RIVER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Regular Meeting
Middle School Library
7:00 p.m.

Board: Nelson, Ferguson, Caraway, Taylor, Cates, Crowley, Cummings, Peach, Pronold
Absent: N/A
Admin: Hayek, Hegland, Kaukl, Briehl, Hoffman, Benson, Radtke
Others:  Herman Kaldenberg, David Giffey (Home News), Paula Wedige (Administrative Assistant)

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.  Crowley moved to proceed with the legal meeting.  Peach seconded.  Motion carried.

Legislative Update
Taylor reported that the 2007-09 State Budget Conference Committee agreed to accept an increase in special education categorical aid, establish a prior year base revenue floor for severe declining enrollment, and increase the low revenue ceiling by $300 each year of the biennium.  Also, the Education Chairperson revealed his six priorities for reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.  A bill has been introduced to require the DPI to provide K-12 schools with information about the new cervical cancer vaccine and to make that information available for students enrolled in grades 6 to 12.

Board Training Opportunities
Nelson noted that WASB training opportunities will start up again this fall.

CESA #3 Annual Meeting Report
Taylor attended the annual meeting and reported that the 2007-08 CESA #3 theme was “Capacity, Collaboration, and Communication.”  Nancy Hendrickson, past Superintendent at Pecatonica, is now the new CESA #3 administrator.  Taylor has the annual report document for review.

Public Comments/Open Forum
Herman Kaldenberg commented on the success of the recent Capitol Sound Drum & Bugle Corp show and noted that there are plans to repeat this performance next year.  It was also noted that the Athletic Booster Club is looking at concession stand improvements or a new facility for this purpose.

Consent Agenda:  Checks, Invoices, Receipts – July 2007; Open Session Meeting Minutes – July 12, 2007
Ferguson moved to accept the consent agenda items as submitted.  Taylor seconded. Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Resolution Accepting Teacher Resignation
Pronold moved to adopt the Resolution Accepting Teacher Resignation of High School CD Teacher, Brenna (Gerke) Siebold.  Polled vote was 9-0 in the affirmative.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Teacher Hirings
Crowley moved to approve the hiring of Sue Skalet as the new Signing Interpreter.  Cummings seconded.  It was noted that this position will be serving primarily one student, using monies that were already being spent to serve this same student through other contracted services.  Motion carried.

Taylor moved to approve the hiring of Sherrie Nurkala as a High School CD Teacher.  Cates seconded.  Motion carried.

Crowley moved to approve the hiring of Kristin Muenster as a High School Guidance Counselor.  Cates seconded.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Policy Committee Recommendations
Taylor noted that the Committee is reviewing sample policies related to the superintendent evaluation process.

Crowley moved to approve the first reading of Policy #762.1-Food Service Collection and Denial of Access to School Food Service Programs Due to Non-Payment which would deny access to the food service program when families reach a $0 balance and collection efforts have proven unsuccessful.  Peach seconded.  Motion carried. 

Cates moved to approve the first reading of Policy #762.1-Rule - Food Service Collection and Denial of Access to School Food Service Programs Due to Non-Payment, which states that families will be notified when their food service account reaches a low balance ($7.00) and denied access to the program when families reach a $0 balance and collection efforts have proven unsuccessful.  Pronold seconded.  Motion carried.

Crowley moved to approve Policy #431.1 - Full Day's Absence which specifies a half day’s absence to be the same at the middle school and high school.  Peach seconded.  Motion carried.

Crowley moved to approve the first reading of Policy #431-Rule(1) - Student Attendance Guidelines regarding how student absences and parental permission for absences are to be recorded.  Taylor seconded.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Adoption of Student, Staff, Activity Code, Coaches, and At-Risk Handbooks
Pronold moved to adopt the Elementary Student and Staff Handbooks for 2007-08 as submitted.  Crowley seconded.  Motion carried.

Cates moved to adopt the Middle School Staff Handbook for 2007-08 as submitted.  Taylor seconded.  Motion carried

Peach moved to adopt the Middle School Student Handbook for 2007-08 as submitted.  Pronold seconded.  Motion carried.

Cates moved to adopt the At-Risk Handbook for 2007-08 as submitted.  Taylor seconded.  Motion carried.

Pronold moved to adopt the Activity Code Handbook for 2007-08 as submitted.  Crowley seconded.  Motion carried.

Peach moved to adopt the High School Staff Handbook for 2007-08 as submitted.  Crowley seconded.  Motion carried.

Peach moved to adopt the High School Student Handbook for 2007-08 as submitted.  Pronold seconded.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Budget Committee Recommendations
The Committee recommends that the Board recognize girls cross country as a separate sport.  Pronold moved to recognize the girls cross country team as an independent sports team at River Valley.  Cates seconded.  Funding for coach’s pay will be discussed during RVEA negotiations.  Motion carried.

The Committee recommends that the Board increase school lunch prices by 25 cents.  Crowley moved to increase lunch prices starting in 2007-08 by 25 cents for elementary, middle school, high school, and adult lunches.  Ferguson seconded.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on River Valley School District/St. Luke’s Hold Harmless Agreements
Pronold moved to approve the hold harmless agreement to allow Plain Elementary to use St. Luke’s playground.  Taylor seconded.  Motion carried.

Crowley moved to approve the hold harmless agreement to allow St. Luke’s to use Plain Elementary’s playground and gym.  Peach seconded.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action on Appointment of Medical Advisor
Cates moved to appoint Dr. Kay Balink as the district’s medical advisor.  Peach seconded.  Motion carried.

Consideration & Action to Adjourn to Closed Session Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) for 2007-09 RVEA Collective Bargaining Update, 2007-09 RVEST Collective Bargaining Update, Discussion of 2007-08 Administrator Contracts; and Discussion of Non-Union Support Staff Retirement Benefits
Crowley moved to adjourn to closed session at 8:45 p.m. pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c) for 2007-09 RVEA Collective Bargaining Update, 2007-09 RVEST Collective Bargaining Update, Discussion of 2007-08 Administrator Contracts; and Discussion of Non-Union Support Staff Retirement Benefits.  Cates seconded.  Polled vote was 9-0 in the affirmative.  Motion carried.

Submitted by Paula Wedige For Deborah Nelson, School District Clerk

09/17/07 pw