BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

September 28, 2000

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., September 28, 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, Ann Whitmyer, President David Blair, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Shirley Knapp.

At 7:03 p.m. Whitmyer moved to begin Executive Session; Leu seconded. At 7:35 p.m. Blair 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 September 14 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                    GENERAL FUND

                                       $458,000.00                 LGIP, withdrawal, September 15, 2000

                                       $157,000.00                 LGIP, withdrawal, September 22, 2000

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS

                                          $23,300.00                LGIP, withdrawal, September 15, 2000

                                               $200.00                LGIP, withdrawal, September 15, 2000

                                            $6,100.00                LGIP, withdrawal, September 15, 2000

                                        $454,400.00                LGIP, withdrawal, September 15, 2000

                                          $70,600.00                LGIP, withdrawal, September 15, 2000

                  DEBT SERVICE

                                         $48,000.00                 LGIP, investment, September 22, 2000

                  ASB FUND

                                         $33,000.00                 LGIP, investment, September 15, 2000

                                         $21,700.00                 LGIP, withdrawal, September 15, 2000

                                           $1,600.00                 LGIP, withdrawal, September 15, 2000

Personal Services Contracts:

• Oleg Varon to serve as a foreign language interpreter on as-needed basis during the 2000-2001 school year.
• Debra Carey to serve as a sign language interpreter beginning August 2000 and continuing on as-needed basis through August 2001.
• Kathy Blanton to provide psychometric services during the 2000-2001 school year.
• Joanne Peterson and Brenda Brooks to provide tutoring for Home and Hospital Tutoring Program on an as-needed basis during the 2000-2001 school year.
• Beverly Sherman to organize and manage the Mount Baker Theatre Student Productions during the 2000-2001 school year.
• George Gleason to assist with middle school athletics scheduling during August 2000.

Out-of-State Travel:

• Katherine Crandall to attend the National Tech Prep Conference, October 13-15, 2000, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Jim Stevens and John Getchell to attend C. Innovations Software Users Group Meeting in Clovis, California, on October 16, 2000.
• Katherine Crandall to attend the National Conference for Career and Technical Education in San Diego, California, December 7-10, 2000.

Contracts:

• Agreement for Services between the District and California State University at Fresno for Reading Recovery Site Affiliation for the 2000-2001 school year.
• Contract with Northwest Youth Services for the District Family Assistance Program for the 2000-2001 school year.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Leu attended an open house at Geneva Elementary. He is compiling data regarding state testing requirements for high school graduation and will share the information with the Board once it is complete.

Whitmyer reported on her presentation to the Education Summit in Oak Harbor regarding site councils.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports

Dr. Kinsley passed out the schedule for upcoming DARE graduations.

Audience

Allan Botts, Dean Carpenter, Diane Harrington, and Mike Helmick, members of the SEIU each addressed the Board regarding their concerns relating to union/district contract negotiations.

REPORTS:

State Initiatives

Superintendent Kinsley provided information on the following four state initiatives on the November ballot that could impact public schools:

• Initiative 722, which would place limits on property taxes;
• Initiative 728, which would create a new student achievement fund to be spent to lower        class sizes and provide extended learning opportunities;

• Initiative 729, which would authorize the establishment of a limited number of state-funded public charter schools; and
• Initiative 732, which would provide an annual cost-of-living increase for K-12 and higher education employees.

Section 504 Policy and Procedures

Director of Student Services Kenn Robinson provided an overview of Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Action of 1973. This is a civil rights statute that provides that qualified individuals with disabilities receive equal access to programs or activities that receive federal funding. He also explained the application and eligibility processes for 504 students in the District. Robinson has reviewed the District policy and procedures relating to Section 504 (Policy 3211). He recommended no changes in the policy and some minor changes in the administrative procedure (3211P)

Update on Development of a Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Plan

Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller gave an update on the Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Plan for Grades 6-12. The process of developing the plan began 3 years ago. Last year, Kenn Robinson and a team of counselors and administrators continued the development of the proposed plan, which is based on the state guidelines. The goals for the comprehensive counseling program include four critical areas, curriculum support, individual planning, responsive services and system support. The plan was presented to the Board to receive input so that a final document can be prepared and presented for future action.

ACTION ITEMS:

First Reading of High School Textbooks

The Board heard a first reading of high school textbooks for computer programming, and physics/ chemistry/geology/meteorology/astronomy. The materials will be available for review in the Curriculum office prior to final approval.

Field Trips

Whitmyer moved and Leu seconded the motion for approval of the following Sehome High School field trips:

• approval in concept for Sehome’s annual Spring Band Tour to Victoria/Nanaimo, B.C., May 18-20, 2000.
• approval in concept for Sehome High School Orchestra to travel to Mt. Hood, Oregon, March 29-April 1, 2000.
• approval in concept for three-night tour by Concert/Chamber Choirs to Seattle, Tacoma, and Washington peninsula, May 17-21, 2000.

The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations Approved

Leu moved and Gass seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.