BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

February 11, 1999

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., February 11, 1999, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Following the regular meeting there was an Executive Session. Purpose of the Executive Session – negotiations.

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

At 7:30 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 January 28, 1999 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                   GENERAL FUND:

                                       $321,000.00               LGIP, withdrawal, January 22, 1999

                                       $358,500.00               LGIP, investment, February 1, 1999

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS

                                      $196,800.00               LGIP, withdrawal, January 29, 1999

                                        $19,000.00               LGIP, withdrawal, January 29, 1999

                                             $900.00               LGIP, investment, February 1, 1999

                  DEBT SERVICE

                                        $16,300.00                LGIP, withdrawal, February 1, 1999

                  ASB FUND

                                            $800.00                 LGIP, withdrawal, January 29, 1999

                                       $20,000.00                 LGIP, withdrawal, January 29, 1999

                                         $6,500.00                 LGIP, investment, February 1, 1999

Expenses and Payroll

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

                  GENERAL FUND

                        ACCTS PAY:               1/08/99            $322,929.17

                                                               1/22/99              391,433.53

                                          Total General Fund            $714,362.70

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                        ACCTS PAY:              1/15/99              $867,986.78

                                                              1/29/99                215,879.68

                                     Total Cap. Proj. Fund           $1,083,866.46

                  ASB FUND

                        ACCTS PAY:              1/08/99                 $24,650.79

                                                              1/15/99                   23,914.75

                                                              1/29/99                   43,470.51

                                            Total ASB Fund                  $92,036.05

                                                               SHS                    $52,813.44

                                                               SQHS                 $37,621.25

                                                               FMS                        $472.68

                                                               KMS                     $1,128.68

                    PAYROLL                                                $4,161,625.78

Out-of-State Travel:

• Don Wilson to attend the West Coast Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Conference in San Diego, February 18-21, 1999.
• Marie Little and Vicky Marshall to attend the International Reading Association Convention, May 2-7, 1999, in San Diego, California.
• Cindy Christenson, Inga Desler, and Cathy Hansen to attend the International Reading Association Convention in San Diego, May 2-7, 1999.
• Lynn Torpey, Edradine Hovde, and Sandra Riggins to attend the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics national conference in San Francisco, April 22-24, 1999.
• Janet Erkes to attend the International Reading Association Conference in San Diego, May 2-7, 1999.

• Pat Buhl to attend the Reading Recovery Teacher Leader Institute, June 2-5, 1999, in New Orleans.
• Dave Barrett to attend the ASCD Annual Conference in San Francisco, March 6-8, 1999.
• Chris Hoyos, Ruby Salisbury, Linnett Murray, and Adrienne Nelson to attend the International Reading Conference, May 2-7, in San Diego.

Personal Services Contract:

• Betty Miller to assist in staffing a temporary School Net Help Desk for approximately six weeks, beginning February 9, 1999.

Trip for Sehome Debate Team

Approval for Sehome Debate Team to travel to attend the Stanford Invitational Tournament, February 19-21, 1999, at the University of California.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Lynch reported on the visit by the Board to Shuksan Middle School last Friday, February 5. She organized a meeting of the Legislative Coalition on Monday evening. The group is preparing a position paper and working with Nancy Messmer on the possibility of a video conference with State Legislators.

Gass also reported on the Shuksan Middle School visit, noting the impressiveness of their “Gateways Program.”

Whitmyer gave a legislative update highlighting the areas of simple majority for passage of school district levies and bonds, compensation, and school safety. Whitmyer commented on the connected math series at Shuksan Middle School. She attended the 7th grade testing kickoff breakfast at McDonald’s with State Superintendent Terry Bergeson and Superintendent Kinsley. Whitmyer also worked with parent volunteers for Fairhaven Middle School’s 6-trait writing program. She recognized the commitment of the parents to that program.

Several Board members commented on the moving memorial service for Birger Solberg that was held at Sehome High School last weekend. They expressed their appreciation to the District for their involvement. President Blair noted that the students who participate in the service were “not only testaments to Birger, but wonderful examples of the quality of this District.”

Audience

Art Hyatt, Silver Beach parent, addressed the Board regarding his concerns about the high voltage power lines that are near a site that is being considered for a new elementary school in the northeastern part of town.

REPORTS:

High School Safety/Security Review Proposal

Assistant Superintendent Greg Cowan provided information on a proposal from the High School Safety Committee to review and analyze safety/security systems and preparedness at the high schools. They would like to contract with the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) for consultants to conduct a high school safety/security review. A team from WASA, which would spend two or three days in the District researching policies and practices and conducting interviews, would conduct the review. The team would then prepare a report to identify and address any areas that need to be strengthened.

Status of Readiness-to-Learn Grant

Social Worker Lurinda Ford reported on the Readiness-to-Learn Grant received from OSPI in 1997. The District has used the funds to develop and implement Family Information Centers in seven elementary schools and one middle school. These centers help to ensure that all families receive access to community resources. The first two years of the grant ends this spring. Chris McElroy, the director of the Readiness-to-Learn Program, has encouraged Whatcom County schools to apply for the next grant as a single consortium. The existing levels of funding for each district would not be decreased, and each district would be free to implement their district’s program according to community needs. Nooksack School District has offered to serve as lead agency. Bellingham School District has offered to serve as the fiscal agency for the grant.

ACTION ITEMS:

Resolution 4-99 Approved

Gass moved and Lynch seconded the motion for approval of Resolution 4-99 -- Use of VEBA III Sick Leave Conversion Medical Retirement Plan. The motion carried unanimously. This will allow employees to apply their retirement sick leave cash out to the VEBA III program. Funds can be withdrawn by the retired employee (tax free) to cover health insurance premiums or medical expenses not covered by insurance. The BEA submitted a memorandum of understanding for their group to participate in the program.

Modified Service Agreement with Honeywell, Inc.

Whitmyer moved and Lynch seconded approval of a modified service agreement with Honeywell, Inc. The motion carried unanimously. The District’s energy conservation program with Honeywell has resulted in substantial savings over the past three years. After a thorough review of costs and needs, District staff has determined that a modified contract with reduced support is more appropriate.

Personnel Recommendations Approved

Gass moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. President David Blair recognized retiring teachers Val Haddock, Happy Valley; and Mary Pooleon, Carl Cozier. Each has served 25 years with the Bellingham School District.

Adjournment

The regular meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

Executive Session

At 8:35 p.m. Gass moved to begin Executive Session; Lynch seconded. At 9:15 p.m Executive Session was adjourned.