BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bellingham, Washington
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
December 10, 1998
The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., December 10, 1998, in the Board Room of the Administration Building.
Present: Directors, David Blair, Becky Diaz, Ken Gass, and Ann Whitmyer, President Elaine M. Lynch, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Shirley Knapp
At 7:29 p.m. President Elaine Lynch called the meeting to order.
Board Reorganization – Election of Officers for 1999
Whitmyer nominated David Blair for president; Diaz seconded. There were no further nominations. Blair was elected unanimously. Gass nominated Ann Whitmyer for vice-president; Blair seconded. There were no further nominations. Whitmyer was elected unanimously. Dr. Kinsley and the Board recognized the efforts of outgoing President Elaine Lynch. Blair presided over the remainder of the meeting.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:
Blair moved and Diaz seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
Minutes
Action on the minutes of the November 19, 1998 School Board meeting.
Investments
Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.
GENERAL FUND:
$665,000.00 LGIP, investment, November 16, 1998
$199,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 23, 1998
$1,420,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 30, 1998
CAPITAL PROJECTS
$100.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 16, 1998
$16,800.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 16, 1998
$41,300.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 16, 1998
$326,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 16, 1998
$4,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 30, 1998
$2,300.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 30, 1998
$143,100.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 30, 1998
$212,300.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 30, 1998
DEBT SERVICE
$400,000.00 LGIP, investment, November 16, 1998
$4,035,200.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 30, 1998
ASB FUND
$1,200.00 LGIP, investment, November 16, 1998
$15,000.00 LGIP, investment, November 16, 1998
$100.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 30, 1998
$12,700.00 LGIP, withdrawal, November 30, 1998
$10,500.00 LGIP, investment, November 30, 1998
Expenses and Payroll
Action on expenditures and payroll as approved by the Auditing Committee.
GENERAL FUND
ACCTS PAY: 11/09/98 $432,335.21
11/23/98 400,980.26
Total General Fund $833,315.37
CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
ACCTS PAY: 11/05/98 $121,812.25
1116/98 387,356.84
11/30/98 361,772.39
Total Cap. Proj. Fund $870,941.48
ASB FUND
ACCTS PAY: 11/16/98 $13,554.08
11/30/98 24,662.91
Total ASB Fund $38,216.99
SHS $15,051.67
SQHS $22,643.57
FMS $93.90
KMS $427.85
EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND
ACCTS PAY: 11/16/98 $576.63
10/23/98 $103.71
Total Exp. Trust Fund $680.34
PAYROLL $4,191,769.38
Personal Services Contracts:
Out-of-State Travel:
Contracts for Special Education Services:
Cancellation of NSF Checks
Action to approve cancellation of uncollectible NSF checks.
Resolution 12-98
Approval of Resolution 12-98 – emergency waiver for storm damage to District Administrative Center.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:
School Board Reports
Gass reported on the Board visit to Carl Cozier on Friday, December 4. Diaz also commented on the Cozier visit and reported that she is volunteering in a kindergarten class at Sunnyland Elementary. Whitmyer attended the December 3 Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Committee meeting. Lynch attended a P-Supts conference on December 3 that focused on building community relationships.
Superintendent’s Announcements/Report
Dr. Kinsley met with the Parent Advisory Committee on Thursday, December 3. Kinsley also was part of a 12-member team of teachers, parents, and administrators that attended the “Best Practices in Community Relations” conference. The conference was sponsored by Northwest Regional Fourth Corner UniServ Presidents and Superintendents (P-Sups). The focus was increasing involvement of parents, businesses, and communities in public schools.
Superintendent Kinsley updated the Board on the status of the Roeder Administration Building. The roof has been repaired and offices will begin to be refurbished over the holidays. Kinsley recognized the hard work of the custodial, maintenance, and network and computer services staffs in getting the building back in running order so quickly. Employees from those departments were given the “Teamwork Makes a Difference Award” at a special meeting last Friday.
Kinsley announced that several employees will be on vacation, but Roeder will be open on December 21, 22, 28, 29, and 30.
Kinsley shared a Public Agenda article about communicating children’s issues with the public and a report from Employment Security entitled Occupational Outlook 1995-2005. Dr. Kinsley reported that both high schools had received a rating of 3 (the highest rating) for college preparation from the University of Washington. The rating was based on the grades of entering freshmen. Kinsley read some excerpts from A Holiday Smile, a press release compiled by Lavelle Freudenberg, which lists several food, clothing, and gift drives that were organized by District students and teachers during the months of November and December.
The National School Administrators Suburban Schools sub-group will hold their annual conference in Semiahmoo. Approximately 500-600 people will attend the three-day conference held the third week in July 1999.
REPORTS:
Health Benefits Committee
Nora Klewiada, Administrator for Personnel reported on the District’s Health Benefits Committee. The committee is made up of representatives from all employee groups. Recently the legislated State allocation of $320.95 for each FTE employee has not kept pace with premium increases. The committee has met several times since June 1998 and is working with an insurance consultant to analyze current coverage and explore other available options.
Sehome Traffic/Parking Improvement Project
Assistant Superintendent Greg Cowan gave a brief overview of the Sehome Traffic/Parking Improvement Project. The project was funded by the 1996 capital projects bond. The project took longer than expected and exceeded projected costs due to some unforeseen problems with unsuitable soils and the installation of a storm water quality structure at Connelly Creek, which was required by the City and not part of the original bid. The project has greatly improved the traffic/parking at Sehome by separating the school bus traffic from the pick-up/drop-off traffic; moving the parent/visitor traffic from Bill McDonald Parkway; increasing the number of available parking spaces; and improvement of signage and additional lighting for better security.
Sale of Bonds
John Rose President of Seattle Northwest Securities outlined the plans for the proposed sale of the final increment of $12,100, 000 from the 1996 bond authorization. Rose recommended to sell in January 1999. He also suggested refinancing some of the older bonds. Currently the interest rate is favorable to the District. Rose will present the final offer to the Board at the January 28 meeting.
ACTION ITEMS:
First Reading of Revised Policy #3200 – Student Rights and Responsibilities
The Board heard a first reading of Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy #3200. The policy has some minor revisions due to changes in State law.
Approval of Policy #2004 – School Accountability for Student Learning (Resolution 10–98)
Gass moved and Lynch seconded the motion to approve Policy #2004 – School Accountability for Student Learning and Resolution 10-98, which establishes the State-required three-year improvement goals for 4th grade reading performance. The motion carried unanimously. There were no changes since the first reading.
Revised Policy # 2130 – Student Assessment and Testing Approved
Diaz moved and Gass seconded the motion for approval of Policy #2130 – Student Assessment and Testing. The motion carried unanimously. The policy was revised since the first reading by adding a sentence to clarify testing accommodations.
Food Services Agreements
Gass moved and Diaz seconded the motion to approve the following food service agreements:
The motion carried unanimously.
Options Planning Recommendations Approved
Lynch moved and Gass seconded the motion to approve the recommendations of the Options Planning Committee which were presented at the October 22 Board meeting. The motion carried unanimously. The District is in the process of negotiating for an appropriate new site for Options High School.
Personnel Recommendations Approved
Whitmyer moved and Diaz seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.