April 14, 2014 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  Discussion about HRA’s in schools, and the AFG value proposition that Associated Financial brings to school district clients.

Description:  Recognition of contributions by the MPHS Band as the brass band performs for the board.  

Band Florida trip – performance was very well attended, and well received with a very large crowd.  Our clinic went extremely well and students learned about the process of making a movie soundtrack.  The music performed was changed by Disney to be more challenging music because MP students could be successful with it.  A DVD of our movie soundtrack made is available.  The students had about a half hour to learn the music and record it.  Mr. Nevers was very impressed with what students could do in 4 minutes.
 
Solo and Ensemble – Numerous events qualified to compete at the state solo and ensemble competition.  State is at UW Platteville on Saturday, April 26th.  The brass quintet performing for the board is one of the groups heading on to state competition.
 
Honors Festivals – Several students have been selected to perform in different honor groups around the state during the 3rd quarter.
 
UW Platteville Tri-State Honors Band:  Elizabeth Myers (Section leader), Stephanie Prochaska, Carson Gilbert (section leader); Friday and Saturday, February 14th and 15th
 
National Band Association Wisconsin Chapter Honors Band in Wisconsin Rapids: Carson Gilbert and Elizabeth Myers were selected;  January 17 and 18
 
SWAL Conference Honors Band: Students selected: Hannah Owens (section leader), Kyla Sprain, Mikalah Enright, Caleb Mitchell, Nolan Pfaff, Elizabeth Myers (section leader), Alexa Sparks, Carson Gilbert (Section leader), Stephanie Prochaska (section leader), Luke Nelson, Blake Chambers, Richie Haase ; January 9th and 11th.
 
Basketball Pepbands – students had a lot of fun!!

Greg Pittz, on behalf of the class of 1972, presents to the board a picture of the entire class to be hung on the wall at MPHS with other graduate classes.

Haakon Schriefer will compete in the National History Bee in Atlanta, GA. 

Description:  Dick Cates, Assembly of the 51st District and resident of Iowa County requested to greet the board.

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:  Jean Flanagan, MPSD Assistant to the Superintendent, has requested to retire commencing with the 2014-2015 school year.

Judy Gallagher, MPHS Library Instructional Assistant,  has requested to retire commencing with the end of the school year on June 5, 2014.

Description:  There are no staff appointments at this time.

Description:  Due to a decrease in Special Education numbers a reduction in staffing of .5FTE in the content area of Special Education is recommended.  

Description:  Approval of the purchase of a scrubber, addition to the seal coating capital maintenance project, and awning at the elementary door to the upper parking lot is recommended to the board for approval.

Description:  The 4th grade is projected to have 49 students next year.  Ms. Palzkill requested the board consider adding another teacher to the Elementary school so the classes would be 16-17 students each instead of 24-25 students.  The District projects the cost to be about $65k per year.  
 
The policy recommends a class size of 20 students, but the district is not bound to that number (as the policy states).  An additional 4th grade teacher brings the student number under the policy by 4 students.  Without the additional teacher the student number is over the policy by 4-5.  

The finance committee did not make a recommendation. 

Description:  Mike Goff, First Student Representative, and Todd Schmitz, Transportation Coordinator, addressed the board regarding the current transportation contract and renewing the contract with First Student.

The District consolidates services with Pecatonica.  The Transportation Coordinator's salary and a 'floater' bus are shared costs between the two districts reducing the current contract rates. 

As a result of cost savings through the consolidation and partnership with Pecatonica, the District recommends the board take action to renew the First Student Contract without a RFP.

The board voted not to go to RFP and negotiate with First Student.  Negotiations failed.  The finance committee recommends proceeding with a RFP for transportation.

Description:  The District has received a proposal from the Nutrition Coordinator Michelle Denk that recommends changes to the staffing model for food service for the upcoming school year.  

The District has also received a proposal to outsource food service from one vendor who works with schools in the greater Madison area.

The board is asked to give direction to the District on whether to maintain current staffing levels, proceed with the proposal made by Ms. Denk, or proceed with a RFP from food service vendors.  

Description:  The board approved an agreement at the last regular meeting to secure a note in the amount of $250,000 for purposes of building a community stadium at MPHS conditional upon payments for the note being made annually by fundraising efforts and third party gifts.  Following the vote, the board requested that the short fall of any repayment be made by legal entities or individuals.

Before the board is a stadium agreement naming individuals Ted and Mary Palzkill and Everett and Pat Lindsey as guarantors to any annual repayment shortfall.

The District recommends approval.

Description:  The second reading of the credit card policy is before the board for approval.

Description:  The second reading of governance policies is before the board for approval.

Description:  A final school calendar for the 2014-2015 school year is before the board for approval.

Description:  The board received a proposal from a committee of teachers and the superintendent that contains recommendations for how to proceed with evaluations and compensation for the current and upcoming school years.  The board may accept, reject, or modify the proposal as presented.

Description:  The board may convene in possible session Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c)