The School Board Unplugged

Tuesday May 5th was the annual school board "working session" (read: no cameras or microphones) to establish Committee assignments and discuss individual and group goals for the year.

Of course there was pizza (looked like 4 medium pizzas and (2) 2-L bottles of soda (Pepsi and MUG Root Beer if you're interested). But very little was eaten. Oh...but we digress...we should talk about what happened at the meeting.

Carrel takes a new job?
The session began with brief member intros about themselves. The one note of interest was that Jim Carrel used most of his time to explain that he missed the earlier intros because he had to take a call. He has been contacted by a recruiter...a "headhunter"...and for some reason felt people should know that "this was the hiring phone call". Carrel concluded by noting that this was a great job because he "won't have to move and it will help with the people that get upset about [Carrel] not abstaining on checks [to his current (former?) employer, Johnson Controls].

Individual goals
An interesting session where each board member discussed his/her "hot issues".

David Stackhouse: Now that the high school space issue has been resolved, wants to focus on "something else", like connectedness, student achievement. Create enough opportunities for kids so that we're getting kids engaged and preparing them for their futures after high school.

Caren Diedrich: Interested in looking into, at least on a trial basis, same gender classes was done in Janesville. Review whether we are really maximizing education at the elementary level (this is the point at which we need to engage kids in learning). Consider starting a 4-yr old kindergarten program. Look into starting Spanish in earlier grades.

John Whalen: Interested in whatever it takes to get our kids to be the best students, the most highly educated, so that they can be successfully and eventually give back to the community.

Jim Carrel: Would like to see some new standards for building efficiency...more than just cost per square foot. Sustainability as more than an environmental issue, but socioeconomical concerns. Noting the changing behavioral and financial demographics within the district, wants to "level the playing field" for all students. Wants to better understand "how students get educated"...the education structure. Interested in continuing the community engagement process ("if it's a 10-mile walk, we've just gotten to the door"). Would like the high school to have a competitive debate team (corrected Tim Culver that forensics is not debating; debating is a category of forensics).

Terry Shimek: Primary concern is to provide value in all decisions we make. Cost not to be a deterrent; need to take care of current students' needs first. Look at more involvement for students in extracurriculars, particularly in middle and elementary schools. Expansion for talented & gifted students (note: Shimek's wife is a TAG teacher for the district). Would like to see SP have at least one National Merit scholar annually. More rewards for teachers that are really doing outstanding things. Fiscal responsibility - need to balance opportunity costs with buildings. Wants district to have a swimming pool.

Jill Camber-Davidson: Did not want one high school. Now that the decision has been made, how can we ensure that we can make it the best it can be and kids don't get lost. Agreed with Caren Diedrich; maximize education potential at the elementary level. At the community level, we need to heal the wounds which were opened during the boundary process. We need a better way for dealing with boundaries. When we talk of moving kids based on their parents' incomes, what message are we sending?

Board Committee assignments
It was hard to hear and Stackhouse flew through his assignments. What we gathered (will be announced at next school board meetings was:
FTT - Jim Carrel (chair), Jill Camber-Davidson, and _________
Human Resources- Caren Diedrich (Chair?) and Jim McCourt

Open Records
No board members had any questions. They all have this stuff down cold.
David Stackhouse made some sharp comments in response to a citizen whom Stackhouse had asked for input on the issue. Geee...do you want to offer some input on this issue? SLAM! More on that later!

Open Meetings
No board members had any questions. Predictably, Jim Carrel took the opportunity to defend that the board did not have to public notice their "dinner" during the WASB conference. As usual he got it half right. The board still needs documentation that no public business was discussed during said dinner.

Expulsion became a hot topic. We'll talk more about that tomorrow. Stay tuned.