REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHOOL DISTRICT OF BELOIT March 25, 2008 Published Proceedings

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1 REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHOOL DISTRICT OF BELOIT March 25, 2008 Published Proceedings The Board of Education held its regular meeting on March 25, 2008 at the Kolak Education Center in the Board Room. President Klett called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Members Present: John Acomb, Pam Charles, John Erikson, Jeff Klett, Shannon Scharmer (via telephone) Kimberly Thompson and John Winkelmann. Also present: Lowell Holtz, Superintendent. John Acomb led the group in the pledge of allegiance. Acomb moved approval of the agenda. Seconded by Charles. Acomb gave the March announcements. Klett remembered Hugo Henry with a moment of silence. Klett announced the communications from the following people: Paula Colling and Helen Heckle. Klett opened the podium for citizens or delegations to speak on items not on the agenda. No one came forward. Carlton Jenkins, BMHS Principal, gave an update on the students and staff in Louisiana working on the Hurricane Katrina recovery program. He also gave highlights and updates to the Board of Education on the high school. Topics highlighted include graduation contracts for students with attendance concerns and high absenteeism, safe team updates on safety infractions for under the influence, gang participation, fighting and possession of knives or other cutting instruments and advanced placement courses, opportunities and exams. Absenteeism is improving wit the contracts, which parents also need to sign. Violent incidents are not occurring at the school and fighting infractions are significantly reduced as well as possession of knives. There has been an increase in AP course enrollment with the exception of AP English. Approximately 1400 students represent the clubs and other activities students participate in at BMHS. Charles requested the results of the AP exams when they become available. Exams are taken in April and the data will be gathered this summer. Thompson requested a breakdown of gender ethnicity for AP course enrollment. Jenkins stated that the College Board indicates that its important to get as many students as possible exposed to high level rigor. This gives those students better success at the college level. Elizabeth Krick-Nelson, student board representative, was absent. Winkelmann reviewed the topics of the March Finance, Transportation and Property Committee meetings. Acomb reviewed the topics of the March Curriculum and Instruction Committee meeting.

2 Charles reviewed the topics of the March Policy and Personnel Committee meetings and made corrections to the minutes. Thompson reviewed the minutes of the special board meetings on the consent list. Scharmer joined the meeting via telephone at 7:45 p.m. Winkelmann moved approval of the consent list: 1) Bills, Payroll and Cash Position Statement; 2) Special Board Meetings of February 19, March 4 and March 11, 2008 and 3) Regular Business Meeting of February 19, Seconded by Charles. Winkelmann moved approval of the purchase of the NNAT2 in order to drive the identification process of minority and low socioeconomic status of students with Gifts and Talents and the purchase of the MAPS test to be paid by the Gifted and Talented budget. Seconded by Acomb. Winkelmann moved approval of the proposal from Johnson Controls for completing the authorization report, pursuant to Wis. Stat (2)b. Seconded by Acomb. Acomb moved approval of the REACh Grant proposal. Seconded by Winkelmann. Erikson clarified that the proposal is for 5 sites. Acomb moved approval of the new advanced placement course syllabi for AP Music Theory, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Studio Art Drawing, AP Spanish, AP Chemistry, AP Biology and Public Speaking. Seconded by Charles. Jenkins clarified that the Public Speaking is actually a dual credit course at UW-Rock County. It s a college level course and not an AP course. Winkelmann moved to table the Instructional Materials Adoption for Seconded by Acomb. Max Dodson, Ad Hoc Committee chairperson presented the proposal from the Ad Hoc committee. Thompson asked about grading on the standards versus letter grades and the amount of burden for teachers. Dodson explained that there was extensive discussion on the topic and that there will be workshops this summer. Charles explained the need for merging letter grades and standard grading to assist parents and students with communication and to ease the transition into middle school letter grades. Barb Lake explained standard based grading which coincides with the state testing language on the WKCE. This grading indicates if students are mastering skills at grade level. Acomb indicated that transitions from elementary to middle and middle to high school are continually being addressed in the district to make the transitions smoother for students. Charles thanked Dodson for chairing the Ad Hoc Committee. Charles moved approval of the Ad Hoc Grading Committee s final recommendation that report cards be given quarterly, proficiency levels and letter grades will be given to each 5 th grade student district-wide with proficiency levels given on the strands, but a letter grade will be given for the overall grade and to dissolve the ad hoc committee. Seconded by Thompson.

