Board Minutes – January 18, 2016

MEETING MINUTES…WHITEHALL BOARD OF EDUCATION…January 18, 2016

The January 18, 2016 meeting of the Whitehall Board of Education was held at Whitehall Memorial Conference Room. David Skoyen called the meeting to order at 6:32 pm. Roll was called and a quorum established. Other Board members present: George Everson, Byron Fields, Kristen Carroll, Julie Dokkestul and Jason Molis. Absent: Leah Johnson. Others present: Superintendent/6-12 Principal, Mike Beighley; Elementary Principal, Damon Lisowski; MS Principal/Improvement of Instruction Director, Beth Lisowski; Finance Manager, Cheryl Maug; Reporter, Scott Schultz.

Everson moved to approve vouchers as presented. Molis seconded. Aye – All members. Motion carried.

Fields moved to approve the following items of the Motion Calendar:

  1. Approve minutes of December 21, 2015 Regular Meeting
  2. Approve minutes of December 21, 2015 Executive Session
  3. Approve Volunteer Contracts: Powerlifting – Josh Dubiel, Wrestling – Chad Coburn

Dokkestul seconded. Aye – All Members. Motion carried.

Beighley shared his recommendation that we not go to referendum in April. The District should be certain that it has done all that is possible before asking for additional operating funds. There is some staff leaving and couple of these positions will not need to be replaced. The referendum possibility will be reviewed as the 2016-17 budget comes together. The District can still go to referendum in November, if necessary. The District falls short of qualifying for Sparsity Aid which would be approximately a couple hundred thousand dollars. Sparsity Aid is based on the number of students per square mile in the district. We qualify based on square miles but the state cuts the student count off at 725.

Everson moved to approve no limit on regular education open enrollment for 2016-17 and to limit special education to no new students in K-12 Intellectual Disabilities Program and 4 total students in K-12 LD/EBD programs based on space and staff limitations. Molis seconded. Aye – All members. Motion carried.

Reviewed 2016-17 Draft School Calendar and a draft of the later start schedule for 2016-17. Fields moved to approve the 2016-17 School Calendar [only]. Carroll seconded. Aye – All members. Motion carried.

The first meeting to begin a comprehensive Board Policy review will be held February 2nd at 7:30 pm with future meetings to be held as needed so that the review can be completed by July 1st.

Molis moved to table the transportation contract renewal with Pape School Bus Inc. for 2016-2021. Everson seconded. Aye – All members. Motion carried.

Administrative Reports:

D. Lisowski –

The English Language Learners (ELL) student trend is gradually increasing. If this trend continues, district may have to look at increasing ELL staff in order to serve these students.

B. Lisowski –

Presented results of 2014-15 Badger (formerly Smarter Balance which was formerly WKCE) and the ACT test. The new test will now be called “Forward” exam; however, no information is available for it yet. The first opportunity to see this new test will be at a workshop on January 25th that Beth and Bryce Anderson will be attending. Also, have no idea when the test will be scheduled to be given.

Skoyen recessed to Executive session pursuant to S.S. 19.85 (1) (c) to discuss comprehensive staffing plans for 2016-17 and discuss/approve Administrative contracts for 2016-2018.  Time: 7:13 pm.

Cheryl Maug

Reporting Secretary