A lot has been made about Dr. Brost's decision to cancel homecoming this year. Here is a link to the Channel 15 story. http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/62990077.html
Here is a link to Doug Wood's blog. http://mononadoug.blogspot.com/2009/09/mg-cancels-homecoming-still-bad-idea.html
As I told Dr. Brost, my initial reaction was that he had lost his mind. I could not fathom any reasons as to why a district would cancel homecoming. Homecoming was always a great source of pride for the school district and the community. The students, the alumni and district residents would fill the streets for the parade, the gym for the pep rally and the stands for the game. This was my experience in high school.
All of these thoughts came rushing into my head as Dr. Brost was telling about his intentions. However, after listening to Dr. Brost and his thought process and reasoning, I had a very different view point. The fact that he discussed his decision with some students to gauge their reaction. The fact that his voice and posture indicated this was a very difficult decision. The fact that he felt this was "the last resort". And partially because of some of the outrageous pranks that have been done over the years, I think Dr. Brost made the correct decision. I support your decision 100% Dr. Brost.
I hate the idea of taking away an activity/event from all students when it is a small minority causing the issues. However, if you look at it on a smaller scale, how many parents punish all of their kids when 1 makes a mistake and the others are "innocent bystanders"? I have seen and heard many do this. If cancelling homecoming causes the students to better "police" themselves in the future then everyone will owe Dr. Brost a big thank you.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Norton Resignation
When I first heard about Mr. Norton's resignation my first reaction was shock. Secondly, I wondered if someone in his family was ill, because of the "significant personal reasons" stated in the article. Now that appears not to be the case.
I will state that I am disappointed that Mr. Norton will be unable to serve the entire term, but I also understand that circumstances change. Above all else Mr. Norton MUST do what is best for him and his family.
Scott, I wish you well in your future endeavors.
The name of this post will link you to the Herald Independent story on Mr. Norton's resignation.
Where does that leave the Village of CG and the trustees? Well we need an individual to fill this role of leading us as there are some very significant issues coming down the pipe. Does this individual serve the remainder of the term or just until a special election? On that I see both sides and at this point I don't have a strong opinion either way. My gut tends to lead towards the thought that it is an elected position, so hold a special election. However, the thought of potentially having 3 Village Presidents in 12 months is extremely unusual and rare.
Do we appoint a current trustee to the Village President position and then hold a special election for that seat in April? This scenario seems to work on many fronts. As my personal experience has shown me, the learning curve when getting into Village office or School Board is steep. It may work better to "promote" a trustee, even if they only have 5 or 6 months experience, and then elect another person into that trustees position.
I will follow this intently as I am curious how this will play out.
I will state that I am disappointed that Mr. Norton will be unable to serve the entire term, but I also understand that circumstances change. Above all else Mr. Norton MUST do what is best for him and his family.
Scott, I wish you well in your future endeavors.
The name of this post will link you to the Herald Independent story on Mr. Norton's resignation.
Where does that leave the Village of CG and the trustees? Well we need an individual to fill this role of leading us as there are some very significant issues coming down the pipe. Does this individual serve the remainder of the term or just until a special election? On that I see both sides and at this point I don't have a strong opinion either way. My gut tends to lead towards the thought that it is an elected position, so hold a special election. However, the thought of potentially having 3 Village Presidents in 12 months is extremely unusual and rare.
Do we appoint a current trustee to the Village President position and then hold a special election for that seat in April? This scenario seems to work on many fronts. As my personal experience has shown me, the learning curve when getting into Village office or School Board is steep. It may work better to "promote" a trustee, even if they only have 5 or 6 months experience, and then elect another person into that trustees position.
I will follow this intently as I am curious how this will play out.
Norton Clarification e-mail received
I have received an e-mail from Richard Kerr and with his permission I am posting the body of it here. It is exactly as I received it. If anyone would care to respond to Mr. Kerr's e-mail I will post that also.
These thoughts, comments and opinions are solely those of Mr. Kerr. I normally would not post this but in this instance felt that there was some valuable information enclosed, namely Mr. Norton's reason for resignation. I also do not feel it would be fair to only post a portion of the e-mail; hence my posting of the entire e-mail.
Hello,
The purpose of this message is to get out the truth about false rumors
floating around the Village. If you do not want to hear the truth, then stop
reading this message.
1. Scott Norton resigned his Village
President position because he and his family are moving to
Florida.
2. When the Village Board voted Monday evening to appoint
a replacement for the duration of Scott’s term, they acted fully in compliance
with state law. The only other option they had was to let the vacancy ride until
next April.
Anyone who knows the issues facing the Village understands that
we could not afford to have the Village Presidency vacant for the next 7 months.
Even the Village Administrator stated in yesterday’s Wisconsin State Journal
that “There’s a lot on the plate right now, so it’s important to have a village
president.”
It has been suggested that the Village Board appoint a
replacement now but only until next April. It has been suggested that the
Village President position “rotate” among Trustees or others for the next 7
months. None of this is provided for under state law.
Village Board openings
in the past, including Village President, have been filled by appointment by the
Village Board.
3. There was a misleading petition being circulated by people
who should know better stating that the state law requires the Village Board to
call a special election next April. This statement is false and anyone who
signed this petition was intentionally misled.
4. In spite of the Village
Board’s decision on Monday, certain “library supporters” tried to get the
Chamber of Commerce to go on record stating that the Village Board ought to
reconsider their decision. Those who attempted to influence the Chamber of
Commerce ought to be ashamed of themselves.
These are the facts.
The
Village Board is trying to get through this difficult time in the best manner
possible and in accordance with state law. Please consider showing your support
for them with an e-mail message or a phone call.
If you wish to discuss this
matter further, please reply to this message or call me at 839-0267.
Richard
Kerr
These thoughts, comments and opinions are solely those of Mr. Kerr. I normally would not post this but in this instance felt that there was some valuable information enclosed, namely Mr. Norton's reason for resignation. I also do not feel it would be fair to only post a portion of the e-mail; hence my posting of the entire e-mail.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Sept. 22nd Board Meeting
Last night the board heard a presentation from Dr. Charles Venegoni, who is the Division Head of English and Fine Arts @ John Hersey High School in Arlington, IL. Dr. Venegoni's presentation focused on his Aligned by Design, which as systematic approach to education. Thru this approach John Hersey and other schools who have adopted this approach have achieved some, what I would call, significant results on the ACT Test.
The data presented by Dr. Venegoni paints a very good picture of this system. It really showed how all students benefit from this system. Aligned by Design has been implemented at some very diverse districts (both economically and racially) and the results have been very good. One of the things that I found interesting is that the data also shows that the higher the students score on the Explore test (taken in 8th grade) the higher their potential to score on the ACT (taken in 11th grade). That seems logical, but what I liked most was that the growth this system showed vs. others.
For the the schools that scored with in 1 point of Northtown Academy (one of the schools using this system in Chicago) on the Explore test none had the growth that Northtown did. Of the 11 different data groups only 4 had an improvement of 5 or better. Two of these four data groups started with scores more than 5.9 points higher than Northtown Academy. Northtown Academy had a 5.1 growth by their students. That to me is an impressive testament to this system.
There was lots of data and lots of information presented last night. I won't go over it all, but please visit the district website as they will be putting up much of the information their, if not all of it. I just wanted to point out one of the facts that really impressed me amongst all of the things presented.
I do have some concerns with this system. One is that it is a departure from current practice and how will it be received by the building administrators, the staff, the students and the public. Dr. Venegoni and his staff have had quite a bit of interaction with our staff, so this potential change would not be a total surprise. Another fear is that, as Dr. Venegoni stated, the district needs a champion of this system to be the face of it, to push it, to oversee it, to....etc. We may have this person(s), but we need to identify them.
The Curriculum was another concern because this system does not use textbooks exclusively. The curriculum is developed by the staff. Dr. Venegoni stated that a lot of the materials being used by other districts on this system could be adapted to our district. Dr. Venegoni also stated that the curriculum developers in those other districts would be willing to share their curriculum for a price. Which led me to the last of my 4 major concerns...COST. Dr. Venegoni did provide a figure for potentially utilizing some of the materials already developed. I will not state what that figure was because it will change depending on many factors, but let me say it was significantly less than the amount we are setting aside for text books now.
Many of the other board members seemed to share my concerns to varying degrees. I think that all of them can be answered very quickly by Craig and his admin. team. Because this is like the 3rd time Dr. Venegoni and/or his staff have been in the district talking about this I think finding the right person or persons to champion this cause will be easy. I think the district as a whole will also embrace a change to this system as WE ALL learn more about it. I do not think that cost would prohibit implementation.
We as a board either collectively or individually did not pose the questions to Craig about a champion of the cause or how the change would be received @ MGHS. I did think about it while other questions where being asked and answered. However, I did not feel it would be right to put him on the spot to answer those immediately after hearing this presentation. I still feel that way as I am still trying to digest everything we heard last night and to pose that question just would not have been fair.
I hope that WE, as a district, continue to investigate this systematic approach to education. If it makes sense educationally and provides the best opportunities for our students then we owe it to them to investigate this system fully.
The data presented by Dr. Venegoni paints a very good picture of this system. It really showed how all students benefit from this system. Aligned by Design has been implemented at some very diverse districts (both economically and racially) and the results have been very good. One of the things that I found interesting is that the data also shows that the higher the students score on the Explore test (taken in 8th grade) the higher their potential to score on the ACT (taken in 11th grade). That seems logical, but what I liked most was that the growth this system showed vs. others.
