Music, Art, and Athletics

While out collecting signatures, I am amazed at the number of people who want to see a change to the school board. Many do not ask what my positions on issues are, or even if I agree with their positions. I say school board, they ask "where do I sign." I have, however, had many good questions as well.
One in particular I have heard several times. What is my position on extracurricular activities, especially music and art?
Before I can offer my position, let me give you a little background of my personal experiences with extracurricular activities. I played viola in Orchestra and was on Debate, Forensics, Mock Trial, and Student Congress in high school. In college, I played intramural basketball and softball. I also took many drawing, sculpture, and ceramics courses. My husband played cello and was on the football team in high school. We were both in the Army and know the value of physical activity. Kent and I are both in bowling leagues and we have four active children. All four are in junior bowling leagues. All four take swimming lessons through the recreation department. My oldest daughter (Katie) plays viola and sings and my younger daughter (Nikki) plays cello. My Nikki and older son (Kyle) play softball and t-ball, and our youngest son (Jonny) will be starting t-ball this summer. Katie tried softball, but didn't like it much. In addition to what we have actually done in our family, I studied, in college the benefits of music, art, and athletics on the brain's development in children. I am particularly interested in the effects of music, art, and athletics on special needs children as my daughter, Nikki, has ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome.
Here is my position on continuing those programs in school. I believe art and music are the most essential, despite being the first cut from school curriculum. There is an abundance of legitimate research to indicate that both help a child's brain to develop in ways language-only based curriculum is unable to. In the case of a special needs child, art and music may be the only way to reach the child and help them succeed in school. Athletics is much the same. Movement of any kind has undeniable health benefits for most children. Encouraging physical activity also creates lifelong healthy habits, as well as, teaching goal setting, discipline, determination, and perseverance. In some cases, athletics are the only things keeping a child in school and encouraging them to succeed. For some children, athletics serve as a release of stress and pent up energy that is not appropriate to express anywhere else.
However, I do believe that art, music, and athletics are not the beginning and end of everything. As with any interest or activity, everything in moderation. What good is football talent, if you can't read your contract? What about after football, or heaven forbid, you don't make the team? What good is music talent if you cannot write the lyrics that are stuck in your head or read the press releases? How will you know you are getting everything you deserve and are being taken care of if you cannot read, write, or do basic math?
Every child deserves a well rounded education. That is the only way to ensure the greatest number of possibilities for our children's future.

OASD Meeting minutes from Dec 7

These are the minutes as taken by Teresa Collins at the December 7 school board meeting.

December 7, 2005

President McDermott called the regular meeting of the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education to order on December 7, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the central administration offices.

Present: Becker, Bowen, Kavanaugh, McDermott, Schneider, Sween, Weinsheim

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by students from South Park Middle School.

Public Forum:
Michelle Monte, 1251 Wheatfield Way, stated that the public is faced with more studies and surveys with no communication from the district. This district needs to communicate with taxpayers and our children need to be the priority.

Gordon Doule, 1225 Summit Ave., stated that praying is speaking so why shouldn’t teachers have the right to speak.

Administrative Reports:
Superintendent of Schools Ron Heilmann:
· OASD has 2 national board certified teachers – Shirley Rose from Shapiro and Paul Smith from Merrill Middle School.
· The Wisconsin School Psychologists Association awarded Christine Rentmeester a $500 grant for a project entitled S.C.R.A.P.S, which rewards students for pro-social behavior.
· Jason Jischke’s industrial tech program was chosen for the International Education Association Program Excellence award.

The Policy Governance Committee met yesterday to discuss and review Rule 433 Open Enrollment; Policy 424 Enrollment of Home-Based Private Educational Program; Policy and Exhibits 344.5, which Phil Eickstaedt will continue to work on; and Rule 431 Student Attendance. The next meeting is scheduled for January 10 at 4:15 p.m.

The Administrator Compensation Committee met on November 28 to review OASDAA's list of concerns and well as review policies from other districts. The next meeting is scheduled for December 19 at 4 p.m.

