HUDSON SCHOOL DISTRICT: 1/10/12 Board Meeting Minutes

Regular Board of Education Meeting

January 10, 2012

Open Session

1. The regular meeting of the Hudson Board of Education was called to order by President Barb Van Loenen at approximately 6:30 pm in the River Crest Elementary Multipurpose Room. Members present: Brian Bell, Pat German, Tom Holland, Mark Kaisersatt, Lynn Robson, Dan Tjornehoj, and Barb Van Loenen. Administrators in attendance included Superintendent Mary Bowen-Eggebraaten, District Deputy Director/Human Resources Director Nancy Sweet, Learning Services Director Sandra Kovatch, Student Services Director Cory McIntyre and Financial Services Director Tim Erickson.

2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

3. President Van Loenen noted the Employee Handbook Provision regarding Discipline under Topics for Action, item 9.d. would be tabled until the February Board meeting. Tjornehoj moved, with second by Robson, to approve the Agenda as amended. Motion carried.

4.a. The Hudson High School Yearbook Advisors Deb Lee and Stephen Kennedy, along with the student staff, Brooke Brokaw, Bridget Donahue, Miranda Faughn, Seana Greene, Micayla Laatsch, Kaitlyn Smith and Madeline Spohn, were recognized for earning both regional and national awards for the 2010-11 True Blue Yearbook.

5.a. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported there are 7 candidates for 3 seats on the school board, necessitating a primary to be held on February 21. The candidate names as they will appear on the primary ballot are: Sandy Gehrke, Liz Bruch, John A. Burtis, Cathy Leaf, Tom Holland, Barbara Van Loenen, Brian P. Bell. Voters will be voting for up to three candidates and the top six will go on the April 3 school board election ballot.

5.b. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported the 2012-13 Open Enrollment dates are February 6-24, 2012. She noted that District policy requires parents to reapply when students enter either the middle school or high school.

6.a. Erickson introduced Steve Tracy, from the Larson Allen audit firm, who presented the 2010-11 independent financial audit report. Tracy noted the District received an unqualified opinion on its financial statements, which is the best opinion that can be received.

6.c. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported that the District had been contacted by the St. Croix County Administrator to see if there would be interest in purchasing the property located adjacent and south and west of the Government Center. No purchase price had been determined. A map of the St. Croix County 63 acre site was reviewed. The Board’s Facilities & Grounds Committee recommended that the County property not be considered further. Information was presented about the decrease of useable acreage to address environmental drainage, wetlands, easements, and topography. With traffic congestion on Carmichael and Vine, it is also anticipated that the surrounding roads would be widened if an additional school was constructed, further shrinking the useable acreage. It was pointed out that there are already three schools, the High School, the Middle School, and Hudson Prairie Elementary within a mile. There was no Board guidance to pursue further research of the site for a secondary school.

6.b. Erickson introduced Angela Popenhagen from Stevens Engineering, Gary Zappa, from Zappa Brothers, Inc. and Sam Statz from Hoffman LLC, who presented a report on the estimated construction cost savings in purchasing the St. Croix Meadows Dog Track. Their report indicated a possible $4.8 to $7.45 million in cost savings by utilizing the current infrastructure (i.e. existing building; water, storm water and sewer piping; earthwork-asphalt sub-base, curb-work; storm water ponds). An additional $1-2 million potential savings could be realized depending on the scope of the renovation.

6.d. Sweet updated the Board regarding the timeline for completion of the Employee Handbook and reviewed the employee handbook provisions that have been approved by the Board over the past several months, which include: Grievance Procedure; Compensation for Educational Advancement; Contract Amounts for Non-Athletic Extra-Curricular Activities; Contract Amounts for Athletic Extra-Curricular Activities; Extra Duty Pay Rates; Pay Rates for Substitutes, Summer Program/Service and Occasional Employees: Insurance Benefits: Teachers; Leaves of Absence: Teachers; Probationary Period for Teachers; Retirement Benefits for Teachers eligible to Retire before July 1, 2016; School Calendar/Teacher Contract Days; Teacher Evaluation System; Teacher Reduction/Layoffs; Insurance Benefits: Support Employees; Leaves of Absence: Full-Time Support Employees; Leaves of Absence: Part-Time Support Employees; Retirement Pay: Support Employees eligible to Retire before July 1, 2016; Support Employee Evaluation System; Support Employee Reductions/Layoffs.

6.e. President Van Loenen asked Board members to review the 2012 WASB Delegate Assembly Resolutions and contact her or Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten with input prior to the January 18 State Education Convention. She noted that Pat German will be the District’s delegate to the Convention.

