MINUTES: Meeting of the Monona Grove School District, Business Services Committee, held on  Wednesday, February 27, 2002, in the Nichols School, District Office Board Room, Starting at 5:30 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, Patti McGinnis, Jeff Schreiner, Mark Scullion, Jerry Rodefeld, Deb Slotten, Sue Stover, Jody Myrold

I.                  Opening of Meeting – John Kitslaar

II.                  Declaration of Public Notice – acknowledged

III.                           Public Appearances - none

IV.                  Approval of the Minutes of the January 30, 2002, Business Services Committee Meeting

                  Ms. Allen moved approval of the minutes of the January 30, 2002, Business Services Committee meeting.  Mr. Blair seconded and the motion carried.

V.                             Discussion and Possible Approval of Request to Use District Facilities for Benefit Event

            Jody Myrold, Deb Slotten, and Sue Stover, appeared to answer questions from the committee regarding their “Request to Use District Facilities” application.  They would like to hold a benefit to raise money for a district resident (Steve Coogan) who was injured in a hunting accident.

            After discussion by the committee, they advised Ms. Myrold, Ms. Slotten, and Ms. Stover, to  talk with representatives of Monona Grove School District Booster Clubs, PTO’s, etc., to obtain their sponsorship of the benefit.

VI.                          Discussion and Possible Approval of Request to Use School Forest for YMCA Day Camp

            Mark Scullion review with the committee a request he had received from the YMCA for use of Cottage Grove School forest, gymnasium, restrooms, and refrigeration to hold  “Discovery Day Camp” sessions from June 10 – August 16, 2002.

            After discussion by the committee and because of the potential for remodeling/construction at Cottage Grove School, Ms. Possin moved that the committee deny the application.  Ms. Allen seconded and the motion carried.

VII.                        Report on District Bussing – Jerry Rodefeld

                  Jerry Rodefeld reviewed the bus ridership information for those busses that bring Cottage Grove middle school and high school students into Monona.  At this time Bus No. 27 has 67 students riding.  He is expecting that bus ridership numbers will be decreasing now that the spring sports season has begun.

VIII.                     Discussion and Possible Approval of Request to Replace Busses – Jerry Rodefeld

                  Jerry Rodefeld presented rational to the committee for replacing three of the older busses with three new busses with only a slight increase in the lease costs.

                    Ms. Allen moved that the committee recommend to the Board of Education acceptance of a request to replace three of the older busses with three new busses as per Mr. Avery’s   memorandum of February 21, 2002.  Mr. Blair seconded and the motion carried.

IX.                           Presentation of Budgets

                  Mr. Avery presented the following budgets to the committee:

Location 534 – Special Projects Budget
$174,950          -6.48% Decrease

Location 535 –Superintendent/Board
$214,762          +8.65% Increase

Location 537 – Business Services
$625,251          -2.48% Decrease

                  It was noted that the Superintendent/Board budget increase was due to contract changes in administrative agreements. 

X.                             Discussion and Possible Acceptance of Due Diligence Report on Possible Land Purchase

                  Mr. Avery presented the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment that was done on the George Kuhle property. 

                  Ms. Allen moved that the committee accept the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment as written by Strand Associates, Inc.  Mr. Millin seconded and the motion carried. Mr. Millin moved that the committee recommend to the Board of Education that they move into Phase II of the Environmental Site Assessment.  Mr. Blair seconded and the motion carried.

XI.                           Cash Flow Report

                  Mr. Avery presented to the committee the 2001-2002 school year cash flow chart.

XII.                        Discussion and Possible Approval of Recommendation Regarding Student Fees and Student Fee Schedule

                  Mr. Avery and Mr. Schreiner presented information on the student fee schedule and Badger Conference sports participation fees.   Because of the implications that the proposed budget  repair bill may have on school finances, the administration is requesting that further research  be done before this document is presented to the committee for approval.  Mr. Avery and Mr. Schreiner will bring additional information to the next committee meeting.

XIII.                      Discussion and Possible Approval of Contract for Auditing Services

                  Mr. Avery is recommending to the committee that Virnig & Associates be retained as auditors for the Monona Grove School District.

                  Ms. Allen moved that the committee recommend to the Board of Education that a contract be issued with Virnig & Associates for auditing services for the 2002, 2003, and 2004 school years.  Ms. Possin seconded and the motion carried.

XIV.                     Discussion and Possible Approval of Resolution to Obtain Financial Services from Bank One for the District’s Credit Card Project

                  Ms. Allen moved that the committee recommend to the Board of Education approval of a resolution designating Bank One as the school district’s agent for purchasing/credit cards. Mr. Blair seconded and the motion carried.      

XV.                        Other Agenda Items - none

XVI.                     Confirm Next Meeting Date

                  The next meeting of the Business Services Committee will be on Wednesday, April 3, 2002, 5:30 P.M., in the Nichols School, District Office Board Room.

XVII.                   Adjournment – 6:52 P.M.

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