Consent Agenda Moved: Kavanaugh Second: Bowen
Minutes of the November 16, 2005 regular board meeting.
Minutes of the November 16, 2005 executive session.
Schedule of vouchers payable filed with the secretary of the Board in the amount of $1,251,471.56 for the Board of Education and $29,065.09 for the Recreation Department for a total of $1,280,536.65.
(A) BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education approve the appointment, temporary contract overload, change of assignments, temporary change of assignment, co-curricular appointments, resignations, and salary schedule as filed with the Secretary of the Board of Education December 7, 2005, in accordance with the Rules, Regulations, and Policies of the Board of Education.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education approve the adoption of a Human Body Science Kit, published by Science Companion-Pearson Scott Foresman, as a component of the Grade 4 science curriculum in the amount of approximately $32,000 for the 2005-06 school year as filed with the secretary to the Board of Education.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oshkosh Area School Board of Education approve the adoption of Introduce Microsoft Office 2003, copyright 2005 by Pasewark & Padewark, and Advanced Microsoft Office 2003, copyright 2005, by Cable, CEP Inc., and Morrison for high school business education courses at a cost of $10,000, for the 2005-06 school year as filed with the secretary to the Board of Education.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education approve the adoption of Design Kids/Inventor software, published by AutoDesk for use in middle school industrial technology, in the amount of approximately $18,000 for the 2005-06 school year as filed with the secretary to the Board of Education.
December 7, 2005
Page 2
Consent Agenda (cont.)
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education approve the adoption of PROLandscape software, offered through Applied Technologies and Drafix Software, for implementation in the high school agriculture Landscape Design course in the amount of $4,500.10 for the 2005-06 school year as filed with the secretary to the Board of Education.
Unanimous upon roll call.
Resolution #5 Moved: Kavanaugh Second: Sween
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education approve the addition of up to 5.04 FTE teacher staffing for grades 6-8 restructuring in the approximate amount of up to $255,000, beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, as filed with the secretary to the Board of Education.

Moved by McDermott, second by Becker to amend the resolution by adding "provided that the cost of the above additional staffing shall be offset by a reduction in the district's budget in the same amount unless otherwise approved by the Board."

Voting on amendment:
"YES" Becker, McDermott, Schneider
"NO" Bowen, Kavanaugh, Sween, Weinsheim
The amendment failed.

Voting on original resolution:
"YES" Bowen, Kavanaugh, Sween, Weinsheim
"NO" Becker, McDermott, Schneider
The resolution was adopted.
Resolution #10 Moved: Kavanaugh Second: Sween
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education accept the donation of $55,000 from the Town of Algoma to be used at Oakwood Elementary School for the purpose of purchasing playground equipment;BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Oshkosh Area School District Board of Education approve the agreement that stipulates to the conditions in which the Town of Algoma will make the donation as filed with the secretary to the Board of Education.
Unanimous upon roll call.

Moved by Kavanaugh, second by Weinsheim to adjourn to workshop session. Unanimous upon roll call.

2004-2005 Audit Report
This was informational only. No board action was needed.

High School Restructuring
The high school restructuring team presented an overview of its efforts. Included in its efforts will be a request for additional staffing for 2006-07. The additional staffing will relieve teachers from some study hall supervision duties enabling them to participate in core team planning. The purpose of the restructuring is about personalizing the environment for students. If students don't feel connected to the building, they do not do well academically.

McDermott strongly supported the efforts to move in this direction, but pointed out a $500,000 shortfall in revenue; therefore, in order to accomplish restructuring, a shifting of resources will need to occur.
Pouba and Parker both indicated that reallocation has been done and they are not sure how many resources are left to reallocate.

December 7, 2005
Page 3


Moved by Sween, second by Kavanaugh to adjourn to executive session to consider the employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility §19.85(1)(c). Unanimous upon roll call. The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,




Teresa Collins
Secretary

November Fifth Wednesday OASD minutes

These were the minutes as taken by Dr. Heilmann.

OASD BOARD SPECIAL MEETING
November 30, 2005

The Board of Education meeting was called to order by President McDermott on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at 7:02 p.m. in the Board Room of the Oshkosh Area School District Administrative Office located at 215 S. Eagle Street, Oshkosh, WI.

