Board Approved at 12/14/2010 Board Meeting
Regular Board of Education Meeting
Central Administrative Offices Board Room
November 23, 2010
Present: Allgaier, Gehl, Jones, Lambert, Wartman, Wilson and Ziegler; Gibson
Brookfield Central and Brookfield East Student Representatives
President Tom Gehl called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Public notice of the meeting was provided in accordance with Chapter 19.85 Wis. Stats. The Pledge of Allegiance was lead by Brookfield East Student Representative Julie Armstrong. Motion by Meg Wartman to approve the November 23, 2010 agenda. Seconded by Kathryn Wilson and carried on a voice vote.
CITIZENS' FORUM – No request to speak.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORT AND DISCUSSION – Brookfield East Student Representatives Julie Armstrong and Sarah Flashberger reported that Student Council hosting "Kids Night" on December 10 where volunteers provide child care with entertainment, winter sports have begun, and the Chamber Choir will be singing with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra on December 3. Brookfield Central Student Representatives Mia Macormick and Maggie Groose reported that the Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Dinner held on November 17 was a success, Key Club held a food drive, a number of clubs are holding a mitten, hat and art supply drive, more than 600 items were given to the Christmas Giving House, and a money drive is being held to assist families adopted by Christmas Clearing House.
Student representatives discussed the proposal to raise the number of graduation credits from 22 to 24 or 26.
CONSENT AGENDA – Motion by Bob Ziegler that the Board of Education approves the following consent items: November 9, 2010 Board of Education minutes; recognizing and extending congratulations to the commendations as presented; appointing Keith Brightman and Pat Felde as Deputy Clerks for Board of Education election purposes from December 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011; and revised policy 8300- Annual and Special District Meetings. Seconded by Meg Wartman and carried on a voice vote.
2009-2011 TEACHER CONTRACT RATIFICATION – Christine Hedstrom, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, reported that the Elmbrook Education Association voted and ratified the recommended Tentative Agreement for the 2009-2011 Master Agreement. Major provisions of the agreement included:
- Negotiated change in the health insurance plan design as of January 1, 2011: 1% insurance premium increase in the first year and a net 2% insurance premium increase in the second year of the contract.
- 2009-2010 per cell salary increase of 1.6% with a total package of 3.28%; 2010-2011 per cell salary increase of 2.4% with a total package of 3.88%; and an average two-year total package increase is 3.58%
- The 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 calendars were ratified by the Board of Education on March 24, 2009 and December 8, 2009 respectively.
- Contract language changes include: compensation for additional sixth assignment (reflecting the change in high school schedule); former nurses' contract language into the Elmbrook Education Association (EEA) language following the nurses group being absorbed into the union as of 7/1/2007; substitute pay under a 4x4 block schedule at high school; language changes agreed to for clarity and consistency; change in curriculum rate; health insurance out of pocket maximums increased to $2,000/$4,000 (single/family); change in health insurance PPO to save approximately 6.5%; change in liquidated damages for late resignations; clarifying the role of teachers when evaluating assistances; changes in new teacher training sequence; 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 calendars; and changes in policy 5131.1-Classroom Code of Conduct to reflect teacher's role in dealing with student behavior to help ensure safety within classroom and building.
Motion by Bob Ziegler that the Board of Education approves the 2009-2011 Master Agreement between the School District of Elmbrook and the Elmbrook Education Association as agreed upon in the tentative agreement finalized on November 4, 2010. Seconded by Meg Wartman.
Board discussion included appreciation for District teachers and for the work done by both teams during the negotiation process; the District is experiencing financial constraints and the current negotiated agreement will not sustain the District; explanation that salaries are comprised of lane changes (increment of educational preparation) and steps (for every year a teacher is employed they advance one step); and future negotiations should be balance revenues and expenditures.
The motion carried 4-3 on a roll call vote with Tom Gehl, Gary Jones, Meg Wartman, and Bob Ziegler in favor and Glen Allgaier, Jean Lambert, and Kathryn Wilson opposed.
DELEGATE APPOINTMENT TO THE 2011 WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS DELEGATE ASSSEMBLY – Motion by Glen Allgaier that the Board of Education approves Jean Lambert as the District's delegate to act on behalf of the District during the January 19, 2010 Wisconsin Association of School Boards Delegate Assembly. Seconded by Meg Wartman and carried on a voice vote.
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT UPDATES AND DUE DILIGENCE INCLUDING THEMES FROM NOVEMBER 15, 16, AND 17 SUPERINTENDENT CHATS – Matt Gibson reported that Hillside parents would not be presenting census information this evening.
The Finance and Operations Committee reviewed answers to Board questions and recommended moving forward with both the district-wide enrollment analysis and elementary building enrollment analysis. Based on the response from Applied Population Laboratory (APL), the analysis would include projected impacts of the district's aging demographics and related housing turnover. The cost for district-wide projections would be approximately $3,000 and an additional $3,000 for elementary building projections. Motion by Glen Allgaier that the Board of Education approves district-wide and elementary building projections provided by Applied Population Lab. Seconded by Meg Wartman. The Board requested that projections use the 2010 census information. The motion carried on a voice vote.
The Board discussed the cost of testing current grade 2 students to compare prior District 4K students and students who may or may not have attended another four year kindergarten program. Because of the time for test preparation and cost, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services Eileen Depka will provide the Board with aggregate non standardized testing data on current second grade students.
Matt Gibson provided initial feedback themes concerning redistricting tracts for Hillside and Tonawanda from the November 15-17 Superintendent Chats regarding.
A work session for continued due diligence and timeline on Enrollment Management Study Team Recommendations is scheduled at 6:00 pm. on Tuesday, December 7 at Central Administrative Office Board Room.
