BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bellingham, Washington
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
May 28, 1998
The Bellingham School Board of Directors will meet in regular session at 7:30 p.m., May 28, 1998, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular meeting, there will be an Executive Session at 6:30 p.m. Purpose of the Executive Session—personnel matters and negotiations.
Present: Directors David Blair, Becky Diaz, Mary Stender, and Ann Whitmyer, President Elaine M. Lynch, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Shirley Knapp.
At 6:35 p.m. Blair made a motion to begin Executive Session; Whitmyer seconded. At 7:35 p.m. Blair made a motion to moved into regular session; Stender seconded.
At 7:43 p.m. President Elaine Lynch called the meeting to order.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:
Stender moved and Diaz seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
Minutes
Action on the minutes of the May 14, 1998 School Board meeting, and the minutes from the May 11, 1998, and the May 18, 1998 public hearings on high school boundaries.
Investments
Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.
GENERAL FUND:
$2,512,500.00 LGIP, investment, May 8, 1998
$320,000.00 LGIP, investment, May 15, 1998
$162,500.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 22, 1998
CAPITAL PROJECTS
$1,500.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 8, 1998
$4,800.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 15, 1998
$1,414,900.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 15, 1998
$31,700.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 15, 1998
DEBT SERVICE
$1,938,000.00 LGIP, investment, May 8, 1998
$156,000.00 LGIP, investment, May 15, 1998
ASB FUND
$8,500.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 8, 1998
$4,400.00 LGIP, investment, May 15, 1998
$100.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 15, 1998
$16,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 15, 1998
$14,600.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 15, 1998
Summer Food Service Programs
Action to approve summer food service programs.
Interagency Agreements
Approval of interagency agreements between Early Childhood Opportunities Northwest and Lakeside Co-op and the Bellingham School District’s Early Childhood Programs.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:
School Board Reports
Diaz and other members of the Board attended the District retirement dinner on May 21, and the celebration at BHS on May 23. Diaz also attended the Senior Tea at Sehome on May 27 and a pre-school graduation ceremony for Ms. Mookherjee’s class at Sunnyland.
Whitmyer attended the FMS Frolics and the DARE graduation at Silver Beach.
Lynch announced that the Thomas Horn Foundation has awarded the Bellingham School District $10,000 in scholarship money. Five $1,000 scholarships will be given this year at each high school.
Superintendent’s Announcements/Report
Dr. Kinsley reported on the celebration at Bellingham High School on Saturday, May 23. He acknowledged the work of Lavelle Freudenberg, Mark Patterson, Bob Jones, Steve Clarke, Becky Elmendorf, and Debbie Granger in making the event such a great success. A historical video produced by high school students is being sold. The proceeds will be used for a scholarship fund.
Kinsley acknowledged the accomplishment of the Sehome Science Olympiad team at the national competition in Michigan. He also recognized the Bellingham School District bus drivers’ team who won the regional Road-E-O competition and will continue on to the State competition.
Dr. Kinsley announced three federal vocational grants that have been funded for the 1998-99 school year: a grant for $9,4000 to expand activities to help high school female students explore non –traditional careers; a $10,000 grant to support activities and services for the GRADS Teen Parent Program; and a $3,5000 grant for the GRADS program to provide enrichment activities relating to career planning, personal finance planning and accessing community resources.
Superintendent Kinsley reported on the State Technology Alliance meeting he attended on May 19. The focus of the meeting was on the use of technology in K-12 learning and to provide recommendations to the State legislature relating to technology in schools. Approximately 150-200 people attended the meeting, including Bill Gates, Sr., Governor Gary Locke, and Terry Bergeson.
Audience
Christine Zurline addressed the Board regarding the impact of the high school boundaries decision on the Geneva neighborhood.
REPORTS:
School Performance Reports
Principals Sharon Camblin, Bob Austin, and Kenn Robinson and site council members reported school performance at Birchwood, Geneva, and Whatcom. As part of the District accountability process, one third of schools will provide a performance reports on school goals at Board meetings. In addition, one third provided their reports during school visits by the Board this year, and another third will present a written progress report to the superintendent.
ACTION ITEMS:
Attendance Boundaries for Three High Schools Selected
Blair moved and Diaz seconded the motion to select Option B from the high school boundary committee’s recommendations. The vote was 4 in favor of Option B with 1 abstaining (Stender). The Board praised the committee for their work in providing three viable plans, stating that while all the options met the guidelines, Option B did the best job of addressing the concerns of the community in “keeping neighborhoods together.” Superintendent Kinsley also commended the committee for their work and commented that the District will continue to work with people over the next two years to prepare for the new boundaries and to develop three quality high school programs.
Approval of Pathway for the 21st Century
Stender moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion to approve Pathway for the 21st Century, the District’s strategic plan for 1998-2003. The motion carried unanimously.
Proposed Planning for Options High School Program
Stender moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion to approve the planning process to review the Options High School program. The motion carried unanimously. Assistant Superintendents Greg Cowan and Susan Zoller will facilitate a program and facility planning committee for the Options program. The committee will be charged by the Board to:
Approval of Kindergarten Schedules for 1998-99
Blair moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion to approve the 1998-99 kindergarten schedule. The motion carried unanimously. Superintendent Kinsley stressed the importance of extending the day for kindergarten for the development of early learning skills. Kinsley stated that this is a funding issue and should be pursued next year as a legislative priority.
Interlocal Agreement for Whatcom Discovery Cooperative
Blair moved and Diaz seconded the motion for approval of an interlocal agreement with ESD 189 for Whatcom Discovery Cooperative for 1998-99. The motion carried unanimously.
Bid Award
Diaz moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion to award the bid for TV’s VCR’s and scan converters for Squalicum High to Proline, the low bidder at $52,596.00.The motion carried unanimously.
Personnel Recommendations Approved
Whitmyer moved and Diaz seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Kinsley recognized Ann Oveson, the newly selected assistant principal for Whatcom Middle School.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.