Present: Becker, Bowen, Kavanaugh, McDermott, Sween
Absent: Schneider, Weinsheim

PUBLIC FORUM

Wayne Traska, 3371 Collier Court, Oshkosh, WI: A question I have to address the BOE is, “Oftentimes during that part of the meeting when you consider Resolutions, each of you are provided information and have an opportunity to conduct research. My question is how frequently does the discussion and opinions that may be expressed by the public change your opinion on an issue brought forward on a Resolution?” Karen Bowen: I think a good example is the time we considered the new policy regarding the serving of alcoholic beverages at the Alberta Kimball Auditorium. On that occasion, I did change my mind when I took into consideration the comments of the public. Most often, I think I do have my mind made up prior to coming to the meeting. Another emerging example is the middle school encore – but we will have to see where that takes us. Ton McDermott.: For me, comments made by other BOE members or the public rarely causes me to change my mind because of the amount of time I spend doing research and considering all of the facts prior to the BOE meeting. In short, it would have to be some unique information I did not have ahead of time to make me reconsider. Occasionally, there may be a time where I did not make up my mind. And tagging on to Mrs. Bowen’s comments, oftentimes when I listen to information during the workshop portion, I have not made up my mind. Don Sween: I think I can also say that most times I have made up my mind on many of the Resolutions unless some new information comes to me. I have also received a lot of feedback from people outside of the board room that influences my vote. Dennis Kavanaugh: Every once in a while, we are thrown a curve that causes me to reflect. In most cases, the workshops “tip it,” and if we are doing our homework, we come in with a pretty solid perspective by the time we consider the issue by Resolution. I think all BOE members would agree that we consider comments from the community. I would encourage the community to comment more on the workshops since that is the time we are still sifting and winnowing through the information. Dan Becker: In all truth, there have been a few times when people have swayed my opinion – like leaves of absence. More often than not, some of the comments made by people who come to the table simply affirm my vote. Wayne Traska: I believe the Public Relations Committee is doing a survey, right now, and I would like to ask that question of each of you. It is not necessarily verbatim: “If I had one word to describe the school district, what would that be?” Dennis Kavanaugh: Solid. Tom McDermott: I don’t know if I can do it in one word. Dan Becker: Evolving…because without change, a school district will wither on the vine so we need to change for the good of our students. Don Sween: Blessed with a lot of great staff and administrators….so I’m not sure how to summarize it in one word….maybe fortunate. Karen Bowen: I have to use one of the words my interviewees used…and that was progressive. Wayne Traska: I agree with Mr. McDermott that it is hard to give one word to do justice without maybe doing an injustice…one word is maybe uphill. Karen Bowen: It’s an uphill battle keeping things going the way you want it to.

Michelle Monte, 1251 Wheatfield Way, Oshkosh WI: Today, Miles McGuire posted question #4 for the candidates [on his website], and that had to do with educational philosophy. What I read was disconcerting because what I got out of the three that I read was that board members did not have an educational philosophy. I might attribute that to the phrasing of the question. My question: “What are your goals or personal mission for the school district?” Tom McDermott: To improve the setting for our students so that each student achieves their full potential. Now, if you are asking educational philosophy, are you asking what I can do to impact that? Michelle Monte: What would you as individuals like to bring to the school district? I am just curious what your reasons were to become school board members. Don Sween: The question that came up with Miles was looking more for an educational philosopher rather than philosophy of education. My philosophy is that I want every student to have the opportunity to get a good education. I taught for 32 years in the school district, and I do not think that the school board, over that time, always communicated that well with teachers and staff. I want the perception that the school board and the staff – teachers/custodians/all staff – work harmoniously for the good of the students. We are here because we think we have something to offer to our students to achieve, become better citizens, and move back to this community. So I guess my philosophy is wanting to see all students succeed. I think one of the best things we have done recently is meeting the needs of our at-risk students by opening up East High School. Karen Bowen: As someone who has studied graduate education, I studied many of the famous educational philosophers. The things Don is talking about are goals. My educational philosophy is that we should create opportunities for everyone to self-actualize. I think we should do everything for everybody. Dan Becker: In short, my goal is that students achieve to their potential, but that in order to do that, we do not outpace the ability of the taxpayer. Don Sween: I think the school board needs to promote education as an overall philosophy and that students are as important a commodity as, say, the water department. My role is to push the limit for resources to make that happen. There are times that I truly believe that I have a duty to see that every kindergartener succeeds at as high a level as possible. I will cut other things to ensure that we have the quality in the classroom. I think students need to be put on par as any critical resource in our community.