For the the schools that scored with in 1 point of Northtown Academy (one of the schools using this system in Chicago) on the Explore test none had the growth that Northtown did. Of the 11 different data groups only 4 had an improvement of 5 or better. Two of these four data groups started with scores more than 5.9 points higher than Northtown Academy. Northtown Academy had a 5.1 growth by their students. That to me is an impressive testament to this system.
There was lots of data and lots of information presented last night. I won't go over it all, but please visit the district website as they will be putting up much of the information their, if not all of it. I just wanted to point out one of the facts that really impressed me amongst all of the things presented.
I do have some concerns with this system. One is that it is a departure from current practice and how will it be received by the building administrators, the staff, the students and the public. Dr. Venegoni and his staff have had quite a bit of interaction with our staff, so this potential change would not be a total surprise. Another fear is that, as Dr. Venegoni stated, the district needs a champion of this system to be the face of it, to push it, to oversee it, to....etc. We may have this person(s), but we need to identify them.
The Curriculum was another concern because this system does not use textbooks exclusively. The curriculum is developed by the staff. Dr. Venegoni stated that a lot of the materials being used by other districts on this system could be adapted to our district. Dr. Venegoni also stated that the curriculum developers in those other districts would be willing to share their curriculum for a price. Which led me to the last of my 4 major concerns...COST. Dr. Venegoni did provide a figure for potentially utilizing some of the materials already developed. I will not state what that figure was because it will change depending on many factors, but let me say it was significantly less than the amount we are setting aside for text books now.
Many of the other board members seemed to share my concerns to varying degrees. I think that all of them can be answered very quickly by Craig and his admin. team. Because this is like the 3rd time Dr. Venegoni and/or his staff have been in the district talking about this I think finding the right person or persons to champion this cause will be easy. I think the district as a whole will also embrace a change to this system as WE ALL learn more about it. I do not think that cost would prohibit implementation.
We as a board either collectively or individually did not pose the questions to Craig about a champion of the cause or how the change would be received @ MGHS. I did think about it while other questions where being asked and answered. However, I did not feel it would be right to put him on the spot to answer those immediately after hearing this presentation. I still feel that way as I am still trying to digest everything we heard last night and to pose that question just would not have been fair.
I hope that WE, as a district, continue to investigate this systematic approach to education. If it makes sense educationally and provides the best opportunities for our students then we owe it to them to investigate this system fully.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
8/12 Board meeting
Hey All,
Last night we had our 1st board meeting of the month. We had a relatively light agenda and got thru it in a reasonable amount of time. We reviewed many upcoming WASB meetings and sessions that board members may attend.
We reviewed and approved a request from Dr. Brost on setting up an after school education program. It is designed to provide extra help for those seeking it and for those that will be required to attend. Dr. Brost requested that the program be approved pending funding for it. He is actively searching for ways to fund the salaries needed to run this program. Dr. Brost is expecting to have both voluntary participation and mandatory attendance.
Next we approved the amount for transportation to and from parochial schools and the fee paid by those requesting transportation who would not receive it normally. We also approved the use of a Hearing Officer for expulsions. This practice has been in place for the recent past. It allows an independent review of the expulsion hearing prior to final board review of the Hearing Officer's report.
Additionally, we passed an agreement with Kid's Safari to bus students to their facility and for Kid's Safari to reimburse the district for this cost. Due to my daughter attending Kid's Safari, I abstained from the vote.
Lastly, we tabled motions regarding the Policy on Fund Balance and a discussion on District Goals. Both items will be on the August 26th agenda.
We heard a report from Susan Fox, Susan Manning and Jessica Ace on the WASB conference they recently attended. Again it was pointed out that board members who blog need to make sure that it is clear the postings represent their own thoughts and are not in any way intended to speak for the board as a whole. I feel that I do this in a pretty clear manner, but it is always open for interpretation.
As I stated it was a relatively light agenda and we got thru it relatively quickly. This coming Monday the board will meet to conduct it's review of Superintendent Gerlach. This meeting is a closed session meeting. Our next regular meeting is August 26th in the district office.
I would like to commend Dr. Brost and any other staff members instrumental in the organization of the after school education program. I hope that the funds can be found to get this program off the ground. It sounds like this can be a very beneficial program for all students. Any program that provides students either requesting or needing additional study time is a plus in my opinion.
Last night we had our 1st board meeting of the month. We had a relatively light agenda and got thru it in a reasonable amount of time. We reviewed many upcoming WASB meetings and sessions that board members may attend.
We reviewed and approved a request from Dr. Brost on setting up an after school education program. It is designed to provide extra help for those seeking it and for those that will be required to attend. Dr. Brost requested that the program be approved pending funding for it. He is actively searching for ways to fund the salaries needed to run this program. Dr. Brost is expecting to have both voluntary participation and mandatory attendance.
Next we approved the amount for transportation to and from parochial schools and the fee paid by those requesting transportation who would not receive it normally. We also approved the use of a Hearing Officer for expulsions. This practice has been in place for the recent past. It allows an independent review of the expulsion hearing prior to final board review of the Hearing Officer's report.
Additionally, we passed an agreement with Kid's Safari to bus students to their facility and for Kid's Safari to reimburse the district for this cost. Due to my daughter attending Kid's Safari, I abstained from the vote.
Lastly, we tabled motions regarding the Policy on Fund Balance and a discussion on District Goals. Both items will be on the August 26th agenda.
We heard a report from Susan Fox, Susan Manning and Jessica Ace on the WASB conference they recently attended. Again it was pointed out that board members who blog need to make sure that it is clear the postings represent their own thoughts and are not in any way intended to speak for the board as a whole. I feel that I do this in a pretty clear manner, but it is always open for interpretation.
As I stated it was a relatively light agenda and we got thru it relatively quickly. This coming Monday the board will meet to conduct it's review of Superintendent Gerlach. This meeting is a closed session meeting. Our next regular meeting is August 26th in the district office.
I would like to commend Dr. Brost and any other staff members instrumental in the organization of the after school education program. I hope that the funds can be found to get this program off the ground. It sounds like this can be a very beneficial program for all students. Any program that provides students either requesting or needing additional study time is a plus in my opinion.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Communication with the Public
In going back over the past month of notes from our various board development meetings and our regular board meetings, one of the things that stands out is COMMUNICATION. What does this mean in general?
We have talked a lot about this lately as a board and I am not sure if I have a better understanding of it or am more confused than I was a month ago. I like to think that I am a pretty decent communicator. My wife and daughter may disagree with that, but that is a whole other conversation.
Some board members do not like the use of blogs by Mr. Sobol and myself. Yet, I hear from many citizens that they like reading them as a way to learn about issues, learn what is happening with the board and to get our individual take/stance on things. Personally, when I am posting about board happenings I try to keep them as true and factual as possible and then input my opinions later in the post.
When we met with our legal counsel for the district he stated that blogs are a way to communicate and the board had no governance over their operation. He also warned Peter and I, since we are the only 2 members with blogs at that this time, to be careful how we present issues and our opinions. Basically make sure that it is clear when something is our opinion and not a board action or thought.
We have talked a lot about this lately as a board and I am not sure if I have a better understanding of it or am more confused than I was a month ago. I like to think that I am a pretty decent communicator. My wife and daughter may disagree with that, but that is a whole other conversation.
Some board members do not like the use of blogs by Mr. Sobol and myself. Yet, I hear from many citizens that they like reading them as a way to learn about issues, learn what is happening with the board and to get our individual take/stance on things. Personally, when I am posting about board happenings I try to keep them as true and factual as possible and then input my opinions later in the post.
When we met with our legal counsel for the district he stated that blogs are a way to communicate and the board had no governance over their operation. He also warned Peter and I, since we are the only 2 members with blogs at that this time, to be careful how we present issues and our opinions. Basically make sure that it is clear when something is our opinion and not a board action or thought.
What does communication mean to each of you as it relates between the school district and the general public? Do you like reading blogs? Does the district do a good job of disseminating information thru the website and by sending items home with students? Are there other things that the board or the district can do to improve the transparency of operations?
Some board members have mentioned they would like to see public listening sessions or town hall type meetings or something similar to those. This may be a time set aside at a board meeting or a special meeting. Details and format would have to be worked out, but my understanding is a more relaxed informal dialogue between board members and citizens. Is this something that the citizens are interested in?
Please give me some feed back on what you think about the communication either from the district administration or the school board and any thoughts you have on how to improve it or if the listening sessions are a good idea.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Still Here
Hello All,
Sorry for the lack of posts for the past month and a half. Professional and personal life has eaten up most of my free time.
We have been busy meeting at different times for board development. We have had a facilitator in leading the group thru some discussions. We have had our district legal counsel in to discuss policies and interpretations of policies. Basically we have worked on how we are to govern ourselves.
Which leads me to point out that the big news of the past month was the boards decision to eliminate the committee structure used by past boards and go to 2 full board meetings a month. This motion passed on a 5-1 vote (Jill List was absent due to a prior commitment).
As I said at the board meeting I see both sides of this issue and have struggled with it, since it was first discussed at one of our board development meetings as a governance option. Having been a citizen member before getting on the board I dislike taking that avenue away from prospective board candidates. I valued my time as a citizen member and felt it was necessary for me to have that experience before I ran for a spot on the board.
