RIVER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Monday, October 30, 2006
Regular Meeting
Middle School Library
7:30
p.m.
Board: Nelson, Taylor,
Roske, Pronold, Cates, Ferguson, Caraway, Rebecca Eberle (Student Council Rep),
Rachel Bindl (Student Council Rep)
Absent: Peach, Pitts
Admin: Benson, Hayek, Hoffman, Palm-Leis, Kaukl, Briehl, Hegland, Radtke
Others: Chief Wilkins, Officer Kurek, Herman Kaldenberg, Aaron Joyce (WRCO),
David Giffey (Home News), Paula Wedige (Secretary)
President Caraway 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. Roske moved to proceed with the legal meeting. Ferguson seconded. Motion carried.
School Safety Discussion
The next Policy Committee meeting
will focus on policies pertaining to school safety. Benson also noted that the
next Budget Committee meeting agenda will include discussion of increasing the
elementary guidance counselor from 80% to 100%, at a cost of $8,300, and the
possibility of reinstating the Police School Liaison Officer (PSLO) in the
district. The cost to the district would be between $7,000 and $10,000 annually
for the PSLO. The Board discussed the financial implications for each of these
two positions in light of ongoing budget cuts and the passage of the recent
referendum.
Wilkinson and Kurek both voiced support of a PSLO position to serve as a role model and educator in the schools while also increasing communication between youth and the police and practicing preventive measures to head off disciplinary issues. Wilkinson noted that the district would receive a well trained officer while only paying for a part time position. Currently, the village budget and time constraints of the current police force limit this type of arrangement.
The Board’s student council representatives, Rachel Bindl and Rebecca Eberle, both noted they would feel safer with police presence in the high school. They shared details surrounding a recent “white ribbon day” where high school student wore white ribbons to show they are opposed to violence at school.
Legislative Update
Taylor reported that a cross section
of Wisconsin school districts met with the School Finance Committee to give
testimony on the difficulties they are facing with present school funding.
Professor Odden, Chairman of the UW-Madison Adequacy Study Initiative, presented
his model for adequately funding Wisconsin schools to the Legislative Council
Special Committee on Review of the State School Aid Formula. His model formula
would completely eliminate the current school funding formula, revenue limits,
and the qualified economic offer.
Board Training
Opportunities
Nelson reported that there is an
upcoming Employment Seminar in December and the WASB Convention in Milwaukee in
January. A group of River Valley staff members is on the venue as musical
entertainment at the convention in Milwaukee.
District Goals
A third goal has been added to our district goals for this school year--in
accordance with state law, River Valley School District will utilize the
contract negotiations process to work with RVEA and RVEST to seek a more cost
effective health insurance program. Benson noted that the Board Negotiations
Committee met with the RVEA and RVEST and an outside consultant on October 25 to
begin discussions on seeking more cost effective health insurance.
The other two goals are to create new and different learning opportunities for all students and staff and to examine instructional methods and resources to increase innovation in how we teach student Reading/Literacy Skills (K-12). A committee of 12 teachers has been meeting with Benson to identify reading assessment tools used in our district with the goal of monitoring progress and changing instructional approaches.
Roske inquired about virtual learning opportunities for students and voiced his desire to increase these types of learning options. Benson will report back to the Board with costing information at a future meeting and noted the need for “added value” for on-line courses.
Proposed Upcoming
Meeting Dates
There will be three meetings on
Thursday, November 9: 5:30 Budget Committee Meeting in Central Office; 6:30
Policy Committee Meeting in Central Office; and 7:30 Regular Board Meeting in
the Middle School Library.
Public Comments/Open
Forum
Herman Kaldenberg noted his
appreciation for the district’s efforts to identify underachievers and then read
the “Serenity Prayer” to the Board.
Consent Agenda: Checks,
Invoices, Receipts – September 2006; August 10 and September 14, 2006, Minutes
Taylor moved to accept the consent
agenda items as submitted. Pronold seconded. Motion carried.
Consideration & Action on the Resolution Providing for the Tax Levy and Budget
Change for the Year 2006
Roske moved to adopt the Resolution Providing for the Tax Levy of $7,288,204
and Budget Change for 2006. Cates seconded. Polled vote was 7-0 in the
affirmative with 2 absent. Motion carried. Hayek noted that since the property
valuation has increased, the mill rate will decrease from the annual meeting
projection of $9.33 down to $8.94.
Consideration & Action on Resolutions Accepting Gifts
Pronold moved to adopt the Resolution Accepting Gifts of 67 drafting
textbooks from Grayslake High School valued at $1,000 to the high school tech.
ed. department. Taylor seconded. Polled vote was 7-0 in the affirmative with 2
absent. Motion carried.
Taylor moved to adopt the Resolution Accepting Gifts of $2,200 from the Spring Green Arts and Crafts Fair to the high school band department for a new oboe. Ferguson seconded. Polled vote was 7-0 in the affirmative with 2 absent. Motion carried.
Roske moved to adopt the Resolution Accepting Gifts of $600 from the Spring Green Arts and Crafts Fair to the high school music department. Pronold seconded. Polled vote was 7-0 in the affirmative with 2 absent. Motion carried.
Taylor moved to adopt the Resolution Accepting Gifts of a metal donation (dollar amount to remain anonymous) from Plastic Ingenuity to the high school tech. ed. department. Roske seconded. Polled vote was 7-0 in the affirmative with 2 absent. Motion carried.
Consideration & Action to Adjourn to Closed Session Pursuant to Wisconsin
Statutes 19.85(1)(c) for 2007-09 RVEST Collective Bargaining Preparation and
2007-09 RVEA Collective Bargaining Preparation; and 19.85(1)(c) and (f) for
Discussion of Employee Health Insurance Eligibility
Pronold moved to adjourn to closed session at
9:16 p.m. Cates seconded. Polled vote was 7-0 in the affirmative with 2
absent. Motion carried.
Submitted by Paula Wedige For Deborah Nelson, School District Clerk
04/18/07 pw