BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

April 8, 1999

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., April 8, 1999, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular meeting, there was an Executive Session at 6:00 p.m. Purpose of the Executive Session – negotiations.

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

At 6:01 p.m. Lynch moved to begin Executive Session; Whitmyer seconded. At 7:34 p.m. Whitmyer made the motion to move to regular session; Lynch seconded.

At 7:40 p.m. President David Blair 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 March 25, 1999 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                  GENERAL FUND

                                $128,500.00               LGIP, investment, March 15, 1999

                                $604,700.00               LGIP, withdrawal, March 23, 1999

                                  $99,000.00               LGIP, investment, April 1, 1999

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS

                                       $400.00               LGIP, withdrawal, March 15, 1999

                                  $43,300.00               LGIP, withdrawal, March 15, 1999

                                  $37,000.00               LGIP, withdrawal, March 15, 1999

                                    $3,400.00               LGIP, withdrawal, March 15, 1999

                             $1,889,200.00               LGIP, investment, March 15, 1999

                                       $300.00               LGIP, withdrawal, March 31, 1999

                                  $13,100.00               LGIP, withdrawal, March 31, 1999

                                $253,700.00               LGIP, withdrawal, March 31, 1999

                                $101,800.00               LGIP, investment, April 1, 1999

                  DEBT SERVICE

                                  $53,000.00               LGIP, investment, March 15, 1999

                                $127,000.00               LGIP, investment, April 1, 1999

                  ASB FUND

                                       $600.00                LGIP, withdrawal, March 15, 1999

                                  $58,700.00                LGIP, withdrawal, March 15, 1999

                                       $800.00                LGIP, investment, March 15, 1999

                                       $400.00                LGIP, investment, March 15, 1999

                                    $4,300.00                LGIP, investment, March 15, 1999

                                  $18,000.00                LGIP, investment, March 15, 1999

                                  $46,300.00                LGIP, withdrawal, March 23, 1999

                                    $8,000.00                LGIP, withdrawal, March 23, 1999

                                       $300.00                LGIP, withdrawal, March 31, 1999

                                    $2,500.00                LGIP, investment, April 1, 1999

                                    $1,800.00                LGIP, investment, April 1, 1999

                                    $4,500.00                LGIP, investment, April 1, 1999

                                  $20,500.00                LGIP, investment, April 1, 1999

Expenses and Payroll

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

                   GENERAL FUND

                        ACCTS PAY:

                                                3/01/99                     $50,751.95

                                                3/08/99                     292,538.31

                                                3/15/99                       42,400.70

                                               3/23/99                     727,965.74

                                               3/31/99                        47,039.76

                         Total General Fund                  $1,160,696.46

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                  ACCTS PAY:

                                                 3/01/99                   $496,861.36

                                                 3/15/99                       85,703.53

                                                 3/31/99                      279,685.41

             Total Capital Projects Fund                    $862,250.30

                  ASB FUND

                  ACCTS PAY:

                                                3/01/99                      $11,564.30

                                                3/15/99                        70,207.80

                                                3/23/99                        54,463.40

                                                3/31/99                        27,319.58

                               Total ASB Fund                     $163,555.08

                                           SEHOME                       $90,666.60

                                   SQUALICUM                       $67,841.43

                                    FAIRHAVEN                            $638.32

                                        KULSHAN                            $945.86

                                        SHUKSAN                         $2,727.08

                                     WHATCOM                            $735.79

                  EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND

                       ACCTS PAY:    

                                               3/01/99                             $197.64

                     Total Exp. Trust Fund                             $197.64

                  PAYROLL                                          $4,219,523.17

Out-of-State Travel:

• Sherrie Brown and Julia Besola to attend the Western Regional Middle School Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 8-9, 1999.
• Colin Cushman to attend the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics National Conference in San Francisco, California, April 22-24, 1999.
• Rob McElroy to attend the International Reading Conference, May 2-7, 1999 in San Diego, California.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Gass reported on a meeting of Whatcom County directors and superintendents on March 30 at Ferndale School District. The focus of the meeting was on legislative issues relating to education. He also reported on the April 5 with Dr. Greg Guldin from WSSDA regarding diversity and multi-cultural education goals. Other Board members and administrative staff attended as well.

