Summary of
Regular Board Meeting - November 2, 1998

Regular monthly meetings of the Board of Education will now be close captioned. They will be shown again on Tuesday evenings with captions for those unable to watch on Monday evenings.

Recognition

The Thoreau Chime Choir performed a musical piece under the direction of Lona George. Students Rachel Wixson and Alfonso Perez-Valdez explained the all-school sing tradition and introduced a video of a recent sing.

As a result of being named Principal of the Year by the Wisconsin Association of School Principals, East High School Principal Milt McPike was invited to send two students to a weeklong journalism seminar in Washington DC sponsored by USA Today. Students Jeremy Buehl and Maeve Quigley explained their experiences at the seminar and distributed copies of the student produced edition of the daily national newspaper. Sharon McPike, Learning Shop resource teacher at East, was one of five teachers selected nationally to be a counselor to the young people attending the conference.

New Student Board members were introduced - James Ploeser and Alternate Pabitra Benjamin, both from West High School. Ruth Robarts explained the process used to elect the students and how input will be provided to the representatives from other middle and high school students through the Student Senate. Mr. Ploeser said that efforts are just beginning, that he will report on Student Senate meetings, and shared his hope that students will continue their involvement with the Student Senate and as representatives to the Board of Education.

Public Appearances

Martha Vasquez wished the Mayor's Committee on Racism great success. Some questions need to be asked, including finding out how our students are doing and how initiatives are working for minority students. She noted a study skills course that has worked at Shabazz, said higher goals can be set for Hispanic students and that funds should be used to study issues about Hispanic students in Madison schools so that Madison students can learn to achieve.

Donald Wyeth spoke in support of additional special education assistant allocation, specifically at Leopold but at other schools as well. He was concerned about adequate services for children, difficulty meeting IEPs, not being able to get substitutes, safety, and loss of free time at lunch and prep times.

Board President's Announcements And Reports

Mrs. Carstensen announced:

• the next Board "Listening Session" on November 12 at Wright Middle School. The Board would like to hear comments on the EDA Student Success audit recommendations and any other topic.
• the reception and recognition for National Merit Semifinalists at the November 16 Regular Board meeting.
• educators from Japan are visiting Madison and several schools, including Thoreau.
• The Ladies Home Journal has given Madison a perfect score for the quality of education.
• MSCR will receive the Senior Star Award from the WI Parks and Recreation Association in the older adult category.
• the finalized budget results in a reduced tax levy and mil rate.
• O'Keeffe Middle School is working on displaying their annual Colonial projects.

Interim Superintendent's Announcements And Reports

Mr. Rainwater announced:

• as part of a unit on Japan, Mendota has received a collection of rare Japanese art on loan from the Madison Art Center. Activities are being coordinated by art teacher Richard Davis and Japanese artist-in-residence Chie Voeltz.
• grants have been renewed for a car building project by the Technology Education class at West High School. The Mobil Oil Corporation, at the request of Rick Genin, owner of Genin's Mobil-Hilldale, Inc. again this year presented the Tech Ed Department with a check for $5000. Mr. Genin promised to continue donating one cent of every gallon of gasoline sold on Tuesdays.
• James Troupis has been selected to join the tuba section of the 1999 National Wind Ensemble. He is one of 75 students chosen nation-wide who will perform at Carnegie Hall on May 31, 1999.
• Emerson social worker Pat Mooney has been named Wisconsin School Social Worker of the Year by the Wisconsin School Social Workers Association.
• Crestwood teachers Teri Thomas Kruska and Peter E. Plane are the 1998 winners of the Entomological Society of America President's Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Primary Teaching Using Insects as Educational Material.
• Cathy Caro-Bruce, resource teacher in the Staff and Organization Development Department, and Ken Zeichner, Education Professor at the UW, are winners of the 1998 National Staff Development Council Non-Dissertation Award which recognizes their two-year study of the Classroom Action Research Program.
• Glendale Elementary School hosted workshops for some 320 teachers and explained best practices they have used to increase student achievement in reading and writing. There was also a book fair featuring professional and children's literature.