3 Charles moved approval and layover of Policy 150 Board Powers and Duties for first reading. Seconded by Acomb. Thompson asked for the recommended changes to be explained. Charles explained the revisions that were developed based on state statute. Thompson asked for further explanation on the supervision of schools. Acomb stated that the board collectively gives general supervision over the schools and not specific oversight. Erikson questioned the language in terms of acting as a whole versus individual members. Klett stated that he feels we have a superintendent and professional staff who writes the curriculum and would ask that the committee look at the language so members are not writing curriculum. Charles moved approval and layover of Policy Curriculum and Instruction Committee for first reading. Seconded by Acomb. Thompson asked for clarification of the revisions. Charles noted that this revision was also state statute based. Thompson suggested revising the language to reflect the staff recommendations to the committee. Klett echoed Thompson s suggestion. Motion carried. Thompson moved approval and layover of Policy 224 RULE 1 Guidelines for Promoting Positive Board-Superintendent Relations for first reading. Seconded by Charles. Charles moved approval of Policy 112 Nondiscrimination for final reading. Seconded by Acomb. Thompson moved approval of Policy Graduation Requirements for final reading. Seconded by Acomb. Thompson commented that the changes were made to comply with DPI requirements. Acomb moved approval of Policy RULE 1 Specific Graduation Requirements for final reading. Seconded by Thompson. Winkelmann noted that many revisions are DPI recommendations. He also noted that HSED is now included in the graduation policy. Motion carried. Winkelmann moved approval of Policy RULE 1 Use and Maintenance of Automatic External Defibrillators for final reading. Seconded by Charles. Charles moved approval of Policy Vision and Hearing Screening Program for final reading. Seconded by Winkelmann. Winkelmann moved approval of Policy 872 Complaints and Concerns for final reading. Seconded by Acomb. Charles moved approval of the Policy Committee s recommendation to form an Ad Hoc Committee to study the issue of school uniforms. Seconded by Acomb. Charles read the rationale for the formation of this ad hoc committee and supplied a list of potential committee members. Members discussed the list of members. Winkelmann asked about the length of the committee s study and an expiration date for the committee s work. Winkelmann moved approval of the Personnel Recommendations, Exhibit A as updated and noted the retirements. Seconded by Acomb.

4 Thompson moved approval of the RCAA Charter School contract. Seconded by Acomb. Thompson gave a quick overview of the school and the contract. The contract has been approved by the governance board and the DPI. The contract is a three year contract, renewable up to five years. Erikson and Klett asked for clarification on liability concerns. Thompson stated that the contract was reviewed by the district s attorney. Winkelmann gave concerns about autonomy versus instrumentality of the district and felt there should be clarification as well. He also clarified that the board will receive annual reports and noted that it should be part of the board s calendar and evaluation list. Acomb clarified whether or not to add them to the district report card. Thompson indicated that the contract does provide a provision for the Board of Education to place the charter school on probation under certain circumstances. Charles asked about the specific progress. Thompson referred to the contract where the school goals are stated. Holtz recognized the efforts of Thompson and the amount of time she has given to the RCAA Charter as the board representative. Charles also recognized Thompson. Thomson also recognized the initiation of this charter by parents who wanted their students to continue a project based education. Thompson clarified the motion to approve of the contact subject to grandfathering current board members until June, 2008 and clarification of the districts liability insurance and its relationship to the RCAA charter school (2.8 in the RCAA contract). Seconded by Acomb. Jenkins addressed the board on the topic of the Girls Hockey Cooperative. He stated that AD Stan Zweifel has left the district but the position is being filled, on an interim basis, by Dave Witting, former Physical Education Instructor. Jenkins stated that the cooperative passed at the Janesville School Board meeting last night with a 6-3 vote. Jeff Larson, Susan Court Roscoe IL, President of the Blue Line Club in Beloit, asked for the Board of Education s support. Kathleen Woodman made comments to the Board of Education on the cooperative being proposed. Her son is a freshman at BMHS by school choice. Woodman resides in the Clinton School District. Beloit Memorial, Janesville Parker and Craig are the only schools in the Big 8 conference who do not offer this opportunity for girls. They are requesting WIAA sanctioning only and not requesting funding unless the district is able to provide it. Woodman stated that there are several models of cooperative throughout the state. She stated that a portion of the expenses could be funded by the district if they are able. Fundraising and parent payments are made. As a 501C3 organization, parent payments are a contribution. Beloit would be responsible for paying the bills, hiring the coaches and the ice rates. The hope is to have 10 home games. There is flexibility and a great deal of communication involved in making the program successful. The cooperative is only allowed for two years at a time by WIAA and would need to be renewed every two years by the districts involved in the cooperative. Witting addressed the School District of Beloit s part in the cooperative. Beloit will be the administrative body for the cooperative. The cooperative involves Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, Janesville Parker, Janesville Craig and Clinton. Katie Magley, 715 S. Paddock Road, Beloit, addressed the board with her reasons why they should support the cooperative. She requested that they vote yes! Winkelmann clarified a few questions such as the students from each district will be upheld to their schools athletic codes. The coach would set a standard of the minimum of the most restrictive code from the schools so that there is uniformity among the players. Klett asked for clarification on the insurance for the students. Witting stated that family insurance would cover students first. He also stated that after the vote tonight, the AD s from the districts will need to clarify several questions

5 with insurance, transportation, etc. to ensure what s best for the program. Holtz stated that the executive directors reviewed the documentation and proposal last week and they were comfortable with the proposal moving forward. Winkelmann moved to extend the board meeting. Seconded by Thompson. Winkelmann noted that we currently have a cooperative with our girl s soccer team. Scharmer moved approval of the high school joining of a girl s hockey cooperative in Rock County. Seconded by Thompson. Items requested for future agendas include: presentation by board members from the National School Board conference and recognize board president. Klett announced that the committee meetings will be held on Tuesday, April 8, The Board Business meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 29, The meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m. Michelle Shope, Administrative Assistant Approved at the regular meeting of March 25, 2008 Jeff Klett, President