Teresa Thiel, 246 W. 12th Avenue, Oshkosh WI: I did not prepare any formal remarks. Listening to Karen Bowen comment on how things are getting tough, my question is, “How do you determine what is a ‘need’ and what is a ‘want?’ How do you determine what can be cut and what should not? The cost of funding the at-risk restructuring is $1.2 million – so how will you determine what are the ‘needs’ that should be kept and what are ‘wants?’” Dan Becker: I think the question is actually much more elementary. I think the “needs” are what we are required to do. Beyond that is “enrichment,” and those are “wants.” Teresa Thiel: Then buildings do not fall under “needs.” So, with that argument, do we eliminate all athletics? There would be some who would argue that athletics are “wants.” Dan Becker: I do believe that athletics do play an important role in the development of students. Teresa Thiel: Where is the research that says playing football will help student achievement? Now, I’m playing devil’s advocate because I have a child that lives for those types of opportunities. We are talking about 17 Math Resource people. Tom McDermott: For me, the argument comes down to providing me with convincing evidence that one has more of an impact on student achievement. Show me what is most effective in getting that done. Teresa Thiel: I guess I don’t understand. Tom McDermott: My challenge to the at-risk people will be convince me that providing 17 Math Resource people will have more of an impact than an athletic program. Teresa Thiel: If we are starting from scratch, where is the research that says athletic programs do anything for students? Tom McDermott: I do not know any other rational way than to ask those people for the data. How did you make those decisions when you were on the board? Teresa Thiel: I was not always in favor of keeping taxes at the lowest rate possible. I think most people are willing to pay more if they can be convinced that this will make a difference. Tom McDermott: And that would be what I would ask those individuals who come to the table and ask for resources. Teresa Thiel: What’s enough in terms of convincing research? Tom McDermott: I think you have to look at the quality of the research. Some research is simply an article that quotes something somebody else studied. Karen Bowen: Some of it is quality of life issues – like providing lifeguards for the Water Park. Quality of life issues also extend to things like music, art, and athletics. It includes the things schools give to the public like music and art. Life cannot all be just about work. The schools in this country, and every country I know about, play a large role in that. Teresa Thiel: So what happens next? Karen Bowen: We have long gone past cutting the “wants” in this school district. And that’s part of my educational philosophy, providing opportunities for students whose talents fall outside of core subjects. Don Sween: As a teacher, I saw a lot of our needs get cut in the past. I think we need to do everything possible to find resources to provide those needs. I think the school district has cheated our students and cheated our community by trying to keep taxes as low as we possibly can. A good example is the amount of money needed for our roofs. I’m afraid that this is going to come at a cost to some of our educational programs. We need to recapture some of the lost revenue, but somehow we have to get back on track to take care of some of those needs. Dennis Kavanaugh: I think the wants and needs question sometimes belongs in the barnyard. It creates the “us against them” mentality where you have one party stealing from another to get something. The way funding resources are constructed right now, that is what is happening. We pretty much exhausted resources for gifted and talented to fund some of the special education needs. I fear the next resources to come under attack will be the “education in the middle.” We have some kids who would not graduate without wrestling, or the opportunity to play the violin. I do not think you can eliminate these sorts of things. I think you have to find other ways for the community to fund these things. We do not know what today’s kindergartener is going to need in terms of a skill set in tomorrow’s world. If you want numbers, I can find you numbers on the Internet that would support almost anything. I don’t have time to “research the research” – that’s why we have a superintendent and central office. Volume of research does not necessarily tell you anything. That’s when we tell the superintendent, “You have a $108 million budget, and this is what we want to see happen.” Teresa Thiel: I guess I get back to the $1.2 million. How will you decide? Dennis Kavanaugh: I really hope the product that is coming forward is the Cadillac. Now it’s up to the superintendent to take the first run at that. Maybe the superintendent comes back and says, “Here’s a 5-year plan to accomplish this.” Tom McDermott: To some extent, you may be pitting some groups against each other, but I think it is healthy to put pressure on the system so that we are evaluating to determine if we do have programs that are not providing the results we need – not wasting resources and the time of our students. Dennis Kavanaugh: Sometimes, it may come down to pitting the “weakest of the weak.” Ron Heilmann: My priority will be focusing resources at the classroom level that will have the greatest impact on the students. I remember that there is a request for at-risk coordinators included in the restructuring. If that helps out administration, that would be a “nice to have,” but it will not be impacting our students directly. Karen Bowen: We have talked about roofs. When I came onto this board, we did not have the maintenance budget we now do for things like roofs. The demographics of the community are not the same as they were in the 1960s and 1970s – not only in terms of the family but also regarding things like No Child Left Behind. Doing all of these things is costly. What we have happening at places like Webster Stanley happens because people like Patti Vickman find ways of bringing in money. I think we need to show people what our schools need and ask them if they are willing to fund it.

