April 26 School Board Meeting "Unofficial Minutes"

What follows, should you be brave enough to read on, is my interpretation of actual events that occurred on April 24, 2006, at the Oshkosh Area School District offices on Eagle Street. Any opinions or questions interjected by me are in brackets. Any interpretations of bias are purely coincidental. No animals were hurt in the production of this event. Have a nice day ;)

Traeger Elementary students presented their school's new mission statement to the rhythm of African drums, specifically Ghana. [Great job, everyone.]
Traeger Middle School student council presented several spirit activities, service projects, and school store information. $50,000 has been raised and donated at the middle school over the last nine years. Students have raised $30,000 that went back into the school to help create a positive environment. [I wonder if the BOE could get any tips from them about raising revenue?]

Nonagenda:
None

Agenda:
None

Reports:
Saturday, May 20 will be the next community forum with the facilitator. Their report will be presented on May 24. [If you have not already attended, please consider going and voicing your opinions and concerns. This may be the last chance.]

Superintendent's report:
TABOR is coming back before the Assembly. Don't know which form yet.
Partners in Education discussed a future Summit. There may be one in October instead of waiting until spring.
Celebrate Education, there will be a celebration May 8.
OASD had several "Create a Book" contest entries and winners.
Merrill MS celebrated "Make A Difference Day" by cleaning up their school building and landscaping. [This sounds like a great idea for ALL OASD schools to make a difference, take ownership of their school, and show their school pride. I hope other schools look into this idea.]
Oshkosh West Yearbook inducted into the Walsworth Publishing Company Gallery of Excellence
Three Oshkosh West students named Wisconsin All-State Scholars.

Administrative Benefits Committee met

State Charter School Conference presentation from Mrs. Bowen.
There are 12 charters in Appleton.
renaissance School for Arts: OASD may be considering here.
Appleton has a charter for expelled students. We already take care of those students at district office. [Does that mean we should consider this charter or we don't need this charter.]
Teacher's in other districts balk because they feel charters are virtual schools. There is a difference.
State School Board Convention and State WEA convention will include presentations on charter schools.

Consent Agenda:
Voted unanimously to honor Dan Becker with a Service Plaque.

6b, 8, 9 pulled

1,2,3,4,5,6a,7 voted unanimously.

Resolution 6b for unpaid leave of absence.
McDermott opposes. We should be looking for a permanent replacement.
Vote: Sween, Traska, Weinsheim, Bowen, and Kavanaugh - yes
McDermott and Schneider - no

Resolution 8 Natural Gas contract. Needed to be amended to allow for fluctuations in stock market. Cannot set market until the morning when the market opens.
Traska: Questioning quantity distribution over three year projection.
Caufmann: Have +/- 20% band. Anything over or under must be bought or sold on the open market.
Vote: Passed unanimously

Resolution 9 Athletic Training Contract language change
Vote: Passed unanimously

Resolution 10 Wellness Policy
Schneider: Good concept, well written. References the rule with standards. Who developed? Why aren't we voting on policy?
Weinsheim: Several groups helped develop this including parents and administration. Relied on other school district models.
Heilmann: Board sets rules for developing Policy. Board votes on rules but does not need to vote on policy.
Schneider: We are voting next meeting on a policy. Is that because it has to do with administrator benefits?
Heilmann: Yes
Schneider: Elementary school doesn't allow soda, Middle school restricts. Language is strong. Encourages teachers to use nonfood or nutritious food for rewards. Will there be punishments for teachers handing out candy for rewards?
Weinsheim: No one will be "food police." Language was a suggestion to staff to be good role models.
Schneider: Sometimes a little piece of candy goes a long way. Should allow teachers to do what they know is effective for them. Hope yes vote doesn't prevent teachers from doing what works.
Weinsheim: Research into food as rewards states that it contributes to food related diseases like anorexia, bulimia, and obesity. Food is not a good choice for rewards.
Kavanaugh: Expect transitions to occur. Staff will get creative with rewards. [Lets remember that most teachers pay for those rewards out of their own pockets. A bag of Hershey's miniatures goes a lot farther and costs a lot less than a box of granola bars. Using a miniature instead of the full-size candy bar is also teaching that you can have sweets once in a while in moderation. Not to mention a miniature has fewer calories than a granola bar. The same lesson most doctors are trying to get across.]
Schneider: On beverages. Should soda sales be a facility decision? Some districts prohibit soda and kids sell it out of their cars.
Weinsheim: We will be replacing the contents of the machines.
Peggy Weist (sp?): Middle schools 2-5 machines per building. Soda and gatorade machines will be off during the day. Rest of the machines will have water and 100% fruit juice on during the day. Can track sales: 70% increase in water sales. Also increase in Pepsi and Mt Dew. Will have prizes in water bottles to create incentives in the high schools. [Since research was mentioned having to do with eating disorders, I would caution about 100% fruit juices. Doctors are noticing that substituting fruit juice for diet soda also contributes to obesity. Dentists notice that 100% fruit juices are increasing problems with tooth decay. Does Pepsico carry light fruit juices? I know Minute Maid makes a light, but I do not know if they are affiliated with Pepsico.]
McDermott: passing out is a compromise. Will allow to see if alternative funds can be found. for activities that depend on soda sales for their programs.
Weinsheim: Initial phasing begins 07-08 year.
Kavanaugh: Vote on policy, not rule.
Vote: unanimously passed

