February 10, 2014 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  Haakon Schrieffe, rZoe Hay, and Will Straka qualified for the regional final of the National History Bee on Monday, March 24th, at the O.A. Thorp Scholastic Academy in Chicago.

Description:  If interested in addressing the School Board during the Communications portion of the meeting, please stand and state your name when the Board President requests communications from the citizens.

Description:  Danielle Swenson requests a FMLA leave of absence from the end of April to the conclusion of the 13-14 school year. 

Description:  There are no staff resignations at this time.

Description:  The District recommends approval.

Description:  Roger Palzkill will present to the board Capital Maintenance Request for the 2014-2015 school year.  The board may also wish to consider the option to install climate control at the elementary building.

Description:  Mineral Point uses a traditional governance model.  Some districts across the state use an alternative governance model featuring a smaller number of polices, usually less than thirty.  These governance models are built around four areas:  Results, Operational Expectations, Board-CEO Relations and Governance Culture.

Further discussion based on the book Good Governance Is A Choice by Quiinn and Dawson will take place.  The discussion will assist the board with determining next steps to what governance model should be used in the Mineral Point School District.

Description:  A stadium committee met to schedule two fundraisers, a "SuperBowl" bowling event on May 3 and a golf outing on June 27.  These fundraisers will join the scrap metal fundraiser and the NFL raffle.  Together the fundraisers for 2014 are projected to raise in excess of $30K and does not include third party private donations.  

The district has received $110K from fundraising efforts and third party gifts to date.  A pledge was secured from Farmers Savings for an additional $14,000 for the scoreboard.  This brings the project total to roughly 125K and contains enough in reserve to start phase one construction over the summer of 2014.

The stadium committee has considered a larger project to reduce overall costs through economy of scale.  An additional $250K is roughly 2/3 of the total needed to complete the project.  A project of size $375K would include field renovation, goal posts, scoreboard, fencing, and lights and not include bleachers, press box, or concessions.  If executed, the community field with lights would be ready for use starting the fall of 2015.

To secure additional funds, the stadium committee considered a WI Trust Fund Loan.  A loan secured through the WI Trust Fund is can only be secured to schools with projects such as this.  At 3% interest over 10 years payments would be roughly $30,000 and due annually with no prepayment penalty.  

If agreeable, the Grid Iron, in conjunction with the stadium committee, would make annual payments through fundraising activities.  Any shortfall not fundraised for would be covered through an agreement by a third party that would assure the board and the school district that any shortfall would not be picked up by the district.  To receive the loan board approval would be required as the owner of the facility.

Attached is a draft agreement that could be executed if the Board agrees in concept and a third party guarantee is secured.  This agreement would have to come back to the board for final authority as an action item prior to a loan being secured.

WI Trust Fund Loan Website:  http://bcpl.wisconsin.gov/section.asp?linkid=1438&locid=145

Description:  Progress to date on the curriculum mapping and alignment effort will be shared with the Board.

Description:  The District presents a 2014-2015 school calendar for board approval.

Description:  The Board of Education has completed a strategic plan for Mineral Point Schools that embraced a community effort for shaping the direction of the school district.  

In addition to board members and building administrators, the District wishes to thank the following strategic planning committee members: 

Rink Davee, Susan Webb, Barb Buss, Merle Freymiller, Glenn Kinch, Nancy Harker, Ruth Schriefer, Sam and Chausti Wienbrenner, Sarah and Jason Burkhardt-Sable, Mike Wagner, Julie Pompos, Sarah Fox, Paula, Schuette, Morgan Burris, Don Hay, Don Hawkins, Jen Dubois, Carrie Wilson, Bill Grover, Jamey Ross, and Jason Sable.

Description:  Principal Anne Palzkill's contract requires pre-approval by the board for credit reimbursement.  Ms. Palzkill is requesting the board to act on a request that allows for reimbursement of her graduate studies.