BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bellingham, Washington
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
August 24, 2000
The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., August 24, 2000, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular Board meeting there was an Executive Session at 6:30 p.m. Purpose of Executive Session – negotiations and personnel matters.
Present: Directors Ken Gass, Don Leu, Elaine Lynch, and Ann Whitmyer, President David Blair, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Shirley Knapp.
At 6:31 p.m. Whitmyer moved to begin Executive Session; Gass seconded. At 7:31 p.m. Lynch made the motion to move to regular session; Whitmyer seconded.
At 7:40 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 August 3 School Board meeting.
Investments
Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.
GENERAL FUND
$256,500.00 LGIP, withdrawal, July 24, 2000
$249,800.00 LGIP, investment, July 31, 2000
$179,00.00 LGIP, withdrawal, August 7, 2000
CAPITAL PROJECTS
$2,200.00 LGIP, withdrawal, July 31, 2000
$7,200.00 LGIP, withdrawal, July 31, 2000
$7,900.00 LGIP, withdrawal, July 31, 2000
$680,300.00 LGIP, withdrawal, July 31, 2000
$5,400.00 LGIP, withdrawal, August 15, 2000
$362,400.00 LGIP, withdrawal, August 15, 2000
DEBT SERVICE
$549,800.00 LGIP, withdrawal, August 1, 2000
$15,000.00 LGIP, investment, August 15, 2000
ASB FUND
$2,500.00 LGIP, investment, July 24, 2000
$1,500.00 LGIP, withdrawal, August 15, 2000
$700.00 LGIP, withdrawal, August 15, 2000
$12,300.00 LGIP, withdrawal, August 15, 2000
Expenses and Payroll
Action on expenditures and payroll as approved by the Auditing Committee.
GENERAL FUND
ACCTS PAY: 7/07/00 $373,918.02
7/14/00 83,138.35
7/24/00 310,525.10
7/31/00 225,168.00
Total General Fund $992,749.47
CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
ACCTS PAY: 7/14/00 $1,394,525.87
7/14/00 900.00
7/31/00 698,129.57
Total Cap. Proj. Fund $2,093,545.44
PAYROLL $4,302,934.06
Personal Services Contracts:
Out-of-State Travel:
Contract:
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:
School Board Reports
The Board members each reported on the new teacher orientation, the Board retreat, and the dedication of Bellingham High School. In addition, Whitmyer attended registration at Sehome High School.
President Blair gave thanks and congratulations to all District staff for their “fantastic job” in planning and building Bellingham High School. He stated the school would be a “tribute to excellence for years to come.”
Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports
Kinsley reported on the Bellingham High reopening. He thanked the Board for their participation and help with the renovation project and recognized Lavelle Freudenberg and the planning committee for their work to organize the dedication event.
Governor Locke’s office is planning to visit a school in the District on September 5, to announce the Governor’s plan for school safety. The meeting is not yet official, but is tentatively planned for the afternoon and would include students, staff, and members of the press.
The District WASL results will be available to the public in approximately two weeks. Those results will be shared at the next Board meeting on September 14.
Dr. Kinsley shared a revision to Procedure 5320 – Procedures for Certificated and Classified Administrators Requesting Leave/Adjusting Work Schedules. The change involved some additional requirements in terms of professional development time.
REPORTS:
Squalicum Site Council Report
Principal Becky Elmendorf reported on a proposal, which was approved by the Squalicum Site Council, to allow seniors permission to leave the campus at lunchtime. Seniors can apply for an off-campus pass to leave Tuesdays through Fridays. They may only leave by car, and must have signed parental approval to do so. Implementation of these privileges will begin on Tuesday, September 25. The program will be monitored monthly by the site council. Elmendorf introduced Squalicum ASB President Mike Pope and Debbie Servoss, teacher and site council member.
Transportation Route Revisions
Assistant Superintendent Greg Cowan and Transportation Manager Steve Olson reported on the recent review and revision of the District transportation routing system. With the opening of Bellingham High and the changes in the middle school boundaries, it was necessary to make some changes in the bus routing system. District staff used the ArcView Network Analyst computer program that was customized for our District to review stop and route data for each individual school and grade level. Steve Olson provided an example of how the information was used to change routes in one neighborhood. The software assisted in development of routes based on ridership, travel time, and information related to safe walk routes. As a result, there will be a reduction in routes, route time, and miles driven.
School Safety and Security Fund
Dr. Greg Cowan, Assistant Superintendent, provided information on State funding to address school safety. Recent legislation appropriated $9.57 per FTE student based on 1999 enrollment. Based on that formula, the District will received approximately $95,000. In addition, the District will received a $27,000 School Safety Planning Grant. The money will be used to complete school emergency preparedness plans at each building; conduct a school climate survey, provide $15,000 in additional funds requested by the City to support DARE and School Resource Officers, provide staff training in the areas of diversity and anti-harassment, and address building safety and security priorities.
Plans for Professional Development Activities
Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller provided detailed information outlining each school’s planned professional development activities for this year’s Learning Improvement Days (LID) and early release/late arrival days. The LID days were instituted last year by the state legislature. Three days were added to the teacher contract (August 25, February 16, and April 6) for staff development and they are part of the District calendar. The Board approved the early release/late arrival schedule at the April 27 Board meeting. The planning and training activities at each school are developed by the staff and approved by the site council. Each school submits a list of dates and topics to the Deputy Superintendent’s office for review.
GRADS/Teen Parent Program
Dr. Katherine Crandall, Administrator for Options High School and Vocational Education, and Patty Karcher, GRADS Teen Parent Teacher, reported on the request for a closed campus for the GRADS program for the 2000-2001 school year. The GRADS program is located in a self-contained classroom in the Alderwood Early Childhood Center. Students attend the program for a full day, four days a week. The lunch period is only 30 minutes long, and there are no restaurants nearby. School lunches are available on site. The request for a closed campus was reviewed and approved by the Options/GRADS site council.
ACTION ITEMS:
Substitute Pay Rate Increased
Whitmyer moved and Gass seconded the proposal to increase the substitute pay rate for certificated staff. The motion carried unanimously.
Bid Awards
Lynch moved and Whitmyer seconded approval for bid awards for high school yearbooks for Squalicum and Bellingham High. The motion carried unanimously. Squalicum will extend their bid agreement with Premier Graphics for the 2000-2001 school year. Bellingham High’s bid will be awarded to the low bidder, Walsworth Publishing at $34,644.
Personnel Recommendations Approved
Leu moved and Lynch seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Kinsley noted an out of endorsement waiver for Kimberly Cobb to teach family and consumer science at Sehome High School.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.