Business
Meeting of the Board of Education
5:30 p.m., Monday, December 13, 2010, Elementary
School IMC -
MINUTES
Meeting called
to order by President Ferkey at 5:33 p.m.
Roll Call
PRESENT: Joe Clark, John
Daven, Sheldon Ferkey, Leo Thomasgard
ABSENT: Dana Duncan
ALSO PRESENT: Pat Sullivan, Superintendent
/4K-5 Principal; Marcia Sawyer, Business Director
OTHERS
PRESENT: Roland Hawk, Kate
Krueger, Houa Vang, Jean Stelchek, Michelle Smith
1. Consider
Approval of Agenda
Motion by Thomasgard, second by Clark,
to approve the agenda as published. Voting
yes – all. Motion carried.
2. Report from Student Representatives & Student Recognition
Student Council representatives Houa Vang, Lindsay
Larson, Brooke Daven and Justin Bruener reported on Christmas activities,
including a fundraising effort for needy families, student concerts, National
Honor Society’s food drive, a Senior Citizens Breakfast and ringing bells for
the Salvation Army. Kate Krueger,
Language Arts Instructor, reported on student recognition efforts including a
quarterly student recognition breakfast to officially honor Students of the Month
and a Take 5 award given to students who exhibit the 5Rs of Restorative
Justice. Jenifer Smith reported on a
class fundraiser in which the students produced marketing materials and made
and sold cranberry pies. Smith stated
that the activity promoted teamwork and gave the students ownership of their
efforts.
3. President’s Report
A. Board
Member Attendance
President
Ferkey reported that board member Dana Duncan was absent due to a scheduling
conflict.
B. Update on Port Edwards Environmental
Education Center
President
Ferkey reported that the project would be discussed later in the meeting and
the board would make a decision on how to proceed.
C. Next Board Meeting
President
Ferkey announced that the next business meeting of the Board of Education is
scheduled for Monday, January 10, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. in the Elementary School
IMC.
4. Superintendent/Principal ’s Report – Status Report on Buildings
Maintenance
Superintendent Sullivan informed those in attendance
that prior to the business meeting the Board conducted a tour of the 6-12 building
to assess capital improvement needs to be discussed later in the meeting.
5. Receive Auditor’s Report on 2009-10 Audit and Financial Position
of the District
Jon Trautman, of Schenck Business Solutions,
reviewed the 2009-10 audit report and management letter. Trautman stated that the three findings were
the same ones identified each year and are due to the small size of the
business management staff. Trautman also
stated that the district’s fund balance is indicative of the district’s strong
fiscal position.
6. Consider Approval of Music/Drama Student Travel Opportunity –
March 2011
Music Instructor Jean Stelchek reviewed a proposed
overnight trip itinerary to Chicago to take place during Spring Break. Motion by Thomasgard, second by Daven, to
approve the trip as proposed. Voting yes
– all. Motion carried.
7. Questions and Comments from People in Attendance
none
CONSENT
AGENDA:
8. Consider Approval of Minutes of Past Meetings
– November 8, 2010
9. Consider Approval of Financial Reports
A. Check
Summaries.................................. November
1-30, 2010
#1028, 19212-19383 &
20100058-20100085 - $299,112.87
B. District
Revenues Report....................... November
1-30, 2010
C. District
Expenditures Report................... November
1-30, 2010
D. November
Cash Balance Report
E. November
Substitutes Report
F. November
Fund 60 Activity Accounts Report
G. Consider
Approval of Gifts
Business Director Sawyer reported on
gifts of a piano from Jenny Corbett, kitchen appliances for the Family Consumer
Education classroom from Karen Isaacson, $100 from the Vietnam Veterans Chapter
101 in appreciation for a Veterans Day student performance and numerous
donations of time and use of equipment by community members in support of
improvements to Palen Field baseball diamond.
