Westside Association Membership Meeting Minutes - May 6 2010

Meeting was called to order at 12:00 noon by President, Connie Drexler

Feb. and April meeting minutes were approved

Treasurer’s report was reviewed and accepted

Chamber Report was given by Bruce Nelson

Old Business

     Construction Sign Project update from Mark. Waiting on approval from City Hall on proposed sign configurations

     Chamber Affiliates Accountability Policy approved at the last Chamber Board Meeting, with verbiage as recommended by WSA.

“Each affiliated organization has a budget independent of the Chamber. The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors does not approve the affiliate’s budget. However, the Oshkosh Chamber Executive Committee must approve any financial pledge or transaction above $10,000 that would financially obligate the Affiliated-organization for more than one year.” 

New Business

DOT Public Info meeting on 21/41 intersection timetable.

Tuesday, May 25, noon, Robbins.

Mike Berg, Brett Wallace & Tom Buccholz from DOT will be available

Guest Speaker: Bette Lang Oshkosh Area Public Schools Interim Superintendent

• New School Board seems ready to make decisions
• Guest Speaker: Bette Lang Oshkosh Area Public Schools Interim Superintendent
• Oaklawn Elementary referendum coming up again after it failed 2 years ago.
• Prior to 1950, 10 education standards fit on 1 page!  In 1965, the Johnson administration made changes and in 2002 No Child Left Behind was passed. That lapsed in 2007, but the Obama administration is looking to revive it with new career standards.
• Right now, every state puts together its own standards and tests, but now the Fed wants to compare by state so they are revisiting the standards.
• At this point, Oshkosh has more stringent standards than the state.
• A proposal by State Superintendent Tony Evers mandated that every child will have a diploma, but there are obstacles to that such as personal maturity levels. Currently students can drop out of school at age 18. They can stay until they are 20 but they must be in school 5 hours a day. The superintendents unfunded proposed mandate complicates budgeting. 2/3 of state funding has dried up.
• Oshkosh has stayed under the revenue cap tax—one of 100 school districts in the state.
• There is a need to reform education, change how we educate—perhaps virtual classes? Need to keep students engaged, and change the expectation of traditional education.
• Next Superintendent—Don Viegut starts July 1—will need to negotiate contracts because health insurance is too expensive. Work on school boundries. Address problem of Oaklawn School—build new? There are 300 kids in the neighborhood and the school is short 100 seats. Referendum revisited—need $10 million to build a new school.
• Tasks accomplished in her term. Upgraded Curriculum, Built retention ponds, Developed compliance plans & strategic goals, consolidated some schools, sold some properties.
• East High School Closing because not meeting enough students needs. 30 students attend out of 80 enrolled. Not enough counseling services, working with FVTC on that. Leased building—no district space available. New Hybrid program is a stop up from Quest program of the 90’s.
• Plan was to consolidate Middle Schools. An optimum number of schools allows for better programming.
• The south side has capacity for 250 more seats, the north side is at capacity. That problem will need to be addressed soon.
• ONHS has capacity of 1500 students, OWHS has capacity of 2000 students. They were built to be lopsided. Currently at 85% capacity.
• 10 people on layoff currently, hopefully can bring them back this year as more staff are retiring this year than last.
• New School Board seems ready to make decisions

Next meeting:

           Thursday -June 3-2010