At this past Wednesday's board meeting we approved changes to student fees and the purchase of new computers. The big change in the student fees is that the sports fees are $60/sport and the increase of the nursing fee associated with the MATC program from $25 to $200. This fee is still short of the $375 fee the district pays, but it does help offset the costs. The computers are part of the 5 year replacement cycle and are an annual expense. Bill Herman tried once to go to a 6 year replacement cycle, but had lots of problems, so he went back to a 5 year cycle.
We also discussed the changes in the board's meeting schedule now that the standing committees are back for this next year. We will meet once a month on the 2nd Wed. of the month beginning with our June 9th meeting. Committee meeting dates and times will be determined once the committee chairs are in place.
The biggest topic of discussion in my opinion centered on where to house the Alt. school next year. The Alt. school is currently housed in a rented facility that needs improvements and frankly they have outgrown the space. It has been assumed that the Alt. school would move into Nichols. The costs for this move is more than anticipated due to some concrete work that needs to be done to make the 2nd egress functional. The other possibility mentioned was using space in the lower level at Winnequah.
I think it is extremely ironic that we are even discussing Winnequah as a valid option. During the past few months we have heard many parents state that it was unacceptable to have 4k students in the same building with 5th graders and now we are going to consider putting 3rd graders in a building with high school students. The board has to make this decision at the May 26th meeting, so there is no time for public input, but I am not sure we need any given the strong feelings we heard about putting kids who would have been 5-6 years apart in age. Imagine the reaction if we put kids that are even further apart in age in one building.
I would rather see the Alt. school in Nichols where it has its own identity. There will be some that say we can keep the elementary and high school kids separated, but that is false as explained by Ann Schroeder and Mark Scullion. The reason is that the down stairs bathroom would be used by both groups of students. The additional part that scares me is the security of the building. Right now everyone enters thru the main door by the office. If the Alt. school goes in then they would enter thru the downstairs doors. This to me creates a potential security risk that is unnecessary in an elementary building.
The estimated costs for both buildings will be discussed further on May 26th. The initial estimates are $20K for Nichols and $10K for Winnequah. The other variable in this discussion is that we won't hear on the report for Nichols by D.L. Evans until the June 9th meeting. No matter what is decided it may be a one year solution. Given all these moving pieces I still feel that for next year Nichols is the better option.
Also, for those that are going to tell me we need to save that $10K, I would argue that if we are willing to dip into fund balance for $190K this year that we surely can for $10K next year. I hope that no board member would use this as justification for voting to move the Alt school to Winnequah.
Again, this just drips of irony that we even discuss this as an option. I hope that the same people who felt it was unacceptable to have the 4k and 5th graders in one building are just as outraged at the thought of putting an 8 yr. old 3rd grader in the same building as an 18 yr. old senior. If there is not the same outrage then it will truly indicate that the concern is not for the students, but to keep Maywood open at all costs.
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Nichols makes the most sense, but I am not familiar with D.L. Evans. Who is he/what report are you getting.
ReplyDeleteIf it is about selling the Nichols property, I do not think it is a good idea. The market is bad right now and there is no extra property in Monona.
With a bad market, you won't get that much, and I don't have much confidence that the board would save it for a capital need (sorry).
If somehow Maywood filled up (which would be easier with the admin in Maywood or Winnequah) the district would have no room and would probably have to build a admin building for far more then selling Nichols will make.
D.L. Evans is the consultant that the district is using to help guide us thru potential uses of Nichols. We are to get that report at the June 9th meeting.
ReplyDeleteI am of the opinion that we don't sell district resources unless you are overwhelmed with an offer. If that overwhelming offer materializes then any proceeds MUST be used for CAPITAL PROJECTS and not for a budget fix.
So basically, the parents of alt school kids have no chance to appear before the board about this, while the same board delayed a decisoin on Maywood to ensure that parents would have time to give their input?
ReplyDeleteThe board is being driven by a very narrow Monona-based agenda. Apparently, the Monona Rag has a Q&A with Mayor Robb Kahl where he says:
ReplyDeleteQ. What is the most important and challenging issue for the city of Monona right now?
A. Helping the Monona Grove School District find ways to fund, maintain and improve all of our community schools here in Monona.
If this is an actual quote, it would appear that he doesn't care about the students in Cottage Grove and the board obviously agrees.
It is ridiculous that the board MUST make a decision this week on the Alt School when in two weeks they expect to get an update on Nichols. Why wouldn't you switch the order of the agendas? The president sets the agendas. This is another example of poor planning and terrible leadership.
When are people going to wake up and realize that the entire district is spiraling toward disaster?
I would ask if you are the parent of an Alt. school student to voice your opinion by e-mailing the board. I would encourage parents of Winnequah students to also voice their opinion.
ReplyDeleteI think Mayor Kahl does need to look at what is in the best interest of Monona. However, that may or may not necessarily be what is best for the Monona Grove School District.
The reason the Alt. school decision needs to be made before we hear the Nichols report is that the Alt. school lease is up 6/30 and will need to be moved ASAP regardless of where it is moved. In a perfect world we would wait until after the June 9th meeting, but that does not fit in the time line of the Alt. school. It is unfortunate, but also unavoidable.