Additionally, the committees do allow for some good work to get done between the smaller committees and the administration in a less formal setting. However, the duplication time of the staff to present at the committe level and the board level was substantial. In addition, many members attended most committee meetings to hear the presentations given vs. hearing them at the board meeting and then having to vote on the issue.
Typically two meetings a month will allow a presentation at one meeting and then a decision at the next. (Complete details on how we will conduct business have not been laid out yet.) This may or may not reduce staff time, but if structured right it could. Lastly, as I stated at the board meeting my general feeling is that for this board and at this time the 2 meetings a month is the best method of governance for us. I may change my mind on that next year or the year after, but I am hopeful that this will lead to better conversation and discussion. I know that at various committee meetings I was at, but not a part of, it would have been nice to ask questions earlier in the process.
Our next board meeting is August 12th in the district office. We will have a full agenda as many items that the policy committee would have dealt with should be on the agenda.
Sorry for the lack of posts for the past month and a half. Professional and personal life has eaten up most of my free time.
We have been busy meeting at different times for board development. We have had a facilitator in leading the group thru some discussions. We have had our district legal counsel in to discuss policies and interpretations of policies. Basically we have worked on how we are to govern ourselves.
Which leads me to point out that the big news of the past month was the boards decision to eliminate the committee structure used by past boards and go to 2 full board meetings a month. This motion passed on a 5-1 vote (Jill List was absent due to a prior commitment).
As I said at the board meeting I see both sides of this issue and have struggled with it, since it was first discussed at one of our board development meetings as a governance option. Having been a citizen member before getting on the board I dislike taking that avenue away from prospective board candidates. I valued my time as a citizen member and felt it was necessary for me to have that experience before I ran for a spot on the board.
Additionally, the committees do allow for some good work to get done between the smaller committees and the administration in a less formal setting. However, the duplication time of the staff to present at the committe level and the board level was substantial. In addition, many members attended most committee meetings to hear the presentations given vs. hearing them at the board meeting and then having to vote on the issue.
Typically two meetings a month will allow a presentation at one meeting and then a decision at the next. (Complete details on how we will conduct business have not been laid out yet.) This may or may not reduce staff time, but if structured right it could. Lastly, as I stated at the board meeting my general feeling is that for this board and at this time the 2 meetings a month is the best method of governance for us. I may change my mind on that next year or the year after, but I am hopeful that this will lead to better conversation and discussion. I know that at various committee meetings I was at, but not a part of, it would have been nice to ask questions earlier in the process.
Our next board meeting is August 12th in the district office. We will have a full agenda as many items that the policy committee would have dealt with should be on the agenda.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Recap of Ad-Hoc Recommendations
The Ad-hoc committee had a pretty good night last night as we were able to come up with some recommendations to forward to the board. The recommendations come in 2 parts. One is a narrative and one is a flow chart type diagram.
The Narrative is:
1. Add modular units to Cottage Grove elementary schools to accommodate enrollment growth as a temporary solution to a potential long-term problem.
2. Research 4K-8 programming in both communities. Report findings at a School Board Meeting by the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
3. Research 6th grade programming/curriculum. Report findings at a School Board Meeting by the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Temporarily keep 6th grade Monona students at Winnequah.
4. Research 4k-4 grade school at Taylor Prairie and Cottage Grove Elementary. Report findings at a School Board Meeting by the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
5. Maintain Winnequah and Maywood schools until 4K-8 program in each community is determined, or until it is fiscally not feasible to operate both buildings.
6. Research real estate option districtwide.
Flow Chart Style:
A. Add Modular Units for the Short-Term
1. Move Monona 7th & 8th grade students to Winnequah and move Cottage Grove 4th grade students to Glacial Drumlin.
2. Build a new permanent structure in Cottage Grove (either an addition or a new building). Possibly reconfigure the buildings in a 4K-4 or 4K-5
Analysis/Comments:
I will start with the Flow Chart Style 1st because that is harder to demonstrate here on this blog. My understanding is that we add modular units to provide a short-term solution to ease the crowding. Then once the administration has studied the viability of a 4K-8 split the district will go 1 of 2 ways.
If the district is split then each community would have 4K-8 in their buildings. If this 4K-8 scenario is not viable then a permanent structure, either an addition or a new building, will potentially be needed in Cottage Grove. At the same time a study will be done to determine the configurations for the buildings in Cottage Grove if they become 4K-4, 4K-5 or if they do something like 4K-2 in one and 3-5 in the other.
The reason for the narrative is that a potential 4K-8 split is beyond the area of expertise of this committee, but one that the committee felt needs to be looked at more closely. It has it's pros and cons, but what are the true impacts and costs to students and district finances. It was just something that this committee felt needed more time to study and a different group of people to research it, i.e. the administration because they have expertise in the educational viability of it.
The research of potentially changing the Cottage Grove elementary schools to 4K-4 or 4K-5 is one that also needs more of an educators expertise. This potential change can happen regardless of the 4K-8 viability.
Based on these different recommendations Maywood will stay open for next year. However, after that it will depend on the 4K-8 viability option and/or the fiscal implications that the district faces. The committee was in agreement that it does not make sense to close a school for only a year or even two if it is just going to re-open after that. Which is why part of the Maywood/Winnequah consolidation is tied to the 4K-8 viability.
Lastly, the committee would like to see the curriculum/programming for the 6th grade reviewed by the School Board. There was some talk of a 5th/6th intermediate system. Some talk of moving the Monona 6th grade to Glacial Drumlin to be part of the district middle school. Again, because this is more of a programming/curriculum issue the committee did not feel comfortable making a final decision on this.
My Thoughts:
From my perspective it appears that we have a short-term solution to overcrowding by adding the modular units. This buys us some time to work thru the programming/curriculum issues that the district faces. By recommending these issues be reported to the School Board by the end of the 2009/10 school year the committee has asked that these issues be decided sooner than later. The viability of these 3 programming/curriculum issues all impact what the next step is for our facilities.
This issue is not over, but these recommendations do provide a path for dealing with the facilities usage. I would like to see the timeline for making these decisions sped up just a bit, so that we can move on from facilities and on to other more pressing issues. If the administration does not present their reports until the end of the 2009/10 school year then the earliest any changes could be implemented is probably for the 2011/12 school year.
I agree with others on the committee that stated the administration needs time to research each of the 3 programming issues, so that we don't rush into a bad decision. However, pushing this off an additional year is going to cost the district extra money also, so the sooner these issues can be resolved the better. The outcome of each of these programming decisions could have a significant impact on our future budget deficit. This is why I would like to see a decision made sooner than later.
The Narrative is:
1. Add modular units to Cottage Grove elementary schools to accommodate enrollment growth as a temporary solution to a potential long-term problem.
2. Research 4K-8 programming in both communities. Report findings at a School Board Meeting by the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
3. Research 6th grade programming/curriculum. Report findings at a School Board Meeting by the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Temporarily keep 6th grade Monona students at Winnequah.
4. Research 4k-4 grade school at Taylor Prairie and Cottage Grove Elementary. Report findings at a School Board Meeting by the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
5. Maintain Winnequah and Maywood schools until 4K-8 program in each community is determined, or until it is fiscally not feasible to operate both buildings.
6. Research real estate option districtwide.
Flow Chart Style:
A. Add Modular Units for the Short-Term
1. Move Monona 7th & 8th grade students to Winnequah and move Cottage Grove 4th grade students to Glacial Drumlin.
2. Build a new permanent structure in Cottage Grove (either an addition or a new building). Possibly reconfigure the buildings in a 4K-4 or 4K-5
Analysis/Comments:
I will start with the Flow Chart Style 1st because that is harder to demonstrate here on this blog. My understanding is that we add modular units to provide a short-term solution to ease the crowding. Then once the administration has studied the viability of a 4K-8 split the district will go 1 of 2 ways.
If the district is split then each community would have 4K-8 in their buildings. If this 4K-8 scenario is not viable then a permanent structure, either an addition or a new building, will potentially be needed in Cottage Grove. At the same time a study will be done to determine the configurations for the buildings in Cottage Grove if they become 4K-4, 4K-5 or if they do something like 4K-2 in one and 3-5 in the other.
The reason for the narrative is that a potential 4K-8 split is beyond the area of expertise of this committee, but one that the committee felt needs to be looked at more closely. It has it's pros and cons, but what are the true impacts and costs to students and district finances. It was just something that this committee felt needed more time to study and a different group of people to research it, i.e. the administration because they have expertise in the educational viability of it.
The research of potentially changing the Cottage Grove elementary schools to 4K-4 or 4K-5 is one that also needs more of an educators expertise. This potential change can happen regardless of the 4K-8 viability.
Based on these different recommendations Maywood will stay open for next year. However, after that it will depend on the 4K-8 viability option and/or the fiscal implications that the district faces. The committee was in agreement that it does not make sense to close a school for only a year or even two if it is just going to re-open after that. Which is why part of the Maywood/Winnequah consolidation is tied to the 4K-8 viability.
Lastly, the committee would like to see the curriculum/programming for the 6th grade reviewed by the School Board. There was some talk of a 5th/6th intermediate system. Some talk of moving the Monona 6th grade to Glacial Drumlin to be part of the district middle school. Again, because this is more of a programming/curriculum issue the committee did not feel comfortable making a final decision on this.
