November 7, BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: John Benbow, Jr., Katie Bielski-Medina, Larry Davis, Sandra Hett, John Krings, Anne Lee, Mary Rayome

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1 MINUTES Wisconsin Rapids Board of Education Educational Services Committee 510 Peach Street Wisconsin Rapids, WI (715) Anne Lee, Chairman John Benbow, Jr. Katie Bielski-Medina Larry Davis Sandra Hett John Krings Mary Rayome, President LOCATION: Board of Education, 510 Peach Street, Wisconsin Rapids WI Conference Room A/B TIME: Immediately following the Personnel Services Committee meeting, but not before 6:30 p.m. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: John Benbow, Jr., Katie Bielski-Medina, Larry Davis, Sandra Hett, John Krings, Anne Lee, Mary Rayome OTHERS PRESENT: Jessica Adamski, Caroline Casper, Colleen Dickmann, Amy Fuller, Bryon Kolbeck, Dawn Lobner, Larissa Lueck, Meghan McCabe, Dennis Nelson, A.J. Pearl, Pete Poeschl, Ruth Reis-Holtz, Clint Rogers, Shanon Roseno, Karen Scarseth, Barb Scott, Jim Scott, Kathi Stebbins Hintz, Rebecca Sturdy, Suzanne Szelagowski, Amy Van Meter, Terry Whitmore, Brian Wilhorn, Mari Jo Zieroth I. Call to Order Anne Lee called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. II. Public Comment Pete Poeschl shared that his wife, Sue Poeschl, attended the Lincoln High School homecoming assembly as a visitor. Principal Ryan Christianson explained to Mrs. Poeschl that the assembly was not open to the public, and asked her to leave. Mr. Poeschl is seeking an explanation and submitted a formal complaint. III. Actionable Items A. Youth Options ES-1 Motion by John Benbow, second by John Krings, to approve of 23 students to attend Mid-Sate Technical College, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at a cost of $16, under requirements of the Youth Options program. The Youth Options program requires the District to pay for tuition fees and book expenses for students to take courses off-campus if the courses are approved for high school credit and not offered at their school. Colleen Dickmann, Superintendent

2 Educational Services Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 explained that 23 students have applied for Youth Options classes beginning the second semester of the school year. One student has applied to take Mandarin Chinese 101 through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as an online class. One student has applied to take Accounting I at Mid-State Technical College. Twenty-one students have applied to take the CNA-Nursing Assistant course at Mid-State Technical College. Ms. Dickmann shared the total cost for tuition fees and book expenses will be approximately $16, Motion carried unanimously. B. Community Computer Classes and Computer Lab Access-Grant Opportunity ES-2 Motion by Mary Rayome, second by Larry Davis, to submit an additional grant request to the Community Foundation of Greater South Wood County to expand computer lab access and computer skills training. Bryon Kolbeck, Director of Technology, stated that the Community Foundation of Greater South Wood County received funding through the Knight Foundation s Community Information Challenge. In August 2011, the District applied for and received a grant in the amount of $19,880. The funding from the Knight Foundation was used to create an open lab at Rudolph Elementary School and five computer skills classes for community members to be held at Rudolph Elementary, Vesper Community Academy, and Lincoln High School (LHS). The grant money was also used to purchase additional equipment, a subscription for Atomic Learning, and advertising. Mr. Kolbeck told Committee members there has been a positive response to the classes, and there was a need to create a waiting list at Rudolph Elementary and LHS. He also stated that fifth grade students at Rudolph help community members in the open lab. Mr. Kolbeck explained that another grant opportunity is available through the Community Foundation of Greater South Wood County and the Knight Foundation. He indicated that funding would allow the District to add more beginner and intermediate classes and open lab sessions for community members. Mr. Kolbeck stated there is a demand for more classes and information on digital media. The deadline for the grant application is Friday, November 11. Motion carried unanimously. IV. Updates and Reports A. New Teacher/Mentor Program Kathi Stebbins Hintz, Principal of East Junior High School and Program Director, was present to provide an update of the New Teacher/Mentor Program. She explained the

