HUDSON SCHOOL DISTRICT: 1/8/13 Board Meeting Minutes

Regular Board of Education Meeting Minutes - January 8, 2013

Open Session

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 Multipurpose Room at River Crest Elementary. Members present: Brian Bell, Sandy Gehrke, Pat German, Lynn Robson, and Dan Tjornehoj. 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.a. Twenty-one Middle School students and thirteen High School students were recognized for being selected to perform in the Wisconsin Honors Band, Choir, and Orchestra concerts in Madison. Choral Music Teacher Carol Dahle provided information about the selection process. The students spoke to the Board about their experience.

4.a. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported the names of the candidates running for school board as they will appear on the February 19, 2013 ballot: Bruce Hanson, Jamie Johnson, Jim Schrock, Jeanette Kunz, Matthew G. Kari. She reported that incumbents Pat German and Mark Kaisersatt have decided not to seek re-election and thanked them for their service to the Board of Education and district.

4.b. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported that the Learning Services and Student Services Directors and Associate Director will be working together to prepare a plan for combining the two departments to better support student learning, school based efforts, and professional staff development. Sandi Kovatch, Dave Grambow and Cory McIntyre will present a reorganization plan to the Board of Education in March.

4.c. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reviewed the selection process timeline for the Human Resource Director position. The process includes telephone interviews conducted by the Superintendent; first interviews of up to 6 candidates conducted by an interview team composed of the Superintendent, Directors, Principals, Managers, Teachers and Support Staff; and second interviews conducted by the Superintendent, Directors, Principals. It is anticipated that the final candidate will be recommended to the Board for approval at the March 12 meeting.

4.d. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten announced the District received the 2012 Spectrum Award of Excellence from the Wisconsin School Public Relations Association for the public relations and communications for the successful 2011-12 Secondary Space for Learning referendum to purchase the St. Croix Meadows property. This is the District’s 2nd Spectrum Award. The award was also received in 2010 for the communications related to the development of the District’s strategic vision, HSD 2025. She commended Communications Coordinator Tracy Habisch-Ahlin for her leadership that achieved this level of recognition for District communication efforts.

5.a. Student Services Director Cory McIntyre presented the District and Schools Safety and Preparedness Update. He reported there will be a review of the District’s crisis plan, building assessments, and future improvements will be made to the existing District and school crisis plans. Meetings will take place with local emergency responders and District crisis teams to identify ways to improve the plans and emergency preparation and response.

6.7. No citizens spoke to the Board.

8.a. Laura Love, High School Principal and Dan Koch, Middle School Principal, presented recommendations to meet short-term secondary space for learning needs for the 2013-14 school year. The High School short-term plan included relocating the District’s Information Technology Services to an alternate site, which will add two classrooms; recessing the main Media Center doorway to reduce congestion in the outside narrow hallway; increasing the lunch sections from three to four; and reducing the congestion of students moving throughout the campus by locating the Freshmen Academies to the west wing. The Middle School short-term plan included continued utilization of three classrooms at Hudson Prairie Elementary; monitoring student enrollment throughout the spring and summer and if needed, using up to three additional classrooms in the adjacent elementary. Hudson Prairie Elementary Principal Susie Prather explained that if that should happen, her school would implement capping of grade levels as needed to new residents to maintain class size guidelines. As Hudson Prairie grade levels are capped, new students in those grade levels would be assigned and transported to other District elementary schools with openings. Bell moved, with second by Tjornehoj, to approve the 2013-14 High School and Middle School short-term space for learning plans as presented. Motion carried.

8.b. District Deputy Director/Human Resources Director Nancy Sweet presented the administration’s recommended plan to bring employees’ salary/wage for 2012-13 toward/to the median salary/wage identified in the recent comparability study. The plan was endorsed by the Finance Committee on January 2, 2013 and by the Personnel Committee on January 7, 2013. Tjornehoj moved, with second by German to approve the recommendations as presented. Gehrke called for a roll call vote. The Clerk recorded the following: Bell-no, Gehrke-no, German-yes, Robson-yes, Tjornehoj-yes. Motion carried 3-2.

8.c. Sweet presented the recommended plan to move administrators’ 2012-13 salaries toward the median identified in the recent Fox Lawson comparability study. The plan was endorsed by the Finance Committee on January 2, 2013 and by the Personnel Committee on January 7, 2013. Tjornehoj moved, with second by German to approve the recommendation as presented. Gehrke called for a roll call vote. The Clerk recorded the following: Bell-no, Gehrke-no, German-yes, Robson-yes, Tjornehoj-yes. Motion carried 3-2.

