BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bellingham, Washington
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
September 14, 2000
The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., September 14, 2000, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular Board meeting there was an Executive Session at 7:00 p.m. Purpose of Executive Session – negotiations and personnel matters.
Present: Directors Ken Gass, Don Leu, Elaine Lynch, and Vice President Ann Whitmyer, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Shirley Knapp. Excused: President David Blair
At 7:01 p.m. Gass moved to begin Executive Session; Leu seconded. At 7:35 p.m. Lynch made the motion to move to regular session; Gass seconded.
At 7:40 p.m. Vice 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 August 24 School Board meeting.
Investments
Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.
GENERAL FUND
$158,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, August 23, 2000
$907,000.00 LGIP, investment, August 25, 2000
$203,000.00 LGIP, investment, August 31, 2000
$146,500.00 LGIP, withdrawal, September 8, 2000
CAPITAL PROJECTS
$134,600.00 LGIP, withdrawal, August 31, 2000
$109,400.00 LGIP, withdrawal, August 31, 2000
$105,100.00 LGIP, withdrawal, August 31, 2000
DEBT SERVICE
$24,5000.00 LGIP, investment, August 25, 2000
$7,500.00 LGIP, investment, August 31, 2000
ASB FUND
$12,200.00 LGIP, investment, August 31, 2000
Expenses and Payroll
Action on expenditures and payroll as approved by the Auditing Committee.
GENERAL FUND
ACCTS PAY: 8/08/00 $192,829.73
8/15/00 119,818.61
8/23/00 199,476.59
8/31/00 124,156.69
Total General Fund $636,281.62
CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
ACCTS PAY: 8/15/00 $367,780.07
8/31/00 350,109.56
Total Cap. Proj. Fund $717,889.63
ASB FUND
8/15/00 $14,611.24
8/15/00 48,024.82
Total ASB Fund $62,636.06
BHS $12,500.00
SHS $48,024.82
KMS $1,417.40
SMS $683.84
PAYROLL $4,341,801.63
Personal Services Contracts:
Contracts:
Notice of Completion:
Acceptance of notice of completion for relocation of ten portables within the District.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:
School Board Reports
Leu reported on a two-day multicultural conference in Moclips, Washington on
September 8-9. Leu shared copies of questions regarding graduation requirements from that group.
Whitmyer reported on the back-to-school night at Sehome High School.
Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports
Superintendent Kinsley distributed the schedule for the 2000-2001 School Improvement and Communication Plan. The Board will visit one of the Group 1 schools the first Friday of every month beginning in November.
Kinsley shared an article in Schooltone Magazine recognizing Bellingham Public Schools for having one of the “Top 10 Cool School Web Sites.”
Kinsley stated that the planning team process for the new elementary school will begin tomorrow. There will be seven ½ day meetings with the architectural team to work on ed specs. Kinsley invited the Board to attend the meetings.
Dr. Kinsley reported that the first three weeks of school have gone smoothly. He stated that many schools are holding back-to-school nights and that Board members could request a schedule if needed.
REPORTS:
2000-2001 Student Enrollment
Dr. Kinsley gave a brief overview of the enrollment data. There have been some slight adjustments in the numbers since the official count day (fourth school day). There are about 30 additional students for a total enrollment of 10,202. Elementary enrollment is slightly lower this year, due to a large fifth grade class that moved to middle school. The high school numbers are also slightly lower due to a large graduating class last year. Overall enrollment is relatively flat; however, there has been growth in kindergarten numbers and increased enrollment at the middle schools. Additional staff (6.0 FTE) was added to reduce class sizes K-2 and 1.0 FTE teacher was added at Fairhaven Middle School.
WASL Results for 2000
Curriculum Director Wendy Barrett summarized the results of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) given to students in grades 4, 7, and 10 last spring. The District scored above the state average in all subtest areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and listening. At the fourth grade level reading and math scores increased in 13 of the 15 areas assessed. There was a slight decrease in seventh grade reading scores, and a 7.8 % increase in seventh grade students meeting the standards in mathematics. At the high school level, reading scores increased by 15.4%. Overall high school math scores remained the same, but there was a significant increase in number sense.
Priority Tasks for the 2000-2001 School Year
Dr. Kinsley presented the final priority task list for the coming school year. A draft was provided to the Board at the August 14 meeting. The Board and the administrative team have reviewed the list, and a few changes were made. These tasks outline the work of staff toward meeting the District’s strategic goals.
High School Student Transfers
Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller reported on the high school transfer process for the 2000-2001 school year. To date, over 300 applications were received from students wishing to transfer from their attendance area to another school. All but 54 of the requests were accommodated. Families were notified in writing and those not approved may be reconsidered at the semester if desired. In addition, 45 students are attending a different high school for an “expanded offering.”
ACTION ITEMS:
Personnel Recommendations Approved
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 8:30 p.m.