Future agenda:
None

Schneider: Thanked Dan for his service. Will miss Dan like misses McHugh.
Kavanaugh: Introduced Traska. He will be part of the Facilities and Finance committee [and one other, I didn't catch.]

Workshop #1: Charter Schools
Healthy Living Charter-Merrill MS
8:20 to 10:55 and 11:25 to 2:45 are instructional blocks [total is 6 hrs of instruction per day].
Rest of the time is stretching, exercise, relaxation, lunch, recess. Requiring one minute of movement every 15 to 20 minutes of structured learning.

Kavanaugh: You changed the children then they go home. Parents want to be successful, but can be set in their ways.
Panel: Brainstorming for various ideas like tasting new foods, recipe of the week, guest classes for families. If kids push, parents will follow.
Schneider: What happens if a program leader leaves the charter.
Panel: There is enough investment by rest of staff and students to keep this going should anyone leave.
Schneider: Do you need a DPI waiver for instructional time?
Panel: DPI are guidelines, not rules. Grant pushes quality of instruction, not quantity of instruction. We look for "time robbers" every day. [What do the parents thing of this rational?]
Sween: This is great. Hopes it grows. Hopes other schools adopt some of these intitiatives.
Panel: CDC, DPI, Heart Association backs this.
Bowen: Parents ask why not all schools. This is where we learn and then disseminate the information.
Schneider: What about the current lunch menu? [Gets expensive making different lunches for different buildings.]
Panel: Are looking at food service options. Nothing in place yet.
Schneider: Do we need additional licenses for changing foods?
Panel: No, we are changing one thing, not the whole meal.
Schneider: What about kitchen upgrades?
Panel: Looking at ideas of full kitchen in Merrill. lot of unknowns right now. Current food service is good and does things in healthy way.
Weinsheim: One of her kids was in a Waldorf Charter in another state [could it be California???]. Movement is awesome. That charter had salad bar everyday in K-8. His class (2nd grade), 90% of kids ate from salad bar. We don't know unless we try it. Can't assume that if kids won't eat it at home, they won't eat it at school. [I have to say that my kids love salad bars, though my youngest is not a fan of leafy green anything. He will eat apples though. My kids started eating some newer foods after trying them with their friends, though they wouldn't eat them when offered at home. Sometimes the reverse happens depending on the food. I agree we shouldn't assume, but we shouldn't assume anything. Mrs. Bowen said charters are where you try things, so lets tread lightly, salad bars are expensive.]
Kavanaugh: Assuming Peggy has to be part of that process. Hope that relationship grows.

Franklin Charter Proposal fro Planning Grant.
Want to implement Constructivism, Restorative Justice, and Tribes.
Constant process of assessment and feedback. Hands-on + sharing + reflection = mind-on learning. Whole school charter. Will use Theory, demonstration, practice, feedback, and on-site coaching and mentoring = 90% information transference-learning. Will also be student directed learning.
McDermott: How would charter be different from what already doing or working on?
Panel: Get new initiatives and have one workshop. The grant provides money for training so all teachers are doing the same with same level of expertise. We are doing this so we are not individuals working in isolation.
Bowen: Is triangle manufacturing your PAL? Lots of parents. Need to get more and different community participants.
Panel: Thought should approach BOE before recruiting community members.
Kavanaugh: Like creativeness of constructivism.
Panel: Kids are going to name the charter school
McDermott: Interested in seeing how can be self-sustaining as far as training.

