SCHOOL DISTRICT OF RIVER FALLS: 1/21/13 Board Meeting Minutes

Board of Education Regular Meeting Minutes

January 21, 2013

The regularly scheduled meeting of the River Falls Board of Education was called to order on Monday, January 21, 2013, at 7:03 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 announcements sent to WEVR Radio Station, the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and the Eau Claire Telegram Leader.

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. Student Rep Maura Watson was absent. Also present were Superintendent Tom Westerhaus, Finance and Facilities Director Chad Smurawa, Director of Academic Services Mike Johnson, and Director of Personnel Donna Hill.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT/RECOGNITION

Boys Basketball Head Coach Greg Gaulke was recognized for his 400th career victory.

SPOTLIGHT ON EDUCATION

Jeff Sommerfeld, RFHS English teacher, presented two creative projects that assess student learning using our curriculum maps and the Common Core standards.

HEARING OF VISITORS OR DELEGATIONS – none.

APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA

Johnson Myers reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda. Kenney 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 December 17, 2012, the Special Board meeting of December 17, 2012, and the Special Board executive session of December 17, 2012, were approved.

Checks numbered 157016 through 157420 had been prepared in the amount of $803,826.84, and there were automatic transfers of $488,614.36, $565.73, and $509,008.57 for a total of $1,802,015.50. 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) resignation of Elaine Baumann as High School Principal effective at the end of the 2012-13 year. Dr. Baumann will retire after 25 years of service with the school district; 2) resignation of Tom Westerhaus as Superintendent effective at the end of the 2012-13 year. Dr. Westerhaus will retire after 5 years of service with the school district; 3)request from Molly Coughlin, full-time Math/Science Teacher at River Falls High School, for a full-time family and medical leave of absence effective approximately February 20, 2013 through approximately April 17, 2013, then intermittently through the end of the 2012-13 school year; 4)request from Molly Coughlin for a full-time unpaid child rearing leave of absence effective first semester 2013-14; 5) request from Joe Coughlin, full-time Instrumental Music Teacher at River Falls High School, for a full-time family and medical leave of absence effective approximately February 20-27, 2013 and April 8, 2013 through June 6, 2013; 6) employment of Kris Gudnason as part-time (20%) long-term substitute School Psychologist at Meyer Middle School effective January 3, 2013 through approximately April 4, 2013 (replaces Sara Liesener); 7) employment of Julie Mellum as Wisconsin Improvement Program Agriculture Intern effective approximately January 28, 2013 through June 7, 2013; 8) employment of Laurel Poff as full-time long-term substitute Science Teacher at River Falls High School effective approximately January 14, 2013 through April 5, 2013 (replaces Caralyn Duerkop); 9) placement of the following certified teachers on the substitute teacher list: Kari Nutting (Cognitive Disabilities, pre-kindergarten-grade 9 and grade 6-12, and Laurel Poff (Broad Field Science, Biology/Life Science/Chemistry, Early Adolescence-Adolescence, age 10-21.

Accepted the report and recommendations from the Educational Program Committee from Monday, January 7, 2013, as follows: Recommended approval of revised policies 343.7 Online Learning, and 363.2-Rule Internet Safety and Acceptable Use Guidelines (removed to Action Agenda A1), recommended approval of the Renaissance Academy student field trip to Wolf Ridge

Environmental Center, recommended approval of administration’s determination of the regular and special education available spaces for the 2013-14 open enrollment period (removed to Action Agenda A2);

Accepted the report and recommendations from the Business Affairs Committee from Monday, January 14, 2013, as follows: reviewed the district 2011-12 Audit report, reviewed the Administrative 2013-14 Budget Timeline (removed to Action Agenda A3), and recommended approving the $80,000 iPad purchase for staff use;

Accepted the report and recommendations from the Personnel Committee from Monday, January 14, 2013, as follows: recommended approval of the revised Teacher job description, recommended approval of the addition of a Director of Buildings and Grounds if it is determined that we have the necessary funds (removed to Action Agenda A4), recommended approval of the Director of Buildings and Grounds job description with revisions which include supporting educational mission, aesthetically welcoming, scheduling, and reduce costs/optimize efficiency (removed to Action Agenda A5), Executive session of the Personnel Committee was held for the purpose of approving Continuing Letters to Administrators, and affirmed action taken in executive session;

Accepted the reports and recommendations from the Building Committee from Wednesday, January 21, 2013, as follows: received updates on Architect and Construction Manager project progress, and approved the Kraus Anderson Guaranteed Maximum Price for the Westside School project in the amount of $3,354,946 (removed to Action Agenda A6).