Motion by Clark, second by Thomasgard, to approve the financial reports
as submitted. Voting yes – all. Motion carried.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
10. Consider Approval of Contract with River City
Construction and funding for construction of Environmental Education Center
Motion by Clark, second by
Thomasgard, to approve the contract with River City Construction as proposed
with a completion date of May 1, 2011.
Voting yes – Clark, Daven, Ferkey, Thomasgard. Motion carried. Superintendent Sullivan reported that
electricity has been run to the site and construction is set to begin ten days
after approval of the contract.
NEW BUSINESS:
11. Consider
Approval of Refinancing of Note with Nekoosa-Port Edwards State Bank for the
purpose of buildings repairs
President Ferkey
reported that the board has been provided a list, which will need to be
prioritized, of needed repairs. Ferkey
stated there are clearly some things that need to be done but it will have to
be within the confines of the financing parameters. Motion by Clark, second by Daven, to approve
the refinancing of the note with Nekoosa-Port Edwards State Bank as
proposed. Voting yes – all. Motion carried. Administration will continue the process of
estimating the cost of specific projects and bring recommendations to the
board.
12. First Reading of Board Policies
A. Purchasing Card Program
Superintendent
Sullivan reported that the revisions to the district’s policy on credit card
usage reflects new practices of using purchasing cards instead. The policy will be considered for approval in
January.
B. School Wellness
Superintendent
Sullivan reported that the new policy was drafted in collaboration with the
school nurse, food service staff and teachers.
Sullivan stated that the policy is a necessary component of seeking out
grant money for nutrition initiatives. The
policy will be considered for approval in January.
C. Insurance Benefits for Adult Children
Business
Director Sawyer explained that the new policy results from federal health care
reform legislation and sets the guidelines under which the district will comply
with the new law. The policy will be
considered for approval in January.
13. Appoint Board Representative to the 2011
State Education Convention Delegate Assembly
Board member Thomasgard
offered to serve as the board’s representative.
Motion by Ferkey, second by Clark, to appoint Leo Thomasgard as the Port
Edwards Board of Education’s representative to the 2011 State Education
Convention delegate assembly. Voting yes
– all. Motion carried.
14. Appoint Board Representative to District
Joint Committee on Medical Insurance
Motion by Clark, second by
Thomasgard, to appoint Dana Duncan to the district joint committee on medical
insurance, with Sheldon Ferkey as the alternate. Voting yes – all. Motion carried.
15.
Daven stated he attended
the school play and wished to congratulate all those involved in the
production.
Ferkey congratulated
the board, administration and staff for its responsible fiscal management of
the district’s assets.
16. Establish Future Board Meeting Dates
Monday,
January 10, 2011, Executive Session at 5:00; Business Meeting at 5:30 p.m. –
Elementary IMC
Monday,
February 7, 2011, Executive Session at 5:00; Business Meeting at 5:30 p.m. –
Elementary IMC
Monday,
March 14, 2011, Executive Session at 5:00; Business meeting at 5:30 p.m. –
Elementary IMC
17. Consideration
of motion to adjourn into closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes:
19.85(1)(c)
for the purpose of considering employment, promotion, compensation or
performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental
body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, and 19.85(1)(e) for the
purpose of conducting other specified public business whenever competitive or
bargaining reasons require a closed session:
A. Consider
Approval of Minutes of Past Executive Session – October 11, 2010
B. Discuss
Status
of Negotiations of Labor Agreement with Support Staff, OPEIU, Local 95
Motion by Daven, second by Clark, to
adjourn into closed session. Voting yes
– Clark, Daven, Ferkey, Thomasgard.
Motion carried.
18. Adjourn
Executive Session and Reconvene into Open Session
Motion by Clark, second by
Daven, to adjourn executive session and reconvene into open session. Voting yes – all. Motion carried.
19. Call
for Adjournment
Motion by Clark, second by
Daven, to adjourn the meeting. Voting
yes – Clark, Daven, Ferkey, Thomasgard.
Motion carried. Meeting adjourned
at 6:44 p.m.
Marcia Sawyer,
acting secretary