HUDSON SCHOOL DISTRICT: 2/12/13 Board Minutes

Regular Board of Education Meeting Minutes - February 12, 2013

Open Session

1. The regular meeting of the Hudson Board of Education was called to order by President Tom Holland at approximately 6:30 pm in the Multipurpose Room at River Crest Elementary. Members present: Brian Bell, Sandy Gehrke, Pat German, Tom Holland, Mark Kaisersatt, 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, and Student Services Director Cory McIntyre.

2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

3.a. Hudson Prairie School Counselor Max Hansen was recognized for being named Wisconsin School Counselor Association Elementary School Counselor of the Year for 2012-13.

3.b. The Hudson Middle School was recognized for its participation in the “Fuel Up to Play 60” program, where students are involved in creating a healthier school environment that promotes student learning and achievement. Students pledge to choose more nutritious foods and to get 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Family and Consumer Science Teacher Deborah Gangnon shared some of the specific activities the students participated in and the awards they received from the National Football League.

4.a. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported that North Hudson Elementary earned a Wisconsin Title I High–Achieving School Award. To be eligible for this award, a school must earn a rating of Significantly Exceeding Expectations on the Wisconsin School Report Card; meet all annual measurable Objectives (AMOs) for all students as well as all student subgroups; have minimal achievement gaps or show evidence of reducing gaps between student subgroups; and meet test-participation, absenteeism, and dropout goals. North Hudson Elementary Principal Dolf Schmidt and his teaching staff were present at the meeting to receive the award.

4.b. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported that State Superintendent Tony Evers visited Hudson High School on February 11 as part of a series of school visits in recognition of February’s Career and Technology Education Month. Superintendent Evers heard from students, teachers, administrators and community business partners about High School and Middle School post-secondary initiatives and toured the High School’s technology and engineering classrooms. Bowen-Eggebraaten thanked School-to-Career Coordinator Melisa Hansen for coordinating Superintendent Evers’ visit.

4.c. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reviewed the second Friday in January 2013 official enrollment counts and noted the report reflected a stable enrollment. She also noted the increase in home school students from the September count was due to the fact that parents have until October to register their home school students.

4.d. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten compared Kindergarten registrations with September enrollments for the past 3 years, and indicated a slight decrease in registrations for 2013-14 at this time. These incoming Kindergartners were born primarily from September 2007 to September 1, 2008, when birthrates were lower. The Superintendent indicated that birthrates start to increase in 2010.

5a. Steve Tracey and Tom Kortas from the CliftonLarsonAllen audit firm presented the 2011-12 financial audit report. Overall the district’s financial records were again in good shape and the audit went smoothly. They reported there were no compliance issues and only minor audit adjustments were necessary. The audit report had been previously reviewed by Finance Committee.

5.b. High School Principal Laura Love, Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Coordinator Dana Krahenbuhl, and High School student Hank Brekke presented a report on the “Flip it Forward” program. The program is designed to break down social barriers to help promote respect and trust among students. It is about learning what students have in common and not what is different. It positively impacts school culture by increasing student voice and reducing bullying and harassment. 398 students were surveyed regarding the outcomes of the program; 98% rated the program experience as amazing to good and 91% stated the program will change the school environment. Love and Krahenbuhl gave a presentation on the Flip it Forward at this year’s State Education Convention in Milwaukee, where it was well attended and received.

6.7. No citizens spoke to the Board.

8.a. A discussion was held regarding the District’s County UU property and its viability as a secondary school site with or without city utilities. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reported this topic was discussed by the Facilities and Grounds Committee which recommended bringing it to the Board. Preliminary engineering reports indicate that an on-site water and waste water treatment facility could support a school of approximately 650 students, but not a secondary school of up to 2000 students. Further study would be necessary to determine how large a school could be built on the site with only well water and on-site waste water treatment. During the vote on St. Croix Meadows, the City of Hudson mentioned the possibility of creating a special district to extend public utilities to the site, however a feasibility study would need to be conducted first and the City would need to agree to this. The Facilities & Grounds Committee will discuss the next steps.

9.a. Prior to the start of the hearings on three petitions, District Deputy Director Nancy Sweet reviewed the Wisconsin Statute criteria to be considered in making decisions regarding the approval or denial of petitions.

