BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

September 9, 1999

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., September 9, 1999, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular meeting, there was an Executive Session at 7:00 p.m. Purpose of the Executive Session – negotiations.

Present: Directors Ken Gass, Don Leu, Elaine Lynch, and Ann Whitmyer, President David Blair, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Shirley Knapp.

At 7:00 p.m. Whitmyer moved to begin Executive Session; Gass seconded. At 7:30 p.m. Leu made the motion to move to regular session; Lynch 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 26, 1999 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                  GENERAL FUND:

                                $1,279,500.00               LGIP, withdrawal, August 23, 1999

                  DEBT SERVICE

                                    $12,000.00                LGIP, investment, August 23, 1999

Expenses and Payroll

                   GENERAL FUND

                        ACCTS PAY:        8/09/99               $184,843.53

                                                        8/16/99               $136,119.24

                                                        8/23/99                $159,304.92

                                                        8/31/99                $240,687.30

                                   Total General Fund                $720,954.99

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                        ACCTS PAY:    8/16/99                 $2,392,990.37

                                                    8/31/99                    $101,992.44

                Total Capital Projects Fund                  $2,494,982.91

                  ASB FUND

                       ACCTS PAY:      8/31/99                     $25,632.45

                                    Total ASB Fund                     $25,632.45

                                          WHATCOM                            $80.38

                                                SEHOME                       $7,866.64

                                        SQUALICUM                     $17,685.43

                  EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND

                                                   8/16/99                              $15.00

                          Total Exp Trust Fund                              $15.00

                  TRANSPORTATION FUND

                                                 8/23/99                        $715,610.24

                            Total Transp Fund                        $715,610.24

                  PAYROLL                                              $4,182,499.98

Personal Services Contracts:

• George Gleason to assist with physical education curriculum from September 10, 1999, through June 16, 2000.
• Roxann Rose and Sue Lingbloom to prepare for Elementary Report Card Training, August 27-30, 1999.
• Elizabeth Martindale to provide consultation to the Director of Special Education for the 1999-2000 school year.
• Jai Kim and Olga Skachkova to serve as interpreters for the 1999-2000 school year.
• Gary Smith to assist with sign language interpreter screening, interviewing and assessment for the 1999-2000 school year.

Contracts:

• Food Service Agreement between Bellingham School District and Assumption School for providing meals at Assumption for the 1999-2000 school year.
• Contract with Northwest Youth Services for the Family Assistance Program for the 1999-2000 school year.
• Work Study Agreements with Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College for the 1999-2000 school year.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Lynch reported on the welcome lunch for new teachers on August 27, which was part of orientation day for 80 new staff. She also attended the middle school boundary review meeting at Squalicum last night.

Whitmyer attended open houses at Happy Valley and Geneva and the boundary meetings at Parkview and Squalicum. She also was a volunteer for the Sehome ASB and will be a parent volunteer for Fairhaven Middle School 6th grade. Whitmyer announced the WSSDA Legislative Assembly, held September 24-25.

Gass reported on the Parkview boundary meeting on September 2.

Leu reported on his attendance at the new teacher orientation on August 27, a BBQ on August 28, and the boundary meeting at Parkview on September 2. He also shared an article written by his son, who is a professor at Syracuse University, on use of literacy and the internet.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports

Dr. Kinsley reported that the first week of school went very smoothly. Many elementary schools held parent nights this week. He announced that the Board would continue to visit schools the first Friday of each month. The first visit will be October 1 at Birchwood Elementary.

Generally, these visits will begin at 7:30 a.m.

Audience

Gary Sandberg, 1870 Squalicum Mountain Road, spoke to the Board in support of Plan 1 for the new middle school boundaries.

REPORTS:

WASL, ITBS, and ITED Report

Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller and Director of Curriculum Wendy Barrett reported on the results of assessments given to students last spring. Data was provided on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), and the Iowa Test of Educational Development (ITED). Bellingham students scored above the state and national averages in all these tests. The various assessments provide valuable data to students, parents, teachers, administrators, school board, and legislators for making important decisions about instruction and policy in support of student leaning.

First-week Enrollment

Dr. Kinsley reported that the official enrollment count on Tuesday, September 7, was 10, 189. Total enrollment is slightly down from last year, mostly due to smaller numbers of kindergarten students.

ACTION ITEMS:

Resolution 13 –99 – To Oppose Adoption of Initiative 695

Whitmyer moved and Gass seconded the motion to adopt Resolution 13-99. The motion carried unanimously. This resolution opposes the passage of I695, due to the negative impact the initiative will have on K-12 school districts. The measure will be on the November 2 ballot.

Ratification of BEA contract for 1999-2001

Lynch moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve the BEA contract for 1999-2001. The motion carried unanimously. BEA ratified the contract on August 30. BEA President Shirley Potter spoke briefly about the bargaining process. Potter, Superintendent Kinsley, and the Board expressed their appreciation to both bargaining teams for a collaborative and effective contract settlement process.

Call for Bids

Leu moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion to call for bids for two vehicles for Squalicum High School. The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations Approved

Leu moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Kinsley noted two changes in the extra curricular assignments that involved adding John Hoffman as assistant girls’ swim coach at Squalicum and Sehome.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m.