BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

January 28, 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 7:00 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 7:01 p.m. Whitmyer moved to begin Executive Session; Lynch seconded. At 7:37 p.m. Lynch made the motion to move to regular session; Gass seconded.

At 7:42 p.m. President David Blair called the meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

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

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the January 14, 1999 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                  GENERAL FUND:

                                $90,000.00               LGIP, investment, January 15, 1999

                 CAPITAL PROJECTS

                                  $3,700.00               LGIP, investment, January 15, 1999

                                  $1,400.00               LGIP, withdrawal, January 15, 1999

                                $16,000.00               LGIP, withdrawal, January 15, 1999

                              $850,800.00               LGIP, withdrawal, January 15, 1999

                  DEBT SERVICE

                                $14,000.00               LGIP, investment, January 15, 1999

                  ASB FUND

                                $19,500.00               LGIP, investment, January 15, 1999

                                  $3,500.00               LGIP, withdrawal, January 15, 1999

• Elizabeth Martindale to attend the Council for Exceptional Children conference, April 14-17, 1999, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

• Gaye Lynn MacDonald to attend the American School Foodservice Legislative Action Conference in Washington D.C., February 26 – March 3, 1999.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Gass reported on a debt workshop on January 22 presented by the Whatcom County Treasurer. Whitmyer, Diaz, and Lynch also attended the workshop.

Whitmyer was part of the District team that attended this year’s Commission on Student Learning conference. The focus was on building high performance. Whitmyer reported on some of the highlights of the conference. She also attended the DARE graduation at Carl Cozier and reviewed the textbooks that are subject to approval for high school math and chemistry.

Lynch attended one-act plays at Sehome High School and the DARE graduation ceremony at Geneva. Lynch also reviewed the math and chemistry textbooks. She was on the review panel for senior projects at Squalicum High School.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Report

Kinsley reported on the Commission on Student Learning Conference that he attended with Wendy Barrett, Tara Felder, Chris Stevens, Ann Whitmyer. Following the conference Kinsley attended a WASA Board meeting in Olympia and met with the Senate Way and Means Committee to discuss legislative proposals relating to education.

Kinsley announced the visit to Shuksan Middle School on Friday, February 5, at 7:15 a.m. On Tuesday, February 2, (Groundhog Day) Kinsley will participate in a job shadow day sponsored by Jr. Achievement and the high school career centers.

Dr. Kinsley shared an article on the reading volunteer program in the Parkview Parent Newsletter entitled “Ready, Set, Read.” He also spoke about In the Loop a new District publication to keep staff and the education community informed about District committees and their work.

January is “Board Member Appreciation Month.” Superintendent Kinsley presented the Directors with certificates and recognized them personally for their “time, energy, effort to care about, children, education and the community.”

Kinsley introduced Gaye Lynn MacDonald who presented the Board with a $52,952.82 check that was received from the Department of Labor and Industries (L & I). The money was part of a surplus that L&I shared with businesses throughout the State. Kinsley recognized the work that MacDonald has done as District Labor Coordinator to reduce employee claims and increase overall safety.

Audience

Russ Crandall signed up but declined to speak.

REPORTS:

State Budget Proposals for K-12

Dr. Kinsley reported on the State budget proposal for K-12 for 1999-2000. According to a State poll conducted by OSPI this fall the three main major concerns were salary, class size, and support of school reform. Washington State has continued to fall behind in salaries and class size reduction over the last ten years. Kinsley shared information provided by the Senate Ways and Means Committee indicating that it would cost $240 million per year to reduce class

size by just 1 student K-12 and $90 million for each 1% salary increase for all employees. Kinsley also explained the differences between the Governor’s $480 million budget proposal and the State Superintendent’s $808 million proposal. The Governor is proposing a 2% salary increase for teachers in each of the next two years and Terry Bergeson is proposing a 5% increase for each of the two years. Kinsley encouraged the Board to contact the legislators in the 40th and 42nd Districts regarding the upcoming budget proposals. He also stressed the importance of funding for staff development opportunities to support school reform.

Progress of the District Technology Plan

Director of Library, Media, and Technology Nancy Messmer gave an overview of the District’s Technology Plan and the review process to evaluate and update the plan for the next five years. This is year five of the plan that was funded by bond passage in 1994. The plan was written in 1993 and revised in 1997. A District team will examine data that has been collected over the last five years, and information obtained from interviews with school principals to assess the progress that has been made toward the technology learning goals for all students and then write a proposal for an updated Technology Plan. Reports will be made to the Board during the review process.

ACTION ITEMS:

Instructional Materials Approved for Math and Chemistry

Lynch moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve basic textbooks for high school Math and Chemistry. The motion carried unanimously. The materials have been available for public review in the Curriculum Office since the January 14 Board meeting.

Approval of Resolution 3-99

Whitmyer moved and Diaz seconded the motion for approval of Resolution 3-99 authorizing the sale of bonds. The motion carried unanimously.

Agreement for Elementary Property Acquisition

Gass moved and Whitmyer seconded approval of a Conditional Sales Agreement for elementary property acquisition. The motion carried unanimously. The conditions include a 90-day feasibility period to allow the District to determine the suitability of the property for an elementary school. Final purchase is subject to Board approval.

Out-of-State Travel

Gass moved and Lynch seconded approval of out-of-state travel for Sehome Drama Club to attend the Oregon Shakespearean Festival in Ashland, Oregon, June 14-19, 1999. The motion carried unanimously.

Bids for Bellingham High School Project Rejected

Diaz moved and Lynch seconded the motion to reject bids for Bellingham High School project. The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations Approved

Diaz moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Superintendent Kinsley announced the retirement of the following long-term employees: Steve Johnson, assistant principal at Sehome; Carol Converse, teacher at Silver Beach; and Dominic Garguile, teacher at Fairhaven Middle School.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.