HUDSON SCHOOL DISTRICT: 8/14/12 MINUTES

Regular Board of Education Meeting - August 14, 2012

1. The regular meeting of the Hudson Board of Education was called to order by Vice President Lynn Robson at approximately 6:30 pm in the River Crest Elementary Multipurpose Room. Members present: Brian Bell, Sandy Gehrke, Pat German, Mark Kaisersatt, and Lynn Robson. 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. Kaisersatt moved, with second by German to approve the agenda. Gehrke requested a discussion and objected to the agenda as presented because of what she believed to be a free speech restriction placed on the public speaking section of the agenda and because she had requested to speak to the Board regarding the events of the July 10th Board meeting and her request was denied. Gehrke called for a roll call vote on the motion. The Clerk recorded the following: Bell-yes, Gehrke-no, German-yes, Kaisersatt-yes, Robson-yes. Motion carried 4-1.

4.a. Early Childhood Teacher Pam Morrison was recognized for being selected as Co-Chair of St. Croix County Success by Six Committee.

4.b. School Age Care staff member Brian Culbertson was recognized for his emergency care response to a student who was choking.

5.a. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten introduced Jerry Gilbert who presented the District with a check for $35,821.03 on behalf of the Hudson Area Special Olympics. Mr. Gilbert spoke to the Board regarding the history of the organization and the possible use of the funds for the District’s adaptive sports program or to support a local student with a disability to participate in the Wisconsin Special Olympics.

5.b. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported on the many activities and events occurring in the schools in preparation for the start of the new school year, including: student registrations, athletic team practices, new hire orientations, and teachers preparing their classrooms. She noted many other activities that occurred over the summer included teacher professional development, wireless upgrades completed at all schools, completion of secured entrances at the High School, Willow River and North Hudson so that all schools now have secured entrances.

6.a. Associate Learning Services Director David Grambow, High School Principal Laura Love, Middle School Principal Dan Koch, River Crest Elementary Principal Travis Barringer, Hudson Prairie Elementary Principal Susie Prather and North Hudson Elementary Principal Dolf Schmidt gave a presentation on the 2011-12 SMART Goal results.

* High School Goal #1: By June 2012, 67% of our high school students will indicate they are receiving quality feedback that improves their learning as reported on the spring student survey. Result: 71.2% of students reported receiving quality feedback.

* High School Goal #2: By June 2012, 90% of our HHS freshman will meet the following indicators of success: 95% attendance or better; earn a minimum of 6 credits and be on track for graduation; report a positive connection with at least one staff member at HHS. Result: 85.1% of students had 95% attendance or better; 89% of freshmen earned a minimum of 6 credits and are on track for graduation; 87% of girls and 75% of boys reported a positive connection with at least one staff member at HHS.

* High School Goal #3: By June 2012, there will be a 10% increase in the total number of AP exams taken from May of 2011. Furthermore, the percentage of students passing the AP exams will remain at 80% or better. Result: There was a 19.5% increase in the total number of AP exams taken. The percentage of students passing dipped slightly to 77%, however, there were a total of 50 more passing scores on AP exams in 2012.

* Middle School Goal: Hudson Middle School will increase the percentage of students who meet or exceed their growth target goal on the Reading NWEA test from 58% to 63% as measured on the spring 2012 NWEA test. Result: 64% of students met or exceeded their growth target goal.

* Elementary Goal: By June 2012, 90% of K-5 learners will be reading at or above grade level as measured by common assessments. Result: 90% were reading at above grade level.

6.b. Learning Services Director Sandi Kovatch presented the 2011-12 preliminary Advanced Placement results and reported that in 2012, 387 students took a total of 579 AP exams, with 297 or 76.7% scoring a 3 or above. As compared to 2011, there were 75 more students taking 96 more exams with 50 more scoring a 3 or better.

6.c. Kovatch reported the 2012 summer school program served approximately 550 students in elementary enrichment and remedial classes; 250 students in the math & reading camp and transition program; 530 student in secondary credit recovery, physical education, health and transition classes; 70 students in marching band; 110 students in summer orchestra; 260 students in summer band camp; and 1170 students in summer swim program.

6.d. District Deputy Director/Human Resources Director Nancy Sweet gave a report on a teacher salary/benefit comparability study which compared teacher salaries in Hudson with districts within 30 miles, high performing districts, and comparable size districts in Wisconsin and Minnesota. In the comparison of the 23 districts: Hudson placed 14th in base salaries ; 17th in Masters salaries; and 17th in top salaries. The report also included comparisons of number of teacher contract days, number of student days, total paid time off, professional development compensation; the percentage of health and dental insurance coverage, and retirement benefits.

6.e. Sweet presented a report on teacher attraction and retention which included the number of applicants for various positions and the reasons given by applicants when asked why they were interested in the Hudson School District. She also reported that of the nearly 400 District teachers, there were only 17 resignations at the end of the 2011-12 school year. Also of the nearly 20 District teachers eligible for retirement, only 3 retired at the end of the 2011-12 school year.

6.f. Sweet introduced Middle School Principal Dan Koch and High School Principal Laura Love, who presented room utilization reports for their respective buildings. Koch reported of the 75 classrooms at the Middle School, totaling 675 classroom hours per day, 92% were in use for a total of 621 hours; 88% were utilized more than 80% of the time; and only 9 were used less than 80% of the time. This does not include the 3 classrooms at Hudson Prairie being used for Middle School classes. He also reported that 17 teachers are on carts and that the Middle School concept is eroding due to the lack of space.

Love reported that of the 99 classrooms at the High School, totaling 701 hours per day, 97.1% were in use for a total of 681 hours; 93.9% were utilized more than 80% of the time; and only 6 were utilized less than 80% of the school day. She noted that 30% of core classes are over school board guidelines of 22-27 students per classroom.

6.g. Financial Services Director Tim Erickson reported bridge engineers involved in inspecting the bridges over Albert St. indicated the bridges are in mint condition, structurally sufficient and built for heavy traffic.

6.h. Erickson reported a site analysis was being conducted on the St. Croix County property at the corner of Carmichael and Vine streets, the property on County F in Troy Township, the school property on County UU, and the St. Croix Meadows property in preparation for the City Plan Commission meeting on September 6 at 7:00 pm and the City Council meeting on September 17 at 7:00 pm.

7. Five citizens spoke to the Board regarding the City of Hudson’s consideration of rezoning St. Croix Meadows.

8. Board members and administrators responded to the comments.

9.a. Student Services Director Cory McIntyre explained the open enrollment exception process. Gehrke moved, with second by Bell, to deny the exception application of student number 1 for open enrollment in to the Hudson School District because there is no space at this grade level at the High School; and to approve the exception applications of student numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 for open enrollment out of the Hudson School District. Motion carried.

9.b. Bell moved, with second by Kaisersatt, to approve the consent items which included the July 10, 2012 Board meeting minutes; the personnel report including hires, changes, retirements, resignations/non-renewals/terminations, and leaves [attached]; expenditures in the amount of $2,691,513.21; receipts in the amount of $836,737.81; payroll totaling $1,327,415.90; and EFT/ACH payments totaling $1,875,790.04; continuation of the 2012-13 FamilyMeans Employee Assistance Program Agreement; and the 2012-13 revised agreement with the Prescott School District for Vision Services. Motion carried.

10.a Kaisersatt reported that on 8/7/12, the Personnel Committee reviewed a teacher salary and benefit comparability study.

11. Bell moved, with second by German to adjourn. Motion carried.

Mark Kaisersatt, Clerk

(Pub. Sept. 20, 2012)

WNAXLP

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