BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Bellingham, Washington

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE 

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

December 18, 2003 

The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., December 18, 2003, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular meeting, there was executive session at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the executive session was negotiations.

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

At 7:00 p.m. Ann Whitmyer moved to begin executive session; Elaine Lynch seconded. At 7:35 p.m. Elaine Lynch moved to regular session; Ken Gass seconded.

At 7:40 p.m. President Ann Whitmyer called the regular meeting to order.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Ken Gass moved and Elaine Lynch seconded approval of the consent agenda. The motion carried unanimously.

Minutes

Action on the minutes of the December 4, 2003 School Board meeting.

Investments

Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.

                  GENERAL FUND

                  CAPITAL PROJECTS

                  DEBT SERVICE

                  ASB FUND

                  TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE

Personal Services Contract

• Liliana Guifarro to serve as a Spanish interpreter on an as-needed basis during the 2003 - 04 school year.
• Barbara Campbell to provide technology training for staff and students between December 2003 and June 2004.
• Sharon Bailey to present a Highly Capable Learners' Program science unit beginning the week of January 12, 2004, and ending with a parent night on March 9, 2004.
• Marcia Pedersen to administer and score performance tests for classified applicants on an as-needed basis beginning in December 2003 and continuing through the 2003 - 2004 school year.

Contracts

Catholic Community Services Northwest (Martin Center) to provide educational programs for severely psychiatrically impaired and/or behaviorally disordered students who cannot be served in existing district programs for the 2003 - 2004 school year.

REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:

School Board Reports

Each Board member commented very positively on their visit to Sehome High School on December 5. All were impressed with the enthusiasm of the principal and staff and the involvement of the parents.

Jeff Haggen has attended Kulshan Middle School girls' basketball games.

Steve Schoenfeld has continued to work with the Mock Trial teams at Sehome High School.

Ken Gass has attended Bellingham High School swim meets.

Elaine Lynch has attended Citizens' Advisory Committee meetings and has spoken to groups at Whatcom Middle School and Happy Valley Elementary School regarding the levy election. Lynch also announced on January 6, 2004 the Board will meet with legislators from the 40 th and 42 nd Legislative Districts to discuss education. The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room.

Ann Whitmyer has been working with the Citizen's Advisory Committee and asked for volunteers to phone citizens. Whitmyer also indicated she would be suggesting dates for the Board's mid-year retreat.

Superintendent's Announcements/Report

Dale Kinsley reported that on December 12, he attended the Executive Board meeting for the   National Center for Learning and Citizenship in Denver Colorado. The purpose of this organization is to elevate and focus attention on students becoming better citizens and to provide organization and curriculum support for this effort. Kinsley also indicated that Governor Locke had just announced the supplementary budget for 2004, which did not include funding for I-728 and I-732.

Upcoming dates include:

• Western Washington University Woodring College of Education and Bellingham School District "Joint Learning Project" on January 14, 2004 at 5:30 p.m.
• The next Board Meeting is January 15
• The 2004 WASA/WSSDA Legislative Conference is February 8 and 9, 2004.

Audience

Seth Norman, 83 Sudden Valley, Bellingham WA 98229 and Audrey Genest, 1117 Sudden Valley, Bellingham, WA 98229 both addressed the Board regarding class sizes at Geneva Elementary School.

REPORTS:

Affirmative Action Progress Report

Executive Director of Human Resources Nora Klewiada reported on the annual progress for the Affirmative Action Plan covering progress in recruitment and hiring for the year from October 1, 2002 to October 1, 2003. Through extended advertising and recruitment efforts, the District is working to attract a more diverse applicant pool in order to meet goals for minority employment.

Financial Report for the 2002 - 2003 School Year

Assistant Superintendent Jim Stevens presented the District financial summary for the 2002 - 2003 school year. Revenues totaled $74,543,166. Expenditures were $73,695,763-73.0% of which was spent on teaching and teaching support; 15.1% was spent on support services; and 11.9% was spent on administration. Final enrollment for the 2002 - 2003 school year was 9,669 FTE regular education students, an increase from 9,593 FTE for the 2001 - 2002 school year.

Progress Report on Culminating Projects

Executive Director of School Administration Edie Holcomb gave a progress report on implementing the Culminating Project as a graduation requirement for all students. State law requires that all schools in the state incorporate this requirement for the Class of 2008. In the Bellingham School District, this will be required for the Class of 2006. Dr. Holcomb reviewed a draft of the Resource Guide for Students, Staff, Parents, and Mentors for The Culminating Project, which defines the common elements identified in the Board Policy. The Guide also contains the rubrics which will be used in all high schools to assess completion of the culminating project's requirements. Holcomb reported that work will continue as each high school develops its own logistical plan for implementing the culminating project. In addition, the committee continues to focus work on finalizing the Resource Guide and to define how to involve the community.

ACTION ITEMS:

Policy 2004, School Accountability for Student Learning

Elaine Lynch moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion to approve Policy 2004, School Accountability for Student Learning . Revisions were required by the No Child Left Behind law and State guidelines. Minor changes were made since the first reading. The motion carried unanimously.

Policy 3131, Student Attendance Area Transfers

Steve Schoenfeld moved and Ken Gass seconded the motion to approve Policy 3131, Student Attendance Area Transfers . Verification has been made since the first reading that the new state law will apply for both full-time District employees who live within the District boundaries and for those who live in another school district. The motion carried unanimously.

Policy 6114, Gifts

Ken Gass moved and Jeff Haggen seconded the motion to approve Policy 6114, Gifts . The motion carried unanimously.

Policy/Procedure 3141, Admission of Non-Resident Students

The Board heard a first reading of Policy/Procedure 3141, Admission of Non-Resident Students. Revisions to this policy/procedure are required by new state legislation. Policy and Procedures 3131 relates to children of full-time employees who live within the Bellingham School District. This policy applies to students who live in a different school district.

Resolution 11 - 03, Full State Funding for Special Education

Elaine Lynch moved and Steve Schoenfeld seconded the motion to approve Resolution 11 - 03, Full State Funding for Special Education. This Resolution requests the Legislature meet its Constitution obligation to fully fund the cost of providing services to the State's special education student population. The motion carried unanimously.

Student Trips

Ken Gass moved and Steve Schoenfeld seconded the motion approving the following student trips, in concept:

• The Bellingham High School Orchestra to participate in an annual concert tour to Ocean Shores, Aberdeen, and Hoquiam, May 19 - 21, 2004.
• Students from Beth Crissy's Bellingham High School class to participate in the "Zodiac Sailing Adventure Program" 2004 trip, May 21 - 23, 2004.
• Students from Lynn Torpey and Richard Synder's classes at Squalicum High School to participate in the "Zodiac Sailing Adventure Program" 2004, May 14 - 16, 2004.
• Squalicum High School marching band and flag team to participate in the Victoria Day Parade and Parade of Bands, May 22 - 24, 2004 in Victoria, B.C.
• Squalicum and Bellingham High Schools jazz bands to participate in the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, February 27 - 29, 2004 in Moscow, Idaho.

The motion carried unanimously.

Personnel recommendations

Ken Gass moved and Steve Schoenfeld seconded the motion to approve the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Kinsley noted the retirement of Joan Beardsley, a long-time science teacher at Squalicum High School, currently on medical leave.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.