BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

 OF THE

 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

June 23, 2005

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., June 23, 2005, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular meeting, there was executive session at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the executive session was negotiations and personnel matters.

Present: Directors Ken Gass, Jeff Haggen, Ann Whitmyer, President Elaine Lynch, Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Susan Zoller, and recorder Nancy Merry. Superintendent Dale Kinsley and Director Steve Schoenfeld were excused.

At 6:30 p.m. Ann Whitmyer moved to begin executive session; Elaine Lynch seconded. At 7:45 p.m. Ken Gass moved to regular session; Ann Whitmyer seconded.

At 7:50 p.m. President Elaine Lynch called the regular meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Ken Gass moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded approval of the consent agenda. The motion carried with Jeff Haggen abstaining.

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the June 9, 2005 Executive Session and the June 9, 2005 School Board meeting.

Action on the minutes of the June 16, 2005 Study Session.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

  GENERAL FUND

  CAPITAL PROJECTS

  DEBT SERVICE

  ASB FUND

Personal Services Contract

• Collin Buckley to serve as Health Careers Middle School Summer Camp Coordinator, June 27 through July 1, 2005.
• Cathy Paxton to serve as Heath Careers High School Summer Camp Coordinator, June 27 through July 1, 2005.
• Marcia Pedersen to administer and score performance tests for classified applicants on an as-needed basis throughout the 2005–2006 school year.

Out of State Travel

• Steve Olson to travel to High Point, North Carolina, July 9–12, 2005 to research a newly designed Thomas Built C-2 school bus.
• Lynne Pendleton to attend the Connected Mathematics Project training in Hamden, Connecticut, July 25–28, 2005.
• Dale Kinsley to attend the National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) Executive Board Meeting in Denver, Colorado, July 10 and 11, 2005.

Contracts/Agreements

• Interlocal Agreement with the Washington State Information Processing Co-op (WSIPC) giving the District the ability to access the IEP Online software.

Donations

• Geneva Playground Improvements

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Jeff Haggen attended a barbecue at Carl Cozier Elementary School, the Board budget study session, and presented diplomas at Sehome High School, Options High School, and GRADS. Haggen said it was rewarding to see many students at Options and GRADS receive their diplomas after overcoming adversity.

Ken Grass attended the senior awards program at Bellingham High School and the Board budget study session. Gass handed out diplomas at Squalicum High School's graduation ceremony.

Ann Whitmyer attended the retirement reception for Central Office administrators and commented that their retirements will create a big hole in the Central Office “family” and, while we welcome new administrators, we will miss those retiring. Along with Elaine Lynch, Whitmyer participated in a meeting to begin writing a grant proposal for four additional years of funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Whitmyer commented that it was an opportunity for diverse people to think about a vision for how such funds could be best utilized. Whitmyer also attended the Board budget study session and thanked Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Jim Stevens for his work over the years in educating the Board about the school district budget. She also thanked Business and Finance Manager Stewart Mhyer for conducting the budget sessions. Whitmyer presented diplomas at Bellingham and Squalicum high schools, always a highlight of the school year.

Elaine Lynch also attended the retirement reception for Central Office administrators, participated in the Gates Grant writing team meeting, and the Board budget study session. Lynch presented diplomas at Bellingham High School and attended graduation at Squalicum High School. Lynch commented that the speakers at Bellingham High School graduation were some of the most mature student speakers she has been privileged to hear.

Superintendent's Announcements/Report

On behalf of Dale Kinsley, Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Susan Zoller introduced Mary Anne Stuckart and Karen Tolliver, who are being recommended as principals for Sunnyland Elementary School and Happy Valley Elementary School, respectively. Zoller also updated the Board on summer school.

Audience

• Becky Walstad addressed the Board on the Nutrition and Physical Fitness Policy;
• Tom Kunesh addressed the Board on middle school electives;
• Sharon Crozier handed the Board a petition to retain arts in the schools and spoke in opposition to disclosing student names to military recruiters;
• Johnny Grames addressed the Board about freedom of information;
• Dan Pike thanked the Board for changing the kindergarten schedule and for addressing the issue of nutrition and physical activity in schools. He also spoke of the importance of locating schools within walking distance of neighborhoods, establishing safe walking routes, and of sharing school common areas with the City;
• Emily Hollingsworth spoke about the importance of retaining arts in the schools;
• Jan Adams addressed the Board about electives in schools and waivers for physical education.