7.- 8. No citizens spoke to the Board

9.a. Three citizens spoke to the Board regarding the referendum to purchase the St. Croix Meadows Dog Track. Kaisersatt moved, with second by Robson, to approve the Initial Resolution Authorizing Issuance of General Obligation Bonds in an Amount not to Exceed $8,250,000. The resolution was read. On a roll call vote, the Clerk recorded the following: Bell-yes; German-yes; Holland-yes; Kaisersatt-yes; Robson-yes; Tjornehoj-yes; Van Loenen-yes. Motion carried 7-0.

9.b. Robson moved, with second by German, to approve the Resolution Providing for a Referendum Election on the Question of the Approval of an Initial Resolution Authorizing Issuance of General Obligation Bonds in an Amount not to Exceed $8,250,000. The resolution was read. On a roll call vote, the Clerk recorded the following: Bell-yes; German-yes; Holland-yes; Kaisersatt-yes; Robson-yes; Tjornehoj-yes; Van Loenen-yes. Motion carried 7-0.

9.c. Sweet reviewed a proposed 3% (20 cent) increase in the Before and After School Care fees for 2012-2013 and a 2% (50 cent) increase in the proposed 2012 Summer School Age Care fees. It was also proposed that those using the programs less frequently would experience an increase in fees ranging from 50 cents to 2 dollars. She noted the program is self-funded, using no tax dollars. The last fee increase was in 2009. The current fee increase is necessary for the program to continue paying for itself. Holland moved, with second by Tjornehoj, to approve the fee increases as presented. Motion carried.

9.d. Sweet reviewed the following proposed Employee Handbook Provisions: Compensation Process for Teachers; Compensation Process for Support Employees (changing the word “districts” to “employees” in the first sentence); Compensation Structure for Teachers; Compensation Structure for Support Employees; and Work Stoppage. Bell moved, with second by Tjornehoj, to approve the Employee Handbook Provisions as presented and amended. Motion carried.

9.e. Robson moved, with second by Bell, to approve the consent items which included the December 13, 2011 Board meeting minutes; the personnel report including hires, changes, retirements, resignations/non-renewals/terminations, and leaves [Attachment A]; expenditures in the amount of $1,326,281.44; receipts in the amount of $5,660,318.89; payroll totaling $1,636,599.38; and EFT/ACH payments totaling $845,746.15. Motion carried.

10.a. Robson reported that on 1/3/12, the Finance Committee reviewed School Age Care fees; the 2010-11 financial audit report; discussed 2012-13 preliminary budget planning; and the resolution for the April 3 referendum.

10.b. Van Loenen reported that on 1/3/12, the Learning & Program Development Committee heard reports on the High School of the Future Freshman Advisory; the District Goal for Response to Intervention and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports; and pre-expulsion/expulsion data.

10.c. Holland reported that on 1/9/12, the Facilities & Grounds Committee discussed a report on the St. Croix Meadows infrastructure; the St. Croix County site; how to address grade 6-12 enrollment growth without construction of additional space for learning; the Middle School outdoor learning center; and the 2012-13 preliminary budget planning for capital projects.

10.d. Kaisersatt reported that on 1/9/12, the Personnel Committee discussed the pool supervisor position; comparable groups for teacher compensation; an administrative compensation study; Employee Handbook provisions regarding compensation process and structure, discipline and work stoppage. The Committee adjourned to Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(a) to deliberate concerning a grievance hearing; (b)(f) to consider disciplinary data and personnel problems of specific employees which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon any person referred to in such data; (c) to consider compensation for support employees, school counselors, school psychologist, school social worker, specific coordinators/supervisors, and specific administrators; and (e) to prepare for negotiations with WCEA-Hudson Teachers Union.

11. Bell moved, with second by Robson, to adjourn to Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(a) to deliberate concerning a grievance hearing; (b)(f) to consider disciplinary data and personnel problems of specific employees which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon any person referred to in such data; (c) to consider compensation for support employees, school counselors, school psychologist, school social worker, specific coordinators/supervisors, and specific administrators; and (e) to prepare for negotiations with WCEA-Hudson Teachers Union. On a roll call vote, the Clerk recorded the following: Bell-yes, German-yes, Holland-yes, Kaisersatt-yes, Robson-yes, Tjornehoj-yes; Van Loenen-yes. Motion carried 7-0.

Dan Tjornehoj, Clerk

Closed Session

Dan Tjornehoj was not in attendance. Tom Holland was appointed Acting Clerk.

The Board deliberated concerning a grievance hearing; considered disciplinary data and personnel problems of specific employees, which if discussed in public would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon any person referred to in such data; considered compensation for support employees, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, specific coordinators/supervisors, and specific administrators; and prepared for negotiations with WCEA-Hudson Teachers Union.

Bell moved, with second by Robson, to adjourn. Motion carried.

Tom Holland, Acting Clerk

(Pub. 02/23/12)

WNAXLP

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