My Thoughts:
From my perspective it appears that we have a short-term solution to overcrowding by adding the modular units. This buys us some time to work thru the programming/curriculum issues that the district faces. By recommending these issues be reported to the School Board by the end of the 2009/10 school year the committee has asked that these issues be decided sooner than later. The viability of these 3 programming/curriculum issues all impact what the next step is for our facilities.
This issue is not over, but these recommendations do provide a path for dealing with the facilities usage. I would like to see the timeline for making these decisions sped up just a bit, so that we can move on from facilities and on to other more pressing issues. If the administration does not present their reports until the end of the 2009/10 school year then the earliest any changes could be implemented is probably for the 2011/12 school year.
I agree with others on the committee that stated the administration needs time to research each of the 3 programming issues, so that we don't rush into a bad decision. However, pushing this off an additional year is going to cost the district extra money also, so the sooner these issues can be resolved the better. The outcome of each of these programming decisions could have a significant impact on our future budget deficit. This is why I would like to see a decision made sooner than later.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
May 26th Ad-Hoc Meeting
Just a reminder to all that tonight the Ad-Hoc committee gets a chance to review and discuss the options and hopefully forward a recommendation to the board. This meeting is @ 6:00 in the District Office at Nichols. While there is no Public Appearances on the agenda your presence is still noticed by the committee, so I would encourage you to attend if you are able.
I got my packet that had all of the e-mails sent in to the committee. In addition the board has received numerous e-mails directly on this issue. THANK YOU to all that got up and spoke your opinions at the Public Forum and to all that have followed up with e-mails. While I am unable to respond to each of you individually, even though I would like to, I want to assure you that your comments are read and heard by me. As a general rule it is my understanding that the School Board President is responsible for responding to e-mails and not the individual members.
Now because these e-mails have been printed and sent to us this is all my perception of them, because we all know how e-mails can be taken out of context or misunderstood. Generally, all of the e-mails had a good tone to them, as I don't recall any "hate mail" type of e-mail. Thank you for being thoughtful and respectful in your comments. The comments at the Public Forum where generally the same as those e-mailed to the committee. Many in favor of modular units in Cottage Grove and opposed to bussing students in general. Some liked the idea of a K-8 community based style, while others wanted to try in merge the students in 6th grade. Many looked at consolidation of Maywood and Winnequah as a viable option to help with the budget deficit we face as a School District.
All of these comments are very much like those that the committee has had at it's meetings over the past 6 months. Tonight will be an interesting meeting as we as a committee try to balance all of the differing view points into a solid recommendation to the committee. It will not be an easy process, but one that I think this group can accomplish.
I will try to post the results of the meeting either tonight or tomorrow morning.
Have a great 4 day work week.
I got my packet that had all of the e-mails sent in to the committee. In addition the board has received numerous e-mails directly on this issue. THANK YOU to all that got up and spoke your opinions at the Public Forum and to all that have followed up with e-mails. While I am unable to respond to each of you individually, even though I would like to, I want to assure you that your comments are read and heard by me. As a general rule it is my understanding that the School Board President is responsible for responding to e-mails and not the individual members.
Now because these e-mails have been printed and sent to us this is all my perception of them, because we all know how e-mails can be taken out of context or misunderstood. Generally, all of the e-mails had a good tone to them, as I don't recall any "hate mail" type of e-mail. Thank you for being thoughtful and respectful in your comments. The comments at the Public Forum where generally the same as those e-mailed to the committee. Many in favor of modular units in Cottage Grove and opposed to bussing students in general. Some liked the idea of a K-8 community based style, while others wanted to try in merge the students in 6th grade. Many looked at consolidation of Maywood and Winnequah as a viable option to help with the budget deficit we face as a School District.
All of these comments are very much like those that the committee has had at it's meetings over the past 6 months. Tonight will be an interesting meeting as we as a committee try to balance all of the differing view points into a solid recommendation to the committee. It will not be an easy process, but one that I think this group can accomplish.
I will try to post the results of the meeting either tonight or tomorrow morning.
Have a great 4 day work week.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Ad-Hoc Public Forum
Last night was the public forum for the Ad-Hoc Committee on Grade Configuration. By most estimations about 100 individuals attended the event at Glacial Drumlin. Mr. Gerlach conducted an overview of the slide show presentation and then moderated a Q & A session. The slide show and details about the committees work can be found at:
http://www.mononagrove.org/4k8grade.cfm
There were many questions centered around open enrollment, T4K program questions, modular unit options and consolidation of Maywood and Winnequah. Comments were both for and against many of the solutions presented from the committee. Many individuals questioned the economics of bussing in this economy.
The one theme that I could sense from the night is that everyone would like to see a sound and just decision made that can work both short-term and long enough to not be revisiting this issue every year or two. As a committee member I really cannot agree more. This issue needs to be put to bed, so that the district and the board can move onto more pressing issues.
Please continue to send comments to the committee thru the district website until this Friday, the 22nd. Also, send all comments to the board as they will take this issue up at the next meeting in June.
http://www.mononagrove.org/4k8grade.cfm
There were many questions centered around open enrollment, T4K program questions, modular unit options and consolidation of Maywood and Winnequah. Comments were both for and against many of the solutions presented from the committee. Many individuals questioned the economics of bussing in this economy.
The one theme that I could sense from the night is that everyone would like to see a sound and just decision made that can work both short-term and long enough to not be revisiting this issue every year or two. As a committee member I really cannot agree more. This issue needs to be put to bed, so that the district and the board can move onto more pressing issues.
Please continue to send comments to the committee thru the district website until this Friday, the 22nd. Also, send all comments to the board as they will take this issue up at the next meeting in June.
Reorganization Meeting
Last Wednesday the school board held our reorganization meeting as part of our normal monthly meeting. It made for a long night, but we got thru it. The results were as follows:
President - Nominated by board vote were Susan Fox, Susan Manning and Peter Sobel. Ms. Manning declined to be included on the ballot. Ms. Fox defeated Mr. Sobel by a 4-3 vote.
Vice-President - Nominated by board vote were Susan Manning, Jason McCutchin, Lionel Norton and Peter Sobel. Ms. Manning declined to be included on the ballot. Mr. Sobel won on a 5-2 vote.
Treasurer - Nominated by board vote were Jill List, Susan Manning, Jason McCutchin, Peter Sobel. Mr. Sobel stated if elected Treasurer he would resign as Vice-President. Ms. Manning won with 4 votes.
Clerk - Nominated by board vote were Jill List and Lionel Norton. Mr. Norton won on a 4-3 vote.
After this reorganization the board got down to normal business. Mr. Gerlach indicated that he had a meeting with Kid's Safari regarding the district and the decision not to provide transportation to Kid's Safari for the upcoming school year. Mr. Gerlach stated that they will be working on this issue and provide an update at a later date.
Mr. Gerlach stated that the Ad-Hoc Committee would be holding a public presentation on Sunday the 17th. Mr. Gerlach further provided an update on the budget, but prefaced his comments by stating "that things are changing daily at the Capital". Therefore, we are still facing a budget deficit in excess of $650k and it may creep closer to $800k depending on the final State Budget.
Next the board heard from the Curriculum Committee regarding the potential purchase of English materials for grades 6-8. The final amount of $105,838 was approximately $25k more than presented to the Curriculum Committee on 4/15. This increase was due to a change in the final materials ordered to add additional web based programming and more texts. The motion to approve this adoption passed.
The Personnel & Policy Committee gave a brief update on their bullying/harassment policy and noted that it would have to be condensed from the current 13 pages down to 2 or 3. Additionally, the Student Handbooks for each building were approved with the minor revisions noted at the committee meeting.
The Business Service Committee presented an overview of some fees for the 2009/10 year. Bill Herman presented bids to the committee at their meeting for new computers to replace aging ones in the district. Finally the board reviewed the proposal to issue general obligation notes instead of lease purchase financing for the McKinstry contract. The reason for the change in financing is due to better interest rates on the bonds vs. lease purchase. This change could result in over $100k in interest savings over the life of the notes. All items above were approved by the board.
Finally the board and the district had a very special "THANK YOU" recognition for Bev Kalish. Bev is retiring after 37 years with the district, including working for 10 superintendents. Bev's experience will be missed by all. However, her replacement Joyce Hamm brings in many years of experience in her own right and will join the learning process with all of the rest of us.
All in all for my 1st board meeting it was quite an eventful night. I am cautiously optimistic that this board will be able to do some good things over the next year. There are many issues facing the district, so it should be an interesting ride......Hang on everyone!!!
President - Nominated by board vote were Susan Fox, Susan Manning and Peter Sobel. Ms. Manning declined to be included on the ballot. Ms. Fox defeated Mr. Sobel by a 4-3 vote.
Vice-President - Nominated by board vote were Susan Manning, Jason McCutchin, Lionel Norton and Peter Sobel. Ms. Manning declined to be included on the ballot. Mr. Sobel won on a 5-2 vote.
Treasurer - Nominated by board vote were Jill List, Susan Manning, Jason McCutchin, Peter Sobel. Mr. Sobel stated if elected Treasurer he would resign as Vice-President. Ms. Manning won with 4 votes.
Clerk - Nominated by board vote were Jill List and Lionel Norton. Mr. Norton won on a 4-3 vote.
After this reorganization the board got down to normal business. Mr. Gerlach indicated that he had a meeting with Kid's Safari regarding the district and the decision not to provide transportation to Kid's Safari for the upcoming school year. Mr. Gerlach stated that they will be working on this issue and provide an update at a later date.
