BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

February 8, 2001

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., February 8, 2001, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular meeting there was an Executive Session at 7:00 p.m. – purpose of the Executive Session personnel matters.

Present:  Directors Ken Gass, Don Leu, , and David Blair, President Ann Whitmyer, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Shirley Knapp. Director Elaine Lynch was excused.

At 7:03 p.m. Blair moved to begin Executive Session; Leu seconded.  At 7:26 p.m. Gass made the motion to move to regular session; Blair seconded.

At 7:30 p.m. President Ann Whitmyer 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 25, 2001 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                  GENERAL FUND

                                           $323,000.00               LGIP, withdrawal, January 23, 2001.

                                           $674,000.00               LGIP, investment, January 31, 2001.

                 CAPITAL PROJECTS

                                          $94,600.00                  LGIP, investment, January 31, 2001.

                  ASB FUND

                                          $45,800.00                  LGIP, withdrawal, January 23, 2001.

                                          $53,300.00                  LGIP, investment, February 2, 2001.

                  DEBT SERVCE FUND

                                         $14,500.00                  LGIP, investment, January 31, 2001.

                  TRANSPORATION VEHICLE

                                         $2,800.00                  LGIP, investment, January 31, 2001.

Expenses and Payroll

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

             GENERAL FUND

                  ACCTS PAY:                          1/08/01                  $176,798.01

                                                                    1/12/01                  143,582.95

                                                                    1/23/01                  338,014.59

                                                                    1/31/01                    19,413.92

                                           Total General Fund                    $677,809.47

          CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                  ACCTS PAY:                          1/12/01                  $448,384.87

                                                                                                       84,173.91

                                    Total Cap. Proj. Fund                         $532,558.78

          ASB FUND

                    ACCTS PAY:                         1/12/01                    $49,499.83

                                                                     1/23/01                     45,770.40

                                    Total ASB Fund                                     $95,270.23

                                                                     BHS                          $30,673.76

                                                                     SHS                          $11,818.40

                                                                     SQHS                       $16,186.75

                                                                     FMS                         $10,440.00

                                                                     SMS                         $  7,319.36

                                                                     WMS                       $12,800.00

          EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND

                                                                   1/08/01                               $82.10

                              Total Exp. Trust Fund                                          $82.10

           PAYROLL                                                                      $4,669,544.19

Personal Services Contracts:

• Sandra Simon to provide Speech Language Pathology services through the remainder of the 2000-01 school year.
• Cynthia Minkler to serve as rehearsal and concert choir accompanist for the January 11, 2001 concert at Sehome High School.
• Robin Pavesi to provide facilitation/instruction for the before/after school Spanish program at Larrabee Elementary School.

Out-of-State Travel:

• Lynn Torpey to attend the International T3 Conference in Columbus, Ohio, March 16-18, 2001.
• Steve Morse to attend the National Association of Elementary School Principals’ Conference in San Diego, California, April 7-10, 2001.
• Eleanor Kruzich and Betty Miller to travel to Claremont, California, February 14-15, 2001 to attend a workshop on student information software.

Contract:

• Contract with the Whatcom County Opportunity Council to provide educational services to homeless families during the 2000-01 school year.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Leu attended the Board visit to Larrabee Elementary School, and the Economic Development Council annual meeting.  He shared materials about national math, science, and technology scores, and the Texas educational system.  Leu has been asked to be a member of the WSSDA Achievement Gap Task Force to look at WASL test scores for students of color and those living in poverty.

Gass reported on the Larrabee Elementary visit, highlighting the Learning Network program.

Whitmyer attended the DARE graduation ceremony at Roosevelt, the Superintendent’s Parent Advisory meeting on February 1, and the Economic Development Council annual meeting.  She also reported on her visit to Sno Isle Skills Center, a technical high school for juniors and seniors, and her attendance at the School to Work Tech Prep Consortium Appreciation Breakfast on

February 6.  Whitmyer shared the State Board of Education’s document on the new high school graduation requirements.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports

Dr. Kinsley invited the Board to attend the following staff events:

• Monday, February 12, all-day meeting with the leadership teams from all twenty schools and Judy Ness on building leadership capacity.
• Friday, February 16, Learning Improvement Day, staff from all three high schools will meet at Bellingham High to examine high school changes.

Kinsley reported that he would be attending the WSSDA/WASA Legislative Conference, February 25-26.  The Whatcom County School Boards and Superintendents are hoping to reschedule their videoconference to a date in March.