Four audience members asked why four year old kindergarten was not in the initial feedback [the initial analysis was limited to the redistricting objectives], thanked the Board and Superintendent for the feedback sessions, and requested salary/benefits reduction for all employees.
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM EARLY RETIREMENT PLAN RENEWAL – Christine Hedstrom reported that, following Personnel Committee meetings to review and revise the District Administrative Team (DAT) Early Retirement Plan that continues through June 30, 2011, the committee recommended an extension of the current plan for one year through June 30, 2012 to provide additional time for completion of due diligence to provide a benefit that is financially sustainable into the future. The Retirement Plan will be an action item on December 14.
2011-2012 BUDGET PARAMETERS/CALENDAR – Keith Brightman reported that the Finance and Operations Committee reviewed the budget development calendar and parameters for 2011-2012 during their September, October, and November meetings. Recommended budget parameters include: 1) Provide funding to support strategic targets for student improvement; 2) Do not use reserves as a long-term budget strategy; 3) Explore and develop additional ways other than fees (e.g. grant development and private sector funding) to increase non-property tax revenues; 4) Continue to support technology through a 5-percent increase in MIS/IT funding (*not accomplished for 2010-2011); 5) Address facility needs, both short- and long-term, through continuing funding for regular preventive building maintenance and maintaining Long Range Capital Outlay expenditures with an emphasis on continuing to address the long-range facilities needs of the District; 6) Develop a budget that maintains a General Fund balance between 15 and 20 percent, as defined in Board policy; 7) Provide $500,000 funding to support Fund 73 - OPEB Trust Fund which has an estimated unfunded obligation for 2011-2012 of $3 million; and 8) Support overall percent changes in salaries and benefits that do not exceed the overall percent change in revenue (accomplished through package increases, FTE adjustments and class-size management). The Budget Parameters/Calendar will be an action item on December 14.
BOARD POLICY: FIRST READING OF POLICY 9414–CURRICULUM COMMITTEE JOB DESCRIPTION – Kathryn Wilson reported that the policy revised overall committee structure and efficiently uses the Curriculum Planning Committee. It was suggested that the Curriculum Committee Job Description add information discussed during the Communications Committee concerning survey data (in bullet #5 under #1). Therefore, the policy was revised to change bullet #5 to "Monitor the progress of action plans for surveys related to curriculum and school and District improvement". Policy 9414 will be an action item on the December 14 agenda.
2011-2012 COURSE PROPOSALS – Mary Washbush, Director of Student Learning, reported that the Curriculum Planning Committee reviewed and recommended support for two new high school courses titled Abnormal Psychology and Crime, Society and the Law. Board discussion included purchasing textbooks for one section of the new courses, the effect the new courses will have on enrollment in other courses, and the analysis is used to remove a course. 2011-2012 Course Proposals will be an action item on December 14.
NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE – The National School Boards Association Conference is scheduled from April 9-11, 2011 in San Francisco, CA. Early registration ends December 30, 2011. The budget for 2010-2011 includes $3,200 for conference fees and travel. Jean Lambert expressed preliminary interest in attending the conference. This will be an action item on December 14.
BOARD PRESIDENT'S REPORT – Tom Gehl provided a reminder for the November 30 Elmbrook Education Foundation Ladies Night and Prospective Board Candidate Informational Meetings at 6:00 p.m. on December 8 and 9:00 a.m. on December 9.
COMMITTEE CHAIR/LIAISON REPORT – Jean Lambert reported on the November 19 Legislative and Resource Development Committee meeting. The committee is beginning to work on building a plan for resource development, two meetings are planned legislators representing Elmbrook in January and March to discuss unfunded mandates and the State budget, and following review of 8000 and 9000 series polices, the committee will begin review of the Board Self Evaluation form in January and at the Superintendent's Evaluation form prior to the next evaluation in July. Meg Wartman reported that the Thanksgiving dinner on November 17 provided an opportunity to interact with approximately 300 community seniors. Gary Jones reported that the Communications Committee spent time at their last meeting discussing how to standardize District surveys and interaction with area realtors.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT – Matt Gibson reported that the Finance and Operations Committee will review detail on Central Administrative Office relocation on December 6 followed by Board discussion on December 14; and asked Board members to RSVP attendance at the Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance Advocacy Symposium scheduled from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 9 at the Parkway Community Center in West Allis.
DECEMBER 14, 2010 AGENDA ITEMS AND PROCESSES – Projected action items include Board Policy: Second Reading of Policy 9414-Curriculum Committee Job Description, National School Boards Association Conference Attendance, Superintendent Mid Term Evaluation Date/Time, District Administrative Team Early Retirement Plan Renewal, 2011-2012 Budget Parameters/Calendar, and 2011-2012 Course Proposals. Projected discussion items include Friends of Fairview South School Update, Enrollment Management Updates and, Due Diligence, and Decision Making Timeline, 2011-2012 Central Administrative Office (CAO) Closing and Relocation Timeline and Options, 2011 Summer School, Board Policy: First Reading, 2011-2012 High School Schedule Implementation Update, 2011 Wisconsin Association of School Boards Delegate Assembly Resolutions (later placed on the Legislative and Resource Development Committee agenda for discussion and for action at the January 11 Board meeting), and January 11, 2011 Agenda Items and Processes. A Work Session on Response to Charter School Questions and Discussion of Next Steps is scheduled at 8:45 p.m. or immediately following the Board meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENTS – Gary Jones announced that he would not seek re-election to the Area I seat. Kathryn Wilson announced that she would seek re-election to the At-Large seat. Tom Gehl announced that he would seek re-election to the Area III seat.
Motion by Glen Allgaier to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Bob Ziegler carried on a voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:54 p.m.
/s/Thomas D. Gehl, President
