BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

January 14, 1999

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., January 14, 1999, in the Board Room of the Administration Building.  Prior to the regular meeting the Board met in Executive Session at 6:30 p.m. Purpose of the Executive Session – negotiations.

Present: Directors, Becky Diaz, Ken Gass, Elaine M. Lynch, and Ann Whitmyer, President David Blair, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Shirley Knapp

At 6:30 p.m. Lynch moved to begin Executive Session; Whitmyer seconded. At 7:25 p.m. Lynch made the motion to move to regular session; Diaz seconded.

At 7:32 p.m. President David Blair called the meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Lynch moved and Gass seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the December 10, 1998 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                          GENERAL FUND:

                                   $311,500.00          LGIP, withdrawal, December 8, 1998

                                     $17,000.00          LGIP, investment, December 18, 1998

                                   $402,500.00          LGIP, withdrawal, December 22, 1998

                                   $189,000.00          LGIP, investment, December 31, 1998

                                   $408,000.00          LGIP, withdrawal, January 8, 1999

                          CAPITAL PROJECTS

                                          $700.00          LGIP, withdrawal, December 15, 1998

                                          $300.00          LGIP, withdrawal, December 15, 1998

                                     $24,100.00          LGIP, withdrawal, December 15, 1998

                                     $66,200.00          LGIP, withdrawal, December 15, 1998

                                       $2,600.00          LGIP, investment, December 18, 1998

                                       $4,700.00          LGIP, withdrawal, December 22, 1998

                                   $134,300.00          LGIP, withdrawal, December 30, 1998

                                   $156,100.00          LGIP, withdrawal, December 30, 1998

                                       $4,000.00          LGIP, investment, December 31, 1998

                          DEBT SERVICE

                                     $27,000.00          LGIP, investment, December 18, 1998

                                     $10,000.00          LGIP, investment, December 31, 1998

                          ASB FUND

                                          $500.00            LGIP, withdrawal, December 8, 1998

                                       $2,000.00            LGIP, withdrawal, December 15, 1998

                                       $1,400.00            LGIP, investment, December 18, 1998

                                       $1,600.00            LGIP, investment, December 18, 1998

                                     $26,500.00            LGIP, investment, December 18, 1998

                                          $700.00            LGIP, investment, December 31, 1998

                                     $12,500.00            LGIP, investment, December 31, 1998

                                          $300.00            LGIP, withdrawal, January 8, 1999

                                          $300.00            LGIP, withdrawal, January 8, 1999

                                       $7,600.00            LGIP, withdrawal, January 8, 1999

                                     $16,200.00            LGIP, withdrawal, January 8, 1999

Expenses and Payroll

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

                        GENERAL FUND

                             ACCTS PAY:         12/08/98                          $338,952.28

                                                              12/15/98                              85,519.83

                                                              12/22/98                            410,654.44

                                           Total General Fund                          $835,126.55

                       CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                             ACCTS PAY:         12/15/98                            $95,132.39

                                                              12/22/98                                4,666.03

                                                              12/30/98                             298,285.61

                                        Total Cap. Proj. Fund                          $398,084.03

                       ASB FUND

                            ACCTS PAY:          12/08/98                                 $400.00

                                                              12/15/98                              78,829.88

                                                              12/18/98                              16,600.00

                                                  Total ASB Fund                          $91,829.88

                                                              SHS                                   $21,936.81

                                                              SQHS                                $40,004.39

                                                             FMS                                     $7,425.65

                                                             KMS                                     $6,338.01

                                                             SMS                                     $5,725.02

                                                            WMS                                  $10,400.00

                          PAYROLL                                                       $4,228,321.07

Personal Services Contracts:

• Ed Harri to provide math sessions for Fairhaven 6th grade math team, January – March , 1999.
• Mark Kelly to direct middle school jazz band workshop during the 1998-99 school year.
• Tina Falcioni-Ose to provide training to special education job coach/job development staff December 1998-January 1999.
• Joseph Garcia to serve as student-specific sign language interpreter during January 1999.
• Timothy Hoza to serve as sign language interpreter on as-needed basis for the 1998-99 school year.

Out-of-State Travel:

• Charm Miller-Davis to attend the California Kindergarten Conference, in San Francisco, January 16-17, 1999.
• Dale Kinsley to attend the AASA 1999 National Conference on Education in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 19-22, 1999.
• c)     Margo Montague to attend the International Reading Association Convention in San Diego, California, May 2-7, 1999.

Resolutions:

• Resolution 1-99 – Intent to Replace and Modernize Bellingham High School.
• Resolution 2-99 - Certificate of Continued Use Bellingham High School Replacement and Modernization.

