Board: Anderson,
Nelson, Pitts, Pronold, Taylor, Caraway, Roske, Limmex, Peach
Absent:
N/A
Admin: Benson, Hoffman, Hayek, Briehl, Palm-Leis, Kaukl
Others: William Sanchez, Jeanene King, Jill Haas, Shari Graffunder, Sheila Pulvermacher, Harvey Pulvermacher, Carla Carmody, Nate Robson, Martin Mater, David Reichenberger, Rose Ellen Schneider, Todd Miller, Paul Cummings, Jackie Passant, Sue Gereau, Sue Sadler, Jean Alt, Susan Kilmer, Bridget Roberts, Tony Cavagnetto, David Giffey (Home News), Paula Wedige (Administrative Assistant)
Anderson opened the meeting. He noted that the meeting had been properly noticed and notice had been provided to the appropriate media and each School Board Member. Pitts moved to proceed with the legal meeting. Peach seconded. Motion carried.
Board Training
Opportunities
Nelson noted upcoming WASB conferences
on April 22 and May 6 regarding post-employment benefits as well as the 2005
Spring Academies on May 7 and 14.
Legislative Update
Taylor provided a legislative update
and the e-mail addresses and phone numbers for Schultz, Freese, and Doyle.
March 16 is WASB’s Day at the Capitol and March 22 is the Assembly Education
Committee Hearing to discuss allowing school districts to carry forward 100
percent of their unused revenue limit authority to the succeeding school year
and eliminate the 180-day requirement for schools while maintaining the hours of
instruction.
The Board’s March 1 meeting in Madison with Schultz and Freese was not encouraging as far as seeing any changes in the way school districts are funded.
Student Council Report
It was reported that many students
will be advancing in competition for forensics, solo/ensemble, and mock trial.
The boys basketball team is participating in sectional semifinals, Ashley Ryan
is going to state for gymnastics, Jeff Crook is going to state in wrestling, and
the boys ski team is going to state.
Review
Important Upcoming Dates
Upcoming Board meeting dates and the timeline for teacher layoffs were both
discussed.
Update From Policy
Committee
The Committee met and discussed the
possibility of a new policy that would allow random drug testing of student
athletes and co-curricular participants. No action was taken.
Discussion of Budget
Deficit 2005-06 and 2006-07
The proposed list of budget cuts that
was discussed at the January 13 and February 10 Board meetings was again
reviewed. The effects of using fund balance and short term borrowing were also
discussed. Administration recommended $197,000 in budget cuts (about half of
the items initially recommended for cuts) and to use fund balance to cover the
remaining deficit for 2005-06.
Consent Agenda: Checks, Invoices,
Receipts–February 2005; Open Session Minutes–February 10, 2005
Limmex moved to approve the consent
agenda items without the February 10, 2005, minutes, which were not available.
Pitts seconded. Motion carried.
Consideration & Action on
Budget Committee Recommendations
Roske moved to approve the
recommendation of the Budget Committee to approve the refinancing/advance
refunding of the district’s 1998 bond and to give authority to the district’s
business manager to work with RBC Dain Rauscher to determine if and when to
proceed with locking down the advanced refunding window of opportunity, assuming
it still provides financial savings to the district. Taylor seconded. It was
estimated that the refinancing would yield an $18,000 annual savings. Motion
carried.
Consideration & Action on
2005-06 Budget Cuts
Limmex moved to make the following
cuts for the 2005-06 school year for a total of $197,000 and to cover the
remainder of the deficit from fund balance:
- Eliminate one elementary principal position
- Reduce instructional assistants to 7 hours or less per day (equivalent to
reduction of 1.0 FTE support staff position)
- Eliminate 1.4 FTE (11.5 hours per day) night cleaner/custodian position
- Eliminate 1 FTE high school social studies teacher position
- Eliminate .5 FTE high school English teacher position
- Use of Fund 80
- Building level budget reductions (materials, supplies, and equipment)
- Eliminate cook or cook helper at high school
- Reduce 2 middle school cooks from 8 hours to 7 hours per day
Pronold second. Motion carried.
Consideration & Action on
CESA #3 Services Contract
Limmex moved to approve the 2005-06
CESA #3 services contract at a cost of $35,449. Pitts seconded. Motion
carried.
Consideration & Action on
CESA #5 Services Contract
Limmex moved to approve the 2005-06
CESA #5 services contract at a cost of $9,640 for distance learning. Taylor
seconded. It was noted that three River Valley teachers are also
instructors of some distance learning classes. Motion carried.
Consideration & Action on
Resolution Accepting Gifts
Taylor moved to adopt the Resolution
Accepting Gifts of $174 in materials and supplies for the madrigal dinner from
an anonymous donor. Pitts seconded. Polled vote was 9-0 in the affirmative.
Motion carried.
Consideration & Action
on Special Meeting Date – March 17 or 28, 2005
Peach moved to set a special meeting
on April 4, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. in the middle school library. Taylor seconded.
Motion carried.
Consideration & Action to
Adjourn to Closed Session Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes
19.85(1)(c)
for
2005-07
RVEA and RVEST Collective Bargaining Updates
and Discussion of Administrator Evaluations and
Contracts
Taylor moved to adjourn to closed
session at 9:10 p.m. pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes
19.85(1)(c)
for 2005-07
RVEA and RVEST Collective Bargaining Updates
and Discussion of Administrator Evaluations and
Contracts. Limmex seconded. Polled vote was 9-0 in the affirmative. Motion
carried.
Submitted by Paula Wedige For Deborah Nelson, School District Clerk
03/10/08 pw