MINUTES: Meeting of the Monona Grove School District, Business Services Committee, held on Wednesday, April 3, 2002, in the Nichols School, District Office Board Room, Starting at 7:00 P.M.

BOARD COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: John Kitslaar, Nancy Allen, Mary Possin

COMMUNITY MEMBERS PRESENT:       Dan Millin, Jim Blair

ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT:           Gary Schumacher, Jeff Avery

OTHERS PRESENT: John Weinberger, Bill Bland, Diane Panke, Mark Scullion, Jerry Rodefeld

I.                  Opening of Meeting – John Kitslaar

II.                  Declaration of Public Notice – acknowledged

III.                           Public Appearances

                  Matt Merrill, representing the East YMCA, asked that the Committee consider approval of their request to rent the Cottage Grove School Forest for summer camp.  Mr. Avery will meet with Mr. Merrill regarding this request.

IV.                  Approval of the Minutes of the February 27, 2002, Business Services Committee Meeting

                  Mr. Blair moved approval of the minutes of the February 27, 2002, Business Services Committee meeting.  Ms. Allen seconded and the motion carried.

V.                             Opportunity for Public Input into the Budget Process

                  No one was present to comment on the 2002-2003 budget process.

VI.                          Report on District Bussing – Jerry Rodefeld

            Jerry Rodefeld, Transportation Supervisor, stated he has not received any calls regarding overcrowding on busses that bring Cottage Grove middle school and high school students into Monona.  The committee thanked Mr. Rodefeld for his reports each month but stated he need only report to the committee in the future if problems in ridership numbers occurred.

VII.                        Discussion and Possible Approval of School Breakfast Startup Grant – Diane Panke

                  Diane Panke asked for the committee’s support in applying for the school district’s second school breakfast grant being offered by Senator Kohl.  The grant would help cover costs associated with implementing a school breakfast program at Cottage Grove and Taylor Prairie schools.  Ms. Panke stated the programs at Maywood and Nichols School are running very smoothly for their first year of operation.

                  Ms. Allen moved that the committee recommend to the Board of Education approval of the school district applying for Senator Kohl’s School Breakfast Startup Grant.  Mr. Blair seconded and the motion carried.

VIII.                     Discussion and Possible Recommendation Regarding Disposition of District Owned Property

                  The committee discussed the various parcels of property owned by the school district.

                  Ms. Allen moved that the committee recommend to the Board of Education that the property at 5400 Pheasant Hill Road be sold, including the extra lot.  Mr. Blair seconded and the motion carried.  It was noted that the money would be placed into the fund balance.  Mr. Avery will be contacting a realtor regarding the sale of the property.

                  Mr. Avery will report back to the committee in May after he contacts the Madison Planning Commission regarding the two houses owned on Jerome Street and the one house owned on Monona Drive for possible sale, removal, or demolition. 

IX.                           Discussion and Possible Recommendation of a Dedication Plaque for Monona Grove High School

                  Mr. Millin moved approval of the wording, as revised, on the dedication plaque for Monona Grove High School as presented by Mr. Avery.  Mr. Blair seconded and the motion carried.

                  Mr. Avery will bring a proof back to the committee for final approval before it is recommended to the Board of Education.

X.                             Presentation of Budgets

                  Mr. Avery presented the following budgets to the committee:

                  Location 539 – Transportation                                       $669,767          +  .77%  Increase

                                          Fund 10 - $633,707

                                          Fund 27    $ 36,060

                  Location 540 – Buildings & Grounds                        $817,120                  +1.83%  Increase 

                  Location 541 – Technology                                                                                           Fund 10                  $275,306          -   .28%  Decrease                                                                                    Fund 23            $-0-                                    -  100%  Decrease

                                                                                    Fund 40            $  94,879         -34.41% Decrease 

                  Location 880 – Pupil Services                                                                                    Fund 10            $   9,426          +  .24%  Increase

                                                        Fund 27            $   4,825          +     0%  Increase

                  Location 881 – Early Learning Fair                                    $   2,050          +     0%  Increase

                  Location 884 – EXCEL (Alternative Site)                             $   9,530                  +29.55% Increase

XI.                           Other Agenda Items

                  Mr. Rodefeld informed the committee that he is having problems with one of the older special education buses.  He has researched the lease of a new bus and is asking approval from the committee to return the older bus and lease the newer bus for the next school year.  If additional monies are needed, they will come from the Transportation budget.  The committee agreed that the lease recommendation should be submitted to the Board for their consideration on April 10, 2002.

XII.                        Confirm Next Meeting Date

                  The next meeting of the Business Services Committee will be on Wednesday, April 24, 2002,  5:30 P.M., in the Nichols School, District Office Board Room.

XIII.                      Adjournment – 7:52 P.M.

                  Ms. Allen moved that the meeting be adjourned.  Ms. Possin seconded and the motion carried.