LITTLE CHUTE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
“Fostering a Community of Learners”
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Place: Little Chute Area School District Boardroom
Present: Board Members: Mary Janssen, Leon Biesterveld, Jerry Verhagen, Chuck George, Lynn Hietpas; District Administrator, Dave Botz; Student Council Representative, Zach Dercks (excused); Recording Secretary, Cheryl Vande Voort; and seventeen guest(s).
The Little Chute Area School District Board of Education meeting was called to order by Board President, Mary Janssen, at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2011.
Motion: To approve the agenda as printed.
By: Leon Biesterveld Second by: Chuck George
Ayes 5; Opposed 0 Approved
Motion: To approve the minutes of the regular meeting of Monday, March 28, 2011
as printed.
By: Chuck George Second by: Jerry Verhagen
Ayes 5; Opposed 0 Approved
Motion: To approve the minutes of the closed session meeting of Monday, March 28, 2011 as
printed.
By: Chuck George Second by: Jerry Verhagen
Ayes 5; Opposed 0 Approved
Public Forum: Two high school band members, Andy Gilsdorf and Ross Bishop, brought CD’s that the HS Jazz Band made in conjunction with their performance at the Performing Arts Center in Appleton. These CD’s are for sale for $10.00 through the music department, Seth’s Coffee House and the District office.
Communications:
a. Student Council Report: Zach Dercks was not present at the board meeting.
b. School Board Election Results: Congratulations to Jerry Verhagen and Chuck George who were re-elected to the Board of Education with 1,452 and 773 votes respectively.
c. Acceptance of Administrator Letters of Intent to Accept Contract Extensions: Section 118.42(6) of Wisconsin State Statutes requires administrators to notify the Board of their intent to extend their contracts. A copy of the acceptance letters approved by the Board on February 14th was included in the Board packets.
d. Approval of a Grade 5 & 6 Intermediate School Beginning With the 2011-12 School Year: An Intermediate School Parent meeting was held Monday, March 21st to explain the program to the parents. Building, Grounds and Energy Director, Jim Fochs, estimated the cost of the move, improvements and renovations to not exceed $35,000. Middle School Principal, Lori Van Handel, was present at the meeting to answer questions the Board had regarding the move and site visits that Lori, some 5th and 6th grade teachers and parents went on to view other intermediate schools. Lori said teachers are excited about the program and she compliments the teachers on the work they are putting in to get this program up and running. It means a lot of change for a lot of people.
Some parent concerns were: Start and end times for students and what to do with students waiting for siblings. A discussion then ensued regarding the elimination of 5th grade band because of costs and if 5th grade band would ever be viable again. Mr. Botz said that would remain to be seen as the number of students taking band is not sustaining the program the way we would like. Mr. Botz said if we could build up our band program while increasing our numbers from high school on down, we could re-look at the program. But, right now we lose a number of students from 8th grade to high school plus those we lose in high school due to class conflicts. Another topic was the traffic congestion around the middle/high school area which will increase with the 5th grade being over here and the thought of just right hand turns during certain hours or stop and go lights!
e. National School Board Convention: Board President, Mary Janssen, shared the emerging issues and sectional information she obtained while attending the National School Board Convention in San Francisco, CA, April 9-11, 2011.
e. Davis & Kuelthau Annual Program for Veteran & Newly-Elected Public
Officials: Davis & Kuelthau will be hosting their annual program for veteran
and newly-elected public officials April 26, 2011 at Liberty Hall in Kimberly.
g. ReminderWASB Spring Academy: On May 7, 2011 the WASB Spring
Academy is holding a Responsibilities and Relationships for Effective
Boardsmanship program at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells.
Action Items:
a. Summer Theatre 2011 – Musical/Play: Administration recommended
approval of contracts for Lisa Thyssen (Musical) “Oz” and Bob Frankenberg
(Play) “Rumors” by Neil Simon, who will direct the Summer Theatre 2011.
These projects will be financed through Fund 80 (Community Enrichment fund).
Motion: To accept the recommendations for Summer Theatre contracts.
By: Chuck George Second by: Jerry Verhagen
Ayes 5; Opposed 0 Approved
b. Approval of a 5th & 6th Grade Intermediate School Beginning with the
2011-12 School Year: The administration recommended approval of the
building improvements and renovations to develop and implement the 5th & 6th
grade intermediate school beginning with the 2011-12 school year with the
expectation that the renovations will not exceed $35,000.
Motion: To approve the building improvements and renovations to develop and implement
the 5th & 6th grade intermediate school beginning with the 2011-12 school year with
the expectation that the renovations will not exceed $35,000.
By: Leon Biesterveld Second by: Jerry Verhagen
Ayes 5; Opposed 0 Approved
c. Approval of Charter School Hires: Teacher Recommendations
for LCCPA: Administration made a recommendation to approve the
hiring of Shawn Volk for Lead Teacher, Chris Choudoir as science
instructor and Dan Van Eperen as English/social studies instructor for
the Little Chute Career Pathways Academy.
Motion: To approve the hiring of Shawn Volk, Chris Choudoir and Dan Van Eperen for the Little Chute Career Pathways Academy.
By: Jerry Verhagen Second by: Leon Biesterveld
Ayes 5; Opposed 0 Approved
As there was no other business to come before the Board, Board President, Mary
Janssen, asked for a motion to convene in Closed Session: 19.85(1)(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility.
a. Negotiations
Motion: To convene in closed session.
By: Chuck George Second by: Leon Biesterveld
Ayes 5; Opposed 0; Approved
Roll Call: Leon Biesterveld, yes; Lynn Hietpas, yes; Chuck George, yes;
Jerry Verhagen, yes; Mary Janssen, yes
Time: 6:50 p.m.
Prepared by, Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Vande Voort Charles V. George
Recording Secretary Clerk