A hearing was held on a Petition from Derek and Tracy Nelson to detach their property from the Somerset School District and attach to the Hudson School District. Mr. & Mrs. Nelson spoke to the Board requesting support of their petition. Sweet noted this property is contiguous to the Hudson School District which is one of the statutory criteria to be considered Kaisersatt moved, with second by German to approve the petition. Gehrke requested a roll call vote. The Clerk recorded the following: Bell-No, Gehrke-No, German-Yes, Holland-Yes, Kaisersatt-Yes, Robson-No, Tjornehoj-No. The motion to approve the petition failed 4-3.

9.b. A hearing was held on a Petition from Ryan and Theresa Douglas to detach their property from the Somerset School District and attach to the Hudson School District. Mr. & Mrs. Douglas spoke to the Board requesting support of their petition. Sweet noted this property is not contiguous to the Hudson School District. Robson moved, with second by Tjornehoj, to deny the petition. Gehrke requested a roll call vote. The Clerk recorded the following: Bell-Yes, Gehrke-Yes, German-No, Holland-Yes, Kaisersatt-No, Robson-Yes, Tjornehoj-Yes. The motion to deny the petition carried 5-2.

9.c. A hearing was held on a Petition from Terri and Kirk Leeson to detach their property from the New Richmond School District and attach to the Hudson School District. Mr. Leeson spoke to the Board requesting support of their petition. Sweet noted this property is not contiguous to the Hudson School District. Bell moved, with second by Gehrke to deny the petition. Gehrke requested a roll call vote. The Clerk recorded the following: Bell-Yes, Gehrke-Yes, German-Abstain, Holland-Yes, Kaisersatt-No, Robson-Yes, Tjornehoj-Yes. The motion to deny the petition carried 5-1, with 1 abstention.

9.d. Sweet reviewed the proposed revisions to the 2013-14 school calendar and the proposed drafts of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school calendars. Robson moved, with second by Tjornehoj, to approve the calendars as presented. Motion carried.

9.e. Student Services Director Cory McIntyre, Learning Services Director Sandi Kovatch, and Associate Learning Services Director David Grambow presented a reorganizational proposal to combine Learning Services and Student Services into one department. The rational for the proposal is to develop a more collaborative, learning-focused support system for District schools. The combined department would be called Learning Support Services. McIntyre would retain his title, as would Kovatch, and Grambow would become the Systems Improvement Director. The Administrators reviewed the proposed duties and responsibilities of each position, along with a graphic depicting how the combined department will provide school focused service that is visionary, collaborative and comprehensive. Bell moved, with second by Gehrke, to approve the reorganization plan as presented. Motion carried.

9.f. Gehrke moved, with second by Robson, to approve a contract for David Grambow as Systems Improvement Director effective July 1, 2013. Motion carried.

9.g. Sweet presented the proposed contract renewals for principals, associate principals, coordinators and supervisors. The contracts were endorsed by the Finance Committee and Personnel Committee. Robson moved, with second by Tjornehoj, to approve the Principals, Associate Principals, Coordinators & Supervisors contract renewals as presented. Motion carried.

9.h. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reviewed the three current options for long-term secondary space for learning selected by the Board for further consideration: Option B-Construct a 4 yr. high school, convert current high school to grades 7-8, convert current middle school to grades 5-6. Option C-Construct a 3 yr. high school for grades 10-12; convert current high school to grades 8-9; convert current middle school to grades 6-7. Option F-Construct a grade 6-12 school for 700 students (STEM); current high school remains grades 9-12; current middle school remains grades 6-8. Two new long-term secondary space for learning options were proposed for further consideration by the Board which would lessen the transitions for students. Communications Coordinator Tracy Habisch-Ahlin reported preliminary research on transition of students from school to school can result in achievement loss and can lessen student and parent connection to the school.

The two new options for consideration are: Option P(1)-Construct a 3 year high school for grades 10-12; convert the current middle school and high school to 2 grades 6-9 schools. Option P(2)-Construct a new grade 6-9 school; convert current high school to grades 10-12; convert current middle school to grades 6-9. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reviewed projected enrollment numbers in relation to the options for consideration. Bell moved, with second by German, to add the two new long term secondary space for learning options, Option P(1) and Option P(2), for further consideration. Gehrke requested a roll call vote. The Clerk recorded the following: Bell-Yes, Gehrke-No, German-Yes, Holland-Yes, Kaisersatt-Yes, Robson-Yes, Tjornehoj-Yes. Motion carried 6-1.