Spiraling toward disaster indeed. The loss of Mary Ellen Van Valin is terrible. The chaos that can be created by having a incompetent business manager can be devastating. Ms. Van Valin has been wonderful. Because she works behind the scenes for the most part, people do not appreciate how lucky we were to have her. The fact that she is leaving our district for a lower paying job that is not significantly closer to her home is extremely troubling and a sign that something is rotten in Denmark - or least in Monona Grove. Even worse, most of the school district business managers throughout the region know each other. They are not stupid. They know her level of competence and professionalism and see that she is leaving here to go to a smaller district for less money. That speaks for itself. Even though Ms. Van Valin is probably too professional to say what she is really thinking, other candidates will know something is very wrong here and will not apply.
ReplyDeleteDitto on the superintendent and some of our building principals. We have already lost of our Director of Pupil Services. Word gets around. If this the beginning of an exodus, we're in deep doo doo.
It is time some of the MG board members stop patting themselves on their backs and WAKE UP!
As a monona parent who has a child a winnequah, I agree that the best place for the alt school would be Nichols. The items you noted are all valid, Jason. And beyond the school building itself - it is naive to think the two groups won' interact. Maybe next to the school, a block away. I say no.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I would add that it is the monona mayors job to look after monona's interest. I think most of the time the interests of the two communities go hand in hand. But sometimes people have different views. Kahl has always lobbied for having k-12 in monona - that's his feeling.
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily agree all the time with kahl, but I understand his thinking. He's trying to keep people in monona, trying to attract new families, and the lack ok a 6-8 grade can't help. Not an impossible task, but not easy.
The Mayor of Monona is just that. The school board heads a different charge for an area that includes Monona. While both may share common ground, for both groups to take care of their "business" they may need to clear different paths that occassionally cross.
ReplyDeleteMary Ellen, John and Ed, it shall be interesting to find shoulders as broad as yours. Looking at what is ahead, the District has also recently lost a Superintendent, BEV, a middle school principal and an assistant principal in the mix. Some really retired, some got out! Wonder why???
Agree about the Mayor doing his job. He is an advocate for his city and rightly so. Agree that the school board SHOULD be watching out for the entire district. Certain members of the current board are not. They are clearly watching out for only one community.
ReplyDeleteWe have two MGSD board members who also sit on the Monona Family Attraction & Retention Committee. These two groups may have opposing goals at times. How can these board members wear the right hat on the right day? Some people may be able to pull it off, but Susan Manning & Jessica Ace cannot.
I can tolerate the mayor advocating for what he thinks is best. I can't tolerate school board members who follow his agenda at the expense of our school district. The school board needs to listen to him and understand that he provides a biased point of view. Then, they can weigh it against everything else going on in the district. I don't see that happening and it is extremely frustrating.
I agree, and I live in Monona. Manning and Ace on this committee is really inappropriate. A symptom of the very deep problems we have in this district.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Mary Ellen's depature is a HUGE LOSS for the district, just as John's retirement and Ed's departure are. Change is always hard, but it is constant. The district will survive, but it will be different without the 3 of them. Each has their reasons for leaving, but the Herald-Independent story regarding Mary Ellen is interesting to read.
ReplyDeletehttp://herald-independent.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=21&ArticleID=1755
I wish Mary Ellen, John and Ed the best in their future ventures.
I won't comment on Susan or Jessica sitting on City of Monona committees, because that is a decision that rests with them. If you have concerns please voice them to them or to Susan Fox.
We cannot dismiss Van Valin's departure as part of inevitable change. She is not retiring, moving up the career ladder or changing her career. She is leaving because she is unhappy here and the grapevine says it is for less money than she gets here!
ReplyDeleteWithout an honest discussion by this board of how to solve the dysfunction, she may not be the only valuable employee that moves on in the near future and you will have a very difficult time finding qualified administrators.
If you look at the district website, there are 8-9 Director level positions (Ed O'Connor is listed as a coordinator). This is 3 of 9 directors leaving at the same time. That's 30%! Bill Briesch has 42 years with the district, his retirement must be close. This is too much turn-over of key positions in too short of a time period. They may have different reasons, but I agree with the post above that board dysfunction is playing a huge role. Susan Fox's attitude in the paper is proof that she just doesn't get it! If she can't be relied on to lead the district through this mess, we'd better find someone else who can!
ReplyDeletehave you people that slam Jessica and Susan ever heard Jill List? She can not think of anything beyond Hwy N. So...depends on what side of the interstate you live on...
ReplyDeleteJill can be a fair person. Jessica & Susan are so biased for Monona it has forced Jill to be an advocate for Cottage Grove to try to keep things balanced. This is a clear case of two wrongs don't make a right. Any chance that ALL of them will see the light and behave in the best interests of the district as a whole? Odds are probably 4-3 at best.
ReplyDelete"beyond Hwy N"
ReplyDeleteWhat does that even mean? Good Lord, could people from Monona be any more ignorant of the geography of this district? Hwy N runs North/South right through the Village of Cottage Grove. So are you saying Ms. List only thinks of part of Cottage Grove? If so, which part? East of N or West of N? If you are going to slam someone, at least know what you are talking about.
