SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RIVER FALLS: 9/19/11 Annual and Special Meeting Minutes

Board of Education Special Meeting Minutes

Monday, September 19, 2011

The Special Board meeting of the River Falls Board of Education was called to order on Monday, September 19, 2011, at 6:35p.m. by President Johnson Myers in the High School Office Conference Room, 818 Cemetery Road. It was ascertained that notice of the meeting had been properly posted in the appropriate locations, published in the River Falls Journal and an announcement was sent to WEVR Radio Station.

PRESENT

President Stacy Johnson Myers, Vice-President Dennis Behnke, Treasurer Manville Kenney, Clerk Barbara E. Kolpin and members Rich Gerczak, Mike Miller, and Alan Tuchtenhagen were present. Superintendent Tom Westerhaus and Finance Director Chad Smurawa were also in attendance.

REVIEW PROPOSED ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING

The agenda for the Annual Meeting was reviewed and the duties of various members discussed. Bob Gustafson and James Graham have agreed to be nominated and serve as Chair and Parliamentarian respectively. Darlene MacBride agreed to be appointed as secretary. Smurawa reported that Gustafson and Graham met with him and Westerhaus on Monday, September 19th, to review their responsibilities for the annual meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

President Johnson Myers declared the Special meeting of the Board of Education adjourned at 6:52 p.m.

Barbara Kolpin, Clerk

(Pub. 11/17/11) WNAXLP

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REPORT OF ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING

September 19, 2011

River Falls, Wisconsin

Eight O'Clock P.M.

The Annual Meeting of the School District of River Falls was called to order in the River Falls District Office, 852 E Division Street, by Board President Stacy Johnson Myers on Monday, September 19, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. She introduced herself and the Board members who were present: Vice President Dennis Behnke, Treasurer Manny Kenney, clerk Barbara E Kolpin, and Board members Richard Gerczak, Mike Miller, and Alan Tuchtenhagen. Administration who were present were also introduced: Superintendent Dr. Tom Westerhaus, Finance and Facilities Director Chad Smurawa, Director of Personnel Donna Hill, Director of Academic Services Mike Johnson, Director of Student Services Jackie Steinhoff, Technology Supervisor Brian Dado, Community Education Coordinator Monique Squire, High School Principal Dr. Elaine Baumann, High School Assistant Principal Rollie Hall, Meyer Middle School Principal Mark Chapin, Meyer Middle School Assistant Principal Rick Cleary, and Rocky Branch Elementary Principal Charles Eaton.

Statutory Powers of the Annual Meeting

Board Attorney Gwen Kuchevar was introduced and she reviewed the statutory powers of the Annual Meeting as outlined on pages 3 and 4 of the agenda. She noted that all Board members and district administrators are electors of the district and are eligible to vote on agenda items. Electorates at the Annual Meeting vote on the tax levy to fund the budget. The Annual Meeting does not have the authority to approve, disapprove, amend, or modify the proposed budget, only to accept or reject the levy as presented. A person making or seconding a motion or voting on a question must reside in the School District. If there is a question about someone voting, a challenge must be made during the meeting. The three main duties of the Annual Meeting include setting salaries of School Board members, purchasing real estate, and authorizing the sale of obsolete and/or unneeded school personal property.

Election of a Chairman/Appointment of Parliamentarian

Rollie Janetski placed the name of Bob Gustafson in nomination for chairman of the Annual Meeting. No other nominations were made. Gustafson was elected as chairman of the 2011 Annual Meeting. James Graham was appointed parliamentarian by Chairman Gustafson, and Darlene MacBride was appointed as secretary for the Annual Meeting.

2010 Annual Meeting Report

The minutes of the August 16, 2010, Annual Meeting were printed in hand-out materials and presented by Chair Gustafson. There were no corrections or additions, and the minutes stood approved as published.

NEW BUSINESS

State of the District

Superintendent Westerhaus presented information on the State of the District. The report included data on students, staff, the budget and the accomplishments during the past year guided by the Strategic Plan. Westerhaus thanked the District for their strong support. Chair Gustafson thanked Westerhaus and the district staff for making River Falls a great district.

