BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

June 8, 2000

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., June 8, 2000, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular meeting there was an Executive Session at 6:30 p.m. Purpose of the Executive Session – negotiations and personnel matters.

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

At 6:45 p.m. Leu moved to begin Executive Session; Whitmyer seconded. At 7:30 Gass made the motion to move to regular session; Whitmyer seconded.

At 7:38 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 May 25, 2000 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                         GENERAL FUND

                                             $221,100.00                     LGIP, withdrawal, May 23, 2000

                                          $1,651,700.00                     LGIP, withdrawal, May 31, 2000

                          CAPITAL PROJECTS

                                                    $900.00                     LGIP, investment, June 1, 2000

                          DEBT SERVICE

                                             $122,000.00                       LGIP, investment, May 23, 2000

                                          $2,030,100.00                       LGIP, withdrawal, June 1, 2000

                          ASB FUND

                                                    $400.00                       LGIP, withdrawal, May 23, 2000

                                                    $400.00                       LGIP, withdrawal, May 23, 2000

                                                 $8,800.00                       LGIP, withdrawal, May 23, 2000

                                                    $100.00                       LGIP, withdrawal, May 31, 2000

                                                    $200.00                       LGIP, withdrawal, May 31, 2000

                                                    $600.00                       LGIP, withdrawal, May 31, 2000

                                                 $1,300.00                       LGIP, withdrawal, May 31, 2000

                                                 $1,900.00                       LGIP, investment, June 1, 2000

                                                    $200.00                       LGIP, investment, June 1, 2000

Expenses and Payroll

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

                        GENERAL FUND

                             ACCTS PAY:         5/08/00                      $349,622.19

                                                              5/15/00                          26,588.55

                                                              5/23/00                        446,426.57

                                                              5/31/00                          13,192.10

                                     Total General Fund                          $835,829.41

                        CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                             ACCTS PAY:         5/25/00                      1,493,163.44

                                     Total Cap. Proj. Fund                    $1,493,163.44

                       ASB FUND

                             ACCTS PAY:         5/15/00                         $32,052.96

                                                              5/23/00                             9,602.48

                                                              5/31/00                           38,349.97

                                      Total ASB Fund                                 $80,005.41

                                                              SHS                              $45,343.80

                                                              SQHS                           $31,580.30

                                                             FMS                            $128,908.00

                                                             KMS                           $147,643.00

                                                             SMS                                $6,080.00

                                                            WMS                                  $225.00

                       EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND

                            ACCTS PAY:        5/15/00                                $598.73

                                                            5/23/00                                  260.93

                                                            5/31/00                                  552.39

                                           Total Exp. Trust Fund                    $1,412.05

                     PAYROLL                                                       $4,493,983.82

Out-of-State Travel:

• Several staff members to attend the Sixth Annual Learning Network Conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan, July 7-9, 2000.

Contracts:

• Interagency Agreement between the Bellingham School District and Early Childhood Opportunities Northwest for the 2000-2001 school year.
• Agreement for Services between the Bellingham School District and Best S.E.L.F. for the summer of 2000.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Leu attended meetings of the WSSDA diversity task force on June 1 and June 2-3. He also went to the 2nd/3rd grade music festival at Geneva Elementary School.  Leu shared some educational data from the Internet about the State of California.

Gass attended the DARE graduation ceremony at Alderwood.

Whitmyer reported on the Squalicum High School Senior Tea and the District Retirement Dinner.

Lynch was a presenter at the Squalicum High School Senior Tea/Awards Program. She also attended the retirement dinner and meetings of the District Budget Advisory Committee.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports

Kinsley announced several upcoming events:

• High school graduations – Sunday, June 11, at Carver Gym, Sehome at noon and Squalicum at 8 p.m.; Options High School on June 14, 7:30 p.m., at Squalicum.
• Board Study Session of the preliminary budget for 2000-2001 school year will be Thursday, June 15, at 7 p.m. in the Board Room.
• Last day of school will be Friday, June 16.
• Staff inservice day on Monday, June 19.