Mr. Gerlach stated that the Ad-Hoc Committee would be holding a public presentation on Sunday the 17th. Mr. Gerlach further provided an update on the budget, but prefaced his comments by stating "that things are changing daily at the Capital". Therefore, we are still facing a budget deficit in excess of $650k and it may creep closer to $800k depending on the final State Budget.
Next the board heard from the Curriculum Committee regarding the potential purchase of English materials for grades 6-8. The final amount of $105,838 was approximately $25k more than presented to the Curriculum Committee on 4/15. This increase was due to a change in the final materials ordered to add additional web based programming and more texts. The motion to approve this adoption passed.
The Personnel & Policy Committee gave a brief update on their bullying/harassment policy and noted that it would have to be condensed from the current 13 pages down to 2 or 3. Additionally, the Student Handbooks for each building were approved with the minor revisions noted at the committee meeting.
The Business Service Committee presented an overview of some fees for the 2009/10 year. Bill Herman presented bids to the committee at their meeting for new computers to replace aging ones in the district. Finally the board reviewed the proposal to issue general obligation notes instead of lease purchase financing for the McKinstry contract. The reason for the change in financing is due to better interest rates on the bonds vs. lease purchase. This change could result in over $100k in interest savings over the life of the notes. All items above were approved by the board.
Finally the board and the district had a very special "THANK YOU" recognition for Bev Kalish. Bev is retiring after 37 years with the district, including working for 10 superintendents. Bev's experience will be missed by all. However, her replacement Joyce Hamm brings in many years of experience in her own right and will join the learning process with all of the rest of us.
All in all for my 1st board meeting it was quite an eventful night. I am cautiously optimistic that this board will be able to do some good things over the next year. There are many issues facing the district, so it should be an interesting ride......Hang on everyone!!!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
May 13th School Board Meeting
The School Board has quite the agenda this week for the 1st board meeting with the new members. The reorganization of the board is the first item up for business. This will be done by secret ballot nomination for each office. Then those receiving nominations will be given the chance to accept or decline the nomination. Another vote is then taken to elect the officer from those accepting the nomination. If there is no majority after this vote the top 2 candidates will "face-off" in one more vote.
The board will elect the President first, followed by the Vice-President, Treasurer and Clerk.
This election will be very interesting with such a young board. We only have one 1 member who is has ever been an officer or even chaired a committee for the district. This will require a quick learning curve for those who chair the committees and the president as that individual learns on the job about overseeing a district.
Following the election the board will get an update on Stimulus money and the budget from Mr. Gerlach. He will also provide more details about the upcoming public meeting on the Grade Configuration being held this coming Sunday.
The board will also be discussing possible approval of the 6th - 8th grade textbook purchase. We will also be reviewing the changes for the individual school handbooks. Lastly we will review the potential issuance of $1.46 million in bonds to fund the McKinstry Energy Savings Contract.
Peter Sobol has a very good summary of the reasons behind the bonds vs. lease purchase on his blog.
http://petersobol.blogspot.com/
As always I encourage the public to attend and make comments during the public appearances portion of the meeting. You can also contact the full board with comments and concerns thru the district website.
The board will elect the President first, followed by the Vice-President, Treasurer and Clerk.
This election will be very interesting with such a young board. We only have one 1 member who is has ever been an officer or even chaired a committee for the district. This will require a quick learning curve for those who chair the committees and the president as that individual learns on the job about overseeing a district.
Following the election the board will get an update on Stimulus money and the budget from Mr. Gerlach. He will also provide more details about the upcoming public meeting on the Grade Configuration being held this coming Sunday.
The board will also be discussing possible approval of the 6th - 8th grade textbook purchase. We will also be reviewing the changes for the individual school handbooks. Lastly we will review the potential issuance of $1.46 million in bonds to fund the McKinstry Energy Savings Contract.
Peter Sobol has a very good summary of the reasons behind the bonds vs. lease purchase on his blog.
http://petersobol.blogspot.com/
As always I encourage the public to attend and make comments during the public appearances portion of the meeting. You can also contact the full board with comments and concerns thru the district website.
Public Hearing on Grade Configuration
On Sunday May 17th @ 6:00 pm, at Glacial Drumlin, the Ad-Hoc Committee on Grade Configuration will present the remaining options to the public. They will be looking for feedback and input on the various options. Following this meeting they will have one last meeting to review the comments from the public and then make a recommendation to the School Board.
I would encourage everyone to attend this meeting if able, so you can hear the presentation from Mr. Gerlach on behalf of the committee. It would also be beneficial for the committee to hear what the citizens of this district think about the various options remaining.
If you would prefer not to speak during the presentation please forward your comments regarding the options directly to Mr. Gerlach and he will forward them onto the Ad-Hoc Committee.
I would encourage everyone to attend this meeting if able, so you can hear the presentation from Mr. Gerlach on behalf of the committee. It would also be beneficial for the committee to hear what the citizens of this district think about the various options remaining.
If you would prefer not to speak during the presentation please forward your comments regarding the options directly to Mr. Gerlach and he will forward them onto the Ad-Hoc Committee.
The link is directly to the Ad-Hoc Committee page on the district website.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
End of the Marathon
Well the campaign marathon is over. Thankfully it ended as I had hoped.
Thank you to all of you who put your faith in me and voted me onto the board. I will begin working in earnest on solutions to the issues that are in the best interest of this district.
Congratulations to Lionel Norton and Jessica Ace for winning seats on the board.
Mike Duplayee deserves a HUGE THANK YOU from the residents of this district for his past service.
Thanks again to all who helped and supported my campaign.
Thank you to all of you who put your faith in me and voted me onto the board. I will begin working in earnest on solutions to the issues that are in the best interest of this district.
Congratulations to Lionel Norton and Jessica Ace for winning seats on the board.
Mike Duplayee deserves a HUGE THANK YOU from the residents of this district for his past service.
Thanks again to all who helped and supported my campaign.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Random Thoughts
Hello All,
Sorry for taking so long to update the site. The past month has been a whirlwind for me both personally and professionally. Work has been very hectic do to some tragic events, so that has taken up any free time that I had. Now with the election only 7 days away it has consumed what little time was left.
I have been out on the streets knocking on doors and meeting many people. It has been an eye opening experience to hear the different view points about our schools, the teachers, the administration and the district as a whole. Most opinions are that the district as a whole is in pretty good shape.
I have been encouraging everyone to get out and vote...even if they are not going to vote for me. Voting is such an important process in our society to determine who the decision makers are that it is a shame that the spring elections usually have such low turnouts. Hopefully, you will help me spread the word to vote on April 7th.
This Thursday the Monona PTO is hosting a forum to meet the candidates for school board. The event will be held at the Winnequah Cafeteria at 7:00. Please stop by and here what each of us has to say during our last public appearance before the election.
If anyone has any questions regarding the election please do not hesitate to post a question here or shoot me an e-mail. I will respond as quickly as possible.
VOTE McCUTCHIN ON APRIL 7th (shameless plug)
Sorry for taking so long to update the site. The past month has been a whirlwind for me both personally and professionally. Work has been very hectic do to some tragic events, so that has taken up any free time that I had. Now with the election only 7 days away it has consumed what little time was left.
I have been out on the streets knocking on doors and meeting many people. It has been an eye opening experience to hear the different view points about our schools, the teachers, the administration and the district as a whole. Most opinions are that the district as a whole is in pretty good shape.
I have been encouraging everyone to get out and vote...even if they are not going to vote for me. Voting is such an important process in our society to determine who the decision makers are that it is a shame that the spring elections usually have such low turnouts. Hopefully, you will help me spread the word to vote on April 7th.
This Thursday the Monona PTO is hosting a forum to meet the candidates for school board. The event will be held at the Winnequah Cafeteria at 7:00. Please stop by and here what each of us has to say during our last public appearance before the election.
If anyone has any questions regarding the election please do not hesitate to post a question here or shoot me an e-mail. I will respond as quickly as possible.
VOTE McCUTCHIN ON APRIL 7th (shameless plug)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Endorsement Announcement
I was notified on 3/9 by the candidate review committee that the Monona Grove Education Association will be endorsing my candidacy for the School Board. I appreciate the support of MGEA as I continue this campaign. Additionally, if elected to the school board I look forward to the opportunity to work with MGEA in a partnership for the benefit of the district.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
March 3rd Ad Hoc Grade Config. Meeting
This week the Ad Hoc meeting focused on the rubric design that we will be using to score the remaining options. Ideally this rubric would have been designed prior to the elimination of options, but that was not done in this scenario and that is ok. The hard part is that it makes it very easy to try and adapt the rubric scoring and weighting to match a desired scenario. I did not get the feeling that was being done, however some of the discussions did focus on how the scoring would be applied to the remaining options. I think that for the most part Craig and the committee tried to stay away from that thought process, but it is hard to do.
I was late for the meeting due to a work issue, so I missed the 45 minute discussion on transitions. Thankfully, I picked a good meeting to be late for. Some of the other items being discussed are busing, costs, neighborhood schools and programming in addition to 3 or 4 others.
Each of these items will have a scale from 1-5 that we will use to rate how we think they apply to a given scenario.
At the March 17th meeting, yes we are meeting on St. Patrick's Day, we will be making final tweaks to the rubric and then running some of the dismissed options thru the scoring system to show the committee how it works. I excited to see this in action and to use an objective scoring system.
If you have any questions about this process please direct your inquires to me or any other committee member. We can provide you with most of the answers to your questions or can get them most likely.