REPORTS:

Tech Connections Class

Directors Katherine Crandall and Nancy Messmer reported on the Technology Connections class that was approved last spring as one of the core courses of study for all ninth grade students in the District.  The purpose of the course was to “equip 9th grade students with organizational skills and technology tools needed to accomplish high level learning goals.” A planning team of seven classroom teachers, Career Center staff, library/media staff, and computer network services staff designed eleven module components. Information about the modules and the course were posted online as a reference for students and teachers.  Sixteen sections of the class were offered in the fall semester. The Board was provided with results of students’ evaluations of the class.

Superintendent Kinsley presented members of the Technology Connections Planning Team with the “Teamwork Makes a Difference Award” in recognition of their efforts to develop the new class.

New Vocational Courses

Director of Vocational Education Katherine Crandall reported on new instructional programs that are being offered this year.  She highlighted the Web Design course that has been expanded and is now offered at all three high schools, and the Video Productions and Visual

Communications classes at Squalicum High School.  In addition, work is underway on Networking and Computer Maintenance courses.  Both classes will be offered in the fall at Bellingham High School.  Students will have an opportunity in these courses to prepare for industry certification of their skills.

Northeast Elementary School Naming Process

Lavelle Freudenberg, Director of School Information and Communication provided written materials to the Board on the process for naming the new northeast elementary school.  The process is outlined in Board Policy/Procedures #9250.  The process will be publicized, and a 12-15 member committee of teachers, classified staff, parents, students, and community member will be established in March.  The committee will review the nominated names and recommend 3-5 names for Board consideration at the April 25 meeting.

ACTION ITEMS:

Design Approved for New Elementary School

Blair moved and Gass seconded approval of the new elementary school design.  The motion carried unanimously.  The architects from Zervas presented slides of the design development plans.  Assistant Superintendent Greg Cowan reported that the City of Bellingham would be the lead agency for the permitting process until the annexation process is complete.  Dave Grunhurd, Northwest Regional Director for Cascade Natural Gas, reported on the history of the gas lines that run through the neighboring property to the north.  He also spoke and answered questions from the Board about safety monitoring and the inspection process for the gas lines, stating that the lines are in excellent condition

First Reading of Policy/Procedures 3415

The Board heard a first reading of revised Policy/Procedures 3416 – Oral Medication at School.  The revisions are in response to changes in the wording in the state laws.  The policy will be presented for final approval at the February 22 Board meeting.

First Reading of Technology Plan

The Board heard a first reading of revised District Technology Plan.  The information was updated from the original plan, which was written in 1993 and revised in 1997.  The revisions were built around the state benchmarks for technology.  The Plan incorporates District learning standards and strategies as well as network development and support.  Nancy Messmer, Director of Library, Media, and Technology, outlined the changes in the document.  Computer/Network Services Manger John Getchell gave a detailed report of the District’s Network Infrastructure and plans for future development of the system.  Executive Director Jim Steven reported on the technology budget.  The Technology Plan is being submitted at this time in order to qualify for continued participation in the Federal E-Rate Program.

New Elementary Attendance Area

Blair moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve the proposed timeline, process, and guidelines for establishing the attendance area for the new northeast elementary school.  The motion carried unanimously.  The District will use a process based on Board Policy 3130 and the guidelines used for the recent high school and middle school changes.

Carl Perkins Funding Application Approved

Blair moved and Gass seconded the motion for approval of Carl Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Funding Application.  The motion carried unanimously.

Student Trips

Blair moved and Leu seconded the motion to approve the following:

• Squalicum High School Orchestra to perform in Washington State and at the Northwest Orchestra Festival in Portland, Oregon, March 9-10, 2001.
• Shuksan 8th Grade Orchestra to perform in 2-3 communities and to attend the Northwest Orchestra Festival in Gresham, Oregon on March 17.

The motion carried unanimously.

Call for Bid

Leu moved and Blair seconded the motion to call for bids for fourteen Univent Heaters for Carl Cozier Elementary School.  The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations

Blair moved and Gass seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented.  The motion carried unanimously.  Dr. Kinsley recognized the retirements of Eileen Anderson, library media specialist at Sehome High School; Beth Roberson, fourth grade teacher at Geneva Elementary; and Sharon Kesslau, secretary at Sehome High School.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:31 p.m.