Approved at 4/22/2008 Board Meeting

Regular Board of Education Meeting
Central Administrative Offices Board Room
April 8, 2008

Present:  Allgaier, Gehl, Murphy, Schwei, Sylla, Wartman, and Ziegler; Gibson
              Brookfield Central Student Representatives and Brookfield East
              Student Representative

President Meg Wartman called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Public notice of the meeting was provided in accordance with Chapter 19.85 Wis. Stats. The Pledge of Allegiance was lead by Patrick Reuteman, Brookfield Central Student Representative. Motion by Cheri Sylla that the Board of Education approves the April 8, 2008 agenda. Seconded by Tom Gehl and carried on a voice vote.

TOGETHER WE CELEBRATE SUCCESS – CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN HIGH SCHOOL NEXT STEPS STEERING TEAM (HSST) AND ePROGRESS TEAM – Meg Wartman presented commendations to team members in attendance. The High School Facilities Next Steps Steering Team was commissioned by the Board and met from June through December, 2007. The team included Dick Brunner, Roger Johnson, Jim Nortman, Dorothy Smaglick, Molly Steffen, Jerry Theder, and Meg Wartman. Members of eProgress met independently of the District during fall, 2007 and recommended renovations of both high schools. The team included Mary Altschaefl, Jim Angeli, Bill Armstrong, Lynn Kilb, Greg Lippe, John Ratzel, Carver Smith, and Gary Zwirlein.

CITIZENS' FORUM – Robert Braun, Christian Civil Liberties Union, reported that the group would be watching the District for things with which they do not agree. Patrick Murphy addressed the Board concerning school financing. Jason Gillette and Gus Morales reported on awards Brookfield Central's jazz ensemble received at the Bob Kames Music Festival. Jared Lemke and Katie Lemke addressed the Board requesting that discontinuation of four year old kindergarten be reconsidered.

Brookfield East Student Representatives Paula Kienzle and Meg Baptie reported that prom is scheduled on the first weekend in May with proceeds to benefit the MS bike ride and Schools for Schools Foundation and that four Student Council members will attend the Wisconsin Association of School Councils meeting. Brookfield Central Student Representatives Patrick Reuteman and Becca Hoesly reported that students will participate in Scrabble for Literacy with proceeds to benefit the Literacy Council of Greater Waukesha, that students will participate in Earth Day clean up on April 19, and that the junior class is in final preparation for the April 25 prom.

CONSENT AGENDA – Request for separate consideration of Tenant Notice: Vacating Gebhardt Road Home. Motion by Cheri Sylla to approve the remaining consent items including  minutes of the March 18, 2008 Board Meeting; a 9.13 contract for Nicholas Anton; lay-off recalls for Kristin Davis, Anne DeChamps, Molly Mathia, Micah Nelson, Sandra Rasmussen, David Sampe, Jaclyn Schneider, and Bonita Zeigler-Davel; the release of Michele Trawicki from her 2008-09 contract effective June 30, 2008 and approves a recruitment and selection process for her successor; recognizing and extending congratulations to the commendations as presented; a Wis. Stats. 66.030 agreement with the Pewaukee School District for their operation, without cost to the School District of Elmbrook, of a four-year old kindergarten program at Children's Learning Center and Mary Linsmeier Pre-School in the School District of Elmbrook fro the 2008-09 school year; and pre-spending during this budget year for proposed 2008-09 capital projects, with an additional value of $109,000 for Long Range Capital Outlay items and $19,088 in roof repairs. Seconded by Steve Schwei. The Board thanked Michele Trawicki for her service to District students. Bob Ziegler announced that Greg O'Grady who assists with videotaping Board meetings was recognized as a Scholar Athlete, a senior with 3.5 average or higher in the commendations. The motion carried on a voice vote.

Tenant Notice: Vacating Gebhardt Road Home – Steve Schwei suggested that the home at 17040 Gebhardt Road be used during Brookfield Central's remodeling/construction and not be razed at this time. Motion by Steve Schwei that the Board of Education approves the issuance of a letter of termination of the occupancy of the house located at 17040 Gebhardt Road. Seconded by Bob Ziegler and carried on a voice vote.

BOARD OF CANVASSERS REPORT – Glen Allgaier reported that the Board of Canvassers met on April 2 to canvass returns from the District's four municipalities for the spring election for school board representation for the Area I, Area III and one At-Large seats and an initial resolution authorizing general obligation bonds. Gary Jones was elected to the Area I seat, Tom Gehl was elected to the Area III seat, David Marcello was elected to the At-Large seat, and the initial resolution authorizing general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $62,190,000 was approved.

OATH OF OFFICE FOR NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS – Bob Borch administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Board members Tom Gehl, Gary Jones, and David Marcello.

HIGH SCHOOL FACILITIES UPDATE – Rob Stieg, Boldt Consulting Services, reported that the owner's representative will bring, among other things, regular communication and budget monitoring for the District. The Board discussed items for next steps to include identification of open issues such as placement of the gymnasium, design issues and groundbreaking, and discussed next steps for Owner's Representative, Architect, and Construction Manager consideration.

