HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DISTRICT NO. 401 – KING COUNTY

 

Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting

 

January 25, 2006

                                                                                                                                                                 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

President Byers called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. in the cafeteria of Hazel Valley Elementary School.

 

President Byers asked for a moment of silence in honor of Tyee High School student Justin Jenkins who passed away January 14, 2006.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Hazel Valley Elementary School Principal Annah Petersen-Benitez led the flag salute.

 

ROLL CALL

 

Board members present:

      Phyllis Byers, President

Matt Pina, Vice President

Susan Goding

Tom Slattery

Julie Burr Spani

 

Central office members present:

John Welch, Superintendent

Geri Fain, Assistant Superintendent/Support Services

Carla Jackson, Assistant Superintendent/Teaching, Learning, and School Improvement

Dave Jarvis, Executive Director/Human Resources

Susanne Jerde, Executive Director/Elementary Learning

Alan Spicciati, Executive Director/Secondary Schools

Marsha Spreier, Executive Director/Elementary Learning

Beckie Bouchard, Director/Assessment, Evaluation, and System Accountability

Catherine Carbone Rogers, Director/Communication and Community Relations

Melissa Patterson, Director/Business Services

Mary Roberts, Director/Secondary Learning

Alan Schmidt, Director/Facilities Services

Susan Wood-Megrey, Specialist/Curriculum and Instruction

Ann Wornstaff, Manager/Purchasing


APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Matt Pina moved approval of the minutes of the January 11, 2006, regular board meeting and executive session as presented.  Susan Goding seconded the motion.

 

The minutes were approved as presented.

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

Matt Pina moved approval of the agenda as presented, seconded by Julie Burr Spani.

 

The agenda was approved unanimously.

 

HOST PRINCIPAL

 

Hazel Valley Elementary School Principal Annah Petersen-Benitez welcomed the board; introduced staff members that were present; thanked voters for the beautiful school facility; noted the enrollment doubled this fall, stating the facility now serves over 600 students; and gave an update regarding the various programs at the school.

 

 

RECOGNITION

 

Superintendent Welch recognized the following Highline School District teachers who have achieved National Board Certification status and expressed his admiration for their achievement:

 

Theresa Bond – Valley View Elementary School

Diane Carlisle – Gregory Heights Elementary School

Trishka Dargis – Pacific Middle School

Tracey Drum – Valley View Elementary School

Sharilyn Goodwin – Highline High School

Tony Kahler – Highline High School

Scott McComb – Aviation High School

Lisa Wilson – Pacific Middle School

 

 

COMMUNICATION

 

Community/Staff Organizations and Committee Reports

 

Highline Education Association President Alan Sutliff reported there are 40 bills currently in legislation that relate to the WASL; gave board members a copy of an article in the Seattle Post Intelligencer by Susan Painter, “Listen to educators on the WASL,” and also gave the board copies of the WEA/PTA’s joint document, “Weighted Multiple Measures,” that references the WASL as a graduation requirement—the document relates to Senate Bill 6461 and House Bill 2923.

 

 

Scheduled Communication

 

There was no scheduled communication.

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

Superintendent Welch introduced Don Cowan who has been acting as the interim technology director and expressed his appreciation for the excellent job Don has done;  gave an update on Congressman Adam Smith’s “Launch Your Future Now: A Math and Science Career Fair,” and commented the Highline School District had 90 students participate; gave an update on the honors program referencing the confusion regarding the lack of clarity of the program and said administration is working with each high school’s program; stated he plans to have a letter sent to parents by mid-February clarifying the program; and announced he plans to have a work/study session in mid-February to late-March regarding highly able students; and announced Max Silverman is being recommended to serve as director of high school improvement.

 

MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Consent Agenda

 

1.                  Approval to Submit Application for Carl Perkins Federal Funding for Career and Technical Education at the Sea-Tac Occupational Skills Center, 2005-06 School Year.  The board approved Sea-Tac Occupational Skills Center’s 2005-06 application for Carl Perkins Vocational and Technical funding and authorized Superintendent Welch to sign the Assurances page.

 

2.                  Board Policy 5280 Personnel, Termination, Releases from Contract, Retirement, Non-renewal, and Program Reductions.  The board approved the revised Board Policy 5280 Personnel, Termination, Releases from Contract, Retirement, Non-renewal, and Program Reductions.

