Minutes061401
BELLINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Bellingham, Washington
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
June 14, 2001
The Bellingham School Board of Directors met in regular session at 7:30 p.m., June 14, 2001, in the Board Room of the Administration Building. Prior to the regular Board meeting there was an Executive Session at 6:30 p.m. Purpose of Executive Session – negotiations and personnel matters.
Present: Directors Ken Gass, Don Leu, and Elaine Lynch, President Ann Whitmyer, Superintendent Dale Kinsley, and recorder Shirley Knapp. Director David Blair was excused.
At 6:35 p.m. Leu moved to begin Executive Session; Gass seconded. At 7:35 Lynch moved to regular session; Gass seconded.
At 7:40 p.m. President Ann Whitmyer called the meeting to order.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:
Gass moved and Leu seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
Minutes
Action on the minutes of the May 24, 2001 School Board meeting.
Investments
Action on investments in accordance with Resolution 13-88.
GENERAL FUND
$200,500.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 24, 2001
$1,909,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, May 31, 2001
$365,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, June 8, 2001
CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
$170,300.00 LGIP, investment, May 31, 2001
$5,179,950.00 LGIP, investment, June 8, 2001
DEBT SERVICE FUND
$87,000.00 LGIP, investment, May 24, 2001
$2,751,000.00 LGIP, withdrawal, June 1, 2001
$29,000.00 LGIP, investment, June 8, 2001
ASB FUND
$40,200.01 LGIP, withdrawal, May 31, 2001
Expenses and Payroll
GENERAL FUND
ACCTS PAY: 5/08/01 $520,226.31
5/15/01 68,137.28
5/24/01 352,200.34
5/31/01 5,250.82
Total General Fund $945,854.75
CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
ACCTS PAY: 5/15/01 $ 18,577.46
5/31/01 170,220.32
Total Cap. Proj. Fund $188,797.78
ASB FUND
ACCTS PAY: 5/08/01 $11,571.79
5/15/01 27,892.11
5/31/01 60,253.00
Total ASB Fund $99,716.90
BHS $25,179.25
SHS $36,911.59
SQHS $35,908.16
FMS $ 1,650/58
KMS $ 23.90
SMS $ 43.12
WMS -
EXPENDABLE TRUST FUND
5/24/01 $ 731.70
Total Exp. Trust Fund $ 731.70
PAYROLL $4,762,197.40
Personal Services Contracts:
- Laura Plum-Einan to complete the COPS Grant follow-up interviews.
- Christina Manuel and Antonieta Oporto to serve as foreign language interpreters on as-needed basis during the 2000-01 school year.
- Laura Kaptinski and Linda Lehn to serve as sign language interpreters for the Sehome graduation ceremony on June 9, 2001.
Out-of-State Travel:
- John Lehni to travel to the National Conference for Educational Theatre in New Orleans, Louisiana, August 1-4, 2001.
- Vivian Crommett to attend the TPR Storytelling workshop in Nashville, Tennessee, July 26-29, 2001.
- Stephanie George, Laurie Hoyt, Penny Jewett, and Deirdre O’Neill to attend the National Middle School Summer Conference in Denver, Colorado, July 22-26, 2001.
- Bill McClement to attend an AP Literature and Composition class, June 28-30, 2001 in Dallas, Texas.
Contract:
- Agreement for Services with F.A.C.E.S. Northwest to provided an extended school year program for students with autism.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:
School Board Reports
Leu reported on information from a WSSDA State Achievement Gap meeting. Leu also reported on the Squalicum High School and the Options/GRADS graduation ceremonies.
Gass attended the Board visit to Alderwood on June 1, the boundary meeting at Roosevelt on June 4, DARE graduation at Columbia on June 5, Sehome High graduation on June 9, and the Kulshan Middle School honors program on June 14.
Lynch reported on the Bellingham Festival of Music’s Beethoven in the Schools program. Lynch visited a GRADS class, walked the new elementary site, attended the Alderwood Board visit, attended the boundary meeting at Roosevelt, attended the retirement tea at Geneva, served at the Bellingham High School barbecue, presided at the Squalicum graduation ceremony, and awarded scholarships from the Bellingham School Foundation at the Options/GRADS graduation.
Whitmyer reported on her attendance at the Parkview DARE graduation, the GRADS reception in honor of Lois Woll, the District retirement dinner, the Board visit to Alderwood, the elementary site walk, the boundary meeting at Roosevelt, and the Sehome High School graduation ceremony.
Superintendent’s Announcements/Reports
Dr. Kinsley expressed his appreciation to the Board for their role in this year’s ceremonies for approximately 750 high school graduates. Kinsley also thanked everyone in the District for another successful year.
Kinsley will be attending the WASA summer conference beginning on June 22. He will participate in a state colloquium group on Saturday, June 23, which will focus on support and performance for principals.
Superintendent Kinsley announced the following:
- The Board budget study session will be June 21, in the Board Room at 7 p.m. (Materials for the session will be available either Monday or Tuesday of next week.)
- The only Board meeting in July will be held on July 12.
- Summer school begins on June 25. Approximately 150 high school and 150 grades 3-9 students have registered to date.
Audience
Jane Palmer, middle school teacher, addressed the Board regarding the 6th and 7th grade social studies curriculum.
REPORTS:
Progress Reports for Geneva and Options
Bruce Burpee, interim principal at Geneva, and Sherrie Hall, elementary student support specialist; and Kathryn Crandall, Options principal, and Patty Karcher, GRADS instructor, gave annual progress reports for Geneva Elementary School and Options High School. These presentations are part of the school accountability process. They conclude the school reports for this school year.
ACTION ITEMS:
Whatcom Middle School Design Development
The Board heard a first reading of design development for the renovation of the gym and auditorium and accessibility at Whatcom Middle School. Voters approved funding for the project as part of the 2000 bond. Jed Clark of Ross McClure Architects provided drawings and explained the proposed design. Assistant Superintendent Greg Cowan provided information on the process to date, and estimated timeline. At this time, the estimate is within the established budget for the project. The project is scheduled to be completed in August 2002.
Policy/Procedures #3220
The Board heard a first reading of Policy/Procedures 3220 – Student Publications and Materials. This policy provides guidance for the production, review and distribution of official student publications and independent publications or materials created by students. The Board suggested that Policy 4320, which pertains to distribution to students of materials prepared by non-students, also be reviewed.
Name for New Elementary
Each of the Board members spoke about their preference for the name for the new elementary school based on the criteria that was outlined in the process and their feelings after they had walked the site. Gass made the motion to name the new school Northern Heights Elementary School; Leu seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The Board expressed their appreciation for the work of the naming committee.
Boundaries Approved for New Elementary
Lynch proposed the following.
- adjust the current middle school boundary between McGrath and Britton Roads to coincide with the elementary boundary to be effective for the 2002-2003 school year;
- direct all K-5 students within the attendance area to move to the new school the first year;
- allow individual building transfers to be requested and considered;
- adjust the Silver Beach attendance area to include the area north of Seeley Street and east of Sylvan Street, using the City park boundary north of Sylvan Street to Barkley Boulevard.
Leu moved to adopt boundary Option #1 for the new elementary school including Lynch’s proposal; Gass seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Prior to taking action, each of the members discussed their boundary scenario preference.
Personnel Recommendations
Lynch moved and Gass seconded the motion for approval of the personnel recommendations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Kinsley recognized Sharon Bruland, teacher at Columbia, who will be retiring at the end of the year. Kinsley also noted that school psychologist Judy Barton will be leaving the District to take a position as the Special Education Director for Lynden School District.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