Dennis Kavanaugh: Fifth Wednesdays are a nice concept, but would it be better to have a quarterly meeting?

Tom McDermott: We had a few more people at the first fifth Wednesday meeting, and had less at the second and third meetings. Hopefully by the time we have the next one, we will have had some of the community meetings talked about in the long-range facilities process. This may spark interest and attendance at meetings like this.

Wayne Traska: Maybe this type of meeting should have an agenda topic list that focuses on one topic – but permits other topics as “fair game.”

A motion was made by Dan Becker, seconded by Karen Bowen to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m.



_________________________________________ ____________
Board Clerk Date

Notes from December 7 School Board Meeting

School Board Meeting from December 7, 2005

All members present.

South Park Middle School presented Frank Lloyd Wright inspired architectural art from their art classes.

Non Agenda Related Forum

Monte: Several interviews for a facilitator took place on December 2 according to a WOSH radio interview Dr. Heilmann participated in. The projected timeline will be that the facilitator or company will be on board by mid January and two public meetings woul occur after to study what needs to be done in the district with recommendations made in late September, early October. During the public forum on November 29, Mrs. Bowen revealed that committee meetings have been taking place including meetings where “branding exercises” occurred. Apparently indicating we are moving forward towards a $250,000 marketing plan including logos and branding previously recommended by Blue Door Consulting. Blue Door consulting has not posted on their district communication blog since September 2. What does all this mean? We are faced once again with more studies and surveys and no communication with the general public much less the families of students within the district. That leaves the overwhelming question of when are we going to see results for the money that is being and is proposed to be spent??? When I was in the Army, the standing joke was “Hurry up and wait.” This is not the Army. Our students cannot afford to wait. Our students deserve action and we as parents and taxpayers demand it. At the Fifth Wednesday Forum, the question was brought up what one word describes this school district. I toyed with the idea of POTENTIAL because our children are filled with unlimited potential. But I think NOW would be an excellent word. As in our students need decisiveness and action NOW. The taxpayers demand fiscal responsibility NOW. This district needs to communicate with parents and taxpayers NOW. No more surveys to tell you what you already know. No more spending without knowing the full extent of our resources. No more pushing out deadlines and asking for more money with few, if anything to show for it. We want results NOW. Our children need to be the priority NOW.
Heilmann: We are not moving forward with the $250,000 marketing plan. We are currently spending $30 – 40,000 on marketing.
Monte: Wouldn’t it be nice to have more communication so assumptions are not made incorrectly?
Heilmann: We haven’t had any news to communicate, but will consider communicating progress in the future.

Gordon Doule: Plea to allow teachers to pray in school. Prayer is speech and speech is protected by the Constitution in the first amendment.


Agenda Related Forum
None

Superintendent’s report
Two teachers were awarded National Board Certification, the highest achievement a teacher can earn. Shirley Rose and Paul Smith
SCRAPS: Students Creating a Positive School. Anti-bullying campaign at Traeger received $500 grant.
Jason Jischke awarded Industrial Education Association award
Budget summit to address priorities/needs
$6.8 million currently needs to be cut to $1.3 million
Still need to reconcile $1 million for 06-07
Special Ed $276,000 reduced to $61,000 because of facilities plan for future for
example
WISTAX states school taxes lower this year than last
Yesterday’s PIE meeting
Business /Education summit in April
Brown Bag lunches at area businesses to discuss 6-12 restructuring and At Risk
restructuring
Hurricane Relief
$918 to Salvation Army
Traeger Middle School donating school supplies
Oshkosh North Noelia Sayavedra had an essay recognized at a writers’ conference
Shopping Coins 4 Kids
Traeger Middle School


Committees
Policy and Governance met Dec 6 discussed Policies 425, 344.5, 431. Jan 10 @ 4:15 next meeting.