 

3.                  Capital Facilities Improvement Plan 2002 – Olympic Interim School Project – Change Order Number Twenty.  The board approved Change Order Number Twenty on Bid No. 04/05-2 to Pease and Sons, Inc., for the added costs to expand the student parking lot for the Olympic Interim School Project in the amount of $362,483.69, plus Washington state sales tax.

 

4.                  Approval of Vouchers and Warrants.  Approval of payment of vouchers audited and certified by the auditing committee as required by RCW 42.24.090, and those expense reimbursement claims certified as required by RCW 42.24.90 as recorded on a listing which is available to the board were as follows:

 

General Fund warrant #173203 dated 01/12/2006 for $1,500.00;

General Fund warrants #173204 through #173464 dated 01/19/2006 for $490,823.27;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #173465 through #173487 dated 01/19/2006 for $2,142,577.89;

ASB Fund warrants #173488 through #173534 dated 01/19/2006 for $17,972.06;

Trust Fund warrant #173535 dated 01/19/2006 for $388.47;

General Fund warrants #173536 through #173774 dated 01/25/2006 for $473,256.10;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #173775 through #173782 dated 01/25/2006 for $181,606.03;

and Associated Student Body Fund warrants #173783 through #173828 dated 01/25/2006 for $57,423.26.

 

5.                  Personnel Matters.  The board approved three (3) resignations, six (6) new hires, four (4) supplemental contracts, and four (4) others as listed in the regular agenda, and eleven (11) leaves, three (3) resignations, nine (9) new hires, one (1) supplemental contract, one (1) new assignment, one (1) special coach, and nine (9) others as listed in the supplemental agenda.                                                                                  

 

Tom Slattery moved approval of the content agenda as presented.  Susan Goding seconded.

 

The consent agenda was approved unanimously.

 

 

PRESENTATION

 

Ruth Dickey of New Futures and Mike Heinisch of Kent Youth and Family Services gave a presentation regarding families and children in South King County that are struggling and the need that exists in order to provide quality services to these families.

 

Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning & School Improvement, Carla Jackson, Specialist of Curriculum of Instruction Susan Wood-Megrey, and Math Improvement Facilitator Rick Jennings gave a presentation on the district’s math initiative goals.

 

Matt Pina expressed his excitement regarding the initiative.  The discussion was then opened to community members.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

1.  Legislative Report

Tom Slattery gave an update on specific bills now in legislation.

 

2.  Other Business

Phyllis Byers announced the PSESD is having a discussion for board members on March 6, 6:30 p.m.; and mentioned the Small Schools Project newsletter had a nice article regarding the small school conversion at Tyee High School.

 

Board members commented on the preliminary report the board received regarding the apprenticeship program and asked for additional information concerning a reasonable cost breakdown and the buildings’ readiness.  Geri Fain said Facilities Services has asked the general contractor to quantify the costs.  Julie Burr Spani asked that the new board members receive information regarding the apprenticeship program.  Matt Pina suggested there be a work/study on the apprenticeship program when the report is finalized, all board members agreed.

 

3.   Follow-up Items   

The Follow-up Items are on track.  The Work/Study Schedule would allow a work/study on March 15.  Julie Burr Spani asked for more discussion regarding Student-led Conferences; the Superintendent Welch said he would incorporate that subject in a work/study session in February.

                                                                                           

4.   Next Steps

Tom Slattery reminded board members there will be a board professional development work/study on January 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Sea-Tac Occupational Skills Center in the Yormark Room.

 

Phyllis Byers announced the next regularly scheduled board meeting will be held on February 8, 6:00 p.m., at the Educational Resource and Administrative Center.

 

Tom Slattery referenced the Legislative Conference in Olympia, February 12-13, and said that at the February 8 board meeting board members need to discuss legislative issues to ensure the board is in one accord.  Matt Pina asked that a consensus document be generated referencing the board’s views.

 

 

UNSCHEDULED COMMUNICATION

 

There was no unscheduled communication.

 

                                                                                                                                                

ADJOURNMENT

 

Phyllis Byers adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m. to a work/study session regarding fiber optics.

 

                                                                                    __________________________________

                                                                                    President, Board of Directors

 

____________________________

 Secretary to the Board