HUDSON SCHOOL DISTRICT: 2/14/12 BOARD MINUTES

Regular Board of Education Meeting - February 14, 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: 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. Robson moved, with second by Tjornehoj, to approve the Agenda. Motion carried.

4.a. Five 8th Grade Middle School Choir Students were recognized for being selected for the North Central American Choral Directors’ Association Middle Level Honors Choirs. They were: Katie Altman, Clare Weber, Trevor Olson, Noah Bennett, and Jack Henry Leines.

4.b. Three Middle School students were recognized for placing first in the Wisconsin Stock Market Simulation competition. They were: Alexa Meyer, Ian Smith and Madison Wollner.

5.a. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten congratulated the Hudson Middle School for being selected as the 2011-12 Middle School of Excellence (in the large school category) by the Association of Wisconsin School Administrators for the second time in three years. Schools are selected for the award by a panel of judges that examine the school’s efforts and accomplishments in the areas of collaborative leadership and professional learning communities; personalization and the school environment and curriculum instruction, and assessment. Hudson Middle School Principal Dan Koch spoke to the Board about the award and thanked his staff for their contributions. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten recognized the Middle School students, staff and administration for achieving this honor.

5.b. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported that Wisconsin placed first in the 13-state Midwest region for student performance in Advanced Placement (AP) exams. She noted that Hudson is in the 30% or greater of graduating classes participating in AP courses during high school, and also in the 30% or greater of graduating classes earning a 3 or higher score on at least one AP exam during high school. These are the highest ranking on the state-wide data.

5.c. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten shared the schedule of upcoming community information presentations on the secondary space for learning land purchase referendum to be held on April 3, 2012. The sessions will be held at 7:00 pm on February 27 at the North Hudson Village Hall; on March 8 at the Willow River Elementary Auditorium; and on March 27 at the River Crest Elementary Cafeteria/Multi-purpose Room.

5.d. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reviewed the official second Friday in January student enrollments, noting the elementary enrollment increased by 26 students, the Middle School decreased by 10 students, and the High School decreased by 4 students from the September count. She also noted that all K-8 grades are now over 400 students.

5.e. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reviewed a comparison of kindergarten registration numbers to September enrollment numbers. She noted the preliminary February 2012 count was at 321, but was expected to grow by September. There are an additional 21 potential kindergarten students on the school lists that have not registered at this time. In 2011-12, there were 353 students at registration and 428 in attendance in September, an increase of 75 students.

5.f. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten noted the Wisconsin Legislature extended the application period for Open Enrollment through April 30, 2012. The Board will be taking action on open enrollment applications at their May 8 meeting.

6.a. Brian Brewer from Baird reviewed a referendum debt repayment chart, noting that future reductions in debt payments create an estimated capacity for the District to borrow up to $40 million toward the cost of a secondary space for learning solution, without an increase to the taxpayer over the 2012-13 level for debt service.

6.b. Jeffrey C. White and Paul J. Daley from Valuation Specialists, an independent appraisal and consulting firm, presented a real estate market value appraisal summary report on the St. Croix Meadows dog track. Their estimated market value of the building and land was $16,800,000 for school use.

6.c. Director of Learning Services Sandi Kovatch, E.P. Rock Media Specialist Beth Erlenborn, E.P. Rock Music Teacher Dan Baumgartner, and District Technology Coordinator Nancy Toll presented a report on the February 1, 2012 National Digital Learning Day in the Hudson School District. Examples of how technology is being used throughout the District every day include elementary students following along in a book while listening to the story being read on an iPod Nano; using an iPad to listen to an eBook; using digital cameras to create podcast projects; using mobile laptops to research and create projects; and assistive technologies provide key tools for students with special needs. The report featured E.P. Rock Elementary 5th grade students who composed and recorded songs using laptops (which was also featured during a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction state-wide webcast showing examples of exemplary ideas). At the Middle School, students use Skype to conference with an author of a book they are reading for class; and create Voicethreads where they narrate their own slides for video projects. At the High School, foreign exchange students Skype with their families; students take online courses; and use their cell phones to interact with digital polls.

6.d. District Deputy Director/Human Resources Director Nancy Sweet recognized the combined 37 years of service provided by retiring staff members Becky Fowler, River Crest Media Specialist; Carl Meincke, Middle School Instrumental Music Teacher; and Rick Schultz, Middle School Technology Education Teacher.

