BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

 OF THE

 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

March 17, 2005

 The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., March 17, 2005, in the Board Room of the Administration Building.

Present: Directors Ken Gass, Steve Schoenfeld, Ann Whitmyer, President Elaine Lynch, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Nancy Merry. Director Jeff Haggen was excused.

At 7:40 p.m. President Elaine Lynch called the regular meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Steve Schoenfeld moved and Ken Gass seconded approval of the consent agenda. The motion carried unanimously.

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the March 3, 2005 Executive Session and the March 3, 2005 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

  GENERAL FUND

  CAPITAL PROJECTS

  DEBT SERVICE

  ASB FUND

Expenditures and Payroll

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

Personal Services Contract

• Kevin Burke to provide a pottery/ceramics enrichment program for fourth grade students at Lowell Elementary School in the spring 2005.
• Shane Edwards to provide additional hours as an athletic trainer at Squalicum High School during December 2004 (beyond the hours he is paid for his extracurricular athletic trainer stipend).
• Micheala Rollins to serve as a foreign language interpreter on an as-needed basis during the 2004–2005 school year.

Out of State Travel

• Sharon Missiaen to attend the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, March 30–April 2, 2005.
• John Schick to attend and present at the National Education Computing Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 28–30, 2005.
• Adrienne Nelson to attend the International Reading Association Conference in San Antonio, Texas, May–5, 2005.
• John Hoffman to attend the National Science Teachers Association meeting in Dallas, Texas, March 30–April 3, 2005.
• Michelle Nilsen and Julie Kratzig to attend the Pacific Northwest College Admissions Counseling Conference in Missoula, Montana, May 19–21, 2005.

Resolutions/Agreements

• Resolution 1–05 Delegating Authority to WIAA for Interschool Activities
• Interdistrict Agreement with Ferndale School District for the 2004–2005 school year for Darcy Fusch and John Glenn to provide deaf/hard-of-hearing and vision consultation.

Donations

Surplus Vehicle

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

All Board members reported on their visit to Bellingham High School on March 4. Gass was impressed with the faculty's focus on students not yet at standard and their desire for coaching for additional teachers. Whitmyer commented on how the staff remain accountable to all students, while trying to find ways to break through to those students who are under-served. Lynch noted that there are financial implications for what Bellingham High School needs in order to reach all students.

In addition to the visit to Bellingham High School, Whitmyer also attended an OSPI-sponsored workshop Getting to Graduation , about high school graduation requirements; and attended a meeting of the District Budget Advisory Committee.

Steve Schoenfeld attended a meeting of the District Budget Advisory Committee, and noted that the Sehome High School Mock Trial team would be competing at the state competition on the weekend. On a legislative note, Schoenfeld indicated there is a bill in the House to fund all-day kindergarten.

Ken Gass attended a performance of Anything Goes at Bellingham High School.

Elaine Lynch attended a meeting of the District Strategic Planning Steering Committee. The Steering Committee has named a writing team and on March 28 will hear a presentation of the focus group data.

Superintendent's Announcements/Report

Dale Kinsley announced that Bellingham High School Principal Steve Clarke has been named Washington State High School Principal of the Year and will represent Washington in the national competition.

District staff members Nancy Messmer, John Getchell, George Hartnell, and Ralph Hayden were presenters at a multi-state conference on technology held in Seattle this week. Their presentation focused on how technology fits with instruction.

The week of March 14–18 has been declared Classified Employees Week by Governor Christine Gregoire. Kinsley read the Governor's Proclamation and expressed appreciation for the work of classified employees.

Kinsley noted that the Governor will release her budget on March 21 followed by the budget proposals by the House and Senate.

Kinsley distributed copies to the Board of an open letter to the Washington State Legislature from superintendents of Island, San Juan, Snohomish, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties. The letter addresses concerns about the lack of state support to provide extended learning opportunities many students need to meet the Certificate of Academic Achievement requirement in 2008.

Audience

Rick Kiene (4933 Lewis Avenue) addressed the Board on two issues. The first dealt with the policy on transfers; the second was a request that the Board review Policy 8112, Transportation of Pupils, Field Trips , adopted in 1987.

REPORTS:

Implementation of the Elementary Support Program

Speaking on behalf of Director of Student Services Kenn Robinson, Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller updated the Board on the implementation of the Elementary Support Program. Since receiving Board approval last spring, the Elementary Support Specialists (ESS) have received specific training. In addition, all elementary teachers have received training to make them aware of the changes in the program, introduce them to risk and protective factors, and explain their role in supporting students and their families. All schools are working to meet first year expectations that include:

• Holding discussion and planning meetings;
• Identifying students and families based on the three risk factors—academic failure, lack of commitment to school, and early and persistent anti-social behavior;
• Convening regular meetings of the Student Support Team to monitor cases;
• Maintaining data logs describing services provided to students and families.