Lastly, the discussion of when would we be ready to go to the public came up. Based on the conversation it appears that we will be scheduling the public forums for late April or early May. This would allow us time to go thru our process of narrowing the choices for the public forums as well as allow us to discuss the feedback from the forums before we go to the school board with our recommendations.
Just a reminder that no matter what recommendations this committee makes or does not make the ultimate decision is going to be made at the board level. Therefore, once the committee make it's recommendation to the board please contact all board members with your thoughts and concerns. The more district residents that provide feedback at both the forums and directly to the committe and board the better in my opinion.
I was late for the meeting due to a work issue, so I missed the 45 minute discussion on transitions. Thankfully, I picked a good meeting to be late for. Some of the other items being discussed are busing, costs, neighborhood schools and programming in addition to 3 or 4 others.
Each of these items will have a scale from 1-5 that we will use to rate how we think they apply to a given scenario.
At the March 17th meeting, yes we are meeting on St. Patrick's Day, we will be making final tweaks to the rubric and then running some of the dismissed options thru the scoring system to show the committee how it works. I excited to see this in action and to use an objective scoring system.
If you have any questions about this process please direct your inquires to me or any other committee member. We can provide you with most of the answers to your questions or can get them most likely.
Lastly, the discussion of when would we be ready to go to the public came up. Based on the conversation it appears that we will be scheduling the public forums for late April or early May. This would allow us time to go thru our process of narrowing the choices for the public forums as well as allow us to discuss the feedback from the forums before we go to the school board with our recommendations.
Just a reminder that no matter what recommendations this committee makes or does not make the ultimate decision is going to be made at the board level. Therefore, once the committee make it's recommendation to the board please contact all board members with your thoughts and concerns. The more district residents that provide feedback at both the forums and directly to the committe and board the better in my opinion.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Feb. 25th Business Services Meeting
This week must have been the week for the marathon school board committee meetings as the Business Services meeting Wednesday did not end until about 9:00. However, we were able to accomplish quite a few things this month.
The primary accomplishment was that we forwarded to the board a recommendation to approve the contract with McKinstry that the committee has been working on with them for the past several months. The total of the contract has not been finalized as on the day of the meeting Mark Scullion was notified that an insulation contractor would be able to perform work on the Taylor Prairie roof to fix the leaking issues. Therefore the recommendation was as stated in the FIM’s, approximately $1.53M, and a not to exceed for Taylor Prairie of $450k.
The reason for the urgency of including Taylor Prairie was so that it could be included in the financing bidding that will begin upon board approval. If the Taylor Prairie work costs exceed the $450k amount or if they cannot result in additional energy efficiency then they will not be included in the final recommendation to the board.
From my personal perspective, my thoughts are that this is a very worthwhile project and contract. I did vote to approve it; however I am leery of paying for anything thru savings. In this scenario, I think the financing will work, but it still makes me nervous.
We were to review an initial budget reduction list, but do to the fact that there were some staff cuts and those individuals had not all been notified that item was tabled until the next meeting. This will also allow the administration team more time to review revenue estimates and the cut list.
Next we reviewed the transportation bids that the district received. After much discussion regarding the bids it was decided to stay with the current bus service configuration. Monona routes will be serviced for the next 5 years by Badger Bussing and the district will continue to operate the routes in Cottage Grove. This option offers the best service and cost benefit for the district at this time.
We reviewed the start and end times for the 2009-10 school year. The changes are that Grade 5 at Glacial Drumlin will have their start time moved back to match the rest of the building. As a result they will be dismissed at 3:00 and the bus riders will have supervision in the building until the rest of the building is dismissed.
The last item of discussion was to review the walk zone for the 5th grade students. The major part of this focused on the Glacial Drumlin impact. Due to the changes in start times if we change the walk zone for the 5th grade it will result in a more uniform policy for the Glacial Drumlin building. Additionally, there is a potential for some additional transportation savings.
The remaining items were tabled due to the late hour of the night. We will meet again on April 1st. Yes April Fools Day.
The primary accomplishment was that we forwarded to the board a recommendation to approve the contract with McKinstry that the committee has been working on with them for the past several months. The total of the contract has not been finalized as on the day of the meeting Mark Scullion was notified that an insulation contractor would be able to perform work on the Taylor Prairie roof to fix the leaking issues. Therefore the recommendation was as stated in the FIM’s, approximately $1.53M, and a not to exceed for Taylor Prairie of $450k.
The reason for the urgency of including Taylor Prairie was so that it could be included in the financing bidding that will begin upon board approval. If the Taylor Prairie work costs exceed the $450k amount or if they cannot result in additional energy efficiency then they will not be included in the final recommendation to the board.
From my personal perspective, my thoughts are that this is a very worthwhile project and contract. I did vote to approve it; however I am leery of paying for anything thru savings. In this scenario, I think the financing will work, but it still makes me nervous.
We were to review an initial budget reduction list, but do to the fact that there were some staff cuts and those individuals had not all been notified that item was tabled until the next meeting. This will also allow the administration team more time to review revenue estimates and the cut list.
Next we reviewed the transportation bids that the district received. After much discussion regarding the bids it was decided to stay with the current bus service configuration. Monona routes will be serviced for the next 5 years by Badger Bussing and the district will continue to operate the routes in Cottage Grove. This option offers the best service and cost benefit for the district at this time.
We reviewed the start and end times for the 2009-10 school year. The changes are that Grade 5 at Glacial Drumlin will have their start time moved back to match the rest of the building. As a result they will be dismissed at 3:00 and the bus riders will have supervision in the building until the rest of the building is dismissed.
The last item of discussion was to review the walk zone for the 5th grade students. The major part of this focused on the Glacial Drumlin impact. Due to the changes in start times if we change the walk zone for the 5th grade it will result in a more uniform policy for the Glacial Drumlin building. Additionally, there is a potential for some additional transportation savings.
The remaining items were tabled due to the late hour of the night. We will meet again on April 1st. Yes April Fools Day.
Feb. 24th Ad Hoc Committee
The Feb. 24th meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee to Study Grade Configuration was a very interesting meeting. The Chair, Craig Gerlach, decided to take a step back and slow down the process. I think this was a very good move and one that was very much needed. Mr. Gerlach reviewed the charge of the committee as directed by the board president, John Kitslaar. He then reviewed a few points on Roberts Rules of Order. So far our meetings have been very informal and will now begin to follow these normal meeting procedures.
Mr. Gerlach also stated that he will begin building for the next meeting, on March 3rd, a criteria scale or scoring rubric to review all options that the committee reviewed. We will be going back and reviewing the options that have been dismissed and those remaining. This will give us an objective scoring system to judge the options.
We also reviewed a document from Mr. Gerlach that looked at the capacity of the 5 middle and elementary schools in slightly different fashion. It looked at the building capacities with a range attached to them. This was calculated by taking the number of sections of a grade times the class size goal for the low end and the number of sections times the class size maximums for the high end. This provides us with the following:
Cottage Grove – 455-525
Glacial Drumlin – 904 – 988
Maywood – 224 – 273
Taylor Prairie – 364 – 424
Winnequah – 483 – 538
This does not take into account the impact on common areas like the gym and cafeteria, but does provide a better idea of what each school can actually hold. Also, it was mentioned by a committee member that Winnequah’s capacity may be higher depending on grade configuration and actual number of rooms needed for specials like special ed., OT/PT, gifted/talented, etc.
Lastly, we held a lengthy discussion regarding which set of population numbers we would use for our analysis as we move forward in this process. The district presently has an applied population study conducted for them by the University of Wisconsin to help them make decisions. The study presents four different models to choose from, the baseline model, the 2 yr. trend, the 5 yr. trend and the kindergarten model. Each of these models has advantages and disadvantages to them. 2 of them are fairly aggressive in Monona and rather passive in Cottage Grove and 2 are exactly the opposite.
At a previous meeting I presented numbers that averaged the 4 models together. My rationale behind doing this was that it would take the advantages and disadvantages of all 4 models and present a more median approach and would not favor one community over the other.
As Mr. Gerlach started this discussion he stated that he recommended the 4 model average, but that he would like to discuss it with the committee. After a lengthy discussion and 3 different motions it was decided that we would use the 5 yr. trend model as our main source of estimation going forward.
On a side note, I will state that I would have preferred the 4 model average because it is the fairest option to both communities in my opinion. With that being said I am thankful that we have made a decision on which set of population estimates we will use. In the end I think one of the committee members said it best, and I am paraphrasing because I cannot remember the exact quote, “No matter which model we choose, we will be wrong.” This is true in my opinion because the applied population is an inexact science and while the estimates are valid they will never be exactly perfect.
The next meeting is set for Tuesday, March 3rd.
Mr. Gerlach also stated that he will begin building for the next meeting, on March 3rd, a criteria scale or scoring rubric to review all options that the committee reviewed. We will be going back and reviewing the options that have been dismissed and those remaining. This will give us an objective scoring system to judge the options.
We also reviewed a document from Mr. Gerlach that looked at the capacity of the 5 middle and elementary schools in slightly different fashion. It looked at the building capacities with a range attached to them. This was calculated by taking the number of sections of a grade times the class size goal for the low end and the number of sections times the class size maximums for the high end. This provides us with the following:
Cottage Grove – 455-525
Glacial Drumlin – 904 – 988
Maywood – 224 – 273
Taylor Prairie – 364 – 424
Winnequah – 483 – 538
This does not take into account the impact on common areas like the gym and cafeteria, but does provide a better idea of what each school can actually hold. Also, it was mentioned by a committee member that Winnequah’s capacity may be higher depending on grade configuration and actual number of rooms needed for specials like special ed., OT/PT, gifted/talented, etc.
