SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RIVER FALLS: 12/19/11 Regular Meeting Minutes

Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes - December 19, 2011

The regularly scheduled meeting of the River Falls Board of Education was called to order on Monday, December 19, 2011, at 7:05 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 – None.

HEARING OF VISITORS OR DELEGATIONS

Jacky Rolf requested that the Board reconsider the start time change acted upon in November by the Board to begin in 2012-13. Board members indicated that the decision will be reviewed for changes after the 2012-13 school year.

APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA

Johnson Myers reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda. The December 14th Building Committee report will be revised to show that Dennis Behnke and Mike Miller were present. Behnke moved, seconded by Miller, that the Board approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The Consent Agenda included the following items:

The minutes from the regular monthly Board meeting of November 21, 2011, were approved.

Checks numbered 151069 through 151448 had been prepared in the amount of $952,562.32, and there were automatic transfers of $546,019.10, and $583,587.00 for a total of $2,082,168.42. There were no voided checks.

Pursuant to Board Policy which references Wisconsin Statutes Sections 111, 118, and 121, approval of the following employment recommendations: 1) a request from Melissa Kirkwood, full-time School Nurse at River Falls High School, for a full-time family and medical leave of absence effective December 1, 2011 through approximately January 2, 2012; 2) employment of Dave Dietrich as full-time long-term substitute Physical Education Teacher at River Falls High School effective January 2, 2012 through January 20, 2012 (replaces Zac Campbell); 3) employment of Kristin Nyquist as half-time long-term substitute School Counselor at River Falls High School effective December 15, 2011 through February 17, 2012 (replaces Melissa Scanlon).

Accepted the report and recommendations from the Building Committee from Wednesday, November 30, 2011, December 7, 2011, and December 14, 2011 as follows: reviewed the process for implementation of referendum facilities renovations and upgrades (removed to Action Agenda A1); received an update from ATS&R; recommended approval of revisions to policy 910, Facility Development Goals (removed to Action Agenda A2 for 1st reading); heard an architect presentation of construction project-delivery models; Contract Review; and Project Delivery System Review.

Accepted the report and recommendations from the Business Affairs Committee from Monday, December 12, 2011, as follows: High School Existing Bond Refinance Review and Recommendation (removed to Action Agenda A3); Referendum Bond Sale Review and Recommendation (Removed to Action Agenda A4); Building Tours of Greenwood and Westside.

Accepted the report and recommendations from the Educational Program Committee from Monday, December 12, 2011, as follows: discussed summative attendance data and attendance procedures K-12; received an update from high school staff on effectiveness and impact of snack guidelines; listened to a presentation from administration on high school scheduling; recommend the Board approve the following High School course proposals: all of the new high school course name-change proposals, amend “Modern Physics” by bringing the proposal back without Section VIII, “Gateway to Success”, and “Graphic Design”; recommend approval of a special educational contract with the North St. Paul-Maplewood School District; and received a report regarding Youth Options applications for Spring, 2012. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

ACTION/DISCUSSION AGENDA - PULLED ITEMS:

1. Review process for implementation of referendum facilities renovations and upgrades (from Consent Agenda D1). Kenney reviewed the timelines and process for implementing the district’s Building Committee. He reported that the committee is still reviewing the management of construction.

2. First reading of policy 910, Facility Development Goals (from Consent Agenda D3). Kenney reviewed the existing policy and recommended revisions. Kenney moved, Gerczak seconded to approve the first reading of Policy 910, Facility Development Goals. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

3. High School Existing Bond Refinance Review and Recommendation (from Consent Agenda D7). Jeff Seeley of Ehlers presented the option for the Board to refinance bonds from the high school to save interest in the amount projected to be $342,626. Kenney moved, Miller seconded, to approve Resolution #12-21-11-2 providing for the sale of approximately $4,330,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds as follows:

“The Resolution providing for the sale of approximately $4,330,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds (the "Refunding Bonds") authorizes and directs that the Refunding Bonds be offered for public sale and provides that the School Board shall consider bids received for the Refunding Bonds at a subsequent meeting and take action thereon.  The Resolution also authorizes and directs the sale of the Refunding Bonds to be publicized, provides that an official Notice of Sale be forwarded to interested bidders and directs that an Official Statement be prepared and distributed.  The Resolution states that following receipt of the bids for the Refunding Bonds, the School Board shall consider taking further action to provide the details of the Refunding Bonds, including awarding the Refunding Bonds and levying a direct annual irrepealable tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the Refunding Bonds as the same becomes due.” Motion carried unanimously via roll call vote (7-0).

