SCHOOL DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON

JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN

 

MINUTES

POLICY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE

April 10, 2006

 

The Policy and Community Engagement Committee of the Board of Education of the School District of Jefferson met on Monday, April 10, 2006, in the High School Library.  Chairperson Schroeder called the meeting to order at 5:43 p.m. with Committee member Koch and alternate Stafford present.  Mr. Salmon and Mrs. Saelens were absent.

 

Approval of Minutes: A motion to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2006 Policy and Community Engagement Committee meeting as presented was made by Mr. Stafford, seconded by Mr. Koch. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.

 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOPICS:

Update on Formation of Strategic Plan Action Teams: Mr. Swartz reviewed the makeup of the four strategic plan action teams.  He emphasized that he is still seeking community members and Board members for these teams. 

 

Update on Character Education Initiative:  Mr. Swartz noted that the preparations for the June Character Education Conference are continuing.  He also reported that a major federal grant application for the Character Education program was completed and mailed today. 

 

Board of Education Committee Structure for 2006-07: Committee discussion on whether the current committee structure is working included the following points:

*        A “committee of the whole” structure could meet twice per month

*        If members were assembled as a full Board, agenda items could be acted upon

*        If the structure is changed to a committee of the whole, it could be changed back by consensus

*        Currently, the full Board meetings are shorter because work is done at the committee level

*        Committee structure allows for informal discussions without press coverage

*        Employee presentations are informative and could be seen by all board members with the committee of the whole structure

*        The goal is efficiency

*        Since reducing the number of committees to three, the system has been streamlined

*        Repetition of information and committee discussions often takes place at the full Board meetings

*        Third option: a hybrid structure where only certain issues are discussed by the committee as a whole

*        New board member(s) should have input on committee structure

 

Committee structure will appear on the agenda for the full Board on April 24, 2006.  Mr. Swartz will ask WASB for data on this subject.

 

2006-07 Board of Education Meeting Dates: A draft of a proposed schedule of committee meetings and regular board meetings for the 2006-07 school year was provided for committee review.  Mr. Swartz noted that he has a vacation scheduled for July 1 – July 15, 2006 and would like to move the July meeting dates to accommodate this. 

 

A motion to approve the 2006-07 Board of Education Meeting Dates amending the July dates one week later to the 17th and 31st and forward for full Board approval was made by Mr. Koch, seconded by Mr. Stafford.  The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.

 

Legislative Update(s):

none

 

POLICY/PROCEDURE TOPICS:

First Reading of the 2006-07 East and Sullivan Elementary Student Handbooks:  Both books should list area codes for all phone numbers.  The School District of Jefferson encompasses three area codes. 

 

First Reading of New Policy JHK – Wellness Policy:  School districts participating in federally subsidized child nutrition programs (e.g., National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program) are required to establish a local wellness policy by the beginning of the 2006-07 school year in accordance with the provisions of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. 

 

First Reading of New Policy GBH – Voluntary Insurance Products: Discussion on this new policy included the following points to consider:

-         If a product is offered through payroll deduction, should there be a minimum number of participants required prior to offering the product?

-         Do all products/programs need to come before the Board for approval?

-         Since this policy applies to all voluntary payroll deductions, the title should be changed.

 

Request for Waiver of Board Policy KG – Community Use of School Facilities: The Madison Division of the U.S. Marine Corp. has requested to use/rent the high school swimming pool for training purposes.  Policy KG does not allow this type of entity to rent district facilities.  The district expects to receive a request for waiver of Policy KG from this group so as to permit their renting the pool. 

 

Following discussion of the current language of the policy and its original intent, the committee may ask for a review of Policy KG in the near future.  Since the district has not received a request for waiver, no committee action was taken.

 

2006 Board Self-Assessment Results: The 2005-06 Board/personal self-assessment results were discussed.  In keeping with the timeline identified in Board Policy AFA, the self-assessment results will be reviewed on Monday April 24, 2006 by the full Board. 

 

A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Stafford, seconded by Mr. Koch. The motion passed on a voice vote.

 

ADJOURNMENT: 6:40 p.m.

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Secretary, Pati Fitzgerald