HUDSON SCHOOL DISTRICT: 6/9/09 Regular Board of Education Meeting Minutes

June 9, 2009

1. The regular meeting of the Hudson Board of Education was called to order by President Daniel Tjornehoj at approximately 6:30 pm in the Multi-Purpose Room, River Crest Elementary, 535 County Road F. Members present: Brian Bell, Cindy Crimmins, Tom Holland, Mark Kaisersatt, Lynn Robson, Daniel Tjornehoj, and Barbara Van Loenen. Administra-tors in attendance included Superintendent Mary Bowen-Eggebraaten, District Deputy Director Nancy Sweet, Director of Learning Services Sandra Kovatch, Director of Student Services Barbara Rebhuhn, and Director of Financial Services Tim Erickson.

2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

3. Robson moved, with second by Kaisersatt, to approve the Agenda. Motion passed on a voice vote.

4. Director of Learning Services Sandra Kovatch introduced Athletic Director Stephanie DeVos. DeVos introduced several student athletes representing spring sports teams who spoke about their competitive achievements in boy’s baseball, boy’s golf, girl’s soccer, girl’s softball, boy’s tennis, boy’s track, and girl’s track.

5. Robson moved, with second by Van Loenen, to approve the May 12, 2009 Regular and Closed Session Board meeting minutes. Motion passed on a voice vote.

6. President Tjornehoj reviewed the 2009-10 Board Committee assignments.

7a. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reviewed the 2009-10 Board and Committee meeting dates.

7b. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported on early progress of the HSD 2025 environmental sustainable initiative prior to the 3-5 year action plan that will be presented to the Board for approval in July. Highlights that have occurred this year include: Environmental field trips, environmental education summer school courses, environmental sustainable learning targets, outdoor education learning at each school, Master Gardener grants, Middle School Young Naturalist Club, the District Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Committee, 10% reduction in paper usage, posting of “green tips” on the District website, and a district-wide paper drive. In addition, with the assistance from a contracted energy manager, all school sites are implementing plans to reduce energy consumption, resulting in significant cost savings for heating, cooling and natural gas consumption across the District.

8a. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten introduced Communication Specialist Tracy Habisch-Ahlin who presented a report on the Thailand-Wisconsin International Sunrise Program-HSD 2025 Graduate Learner Outcome: Global Literacy in Action. Habisch-Ahlin’s report summarized a three week visit of a teacher and five students from Thailand and highlighted the various in-school and after-school activities they participated in, learning about American culture.

8b. Director of Student Services Dr. Barbara Rebhuhn presented a report on the 2009-10 special education personnel assignments, noting that this was the usual process used each year to adjust special education support to student need. Dr. Rebhuhn reported that the full time equivalent for staff supporting students with disabilities is the same for 2009-10 as for 2008-09.

8c. Director of Financial Services Tim Erickson presented an update on the State Joint Finance Committee’s budget provisions and the possible impact on the District’s 2009-10 preliminary budget, reporting that the impact on our budget and taxpayers is projected to be more negative than previously anticipated, making it even more important to support the proposed program operations, and staff position reductions and lay-offs.

8d. Erickson presented a preliminary forecast for the 2010-11 budget and projected mill rate increases.

9a. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reviewed the Board-directed priorities of Hudson’s system for learning, HSD 2025 Strategic Plan, and operations to support these initiatives, safety/ security and excellence which were utilized in determining areas for reduction. She then reviewed the recommended 2009-10 preliminary budget program and operation reductions, totaling $899,900. District Deputy Director Nancy Sweet reviewed the recommended staff position reductions for the 2009-10 preliminary budget, totaling $154,000. Two citizens spoke to the Board regarding this topic.

Following a Board discussion, Bell moved, with second by Kaisersatt, to further reduce the 2009-10 preliminary budget by an estimated $899,800 in the program and operational areas identified by the Administration to balance our efforts to support the work of our staff and taxpayers’ ability to pay during this time of deep recession. Motion passed on a voice vote.

Van Loenen moved, with second by Robson, to eliminate 1.0 FTE elementary media specialist position, the .32 FTE theatre teaching position at the High School, and 1.8 FTE summer custodial temporary help across the District that require no lay-off of staff. Also direct the Administration to give final lay-off notices for the .25 FTE and .45 FTE custodial reductions at the Administrative Service Center and High School respectively, and the .28 FTE secretarial assistant reduction at the Administrative Service Center, following any applicable Master Agreement language. Crimmins asked Van Loenen whether she would agree to a friendly amendment to the motion to remove the media specialist from the list until the Board could see a schedule from the principals that would assure the Board that our students would have adequate media personnel. Van Loenen declined. Crimmins did not pursue an amendment to the original motion. The original motion passed on a voice vote.

9b. Bell moved, with second by Van Loenen, to approve the consent items which included the personnel report [Attachment A]; expenditures in the amount of $1,776,361.23; receipts in the amount of $510,585.59; payroll in the amount of $2,523,609.08; EFT/ACH payments in the amount of $977,423.59; a continuing lease agreement with BRIDGE for Youth with Disabilities (Claiborn House); a request for open enrollment out of Hudson; the designation of public depositories; and 2008-09 reimbursements to parents for transportation to private schools. Motion passed on a voice vote.

Holland excused himself from the meeting.

9c. Crimmins moved, with second by Kaisersatt, to authorize the payment of bills in the amount of $696.00 to the YMCA and Camp St. Croix. The motion passed on a voice vote.

Holland rejoined the meeting.

10a. Van Loenen reported that on 5/21/09, the Learning & Program Development Committee discussed High School international educational trips; reviewed a policy granting credit for High School courses taken at the Middle School level; and heard a HSD 2025 goals update, including the graduate learner outcomes of environmental sustainability and global literacy.

10b. Kaisersatt reported that on 5/26/09, the Personnel & Negotiations Committee reviewed a staffing update and held a Closed Session for the purpose of considering employment and compensation of non-union employees and for the purpose of deliberating to prepare for negotiations with all union employee groups.

10c. Holland reported that on 5/27/09, the Facilities & Grounds Committee reviewed an update on summer projects; considered the budget reduction impact on facility and grounds work; discussed Federal stimulus funding of qualified school construction bonds; and reviewed an update of the River Crest water management and drainage project.

10d. Bell reported that on 5/26/09 and 6/1/09, the Finance Committee held Closed Sessions for the purpose of deliberating about the investment of public funds; discussed the use of Fund 80; Federal stimulus funding of qualified school construction bonds; reviewed an update of the 2009-10 preliminary budget; and a 2020-11 preliminary budget forecast.

11. Seven citizens spoke to the Board.

12. Board members and administrators responded to the citizens’ concerns.

13. Bell moved, with second by Robson, to adjourn to Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85 (1)(c) for the purpose of deliberating about the investment of public funds and deliberating to prepare for negotiations with all Union employee groups. On a roll call vote, the Clerk recorded the following: Bell-yes, Crimmins-yes, Holland-yes, Kaisersatt-yes, Robson-yes, Tjornehoj-yes, and Van Loenen-yes. Motion passed 7-0.

Tom Holland, Clerk

(7/23/09)

Tags: public notices, minutes