Superintendent Kinsley reported that the District was busy conducting interviews for teaching and administrative positions. In addition, work is being done to revise the Health and Fitness and Social Studies curriculums as well as the Grade 6-12 Counseling and Guidance Plan. These items will be brought to the Board the first part of August.

Audience

• Gary Sandberg addressed the Board regarding the middle school testing process for advanced placement math.
• Deborah Benz spoke about District support for Math Olympiad.
• Drew Weidenbacher, Carol Waade, and Dr. Sonya Thorpe each addressed the Board regarding the future closure of Lowell School.

REPORTS:

Annual Progress Reports for Parkview and Sunnyland

The Board heard annual progress reports for Parkview and Sunnyland from principals Teresa Van Haalen and Jean Prochaska. These presentations are part of the school accountability process.

Certificated Staffing

Executive Director Nora Klewiada reported on the status of certificated and administrative hiring. There was a total of 39 administrators and 625 certificated teaching and support staff for the 1999-2000 school year. Next school year, the number of teaching staff will remain relatively stable.  One administrative staff will be added (Professional Development Coordinator) for a total of 40. Certificated staff turnover increased from 5% in 1997-98 to approximately 11% in 1999-2000. Administrative staff turnover increased from 2 hires in 1997-98 to 10 hires in 1999-2000. This trend is being experienced across the nation. Klewiada anticipates that approximately 35-50 certificated staff will be hired for the 2000-2001 school year. The recruitment process began in February and will continue throughout the summer.  A final hiring report will be provided after the October report to OSPI is completed.

ACTION ITEMS:

Approval of revised Policy #2161 – Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students

Leu moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve Policy 2161. Whitmyer requested two amendments to first page of the policy under the list of services. She asked that under the third bulleted item the words “determination of” be added before the word “eligibility” and under the tenth bulleted item the word “qualified” be added before the word “staff” and the word “qualifications” be deleted. Gass moved and Whitmyer seconded approval of the policy with the suggested amendments. The motion carried unanimously. 

Bonds Sale Approved

Whitmyer moved and Lynch seconded the motion to approve Resolution 6-00 for the sale of $10,000,000 in bonds authorized by the voters in March 2000. The motion carried unanimously. John Rose of Northwest Securities provided financial data regarding the bond sale.

School Climate Survey Proposal

The Board heard a first reading on a proposal for a school climate survey. Executive Director for School Administration Ann Marie Hanel provided background information on the proposal. A task force began meeting in November 1999 to identify indicators and guidelines for measuring school climate. The group determined it was important to survey staff, students, and parents to measure school climate, and they selected the CSMpact for Schools survey from the ten climate surveys that were evaluated. The estimated cost to administer the survey would be $32,000.

Revision to Roosevelt Kindergarten Schedule

Leu moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve a revision to the Roosevelt kindergarten schedule. The motion carried unanimously. After the District’s kindergarten schedule was approved at the April 27 Board meeting, Roosevelt received additional Title I funds for the 2000-2001 school year. The new schedule will add two afternoon sessions for Title I students and provide more opportunities for parents to choose a schedule that meets the needs of their families.

Gates Grant Steering Committee

Superintended Kinsley presented the proposed structure for a Steering Committee to oversee implementation of the District Gates Grant. He outlined the purpose, role and membership of the group, asking the Board to modify the membership composition to include the Deputy Superintendent. Lynch moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve the Steering Committee for the Gates Grant. The motion carried unanimously.

Approval to Lease Warehouse Storage Space

Whitmyer moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve a one-year lease agreement for rental of warehouse storage space on Ohio Street. The motion carried unanimously. 

Out-of-State Trip

Whitmyer moved and Gass seconded approval for Sehome Varsity Girls Basketball Team to travel to San Diego, California for a three-day basketball tournament, December 26-31, 2000. The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations Approved

Lynch moved and Gass seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:26 p.m.