BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

 OF THE

 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

December 8, 2005

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., December 8, 2005, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular meeting, there was executive session at 6:30 p.m. The purpose of the executive session was personnel and negotiations.

Present at the executive session: Directors Ken Gass, Ann Whitmyer, President Elaine Lynch, Superintendent Dale Kinsley. Director Steve Schoenfeld was excused.

At 6:30 p.m. Ann Whitmyer moved to begin executive session; Ken Gass seconded. At 7:25 p.m. Ken Gass moved to regular session; Elaine Lynch seconded.

At 7:30 p.m. President Elaine Lynch called the regular meeting to order.

Present at the regular meeting: Directors Ken Gass, Melody Rhode, Ann Whitmyer, President Elaine Lynch, Superintendent Dale Kinsley and recorder Nancy Merry. Director Steve Schoenfeld was excused.

Administration of Oath of Office

Superintendent Dale Kinsley administered the Oath of Office for recently elected Bellingham School District Director Melody Rhode, Position 5. Director Steve Schoenfeld, Position 4, was administered the Oath of Office previously. Each director was elected for a four-year term.

Board Reorganization and Election of Officers for 2006

Ann Whitmyer nominated Ken Gass as President. There were no other nominations. The motion carried with Ken Gass abstaining.

Elaine Lynch nominated Steve Schoenfeld as Vice-President. There were no other nominations. The motion carried unanimously.

Superintendent Dale Kinsley recognized Elaine Lynch for her work as president during the past year and presented her with a gavel. Lynch was also presented with a card of appreciation from the Board.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Ann Whitmyer moved and Elaine Lynch seconded approval of the consent agenda. The motion carried unanimously.

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the November 10, 2005 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

  GENERAL FUND

  CAPITAL PROJECTS

  DEBT SERVICE

  ASB FUND

Expenditures and Payroll

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

Personal Services Contract

• Darcy Fusch to review deaf/hard of hearing issues and needs for accommodation for Bellingham School District staff with documented hearing loss.
• Mike D'Hondt and Eric Sellereit to plan and deliver a Lego Logo enrichment program for elementary students in the Highly Capable Learners' Program.
• Krista Gordon to deliver a Highly Capable Learners' Program Winter Unit to all elementary HCL students.
• Elvira Rozen and Laura Smith to serve as foreign language interpreters on an as-needed basis during the 2005–06 school year.
• Natasha Hoyt to serve as a math tutor at Parkview Elementary School between December 9, 2005, and April 6, 2006.
• Allison Sayre to serve as an assistant for an after school math program at Parkview Elementary School beginning in November 2005 and continuing through February 2006.
• Tausha Caldarella to teach a series of WASL Awareness Classes at Whatcom Middle School beginning in January 2006 and continuing through March 2006.
• Micah Shea to serve as a Debate Team consultant and judge at Sehome High School between December 2005 and April 2006.

Surplus Equipment

Donations

Cancellation of Stale-dated Checks

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Ann Whitmyer deferred on reporting on the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) until the January 12 Board meeting when all Directors would be present to report. Whitmyer has been involved in working on the campaign for the upcoming bond election.

Melody Rhode indicated she is looking forward to serving on the Board and will report on her participation at the WSSDA conference at the January meeting.

Elaine Lynch has been busy with the upcoming bond election and working to set up speaking opportunities.

Ken Gass announced the Board would visit Birchwood Elementary School on Friday, December 9 and that the annual WASA/WSSDA Legislative Conference has been scheduled for February 12 and 13, 2006 in Olympia.

Superintendent's Announcements/Report

Dale Kinsley announced that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has set the date of February 27 for Board members from the Districts receiving grants from the Gates Foundation to meet and discuss the work involved.

Kinsley recognized five District teachers who have received their National Board Certification. They are Martin Atkins, Shannon Rush and Amanda Shearer-Hannah, all from Bellingham High School; and Shannon Carey and Donald Shepherd, from Sehome High School.

Kinsley distributed to each Board member a copy of an article from Education Week (November 30, 2005 issue) “Special Education at 30.” The article discusses the federal special education law, known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which was 30 years old on December 2.

Kinsley read from Principal Eric Paige's column in the November 18, 2005 issue of Larrabee News. In the column, Paige quoted from Lillian Katz that “each of us must come to care about everyone else's children” and that in doing so you are also supporting your own children.

