be continued at another meeting to be scheduled this month.

Partnerships: Ray Allen had no report.

Legislative: Joann Elder reported the committee will not meet until fall. Staff will watch as there is progress on a Legislative Council Study of issues related to special education funding. A State Supreme Court ruling is anticipated regarding a challenge to school funding formulas.

Auditing, Purchasing, Transfers & Other Financial Transactions

Auditing: Interim bills were paid. There were no School Building Fund bills.

Purchasing: Purchase of a digital photo camera/badging system through a State of Wisconsin contract was approved.

Transfers: There were no transfers.

Other Financial Transactions: All donations and grants received since May 1, 2000 were approved. The Instructional Materials Selection Center was granted authority to process Selection of Program Materials orders from June 5 through August 28 with formal approval scheduled for regular Board meetings. Authority was granted to Building Services and Purchasing to approve bid items from June 5 through August 28 with formal approval scheduled for regular Board meetings.

Human Resources Transactions and Reports:

All transactions and reports were approved.

Reports to the Board:

Board of Education/Common Council Liaison Committee: Joann Elder reported the new chair is Linda Bellman. The committee will meet again in September to make a list of issues common to both the school district and the city.

Other Business:

Five students were granted diplomas of graduation. Dates of summer Board meetings were set as well as regular meetings for the next school year.

Old and New Business: Juan José López indicated he is eager to begin the process of naming or renaming schools and is interested in naming the school to be built at Cross Country or renaming an existing school after an Hispanic person. He also commended boxing and gymnastics coaches and players for their participation in recent competition.

(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