The school board and FTT committee meetings slated for this coming Monday (Feb 8) have some very interesting items to discuss. Here's hoping to pique the interest of more than the handful of community members who show an interest in these meetings. Remember folks...this your chance to tell your elected leaders what you -- the ones they represent---think.
FTT (Facilities, Technology & Transportation) Committee Meeting 5:30 pm at the Municipal bldg
3. Committee Business Items
3.01 Review of UW-APL Enrollment Projection
It's always fun to see what the projections are for future enrollment. And even more fun to compare with history. These projections usually come just before the board plans to start thinking about building another school. (Hint! Hint!) We're just sayin'.
3.02 Approval of Furniture Bid for New High School (2nd Phase)
This is phase 2. See the same item under the school board meeting for the full story here. Hint: There's a surprise side story on this item!
3.03 There's $1.075M surplus on the high school construction- how are we gonna spend it!
That's right folks...it now appears the high school construction is $1.075M UNDER budget. Let's see...as the report suggests...the board could vote to return all or part of the amount to that taxpayers. Nahhhhh...let's buy stuff. Appearing on this list: greenhouses (2), pool hallway (Gee...Phil...we thought you said referendum money couldn't be used for that), lights for the sports field, replace bleachers in the existing high school, an extra wrestling mat, equipment for the auditorium. Hmmmm...$1.075M extra and still not even a thought about purchasing a grand piano. Here's a new twist on the old "If a tree falls in the woods" question. We wonder...if a 'Performing Arts Center' doesn't have a grand piano...can it even be called a 'Performing Arts Center'? And hey...we can add a new PAC Manager position...but we cant affords a grand piano. Jut sayin'.
3.04 Computer Deployment at New High School and 8/9 School
This is great...remember we suggested that they cut back on the 100 new computers for the high school (about 1 per 1.5 kids) and use the money to buy a grand piano for the PAC? Now look at what the grand plan is. Let's buy a bunch of computers and stash 'em in a lab somewhere until we need 'em!
4. Policy Review
4.01 Committee Citizens Representative E-Mail Accounts
Brought forward by candidate for school board John Welke...an interesting concept. We want community engagement but don't provide a means for the community to contact their "representatives" at the committee level? Not to mention that using private e-mail accounts to discuss school board business could be viewed as shenanigans. How many current school board members have EVER written a Situation Report? Exactly.
5. Informational Items
5.02 Discussion on Staffing of Pool with District Employees Versus Contracting Out This Service
Note that this is for "Information Only". Remember we posited the idea that a Pool Manager job would be coming soon? Here's where the idea will be "discussed".
School Board meeting 7:30 pm at the city municipal building
6. New Business
6.01 Personnel
Shouldn't there have been something here about the "replacement" coaches for girls basketball...hmmm?
6.06 Administrator Contract Extension
Where else but in Sun Prairie does the District Administrator (what happened to 'Superintendent', Tim?) write his OWN recommendation for another contract extension??? True story. Culver wrote this recommendation himself. Board president John Whalen doesn't have the time to write a 63 word Situation Report? Tell us again...who voted for this guy???
6.08 Performing Arts Facilities Manager Job Description
Here it is folks...the cart before the horse yet again. We're going to spend time and money writing a job description for a position that does not--and perhaps should not--- exist. Up to you, community...speak now or pay the property tax hit on another $75K plus position. By the way...Caren Diedrich (WHO DAT!), of the currently seeking re-election Caren Diedrich, is the chair of the HR committee who approved this.
7. Consent Items
7.03 Approval of Furniture Bids for New High School (Phase 1)
What if the school district actually had one of the vendors prepare the bid specifications package? And what if the vendor who prepared the bid specs and list of companies to receive the bid request didn't even include some of their main competitors? And what of Office Depot--with whom the district has a purchasing contract for "40-80% off list" and a volume purchase rebate??? Oh...they didn't even get asked to bid! And then wouldn't it be interesting if the vendor that prepared the bid package won the bid?! True story!
7.04 Routine Personnel - Hires, Resignations, Retirements
Naming a $94,000 salaried replacement for an elementary school principal should be anything but "routine"...right?
8. Informational Items
8.02 Review of 2010-11 Budget Calendar
The budget picture is even gloomier than last year. Think you're gonna see even one minute change in elevation of priority this year? NOPE! Same plan as usual. Of course, one might think that it might be a good idea to accelerate the pace of sharing the budget projection with the public since 85% of it is cast in stone.
