School Board Director Terry Falk, chairman of the Strategic Planning and Budget Committee, said he is hearing from several sources that Gov. Doyle will propose a 5% cut in state aid for schools. That, for MPS, would mean a $27 million reduction from last year's aid amounts.
Board President Michael Bonds says his amendments are designed to "gain some public confidence back."
Amendment debate is underway after just four people testify during the public hearing.
Amendment #1, by Director Peter Blewett, would increase the tax levy by half a million bucks "towards partnership seeking in-kind donation from our partners in the project." School Nutrition Services Director Kymm Mutch is running through a list of the grants and partnerships -- including with Growing Power -- her department already is doing.
Blewett asks if stimulus funding might be available to establish the partnerships, but Chief Financial Officer Michelle Nate says Title funds, which are what stimulus money is, cannot be used for food.
It's 7:20 p.m. and the committee is still amendment #1. Better start looking around for a laptop with a fresh battery.
Falk praises the intent of the amendment, but says "we just don't have the money for it." He says he is worried the district will have to lay off teachers.
Bonds says he supports the amendment and the Board could possibly conditionally support, with a final vote coming in October, when much more financial information is known.
"We're making proposals that indicate a vision," Blewett says, arguing for at least preliminary approval.
Superintendent William Andrekopoulos says Extension Fund money cannot be used to provide food during the school day. If it is supplied, he says, the entire community would have to be invited to partake, which could lead to problems.
Blewett withdraws his amendment, saying he will bring something forward in the next round of amendments.
Amendment #2, by Blewett. This would use potential FY09 surplus to fund a total of 17 art, music and phy ed teachers. Finance Director Ron Vavrick tells the committee that several amendments to be considered depend on that theoretical surplus.
"We'll be lucky if we break even this year," he says.
Blewett's amendment, Director Jeff Spence says, "has a lot of merit," but the true issue is whether MPS should be a centralized or decentralized system. The district needs to decide how it will allocate funds to ensure that all children have core academic opportunities the Board thinks are important, he said.
Bonds moves approval of the Blewett amendment.
Falk demurs, mentioning the inconvenient truth that the district likely will have to contribute $6 million to $12 million or $14 million to the city pension fund.
Director David Voeltner says he has to be in work in 12 hours and calls the question. The amendment fails, 5-4, with Blewett, Bonds, Directors Larry Miller and Annie Woodward voting in favor and Spence, Voeltner, Falk, Thompson and Director Bruce Thompson voting against.
Amendment #3, by Bonds,would provide $2,000 to employees who switch from the higher-cost health plan to the lower-cost health plan. Several members, led by Falk, say they do not want the Board bargaining with its union in public. Bonds withdraws the amendment.
Amendment #4, by Falk, would end court reporter service at Board and committee meetings. The amendment is adopted with 8 ayes. Blewett votes "present." The change will save about $20,000.
Amendment #5, by Falk, would reduce intradepartmental mail from five days per week to two days per week. The move would save about $83,000 -- the cost of a driver, benefits and gas. Falk says that number is too low -- the district also would save the cost of a truck and its repairs.
"You know I really want to do that," CFO Nate says. There would be problems, though, getting checks out to people on time, she said. When the district offered two-day mail delivery a few years ago only a handful of schools opted for it, even though it cost them less money. Those who did opt for the two-day delivery ended up sending staff members to central office to pick up the mail on other days.
Daily delivery, Falk says, makes the district look 20th century. The amendment fails on a convoluted 3-3-2-1 vote.
Three ayes (Falk, Spence and Petersons), three nos (Miller, Thompson, Voeltner), two present (Bonds and Woodward) and one temporarily absent (Blewett).
Amendment #6, by Bonds, would institute assessments (testing) for children in K5 though third grade. Anderkopoulos says the administration does not support the amendment because it is reviewing its assessment policies and plans to come in with recommendations later. Bonds says there are four grade levels whether there is no assessment and some children may have fallen far behind by the time they get to third grade.
MPS Early Childhood Director Ann Terrell cautions that any testing of very young chldren must be done carefully because the results can lead to children being incorrectly being shifted into special education.
Spence asks questions about science assessments -- Research and Assessment Director Deb Lindsey says the district doesn't have any.
Miller, a retired principal, says he is "always concerned about standardized tests" and Falk says he, too, will oppose the amendment. Young children develop at different rates and may test very differently for that reason, he said.
The amendment fails, 6-2, with Bonds and Woodward supporting it. Blewett is absent.
