BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

 OF THE

 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

April 7, 2005

 The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., April 7, 2005, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular meeting, there was executive session at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the executive session was negotiations.

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

At 6:35 p.m. Ann Whitmyer moved to begin executive session; Elaine Lynch seconded. At 7:30 p.m. Ken Gass moved to regular session; Lynch seconded.

At 7:35 p.m. President Elaine Lynch called the regular meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Ken Gass moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded approval of the consent agenda. The motion carried with Jeff Haggen abstaining.

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the March 17, 2005 School Board meeting and the March 31, 2005 special meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

  GENERAL FUND

  CAPITAL PROJECTS

  DEBT SERVICE

  ASB FUND

  TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE

Expenditures and Payroll

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

Personal Services Contract

• Jeffrey Coulter to plan, hire, administer, and supervise the high school summer school program, 75 hours, effective April 8, 2005 and continuing through August 31, 2005.
• Katherine Crandall to plan, hire, administer, and supervise the high school summer school program, 75 hours, effective April 8, 2005 and continuing through August 31, 2005.
• Jean Prochaska to perform on-site administration and support for the elementary/middle school summer school program, 80 hours, effective April 8, 2005 and continuing through August 31, 2005.
• Karen Tolliver to plan, hire, administer, and supervise the elementary/middle school summer school program, 70 hours, effective April 8, 2005 and continuing through August 31, 2005.
• Todd Stephens to provide a pottery enrichment program for fourth grade students at Lowell Elementary School in April 2005.
• Ping Lan Shih to serve as a foreign language interpreter on an as-needed basis during the 2004–2005 school year.

Out of State Travel

• Amanda Shearer-Hannah, Fontaine Phillips and Jeff Vaughn to attend the Service Learning Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, May 25–27, 2005.

Contracts/Agreements

• Interlocal Agreement with Northwest Educational Service District 189 for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Cooperative Program for 2005–2006.
• Interlocal Agreement with Northwest Educational Service District 189 for Whatcom Discovery Cooperative Program for 2005–2006.
• Contract with City of Bellingham for Readiness to Learn Program.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

All Board members attended the Board retreat on March 31, 2005 and participated in a site visit to Lowell Elementary School on April 1.

Ann Whitmyer participated in the District Budget Advisory Committee meeting; a video conference which reviewed Governor's Gregoire's proposed budget; the Superintendent's Parent Advisory Committee; and a video conference with Senator Dale Brandland and Representative Doug Ericksen to discuss legislative issues. Whitmyer also judged the Sasquatch finals. Whitmyer updated the Board on the current status of educational bills that are being considered.

Ken Gass participated in the video conference with Senator Dale Brandland and Representative Doug Ericksen.

Jeff Haggen attended the Strategic Planning meeting and accompanied Carl Cozier second graders to a Young Author Conference at Skagit Community College.

Elaine Lynch participated in a Readiness-to-Learn meeting and participated in the Strategic Planning meeting of which she is on the writing team. Lynch also attended two video conferences—one which reviewed the Governor's proposed budget and the other with Senator Dale Brandland and Representative Doug Ericksen. Lynch announced that Beethoven in Schools is underway in 18 schools this year and she is continuing to read with students from Roosevelt Elementary School.

Superintendent's Announcements/Report

Dale Kinsley shared an Academic Improvement Award that was presented to the District by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for outstanding, continuous improvement in student achievement for the 2003–2004 school year. Kinsley said he was in the process of presenting individual awards to 17 schools.

Kinsley announced that the week of April 11 schools will be closed for spring break. District offices remain open April 11 through 14.

State budget proposals have been presented by the House, Senate, and the Governor. Kinsley reviewed the various proposed budgets.

Kinsley thanked Jeff Haggen and Elaine Lynch for their work on the District Strategic plan.

Audience

Johnny Grames (624A N. State Street) addressed the Board regarding freedom of information.

ACTION ITEMS:

Summer School Plans for 2005

Ken Gass moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion approving the summer school program for 2005 as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Baseline Certificated Staffing for 2005–2006

The Staffing Subcommittee of the District Budget Advisory Committee has reviewed certificated baseline staffing formulas and, based on an estimated enrollment of 10,016 FTE, is recommend-ing certificated staffing levels be maintained at current levels. Enrollment is projected to increase at the elementary and high schools, but decrease slightly at the middle schools for the 2005–2006 school year. The Board discussed the possibility in the future of basing certificated support staff on need in addition to enrollment. Ann Whitmyer moved and Ken Gass seconded the motion approving the baseline certificated staffing for 2005–2006 as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Early Release Day for Bellingham High School

Squalicum High School Assistant Principal Derek Forbes and Squalicum student Kyle Thon requested an early release day for Bellingham High School on October 14, 2005 to enable the school to serve as host for the Washington Association of Student Councils Leadership Conference. Over 1,000 Washington students will convene for the Conference. Ann Whitmyer moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion approving the early release day for Bellingham High School only on October 14, 2005. The motion carried with Ken Gass abstaining.

Award of Bid

Assistant Superintendent Jim Stevens explained the bid award for converting the transportation storage building into office spaces. Jeff Haggen moved and Ken Gass seconded the motion to award the bid to convert the transportation storage building into office spaces to Artus Construction. The motion carried unanimously.

Student Trips

Ann Whitmyer moved and Ken Gass seconded the motion approving the following student trips:

• Sehome High School Girls' Swim and Dive Team to travel to Victoria, B.C., August 24–27, 2005 to participate in early season training.
• Sehome High School Track and Field Team to participate in the Pasco Invitational Track Meet in Pasco, Washington, April 22–23, 2005.

The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations

Ken Gass moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion approving the personnel recommenda-tions as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Kinsley noted the recommendations included the selection of Ann Reed to fill the administrative position of Director of Instructional

Technology and Libraries. Kinsley also noted the retirements of three long-time elementary school teachers—Sandra Chorvat, 4 th grade teacher at Northern Heights; Grace Cronkhite, 1 st grade teacher at Lowell; and Parkview reading teacher Janet Eerkes. Kinsley expressed his appreciation for their dedication and many years of service to the children.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.