REPORTS:

District Strategic Plan, 2005–2010 (Draft)

For the past eight months a Strategic Plan Steering Committee assessed the District's current areas of focus and priorities in order to make recommendation for the direction the District should take in the next five years. Director of School Information and Communications Tanya Rowe, who facilitated the process, and Stan Kreft and Jo Kaas, members of the Steering Committee presented and explained the proposed components of their recommendations. Recommendations focus on reshaping Pathway for the 21st Century, the current strategic plan adopted in 1998, into a plan that enables the District to progress from a school system in which many students are successful to a school system that supports all students achieving at high levels so that they are well prepared for college, careers, and citizenship. This new strategic plan is designed to support, honor, and guide the school strategic plans, and to provide alignment for all of the Bellingham School District's work in the next five years. During the summer, District staff will work to develop focused action plans and priorities for the 2005–2006 school year that connect with the target objectives in the Plan. It is anticipated that the District Strategic Plan, 2005–2010 will be presented to the Board for their consideration in August. The Board expressed their appreciation for the work of the Steering Committee, recognizing it was a significant commitment of time.

ACTION ITEMS:

Policy and Procedure 8500, Food Services

Ken Gass moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion approving Policy and Procedure 8500, Food Services. This is a new policy and procedure that defines the District's nutrition program to be consistent with state and federal requirements for districts sponsoring the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. The motion carried unanimously.

Policy and Procedure 3440, Nutrition and Physical Fitness

The Board heard a first reading on Policy and Procedure 3440, Nutrition and Physical Fitness. This new policy and procedure has been written to comply with recent legislation that requires all school districts adopt policies describing nutrition programs, food service, vending services, fitness and nutrition education programs, and to create a wellness policy. Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Susan Zoller chaired a Fitness and Nutrition Task Force created to review existing food, nutrition, and fitness programs and make recommendations for changes based on the new legislation. Zoller reviewed the recommendations from the Task Force that were incorporated into the proposed policy and procedure. Zoller introduced members of the Task Force who were present: Marcy Brown, Squalicum High School food service; Dr. Gordon Chalmers, Western Washington University Department of P.E., Health and Recreation; Kelly Molaski, Whatcom County Health Department; Ken Ericson, elementary school physical education teacher; and Gaye Lynn MacDonald, Food Services manager. MacDonald addressed issues relating to changes in vending at District facilities. Superintendent Kinsley plans to meet with school PTA/PTO/ PTSA leaders in August to discuss these proposals before asking the Board for final approval. Zoller responded to questions from the Board.

Property Purchase and Sale Agreement

Ken Gass moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion approving the purchase of approximately 12.86 acres at the northeast corner of 300 E. Kellogg Road for a new school. The property is being purchased from King Mountain Association, King Mountain Holdings, and Calvary Temple for $1,500,000. Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Jim Stevens reviewed the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement. The motion carried unanimously.

Award of Bids

Ann Whitmyer moved and Ken Gass seconded the motion to award the following bids:

• Dairy products to Dairy Valley Distributing
• Geneva Elementary School roof repair on the gym and play shed to Borders and Son Quality Roofing

The motion carried unanimously.

Permission to Call for Bids

Ken Gass moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded the motion to call for bids for the Microsoft School Agreement and custodial supplies. The motion carried unanimously.

Student Trips

Ann Whitmyer moved and Ken Gass seconded the motion approving the following student trips:

• Sehome High School Cross Country Team to compete in the New Balance Invitational in Salem, Oregon, September 16–17, 2005.
• Sehome High School Cross Country Team to compete in the Sunfair Invitational in Yakima, Washington, September 30–October 1, 2005.
• Carl Cozier Elementary School 5 th grade students to attend the North Cascades Institute's Mountain School, North Cascades Environmental Learning Center in North Cascades National Park, September 24–26, 2005.

The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations

Ken Gass moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion approving the personnel recommendations as amended. The Board denied approval of the request for an extension of the retirement date for Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations James Stevens. Zoller also noted the retirement of two long-time employees: Ken Crawford is retiring from his position as Activities/Athletics Coordinator at Bellingham High School and Christine Andresen is retiring from her position as a third grade teacher at Geneva Elementary School. The motion carried unanimously.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.