RIVER FALLS SCHOOL DISTRICT: 1/3/12 Special Meeting Minutes

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RIVER FALLS

Board of Education Special Meeting Minutes

January 3, 2012

The scheduled meeting of the River Falls Board of Education was called to order on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, at 6:07 p.m. by President Johnson Myers in the 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 announcements sent to WEVR Radio Station, the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Eau Claire Leader Telegram.

PRESENT

President Stacy Johnson Myers, Vice President Dennis Behnke, Clerk Barbara Kolpin, Treasurer Manny Kenney, and members Rich Gerczak and Mike Miller were present. Board Member Alan Tuchtenhagen was absent. Also present were State Senator Sheila Harsdorf, Assemblymen Dean Knudson and John Murtha, Superintendent Tom Westerhaus, Finance Director Chad Smurawa, Personnel Director Donna Hill, Academic Services Director Mike Johnson, Student Services Director Jackie Steinhoff, Information Technology Supervisor Brian Dado, and Administrative Assistant Darlene MacBride.

Administration provided short presentations to update the legislators on the state of the school district. Superintendent Westerhaus provided updates on the Strategic plan and district morale; Johnson reported on instruction and curriculum; Hill shared information on the employee handbook; Smurawa provided financial data pertinent to the district including the budget cut of $1.6 million this year, and a shortfall of $900,000 for next year; and Steinhoff shared concerns on the funding for Special Education.

The legislators discussed upcoming legislation with the Board. Kenney shared his concerns with the loss of local control and asked that certain problems be addressed specifically rather than through changes to the entire state which may not necessarily be beneficial to our district’s success.

Johnson Myers thanked the legislators for attending and invited them to remain in contact with school district administration and the school board to continue working together to help with the success of our staff and students. Murtha expressed his appreciation to the Board and acknowledged the challenges they face in balancing budgets while maintaining sound educational programs.

ADJOURNMENT

President Johnson Myers declared the meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.

Barbara E. Kolpin, Clerk (Pub. 01/26/12) WNAXLP

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Tags: public notices, meetings