June 11, 2018 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  https://mineralpointschools.org/2018/06/pointers-reach-state-track-podium/

Description:  An appointment of a CESA 3 delegate shall be determined.

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:  Currently, the middle/high school entrance contains a set of double doors that lead right into the
heart of the facility. Although there is a key fob system at this entrance, once a visitor is buzzed in, he/she has immediate access to student-occupied areas. The District is asking the state for grant funds to extend the vestibule in the middle/high school entrance and add a doorway funneling visitors through the main office before gaining access to the building. This will provide better documentation of visitors and better control of who is gaining access to the middle/high school. Routing of visitor traffic forces a relocation/reallocation of office spaces.

The District desired the grant cover to cover the full cost of the project ($129,448) but was counseled only to request the allocation per building (three buildings at $20,000) for a combined $60,000 otherwise risk
receiving no funding at all. The Mineral Point School District started the 18-19 fiscal year with a $326,000
shortfall and made significant reductions to balance the budget.  To fund the balance of the project that is more than the $60,000 grant allocation the District will need to either utilize fund balance or go to referendum. Without the grant, the district has no resources to move forward on the project.

The District requested and received two formal proposals for a secured entrance solution and the request
submitted to the state for grant funding was the lower of the two proposals.  The Board is requested to take action to amend the current contract with FEH for the middle/high school roof replacement to include completion of a secured entrance to be finished before the fall of 2018. 

Description:  Questions and Answers from the previous board meeting:

What is the exact code requirement for the K4 student not being on the second floor? This is related to a preschool or daycare. Kids of that age cannot be more than a certain number of feet above or below the grade level. Kevin will provide this upon his return.

Does the bus lane impede the current baseball field? No more than the current track does. The lane is intended to be on the property just south of the school property. The track appears to be on that.

What is the seating capacity of the gym as shown and estimated? It is illustrated with four rows of bleachers. The average seat width is 18", take out rows and run the bleacher wall to wall and you can get 64 seats in a row. That is 256 seats. Add a row for more, reduce a row for less. It's about 24" per row.

What is the cost of a baseball diamond? FEH is bringing forward solutions.

How do we move 4K to the main level? FEH suggests flipping 4K with the library.

Bond Consult:  Attached is an updated analysis considering $11,920,000 of referendum borrowing.  Scenario 1 shows a single issuance with a 20-year repayment.  Scenario 2 shows a two-phase borrowing with a 21-year total repayment, which is similar to how our previous analyses looked.  With a more precise amount of possible borrowing, the board can compare a single vs. two-phase approach.

Mill Rate Analysis:  Mill Rate net impact reports roughly a $16/month increase on a median home of $150K over 2018 and approximately a $12/month increase over 2017.  The survey indicated that the tax threshold for a project was between $12 and $16/month of increase.

Description:  The preliminary budget proposed to the board reveals total revenues are decreasing 1% and total expenditures increasing 1.5%.  State aids increase for Mineral Point and local property taxes drop 4.7%.  The non-referendum debt service fund increases to repair and replace the Middle/High School roof and the community service fund represents a shift from expenditures previously found in the operational budget (police liaison and communications director). Open enrollment numbers reflect current rates as an estimate and are subject to change.   
 

Description:  The District recommends changing from $2000/$4000 to $4000/$8000 deductible, leaving everything else the same.  The HRA deductible "out of pocket" remains the same at $100/$200.  A change in high deductibles decreases the overall premium and saves the district approximately $95,000.

Description:  The Strategic Plan has the following strategy:  Connecting community and board: (It's vital that the community feels their input is heard and that they can take part in developing their school's culture.)  This agenda item gives the board opportunity to discuss what action plans the board might wish to reach 

We will develop a plan to “listen back” to the community by hosting regular listening/learning and brainstorming sessions beyond the routine and usual business of a board meeting.
We will understand that advocacy is part of the board’s business.
We will hire staff that can communicate effectively with the board and the community.
We will require the auditor to meet with the board to both celebrate successes and understand challenges. 
We will maintain a strategic or long-range plan developed with the transparent involvement of all of the stakeholders. 
We will develop a board action plan - 15 minutes to read an article, conduct a simulation, receive professional development from Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) or comparable.
We will involve board members in schools by attending school functions (opening day, luncheons, picnic, Parent/Teacher conferences, walkthroughs/open houses, WASB meetings)  
We will video all full regular and special meetings of the board where official board business is being conducted. 
We will review the policy of roles, responsibilities, and board ethics annually.
We will listen to the public and trust surveys and community participation.

Description:  The District considered options to fill the vacancy of the library media/technology specialists. Options considered were transferring an existing employee into the job, reducing the position, or dispersing duties to a current position.  

After considering the options above the District recommends filling the vacancy with a new hire.

Description:  The District recommends hiring Jason Smith to a 1.0 FTE High School English Language Arts Teacher Position.  Jason's salary is based on the Master's Lane, Step 8 of the 2018-2019 Salary Schedule.

Description:  Convene to Closed Session Wisconsin State Statute 19.85 (1) (c)  Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.

Description:  Discussion and action of performance, evaluation, and related compensation of the Superintendent.