BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

October 11, 2001

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., October 11, 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.

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

At 6:30 p.m. Gass moved to begin Executive Session; Leu seconded. At 7:15 p.m. Lynch moved to regular session; Leu seconded.

At 7:30 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 September 27, 2001 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                   GENERAL FUND

                                          $150,000.00                        LGIP, withdrawal, September 28, 2001

                                          $255,000.00                        LGIP, withdrawal, October 8, 2001

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                                          $91,700.00                           LGIP, investment, September 28, 2001

                  DEBT SERVICE FUND

                                          $120,000.00                         LGIP, investment, September 28, 2001

                                          $89,000.00                           LGIP, investment, October 8, 2001

                  ASB FUND

                                         $1,600.00                             LGIP, investment, September 28, 2001

                                         $20,200.00                           LGIP, investment, October 8, 2001

                  TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE

                                        $78,900.00                            LGIP, investment, September 28, 2001.

Expenses and Payroll

Action on expenditures and payroll as approved by the Auditing Committee.

                          GENERAL FUND

                               ACCTS PAY:                       9/07/01                  $101,245.26

                                                                              9/14/01                    537,590.99

                                                                              9/21/01                      80,154.16

                                                                              9/28/01                    418,292.64

                                                        Total General Fund                $1,137,282.95

                    CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND

                         ACCTS PAY:                          9/14/01                     $732,078.52

                                                                           9/19/01                           5,252.58

                                                                           9/28/01                         39,657.36

                                                      Total Cap. Proj. Fund                 $776,988.46

                    ASB FUND

                          ACCTS PAY:                         9/14/01                       $62,465.95

                                                                           9/28/01                         49,354.07

                                                      Total ASB Fund                          $111,820.02

                                                                            BHS                          $45,827.24

                                                                            SHS                             18,723.06

                                                                            SQHS                          46,348.05

                                                                            FMS                                 343.25

                                                                            KMS                                     --

                                                                            SMS                                 578.42

                                                                            WMS                                    --

                    EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND

                         ACCTS PAY:                          9/14/01                         $1,126.74

                                                                           9/28/01                               176.23

                                                   Total Exp. Trust Fund                        $1,302.97

                  PAYROLL                                                                      $5,047,104.81

Personal Services Contracts:

• Olga Mashkaruk and Micah Smith to serve as foreign language interpreters on as-needed basis during the 2001-02 school year.
• Amy Fox to perform speech/language evaluations for Spanish speaking students on as-needed basis during the 2001-02 school year.
• Susan Kane-Ronning to perform evaluations of deaf/hard of hearing students on as-needed basis during the 2001-02 school year.
• Jarmila Noid-Liebrock to provide occupational therapy services during the 2001-02 school year.

Out-of-State Travel:

• Margo Montague to attend 2002 National Title I Convention in Tampa, Florida, January 22-27, 2002.

Contracts:

• Agreement for Interdistrict Cooperative Educational Services with the Ferndale School District to provide services for a visually impaired student for the 2001-02 school year.
• Agreement for Interdistrict Education Services to allow John Glenn, visually impaired specialist to provide services to a Ferndale student for the 2001-02 school year.
• Contract between Catholic Community Services Northwest (Martin Center) and the Bellingham School District for the 2001-02 school year.

Form SPI 1497

Approval of Form SPI 1497 – Minimum Basic Education Compliance

Resolutions:

• approval of Resolution 6-01 – Appointment of District Agent to Receive Tort.
• approval of Resolution 7-01 – Authorization for Grant Funding for Evaluation and Assessment Specialist.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Leu reported than he has been asked to be a presenter at the WSSDA state conference. His topic will be to discuss the Achievement Gap.

Lynch is organizing a legislative event for Whatcom County superintendents and directors. It will be held as soon as possible after the November election to allow the newly elected directors to meet with legislators from this area. Lynch also participated in the Bellingham High School mock interviews and attended the Superintendent Parent Advisory Committee meeting on October 4.

Whitmyer reported on the October 4 Superintendent Parent Advisory Committee meeting.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports

Dr. Kinsley reported that WSSDA/WASA have taken an opposing position to Initiative 747, which will be on the November ballot. This initiative is an effort to restrict increases in property taxes and will further limit state revenues. This is expected to impact local programs for child health and safety.  Kinsley also announced a meeting next week of the League of Education Voters, a coalition to support public education in Washington. The meeting will be held on October 18, at the ESD in Mount Vernon.

Dr. Kinsley noted the class size information sheet that was available on the back table of the Board Room.

Audience

• John Lukacovic spoke about IEP expectation for parents and teachers.
• Kerry Chappell addressed the Board regarding the “KNOW” Health Curriculum.”Lavonne Sterling Chu, Shirley Potter, Kathy Dorr, Bill Palmer, Jaret Vosburgh, Tessa Rawitzer, Sharon McConnell, and Denny Cleary spoke about various concerns related to the bargaining process for the teacher’s contract.
• President Ann Whitmyer spoke for the Board regarding BEA/Distrct bargaining.

REPORTS:

Elementary Extended-Day Programs

Executive Director Ann Marie Hanel reported on the first year of the Elementary Extended Day Program. The program is to help students who are not at standard gain proficiency in the basic skills that  match the state EALR’s. Students received before or after school tutoring in math, reading, and writing. Selection was based on teacher recommendation, reading test scores and other building assessments. Each school developed their own program based on their individual needs. All primary students and most all the intermediate students who participated in the program showed growth in reading.

Class Size

Assistant Superintendent Greg Cowan provided a District class size report based on October enrollments 1994-2001. The class size averages for K-5 went from 24.0 in October 1994 to 21.7 in October 2001. For grades 6-8 the averages decreased from 26.3 in October 1994 to 24.6 in October 2001. Grades 9-12 class averages went from 27.5 in October 1994 to 26.2 in October 2001. Overall class sizes K-12 were 26.5 in October 1994 and 24.9 in October 2001.

Additional Staff from Student Achievement Funds

Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller reported on the additional staff that were added to reduce class size as a result of the passage of Initiative 728.  Six FTE positions were added at the elementary level intermediate grades. Eight teachers (2 at each middle school) were added to reduce class sizes in core and/or mathematics. Six positions (2 at each high school) were added to reduce class size in 9th or 10th grade English and/or mathematics.

High School Intramural Program

Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller gave an overview of the expanded intramural program that was offered last year at all three high schools. When the program was developed the expectation was that it would include inter-school competitive team sports. Based on student interest the program developed into a drop in program 1-2 days a week at their own building with non-traditional, less competitive activities.

ACTION ITEMS:

Student Trips:

Blair moved and Leu seconded approval in concept for the following student trips. The motion carried unanimously.

• Squalicum High School Orchestra to attend the 2002 Heritage Music Festival in Anaheim, California, April 4-7, 2002.
• Squalicum/Bellingham High DECA students to attend the National Career Development Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 24-29, 2002.
• Squalicum students to participate in the Zodiac Trip, May 3-5, 2002.
• Bellingham High School Orchestra to travel to Victoria, B.C., May 12-14, 2002.

Personnel Recommendations

Blair moved and Lynch seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented.  The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Kinsley noted that the Memorandum for Understanding to implement the 3.7% salary increase for teachers is part of the personnel recommendations.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.