Administration Compensation discussed updating rule 223. December 19 is next meeting.


Consent Agenda
Pulled 5 and 10
Resolutions 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9 passed unanimously

Resolution 5 Restructuring Middle Schools
Becker: Good idea but concerned that something might be/could be eliminated because $250,000 price tag. Don’t know what to do. What do we cut or has it been trimmed as much as can.
McDermott: Also concerned. Supports restructuring. Moved to amend end of resolution to “provided that cost of staffing be reconciled within the existing budget.”
Heilmann: Come with balanced budget to the board by offsetting with the budget reconciliation. Is that what is being asked? 5.04 FTE is to keep class sizes 25 and under per teacher. Want to continue with register processes to be able to determine costs and revenue.
McDermott: Revenue caps will require us to reduce budget half million. Willing to allow administration to do program but within revenue limit.
Bowen: Don’t see need for amendment, won’t support it.
McDermott: Cannot raise budget $255,000 if can reallocate resources until new revenue comes forward.
Weinsheim: Should not only restructure if we can reallocate funds. Cannot support conditions. One teacher can’t handle 170+ students. Need more teachers to prevent losing at risk students. Will not support amendment.
Kavanaugh: We don’t know revenue caps for next year yet. We asked for the best product and it has a price tag. If you can find 100% great. If it is 80% or 90% but necessary, we need to cover difference. We want a clean package. Amendment is an unnecessary qualifier. Won’t support.
Sween: Won’t support. We knew it would be costly. Sends a bad message to designers of plan.
McDermott: I look at this as a reprioritization and realocation.
Schneider: Not sending a bad message. Tells people we are recognizing costs and spending. Can’t be for everything or will max cap and have to raise fees. This is a priority and could do within parameters.
Vote on amendment: McDermott, Schneider, Becker: yes. Weinsheim, Bowen, Kavanaugh, Sween: no. Motion failed.
Weinsheim: Plan states up to 5 staff. We may not need all five for all of the $255,000.
McDermott: Asking for the authority to spend up to $255,000. Have no problem shifting funds to pay it.
Heilmann: We have looked at staffing and can do restructuring for $315,000 for both middle and high school school.
Becker: So we can do both for $255,000? So we can amend it down?
Heilmann: We are going to balance the budget and are going to be able to fund the restructuring.
McDermott: So we are funding within the budget?
Weinsheim: Don’t we do this with budget reconciliation every year? Why are we drilling this into the ground?
Bowen: The workshop came up with this as a compromise. This seems to be a compromise to a compromise. Have some members so focused on the bottom line. This was a compromise.
Kavanaugh: This is time of year for proposals. Superintendent comes up with a balanced budget proposal with priorities. Details of proposal will change but structure won’t change.
Vote on Resolution: McDermott, Schneider, Becker: No. Sween, Kavanaugh, Bowen, Weinsheim: Yes. Resolution passed.

Resolution 10, Oakwood playground equipment
Becker: Kudos for Oakwood for working with Town of Algoma putting this together. Who supervises equipment when school is out. Is it liability issue?
Caufmann: City won’t have to supervise. Citizens use at their own risk when school is not in session.
Vote: Passed unanimously


Workshop 1
Summary of 2004-2005 Audit Report by Scott Altmann and Dave Maccoux of Schenck Business Solutions.
Note: They were discussing a report I do not have a hard copy of.

Workshop 2
High School Restructuring Recommendations by George Pouba, James Hoffman, Thomas Parker, Julie Mosher, and Kathy Golen.
Note: there is hard copy on this.

