BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

February 10, 2000

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., February 10, 2000, in the Board Room of the Administration Building.

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

At 7:34 p.m. President David Blair called the meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

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

Minutes

Action on the minutes of January 27, 2000 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                                    GENERAL FUND:

                                     $234,000.00                     LGIP, investment, January 31, 2000

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS

                                     $1,091,000.00                  LGIP, withdrawal, January 28, 2000

                                     $1,800.00                         LGIP, investment, January 31, 2000

                                     $988.37                            LGIP, withdrawal, January 31, 2000

                                     $70,200.00                       LGIP, withdrawal, January 31, 2000

                  DEBT SERVICE

                                      $7,500.00                        LGIP, investment, January 31, 2000

                  ASB FUND

                                      $500.00                           LGIP, withdrawal, January 31, 2000

                                      $5,300.00                        LGIP, investment, January 31, 2000

                                      $500.00                           LGIP, withdrawal, January 31, 2000

                                      $23,300.00                      LGIP, withdrawal, January 31, 2000

Expenses and Payroll

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

                    GENERAL FUND

                         ACCTS PAY:                          1/07/00                  $340,682.17

                                                                           1/14/00                      54,409.24

                                                                           1/24/00                     315,569.70

                                                                           1/31/00                       68,331.30

                                             Total General Fund                            $778,992.41

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                       ACCTS PAY:                            1/07/00                     $24,781.71

                                                                           1/14/00                  1,340,188.77

                                                                           1/28/00                  1,090,661.80

                                                                           1/31/00                       72,874.38

                                            Total Cap. Proj. Fund                      $2,528,506.66

                  ASB FUND

                        ACCTS PAY:                           1/14/00                    $17,531.64

                                                                           1/24/00                      26,975.00

                                                                           1/31/00                      49,261.24

                                           Total ASB Fund                                    $93,767.88

                                                                           SHS                         $41,359.24

                                                                           SQHS                      $22,418.00

                                                                           FMS                              $462.98

                                                                           KMS                        $10,051.86

                                                                           SMS                         $10,475.80

                                                                          WMS                          $9,000.00

                  EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND

                       ACCTS PAY:                           1/24/00                             $55.00

                                                                          1/31/00                             534.46

                                          Total Exo. Trust Fund                                 $589.36

                  TRANSPORTATION FUND

                        ACCTS PAY:                           1/20/00                    $211,784.97

                                          Total Transportation Fund                  $211,784.97

                  PAYROLL                                                                    $4,368,684.90

Personal Services Contracts:

• Luba Sokolan and Cuong Truong to provide services as foreign language interpreters.
• Amy Fox to perform speech/language evaluations for Spanish speaking students during the 1999-2000 school year.
• Kathy Blanton to extend provision of psychometric services during the 1999-2000 school year.
• Eileen Andersen and Ron Roberts to order the opening day library collection for Bellingham High School.

Out-of-State Travel:

• Pat Buhl to attend the Reading Recovery Teacher Leader Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 31 – June 3, 2000.
• JoAnn Johnson to attend the Annual National Service-Learning Conference in Providence, Rhode Island, March 15 –18, 2000.
• Alisa Sachs to attend the Florida Holocaust Museum’s Annual Summer Institute, June 14 –16, 2000.
• Gaye Lynn MacDonald to attend the American School Food Service Association Legislative Action Conference in Washington D.C., February 11- 16, 2000.

Contract:

• Agreement for Services with California State University at Fresno for Reading Recovery Site Affiliation for the 1999-2000 school year.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Lynch reported on the Board visit to Geneva on Friday, February 4. She highlighted the school’s “bully proofing” and life skills mentoring programs. Lynch also gave a legislative report, which focused on SB 6470 and the supplementary budget. SB 6470 is a learning improvement tax credit that would allow school districts to keep a portion of state property taxes. There is a projected savings of $85 million in the supplementary state budget from under enrollment of students.  The Governor is suggesting to invest the money back into schools. Lynch urged everyone to contact their legislators to support these two important issues.