FTT (Facilities, Technology & Transportation) Committee Meeting 5:30 pm at the Municipal bldg
3. Committee Business Items
3.01 Review of UW-APL Enrollment Projection
It's always fun to see what the projections are for future enrollment. And even more fun to compare with history. These projections usually come just before the board plans to start thinking about building another school. (Hint! Hint!) We're just sayin'.
3.02 Approval of Furniture Bid for New High School (2nd Phase)
This is phase 2. See the same item under the school board meeting for the full story here. Hint: There's a surprise side story on this item!
3.03 There's $1.075M surplus on the high school construction- how are we gonna spend it!
That's right folks...it now appears the high school construction is $1.075M UNDER budget. Let's see...as the report suggests...the board could vote to return all or part of the amount to that taxpayers. Nahhhhh...let's buy stuff. Appearing on this list: greenhouses (2), pool hallway (Gee...Phil...we thought you said referendum money couldn't be used for that), lights for the sports field, replace bleachers in the existing high school, an extra wrestling mat, equipment for the auditorium. Hmmmm...$1.075M extra and still not even a thought about purchasing a grand piano. Here's a new twist on the old "If a tree falls in the woods" question. We wonder...if a 'Performing Arts Center' doesn't have a grand piano...can it even be called a 'Performing Arts Center'? And hey...we can add a new PAC Manager position...but we cant affords a grand piano. Jut sayin'.
3.04 Computer Deployment at New High School and 8/9 School
This is great...remember we suggested that they cut back on the 100 new computers for the high school (about 1 per 1.5 kids) and use the money to buy a grand piano for the PAC? Now look at what the grand plan is. Let's buy a bunch of computers and stash 'em in a lab somewhere until we need 'em!
4. Policy Review
4.01 Committee Citizens Representative E-Mail Accounts
Brought forward by candidate for school board John Welke...an interesting concept. We want community engagement but don't provide a means for the community to contact their "representatives" at the committee level? Not to mention that using private e-mail accounts to discuss school board business could be viewed as shenanigans. How many current school board members have EVER written a Situation Report? Exactly.
5. Informational Items
5.02 Discussion on Staffing of Pool with District Employees Versus Contracting Out This Service
Note that this is for "Information Only". Remember we posited the idea that a Pool Manager job would be coming soon? Here's where the idea will be "discussed".
School Board meeting 7:30 pm at the city municipal building
6. New Business
6.01 Personnel
Shouldn't there have been something here about the "replacement" coaches for girls basketball...hmmm?
6.06 Administrator Contract Extension
Where else but in Sun Prairie does the District Administrator (what happened to 'Superintendent', Tim?) write his OWN recommendation for another contract extension??? True story. Culver wrote this recommendation himself. Board president John Whalen doesn't have the time to write a 63 word Situation Report? Tell us again...who voted for this guy???
6.08 Performing Arts Facilities Manager Job Description
Here it is folks...the cart before the horse yet again. We're going to spend time and money writing a job description for a position that does not--and perhaps should not--- exist. Up to you, community...speak now or pay the property tax hit on another $75K plus position. By the way...Caren Diedrich (WHO DAT!), of the currently seeking re-election Caren Diedrich, is the chair of the HR committee who approved this.
7. Consent Items
7.03 Approval of Furniture Bids for New High School (Phase 1)
What if the school district actually had one of the vendors prepare the bid specifications package? And what if the vendor who prepared the bid specs and list of companies to receive the bid request didn't even include some of their main competitors? And what of Office Depot--with whom the district has a purchasing contract for "40-80% off list" and a volume purchase rebate??? Oh...they didn't even get asked to bid! And then wouldn't it be interesting if the vendor that prepared the bid package won the bid?! True story!
7.04 Routine Personnel - Hires, Resignations, Retirements
Naming a $94,000 salaried replacement for an elementary school principal should be anything but "routine"...right?
8. Informational Items
8.02 Review of 2010-11 Budget Calendar
The budget picture is even gloomier than last year. Think you're gonna see even one minute change in elevation of priority this year? NOPE! Same plan as usual. Of course, one might think that it might be a good idea to accelerate the pace of sharing the budget projection with the public since 85% of it is cast in stone.
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