6.e. President Van Loenen reported regarding her tour of the High School and Middle School. At the High School, she observed the crowded hallways, classrooms jammed wall-to-wall with students, multiple teachers conducting study halls in the commons area, a media center with inadequate space for the number of students; backpacks lining the hallways outside the cafeteria, and phy. ed. teachers on carts attempting to move through the already crowed hallways. At the Middle School, she observed a media center undersized for the student body; teachers on carts waiting for open classrooms; the long distance students walk for health classrooms currently located in Hudson Prairie Elementary; and 400 6th graders waiting in a long line for lunch.

7.-8. No citizens spoke to the Board at this time.

9.a. The Board conducted a hearing on the Philip Myers & Jamie Sommers-Myers petition to detach their property from the Somerset School District and attach to the Hudson School District. Sweet presented a map showing the location of the property and indicated it bordered on undeveloped Hudson School District property. Mr. & Mrs. Myers presented their rationale for the petition. Following a discussion, Robson moved, with second by Holland, to approve the petition to attach the property to the Hudson School District. The motion carried on a voice vote.

9.b. Sweet reviewed the WCEA-Hudson Teachers 2011-12 Collective Bargaining Agreement for a 1.48% increase in the base wage retroactive to the beginning of the 2011-12 school year and indicated the agreement had already been approved by the WCEA Board and by a vote of the Hudson teachers. Holland moved, with second by Tjornehoj to approve the agreement as presented. Motion carried.

9.c. Sweet reviewed the administrative recommendation to provide a 1.48% increase in the hourly wages and salaries of support employees in all classifications, coordinator/supervisors, one administrator, school psychologists, school social worker, and school counselors for 2011-12, retroactive to the beginning of the current fiscal year with the understanding that this increase would apply only to those full-time employees currently affected by the change in the laws related to the Wisconsin Retirement System but would also apply to the part-time employees not eligible for retirement payments under the Wisconsin Retirement System. Holland moved, with second by Tjornehoj, to approve the administrative recommendation as presented. Motion carried.

9.d. Financial Services Director Tim Erickson reviewed the four amendments to the St. Croix Meadows purchase agreement. Robson moved, with second by German, to approve the amended purchase agreement as presented. Motion carried.

9.e. Sweet reviewed the Employee Handbook Provisions for Teacher Discipline and Support Employee Discipline. German moved, with second by Holland to approve the handbook provisions as presented. Motion carried.

9.f. Robson moved, with second by Kaisersatt, to approve the consent items which included the January 10, 2012 Board meeting minutes; the personnel report including hires, changes, retirements, resignations/non-renewals/ terminations, and leaves [Attachment A]; expenditures in the amount of $2,699,246.31; receipts in the amount of $3,190,022.71; payroll totaling $1,565,734.47; and EFT/ACH payments totaling $1,076,573.69; the Grievance Settlement Agreement with the West Central Education Association; the 2012-2013 CESA #11 Shared Services Contract; and an Agreement with St. Croix County Department of Health and Human Services for the School Age Care Program. Motion carried.

10.a. Holland reported that on 1/30/12, the Facilities & Grounds Committee reviewed the future secondary construction referendum financing plan; discussed rezoning of St. Croix Meadows by the City of Hudson; reviewed the amendment to the St. Croix Meadows purchase agreement; and discussed a proposal by the Soccer Boosters for a press box at the Middle School.

10.b. Kaisersatt reported that on 1/30/12, the Personnel Committee reviewed the Employee Handbook provisions for Teacher and Support Staff Employee Discipline; the 2012-13 enrollment projections and staffing process; were updated regarding a tentative agreement with the WCEA Teachers Union; and adjourned to Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(b)(c)(f) for consideration of preliminary notice of non-renewal of teachers; and for consideration of discipline of specific employees.

10.c. Robson reported that on 2/6/12, the Finance Committee reviewed the future secondary construction referendum financing plan; the St. Croix Meadows site appraisal and the purchase agreement amendment; and the 2011-12 second quarter financial report.

11. Tjornehoj moved, with second by Robson, to adjourn to Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(b)(c)(f) for consideration of discipline of specific employees. On a roll call vote, the Clerk recorded the following: German-yes, Holland-yes, Kaisersatt-yes, Robson-yes, Tjornehoj-yes; Van Loenen-yes. Motion carried 6-0.

Closed Session

The Board deliberated concerning discipline of specific employees.

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

Dan Tjornehoj, Clerk

(Pub. March 22, 2012)

________________________________________ WNAXLP

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