BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

 OF THE

 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

August 11, 2005

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., August 11, 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.

Present: Directors Ken Gass, Jeff Haggen, President Elaine Lynch, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Nancy Merry. Directors Steve Schoenfeld and Ann Whitmyer were excused.

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

At 7:35 p.m. President Elaine Lynch called the regular meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Ken Gass moved and Jeff Haggen seconded approval of all consent agenda items with the exception of expenditures and payroll. The motion carried unanimously. Voting on expenditures and payroll was tabled until the September 1, 2005 Board meeting due to lack of a quorum of eligible voters.

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the July 21, 2005 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

  GENERAL FUND

  CAPITAL PROJECTS

  DEBT SERVICE

  ASB FUND

Expenditures and Payroll

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

Personal Services Contract

• Kerri Burch, Laura Kaptinski, and Deborah Roth to serve as sign language interpreters on an as-needed basis during the 2005–2006 school year.

Out of State Travel

• Karen Moren to attend the Body Worlds' Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, Illinois, August 28–29, 2005.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Elaine Lynch met with Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative Rick Larson during a recent trip to Washington, D.C. Both expressed interest in how No Child Left Behind legislation was affecting the District. Lynch also joined Superintendent Dale Kinsley in a meeting with PTA/PTO/PTSA presidents to discuss the Nutrition and Physical Fitness Policy and Procedure being considered by the Board. Lynch also reported on a recent meeting with Superintendent Kinsley and parent Tom Kunesh to discuss middle school electives.

Superintendent's Announcements/Report

Superintendent Dale Kinsley shared two letters he received from the Superintendent of Public Instruction, both letters expressing appreciation for Brian Rick's work. In one letter, OSPI thanked Rick for the care and effort in the WASL testing system. The other letter expressed appreciation for Rick's contributions to mathematics education.

Each Board member was given a copy of the 2005–2006 Family Handbook & Calendar. Kinsley thanked Tanya Rowe and Margaret Gude, School Information and Communications Office, for their work in creating the Calendar/Handbook.

Upcoming events for the Board include:

•   August 30 (noon):   New Teacher Luncheon (BHS)
•   September 1 (8:30 a.m.):   School Board Retreat (Sudden Valley)
•   September 1 (7:30 p.m.):   School Board Meeting
•   September 6 (7:00 a.m.):   Back to School Breakfast (BHS)
•   September 7:   First day of school

Audience

Tom Kunesh thanked Dr. Kinsley and Elaine Lynch for meeting with him. He then addressed the Board about funding for middle school electives.

ACTION ITEMS:

District Strategic Plan for 2005–2010

Over the past year, 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. The Plan will enable 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. The new strategic plan is designed to support, honor, and guide the school strategic plans, and to provide alignment for all of the District's work in the next five years. Jeff Haggen moved and Ken Gass seconded the motion to approve the District Strategic Plan for 2005–2010. The motion carried unanimously. Superintendent Kinsley thanked Elaine Lynch and Jeff Haggen for participating on the Strategic Plan Steering Committee. President Lynch thanked Director of School Information and Communications Tanya Rowe for involving community members in the process.

Salary Schedule for Nonrepresented Extracurricular Activity Positions

Ken Gass moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion approving the salary schedule for nonrepresented extracurricular activity positions. Salaries for nonrepresented extracurricular activity positions will increase by 1.2%, the same increase that has been provided by the state for state-funded positions. The motion carried unanimously.

Award of Bid

Ken Gass moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion to award the following bids:

• Milk vending to Advantage Vending
• Beverage vending to Walton Beverage
• Snack vending to Advantage Vending

The motion carried unanimously.

Rejection and Call for Bid

Ken Gass moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion to reject the bid received for pizza and approved a call for rebids. The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations

Jeff Haggen moved and Ken Gass seconded the motion approving the personnel recommendations as presented. Dr. Kinsley noted the retirements of two long-time employees, Parkview teacher Cynthia Webley and Fiscal Support Technician Sandee Sternhagen, and thanked them for their many years of service. The motion carried unanimously.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.