Committee Reports And Action Thereon

Performance & Achievement: Recommendations from the Selection of Program Materials Committee were approved.

The Board of Education adopted as their own priorities the recommendations of the Equity, Diversity, Advocacy (EDA) Student Results Steering Committee: that all students 1) complete third grade able to read at grade level or beyond; 2) complete Algebra by the end of ninth grade and geometry by the end of tenth grade; and 3) regardless of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic or linguistic subgroup, attend school at a 94% attendance rate at each grade level.

A report was requested from Administration regarding the Student Results Audit Report, including identification of the operational changes that would need to be made if the recommendations were implemented and the associated budget requirements. The Interim Superintendent should meet with the Student Results Audit Steering Committee before submitting this report, and recommendations should be coordinated with those of the Schools of Hope Subcommittee on Class Size.

The committee will hear an update on the preparation of this report in November and receive the final report in December. The January agenda will include recognition of the Action Research project award received by Cathy Caro-Bruce and Ken Zeichner.

Budget and Finance: The 1998-99 budget was approved resulting in lower taxes and mil rate. A subcommittee was established including Board members Ray Allen and Deborah Lawson. Maintenance funding will be on the next agenda.

Human Resources: Superintendent Search survey instruments were adopted in concept and will be sent out according to an established process. The committee will hear a report in November. Ray Allen and Ruth Robarts were appointed to a subcommittee for negotiations. A board workshop will be scheduled to learn more about superintendent evaluation procedures and to develop principles that reflect common goals among Board members.

Long Range Planning: The subcommittee will meet once again to finalize recommendations for a process and procedure for making long range decisions about over and under crowding at schools, and for a short term space issue at Van Hise and Hamilton Schools.

Partnerships: The October meeting focused on the Equity, Diversity, Advocacy Student Results Audit. Future agenda items include a mission statement and other options for links to the community.

Board of Education/Common Council Liaison Committee: Discussion will focus on the third recommendation of the EDA Student Results Audit Steering Committee (to reach 94% attendance) and how the committee can be of help in leading implementation. Another topic of discussion is a proposed city ordinance on smoking.

Legislative: The committee will look at legislative delegation changes and review themes and issues for the coming year. They will look for links with individual school legislative committees and hope to initiate e-mail conversations about current issues.

Auditing, Purchasing, Transfers & Other Financial Transactions

Auditing: Interim and Building Fund bills were paid.

Purchasing: There were no Purchasing items.

Transfers: Funds were transferred from the Reserve for Contingencies to support additional staffing at Sandburg to support class size, and to support additional special education staff.

Other Financial Transactions: All donations and grants received by the District since October 5, 1998 were approved. The 1998-99 budget was increased to support underground storage tank removal, the Title I program, the Families and Schools Together (FAST) program, and district wide Alchohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) activities.

Human Resources Transactions and Reports:

All personnel items were approved.

Reports to the Board:

Carol Carstensen noted a recent news article about teen nutrition and soda consumption. This is a concern that should be discussed when extension of the Coca-Cola vending contract is considered, specifically district philosophy and how students can learn to make good choices.

Other Business:

A Resolution was approved ordering territory detached from the Verona school district and attached to the MMSD. An employee's worker compensation claim was paid. Jim Franks was appointed to the MSCR Advisory Committee. Diplomas were granted to seven students. A student over the age of 20 was approved to continue his education through the DCP program.

Old and New Business: Student Representative James Ploeser said he hopes to have a report from the Student Senate at the next meeting. Juan José López reported on his attendance at the Lowell Read-In and PICADA Banquet and noted Centro Hispano is celebrating their anniversary. Calvin Williams reminded the NAACP Banquet will be held November 6.

(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: 1998-11-13