BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

2005-2006 Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Committee

Minutes from June 7, 2006 Meeting

The Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Committee met Wednesday, June 7, 2006, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the Board Room at Central Services. Superintendent Dale Kinsley welcomed parents and responded to questions.

Topics for this meeting include:

• 2006 – 2007 School Calendar, Early Release/Late Arrival Schedule
• Summer School Plans
• Elementary Anti-Bullying Program

2006 – 2007 School Calendar, Early Release/Late Arrival Schedule

Dr. Kinsley reviewed the process used to establish the school calendars, which are determined two years at a time. Input from parents and staff is received before a joint committee of district administrators and Bellingham Education Association (BEA) representatives develop three calendar options. In Washington, the school calendar can be the subject of collective bargaining. In Bellingham, by contract, members of the BEA have a final vote on school calendar options. The three calendar options that are developed are sent to all members of the BEA for their vote. The Board of Directors approves the top choice. Over the years, the calendar has experienced some changes, most notably shifting the first day of school from before Labor Day to after Labor Day. Kinsley indicated parents and teachers differed on support for mid-winter break, with parents favoring a shorter or no break and teachers favoring a full week break.

Early release and late arrival days started approximately 12 years ago when schools were required to design school improvement plans. Early release/late arrival days provide a time for school staff to work together to support staff learning. Additional days were added last year at the high school level for Culminating Projects and at the elementary and middle school levels for conferences. Kinsley introduced Gordon Grissom, Kulshan Middle School principal, and David Adams, Birchwood Elementary School principal. Each reviewed how early release days are used at his school.

Summer School Plans

Susan Zoller, deputy superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, distributed the schedule for summer school. At the elementary level the focus is on literacy with classes being held at Birchwood, Carl Cozier and Roosevelt elementary schools. The middle school program will include reading and math and will be held at Shuksan Middle School. Sehome and Bellingham high schools will be the location for the high school program, which will include both credit retrieval and credit ahead classes. The District will not provide transportation this year, but WTA bus passes are available for middle and high school students who request them.

To support families, the District has contracted with the Whatcom Family Y to offer before and after summer school care for students at Birchwood, Carl Cozier and Roosevelt elementary schools. The Y staff will provide fun and recreational activities in addition to homework support. Zoller also announced that breakfast and a snack would be available at the summer school locations for any students between the ages of 2 and 18.

Zoller responded to questions regarding transportation and the offerings at the elementary level.

Elementary Anti-Bullying Program

Columbia Elementary School Principal Missy Ferguson and Elementary Student Support Specialist John Thibault reviewed the elementary anti-bullying program at Columbia. Steps to Respect has been introduced this year to the students in the intermediate grades. Fifth graders receive training in problem solving and serve as a “crew” during recess, teaching younger students different games, helping solve playground problems and acting as a mediator in the event of conflicts. Staff and parents are also trained on how to handle bullying and students are taught to recognize, refuse, and report bullying. The program Second Steps is an anti-bullying program used at the primary level.

Superintendent Kinsley closed the last meeting of the Parent Advisory Committee by thanking all for their participation and asking for suggestions on how the meetings could be more effective.