SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RIVER FALLS: 11/21/11 Board Meetintg Minutes

Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes

November 21, 2011

The regularly scheduled meeting of the River Falls Board of Education was called to order on Monday, November 21, 2011, at 7:04 p.m. by President Johnson Myers in the River Falls District Office conference room, 852 E Division Street. It was ascertained that notice of the meeting had been properly posted at the appointed locations, published in The River Falls Journal and an announcement sent to WEVR Radio Station.

PRESENT

President Stacy Johnson Myers, Vice President Dennis Behnke, Clerk Barbara Kolpin, Treasurer Manville Kenney, and members Rich Gerczak, Mike Miller, and Alan Tuchtenhagen were present. Also present were Superintendent Tom Westerhaus, Finance Director Chad Smurawa, Director of Academic Services Mike Johnson, and Director of Personnel Donna Hill.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT/RECOGNITION

Recognition was given to Meyer Middle School Counselor Gary Campbell for publishing “Career Counseling in the 21st Century” in Counselink, the official publication of the Wisconsin School Counselor Association.

Congratulations were given to coach Pat Lorentz and to the participants in the State High School Cross Country meet on October 28th in Wisconsin Rapids. Participants were: Shae Taylor, Mitch Lenneman, Paige Skorseth, Annie Frisbie, Aislinn Pomfret, Ali Casey, Natalie Powell, Hanna Gribble, Kylee McLain, and Ellie Nelson. The girls’ team placed 4th at the State meet. The boys’ team won the first ever Big Rivers Conference title this year.

Congratulations were extended to Directors Joe Coughlin and Bryan Jaeckel and to the High School Marching Band for winning all titles at the State High School Marching Band competition held at UW-Whitewater on October 15th.

HEARING OF VISITORS OR DELEGATIONS

Jolene Larson addressed the Board and provided a check for $2000 to the school district from GO KIDS DAY.

Carole Mottaz acknowledged the Cross Country Team’s effort with the Kinni Trout Trot, fundraiser for Our Neighbor’s Place; the high school United Way students who assisted with the homeless shelter apartments; and the Middle School Jazz Band who played at the Rotary Fundraiser.

APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA

Johnson Myers reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda. Kolpin moved, seconded by Behnke, that the Board approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously (7-0). The Consent Agenda included the following items:

The minutes from the regular Board meeting of October 17, 2011, the Special Board Forum of October 27, 2011, and the Special Board Forum of November 3, 2011 were approved.

Checks numbered 150541 through 151068 had been prepared in the amount of $1,043,893.80, and there were automatic transfers of $497,897.63, and $488,863.51 for a total of $2,030,654.94. Checks numbered 150195, 150677, 150809, and 151139 were voided.

Pursuant to Board Policy which references Wisconsin Statutes Sections 111, 118, and 121, approval of the following employment recommendations: 1) recommended approval of the placement of the following certified teachers on the substitute teacher list: Cary Cardinal (Mathematics, EA-A), Cassandra Long (English, EA-A), Jennifer Nilssen (School Counselor, prekindergarten-grade 12), Pamela O’Reilly (Early Childhood/Exceptional Educational Needs, prekindergarten-kindergarten; Elementary, kindergarten), Stephanie Roughton (Regular Education, EC-MC), Rebecca Troop (Adaptive Physical Education, EC-A; Physical Education, EC-A; Health, EC-A).

License codes:

EC-MC Early Childhood-Middle Childhood, birth-age 11

EA-A Early Adolescence-Adolescence, age 10-21

EC-A Early Childhood-Adolescence, birth-age 21

Accepted the report and recommendations from the Business Affairs Committee from Wednesday, November 9, 2011, as follows: the Committee toured Meyer Middle School to discuss/review updates that will be completed with the approved referendum funds. Mike Johnson provided information on the new reading textbook series purchase. The series will cost $218,000 and be funded with budgeted dollars.