Bowen: Important for teachers to have prep time. Some people think teachers only work from 7:00 to 3:30, not true also need collaboration. I hope we will not quibble about $250,000. It is a difficult process to communicate to public. Board needs to work together. Need to be more diverse, for example African American and Hmong students do not feel included. Need to figure out how to help them do that.
Parker: Kids do better if they feel connected to building community. Scores go up.
Bowen: This is true after school. Lack of connection and bullying. Kids are cruel. That has to stop.
Sween: Plan looks great. Keep up the good work. Hope the whole board works together to support this and the ten teachers’ assistants needed.
McDermott: Strongly support this. Need ½ million without restructuring. We need to work together to live within revenue cap. We need to meet needs of students but we have limited funds. We need to meet needs of students but we have limited funds. We need to shift things to make this possible.
Pouba: Always do this. Have already done this and will continue to do so.
Parker: We have challenges we have to face. Eager to work with board on this.
Heilmann: Have worked with young man to find a setting that worked for him. Transition to High School. Teachers gave up prep to help him and his mom. Didn’t want to go back to regular High School because of personal attention. Kids need personal attention connection with an adult to succeed.
Golen: We are not looking for a blank check.
Hoffman: Community needs to support and there are businesses out there who have offered.
Kavanaugh: Thought this would never happen. This enhances our image and helps us stand out. Expected cost to be higher. Will not give anyone a blank check for anything. Purpose is successful kids. We are serving community very well.
Bowen: Need to develop an atmosphere of trust. If we can work together.
Hoffman: Need communication through each stage.

Adjorned

Just An Update

December is the busiest time for all of us. It is truely amazing what we can each accomplish in one month, especially before Christmas. I am still plugging away at getting signatures for my nomination papers and meeting new people around the district. I recently attended a Christmas party at Robin's Restaurant. The party was hosted by the Winnebago County Republican party. Andy Turner was generous enough to invite me to meet some community members. The whole group was kind enough to let me stay though I am not a member of their party, nor of anyone else's for that matter. It was a new experience for me to be able to express my opinions and listen to so many viewpoints and concerns. I enjoyed meeting everyone and talking about their hopes for the future of OASD. Though I am non-partisan, I hope to get a chance to meet the other parties in Oshkosh. I am interested in each's viewpoints and hopes regarding our public school district.

Speaking of meeting new people, I have heard that Mr. Dan Becker will be holding a listening session at one of the firehouses Saturday. I am planning on being there if I can juggle my work schedule a little. I look forward to meeting some of you there as well. I have not been able to experience one of Dan's listening sessions, but I have heard good things about it.

I will be posting my notes of the last school board meeting this weekend with a bonus addition of the official notes taken by Teresa Collins for those who think I might be exaggerating or leaving anything out. I may also add the official notes from the Fifth Wednesday Forum meeting.

If anyone would be interested, I would appreciate some posts with your concerns. It is a bit challenging having a one way conversation when I already know the answers. I welcome comments and questions as long as they are clean.

Fifth Wednesday Forum, November 29, 2005

Fifth Wednesday Public Forum – Oshkosh Area School District
November 29, 2005

Present:
Dan Becker
Dennis Kavanaugh
Tom McDermott
Karen Bowen
Don Sween
Ron Heilmann


Absent:
Ben Schneider
Amy Weinsheim


Wayne Traska: How frequently does public opinion sway member decisions regarding resolutions?
Bowen: Alcohol policy was one time. Most of the time I have an opinion and most of the time it doesn’t change. Encore program is one I think needs to be looked into more before I make a decision.
McDermott: “Very rarely” will comments during the public forum change my opinion. I spend time before the meeting forming an opinion. Information presented would have to be big or significant to change my mind. I don’t want to make decisions in the heat of the moment.
Sween: My mind is made up going into the resolution votes. I listen but unless something new comes up, I stay with my decision.
Kavanaugh: Sometimes impressed with comments. On bigger issues, the workshop determines most of my decision. But you have to be sensitive to public speakers.
Becker: The public speakers have swayed my opinion on occasion, for example, leaves of absence. Most of the comments presented by public validate some opinions.
Wayne Traska: The Public Relations Committee has been working on one word to describe the school district. What would be your word?
Bowen: I’m on the committee, everyone else can answer.
McDermott: Can’t describe in one word.
Becker: Evolving. Without change, the district will whither and die. Change in best for our students.
Sween: Hard to choose one word. Fortunate would be a good one.
Bowen: The committee was doing a “branding exercise.” I would say Progressive. What would you say?
Traska: There isn’t one single word that can do justice. Maybe “uphill” because we are on a path up to a higher place.

