BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

 OF THE

 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

October 13, 2005

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., October 13, 2005 in the Board Room of the Administration Building.

Present: Directors Ken Gass, Jeff Haggen, Ann Whitmyer, President Elaine Lynch, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Nancy Merry. Director Steve Schoenfeld was excused.

At 7:35 p.m. President Elaine Lynch called the regular meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Ann Whitmyer moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion to approve the consent agenda. The motion carried unanimously.

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the September 29, 2005 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

  GENERAL FUND

  CAPITAL PROJECTS

  DEBT SERVICE

  ASB FUND

  TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE

Expenditures and Payroll

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

Personal Services Contract

• George Gleason to review the middle school interest survey required by the EEOC; review middle school athletic procedures; monitor the middle school athletic coordinator position; and assist in the PE/health curriculum as needed.
• Erica Currola to serve as foreign language interpreters on an as-needed basis during the 2005–2006 school year.
• Helen Brandt to serve as a psychologist at Whatcom Middle School on an as-needed basis as scheduled by the Director of Special Education during the 2005–2006 school year.

Out of State Travel

• Michelle Nilsen to attend the National Office of School Counselor Advocacy Advisory Team Training in Washington, D.C., October 17–18, 2005.
• Jeannie Hayden to attend the National Middle School Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 3–5, 2005.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Ann Whitmyer reported meeting with School Board candidate Melody Rhode for a general Board orientation. Together with President Elaine Lynch, they reviewed Board operating procedures for Rhode, who is unopposed in the general election.

Whitmyer also attended the WSSDA Regional meeting on October 6. Bellingham School Board hosted the event held at Bellingham High School. With other Board members, Whitmyer participated in the Board visit to Fairhaven Middle School. Whitmyer commented on how the school has used their WASL scores to target instruction as well as designing a new curriculum for at-risk students.

Jeff Haggen also participated in the WSSDA Regional meeting on October 6 and the Board visit to Fairhaven Middle School. He too was impressed the progress the school has made since the last Board visit three years ago.

Ken Gass and family will be hosting seniors who are attending the 2005 Washington Association of Student Councils conference October 14–15 at Bellingham High School.

Elaine Lynch thanked the District for their help in hosting the WSSDA Regional meeting on October 6. Lynch also attended two meetings of the Citizens' Advisory Committee and is continuing to read to students at Roosevelt Elementary School. Lynch participated in the Board visit to Fairhaven Middle School and commented on the success of coaching at the school. The Board has donated two umbrellas for Umbrella Fest, a benefit for District high schools to be held October 22 at Sehome High School. Lynch also reported that author R. L. Stine spoke at Village Books earlier in the week. Village Books is donating proceeds from the evening to the Bellingham Public School Foundation. Lynch will work with Director of Instructional Technology and Libraries Ann Reed to determine the best use for these monies.

Superintendent's Announcements/Report

Dale Kinsley announced that the Central Services administrators are donating a gift certificate to Umbrella Fest and that he is personally donating a lunch.

The District will be presenting a session on coaching models at the WSSDA Annual Conference, November 16–19.

OSPI released the Annual Yearly Progress report October 13. Kinsley observed that each school has 37 categories that must meet AYP. If one group fails to make the grade in one category, the school is deemed to not have made Annual Yearly Progress. Kinsley emphasized that three District schools did not make AYP in one category. A complete report will be presented to the Board at a later meeting.

REPORTS:

Shuksan Middle School Assessment and Feasibility Study

Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Ron Cowan introduced Terry Brown, Zervas Architects. Brown presented findings from a architectural and structural analysis of Shuksan Middle School. Shuksan was built in 1956 and, with the exception of a 1961 classroom addition and a library addition in 1971, the school has not had any major renovation. Shuksan currently has five portable classrooms and is at maximum capacity for classroom space. The study concluded that Shuksan has exceeded its useful life and is in need of a full-scale modernization of all major systems, including structural, mechanical and electrical. The total estimated project cost is $22 million.

The study has been presented to the Citizens Advisory Committee for their review of this and other projects for bond consideration .

Structural Analysis of Selected Buildings

Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Ron Cowan introduced Darren Johnson, ABKJ Structural Engineers. Based on recommendations from the Capital Projects Task Force, ABKJ Structural Engineers completed a structural analysis of Columbia, Larrabee, and Lowell Elementary Schools; Whatcom Middle School; and Roeder Administration Building. The purpose of the study was to determine the scope of structural improvements needed to both preserve and extend the useful life of the buildings for another 30 years and to lessen the impact of a major seismic event. According to Johnson, while none of the buildings are unsafe, all are in need of structural improvements such as anchoring floors and roofs to supporting walls, reinforcing floors, roofs, and walls, and installation of secondary support columns. Cost estimates for the recommended seismic rehabilitation are:

Johnson responded to questions from the Board and Superintendent. The study has been presented to the Citizens Advisory Committee for their review and consideration .

ACTION ITEMS:

Permission to Call for Bids

Jeff Haggen moved and Ken Gass seconded the motion approving a call for bids for athletic uniforms, uniform accessories and athletic equipment. The motion carried unanimously.

Student Trips

Ken Gass moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded the motion approving, in concept, a field trip for Sehome High School students aboard the schooner Zodiac , May 19–21, 2006. The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations

Ken Gass moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion approving the personnel recommenda­tions as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.