Whitmyer reported on the WASA/WSSDA Legislative Conference, which she attended along with Lynch and Dr. Kinsley. Whitmyer stated that group was in favor of the Governor’s budget proposal.  Whitmyer reported on the visit to Geneva Elementary, focusing on the Gate’s Foundation Grant received by Kathy Dorr’s classroom. Whitmyer also gave a levy/bond presentation to Parkview PTA.

Gass also reported on last Friday’s Board visit to Geneva.  He was impressed with the school’s efforts to improve school climate.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports

Dr. Kinsley also gave a legislative update. He stated that if the legislature does not pass the Governor’s tax credit proposal there is a citizen’s group, K-12 2000, that will present a similar public initiative. Kinsley stated that there is only about three weeks left in this session and urged voters to contact their legislators soon.

Kinsley announced the following calendar items:

• Retirement dinner has been rescheduled to June 1.
• Opening/dedication of Bellingham High School will be August 19.
• Special election on March 14.

REPORTS:

COPS Grants

Bill Attebery, grants coordinator, reported on the elementary and high school COPS grants. The elementary COPS grant was implemented this year.  It involves gathering data on bullying and assault incidents in the elementary schools. This grant involves a partnership with the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center. The high school grant will be implemented next year. It will also focus on data collection, but will be much broader in scope and will look at all criminal behavior by students.

Chief Randy Carroll and Lieutenant Mark Gill of the Bellingham Police Department provided information on a third grant that will fund resource officers in the high schools. Chief Carroll stated that these officers are not intended for law enforcement, but to be used for collaboration and instruction. 

Special Education Services Review and Action Plan

Director of Special Education Sue Thomas and steering committee members Judy Barton, Jean Prochaska, Dave Barrett, Debbie Haney, and Kenn Robinson gave a presentation of the review and action plan. They outlined the strengths, improvement goals, and actions needed in the areas of communication, professional development, implementation of IDEA ’97, and program. The review process took almost two years to complete. Superintendent Kinsley recognized Judy Barton, committee chair, for her hard work and leadership throughout the process and Sue Thomas for her work this year.

Intradistrict Student Transfers for High School in 2000-2001

Dr. Kinsley reported on the process for handling students’ request for transferring to high schools within the District next school year. Procedures #3131 was revised to include specific steps for high school students and their families to follow. Parents who want their students to attend a different high school than the one assigned will complete a request form and submit it to Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller’s office any time after April 1, 2000. The requests will be held until August 1. District and high school administrators will consider all requests at one time. Requests will be granted based on staffing, programming, and facility availability. 

ACTION ITEMS:

First Reading Policy/Procedure #2420 – High School Honors Courses

The Board heard a first reading of a proposed policy and procedures for high school Honors courses.  The policy/procedures were prepared and recommended by a committee of high school and district staff. Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller presented the policy and answered the Board’s questions regarding 9th grade classes.

High School Core Curriculum

Curriculum Director Wendy Barrett reported on the recommendations for a common curriculum for 9th and 10th grade students at all high schools. This core curriculum will ensure that all students have an opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills necessary for the 10th grade state assessment. The changes include a full year of science for 9th grade (instead of one semester); one year of U.S. History at the 10th grade; revised and clarified English for grades 9 and 10; and a new technology course for the 9th grade. The Board will take action on the proposal at the February 24 meeting.

AP Courses

Lynch moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve a proposal for high school Advanced Placement (AP) courses. The motion carried unanimously. The proposal states that all three high schools will offer AP courses in English, math, science, social studies, and fine arts/languages. The classes will be offered during the regular school day. Evening districtwide courses and on-line courses may also be offered.

Instructional Materials for Family and Consumer Science

The Board heard a first reading of a basic textbook for Family and Consumer Science. The textbook, Parenting: Rewards & Responsibilities, will be available for public review in the Curriculum Office prior to final Board approval.

Personnel Recommendations Approved

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

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m.