The entire group is dysfunctional and they entire group is responsible to all of us to do better. They point fingers rather than look in a mirror, and their leader is not leading by example.
Talk about ignorant and petty. One idiot makes a stupid comment about HWY N and someone has to latch onto that comment and use the opportunity to further divide our communities.
ReplyDeleteWhy do the exact thing that makes this district so dysfunctional?
Why call all of Monona 'ignorant' - it does nothing but satisfy the petty complainers in Cottage Grove, convince all the complainers in Monona that Cottage Grove has it out for Monona, and drive away those who would work to bring our communities together.
IGNORE the idiots who don't know their geography - it only fuels the wrong sort of fire.
Please stop the name calling as nothing good can come from that. I prefer that we have good dialogue. Give your point of view, but in a respectful way.
ReplyDeleteYou know what? People can say whatever they like on these blogs, fling mud, thoughtful commentary, whatever. But they were not elected to represent me. On the other hand, the school board is. I hold them to a higher standard than blog posters. I expect them to set the example for the rest of us. The level of disrespect amongst the board members for each other is affecting how they serve us. It also appears it played a significant factor in the departure of Ms. Van Valin.
ReplyDeleteI will not presume to point fingers at any particular board member. That's their problem and ALL of them need to own it, most of all the board president. They need to fix it or step aside for new board members who are willing to work for us. All of us
People on all sides - board, CG, Monona - seem to take delight all too often at things that can hurt or diminish the 'other side'. I say 'other side' because so many people seem to think there are sides in all of this.
ReplyDeleteSomething happens and it gets spun so such and such a board member is a problem. Or the people in CG or Monona are this or that.
It reflects politics as a whole - where every situation, every vote, every decision is twisted by all sides to make someone else look bad, deflect blame, etc.
I think this type of attitude is why so many people are so frustrated by what goes on in our district.
I hope all the board members can work to get things done without the rancor that seems to be so prevalent.
There are problematic board members. That's not spin. Watch a meeting.
ReplyDeleteThe board is supposed to be seven individuals who represent the school district. They are not supposed to agree in advance on how to vote. They are not supposed to discuss board issues outside of board meetings. They are not supposed to email some members, but not all members. They are not supposed to blindly follow political leaders in one community. They are not supposed to mislead community members to "stir the pot."
ReplyDeleteThey are supposed to act respectfully, listen to each other, research issues and make thoughtful decisions that are in the best interests of the entire district.
Take a look at the election results. Very few of these board members had strong support in BOTH communities. What does that tell you? One of the most problematic board members just got reelected. What does that tell you?
People are either incredibly naive about what is going on with the school board or they like these tactics.
While I agree that Peter Sobol is problematic, we'll just have to keep on truckin'.
ReplyDelete"While I agree that Peter Sobol is problematic, we'll just have to keep on truckin'."
ReplyDeleteOh, give it a rest. Sobol was the only candidate who got close to an even number of his votes from each community in the last election -- unlike Manning, who gets 75 percent of her support from Monona and sends out emails to friends in only one community, urging them to get out the vote on election day.
Besides, Sobol doesn't have much power anymore. Everyone knows who is running the district these days -- the two Susans, with Ace and Norton all too willing (with one notable exception -- the 6th grade decision) to follow their lead. Whether you think the board is doing a poor job or a terrific one, or somewhere in between, the responsibility for the board's actions and behaviors lies squarely at the feet of those two women.
I agree with the Anonymous post from 6/4 @ 12:28. Sobol puts very little emotion into his decisions and does a pretty good job of getting support from both Monona and Cottage Grove. This type of person is what we need to mend the divide between Monona and Cottage Grove.
ReplyDeleteTo disagree with the above post a little, I think Fox is doing an ok job of being neutral. She is under a lot of pressure from the die-hard in Monona, and caves in a lot, but not as bad as Manning. They do hold the power as described above (and as all 4 officers), but of the group, Fox is probably the best choice to be board president.
I'm from Monona, and I think Susan Fox is okay as board president. Great? No. But okay - sure. I'm not sure if anyone would be better from the group. She hasn't voted on some things that I agree with, but at least has taken the time to email me back and explain her decisions when I've sent the board my thoughts. Not many of the board members do that (I don't always expect them to, but it's nice when they do).
ReplyDeleteI do think she is trying to juggle a lot of different personalities and factions - and I don't envy her. It's obvious some of these people hate each other. Since the referendum, a lot of more fringe people - from both CG and Monona - have been elected - and it doesn't help.
I think the Maywood vote is tough, because the money situation - but Fox always said she'd try and keep that school. On the other hand, she always said the Monona 6th graders should be out in CG. She voted both of those how she always called them.
It's a hard one -- we have some really different attitudes of what a board member should be/do - and it causes a lot of issues.
Oh well, such is life.
If Ms. Fox really wanted this group to work well together, she would have stayed neutral in this past election. She's not required to do this, but it would have helped. Instead she was very visible in Ms. Manning's campaign. Big mistake and it just made things worse.
ReplyDelete