Maywood & Winnequah Consolidation Delayed

Susan Fox announced that the district’s food service staff have taken a pay freeze for two years.

Discussion and Possible Approval of Consolidation of Maywood & Winnequah Schools. This was listed as a budget reduction item estimated to save $260,000 per year.

MOTION: Jessica Ace moved to delay the decision of the Consolidation of Maywood and Winnequah Schools until the 2011-2012 budget cycle. Susan Manning seconded.

The Board had extensive discussion regarding this item. They talked about the need for a three or five year plan to address both facilities and budget. In addition, the question was asked regarding what would be the tax impact on residents for a referendum. Superintendent Gerlach explained that a number of factors need to be considered but a general figure would be $50 per $100,000 of home value for the first year. Also, in order to address the financial needs, it would be up to $250 per $100,000 for the 5th year.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Motion carries on a vote of 4-3. Norton, Ace, Manning & Fox voted Aye. Sobol, McCutchin & List voted Nay.

Discussion and Possible Approval Budget Reduction Proposals. Superintendent Gerlach went through the list of final budget reduction recommendations without the building consolidation. The total amount of the recommendations is the reduction of $1,028.500. Superintendent Gerlach indicated that if there are a multitude of questions, the Board will schedule an additional meeting in early April, as decisions regarding staffing must be made prior to April 14.

MOTION: Peter Sobol moved that the Board accept the list of Final Budget Reduction Recommendations Without Building Consolidation, dated 3/23/10 as presented. Jason McCutchin seconded.

After discussion and several other motions, the Board removed the following items from the list to be discussed at a later meeting:

· Building Budgets/Department Budgets

· IMC Paraprofessionals

· Elementary Related Arts: Reduce Instructional minutes per week

· Extend the walk area to 2 miles

Susan Manning made two motions to remove additional items from the list. Jessica Ace seconded both motions, but they both failed. The motions involved two items relating to Class Size and reducing staffing in the 6-8 Music programs by 1 FTE.

President Fox restated the original motion to approve the list of Final Budget Reduction Recommendations Without Building Consolidation, dated 3/23/10 as presented, with the above named items removed. The motion carried.

The Board will meet on Wednesday, April 7 to discuss the budget reduction items that were pulled from the list during tonight’s meeting.

MOTION: Peter Sobol moved approval of the revisions to the Board Rule 343.2 - Guidelines for Class Size. Jason McCutchin seconded.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Motion carries on a vote of 6-1. Susan Manning voted Nay.

The Board conducted a variety of other board business, which can be found in the minutes on the district website.

Herald-Independent Articles:

Maywood will stay open at least one more year

http://heraldindependentonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=21&ArticleID=1629&TM=66063.24

$745,500 in cuts approved by school board

http://heraldindependentonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&subsectionID=21&articleID=1630

MG Budget Decisions Must Be Carefully Considered By Dean Bowles

From the Herald-Independent:

After the recent public hearings and board meetings I feel compelled to write this letter. Your budget decisions over the next weeks and months will not be easy but are vital to the quality of the Monona Grove Schools, schools that our children attended, and my wife and I have supported for 44 years.


Three-Year Budget Plan. The FY2011 budget decisions should be in the context of at least a 3-year budget plan since state school aids will be no better, and probably worse, in the next biennium, and revenue caps are likely to remain. In short, this year’s $1 million budget cuts, while difficult, will be easier than in any of the next three years.


Fund Balance. Make no decisions that put the MG schools in a long-term structural deficit. I have heard casual, uninformed talk that “MG has a “slush fund,” “rainy-day fund,” or “money hidden in the budget” that could be used to save programs. Not so. However, MG has a minimal “Fund Balance” of about $5 million that is vital to the financial health of the MG schools and should stay at 15%-25% of the budget which is also Board policy. The Fund Balance should not be considered a “cash” balance but an asset that pays for ongoing liabilities during the school year to avoid high interest, short-term borrowing and low financial ratings. Tinkering with the current Fund Balance will be costly in the long haul and only make future budget decisions even more difficult.


Procrastination and Delay. Procrastination and delay will only make the problem greater. Act and vote incrementally with the best available information after you have had informed recommendations. Make perhaps 120% of the cuts necessary to balance the budget. All this should be done with the expectation that the Board will act on and amend the preliminary budget when the whole package is assembled incrementally.


Dean Bowles is a former Mayor of Monona, a Deputy State Superintendent of Schools, and Professor of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis.

Full Article:

http://heraldindependentonline.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=1609&SectionID=5&SubSectionID=127&S=1

Monona 6th Grade Moves to Glacial Drumlin

Reed Foster, PEP (Physical Education Progress) Grant Coordinator and MG Teacher, presented an update to the Board regarding the PEP Grant that district received from the US Department of Education. This three-year grant, valued at $541,000 over the three years, will help make a change in our physical education program. Mr. Foster shared information on what changes are being made in the district.

Location of 6^th Grade Programming. President Fox asked for a motion to accept the administrative recommendation prior to holding discussion.

MOTION: Jason McCutchin moved to accept the Administrative Recommendation to move the 6^th grade students from Winnequah to Glacial Drumlin, beginning in the 2010-2011 school year and Jill List seconded.

MOTION: Susan Manning asked to amend the previous motion and to delay this decision by two weeks in order to address open enrollment and budget decisions. The motion failed for lack of a second.

The Board had lengthy discussion regarding this topic, including items such as busing, furniture, and efficiencies in programming and staff. Many members indicated that this is the most difficult decision that they have had to make since being on the Board. In addition, some mentioned that they realize there are inefficiencies with not combining the 6th grade students and above all, they agree that educationally this is in the interest of our students.

ROLL CALL VOTE: Motion carries on a vote of 6-1. Susan Manning voted Nay.

The Board will vote on the consolidation of Maywood and Winnequah prior to the reductions discussion at the March 24, 2010 meeting.

The Board conducted a variety of other board business, which can be found in the minutes on the district website.

Herald-Independent Article:

http://heraldindependentonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=21&ArticleID=1600&TM=63049.93