4. Referendum Bond Sale Review and Recommendation (from Consent Agenda D8). Jeff Seeley of Ehlers presented the pre-sale report for $11,435,000 General Obligation Building Bonds, with the understanding that the additional bonds for $7,615,000 of the $19,050,000 electorate approved referendum will be sold in September 2012. Kenney moved, Gerczak seconded, to approve Resolution #12-21-11-1 providing for the sale of approximately $19,050,000 General Obligation School Improvement Bonds as follows:

“The Resolution providing for the sale of approximately $19,050,000 General Obligation School Improvement Bonds (the "Referendum Bonds") authorizes and directs that the Referendum Bonds be offered for public sale and provides that the School Board shall consider bids received for the Referendum Bonds at a subsequent meeting or meetings and take action thereon.  The Resolution also authorizes and directs the sale of the Referendum Bonds to be publicized, provides that one or more official Notices of Sale be forwarded to interested bidders and directs that one or more Official Statements be prepared and distributed.  The Resolution states that following receipt of the bids for the Referendum Bonds, the School Board shall consider taking further action to provide the details of the Referendum Bonds, including awarding the Referendum Bonds, or any portion of the Referendum Bonds, and levying a direct annual irrepealable tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the Referendum Bonds, or any portion of the Referendum Bonds, as the same becomes due.” Motion carried unanimously via roll call vote (7-0).

FOUR-YEAR-OLD KINDERGARTEN

At the November 21, 2011 monthly Board meeting, representatives from the RF4Children Committee presented their recommendation to implement a 4-year-old Kindergarten program starting the Fall of 2012. Westside Principal Rita Humbert reviewed rationale for adopting a 4-year-old Kindergarten (preschool) program called RF for Children, and thanked the RF4C Committee for its efforts. Gerczak moved, seconded by Johnson Myers to approve the implementation of 4-year-old Kindergarten in the River Falls School District beginning with the 2012-13 school year. Motion carried unanimously (7-0). The Board discussed the 4K proposal before it requested additional financial information from Director of Business Affairs Smurawa. Motion by Kenney, seconded by Tuchtenhagen to amend the resolution for implementing RF4C to include the following: The budget for the program will operate within the RF4Children Financial Review as presented on page 27 of the November 21, 2011 Board book, including the repayment schedule to the fund balance in fiscal years 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. Motion to amend carried unanimously (7-0). Citizens and staff present were given the opportunity to speak for and against the program. The original motion as amended carried 5-2 (opposed: Kolpin, Behnke).

Kolpin moved, seconded by Behnke to approve the second reading of policy 441.2, Student Representation on the Board. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

The Board reviewed the proposed amendments and resolutions to be voted on at the Annual WASB/WASDA Joint State Education Convention to be held on January 17-20, 2012. Each eligible school district may cast one vote on the resolutions. Mike Miller is the appointed delegate to the 2012 convention. Kenney moved, seconded by Tuchtenhagen, to direct Mike Miller as our WASB delegate to vote in the best interest of the School District of River Falls. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

Kolpin moved, seconded by Tuchtenhagen, to appoint Darlene MacBride, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, as the Deputy Election Clerk for the 2012 school board elections. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

Wisconsin statute states that high schools are to be used for voter registration for students and staff and that the school board must agree with the town clerks on who is appointed the Special Registration Deputy. High School teacher John Bennett has been trained as a Special Registration Deputy. Kolpin moved, seconded by Miller, to appoint High School teacher John Bennett as Special Registration Election Deputy for the school district, and directed the district’s municipal clerks be informed to appoint him as a Special Registration Deputy for their township/city wards.

Proposed/suggested items for the next regular and future Board meeting agenda(s): Class size (Ed Program Committee)

FUTURE MEETINGS

A Special Board of Education Legislative meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the District Administrative Office Building, 852 East Division.

A Business Affairs Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 9, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. in the District Administrative Office Building, 852 East Division.

A Personnel Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 9, 2012, immediately following the Business Affairs Committee meeting (approximately 8:00 p.m.) in the District Administrative Office Building, 852 East Division.

An Educational Program Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. in the District Administrative Office Building, 852 East Division.

The regular monthly Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 16, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the District Administrative Office Building, 852 East Division.

A Special Board of Education meeting to approve bond sales is scheduled for Monday, January 30, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the District Administrative Office Building, 852 East Division.

SUPERINTENDENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Superintendent Westerhaus provided information on the following: the upcoming CESA Evaluations and Compensation workshop at Turtle Lake, Legislative meeting, Marketing Committee, Morale Committee, Budget reduction process and Superintendent Goals in January.

ADJOURNMENT

President Johnson Myers declared the meeting adjourned at 9:08 p.m.

Barbara Kolpin, Clerk

(Pub. 01/26/12) WNAXLP

Tags: public notices, meetings, education, k12