Lastly, we held a lengthy discussion regarding which set of population numbers we would use for our analysis as we move forward in this process. The district presently has an applied population study conducted for them by the University of Wisconsin to help them make decisions. The study presents four different models to choose from, the baseline model, the 2 yr. trend, the 5 yr. trend and the kindergarten model. Each of these models has advantages and disadvantages to them. 2 of them are fairly aggressive in Monona and rather passive in Cottage Grove and 2 are exactly the opposite.
At a previous meeting I presented numbers that averaged the 4 models together. My rationale behind doing this was that it would take the advantages and disadvantages of all 4 models and present a more median approach and would not favor one community over the other.
As Mr. Gerlach started this discussion he stated that he recommended the 4 model average, but that he would like to discuss it with the committee. After a lengthy discussion and 3 different motions it was decided that we would use the 5 yr. trend model as our main source of estimation going forward.
On a side note, I will state that I would have preferred the 4 model average because it is the fairest option to both communities in my opinion. With that being said I am thankful that we have made a decision on which set of population estimates we will use. In the end I think one of the committee members said it best, and I am paraphrasing because I cannot remember the exact quote, “No matter which model we choose, we will be wrong.” This is true in my opinion because the applied population is an inexact science and while the estimates are valid they will never be exactly perfect.
The next meeting is set for Tuesday, March 3rd.
Feb. 23rd Athletic Field Use Meeting
This past week has been a whirlwind both personally and professionally, hence the reason for the delay in this post.
I attended the Feb. 23rd meeting of the Athletic Field Use Ad Hoc Committee. As a first time viewer of this committee I found it very interesting and informative. The committee focused mainly on the alternative options for the Soccer teams for both the upcoming seasons and future seasons. Ahuska Park will be a viable option for the short term, but the City of Monona is looking for a long-term tenant for the park and a youth football group may be that tenant. This does not mean that the school district will not use the park, but they may not be given the same priority status as they currently enjoy.
The Village of Cottage Grove Recreation Dept. gave an update on Fireman’s Park and its availability starting for the 2010-11 school year. Fireman’s Park is looking to have a Championship Field in addition to other soccer practice fields at its facility. This may allow the school district the ability to host WIAA State Tournament games, which we cannot host presently. This would be a real nice perk for the soccer teams if it all comes together. Some of this will depend on the ability to raise funds for some of the amenities a Championship Field would require.
The committee also discussed the green space at Glacial Drumlin and its potential future uses. A lot will depend on how the grass comes in this spring as to its availability this year. In future years it will have to be determined exactly how much space is there and how best to lay out that space. There is a potential to use it for both football and soccer.
Lastly, they discussed the High School Track. The track will be patched this spring. After it is patched a determination will be made to either paint the patches or paint the entire track. Additionally it was stated that the track will need to be replaced real soon. Further discussion was held regarding exactly when that would be, but it was stated that the future date would depend on what damage is discovered when the patch repairs begin. It was also discussed if the repairs would be done at the same time as the football field, but nothing definitive has been decided.
I attended the Feb. 23rd meeting of the Athletic Field Use Ad Hoc Committee. As a first time viewer of this committee I found it very interesting and informative. The committee focused mainly on the alternative options for the Soccer teams for both the upcoming seasons and future seasons. Ahuska Park will be a viable option for the short term, but the City of Monona is looking for a long-term tenant for the park and a youth football group may be that tenant. This does not mean that the school district will not use the park, but they may not be given the same priority status as they currently enjoy.
The Village of Cottage Grove Recreation Dept. gave an update on Fireman’s Park and its availability starting for the 2010-11 school year. Fireman’s Park is looking to have a Championship Field in addition to other soccer practice fields at its facility. This may allow the school district the ability to host WIAA State Tournament games, which we cannot host presently. This would be a real nice perk for the soccer teams if it all comes together. Some of this will depend on the ability to raise funds for some of the amenities a Championship Field would require.
The committee also discussed the green space at Glacial Drumlin and its potential future uses. A lot will depend on how the grass comes in this spring as to its availability this year. In future years it will have to be determined exactly how much space is there and how best to lay out that space. There is a potential to use it for both football and soccer.
Lastly, they discussed the High School Track. The track will be patched this spring. After it is patched a determination will be made to either paint the patches or paint the entire track. Additionally it was stated that the track will need to be replaced real soon. Further discussion was held regarding exactly when that would be, but it was stated that the future date would depend on what damage is discovered when the patch repairs begin. It was also discussed if the repairs would be done at the same time as the football field, but nothing definitive has been decided.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
2/10/09 Ad-Hoc Committee
Well the Ad-Hoc Committee for Grade Configuration met again last night to discuss the potential options regarding building sizes and grade configuration. We went over various scenarios and had some good discussion on all the potential options. When we started this process we had 20 or 21 different items to review and we are now down under 8.
Various scenarios involve busing of students, adding modular units to schools, keeping status quo, school building consolidation or some combination of these. The committee will again review the various options and the impact of the options on the students, on the buildings and on the district budget in preparation for the next meeting.
The next meeting will be 2/24/09 at the District Office at 6:00. At this meeting we will continue to refine the options and get ready for the PUBLIC FORUMS that will be taking place. A date and time has not been set yet for these public forums. At the public forums the committee will be looking to gather feedback on their list of options. This feedback will help the committee work towards a recommendation to the school board.
A sub-committee was designated to begin putting together a presentation of how the committee has gone from the 20 or 21 options to those that will be presented to the public. It will show the reasoning behind elimination of the various items, whether it was a cost issue or a feasibility issue.
On a personal opinion perspective, this issue boils down to 3 components for me. First, what impact will our decison have on the children of the district with regards to their education opportunities? Second, how will the decision affect the district financially? Lastly, how will the options we recommend to the school board impact the short-term and long-term for the district? Again, this is my general thought process as we discuss the various options.
There is not an easy solution to this issue. The various scenarios all impact each student differently. Some have big educational impacts, some have big financial impacts and others are just not practical. Weeding thru these impacts on the remaining options is where the committee is at presently.
If anyone has any questions about this committee or the various options I STRONGLY urge you to contact a committee member. Many rumors/half-truths/stories or what ever you want to call them are floating around. Some good information has also be disseminated by concerned citizens. However, for the best information contact a committee member. Each one should be able to tell you the same information. Also, I will continue to post the meeting information here and once the public forums are set I will be sure to update this information.
Various scenarios involve busing of students, adding modular units to schools, keeping status quo, school building consolidation or some combination of these. The committee will again review the various options and the impact of the options on the students, on the buildings and on the district budget in preparation for the next meeting.
The next meeting will be 2/24/09 at the District Office at 6:00. At this meeting we will continue to refine the options and get ready for the PUBLIC FORUMS that will be taking place. A date and time has not been set yet for these public forums. At the public forums the committee will be looking to gather feedback on their list of options. This feedback will help the committee work towards a recommendation to the school board.
A sub-committee was designated to begin putting together a presentation of how the committee has gone from the 20 or 21 options to those that will be presented to the public. It will show the reasoning behind elimination of the various items, whether it was a cost issue or a feasibility issue.
On a personal opinion perspective, this issue boils down to 3 components for me. First, what impact will our decison have on the children of the district with regards to their education opportunities? Second, how will the decision affect the district financially? Lastly, how will the options we recommend to the school board impact the short-term and long-term for the district? Again, this is my general thought process as we discuss the various options.
There is not an easy solution to this issue. The various scenarios all impact each student differently. Some have big educational impacts, some have big financial impacts and others are just not practical. Weeding thru these impacts on the remaining options is where the committee is at presently.
If anyone has any questions about this committee or the various options I STRONGLY urge you to contact a committee member. Many rumors/half-truths/stories or what ever you want to call them are floating around. Some good information has also be disseminated by concerned citizens. However, for the best information contact a committee member. Each one should be able to tell you the same information. Also, I will continue to post the meeting information here and once the public forums are set I will be sure to update this information.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Vision for the Future
The Monona Grove School District is being presented a unique and rare opportunity. With 3 seats open in the April election, the voters have been presented with a chance to voice themselves loud and clear. These open seats, in addition to the recent hiring of the new Superintendent, Craig Gerlach, will shape the future of the school district for the next 3 years and beyond.
This opportunity to change the face of the district is the main reason that I am seeking a seat on the next Monona Grove School Board. I would like to see the next board use this opportunity to become more visionary instead of reactionary. A school board should be a collection of people that are looking at the big picture for the district both short and long term. To that we need to realize how short term decisions will affect long term plans.
This next board needs to develop 3 different sets of goals and plans to achieve these objectives for the district to succeed both presently and in the future. I would like to see a single year, short-term (up to 5 years) and a long-term plan (5-10 years) developed for the district. These goals and plans should be specific, attainable, measureable and relevant to the overall plan for the school district.
The goals need to be set by the board, but in conjunction with the Mr. Gerlach and his administration team. As the individuals that are charged with carrying out the plan they have to also buy into the goals and plans. Additionally, the board needs to do all that it can to provide the tools necessary for the administration to carry out the plans and achieve the goals.