ACTION/DISCUSSION AGENDA

Pulled Consent Agenda Items:

A1. Kolpin moved, seconded by Tuchtenhagen to approve the first reading of policy 343.7, Online Learning. Motion carried unanimously (7-0). Tuchtenhagen moved, seconded by Miller to approve the first reading of policy 363.2-Rule, Internet Safety and Acceptable Use Guidelines. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

A2. Behnke moved, seconded by Kolpin to approve the administrative recommendation to approve all regular education open enrollment applications and special education applications based on space, staffing, and services the district is able to provide. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

A3. The Administrative 2013-14 Budget timeline was presented with the Community Budget Hearing moved to Monday, April 1st, 6:00 PM.

A4. Director of Finance Smurawa presented the rationale for the need for a position of Director of Buildings and Grounds. Tuchtenhagen moved, Gerczak seconded, to table the motion pending the presentation by Smurawa of comparative district information and budgeting information at a future meeting. Motion carried (5-2, No: Kenney, Miller).

A5. Kenney moved, seconded by Miller to approve the Director of Buildings and Grounds job description with revisions which include supporting educational mission, aesthetically welcoming, scheduling, and reduce costs/optimize efficiency, pending approval of the position at a later date. Motion carried unanimously (6-1, No: Behnke).

A6. Kenney moved, seconded by Kolpin to approve action and the report of the January 21, 2013, Building Committee meeting. Motion carried (7-0).

RF4C AGREEMENTS

The RF4C Agreement Form has been revised for 2013-14. A final list of Partnering Agencies applications was presented by Westside Principal Rita Humbert and RF4C Coordinator Becky McAleavey.  Gerczak moved, seconded by Miller to approve the revised 2013-2014 RF4Children Partnering Agency Agreement Form and to approve the following Partnering Sites for the 2013-14 school year as presented by Humbert: Abundant Life Church Preschool - 896 State Road 65, The C.H.I.L.D. Center - 900 E. Cascade Ave, Jacob's Ladder - Ezekiel Lutheran Church - 202 S. 2nd Street, Little Adventures Child Care Center - 708 Whitetail Blvd, Little Minds Learning Center - 250 Quarry Road, River Falls Public Montessori - 211 N. Fremont St, River Falls YMCA Academy Site - 439 W. Maple St, The University Preschool, 410 S. 3rd St. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

POLICY 411.2, BULLYING

Tuchtenhagen moved, seconded by Miller to approve the first reading of revised policy 411.2 Bullying. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

POLICY 423, OPEN ENROLLMENT

Behnke moved, seconded by Gerczak to approve the second reading of revised policy 423 Open Enrollment. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

SPRING BOARD ELECTIONS

The actions taken in regard to the 2013 school board elections were acknowledged for the record. The city, county and township clerks were notified on January 3, 2013, that there were two declared candidates for the two open seats on the spring school board elections, and that a drawing was held to determine the order of placement on the spring election ballot. Results of the drawing were: 1-Dennis L. Behnke, and 2-Manny Kenney. A primary school board contest will not be necessary. Tuchtenhagen moved, Kolpin seconded, that the Board acknowledge the action taken in regard to the 2013 school board elections. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

RFHS PRINCIPAL RESIGNATION

Dr. Elaine Baumann has submitted her letter of intent to retire at the end of the 2012-13 school year after 39 years in education. Our district is grateful for her many years of dedicated service. Dr. Westerhaus reviewed a draft process/timeline for hiring a new high school principal. Kenney moved, Kolpin seconded, to accept the resignation of high school Principal Dr. Elaine Baumann. Motion carried unanimously (7-0). Kenney moved, Behnke seconded, to approve the 2013 Process and Timeline for Hiring the RFHS Principal as presented by Superintendent Westerhaus. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

SUPERINTENDENT RESIGNATION

Dr. Tom Westerhaus has submitted his letter of intent to retire at the end of the 2012-13 school year after 41 years in education, 25 of which were spent as superintendent, (5 years as Superintendent in River Falls). Behnke moved, Kenney reluctantly seconded, to accept the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Westerhaus, and that the Board convene a special meeting to begin the process of finding a superintendent replacement. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

SUMMER SCHOOL COURSES

Summer school course offerings are ready for publication. Board approval is needed for the courses offered before information is sent to the public. Enrichment courses need to reach minimum enrollment numbers if they are to actually run. Behnke moved, seconded by Kolpin, to approve the summer school course offerings as presented. Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

The following progress report was given on the Building Construction Process and design update by Building Committee Chair Kenney.