REPORTS:

Curriculum and Professional Development

Director of Curriculum Adrienne Nelson reviewed the District's curriculum development process and professional development. According to Nelson, work is focused in two areas— curriculum development and professional development. Together this provides teachers with clear descriptions of what they should be teaching as well as providing support so they understand both what students need to know and be able to do and how to teach the curriculum. Curriculum includes what is written, what is taught, and what is tested. Professional development activities include whole group, small group, and one-on-one coaching to support teachers in their efforts to improve student learning.

Affirmative Action Progress Report

Executive Director of Human Resources Nora Klewiada reported on the annual progress for the Affirmative Action Plan in recruiting and hiring more ethnic minority staff in six job groups. There is no underutilization of females in any job group; therefore, there are no gender-based Affirmative Action goals. From October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005, the third year of the five-year plan, the District met the goals for the food services and transportation job groups. However, administrators, teachers, classified managers, and secretary/instructional assistant/ accounting job groups remain underutilized. Klewiada responded to questions from the Board about recruitment practices used to reach potential minority employees.

Middle School Fine Arts Activities

Superintendent Kinsley asked Gordon Grissom, Kulshan Middle School principal, to update the Board on the status of middle school fine arts activities. In addition to the previously allocated five stipends for middle school fine arts activities, the District added funding for three additional fine and performing arts after-school activities at each middle school for the 2005–2006 school year. Administrators at each middle school were asked to conduct a student survey to determine the activities in which students were most interested in participating. Based on these results, staff is now being sought to act as advisors. Some activities have already begun; others will begin soon or will be scheduled during the second or third trimester of the school year. Additional fine and performing arts activities may be scheduled at some middle schools through funding provided by parent organizations or through ASB resources. The activities requested most frequently included photography, drama, choir/music/dance opportunities, and art activities.

In addition, a Fine Arts Task Force, made up of teachers, administrators, and community participants, has been created and will meet to review the alignment of the K-12 Fine Arts Curriculum with state EALRs; ensure the equity, sustainability, and balance of academics and fine arts elective offerings at the middle schools; and develop suggestions or proposal for improvements in curriculum and/or program offerings. The Task Force plans to make recommendations to the Board in the spring.

ACTION ITEMS:

Rejection of Bid—Walk-in Freezer

Ann Whitmyer moved and Melody Rhode seconded the motion to reject the bids received for the purchase of a walk-in freezer as the bids were in excess of the project budget. The motion carried unanimously. Staff will review the specifications for the freezer and recommend an alternate course of action.

Student Trips

Elaine Lynch moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded the motion approving the following student trips:

• Squalicum High School Band to participate in three band trips:
  • Two jazz festivals in Poulsbo and Bellevue, February 3 – 5, 2006 (in concept)
  • Lionel Hampton Jazz Workshop in Moscow, Idaho, February 24 – 26, 2006 (in concept)
  • Victoria Day Parade in Victoria, B.C., May 20 – 22, 2006 (in concept)
• Squalicum High School Orchestra to participate in the University Orchestra Festival in Ellensburg, Washington, March 5 – 6, 2006 (in concept)
• Sehome High School Band to participate in Victoria Day Festival in Victoria, B.C., May 19 – 22, 2006 (in concept)
• Sehome High School Swim Team to participate in the ABQ Academy Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, January 13 – 15, 2006 (in concept)
• Sehome High School Orchestra to perform at several elementary schools in Portland and Seattle, May 18 – 21, 2006 (in concept)
• Sehome High School Debate Team to participate in two tournaments in California:
  • Stanford University on February 9 – 12, 2006
  • UC Berkeley on February 16 – 19, 2006
• Teams from Bellingham, Sehome and Squalicum high schools to compete in the International Bridge Building contest in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, April 8, 2006
• Bellingham High School Orchestra to participate in a concert tour to Victoria, B.C., May 17 – 19, 2006 (in concept)
• Bellingham High School Band and Dance Team to participate in the Victoria Day Festival in Victoria, B.C., May 20 – 22, 2006 (in concept)

The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel Recommendations

Elaine Lynch moved and Ann Whitmyer seconded the motion approving the personnel recom­mendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Kinsley noted the retirement of Judy Kehoe, a foodservice assistant at Kulshan Middle School, who is retiring after 17-1/3 years in the District.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.