Amendment #7, by Bonds, would spend $100,000 from the Extension Fund to support after-school sports through the establishment of 25 mini-grants of $4,000 that partners can apply for to provide sports equipment, uniforms and supplies. Andrekopoulos cautions again that the amendment would increase the tax levy. The amendment fails, 4-5, with Blewett, Bonds, Spence and Woodward voting in favor of it.
Amendment #8, by Falk, would eliminate printing the MPS phone book. The printed version was destined for the dustbin this year, but 4,500 editions got printed. The proposed FY10 budget does not include funds for the book, though, and the document is now online. Falk withdraws his amendment.
Amendment #9, by Bonds, would allocate $25,000 for auditorium equipment to allow teleconferencing and videoconferencing for remote participation by staff. Technology Director Jim Davis explains that new equipment at central services would be needed and that all staff participating would need to have high-speed Internet access at home.
"There are some etiquette issues we would have to deal with," he said. It's very easy to step on another person's comments when using technology, he said.
"I just think we have to do something about staff spending hours in back for two minutes" on the Board floor, Bonds said.
The amendment failed, 7-2, with Bonds and Petersons supporting it.
Amendment #10, by Bonds, would move $20,000 from Communications and Public Affairs to the Office of Board Governance to support the publication of a board newsletter. Bonds withdraws the amendment as soon as it comes to the floor and Roseann St. Aubin, director of Communications and Public Affairs, does not have to say a word.
Amendment #11, by Bonds, would designate $300,000 for MPS graduates who are first-year students at local colleges and universityies and are required to pay for remedial college in the areas of math, science and writing. Andrekopoulos said that using money he proposed for partnership schools, as Bonds proposes, would reduce efforts to meet requests from principals and the unions for alternative placements for students.
"The behavioral reassignment seats are not a luxury we can live without," says Director of Student Services Jennie Dorsey. The amendment failed, 8-1, with only Bonds supporting it.
Amendment #12, by Bonds, is another amendment that would use $250,000 from that iffy surplus to fund a superintent search. Andrekopoulos suggests the Board use the FY09 contingency fund to pay for the search. Board Secretary Lynne Sobczak says that action on the FY09 budget cannot be acted upon at the meeting because it was not part of the public notice given for the meeting.
"I will guarantee you this will get addressed," Andrekopoulos said. The amendment, after much discussion about how to proceed, was moved forward without recommendation. The vote was 8-0, with one abstention.
Amendment #13, by Bonds, would allocate $60,000 in Title I to establish a family literacy program. The district will seek competitive proposals for the program, which was approved on a 9-0 vote.
Amendment #14, by Bonds, would use $100,000 to hire an additional counselor in the district. The money would come the amount proposed for the Division of Research and Assessment. The amendment fails, 6-2, with Bonds and Woodward voting yes. Blewett is absent.
Amendment #15, by Falk, would create a central operations manager to root out waste and promote efficent practices. Falk withdraws the amendment after Andrekopoulos tells him an existing staffer has been assigned to those duties.
Amendment #16, by Bonds, would eliminate the Mobile Urgent Treatment Teams that respond to mental health crises in the classroom and at home. The $475,000 should be used instead to fund school nurses, according to the amendment. Andrekopoulos says the district's contract with the county gives MPS access to $18 million in Wraparound services. The partnership with the county "opened up doors we never thought possible" he says. Bonds is the only vote in favor of the amendment. Blewett votes present, Woodward abstains and the rest vote no.
Amendment #17, by Falk, would recentralize $150,000 in Schedule E interscholastic academic competition funding. Some principals did not use the money for its intended purposes. Sometimes coaches got paid even when there is no team, he said. Recentralizing the funding will lead to more accountability and fairness, he said.
Wow! It passed unanimously.
Amendment #18, by Bonds, which would allocate $200,000 for offerings in high schools for college prep courses, is withdrawn by the sponsor.
Amendment #19, by Bonds, to appoint a comptroller to run most of the business side of the district, started the hottest discussion of the evening.
"Shuffling around the deck chairs doesn't get yyou better results," Spence said. "Focus gets you better results."
"It's difficult for the Board to consider it in the way its asked to do so now," Blewett said. The McKinsey report, however, said the district does not have performance management culture and recommends driving change through a project management office.
Spence said it was a "cheap shot" to criticize Andrekopoulos for things not mentioned in his previous personnel evaluations.
Falk offered a substitute amendement to establish an Office of Accountability under the Office of Board Governance. The office would do financial audits and have a performance audit function as well, Falk said. He suggested establishing a committee to determine the office structure and staffing.
The accountability office measure passed.
One computer used to blog here is really low on juice, the other just flat-out died. Until next time, then....
