On
January 20, Menomonie school board members Colleen Davis, Jeff Jaeger,
Amy Riddle-Swanson, and Tammy Schneider, and I, traveled to Milwaukee
for the annual Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB) State
Education Convention. There were numerous learning and networking
opportunities for administrators and school board members during the
3-day convention. Here are some highlights of what we learned:
Networking with Superintendents, Business Managers, and Board Members
Many
school districts across the state are working on similar initiatives
and experiencing many of the same challenges that we are in Menomonie.
Having the opportunity to discuss topics such as curriculum and
instruction, technology integration, fiscal management, and facility
needs with other school leaders and officials from around the state was
very beneficial.
How to Implement a K-12 One-to-One Initiative
Board
members heard about the process used by a school district for improving
their technology. The process included adopting technology standards,
site visits, choosing a device, and engaging staff, students, and
community members. The district started by leasing iPads and is
considering moving to Chromebooks in grades 6-12 when the current lease
expires. To fund the initiative, the community approved a referendum for
a robust wireless infrastructure. Devices were purchased using common
school funds and Title funding, but most of it was financed by reducing
building budget allocations. The district purchased protective cases and
planned for 5% contingency for lost/broken devices. According to school
officials, students appeared to be more engaged once the technology was
implemented, but they do not necessarily have achievement data that
links the 1:1 initiative to higher student achievement. Challenges for
effective implementation included training teachers, setting
expectations for keeping the iPads charged, and figuring out how to
handle situations when the devices were stolen, lost, or broken.
Capital Project Funds- Fund 41 & Fund 46
Representatives
from the Wisconsin Department of Instruction, along with two Wisconsin
school districts, shared information related to new strategies for
saving for future capital improvements. Fund 46 provides the ability to
authorize a Capital Expansion Fund, which is a “trust” funded through a
transfer from the general fund to save for future projects (WI statute:
120.137). To establish the fund, the district needs to develop a 10-year
capital improvement plan, have the school board approve a resolution to
establish the trust, and create a segregated bank account. Funds under
the revenue limit may only be accessed until five years after the
establishment of the fund. Impact on state aid, the potential loss of
flexibility, and the politics of saving tax revenue need to be
considered when deciding how much to allocate to Fund 46.
Solving our OPEB Challenge
School
district representatives shared information about how their district
dealt with challenges associated with large early retirement benefits.
The presenting school district provided seven years of insurance (90% of
premiums) and a stipend equal to one year of salary spread over five
years. Due to the increasing cost of health insurance, the district had
to either make a change in benefits, make budget cuts to fund the
benefits, or consider a referendum to generate more revenue. Working
with the staff, the district reduced the large OPEB liability by
creating tiers of employee classifications based on age and experience
and capping health insurance benefits. The district also set up a
sustainable plan for funding the remaining benefits.
Ask the Experts: School Board Roundtable Discussions
Time
was designated for several board members and administrators to discuss
school-related issues. SDMA Board President Colleen Davis was a
facilitator at one of the tables.
School District Budget Cycle
School
finance officials shared information for board members related to the
school budget cycle. Discussion included topics about revenue limits,
the state equalization aid formula, the state aids payment schedule,
etc.
Delegate Assembly
At
the Delegate Assembly, there were several resolutions considered by
WASB membership. The actions of the delegate assembly give guidance to
the WASB for their interaction with the state and federal government.
The assembly was a very long session, but there was a lot of good
discussion between fellow board members. Some of the resolutions
included provisions for allowing retirees coming back to teach in high
need areas, added flexibility for the use of SAGE funding to create ways
to help improve the achievement gap, and the possibility of board
members serving as volunteer coaches or student advisors.
Exhibit Floor
This
year the convention had a very robust demonstration of vendors, which
provides district representatives with a unique opportunity to converse
with a variety of salespersons at one time. Areas of particular interest
to our school district were in the areas of building security,
technology, school supplies, and school business services.
Open Session on School Law Issues
This
session gave participants an opportunity to ask questions and hear
discussion related to school legal issues. The attorneys gave advice
about the correct way to present agenda items on meeting notices and
what is and isn't allowed in closed sessions. There was also discussion
about transgender students and how some schools are handling related
issues.
Impact of Voucher/Charters on Wisconsin Public Schools
Officials
shared that the negative impact of private school vouchers on the
Menomonie Area School District budget is approximately $292,000. Private
school vouchers will likely increase in the new budget biennium.
Legislation is currently being discussed on how to propose
accountability for all schools receiving public funding.
Visit to Milwaukee French Immersion School
Board
member Amy Riddle-Swanson visited a Milwaukee 4K through grade 5 French
language immersion school. This public school, which has 450 students,
was a very welcoming environment. Participants were told that language
immersion is the best way for students to learn a language. Challenges
for this particular school were the higher class sizes in the lower
grades—30 students in each of the four sections.
Listen to your Employees to Learn
School
district officials shared information about their hiring practices and
strategies used to keep employees engaged and part of the community. New
teachers to the district were provided with a whole week of
orientation, and many opportunities are provided to support employees
and promote satisfaction on the job. Teachers work together and
recognize each other on a job well done.
Keynote Speakers
Some
very informative and energetic speakers addressed the convention’s
general assembly. Kevin Honeycutt’s and Richard Gerver’s themes were
about change and creative innovations. Richard Gerver believes
standardized testing is not a very good use of instructional time.
Rosalind Wiseman talked mainly about bullying and ways to work with
students— both the victim and the perpetrator.
Governor Walker
The
Governor spoke to the general assembly on Friday morning with three
main points: school accountability, alternative pathways to teacher
certification, and the importance of utilizing the state’s technical
colleges for getting students into the workforce quicker. It is expected
that the governor will release his state budget proposal during the
first week of February.
The
Annual WASB State Education Convention was a good learning opportunity
for school officials from around the state to learn more about how we
can better serve the children in our schools and our communities. Should
school stakeholders have any questions about the Menomonie Area School
District, I invite you to visit the Administrative Service Center
located on Pine Avenue, or contact me at 715-232-1642. More information
about our schools can be found on the school district website (www.sdmaonline.com) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/sdmaonline).