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES AND NEXT STEPS – Eileen Depka, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services, reported that Melanie Stewart would provide a brief overview of the committee structure, gain input on outcomes to continue, share policy recommendations and questions for next steps, and share next steps following outcome approval. Melanie Stewart reported that the Human Growth and Development Advisory Committee began work on October 10, 2007 with additional meetings scheduled through March 11, 2008, reported that the Advisory Committee review of Policy 6142.6 – Human Growth and Development met with consensus with all recommendations but approval of alternate lessons and development and approval of lessons, and reported that next steps include the process to be followed when the outcomes are approved by the Board.

Casey McCall, Violet Braun, Robert Braun, Charlene D'Amato, Richard Li, Cheri Mastel, Lindalayne Holiday, Jenny Heckman, Nora Schumann, Lindy Simons, and Don Galster addressed the Board regarding revising the policy to reflect that the Advisory Committee would review outcomes and lessons, that the outcomes not be approved until the lessons are provided, removing the eighth grade level outcome concerning "explain the legal definitions and implications of sexual behavior, i.e. oral sex", and looking at a research-based or off-the-shelf curriculum as an alternative to developing a curriculum from scratch.

Board discussion suggested that future meetings would include processing recommendations from the Advisory Committee, review of policy, and review of outcomes.

PILGRIM PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL BOILER STUDY – Posko Associates, Inc. was chosen through a competitive bid process to complete a study of Pilgrim Park Middle School's heating and ventilating system since the equipment was installed with the building was built in 1958. Tom Posko of Posko Associates, Inc. reported that the replacement systems are intended to provide long service life of components, reduce energy consumption, recover energy, install new equipment with good maintenance access for service of equipment, reduce annual maintenance costs, provide a system that will anticipate equipment component failure prior to actual failure, consolidate all systems into a unified single control point, provide a resultant facility within budget, and provide a model system. The completed study will be provided to the Board on April 22.

The meeting recessed at 10:07 p.m. and reconvened at 10:19 p.m.

2008-09 PROPOSED BUDGET: FIRST PRESENTATION – Bob Borch and Matt Gibson presented the proposed 2008-09 budget. The budget funds the mission of the District and was constructed within the Board of Education parameters and State revenue cap calculations. The proposed budget has total revenues in the amount of $83,938,842, an increase of 1.0%; General Fund Expenditures in the amount of $83,688,317, a 2.1% increase; Per Pupil Expenditure of $12,441.67, a 3.8% increase; and Equalized Levy Rate of $9.39, a .03% decrease. Recommended changes include reduced interest on investments and reduced open enrollment tuition in the amount of $654,358 for Revenues; and additional 1 FTE teacher for speech services due to higher enrollment, increase for District share or purchased services for proposed police liaison officer(s), increased ELL services of 1 FTE due to higher enrollment, funding for Wellness Program, release Athletic/Activity Directors from one class teaching duties, eliminate 4FTE teachers due to lower enrollment, decrease unit budget due to lower enrollment, reduce short-term borrowing costs, reduce substitute budget, eliminate funding for referendum information campaign, eliminate high school student council and key club assistant advisors, reconfigure Facility Manager position due to retirement, restructure web coordinator positions, and reduce Board of Education advertising budget in the total amount of $374,857. The proposed 2007-08 budget presentation at the April 22 meeting will include staffing.

BOARD PRESIDENT'S REPORT – Meg Wartman thanked Parent Network for sponsoring "Anatomy of a Teenage Brain" that is broadcast on cable network and congratulated Bob Ziegler for receiving an award from the Wisconsin Soccer Association.

COMMITTEE CHAIR/LIAISON REPORT – Tom Gehl reported that the Personnel Committee scheduled a meeting on April 15 to evaluate vendors for on site wellness testing. Steve Schwei reported that the Finance and Operations Committee scheduled a meeting at 5:30 p.m. on April 15 to discuss among other agenda items the long range budget plan and long range financial plan. Bob Ziegler reported that the Assessment and Continuous Improvement Committee scheduled a meeting at 3:45 p.m. on April 14 to discuss among other agenda items the Fairview South presentation. Meg Wartman reminded Board members that the Board Self Evaluation Work Session is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. on April 15.

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT – Matt Gibson reported that Cindy Ribish, grade 6 level leader at Pilgrim Park, was the District recipient of the 2008 Brookfield Jaycees Distinguished Service Award on April 4.

APRIL 22, 2008 AGENDA ITEMS AND PROCESS – A reception is scheduled at 6:00 p.m. to recognize Board members Patrick Murphy and Cheri Sylla, 2007-08 Student Representatives, and 2007-08 gift donors. A presentation, Together We Celebrate Success, will recognize Board Members Patrick Murphy and Cheri Sylla, 2007-08 Student Representatives, and 2007-08 gifts to the District. Projected action items include Purchasing Prior to the Annual Meeting, Human Growth and Development Next Steps, Policy and Practice Statement 6154 – Homework, 2008-09 Proposed Budget Review, High School Facilities Next Steps, Project Lead the Way, Long Term Financial Plan, and 2008-09 Board Committee and Liaison Policy.

ANNOUNCEMENTS – The Board scheduled a special meeting to immediately follow the 6:00 p.m. April 29 Strategic Planning Work Session for the purpose of Election of Officers and take action on the 2008-09 Board Committee and Liaison structure. Staff and volunteers were acknowledged for their help to prepare for the successful April 1 referendum.

Motion by Tom Gehl to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Patrick Murphy and carried on a voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 11:20 p.m.

/s/Meg T. Wartman, Board President