School Forest land transfer approvals

Westerhaus introduced the team who had worked on the School Forest land trade project: Attorney Gwen Kuchevar, Board Clerk Barbara Kolpin, Rocky Branch Elementary Principal Chuck Eaton, Meyer Middle School Principal Rick Cleary, and Eric Forward from the Kinni River Land Trust. All team members reported on various aspects of the work leading up to the trade. Cleary discussed the diversity of the school forest property and the benefits to environmental education for the district. Kolpin provided more history on the property and explained that the district will still not have access during this current phase, but that will occur in the next phase. Eaton provided ideas of how students could use the property and called it a “wonderful classroom” which will include a public-use corridor. Forward discussed the conservation easement which allows certain uses and prohibits other uses which could be detrimental to the area. Kuchevar explained the four proposed resolutions requiring electorate approval: 1) encumber current district property with a conservation easement, 2) convey the north side property to the Johnson family, 3) conveyance of title from the Johnson’s to the District of the south side property, and 4) encumber that part of the School Forest property with a hunting lease.

High School Principal Elaine Baumann moved for the approval and adoption of the four resolutions that will authorize the Board of Education to complete the real estate transactions needed to locate the school forest completely on the south side of the Kinnickinnic River in the manner described this evening, and as those resolutions are stated on pages 9, 41, 57 and 73 of the agenda packet for this 2011 Annual Meeting. Rollie Janetski seconded. Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote. The resolutions are included as attachments to these minutes.

Board Salaries

Gustafson presented the current Board salaries as $2,000 for members and $2,400 annually for president, clerk, and treasurer. Jackie Steinhoff moved, seconded by Monique Squire to approve the salaries as presented for the 2010-11 election year. Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Obsolete/Unneeded Equipment

Finance Director Smurawa explained the purpose for the resolution to authorize the Sale of Obsolete and/or Unneeded School Property as found on page 74 of the agenda. Any assets can be sold at a price not to exceed $15,000. Dr. Elaine Baumann moved, seconded by Monique Squire, to authorize the sale of obsolete and/or unneeded school property by the adoption of the following resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that the School Board for the School District of River Falls is hereby authorized, during the current school fiscal year (2011-2012), to sell and dispose of such tangible personal property belonging to the School District of River Falls as is determined by the School Board to be no longer needed for school purposes; provided, however, that the maximum aggregate value of the said personal property disposed of during the current school year shall not exceed $15,000 in value, as shown by an independent appraisal or competitive bids.

Motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Presentation of the 2011-2012 Proposed Budget

Director of Finance and Facilities Chad Smurawa outlined how the budget is derived beginning with the revenue and levy calculations. He presented an overview of how school districts are funded in Wisconsin from local, state and federal sources. Charts and graphs were presented indicating the source of revenues in the district as well as expenditure categories and a five-year history of both. A history of River Falls School District’s mill rates was presented. The Jobs Bill provided a higher revenue source this year from the Federal Government. The Annual Meeting votes on the tax levy to fund the budget. The projected revenue receipts and anticipated expenditures for the 2011-2012 budget are as follows:

______________________________________________ Revenue__________________ Expenditures

General Fund (Fund 10)........................... $29,090,127.00.................. $29,540,127.00

Special Projects Funds (Fund 21, 23, 27, 29)................................. 4,362,385.00.................. 4,362,385.00

Debt Service Fund (Fund 38, 39)............................. 4,109,967.50 .......................... 4,109,967.50

Food Service Fund (Fund 50)......................................... 1,446,081.00...................... 1,446,081.00

Community Service Fund (Fund 80)......................... 500,000.00 .......................... 500,000.00

School Levy Resolution

The proposed tax levy for 2011-2012 is $17,901,748. Taxpayers will likely see approximately a 1% drop in school tax dollars on their next tax statement. Smurawa explained that the numbers won’t be final until after enrollment is taken mid-September and all of the state details regarding funding are received in mid-October. He reported the district finished the 2010-11 school year with a balanced budget and expects to do so again in 2011-12.

Chairman Gustafson asked for a motion to set the proposed tax levy for 2011-12 as presented on page 83 of the agenda. Rollie Janetski moved, seconded by Lynda Caskey, to adopt the following resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that there be and hereby is levied upon the taxable property of the district for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the district for the school year ending June 30, 2012, a tax in the sum of $17,901,748.

The motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Adjournment

Chairman Gustafson encouraged audience members to stay involved in Board discussions during these next few months as the Board provides information leading up to the November 8th referendum election. He declared the 2011 Annual Meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Barbara Kolpin, Clerk

River Falls Board of Education

(Pub. 11/17/11) WNAXLP

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