Once goals have been set the board then needs to develop plans on how to achieve these goals and how to measure progress towards achieving the goals. If you cannot measure progress towards achieving the goals then how will anyone know if the goals have been met?
I feel that my experience and knowledge lends itself to putting this type of broad thinking into action. As I have stated a unique opportunity is upon the entire district and to not take advantage of that opportunity would be a disservice to the children of this district.
This opportunity to change the face of the district is the main reason that I am seeking a seat on the next Monona Grove School Board. I would like to see the next board use this opportunity to become more visionary instead of reactionary. A school board should be a collection of people that are looking at the big picture for the district both short and long term. To that we need to realize how short term decisions will affect long term plans.
This next board needs to develop 3 different sets of goals and plans to achieve these objectives for the district to succeed both presently and in the future. I would like to see a single year, short-term (up to 5 years) and a long-term plan (5-10 years) developed for the district. These goals and plans should be specific, attainable, measureable and relevant to the overall plan for the school district.
The goals need to be set by the board, but in conjunction with the Mr. Gerlach and his administration team. As the individuals that are charged with carrying out the plan they have to also buy into the goals and plans. Additionally, the board needs to do all that it can to provide the tools necessary for the administration to carry out the plans and achieve the goals.
Once goals have been set the board then needs to develop plans on how to achieve these goals and how to measure progress towards achieving the goals. If you cannot measure progress towards achieving the goals then how will anyone know if the goals have been met?
I feel that my experience and knowledge lends itself to putting this type of broad thinking into action. As I have stated a unique opportunity is upon the entire district and to not take advantage of that opportunity would be a disservice to the children of this district.
Friday, January 9, 2009
1/8 Business Services Committee
The Business Services Committee met at the District Office on 1/8. The committee was shown an initial budget forecast that showed a significant deficit for the upcoming year. As more information is gathered over the next couple of weeks the actual deficit will become clearer.
The committee also discussed the proposed energy savings contract with McKinstry. The original contract is for just over 2.7 million dollars. This contract is to be funded thru a lease purchase financing arrangement. A lease purchase financing arrangement is used to allow the district to purchase the equipment and install it without incurring any debt. It will be paid for by the savings from the reduced cost of monthly utilities. No action was taken as more information was asked of McKinstry regarding cost breakouts by building.
The committee at the recommendation of Mary Ellen Van Valin passed a motion to change the format of the 1 page budget flyer. Instead a post card showing the website link for the budget information will be distributed. The post card will also have the phone number of the district office for those that want a copy of the report mailed to them.
The next Business Services Committee will meet on January 28th in the District Office.
The committee also discussed the proposed energy savings contract with McKinstry. The original contract is for just over 2.7 million dollars. This contract is to be funded thru a lease purchase financing arrangement. A lease purchase financing arrangement is used to allow the district to purchase the equipment and install it without incurring any debt. It will be paid for by the savings from the reduced cost of monthly utilities. No action was taken as more information was asked of McKinstry regarding cost breakouts by building.
The committee at the recommendation of Mary Ellen Van Valin passed a motion to change the format of the 1 page budget flyer. Instead a post card showing the website link for the budget information will be distributed. The post card will also have the phone number of the district office for those that want a copy of the report mailed to them.
The next Business Services Committee will meet on January 28th in the District Office.
1/6/09 Ad Hoc Committee Meeting
The Ad-Hoc Committee met at Glacial Drumlin on Tuesday 1/6. During the meeting the committee reviewed the issues and brainstorming solutions that were discussed during the 1st meeting. The committee then reviewed the potential solutions and removed those that were not viable options either logistically or financially.
The next meeting has been set for January 27th at the District Office.
The next meeting has been set for January 27th at the District Office.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Candidacy Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
1/4/09
CONTACT: Jason McCutchin, (608) 839-1870
jason.mccutchin@gmail.com
A FRESH PERSPECTIVE FOR THE MONONA GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT
COTTAGE GROVE – With tough decisions ahead for the Monona Grove School District, especially in a weak economy, I know my experience as an accountant with Midwest Family Broadcasting for the past 8 years will be an added bonus to the School Board.
That is why I am officially announcing my candidacy for the Monona Grove School Board.
As someone who deals with numbers day in and day out and routinely has to help troubleshoot budgets, I know what it takes to keep businesses on track. As a father of a 7-year-old, I also know how much work teachers and administrators do to keep classrooms in good shape, even though funding for schools is often the first to take a hit.
Monona Grove has a stellar reputation and is respected as a top-notch school district around the state. For my daughter and all kids in Monona and Cottage Grove, I want that to continue.
I know my experience as a member of the Business Services Committee for the past two plus years will also benefit the school district. We need to work TOGETHER to keep the instruction levels high, facilities maintained and yet have fiscal responsibility and integrity.
I am just the man to help get that done.
1/4/09
CONTACT: Jason McCutchin, (608) 839-1870
jason.mccutchin@gmail.com
A FRESH PERSPECTIVE FOR THE MONONA GROVE SCHOOL DISTRICT
COTTAGE GROVE – With tough decisions ahead for the Monona Grove School District, especially in a weak economy, I know my experience as an accountant with Midwest Family Broadcasting for the past 8 years will be an added bonus to the School Board.
That is why I am officially announcing my candidacy for the Monona Grove School Board.
As someone who deals with numbers day in and day out and routinely has to help troubleshoot budgets, I know what it takes to keep businesses on track. As a father of a 7-year-old, I also know how much work teachers and administrators do to keep classrooms in good shape, even though funding for schools is often the first to take a hit.
Monona Grove has a stellar reputation and is respected as a top-notch school district around the state. For my daughter and all kids in Monona and Cottage Grove, I want that to continue.
I know my experience as a member of the Business Services Committee for the past two plus years will also benefit the school district. We need to work TOGETHER to keep the instruction levels high, facilities maintained and yet have fiscal responsibility and integrity.
I am just the man to help get that done.
Personal Bio
Address – 315 Southing Grange, Cottage Grove
Phone – 839-1870
Age - 37
Wife – Linda
Married – 9.5 years
Child – Sydney age 7
Pets – Maggie – Chocolate Lab
Occupation – Accountant
Employer – Mid-West Family Broadcasting
Personal History – I graduated from Dodgeville High School in 1989 and from Winona State University in 1994 with a degree in Business Administration. I lived in Madison from 1994 until building our home in Cottage Grove in 2002. I am an avid Badger sports fan. I love to play volleyball and golf.
Employment History – I will have been with Mid-West Family Broadcasting, a radio station group, for 8 years in April. We have stations in 5 markets and one centralized accounting office here in Madison. Each market is its own separate entity and as such has a Business Manager that handles day to day transactions. As the group accountant, I work with the Business Managers and help them overseeing monthly financial matters for all of the entities. Additionally, I am actively involved in the EEO activities for the Madison market.
What I can bring to the MG School Board – I feel that I can bring a financial viewpoint to the district board, which in these economic times may be needed. As someone who deals with numbers day in and day out and routinely has to help troubleshoot budget, income and expense matters I feel that my area of expertise can be a good compliment to the expertise of the other members of the board. As a member of the Business Services Committee for the past 2 years, I was just reappointed for another 2 years in August, and as a community member on the new Ad Hoc Committee I feel that I have some experience in the workings of the School Board and Administration and that this experience will lessen the time that new board members take in getting acclimated to their position.
Why I want to run for the MG School Board – This district is facing some very difficult decisions in the next few years on many fronts. I would like to think that my financial background and my common sense approach to problem solving would help lead the district down the right path with these decisions. The MG School District needs to keep instruction levels high, facilities maintained and yet have fiscal responsibility and integrity. I know this will be extremely hard, but past boards have done it and I know that I can help the next board do it also.
Phone – 839-1870
Age - 37
Wife – Linda
Married – 9.5 years
Child – Sydney age 7
Pets – Maggie – Chocolate Lab
Occupation – Accountant
Employer – Mid-West Family Broadcasting
Personal History – I graduated from Dodgeville High School in 1989 and from Winona State University in 1994 with a degree in Business Administration. I lived in Madison from 1994 until building our home in Cottage Grove in 2002. I am an avid Badger sports fan. I love to play volleyball and golf.
Employment History – I will have been with Mid-West Family Broadcasting, a radio station group, for 8 years in April. We have stations in 5 markets and one centralized accounting office here in Madison. Each market is its own separate entity and as such has a Business Manager that handles day to day transactions. As the group accountant, I work with the Business Managers and help them overseeing monthly financial matters for all of the entities. Additionally, I am actively involved in the EEO activities for the Madison market.
What I can bring to the MG School Board – I feel that I can bring a financial viewpoint to the district board, which in these economic times may be needed. As someone who deals with numbers day in and day out and routinely has to help troubleshoot budget, income and expense matters I feel that my area of expertise can be a good compliment to the expertise of the other members of the board. As a member of the Business Services Committee for the past 2 years, I was just reappointed for another 2 years in August, and as a community member on the new Ad Hoc Committee I feel that I have some experience in the workings of the School Board and Administration and that this experience will lessen the time that new board members take in getting acclimated to their position.
Why I want to run for the MG School Board – This district is facing some very difficult decisions in the next few years on many fronts. I would like to think that my financial background and my common sense approach to problem solving would help lead the district down the right path with these decisions. The MG School District needs to keep instruction levels high, facilities maintained and yet have fiscal responsibility and integrity. I know this will be extremely hard, but past boards have done it and I know that I can help the next board do it also.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
