The Hamilton School Board ratified a contract with United Lakewood Educators that included total salary and benefit package increases that total 3.8 percent for the 1999-2000 school year and 3.9 percent for 2000-2001. ULE members overwhelmingly ratified the agreement Dec. 3, according to ULE co-chief negotiator Ann Meyers.
School Board President Gerald Schmitz thanked the teachers’ association and its members for cooperation and willingness to work out the contract.
“ULE-Hamilton teachers sought a respectful, fair and voluntary settlement,” Meyers said in a written statement. “We feel the settlement substantially addresses these goals.”
Volunteer program reports success
The district’s senior citizen volunteer program, Seniors & Students, has been successful in the past year. Public Information and Volunteer Program Coordinator Denise Dorn Lindberg and Seniors & Students Project Coordinator Carole Burzynski reported on the program’s progress.
The program is designed to recruit, train and place senior citizen volunteers, age 55 and older, in schools to support the elementary reading program. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Waukesha County received a grant in 1998 and again in 1999 that enables one of its part-time employees to coordinate and place senior citizen volunteers. School district staff assist with training, recruitment and program administration.
Seniors & Students was implemented in the district’s four elementary schools with 24 volunteers. They provided 2,123 hours of service in 1998-99. A total of 34 volunteers signed on to volunteer this year with another seven volunteers who have indicated a desire to participate.
Lindberg credited the program’s success to Burzynski’s role in supporting volunteers. Volunteers enter the schools with valuable training and are supported through in-services and regular communication with RSVP volunteers, Lindberg said.
Burzynski said that volunteers and teachers responded positively last year when asked to evaluate the program.
Portfolio redesigned to broaden focus
Hamilton High School’s Career Portfolio is being redesigned. Educational Services and Human Resources Dean Schultz said assignments have been added at each high school grade level.
With a name change to Student Learner Portfolio, it will broaden its focus from merely career education and awareness to incorporate personal, professional and academic themes.
Ultimately, the portfolio will be used along with a senior exit interview to help students assess their growth. A portfolio team will work with district staff who are investigating ways to chart student progress over time.
Cooperative agreements in place
Schultz reported on cooperative arrangements that provide educational services to students. They include:
- Goals 2000 Â a technology training grant shared with the Menomonee Falls School District;
- Community Education Recreation Program  providing intercommunity and school district support for the recreation program. Lannon, Lisbon and Sussex are partners with the district;
- Apprenticeship expansion  high school staff members seek placements at workplaces in conjunction with other areas school districts; and
- Cooperation graphics arts programming  providing high school classrooms space for Waukesha County Technical College graphic arts courses. The program involves shared space, equipment and articulated course agreements.
Contruction punchlists dwindling
In buildings and grounds matters, Committee Chairman James Long reported that the punch lists for construction at Maple Avenue and Woodside elementary schools and Templeton Middle School are dwindling. He said school officials hope the lists will be completed by the end of the year with the exception of additional landscaping items to be addressed in the spring.