BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

September 25, 2003

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., September 25, 2003, in the Board Room of the Administration Building.

Present: Directors Jeff Haggen, Elaine Lynch, Ann Whitmyer, President Ken Gass, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Nancy Merry. Director Steve Schoenfeld was excused.

At 7:30 p.m. President Ken Gass called the meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:
Elaine Lynch moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded approval of the consent agenda. The motion carried unanimously.

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the September 11, 2003 Executive Session and School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88

GENERAL FUND

CAPITAL PROJECTS

DEBT SERVICE

ASB FUND

Personal Services Contract

• Kathy Blanton to provide supplemental psychometric services during the 2003 – 2004 year (September 3, 2003 through June 30, 2004).

• Pam McKee to tutor special education students on an as-needed basis during the 2003 – 2004 school year.

• Foreign language interpreters to serve on an as-needed basis during the 2003 – 2004 school year per the attached list.

• Elizabeth Sanchez to present an after-school enrichment program at Lowell Elementary School during the 2003 – 2004 school year.

• Maria Salazar-Campos to present a before- and after-school enrichment program at Roosevelt Elementary School during the 2003 – 2004 school year.

• P. Jeffrey McKenna and M. Jane Moudry to serve as Crisis Response Team leaders as needed throughout the 2003 – 2004 school year.

• Linda St. Andre and Barbara Campbell to work on library, media, and technology curriculum projects on an as-needed basis effective August 2003 and continuing through August 2004.

• Linda Lamb to administer and score performance tests for classified applicants on an as-needed basis throughout the 2003 – 2004 year.

Out of State Travel

• Dale Kinsley to attend the semi-annual meeting of the National Center for Learning and Citizenship in Denver, Colorado, December 12, 2003.

• Seven middle school math teacher to attend the Connected Math Project Training at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, the week of June 21 and June 28, 2004.

• Michelle Almy to attend the National Association of College Admissions Counseling Conference in Long Beach, California, October 2 – 3, 2003.

• Mike Anderson and Chris Dean to travel to Washington D.C. to receive the 2003 Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on October 26 – 28, 2003.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Elaine Lynch has been assisting the levy co-chairs in forming the levy committee.

Jeff Haggen attended Back to School nights at Carl Cozier and Kulshan. He also attended the levy workshop with Ken Gass, Tom Stuen, and Lavelle Freudenberg.

Ken Gass reported that the levy workshop, “Every Vote Counts, Leave No Voter Behind” was very helpful.

Superintendent's Announcements/Report

Superintendent Kinsley reported he had participated in a Gates Team Meeting in Seattle on September 24 and was in Olympia on September 25 for a K-12 Finance Change Strategy meeting.

Kinsley also announced the school performance reports are complete will be mailed to all parents the week of September 29. Copies were distributed to each Board member.

On November 10, the League of Education Voters will hold a community meeting, tentatively scheduled to be held in the Board Room at Central Services.

Friday, October 3, at 7:30 a.m., Board members will visit Larrabee Elementary School for the first of their monthly school visits.

REPORTS:

Campaign for the Class of 2008

Superintendent Dale Kinsley and Director of School Information and Communications Lavelle Freudenberg reported on the Campaign for the Class of 2008. The Campaign is a comprehensive effort to inform students, parents, educators, and the community about the state's higher graduation standards, which include the Certificate of Mastery, Culminating Project, and High School and Beyond Plan. The Campaign for the Class of 2008 is directed by Partnership for Learning and funded by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

North Cascades and Olympic Science Partnership

Director of Curriculum Sherrie Brown gave an overview of the North Cascades and Olympic Science Partnership (NCOSP). Funded by the National Science Foundation, this $12 million, 5-year project will have a significant impact on science instruction at elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels. The NCOSP unites school districts, Washington Educational Service Districts, Washington State Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform, Western Washington University, community colleges, and Northwest Indian College. By year five of the grant, the goal is that 90% of students in partnership districts will meet or exceed standards on the state science assessment. Additional goals focus on expanding professional development in science content at the higher education level and increasing administrators' understanding and support for science education.

ACTION ITEMS:

2003 – 2008 Affirmative Action Plan

The Board heard a first reading of the 2003 – 2008 Affirmative Action Plan, including a first reading of Policy and Procedure 5011, Equal Employment Opportunity . Director of Human Resources Nora Klewiada reviewed the District's 1998 – 2003 Affirmative Action Plan, outlining the accomplishments achieved during the past five years. From 1998 – 2003, the District met hiring goals in four of the six Affirmative Action goal areas. Klewiada also reviewed the proposed Affirmative Action Plan for 2003 – 2008. The proposed Plan includes revised availability data and projected goals in each of the underutilized job categories. Klewiada summarized how recruiting strategies will focus on specific colleges and recruiting fairs to attract a more diverse candidate pool.

Resolution 8-03, South Fiber Circuit Interlocal Agreement Approved

Jeff Haggen moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded the motion to approve Resolution 8 – 03, the South Fiber Circuit Interlocal Agreement with the City of Bellingham. This Agreement completes the third and final segment of the fiber circuit project and will extend the fiber optic lines to Carl Cozier, Geneva, Happy Valley, Larrabee, Lowell, Fairhaven, Kulshan, and Sehome. The motion carried unanimously.

Student Trips

Elaine Lynch moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion approving in concept the Middle School California Science Trip to San Francisco, California on May 6 – 9 and May 13 – 16, 2004.

Ann Whitmyer moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion approving the Bellingham High School AP English Class attendance at a performance of Othello at the Stanley Park Theater in Vancouver, B.C. on October 8, 2003.

Personnel Recommendations

Elaine Lynch moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded the motion to approve the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Kinsley acknowledged the recent death of long-time Kulshan Middle School teacher Wilma Miller.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.