Summary of Regular Board Meeting Held on October 4, 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

Principal Pam Nash and students Po-Ru Loh, Po-Shen Loh and David Mericle spoke about the mathematics program at Memorial High School. These students have won national and international acclaim for their math skills. The students congratulated and presented the Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished High School Mathematics Teaching received from the Mathematical Association of America to teacher Vic Levine whom they nominated for this award.

Public Appearances

None.

Board President's Announcements And Reports

Mrs. Carstensen announced:

MSCR has received a grant from Marshall Fields to purchase equipment for the newest Safe Haven after school program at Lincoln Elementary.
the Webcrafters-Frautschi Foundation has partnered with Mendota School to offer learning opportunities for students and volunteers.
Shabazz City High School has been recognized as a National Service-Learning Leader School.
Stark Realty Company agents will visit Spring Harbor Middle School in conjunction with the "At Home in Madison" project.
a media event is scheduled at Sherman Middle School to commemorate raising an American flag that has been donated by Senator Erpenbach. The Sherman PTO raised funds for the flag pole.
Gompers Elementary will receive two awards from Channel 15 and Koats for Kids. Students were runner-up for both the most coats collected and most per capita. The 292 students collected 300 coats.

Superintendent's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Rainwater announced:

Madison's high schools have 47 National Merit Scholarship Finalists, exceeding the combined total of all other school districts in Dane County.
Memorial students Terry Benford, Sancia Ferguson and Denise Pullum and West students Lucy Osakwe and Jessica Stewart scored in the top 5% of Black Americans who took the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test which makes them students "commended to colleges and universities." Memorial students Nicolas Telinski, Jordan Price and Lindsay Smith have been selected for a similar honor by the National Hispanic Recognition Program.
Cherokee science teacher Suzanne Folberg is one of three state finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching.
Japanese teachers will visit East High, O'Keeffe Middle and Lapham and Marquette Elementary Schools to learn more about our educational program.
the District's recently released expulsion report notes that 44 students were expelled during the 1998-99 school year. This is less than one half of one percent of the total student enrollment; several students were actually diverted into alternative options.
MSCR Annual Award winners that included Janice Fitzgibbon for her gym class at Lindbergh, John Stamler for 41 years as a golf instructor, Joseph Tantillo (custodian at Memorial) for his outstanding cooperation, Brian Posick of WIBA AM for his station's invaluable assistance in publicizing events, Terri Lynn Alexander for her exceptional work on the play "The Wizard of Oz", Sybil Teehan for her dedication to the Downhill Ski Program and the Wisconsin State Journal for outstanding reporting of MSCR programs.
Fine Arts teachers' accomplishments - Crestwood strings teacher Nancy Lesh was profiled on national Public Radio for a feature on the music of India. Lindbergh art teacher Jeff Hagen's newest book is Fry Me To The Moon. Lake View general music teacher Barbara Chusid composed music that was used this summer by the American Players Theater in Spring Green; Marquette and O'Keeffe strings teacher Laura Burns performed the music. Schenk Elementary students heard Omar Sosa and John Santos perform at an afternoon assembly.

Committee Reports And Action Thereon

Performance & Achievement: Ruth Robarts reported the committee will hear a report from staff on state and national tests, local tools, and the Reading Recovery and Gateways to Literacy teaching training program. This will provide information to the committee as it monitors and supports the district's three priorities.

Budget and Finance: Juan José López announced the committee will discuss one-time funding of items in the 2000-2001 budget and will finalize the 1999-2000 operating budget.

Human Resources: Ruth Robarts reported the committee will hear a progress report of negotiations with the substitute teachers' bargaining unit.

Long Range Planning: Deborah Lawson reported committee discussion of a policy that would lead to decisions about the use of buildings as enrollment declines. The committee unanimously voted to approve a resolution about the placement of Allied Drive students in the event of a successful referendum. Juan José López noted Allied Drive students and all students have been receiving an excellent, quality education at Stephens, Thoreau and Crestwood. The issue is one of transportation of Allied Drive students.

Partnerships: Calvin Williams reported the committee discussed the Communities Aligned Proposal. A future agenda item is middle school career awareness programs in collaboration with MATC.

Legislative: Joann Elder reported the committee will hear an update on the state budget. Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin will talk with district staff, union representatives and community members about special education funding needs.

Auditing, Purchasing, Transfers & Other Financial Transactions

Auditing: Interim and Building Fund bills were paid.

Purchasing: Bids were awarded for musical instruments.

Transfers: Funds were transferred to support 5.13 FTE Educational Assistants for various elementary schools, 1.9 FTE English-As-A-Second-Language teachers, and 0.23 FTE Clerical Educational Assistants for Shabazz City High School to support increased enrollments and programs. Funds were transferred to support MYCAP (Minority Youth Career Awareness Program) at Black Hawk and Cherokee Middle Schools.

Other Financial Transactions: The budget was increased to support custodial overtime for Drum Corps International use of our buildings, to support supplementary educational services for immigrant students, to support the Vocational Education Program, to support Comprehensive School Reform activities at Franklin and Lowell Schools, and to support the Indian Education program. All donations and grants received since September 13, 1999 were approved.

Human Resources Transactions and Reports:

All personnel items were approved.

Reports to the Board:

Board of Education/Common Council Liaison Committee: Deborah Lawson reported the committee will discuss a resolution before the City Council about truancy.

Other Business:

Pursuant to Statute, 56 students were excused from school attendance to allow them to enroll in programs for high school equivalency diplomas. The design services contract for the school on Maple Grove Drive was awarded to Potter Lawson, Inc. At 5.80% of construction costs including up to $50,000 on preliminary design work as previously approved. One student was granted a diploma.

Old and New Business: Juan José López noted the Centro Hispano Banquet on October 22 with keynote speaker Jaime Escalante.

(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