BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

October 28, 1999

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., October 28, 1999, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular meeting the Board will meet in Executive Session at 6:30 p.m. Purpose of the Executive Session – negotiations.

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

At 6:30 p.m. Whitmyer moved to begin Executive Session; Leu seconded. At 7:38 p.m. Lynch made the motion to move to regular session; Whitmyer seconded.

At 7:45 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 October 14, 1999 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                  GENERAL FUND:

                                    $11,500.00               LGIP, investment, October 4, 1999

                                  $283,000.00               LGIP, withdrawal, October 8, 1999

                  DEBT SERVICE 

                                    $49,000.00                LGIP, investment, October 4, 1999

                                    $56,500.00                LGIP, investment, October 8, 1999

                  ASB FUND

                                    $40,500.00                LGIP, investment, October 4, 1999

                                    $19,200.00                LGIP, withdrawal, October 8, 1999

                          TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE

                                    $84,800.00                LGIP, investment, October 4, 1999

Personal Services Contracts:

• Esther Le to serve as a foreign language interpreter, as needed, for the 1999-2000 school year.
• Beverly Sherman to organize and manage the Mt. Baker Theatre Student Production for the District for the 1999-2000 school year.
• Jason Darling to provide instruction to elementary students in the Highly Capable Learning program during October and November 1999.
• Deborah Roth to serve as a sign language interpreter on an as-needed basis for the 1999-2000 school year.

Out-of-State Travel:

• Steve Clarke, Roy Beven, Nancy Messmer, Katherine Crandall, and Karll Rusch to visit an information technology lab at Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California.

M-808

Application for Basic Ed Funding – M808.

Notice of Completion

Notice of Completion for Hazardous Materials Abatement at Bellingham High School.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Leu reported on his visit to a kindergarten class at the Waldorf School.

Whitmyer attended a parent volunteer training for six-trait writing on September 18. She also attended meetings of the Citizen’s Advisory Committee to discuss the upcoming levy/bond.

Lynch reported on Citizen’s Advisory Committee and the Whatcom Symphony.

Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports

Dr. Kinsley reported that Sehome High School has formed a multi-cultural club. Last Friday, the group planted 2,000 bulbs in conjunction with “Make a Difference Day.” The goal of the project was to unite students, faculty, parents, and the community.

Kinsley expressed congratulations to Gaye Lynn MacDonald, District Foodservice Manager, for earning the designation of School Foodservice and Nutrition Specialist. Kinsley announced the line up of performance for the 1999-2000 Education Program Series at the Mt. Baker Theatre.

The School Board will visit Happy Valley Elementary School at 7:30 a.m. on November 5. The next Board meeting will be Wednesday, November 17.

Dr. Kinsley announced the District activities for “American Education Week,” November 15-20. Included will be a CEO’s break and job shadow of principals on November 15, staff recognition, school tours, and a celebration at the November 17 Board meeting. The theme for the week is “Students Today, Leaders Tomorrow.”

Audience

Ben Hinkle, 2582 Northshore Road, addressed the Board regarding a theory of mind control conspiracy in connection with school violence.

REPORTS:

Comprehensive Student Support Services

Kenn Robinson, Director of Student Services, summarized his written report on the comprehensive student support services that are provided by the District. Student Support Services consists of 34.5 FTE staff members. In addition to guidance and counseling services at secondary schools, the District provides the services of elementary student support specialists, career counselors, social workers, intervention/preventionists, and nurses. Two years ago, a committee drafted the Guidance and Counseling Plan for Grades 6-12. Robinson outlined the plans for completion of that document this year. Robinson stated that the District comprehensive plan will be aligned as closely as possible to the state’s model plan.

School Safety Framework

Assistant Superintendent Greg Cowan gave a presentation about the District School Safety Framework that was developed in conjunction with OSPI Safe and Drug-Free School efforts. Cowan addressed the District’s priority tasks for 1999-2001 in the four major areas of the framework: Prevention, Intervention, Treatment/Response, and Recovery/Aftercare. The District has applied for a grant for state funding to help with planning and implementation activities. Cowan recognized the efforts of Ann Marie Hanel and Kenn Robinson to collect data and develop the proposal.

ACTION ITEMS:

First Reading of Policy/Procedures #2280

The Board heard a first reading of Policy/Procedures #2280 – Late Arrival Early Release of Students and Site-Based Program Improvement Planning. The revised policy and proposed new procedure clarify the process by which early release/late arrival plans are developed and approved.

Task Force for Graduation Requirements

Whitmyer moved and Gass seconded approval of a Task Force to review graduation requirements. The motion carried unanimously. The Task Force membership will include representation from several levels of professionals in the District and representation from the community at large. Their goals will be to review existing high school graduation requirements; research graduation requirements of other districts in the state; review the work of the State Task Force; and create Policy and Procedures for recommendation to the Board.

Field Trips

Lynch moved and Whitmyer seconded the motion to approve a field trip for Squalicum cheerleaders to Hollywood, California, November 26-29 to march in the Hollywood Bowl Parade. The motion carried with one abstention.

Leu moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve in concept a field trip for the Squalicum High School Orchestra to Punta Arenas, Chile. The motion carried unanimously.

President Blair stated that the Board would be reviewing the field trip policy in the near future.

Call for Bids

Gass moved and Whitmyer seconded approval to call for bids for one school bus. The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations Approved

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

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:48 p.m.