Service Contract

Approval of service contract with the Washington Association of School Administrators to conduct a management study.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Gass reported on the breakfast meeting at the Chamber of Commerce sponsored by the Partnership for Learning. Whatcom County Superintendents Dale Kinsley, Gordon Dolman, and Gerald Hunter spoke to the community about new learning standards.

Diaz attended a reception held today at the Whatcom Children’s Museum with Mona Locke (wife of Governor Locke), and Melinda Gates (wife of Bill Gates). The focus was on early childhood education. Whitmyer and Lynch also attended.

Whitmyer attended Legislative Coalition meetings on December 15 and January 11. This group is made of representative from this education community with similar legislative concerns. She also gave a legislative report outlining WSSDA’s 1999 legislative priorities, which include: Full funding; Simple majority approval of levies; Accountability; Special education funding formulas; Timber revenue deduction; Class size; and Technology support.

Lynch attended the DARE graduation at Alderwood. She reviewed Squalicum High School senior class projects this week. Lynch also attended on the Partnership for Learning breakfast. She chaired the meetings of the Legislative Coalition on December 15, and January 11. Lynch acknowledged Dr. Kinsley and Director of Business and Finance Jim Stevens for their presentations at the meetings

Superintendent’s Announcements/Report

Dr. Kinsley shared a press release announcing that Bill and Melinda Gates donated $2 million to the Technology Alliance. The money will be used for the “Smart Tools Academy,” a program that will train principals and superintendents in the use of technology in educating students. Kinsley also announced that the WIAA Executive Board approved the District’s request for a 3A classification for Squalicum High School for the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 schools years and a 3A classification for Bellingham High School for the 2000-2001 opening year.

Kinsley and Whitmyer will accompany District staff to the Commission on Student Learning conference in Spokane, January 19-20. The focus will be on school reform progress. Following that conference Dr. Kinsley will attend the WASA Board of Directors meeting in Olympia on January 21. The Board will meet with the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

In March the District will begin an effort within the community to request donations of old musical instruments to be refurbished and used by students. The District is also continuing ongoing efforts to reach populations who have an interest in schools. The School Information Office sent the Realtor Update to local realtors, and they coordinating school tours for senior citizens.

REPORTS:

Essential Student Learning Rubrics from Kulshan Middle School

Peggy Zehnder and Marion Hiller, teachers at Kulshan Middle School, gave a presentation to the Board on the work of their staff and parents to create clear definitions and assessment rubrics for each area of the seven Essential Student Learnings (ESLs). The ESLs define District goals for high schools graduates. The rubrics are outlined in levels of 1-5 for each ESL, providing common understanding for measuring of student performance. Kulshan staff is still in the process of developing and testing these rubrics so they are considered a work in progress. A Kulshan staff team has been making presentations about use of the rubrics across the State.

District Budget Process for the 1999-2000 School Year

The Board reviewed the budget process for the 1999-2000 school year, which will begin in February. The budget process is reviewed annually. The only significant change this year is the inclusion of an explanation of the long process of allocating the excess fund balance in order to make it available to support current priorities. Jim Stevens, Director of Business and Finance, was available to answer questions.

ACTION ITEMS:

Revised Policy #3200 Approved

Lynch moved and Diaz seconded approval of revised Policy #3200 – Student Rights and Responsibilities. The motion carried unanimously. There were no changes made since the first reading.

First Reading of Instructional Materials for Math and Chemistry

The Board heard a first reading of the Instructional Materials Committee’s recommendations for basic textbooks for Pre-calculus and Introductory Chemistry for grades 9-12. Per Board policy the textbooks will be available for review and comment before they are presented for final adoption at the January 28 Board meeting.

Calendars Approved

Gass moved and Diaz seconded the motion to approve the calendars for 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 school years. The motion carried unanimously. The Board approved Option #2, which was recommended after receiving feedback from the BEA, the joint calendar committee, and site councils. The 1999-2000 and the 2000-2001 school calendars will maintain the same beginning, ending and vacation schedule patterns as in recent years.

Home Port Contract Approved

Gass moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion for approval of a contract with Home Port Learning Center for the 1998-99 school year. The motion carried unanimously. This is the third year of the District’s contract with Home Port, an alternative program for adjudicated youth in Whatcom County.

Approval for Squalicum Band to Travel to California

Diaz moved and Gass seconded the motion for approval for an-of-state trip for the Squalicum High School band to Disney’s “Magic Music Days” in Anaheim, California, May 1999. The motion carried unanimously.

Student Exchange to Tateyama, Japan

Whitmyer moved and Lynch seconded approval for the Squalicum High School student exchange to Tateyama, Japan, February 9-21, 1999. The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations Approved

Gass moved and Diaz seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Adjournment

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