Carol Carstensen:

Parent Group Presidents:
BUDGET FACTOID:
The administration’s proposed budget for the 2006-07 school year will be made public on Friday, April 21. Board members and the media will have hard copies of the budget and an electronic version should be up on the web site shortly. The Board begins discussion and consideration of the budget on Monday April 24th at about 6:30 p.m. There are forums scheduled for Tuesday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m. at LaFollette and Tuesday, May 9 at 6:30 at Memorial.

APRIL 10 MEETING:
April 10 (at LaFollette High School):
5 p.m. Special Board Meeting: The Board discussed the financing for the Leopold addition and voted to have the administration include the first year’s cost (about $343,000) in the proposed 2006-07 budget. The Board will then consider this allocation of funds in the context of the other changes proposed by the budget. At this point it is not certain how the Board, with the new Board members, will decide this issue. There was a brief discussion about scheduling a referendum for the new school and to refinance earlier borrowings at the time of the September primary. There was general agreement on this but no vote was taken.
7 p.m. Special Board Meeting: 46 staff, students and community volunteers were recognized with Distinguished Service Awards. Friends, family and colleagues came to cheer on award winners. I think this is one of the highlights of each year; it is so encouraging to see all the excellent people in the district.
Future Meetings: (The Board’s schedule can change so always check the website for the most recent schedule.)
April 24:
5 p.m. Special Board Meeting: Swearing in of newly elected Board Members (this will be repeated at the Regular Meeting on May 1 at 7:15 when it can be televised).
Executive Session (Room 103): expulsions.
About 6:30 p.m. Resume open session (McDaniels Auditorium) The administration will present the 2006-07 proposed budget.
May 1:
5 p.m. Special Board Meeting: Presentation of proposals for a Food Policy. The Board will begin discussion of the Food Policy proposals. Please fill out the survey available on the district’s web site: www.mmsd.org/
7:15 Regular Board Meeting: Formal swearing in of newly elected Board members; election of new Board officers. The Board will also consider a new policy that sets up a procedure for approving the placement of “telecommunication facilities” (usually antenna) on school property for a fee. This policy will be on the website shortly and the Public Information Office of the district will email you a copy so that you have information if you want to comment.
May 8: (time and place to be decided)
The Board will hold a forum to get public feed back on the plan CP 1a from Jan 23, on the website:
www.mmsd.org/boe/longrange/ This plan describes the changes that will have to be made, if the referendum doesn’t pass, to accommodate increasing numbers of students in the Memorial and West elementary schools.
Carol
Carol Carstensen, President
Madison School Board
“Until lions have their own historians, the hunters will always be glorified.” – African Proverb