BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bellingham, Washington
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
June 11, 1998
The Bellingham School Board of Directors will meet in regular session at 7:30 p.m., June 11, 1998, in the Board Room of the Administration Building.
Present: Directors David Blair, Becky Diaz, Mary Stender, and Ann Whitmyer, President Elaine M. Lynch, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Shirley Knapp.
At 7:32 p.m. President Elaine Lynch called the meeting to order.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:
Blair moved and Stender seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
Minutes
Action on the minutes of the May 28, 1998 School Board meeting.
Investments
Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.
GENERAL FUND:
$1,386,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 29, 1998
$14,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, June 1, 1998
CAPITAL PROJECTS
$5,500.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 29, 1998
$4,300.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 29, 1998
$29,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 29, 1998
$900.00 LGIP, investment, June 1, 1998
DEBT SERVICE
$1,889,600.00 LGIP, withdrawal, June 1, 1998
ASB FUND
$500.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 29, 1998
$500.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 29, 1998
$14,500.00 LGIP investment, June 1, 1998
$3,000.00 LGIP, investment, June 1, 1998
TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE
$900.00 LGIP, investment, June 1, 1998
Expenses and Payroll
Action on expenditures and payroll as approved by the Auditing Committee.
GENERAL FUND
ACCTS PAY 5/08/98 $402,173.14
5/22/98 227,116.84
5/29/98 2,432.81
Total General Fund $631,722.79
CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
ACCTS PAY: 5/8/98 $1,480.00
5/15/98 1,451,366.54
5/29/98 39,300.81
Total Capital Projects Fund $1,492,147.35
ASB FUND
ACCTS PAY: 5/8/98 $8,496.26
5/15/98 55,509.19
5/29/98 20,764.18
Total ASB Fund $84,769.63
BELLINGHAM $28,149.34
SEHOME $55,134.09
FAIRHAVEN $576.70
KULSHAN $298.58
SHUKSAN $610.92
EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND
ACCTS PAY: 5/8/98 $479.57
5/15/98 544.34
5/22/98 48.20
Total Expend Trust $1,072.11
PAYROLL $4,076,145.77
Out of State Travel:
Personal Services Contract:
Final Acceptance
Final acceptance of Alderwood and Roosevelt projects.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:
School Board Reports
Board members reported on their attendance at graduation ceremonies during the past week. In addition Whitmyer attended an 8th grade ceremony and a desert reception at Fairhaven Middle School. Lynch attended Sunnyland’s DARE graduation. She also reported that the Fairhaven Alumni (graduates from 1925-1937) donated $1,000 for scholarships.
Superintendent’s Announcements/Report
Dr. Kinsley reported on the BHS, SHS, and Options graduations. The superintendent also commented on a press release regarding a fourth grade statewide videoconference project on June 3. Students from Carolyn Hinshaw’s class and Birchwood and Roberta Zay’s class at Sunnyland participated in the project, along with fourth graders from six other schools districts across the State, by connecting to the K-20 network.
The District is the lead agency for a $294,000 technology grant that was awarded from OSPI. Bellingham will join eight other school districts and four museums, including the Whatcom Museum of History and Arts, and Pacific Lutheran University to create a project for the study of state and local history. The State has also awarded an additional $100,000 to Bellingham for teacher training in video teleconferencing. Dr. Kinsley congratulated Nancy Messmer for her work toward the grant.
Superintendent Kinsley made the following announcements:
There will be only one Board meeting in July. Dr. Kinsley suggested the third Thursday – July 16. He also asked the Board to begin thinking of a date for the Board retreat in July.
REPORTS:
Closed Campus Proposal for Squalicum High School
Principal Bob Jones explained the process for the “closed campus” decision at Squalicum High School. A task group of staff, students, and parents made this recommendation after review of current policies in light of the new site and facility. The site council approved the “closed campus” guidelines, and they will be communicated to parents in a school newsletter that will be mailed this month. Students have been notified about the change, and the policy and “closed campus” guidelines will be reviewed during student orientations and class meetings.
Learning Network
Assistant Superintendent Ted Czajkowski and principals and staff from the three participating schools (Alderwood, Larrabee, and Sunnyland) reported on Year One of the Learning Network. The Learning Network is a program from the R.C. Owen group that provides training and support for teachers to improve in student literacy. The participants gave a brief overview of the program and shared their insights about how the first year of the program has impacted teachers and students. Birchwood, Lowell, and Silver Beach will participate in the Learning Network next school year.
School Performance Reports
Principals Sharon Camblin and Terry Jorgenson, along with staff and members of their site council, reported on school performance at Columbia and Happy Valley Elementary Schools. These two schools are part of the one-third of District schools that will be reporting to the Board this year as part of the District’s accountability process. In addition, one third of schools will present a written progress report to the superintendent. Another third presented their reports during Board visits this school year.
ACTION ITEMS:
First Reading of Policy/Procedures 2112 – Homework
The Board heard a first reading of Policy and Procedures 2112. This policy and procedure on homework provides guidelines for teachers and administrators for the amount of homework assigned at specific grade levels. Assistant Superintendent Susan Zoller presented an overview of the policy and the development process. The Board recommended incorporating a statement recognizing the value of other types of learning opportunities and more clarification of #4 on the procedures.
First Reading of Policy/Procedures 8125 – Video Cameras on School Buses
This policy/procedures would authorize the use of video cameras on District-operated school buses. If approved all buses will be equipped with a video box, but the actual cameras will be moved from bus-to-bus. Assistant Superintendent Greg Cowan was available to answer any questions.
Basic Math Materials K-5 Adopted
Stender moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion to adopt the Scott Foresman Addison Wesley ’98 With Investigations in Number, Data and Space materials for the K-5 mathematics program. The motion carried unanimously. Curriculum Director Wendy Barrett and members of the Instructional Materials Committee reported on the teacher input, and evaluation process leading to the final recommendations.
Adoption of Basic Instructional Texts
Stender moved and Blair seconded the motion the adopt the basic textbooks for science and computer science as recommended by the Instructional Materials Committee. The motion carried unanimously.
Approval of WebApps 2000 Grant Applications
Blair moved and Stender seconded the motion to approve the WebApps 200 grant applications for state and federal programs and the accompanying survey questions. The motion carried unanimously.
Out-of-State Field Trip
Stender moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion to approve in concept a field trip to Washington, D.C. by eighth grade students from Kulshan Middle School. The motion carried unanimously.
Call for Bids
Blair moved and Diaz seconded the motion to call for bids on the following:
The motion carried unanimously.
Bid Award
Stender moved and Blair seconded the motion to award the bid for Sehome parking to Wilder Construction Company for a total bid price of $581,362.22. The motion carried unanimously.
Personnel Recommendations Approved
Stender moved and Diaz seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Kinsley recognized the retirements of bus drivers Bob DeHon and Roger Woods and Fairhaven Middle School science teacher Fred Bailey.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.