8.d. Sweet reported the 2013-14 open enrollment timeline for parents to submit applications is from February 4-April 30, 2013. She also reported that at their January meeting, school boards are now required by state law to determine the number of regular education and special education spaces available with the school district for full-time open enrollment. Sweet reported that no regular education seats are available in grades K, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12. Student Services Director Cory McIntyre reported no special education seats are available at any grade level, including Early Childhood. German moved, with second by Bell, to approve 30 regular education seats for full-time open enrollment students in grade 3, 20 seats in grade 4, and 84 seats in grade 5. Gehrke called for a roll call vote. The Clerk recorded the following: Bell-yes, Gehrke-no, German-yes, Robson-yes, Tjornehoj-no. Motion carried 3-2.

8.e. Student Services Director Cory McIntyre explained that the St. Croix County Public Health Department was requesting the school district as a site for mass clinics to conduct disease prevention and control activities, including mass clinic operations in the event of public health emergencies. Bell moved, with second by Gehrke, to approve the Clinic Site Memorandum of Understanding between the Hudson School District and the St. Croix County Public Health Department, as presented. Motion carried.

8.f. McIntyre explained that the St. Croix County Public Health Department also requested an agreement whereby the Hudson School District would be used as a closed point of dispensing site, where Hudson School District employees would be given priority at a specific school site for dispensing of medications or vaccinations in a health emergency. Bell moved, with second by Gehrke, to approve the Agreement between St. Croix County Public Health Department and the Hudson School District and Services for Use of the Hudson School District as a Closed Point of Dispensing Site, as presented. Motion carried.

8.g. Vice President Robson read a written statement from Board President Tom Holland as follows: “After careful consideration and based upon the suggestions from the initial Advisory Committee leaders, we have decided not to move forward with the development of the Community Advisory Committee. The principle point presented at our last initial organizing committee meeting and agreed upon by all committee members was that it was more advantageous and inclusive of the district to not develop a small group of advisors. Rather, to allow many voices the opportunity to provide feedback regarding the planning for decisions ahead for secondary space solutions. I’m grateful to the 25 applicants interested in serving on the Community Advisory Committee and encourage them to become or continue their engagement through the other avenues for participation provided by the district to the community as a whole.” As one of the initial organizers, Board member Gehrke stated she supported disbanding the committee because the Board had only selected three options for further study. Another initial organizer, Board member Bell supported disbandment for reasons similar to Holland. Bell moved, with second by Tjornehoj, to approve the disbanding of the Community Advisory Committee as recommended by Board President Holland. Motion carried.

8.h. Bell moved, with second by Tjornehoj, to approve the consent items which included the December 11, 2012 Board meeting minutes; the personnel report including hires, changes, retirements, resignations/non-renewals/terminations, and leaves [attached]; expenditures in the amount of $742,330.51; receipts in the amount of $6,719,163.13; payroll totaling $1,829,222.27; and EFT/ACH payments totaling $918,581.19. Motion carried. Sweet recognized the following retirees: Barb Boehnlein, Educational Assistant; Judy Nelson, CD Teacher; Neil Paulson, Network Coordinator; and Roberta Sinnett, Social Studies Teacher.

9.a. Tjornehoj reported that on 1/2/13, the Finance Committee endorsed the 2013-14 short-term space for learning recommendation for the High School and Middle School; the 2012-13 employee compensation recommendation and the 2012-13 administrator compensation recommendation.

9.b. Robson reported that on 1/7/13, the Facilities & Grounds Committee were updated regarding the District and schools safety and preparedness plans; endorsed the 2013-14 short-term space for learning recommendation for the High School and Middle School; endorsed the Memorandum of Understanding with St. Croix County Public Health Department for the Hudson School District to be a public service site for the dispensing of medications and vaccines in a health emergency; and also endorsed an agreement with St. Croix County Public Health Department for the school district to be a closed point of dispensing site for district employees in a health emergency; and discussed architect interviews and selection for pre-referendum support.

9.c. German reported that on 1/7/13, the Personnel Committee endorsed the 2012-13 wage and salary market adjustment plan for teachers, counselors/psychologists/social workers, coordinators/ supervisors/ and support employees; the 2012-13 administrator compensation recommendation; revisions to the 2013-14 school calendar; the proposed 2014-15 & 2015-16 school calendars; reviewed the Human Resource Director selection process timeline; and adjourned to Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, and compensation of public employees.

10. Tjornehoj moved, with second by Bell, to adjourn to Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, and compensation of public employees. On a roll call vote, the Clerk recorded the following: Bell-yes, Gehrke-yes, German-yes, Robson-yes, Tjornehoj-yes. Motion carried 5-0.

Closed Session

The Board considered employment, promotion, and compensation of public employees. Bell moved, with second by German to adjourn. Motion carried.

Dan Tjornehoj, Acting Clerk

(Pub. February 21, 2013)

WNAXLP

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