9.i. Superintendent Bowen-Eggebraaten reviewed the criteria developed by the Facilities & Grounds Committee for the selection of a pre-referendum architectural/engineering firm. Seven firms submitted proposals for services. Four firms were selected for interviews. The District interview team consisted of Tom Holland, Lynn Robson, Mary Bowen-Eggebraaten, Tim Erickson and Jim Stejskal. The team narrowed the field to two firms, Hoffman LLC and DLR. Hoffman’s proposal was for $70,000 plus reimbursable expenses of $7,000. DLR’s proposal was for $188,000 plus reimbursable expenses of $10,000. The interview team recommended Hoffman. Kaisersatt moved with second by Robson to approve a contract with Hoffman, LLC for pre-referendum architect services. Motion carried.

9.j. Tjornehoj moved, with second by Robson to approve the consent items which included the January 8, 2013 Board meeting minutes; the personnel report including hires, changes, retirements, resignations/ non-renewals/terminations, and leaves [attached]; expenditures in the amount of $2,557,534.70; receipts in the amount of $3,650,446.06; payroll totaling $1,542,779.08; and EFT/ACH payments totaling $1,056,339.71; and revisions to the Employee Handbook provisions of Retirement Benefits for Teachers Eligible to Retire Before July 1, 2016, and Retirement Pay for Support Employees Eligible to Retire Before July 1, 2016. Motion carried. Sweet recognized the following retirees: Lois Cahoy, Kindergarten Teacher at River Crest; Teresa Cameron, Language Arts Teacher at Middle School; David Fehringer, Math Teacher at Middle School; Patricia Johnson, Kindergarten Teacher at Willow River; Sharon Kaltenberg, School Nurse; Judy Meincke, Kindergarten Teacher at Willow River; and Claudia Kell, Grade 5 Teacher at Hudson Prairie.

10.a. Bell reported that on 1/28/13, the Learning & Program Development Committee were updated regarding the District’s Response to Intervention Program (RtI) and the Student Wellness Program; and endorsed the Learning Services and Student Services reorganization plan.

10.b. Tjornehoj reported that on 1/28/13, the Finance Committee adjourned to Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) to consider promotion and compensation of public employees. In Open Session, the Committee reviewed proposed employee handbook revisions regarding retirement benefits for staff eligible to retire before July 1, 2016; discussed a proposal for a Junior Varsity Hockey program; reviewed the 2011-12 Audit Report; and a 2012-13 quarterly financial report.

10.c. Holland reported that on 2/5/13, the Facilities & Grounds Committee reviewed two new long term secondary space for learning options and supported bringing the options to the Board for consideration; discussed the County UU property as a possible secondary school site with or without city utilities and supported bringing the topic to the Board for further discussion; and adjourned to Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(e) regarding negotiating a contract for architect services.

10.d. Kaisersatt reported that on 2/5/13, the Personnel Committee reviewed the principals, associate principals, coordinators, and supervisors contracts and recommended approval by the Board; reviewed proposed employee handbook revisions regarding retirement benefits for staff eligible to retire before July 1, 2016 and recommended approval by the Board; and adjourned to Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) for the purpose of considering promotion, performance evaluation data and compensation of specific employees. Gehrke moved, with second by German, to support all administrative recommendations for specific employees.

11. Robson moved, with second by Tjornehoj, to adjourn to Closed Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) for the purpose of considering performance evaluation and compensation of the Superintendent. On a roll call vote, the Clerk recorded the following: Bell-Yes, Gehrke-No, German-Yes, Holland-Yes, Kaisersatt-Yes, Robson-Yes, Tjornehoj-Yes. Motion carried 6-1.

Closed Session

The Board considered the performance evaluation and compensation of the Superintendent.

12. Robson moved, with second by Bell to reconvene to Open Session. Motion carried.

Open Session

13.a. Kaisersatt moved, with second by Robson, to approve a salary of $159,480 for the Superintendent for 2012-13. Gehrke requested a roll call vote. The Clerk recorded the following: Bell-Yes, Gehrke-No, German-Yes, Holland-Yes, Kaisersatt-Yes, Robson-Yes, Tjornehoj-Yes. Motion carried 6-1.

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

Mark Kaisersatt, Clerk

(Pub. March 21, 2013)

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