BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

 OF THE

 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

January 13, 2005

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., January 13, 2005, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular meeting, there was executive session at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the executive session was negotiations.

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

At 7:00 p.m. Steve Schoenfeld moved to begin executive session; Ann Whitmyer seconded. At 7:35 p.m. Whitmyer moved to regular session; Elaine Lynch seconded.

At 7:40 p.m. President Ann Whitmyer called the regular meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Ken Gass moved and Steve Schoenfeld seconded approval of the consent agenda. The motion carried with Jeff Haggen abstaining.

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the December 16, 2004 Executive Session and the December 16, 2004 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

  GENERAL FUND

  CAPITAL PROJECTS

  DEBT SERVICE

 ASB FUND

Expenditures and Payroll

Action on expenditures and payroll as approved by the Auditing Committee.

Personal Services Contract

• Nathan Campbell to serve as Math Club advisor at Whatcom Middle School for the remainder of the 2004–2005 school year.

Out of State Travel

• Pat Buhl to attend the 2005 Reading Recovery Teacher Leadership Academy and Teacher Leader Institute in Washington D.C., April 20–23, 2005.
• Becky Elmendorf and Chris Stevens to attend the National Service Learning Conference in Long Beach, California, March 16–19, 2005.

Contracts/ Interlocal Agreements

• Interlocal Agreement with Office of State Procurement to allow the District to purchase items off established state contracts.

Donations

• Birchwood PTA Playground Equipment

Surplus

• 1988 Dodge Van

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

All Board members attended a legislative meeting on January 5, 2005 at which time county superintendents and Board members met with legislators from the 40 th and 42 nd legislative districts. Legislators present were Senator Dale Brandland and Representative Kelli Linville. Upcoming legislative issues were discussed, in particular as they relate to education.

Ann Whitmyer noted that the Board retreat, originally scheduled for January 6, was postponed due to snow and will be rescheduled.

Steve Schoenfeld also reported on his involvement in the Mock Trial. There are five teams from Whatcom County this year.

Superintendent's Announcements/Report

Dale Kinsley distributed copies of two articles to Board members. The articles were published January 6, 2005 in the Seattle Post Intelligencer and the Seattle Times and referenced a national study that ranks Washington 42 nd out of 50 states and the District of Columbia in spending per student.

Kinsley also indicated that on January 15, 2005 Sehome High School would once again be the site of the 7 th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Conference sponsored by the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force.

Kinsley invited Board members to attend one of the two information meetings scheduled for January 18 and 19, 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Squalicum High School. These meetings will provide an opportunity for the over 200 people who have been asked to participate in focus groups to learn about the District's Strategic Plan.

Audience

Keith Shikany, 835 E Pacificview, addressed the Board regarding a former Bellingham School District employee.

REPORTS:

Affirmative Action Progress Report

Executive Director of Human Resources Nora Klewiada reported on the annual progress for the Affirmative Action Plan in recruiting and hiring for the year beginning October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004. At the completion of the second year of the five-year plan, the District has made progress toward goals to hire more ethnic minority staff in six job groups. However, two job groups remain underutilized—classified administrators/managers/ supervisors and teachers/ instructional support. Klewiada responded to questions from the Board about recruitment practices used to reach potential minority employees.

ACTION ITEMS:

Use of Capital Facilities Funds and Recommendations for Bond-Supported Building Needs

Assistant Superintendent Jim Stevens presented the Capital Facilities Task Force recommendations for needed building projects that require voter-approved bonds. The projects are recommended as first and second priorities over the next ten years. Among the top priorities are a major renovation of Shuksan Middle School, construction of two new elementary schools, and seismic engineering of older buildings. A major renovation of Sehome, a re-build of Birchwood, and the purchase of a school site in Sudden Valley are recommended as second priorities for future bond-supported projects. After hearing the full recommendations of the Task Force, Ken Gass moved and Steve Schoenfeld seconded the motion approving $6.5 million for projects that could be funded with resources currently existing within the Capital Projects Fund as presented at the December 16, 2004 School Board meeting. The motion carried unanimously.

Selection of Architect for Transportation Building Conversion

Jeff Haggen moved and Steve Schoenfeld seconded the motion approving the selection of Stewart+King Architects for a project to convert existing storage at the Transportation Department into offices. The architectural firm will produce a set of construction documents, secure the necessary permits, bid the work, and administer the construction based on a contractual agreement in the amount of $21,479. The motion carried unanimously.

Carl Perkins Federal i-Grant

Ken Gass moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded the motion approving the application for the Carl Perkins federal grant. This grant supports vocational programs, including technology, business, and family and consumer science. Funds are used to provide professional development for vocationally certified teachers, purchase equipment, develop new curriculum or articulation agreements with community or technical colleges, and provide direct support for students through several career activities. The motion carried unanimously.

Student Trips

Steve Schoenfeld moved and Ken Gass seconded the motion approving in concept a student trip for Sehome High School Orchestra to participate in a performance tour at elementary schools throughout Whatcom County and Vancouver, B.C., May 12–15, 2005. The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations

Ann Whitmyer moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion approving the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Adjournment

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