KJAM reports an "unusually busy session" of the Madison Central School Board last night... so busy, apparently, the news couldn't cover everything...
...like the proposed $11.4 million budget approved at last night's meeting. That's proposed budget, as in not set in stone. As in, you citizens still have plenty of time to give your input, either by calling or writing your school board members or by attending the budget hearing on June 9 at 7 p.m. One interesting note from the proposed budget: the $351K proposed for cocurricular activities makes up just 5% of the $7 million general fund. Note also that $5.2M of the budget, 46%, comes from local taxes.
...and like the discussion with district counsel Jerome Lammers about appointing a new member to fill the vacancy created as Gwen Thomson's appointed term runs out this summer. The minutes aren't up yet, but we'll be watching.
...and like the Board's vote on the SDHSAA amendment to deter athletically motivated open enrollment by making open enrollees sit out from sports for one year. I've commented favorably on the wisdom of clamping down on gaming the open enrollment system for games, and I was hoping to hear from the news this morning what happened.
Readers, if you were at the meeting last night, share what you heard on those issues here! Otherwise, I'll keep an eye on the school website for the minutes and the webcast archive. Stay tuned!
The Board voted in favor of tougher rules on open enrollment, voting "yes" on all five amendments.
ReplyDeleteJerome Lammers spoke to the board about appointing a new board member to fill one year of Kelly Johnson's unfilled term currently held by Gwen Thomson. Lammers said the board can appoint anyone they deem qualified. While the board may choose to appoint a previously unsuccessful candidate, they are under no obligation to do so, citing SDCL 13-8-22 and SDCL 13-8-25, and also said Executive Session may be used to discuss board member appointment, SDCL 1-25-2.
The media in your community needs to do a better job! All the information you clammor for should be made public. Watertown also went long last night, not getting done unitl after 10PM -- but check out the Public Opinion today -- great coverage as usual.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Obama might be in Watertown this Friday -- which of the Dems do you support?
Fred Deutsch
Heck, Fred, I'd settle for a nice public conversation about whom the board will appoint to the open seat. ;-)
ReplyDeleteMadison Daily Leader does give some budget detail tonight.
Oh, and give the Senator my best Friday morning. I'm still a Kucinich man at heart, but I'm "satisficing" and giving Obama my vote on June 3.
Sorry Fred, we could talk about every minute detail of the school's budget on-air... but it would take us about an hour for one story. Gotta be selective about what gets included and what doesn't.
ReplyDeleteJackrabbit is right, KJAM can only give one item so much time in the news. Between the bus crash investigation, city commission meeting, school board meeting, the Twins victory over the Soxs, and Obama and Clinton coming to SD, Tuesday was a busy news day.
ReplyDeleteKJAM has to work within its limits, just as the Daily Leader only has so much print area and KELO only has so much on-air time.
But the internet privides a new and different median in which a media outlet can provide information to its customers. KJAM has plenty of time and space to give the school board meeting the attention it deserves (along with all the other news items). However, all KJAM does (and MDL and KELO) is simply re-print what was said or written on the radio/TV/newspaper. I'm still awaiting the day when local news media comes to the conclusion that the internet is a different type of median and start treating it that way.