ACTION/DISCUSSION AGENDA

The School Start Time Committee presented its recommendation at the October 17, 2011 Board meeting for a change in school start times beginning with the 2012-13 school year. The Board discussed the committee’s proposal. Behnke moved, Miller seconded, to approve the proposed start-time change beginning with the 2012-13 school year as recommended by the School Start Time Committee. Motion carried 6-1 (No-Kolpin). Both the High School and Middle School will begin at 7:45 a.m. and end at 2:50 p.m. Elementary schools will begin at 8:45 a.m. and end at 3:45 p.m.

Representatives from the RF4Children (4 year old Kindergarten) Deb Heyerdahl and Sheila Behrendt, presented the committee’s recommendation on implementing the program starting in 2012-13. Director of Finance and Facilities Chad Smurawa presented projected revenues and expenditures for RF4C and the estimate for program break-even and projected revenue excess in the 3rd year of the program. The Board discussed the proposal and is expected to take action at the December Board meeting.

Mike Johnson and Barb Anderson shared information on the selection of a new district-wide reading program, including the timeline and outcomes of the committee process, decision-making structure, resource presentation, Reading series selection, and future professional development necessary for the implementation of LEAD 21. This process began during the Fall of 2010, and the selection was made in October, 2011. No action was taken.

The official results from the November 8, 2011 Special Referendum Election were reviewed. The Board of Canvassers met on Thursday, November 10, 2011, to certify the results.

With the passage of Question 1 on the November 8th Referendum Election, the Board established an Ad Hoc Building Committee for purposes of implementing the projects approved by the referendum. Tuchtenhagen moved, seconded by Gerczak to approve Barb Kolpin, Manny Kenney, Rich Gerczak, Tom Westerhaus and Chad Smurawa to a newly appointed Ad Hoc Building Committee, with Kenney serving as Chair. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

An incorrect version of policy 441.2 was submitted for a first reading at the October 17th Board meeting. A corrected version was re-submitted for its first reading. Tuchtenhagen moved, Behnke seconded to approve the first reading of policy 441.2, Student Representation on the Board. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

The first readings of the following policies were held at the October 17, 2011 Board meeting and were presented for their second reading. Kenney moved, Gerczak seconded to approve the second reading of policy 672, Purchasing. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

Kolpin moved, Miller seconded to approve the second reading of policy 527-Rule-2, Impartial Hearing Officer Selection procedure. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

Kenney moved, Miller seconded to approve the second reading of policy 533.1 Criminal Background Investigation. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

Tuchtenhagen moved, Gerczak seconded to approve the second reading of policy 523.1 Staff Health Examinations. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

Discussion was held on the scheduling of a special Board Legislative meeting and a Joint City Council meeting in February.

Topics for an early January Legislative Session with John Murtha, Dean Knudson and Sheila Harsdorf will be: What’s on the legislative agenda and will the bills further restrict local control?

Topics for a potential Joint City Council 5:00PM meeting on either February 9th (1st choice) or February 2nd (2nd choice) will be: City planning (new initiatives), District building projects (from referendum), Academy Building, City/School District Marketing, Community Education/Park and Rec Coordination, other city topics?

Proposed/suggested items for the next regular and future Board meeting agenda(s):

1) Citizens’ Advisory for Academy

2) RF4Children

FUTURE MEETINGS

A Business Affairs Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 12, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. in the District Administrative Office Building, 852 East Division.

An Educational Program Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 12, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. in the District Administrative Office Building, 852 East Division.

A Regular Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 19, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in the District Administrative Office Building, 852 East Division.

SUPERINTENDENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Smurawa – Setting Building Committee meeting

Hill – Employee Handbook Advisory Committee meeting; Insurance Committee meeting report and plan to give recommendation to board in March.

Steinhoff – Response to Intervention

Westerhaus – Marketing Committee, Morale Committee, Educational Foundation, and Superintendent Evaluation Process – Personnel Committee.

ADJOURNMENT

President Johnson Myers declared the meeting adjourned at 10:08 p.m.

Barbara Kolpin, Clerk

(Pub. 12/29/11) WNAXLP

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