The District also held a countywide teleconference with legislators in the Board Room on the evening of March 29. The event was attended by Whatcom County directors and superintendents and allowed interactive dialogue regarding the legislative session. Lynch and Whitmyer attended. Whitmyer also attended the County School-to-Work Consortium strategic planning session on April 1, a Sehome production on April 3, “The Music Man” at Roosevelt on April 7, and a Power Point computer presentation at Carl Cozier on April 8. Whitmyer gave a legislative update highlighting the budget and a WEA statewide initiative for annual cost of living raises.

Lynch also reported on the recent County legislative meetings on March 29 and 30. The next meeting of Whatcom County superintendents and directors regarding legislative matters will be held on May 5 at the ESD in Mount Vernon. Lynch attended on the KIRO TV News luncheon on March 31, which was also attended by Whitmyer and Superintendent Kinsley. She reported on the Superintendent’s Parent Advisory meeting on April 1.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports

Dr. Kinsley reported that the initial stage is complete for restaffing three high schools for the 2000-2001 school year. The list of teacher assignments has been distributed. Addition of new people and opportunities for transfers will continue to occur prior to reopening BHS in the fall of 2000.

Kinsley reported on the new site for the relocation of Options High School. The District will lease property owned by Liberty Equipment, which is adjacent to the Bellingham High site, and property on Franklin Street owned by HRP Co., LLC.

Superintendent Kinsley read a statement he prepared to express his “disappointment and concern” about the recent decision by the Bellingham Education Association to hold a walkout by teachers on April 21. Their decision was made in support of statewide teacher organization efforts on teacher compensation issues. Kinsley announced that school will be closed that day, and the school year will be extended by one day to Monday, June 14. Kinsley stressed that Board and administration are supportive of improved staff salaries. However, they do not support this walkout strategy.

Audience

Howard Mitchell addressed the Board regarding the teacher walkout.

REPORTS:

Technology Assessment and Learning

Dr. Nancy Messmer, Director of Library, Media, and Technology; and Library Media Specialists Vicki Shaeffer, Timmi Eggert and Eileen Andersen gave a video presentation on the use of technology assessments to promote teacher and student learning. The presenters discussed self-assessments taken by teachers and students, random performance assessments, whole school assessments, and ongoing informal assessments. The related the use of these assessments to staff development and student learning.

ACTION ITEMS:

First Reading of Revised Policy/Procedures #5314 – Tax-Deferred Annuities

The Board heard a first reading of a revised policy and procedure on tax deferred annuities. The changes are in response to some new IRS guidelines.

First Reading of Policy/Procedures #2240

The Board heard a first reading of Policy/Procedures #2240 - Summer School Programs. This policy and procedures will provide a framework and authorization for the District to offer expanded learning opportunities this summer.

Summer School Planning Proposal for 1999

Lynch moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion to approve the summer school planning proposal for 1999. The motion carried unanimously. Programs will be provided for literacy support, high school math preparation, and technology enrichment. District staff will teach all classes.

Health and Fitness Curriculum K-12

The Board heard a first reading of K-12 Health and Fitness Curriculum, which was recently completed by the Health and Fitness Committee. After Board approval of the curriculum, the next step will be to review current programs and make recommendations for critical content. Two committees will be formed to review and revise current programs for physical education and for health. Assistant Superintendent Ted Czajkowski answered the Board’s questions regarding specific components of the curriculum.

Out-of-State Travel

Whitmyer moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve the following out-of-state trips:

• Squalicum High School teacher and students to attend the National Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida, April 21-28, 1999. The motion carried unanimously.
• Janice Smith, Native American Tutor, and Squalicum students to attend an adolescent conference in Seaside, Oregon, April 19-20, 1999.Whatcom Middle School coach and two students to attend Reno World of Wrestling Championships, April 9-12, 1999.
• Sehome staff members to take twenty-four students on the “Zodiac” cruise, May 21-23, 1999.

Bid Awarded for BHS Renovation

No action was taken to award the bid for the Bellingham High School renovation project. A special session will be held on Monday, April 19, at 7:00 p.m. to consider the bid, allow time for public comment, and award the bid.

Personnel Recommendations Approved

Lynch moved and Gass seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Kinsley recognized the retirements of Elizabeth Martindale, Special Education Director; “Beth” Dombroski, 5th grade teacher at Geneva; and “Kit” O’Connor 6th grade core teacher at Whatcom Middle School. They will all be retiring at end of this school year.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.