3 Educational Services Committee Meeting Minutes Page 3 purpose of the New Teacher/Mentor Program is to maintain quality teachers and build and promote a better program for new teachers to feel comfortable in the District. Ms. Hintz explained that the program has been in existence since The District is in a consortium with the Rosholt School District and Port Edwards School District. The consortium works in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point which offers services to the new teachers. Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools has 12 new teachers this year, and Rosholt and Port Edwards each have four new teachers. Ms. Hintz explained that the three major components of the New Teacher/Mentor Program are orientation, mentors, and Teaching in Central Wisconsin. A three-day orientation is held in August. New teachers learn about the District, expectations, and meet staff and Board of Education members. Each new teacher is assigned a trained mentor. The mentors provide continued support through mutual observations and meetings. The New Teacher/Mentor Program also requires new teachers from the three districts to attend the Teaching in Central Wisconsin course. Ms. Hintz explained that the course is held once a month during the school year and focuses on teaching strategies, discipline, and standards. Ms. Hintz explained that the program is supported by Title II funding, grants, and Department of Public Instruction (DPI) funding. B. Vesper Community Academy Annual Report Terry Whitmore, Principal of Vesper Community Academy (VCA); Dennis Nelson, Governance Council President; Brian Wilhorn, Lead Teacher of VCA; and Rebecca Sturdy, Grades 3 and 4 VCA Teacher, were present to provide an annual report of the school. Mr. Whitmore explained this is the fourth year of the charter school. This school year there are 127 full-time students, and over 60 virtual learners who attend classes at the school on Fridays. Mr. Nelson shared a list of success stories and challenges as seen by the Governance Council and VCA staff. Included in the list of successes is the school garden and sale of produce. The garden project began approximately four years ago. Students are fully engaged in the garden; germinating seeds, sowing the plants, weeding the garden, and selling the produce. Approximately 2,000 pounds of produce was harvested this year. The produce is used in the school lunches and the remainder is sold in the community. The goal is to use the garden as a learning platform in most core areas. Mr. Nelson told Committee members that the school hopes to build an outdoor classroom using grant monies to better use the garden with other projects. Mr. Nelson noted bugs and weather can be challenging with regard to the garden project. He also indicated that while some community members help in the garden, more communication is needed to make people aware they are welcome to participate in the project. He also explained that the school would like to hire an AmeriCorps member to work in the garden in order to give teachers more time to use the garden in their lessons.

4 Educational Services Committee Meeting Minutes Page 4 Mr. Whitmore shared a comparison of recent MAP scores with national scores in math, reading, and language usage. Ms. Sturdy, Mr. Wilhorn, and four students provided a demonstration of how a project is taught at the fourth grade level. Two students researched information and created a display to share with the class. Two other students documented how the process of the project evolved using a video camera. Once the project is complete, the students will evaluate the final project. C. Rudolph Elementary School Report Terry Whitmore, Principal of Rudolph Elementary School, and Clint Rogers, Fifth Grade Teacher and Lead Teacher at Rudolph Elementary, were present to provide an update on the process of becoming a charter school. Also present were Rudolph Elementary staff and parents: Mari Jo Zieroth, Kindergarten Teacher; Jessica Adamski, parent; Meghan McCabe, First Grade Teacher; Dawn Lobner, Learning Disabilities and Emotional/Behavioral Teacher; Barb Scott, First Grade Teacher; A.J. Pearl, Second Grade Teacher; Amy Fuller, parent; Caroline Casper, parent; and Ruth Reis-Holtz, Third Grade Teacher. Mr. Rogers shared an updated timeline of events showing what has been completed in the process of Rudolph Elementary School transitioning to a charter school. He indicated that even though this is a planning year, some changes have already been implemented. He shared that teachers have received training on brain based learning, and are applying what they have learned in their classrooms. Ms. Adamski and Ms. Casper told Committee members that parents see the charter school as an opportunity for their children to become more involved in the community. A draft of the contract was shared with Committee members. Some questions were asked with regard to the structure of the Governance Council, bussing of students, and Professional Development Day agendas. Ms. Dickmann indicated that she will collect questions from Committee members and pass them onto the Governance Council for clarification. V. Consent Agenda Items ES-1 Youth Options ES-2 Community Computer Classes and Computer Lab Access-Grant Opportunity VI. Future Agenda Items/Information Requests *Agenda items are determined by Committee Chair after consultation with appropriate administration depending upon other agenda items, presentation information, and agenda availability.

5 Educational Services Committee Meeting Minutes Page 5 Future agenda items include, but are not limited to: New Course Proposals and Modifications (December) Literacy Coach Position Update (December) District Data Retreat Report (December) Student Group Travel (December) Anne Lee adjourned the meeting at 7:53 p.m.