Black River Falls

May 21, 2007  

Meeting # 15

MINUTES OF MEETING # 15 OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF BLACK RIVER FALLS ON MAY 21, 2007 AT 6:00 P.M. IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM.  

Board Members Present:          Ken Artis, Ramie Bakken, Paul Bohac, Lois Corey, Don Mathews, Barb Sedelbauer, Bill Waughtal                                                                                   

Board Members Absent:           None     

The meeting was called to order by President Don Mathews at 6:00 p.m.  

Meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Notices of the meeting were delivered to the Banner Journal, WWIS Radio Station and Jackson County Chronicle and posted in three (3) public places on May 17, 2007 .  

Paul Bohac moved to approve the consent agenda. Barb Sedelbauer seconded the motion.  Motion carried.  The consent agenda included the April meeting minutes, monthly expenditures, Non-elective TSA Resolution, Fall Youth Options applications, the gift of $3,000 from Millis Transfer for football DVD’s and the gift of $10,000 to be used by the Tiger Investment Club.  

Sherry Erickson and a group of Third Street students presented Power Point presentations on a book titled Snow Treasure.  The board expressed its appreciation and invited the students back at a future meeting.  

Discussion was held on the 2006-07 budget revisions.  The district received $130,000 in additional revenues for 2006-07.  The administration is recommending the money be used for the purchase of another bus, maintenance projects or computer labs.  A final decision on the 2006-07 budget revisions will be made in June.  

Discussion was held on the 2007-08 budget development.  Jill Collins, director of business services, noted that the budget is now in balance but the district will face a large property tax levy increase due to a declining enrollment and a higher than usual property value increase; thus a decrease in state equalization aid.

The Board expressed interest in creating a Fund 80 Levy to support the BLAST program that has been funded by a Grant that will expire in June.  

The Core Agenda was reviewed.  No changes/revisions to the core agenda were recommended at this time.

The committees will be represented by the following board members:  

Policy:  Don Mathews, Ken Artis, Paul Bohac

Curriculum & Instruction:  Lois Corey, Ramie Bakken, Barb Sedelbauer

Business Services:  Don Mathews, Ken Artis, Bill Waughtal

Gretchen Sierk presented the School Forest plan along with Jody Gawron, Dan Nortman, Julie Jensen and Monica Lobenstein.

Lois Corey moved to approve the School Forest plan as presented.  Ramie Bakken seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

Dr. Richards reported that 141 students eligible for kindergarten in the fall were at Forrest Street School for a visit last Friday.  Transition day was held on May 17 for the elementary students that will be changing schools next fall.  Students in 1^st grade visited Third Street School , students in 3^rd grade visited Gebhardt School .  Kaye Henrickson, teacher at the middle school, will present at the National Convention regarding Nutrition/Obesity in Children.  Baccalaureate is set for Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. with the Scholarship Awards to follow.  Graduation is set for Saturday at 11:00 a.m.   Bill Waughtal and Lois Corey will hand out diplomas.  Kinder Kamp will be held

August 6-10 for incoming kindergarten students to orientate them to the district.  Elementary summer school classes will be held June 18-22, middle and high school summer school classes will be held for two (2) weeks, June 18 - 29

The strategic plan priorities are continuing to progress.  Brad Simonson, HSR Associates, is working on the facility study issue.  The Professional Learning Communities concept is flourishing.  The district is sponsoring a college course this summer to equip staff with the skills needed to expand the concept and to improve instruction.  Julie Jensen and Kaye Henrickson, middle school teachers, will be the instructors.  The High Academic Standards priority is making progress.  Bob Lecheler, high school principal, and David Roou, middle school principal, will report the fourth quarter/term reports at the June meeting.  The WKCE test results are still embargoed but will be released soon.  Sherri Torkelson, director of curriculum & instruction, will report on the test results at the June meeting.

WASB Report: 

A Leadership Conference will be held in June.  If anyone is interested in attending, please contact Barb Prochaska at the district office to register. 

Ramie Bakken attended the National School Board Conference in San Francisco last month.  She reported on the various sessions she attended and stated it was a very worthwhile conference to attend.  

• Future agenda items:  

• Core Agenda

• Resolution for Fund 80

• Resolution for Fund 73

• Budget  

 Barb Sedelbauer moved to adjourn to executive session at 7:40 p.m. under section 19.85 (1) (c) to prepare for collective bargaining with the BRFEA, to act on employee compensation for administrative and non-represented employees, and to discuss matters related to the superintendent search.  Ramie Bakken seconded the motion.  

Ayes:  Ken Artis, Ramie Bakken, Paul Bohac, Lois Corey, Don Mathews,  Barb Sedelbauer, Bill Waughtal  

Nays:   None  

Motion carried.  The meeting was adjourned to executive session.