BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

October 26, 2000

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., October 26, 2000, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular Board meeting there was an Executive Session at 6:45 p.m. Purpose of Executive Session – negotiations and personnel matters.

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

At 6:45 p.m. Whitmyer moved to begin Executive Session; Lynch seconded. At 7:15 p.m. Blair made the motion to move to regular session; Gass seconded.

At 7:30 p.m. President David Blair called the meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Leu moved and Lynch seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously.

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the October 12 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                 GENERAL FUND

                                        $185,000.00               LGIP, investment, October 13, 2000

                                        $126,500.00               LGIP, withdrawal, October 23, 2000

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS

                                          $18,600.00                LGIP, withdrawal, October 13, 2000

                                          $36,600.00                LGIP, withdrawal, October 13, 2000

                                        $144,800.00                LGIP, withdrawal, October 13, 2000

                  DEBT SERVICE

                                          $214,500.00               LGIP, investment, October 23, 2000

                                          $102,000.00               LGIP, investment, October 13, 2000

                  ASB FUND

                                            $12,500.00               LGIP, withdrawal, October 13, 2000

                                            $15,600.00               LGIP, withdrawal, October 13, 2000

                                            $47,000.00               LGIP, withdrawal, October 13, 2000

Personal Services Contracts:

• Foreign language interpreters on an as-needed basis during the 2000-2001 school year.
• Mike Anderson to conduct biannual asbestos inspections of school buildings during the 2000-2001 school year.

Out-of-State Travel:

• Jan Wisner to attend the American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Meeting in Chicago, October 27 – November 2, 2000.
• Penny Jewett to travel to Australia, November 10-23, 2000, to be a delegate to the People to People Ambassador Program’s Children’s Literature Delegation.

Contracts:

• Interdistrict agreement with the Ferndale School District to serve a Ferndale student.
• Interdistrict agreement with the Ferndale School District to serve a Bellingham student.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Leu attended the Washington State School Directors Association DMAT meeting at Highline on October 21. He is working on a position paper for that group related to questions about State testing for high school graduation.

Gass reported that he reviewed the instructional materials for teen health and HIV/STD prevention.

Whitmyer has been volunteering with a Connections class at Fairhaven Middle School.

Lynch also reviewed the health curriculum materials. She reported on a press conference that she attended on Monday, October 23, with Sehome High School leadership students and Senator Slade Gorton.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports

Dr. Kinsley shared the Annual Report for the District and recognized the work of Lavelle Freudenberg to develop that publication.

Kinsley reported that OSPI has just provided information indicating that the WASL test for science scheduled to begin this year for middle and high school students will be piloted for a third year.

Dr. Kinsley reported on additional staffing support at Whatcom Middle School due to the increase in student numbers from last year. Social Worker John Thibault will be working there for the remainder of this year to support counselors, students, and staff. Additional custodial and food services time as well as instructional time for the EDBD (emotionally/behaviorally disordered) class have also been added.

Kinsley acknowledged Dar New, Library Media Specialist, who was featured in an article in Educational Leadership magazine about the tech tutor program at Silver Beach Elementary. He also noted that the District website was recognized in a national library journal.

The first Board site visit will be at Kulshan Middle School, Friday morning, November 3.

REPORTS:

Gates Grant Update

Professional Development Coordinator Adrienne Nelson gave a summary of Gates grant activities to date. She reported on the progress towards the Attributes of High Achievement School Districts that were identified by the Gates Foundation as indications of systems of successful schools. They are Distributed Leadership, Shared Values, Staff Development, Technology Infrastructure, Performance Accountability, and Learning Partnerships. Each district receiving a Gates Grant is being asked to focus on these attributes and their relationship to school reform.

School Insurance Association of Washington

Robb Dale of the Unity Group, reported on the District’s property and liability insurance coverage. In September of 1995, the Bellingham School District joined with seven other districts to form the Schools Insurance Association of Washington. Currently 18 school districts are members of the pool. The pool has been very successful over the past five years in meeting the goal of providing comprehensive coverage at stable, competitive prices.

ACTION ITEMS:

SEIU Contract Approved

This item was deferred. President Blair stated that there were some details of the contract that needed to be worked out.

First Reading of Instructional Materials

The Board heard a first reading of instructional materials for health education in the subject areas of middle school Health (Grades 6-8) and HIV/STD prevention (Grades 5-12). The materials will be available for public review in the Curriculum office prior to being presented for final approval at the November 9 Board meeting.

Approval of Health and Fitness Curriculum

Gass moved and Lynch seconded the motion to approve the Health curriculum for Grades 6-10 and the Fitness curriculum for Grades K-10. The motion carried unanimously. The critical content for Health in Grades K-5 will be completed during this year and presented to the Board for approval in the spring.

Technology Standards for all Students Approved

Whitmyer moved and Gass seconded approval of the proposed technology standards presented at the October 12 Board meeting. No changes were made since the first reading. The motion carried unanimously.

First Reading of Education Specifications for the New Elementary School

Architects Paul Rising (BLR+B) and Terry Brown (Zervas Group) summarized the work to date by the Planning Committee for the New NE Elementary School. The committee of teachers, administrators, and parents worked over the past six weeks to develop the education specifications. Rising and Brown presented and explained in detail the plans for the site and building. The education specifications will be presented for final approval at the November 9 Board meeting. Once the plans are approved the design development process can begin.

Field Trip

Gass moved and Whitmyer seconded approval for a member of the Sehome debate team to attend a national debate tournament in Boulder Colorado, November 2-4, 2000. The motion carried unanimously.

Bid Award

Leu moved and Lynch seconded approval to award the bid for Squalicum High School wetlands mitigation to Matia Contractors with a total bid of $145,932.50. The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations Approved

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

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 9:09 p.m.