WEST FRANKLIN USD 287
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF EDUCATION
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2006

The special meeting of the West Franklin USD #287 Board of Education was held Wednesday, January 11, 2006 at the Education Center in Pomona, Kansas.   The purpose of this meeting was to meet with Patrick Dunn, mediator, through Interest Based Bargaining (IBB).  

Board members present were:   Neal Baker, Keith Milliken, Mary Ann Parkin, Sheila Anderson, Janie Dillon, Randy Hermreck, and Nancy Reed.   Administrators present were:   Superintendent Susan Myers, and Principals Rick Smith, Royce Powelson, Eric Koppes, and Susan Wildeman.   Also present were many staff members, students, and community members.

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by President, Neal Baker.

IBB Mediator, Patrick Dunn was introduced.

Mr. Dunn reviewed with the board the information from both the Citizen Advisory Committee and the Expert reports, including the following 3 recommendations    1) Leave As Is - with possible Capital Outlay and 4 day school week   2) Reconfigure – using existing buildings   3)   New Building – to house entire district (board stated option 3 was not under consideration, but the possibility of building only a high school might be considered).  

Mr. Dunn and the board brainstormed for reasons as to why they were there.   The following is a list of reasons stated:

• Save money – be fiscally responsible
• Do what is best for all students
• Meet increased academic requirements
• Identify true problems
• Prioritize

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Wednesday, January 11, 2006 

The board and Mr. Dunn also brainstormed to come up with a list of problems.   The following is an inconclusive list:

• Running out of room at Williamsburg
• High school inefficiencies
• Future junior high inefficiencies
• Maintenance Costs
• Not enough money
• Student & teacher retention

Mr. Dunn reviewed with the board suggestions for possible ground rules.   These possible ground rules included:

• Establish meeting dates – 1 st & 3 rd Wednesdays
• Participants will be school board only and superintendent will supply data, but make no recommendations
• Public will be allowed input last 15 minutes of the meeting, but will be limited to 3 minutes each
• Recorder should be Clerk of the Board
• Board to decide if agreement will be by consensus or majority
• Request can be made to reschedule if 2 or more board members will be absent.   Absent board members will not be allowed to reverse any decisions.
• All board members need to participate
• Board decided use of caucuses will not be allowed
• Patrick Dunn will prepare and distribute the agendas for upcoming meetings.
• No judgmental comments
• Use an outside subcommittee consisting of 2 board members and up to 2 public members
• Focus on issue and interest not solution
• Superintended will be custodian of charts and dissemination of information

Mr. Dunn asked each board member to think about interests and not solutions to the problems.   They were also asked to define the interests and then find options to all of them.   They need to be creative and even have one stupid option.   The board was also asked to begin thinking about defining the standards and to again be creative.

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Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Mr. Dunn reviewed with the board the principals, steps, and techniques for the process.

Mr. Dunn gave each board member a homework assignment for the next meeting.   The assignment was to take the problems that were identified and make their own list of issues they think need to be resolved during the process.   He also asked that they each come up with at least one interest underlying each issue they identify.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 at 6:00 pm in the Pomona High School multi-purpose room.   Mr. Dunn will begin this meeting with an exercise on Consensus Decision Making and Position vs Interest.

Neal Baker began the public input session at 7:35 pm.   Many concerns, questions and opinions were presented.

Neal Baker adjourned the meeting at 7:55 pm.

_________________________
Neal Baker, Board President

_________________________
Teresa Hawkins, Clerk

(Minutes are not offical until approved at the following board meeting.)