BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

August 30, 2001

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., August 30, 2001, 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 David Blair, Ken Gass, Don Leu, and Elaine Lynch, President Ann Whitmyer, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Shirley Knapp.

At 6:32 p.m. Blair moved to begin Executive Session; Gass seconded. At 7:35 p.m. Gass moved to regular session; Lynch seconded.

At 7:38 p.m. President Ann Whitmyer 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 July 26, 2001 special School Board meeting and the August 16, 2001 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                  GENERAL FUND

                                          $101,000.00                      LGIP, withdrawal, August 15, 2001

                                          $287,500.00                      LGIP, withdrawal, August 23, 2001

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                                          $119,100.00                        LGIP, withdrawal, August 15, 2001

                                          $128,000.00                        LGIP, investment, August 23, 2001

                  DEBT SERVICE FUND

                                          $20,000.00                          LGIP, investment, August 23, 2001

                  ASB FUND

                                         $4,600.00                             LGIP, withdrawal, August 15, 2001

                                         $47,800.00                           LGIP, investment, August 23, 2001

Personal Services Contracts:

• Foreign language interpreters to serve on as-needed basis during the 2001-02 school year.
• Linda Santini to assist with development of Spanish I curriculum at Sehome High School.
• Kathy Blanton to provide psychometric services during the 2001-02 school year.

Out-of-State Travel:

• Shuksan Middle school staff to attend the National Middle School Association Annual Conference in Washington D.C., November 1-2, 2001.
• Mary Jo Stuckrath to attend the National Middle School Conference in Washington, D.C., October 29- November 4, 2001.

Contracts:

• Agreement with Sea-Mar Community Health Center for the 2001-02 school year.
• Work study contracts with Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College for the 2001-02 school year.

Travel Advance Fund

Approval to discontinue Travel Advance Fund.

Resolution

Approval of Resolution 5-01 to provide for signing of investment sales and purchases through the Whatcom County Treasurer’s Office.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Leu attended the Back-to-School Breakfast on August 27, the luncheon for new teachers, and the groundbreaking ceremony for the new elementary school.

Gass reported on the new teacher luncheon, the State Board of Education meetings on August 23, and the groundbreaking for Northern Heights Elementary.

Lynch attended the reception for the State Board of Education and the groundbreaking for Northern Heights Elementary. She also attended a WSSDA informational meeting for school board candidates that was held at ESD 189.

Whitmyer reported on the new teachers’ luncheon, the WSSDA candidate orientation, the State Board of Education reception, and the groundbreaking for the new elementary school.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports

Dr. Kinsley reported that the first week of school is running smoothly. 

Kinsley announced two new grants that have been awarded to the District. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has provided the District with a $300,000 grant to support new teacher preparation and induction. The District will be in partnership with Western Washington University during the three-year grant. The Stupski Family Foundation has awarded the Bellingham School District $1.4 million over 3 years to be used to strengthen classroom instruction, and to support leadership development, new teacher induction, and data management.

Dr. Kinsley asked the Board to confirm their attendance at the WSSDA Fall Conference and advise his office if they wished to receive WIAA athletic passes.

REPORTS:

New Teacher Partnership Project

Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller reported on District efforts to provide orientation and an expanded mentorship program for new teachers. The District received a $300,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop and implement the Teacher Preparation and Induction Project for the next three years. The mentor program was developed with a team of first year and veteran teachers and administrators. This year mentors were matched with new teachers (less than 90 days under contract) for ongoing planned training and activities.The project will be in partnership with Western Washington University and Woodring College of Education. Adrienne Nelson, who will direct the mentor program, was present to answer questions.

Priority Tasks for the 2001-02 School Year

Superintendent Kinsley reported on the priority tasks that have been identified by leadership staff for the 2001-02 school year. These tasks are aligned with the District’s strategic plan and goal areas.  This year Dr. Kinsley identified the following seven priority themes that are needed the reach the goal of Improved Student Achievement.

• Improve Classroom Literacy Instructional Practices Through Collaborative Adult Learning
• Personalize the School/Learning Experience for All Children/Students
• Build Better Communication with All Parents to Support Learning
• Reinvent High Schools
• Align Middle School Instructional Expectations, Practices, and Assessments
• Support All Elementary Students to Achieve at or Above Grade Level
• Build Structures for Leadership Development and Support

Enrollments

Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller and Executive Director Jim Stevens provided enrollment numbers for the first three days of school. The total District headcount on the first day of school was 10,078, which is up slightly from last year at this time.  The Board was also provided enrollment history by school for the past three years. An updated report will be given at the next Board meeting. This data will include the official enrollment count numbers that are taken on the fourth school day in September. 

Facilities Long-Master Plan

Assistant Superintendent Greg Cowan introduced consultants Dale Brookie and Mark Kask who presented and discussed the Facilties Long-Range Master Plan for the District. The report contains enrollment projections through the year 2020 based on geographic and neighborhood areas. Two major issues indicated for facilities were slower student growth and shifts within the District. The recommendations indicated that the facility use and needs should be adequately met at the middle and high school levels. Staff will review, and revise the Elementary Master Plan and update the State Study and Survey Report for future Board consideration and action.

Rehire – Retired Teachers

Executive Director Nora Klewiada reported on a new law that was passed during the last legislative session that will allow school districts to rehire retired TRS 1 teachers without negatively impacting their retirement status. Klewiada outlined the parameters that the District will follow while the state is in the process of producing specific guidelines. She stated that it is perceived that these changes in the law could be helpful in dealing with hard to fill vacancies. The changes are not seen as a strategy to rehire or create part-time jobs for retired teachers.

ACTION ITEMS:

Policy 5146

The Board heard a first reading of revision to Policy #5146 – Salary Schedule for Nonrepresented Extracurricular Positions. The revisions reflect increases in the stipends based on the state increase of 3.7% for state-supported positions.

Call for Bids

Blair moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve authorization to call for bids on Whatcom Middle School project. The motion carried unanimously.  After reviewing project plans, the fire department required an upgrade to the building’s fire protections system. The District will call for separate bids for the general construction and the fire system upgrade.

Bid Award

Blair moved and Gass seconded the motion to award the bid to four separate vendors for various custodial supplies. The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations

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 9:10 p.m.