Elementary Student Support Specialist John Thibault spoke of the benefit of increased communication and collaboration with the members of the Student Support Team. Space remains a main issue at the schools but overall results based on the first seven months have been good. Thibault responded to questions from the Board.

PIER Virtual Communications Center

Director of School Information and Communications Tanya Rowe reported on the use of the Public Information Emergency Response System (PIER). Use of PIER begin in September 2001; however, new features have recently been added that allow users to integrate use of the communications system into daily operations. This year, the District began using PIER to power and manage content on its News and Information Web site. Rowe demonstrated how PIER has also been used for online surveys. According to Rowe, in the event of an emergency, PIER is capable of issuing a computerized call-out to notify families, store draft emergency announcements, and allow emergency responders and administrators to view school information. Other potential uses for PIER are also being explored.

ACTION ITEMS:

Policy/Procedure 3131 Student Attendance Area Transfers

Ken Gass moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded the motion to approve Policy 3131, Student Attendance Area Transfers. Based on Board input at the previous Board meeting, provisions relating to varsity athletic eligibility were removed. Gass expressed concern that there seems to be confusion in the community over the policy. Lynch noted that the procedures call for an annual analysis of issues involved in the transfer process, which will be provided to the superintendent and the Board each spring. The motion carried unanimously.

Policy/Procedure 2182, Traffic Safety Education

Ann Whitmyer moved and Steve Schoenfeld seconded the motion to approve Policy 2182, Traffic Safety Education . Modifications were made to reflect the fact that a state-provided subsidy that reduced the cost of the program to students is no longer available. The motion carried unanimously.

Policy/Procedure 3111, Entrance Age

Ken Gass moved and Steve Schoenfeld seconded the motion to approve Policy 3111, Entrance Age . Procedures have been written for this policy that identify the steps needed to implement the policy. For children with September birthdays, the policy and procedure continue the practice of permitting early admittance to kindergarten or first grade after appropriate assessments have been done. The motion carried unanimously.

Teamsters Collective Bargaining Agreement

Steve Schoenfeld moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded the motion to ratify the Collective Bargaining Agreement with Teamsters Local Union #231. The three-year Agreement is effective September 1, 2004 through August 31, 2007. The motion carried unanimously. On behalf of the Board, President Lynch thanked those involved for their work on reaching the Agreement.

Parent Teacher Conference Task Force Recommendations

Ken Gass moved and Steve Schoenfeld seconded the motion approving the recommendations of the Parent Teacher Conference Task Force as presented. Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller thanked the members of the Task Force who have worked since June 2002 reviewing the structure for parent-teacher conferences and recommending changes that would increase student success and the involvement of families. Members of the Task Force present at the Board were introduced: Katherine Freimund, Sue Sharpe, Tom Pollino, Bill Stuckrath, and Toby McKain. Zoller summarized the two sets of recommendations made by the Task Force—one for Not Yet At Standard/Student Success Plan Conferences and the other for Trimester Parent-Teacher Conferences. Parent and Task Force member Sue Sharpe addressed the Board and expressed how committed the teachers, staff, and parents were to making a real difference. Sharpe also thanked Zoller for insuring broad and continuing input by each Task Force member. The motion carried unanimously. Lynch thanked the members of the Task Force for their work.

Summer School Plans for 2005

The Board heard a first reading of the Summer School Plans for 2005. Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller presented the initial plan for summer school. The summer program proposed will offer much the same learning support for elementary and middle level students as last year but with new emphasis on providing focused instruction for students moving from 5 th to 6 th grade and from 8 th to 9 th grade. This is the first year that summer school will be strongly recommended for 5 th and 8 th grade students who are not yet at standard, as outlined in the procedures for Policy 2421, Progress and Promotion. Literacy and mathematics support will continue to be offered for other elementary and middle level grades as well as credit retrieval for high school students. High school students may also take Technology Connections and Health, leaving room in their schedules in the fall for other courses. In addition, the new Culminating Project course will be offered to give 11 th grade students a chance to work on their projects before the school year begins.

Call for Bids

Ken Gass moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded the motion to call for bids for the conversion of the transportation storage building into office space. The motion carried unanimously.

Student Trips

• Ken Gass moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded the motion approving a student trip for the Sehome High School Mock Trial Team to participate in the state competition in Olympia, Washington, March 18–20, 2005. The motion carried with Steve Schoenfeld abstaining.
• Gass moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion approving a student trip for a Sehome High School DECA student to participate in the international DECA competition in Anaheim, California, April 29–May 1, 2005. The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations

Ken Gass moved and Steve Schoenfeld seconded the motion approving the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Kinsley noted the retirements of two administrators, Ann Marie Hanel, Executive Director of School Administration, and Katherine Crandall, Director of Vocational Programs.

Adjournment

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