BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

May 10, 2001

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., May 10, 2001, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular Board meeting there was an Executive Session at 6:30 p.m.  Purpose of Executive Session – negotiations and personnel matters.

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

At 6:34 p.m. Lynch moved to begin Executive Session; Gass seconded.  At 7:36 p.m. Whitmyer moved to regular session.

At 7:44 p.m. President Ann Whitmyer 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 April 26, 2001 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                                    GENERAL FUND

                                          $1,760,000.00                        LGIP, investment, April 30, 2001.

                                   CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                                          $   347,200.00                        LGIP, withdrawal, April 30, 2001.

                                  DEBT SERVICE FUND

                                          $1,082,000.00                        LGIP, investment, April 30, 2001.

                                 ASB FUND

                                    $           16,300.00                        LGIP, investment, April 30, 2001.

                                TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE

                                    $         3,500.0000                       LGIP, investment, April 30, 2001.

Expenses and Payroll

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

                          GENERAL FUND

                               ACCTS PAY:                          4/06/01                  $228,618.38

                                                                                 4/12/01                    162,814.75

                                                                                 4/18/01                      15,905.40

                                                                                 4/23/01                    392,465.23

                                                                                 4/30/01                      80,927.80

                                                        Total General Fund                      $880,731.56

                    CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                          ACCTS PAY:                             4/12/01                    $116,501.12

                                                                               4/30/01                      347,188.32

                                                      Total Cap. Proj. Fund                    $463,689.44

                    ASB FUND

                          ACCTS PAY:                              4/04/01                    $  55,171.00

                                                                                4/12/01                        35,801.95

                                                                                4/30/01                        64,077.56

                                                     Total ASB Fund                               $155,050.51

                                                                                 BHS                          $26,273.41

                                                                                 SHS                          $22,557.27

                                                                                 SQHS                       $47,737.12

                                                                                FMS                          $16,367.71

                                                                                KMS                         $13,107.16

                                                                                SMS                          $10,750.40

                                                                                WMS                        $18,257.44

                    EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND

                                                                              4/06/01                        $     631.23

                                                                              4/30/01                                152.00

                                                Total Exp. Trust Fund                            $      783.23

                      PAYROLL                                                                       $4,756,456.40

Personal Services Contracts:

• Kelly Eret to serve as a tutor for the Home and Hospital Program on an as-needed basis during the 2000-01 school year.
• Harjit and Gurbaksh Dhaliwal to serve as Punjabi-English interpreters on an as-needed basis during the 2000-01 school year.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Lynch reported on the May 1 Celebrate Achievement event where she presented Hal Arnason, Jr. an award for his many years of service on the School Board.  Lynch recognized the work of Lavelle Freudenberg and Nancy Merry in organizing the event.  Lynch attended the Superintendents Parent Advisory meeting on May 3, a Gates Committee meeting earlier today, and a recognition event in honor of a Ferndale music teacher.  Lynch provided a legislative report on the status of the special session.

Gass reported on last Friday’s Board visit to Sehome High School, highlighting the chamber music performance, and the school’s strategic plan efforts.

Leu attended a meeting of the District Budget Advisory Committee.

Whitmyer reported on the Celebrate Achievement community partner awards, which were given to Mary Nichols, Haggen Foods, and the Bellingham Police Department at the May 1 event.  Whitmyer attended the “Fund Schools Now” rally on May 3, and the Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony that same evening.  Cathy Gersich, Fairhaven Middle School teacher, and the Bellingham High School renovation project were awardees.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports

Dr. Kinsley also reported on the Mayor’s Arts Awards, stating that this is the first time a public building has been recognized for an award.  Kinsley announced the names of the eleven teachers that were selected for the Gate’s New Teacher Leadership Program through ESD 189.

Kinsley also announced that the boundary committee for the new elementary school has almost completed their proposal and he expects it will be presented at the May 24 Board meeting.

May 18 is “Bike to Work Day.”  Superintendent Kinsley will be attending a meeting that day to discuss transportation issues in Whatcom County.  On May 11, and May 14 the District will be screening candidates for elementary principal. 

REPORTS:

Annual Progress Reports for Whatcom Middle School and Happy Valley Elementary

The Board heard annual progress reports from Principal Karen Reed, Assistant Principal Ann Buswell, and teacher Pete Nelson from Whatcom Middle School; and from Principal Rob McElroy, and teachers Pam Pottle and Mike D’Hondt from Happy Valley Elementary School.  These presentations are part of the school accountability process.

ACTION ITEMS:

Selection of Name for New Elementary School

Lynch made the motion to delay the Board’s decision of the name for the District’s thirteenth elementary school.  Gass seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.  Lynch expressed the Board’s respect and commendation for the work by the Elementary School Naming Committee.

First Reading of K-5 Health and Fitness/Physical Education Curriculum

The Board heard a first reading of the K-5 Health and Fitness/Physical Education Curriculum.  Curriculum Director Wendy Barrett provided a brief overview of the curriculum.  The Board approved the overall goals and program indicators for K-5 as part of the K-12 Fitness/Physical Education Curriculum, which was adopted at the October 2000 Board meeting.  This final component provides the K-5 health and fitness expectations and critical content

First Reading of Instructional Materials

The Board heard a first reading of instructional materials for the Theory of Knowledge course at Sehome, the Japanese class at Bellingham High, English as a Second Language courses, and elementary health and substance abuse prevention.  These materials will be available for public review or check out until the May 24 Board meeting.

Approval of Roosevelt Elementary bus turnaround proposal

Leu moved and Blair seconded a motion to approve a proposal to improve the bus turnaround at Roosevelt Elementary School and grant permission to call for bids for the project .  The motion carried unanimously.

Student Trips

Blair moved Lynch seconded the motion to approve the following student trips:

• Squalicum High School biology classes to travel to the San Juan Islands for whale watching tours on May 18 and May 21.
• Larrabee students to participate in overnight trip to Coronet Bay June 12-14, 2001.

The motion carried unanimously.

Bid Awards

Blair moved and Gass seconded approval for the following bid awards:

• painting of 19 portable classrooms.
• carpet and vinyl removal from Sunnyland Elementary.
• carpet installation at Sunnyland Elementary.

The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations

Lynch moved and Gass seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented.  The motion carried unanimously.  Dr. Kinsley recognized Sehome teacher Bob Thomas, who will be retiring at the end of the school year.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:06 p.m.