Michelle Monte: Miles Maguire posted question four on his Oshkosh News website asking what was each of your educational philosophies. I was only able to read a couple, but what I read was disturbing. It seemed like members of our school board do not have educational philosophies. Some didn’t think it necessary and Mr. Sween, who was a teacher, didn’t have one and should have by the very nature of his past occupation. Since maybe “philosophy” was not the best word choice, what would you say is your goal for the district, have you been successful, and why did you run for school board?
McDermott: My goal for the district is “equitable opportunity.”
Sween: Every student should have the opportunity to get a good education. Past boards did not communicate well with each other and district staff. As a teacher, I felt that the board was anti-staff. I ran for the board because I wanted the board to work together harmoniously together for the good of the students. I want to see students succeed, especially at risk students.
Bowen: Every person in the district should self-actualize. The district should do everything for everyone, but I am becoming painfully aware that this isn’t always possible.
Becker: My goal is to make sure students achieve to their potential and keep the district from exceeding it’s ability to pay. We need to know that we are spending on the students before arbitrarily spending money.
Kavanaugh: Promote education and the community recognize that students are valuable commodity. We need to push the limit of resources. Classroom quality. We can succeed even with deficits.

Teresa Thiel: Budgets are getting tougher. How do each of you determine what is a need versus what is a want? For example $1.2 million requested by at-risk is a need, so what want gets cut?
Becker: I prioritize based on what is required by law, what is essential to the students, and everything left is a want.
Thiel: Then buildings and roofs would be a want because it is not the students with that logic. It is not that simple. We could cut athletics because there is no research that it improves test scores. I’m playing devil’s advocate.
Bowen: I have heard people say sports are frivolous.
McDermott: Provide me research to support one way or another. Prove sports does or does not help academics.
Thiel: 17 math tutors are needed. Private tutors improve achievement. Where is the research that athletics are good?
McDermott: Good question, I don’t have any in front of me. How did you make those decisions when you were on the board?
Thiel: If you communicate well enough with the people, they will be more willing to spend more money according to a survey. What is enough research?
McDermott: Quality is just as or more important than quantity.
Bowen: Also have to consider quality of life decisions like the lifeguards at the county beach. The recreation department is part of OASD and we are responsible. Some think art and music can be cut, I disagree because it is quality of life. We have to consider what the community will bear. We are past wants. We have to do what we can for every child.
Sween: I saw a lot of needs cut. No wants are left to cut. Need to find resources to keep and get needs. We have cheated our students by not spending enough on needs. Roof expenses are going to have to come at expense of educational needs. Priority right now is building maintenance, especially roofs.
Kavanaugh: We have to end redistributing funds to cover needs at cost of things like special education and to make up for that we have to take from something else. Music and athletics could be all it takes to keep a child motivated and interested enough to graduate. Can’t afford to eliminate anything. You can find research on anything you want if you look. Have to base decisions on what you want to accomplish with needs versus wants. It is the Superintendent’s job to research and make recommendations.
Thiel: How do you decide for the $1.2 million?
Kavanaugh: Committees research and make recommendation after the Superintendent inputs his information. Those recommendations go to the board as the best plan possible.
McDermott: Need to put pressure on the system to get rid of what doesn’t work and to come up with a better plan so we are not wasting resources or time.
Heilmann: We look at what things are included in report to help students and make administration’s job easier. Staff is overstretched as is and can’t put more on them if it takes away from teachers teaching.
Bowen: There wasn’t a capital improvements item in the budget until Mr. Sween and I got on the board. Oshkosh is getting a Lincoln Continental education at the cost of an old Ford. People still expect that, but district can’t maintain. Need to expect higher costs for quality education. It takes money to do these things. We only have “one media outlet in Oshkosh” so it is difficult to let people know what is needed and how things change. Need to show truth about our schools and improvements needed. “If someone doesn’t want to pay taxes…well?”

End Forum
Final note from board: Long range facilities committee will have both invited and open committee focus groups by next open forum meeting in March. Meet with particularly retirees, key business owner, and minorities.