4K Charter: Early learning Charter Planning Grant.
Meets need of 4 year old at-risk children. Start in Fall 2007. Will have classes at various sites. Will also have a Community Parent Resource Center.
McDermott: This is for At-risk? How do you identify and ensure those kids access? Charter has to be available to everyone, not just at-risk.
Panel: Have 25 member council with diverse opinions. Will be looking for heterogenus group. Hope to come back with implementation grant that will spell everything out.
Weinsheim: Critical, exciting, important piece id parent resource center. Neat component. [Will this extra be covered by the grant money? What is the anticipated usage of this component? Do you really think parents will use this resource? Where will it be housed? How will it be financially sustained in the future as information is always being upgraded. Can get expensive.]
Bowen: Anecdotally hear about 5k child with no skills. Have competition with parochial schools. Will support diverse needs? [If in competition with parochial schools, does this make it a duplication of resources?]
Panel: Need better understanding of our community's demographics.
Schneider: Will be voting on this next time. Will this be always for at-risk or will this become district-wide for all?
Heilmann: State says have to have universal 4K. [Then why selling as for at-risk? And what about Birth to three and Head Start? Aren't they for at-risk? Duplicating services? Rumors are that Republicans won't guarantee funding and neither will Governor. Who pays when grant runs out?]
Panel: Committee feels should have for everyone. Committee focus is on need right now.
Schneider: This will become all-encompassing in future?
Panel: Not 4K, Early Learning. Won't be replacing current programs like 4yr old ESL. Need to have cross-section.

Workshop #2: Benchmark Assessment Update
Developed rubrics for each subject area. Need freedom to be flexible with rubrics. Have made adjustments when necessary. ENCORE classes came up with common rubrics, though not teaching same things at the same time. Could not have done without collaboration.
Bowen: This is amazing.
McDermott: Really pleased with work done. Encourage to keep working on this.
Weinsheim: As a parent, education should be able to change. This model allows district to evolve with what's happening in this world. As Mr. Eichstaedt said, we need to be able to change.
Heilmann: Exciting for me and has to be for the students to be able to apply real world to classroom studies.
Kavanaugh: Pleased to see the energy at High Schools. They are usually last to come to the table. Encouraged to see Eichstaedt delivered.
Heilmann: Pleased. Pass on Kudos to all the teachers who helped work on this.

And so we conclude conclude our "unoffical minutes."
Good night, and better tomorrows.

Humbly,
Michelle A. Monte

Recount Costs Higher Than Expected

Here is a link to the online Northwestern article about the cost of the recount.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060506/OSH0101/605060335/1128

It seems the cost breakdown is:
Board of Canvassers/Recount workers: $3,656.32
Printing of extra ballots: $668.00
Dinner for six recount workers on April 13: $31.09
Legal: $14,383.50
City of Oshkosh (consulting, ballot transport, supplies): $591.00
TOTAL: $19,329.91

This is, according to The Northwestern, an estimate. The largest expense is the legal fees of OASD having an attorney present for the entire proceedings. In a conversation with Dan Becker, his legal costs were a fraction of OASD’s to have a lawyer in the room when necessary and on the end of a phone otherwise. Amy Weinsheim opted out of having an attorney present at all. I do not know if Amy consulted one during the proceedings.

According to the Northwestern article, the cost of the recount will be considered a variance and Brad Caufmann has not been notified if the district will need to find a way to recoup the costs. In these times of stretched budgets and limited funds from state and federal governments, why has there never been an emergency fund set up? School boards are part of the electoral process. As we have seen all over the country, every level of government can face the costs of a recount after any given election. In our area, we have seen recounts in city government in the past and Ripon and Winneconne had recounts as well as OASD this year. It would seem to make sense for each level of government to have some kind of provision set up for such occurrences.

Apparently having an attorney present was entirely optional and maybe the school district should have limited their option a little. Especially considering the attorney for the district admitted to not being familiar with electoral law on day one and making recommendations found to be incorrect. I am not an expert on legal procedures, but common sense would tell you when you are charging $200 or more per hour for your services know what you are doing or call someone to do the legwork for you. Had some preliminary research been done, Tony would have known NOT to exclude the ballots objected to by both candidates because of one signature instead of two. Tony would have also known to ask for absentee applications and exclude those ballots missing applications. Some of the legal time the district was charged was because of waiting for those applications at several points in the recount.

As for the cost of the recount, most of us live on budgets. If we have a service or item we usually buy and it proves too expensive for our budget, we get rid of it or replace it with something more affordable. I think Tony is very knowledgeable and very nice, but maybe we need to do some shopping. OASD needs to learn to spend within taxpayers means and plan for contingencies. With no emergency fund, what is going to happen if an expense comes up that is well over what was expected? Referendums? Close schools? Close the district? I guess we shall see what lack of preparation and no long-term vision does.

It seems the electoral process is a comedy of errors. Presumably many of the mistakes seen in this most recent election, will be remedied by the next. To say that there are errors in every election and the public doesn’t know about them until there is a recount, so it is okay is irresponsible regardless of how true. Now that we know what has happened, we need to fix the problems and work on better procedures. Nothing is perfect, but we need to make the electoral process the best it can be so every vote does get counted and the people in our elected seats belong there. We can’t change was has happened, we can only move forward and be better next election.