HUDSON SCHOOL DISTRICT: 9/9/08 Regular Meeting Minutes

Regular Board of Education Meeting

September 9, 2008

1. The regular meeting of the Hudson Board of Education was called to order by President Daniel Tjornehoj at approximately 5:30 p.m. in the Hudson High School Auditorium, 1501 Vine St., Hudson, WI. Members present: Brian Bell, Mark Kaisersatt, Lynn Robson, Daniel Tjornehoj, and Barbara Van Loenen. Administrators in attendance included Superintendent Mary Bowen-Eggebraaten, District Deputy Director Nancy Sweet, Director of Financial Services Tim Erickson, Director of Learning Services Sandra Kovatch and Director of Student Services Barbara Rebhuhn.

President Tjornehoj appointed Lynn Robson as Acting Clerk.

2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

3. Bell moved, with second by Kaisersatt, to approve the Agenda. Motion passed 5-0.

4. Travis J.C. Melchert spoke to the Board apologizing for his involvement in last year’s vandalism at Hudson High School and neighboring high schools.

5. Robson moved, with second by Van Loenen, to approve the August 12, 2008 regular and closed session Board of Education meeting minutes. Motion passed 5-0.

6. Robson reported receipt of a thank you note from Dan Weicherding and from the River Crest staff.

7a. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported that a Board Work Session to discuss 6-12 Space for Learning options was tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 7 with dinner at 5:30 and the meeting immediately following.

7b. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reminded the Board and community members of the River Crest Dedication Day scheduled for Saturday, September 27 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported the following regarding the opening of school: (1) The opening of River Crest Elementary benefited E.P. Rock Elementary by allowing the computer lab to move back into a larger classroom; regaining space for the art classroom, the conference room, and the varsity locker room; more space exists in the hallways and in the lunchroom; and safety increased with fewer cars and buses arriving at the school. (2) Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported the enrollment count as of 9/3/08 as follows: E.P. Rock-424, Houlton-220, Hudson Prairie-502, North Hudson-374, River Crest-532, Willow River-411, Middle School-1178, and High School-1675 for a total of 5316. She noted that this student count is not official and will fluctuate before the official count is taken on September 19, 2008.

8a. Bell reviewed the proposed 2008-09 budget as presented in the Annual Meeting Report.

8b. Kovatch presented a report on the ACT test scores, comparing Hudson to the State averages, to area school districts, and to high-performing school districts. Hudson students’ average composite score was 23.7, well above the State average. A comparison of the Advanced Placements test results for the past three years was also presented.

9a. Kaisersatt moved, with second by Van Loenen, to approve the 2008-09 District Goals as follows:

HSD 2025 Implementation: A 3-5 year action plan will be developed for implementation of the Graduate Learner Outcome-Global Literacy. A 3-5 year action plan will be developed for implementation of the Graduate Learner Outcome-Environmental Sustainability. The curriculum adoption process will be revised for alignment with the HSD 2025 strategic plan.

Space for Learning: River Crest Elementary will open on September 2, 2008 and be on budget. The Gateway will open by September 27, 2008, River Crest’s Dedication Day: Designing for the Future, and be on budget. Fund raising efforts will continue. A long-range space for learning plan that also provides for HSD 2025 programming will be developed to address the needs of grades 6-12.

Motion passed 5-0.

Tom Holland joined the meeting.

9b. Erickson introduced Tad Beeksma, CESA #10 Facilities Management Consultant, who reviewed energy management services to be provided to the Hudson School District as a means of reducing energy consumption and costs. Kaisersatt moved, with second by Robson, to approve the Energy Management Services Agreement with CESA #10. Motion passed 6-0.

9c. Van Loenen moved, with second by Holland, to approve participation by the Hudson School District in the Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton’s Energy Star Schools Challenge to reduce energy consumption by 10% over the next year.. Motion passed 6-0.

9d. Holland moved, with second by Bell, to approve a 2008-09 contract addendum benefit in lieu of health insurance for administrators, coordinators, and supervisors. Motion passed 6-0.

9e. Bell moved, with second by Robson, to approve the consent items which included the personnel report (Attachment A); expenditures in the amount of $2,544,511.73, receipts in the amount of $2,260,661.36, payroll in the amount of $1,282,121.04, EFT/ACH payments in the amount of $690,035.89; revisions to Policy #1340-Use of School Facilities and Equipment; and deletion of Policy #134-Community Services Facility Use and Procedure #1345.1-Priority Use of District Facility. Motion passed 6-0.

10a. Tjornehoj reported that on 8/18/08, the Governance & Policy Committee reviewed policies and procedures; District goals; the handling of student disciplinary hearings; and the Annual Meeting agenda.

10b. Holland reported that on 8/20/08, the Facilities & Grounds Committee tabled the E.P. Rock addition; heard updates on River Crest construction, speed limit signage, and Gateway construction; and received information regarding the Lt. Governor’s Energy Challenge.

10c. Van Loenen reported that on 8/21/08, the Learning & Program Development Committee considered offering high school credit for non-traditional coursework and decided not to recommend any changes to current procedure; reviewed the 2008-09 draft of District goals for HSD 2025 implementation; gave feedback on SMART Goal results and discussed the new principal mentoring program.

10d. Bell reported that on 8/25/08, the Finance Committee reviewed the 2008-09 revised preliminary budget; discussed the budget impact for opening River Crest and the addition of staff due to the realignment of the elementary attendance boundaries; reviewed a budget history and the Annual Meeting report.

11.-12. No citizens spoke to the Board.

13. Bell moved, with second by Holland, to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed 6-0.

Lynn Robson, Acting Clerk

(Pub. Oct. 23)

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