HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DISTRICT NO. 401 –
Minutes of
CALL TO ORDER
President Byers called the meeting to order at
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Board members present:
Phyllis
Byers, President
Susan Goding
Julie Burr Spani
Vice President Matt Pina was excused.
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
Mark Finstrom, Director/Technology Services
Nancy Pappas Barnhart, Director/Human
Resources/Classified
Tony Zeman, Director/Security and Safety
Andréa Johnson, Interim Director/Facilities
Services-Construction and Planning
Barbara Piguet, Interim Director/Business Services
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes were approved as presented.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Susan Goding moved approval of
the agenda as presented; seconded by Julie Burr Spani.
The agenda was approved unanimously.
HOST PRINCIPAL
Shorewood Elementary School Principal Deborah Holcomb welcomed the Board
to Shorewood; reported on the school’s new construction design and expressed
excitement regarding the upcoming modern facility; remarked on various programs
at the school; expressed her appreciation for the staff at Shorewood; reported,
the that for the past two years, her staff has achieved their reading goal of 9
out of 10 students passing the reading WASL at fourth grade; thanked the
Shorewood PTSA for their partnership in helping educate the students; and
invited the Board to come back and visit Shorewood during school hours to
experience the everyday activities of the school.
RECOGNITION
Superintendent Welch and Human Resource Director for Classified
Employees Nancy Pappas Barnhart introduced this year’s nominees for Classified
Employee of the Year and announced that Janis Dingwall of Cedarhurst Elementary
received the Extra Mile Award; Kelly Fuller of Des Moines Elementary received
the Point of Light Award; Sheri Sutliff of Chinook Middle School received the
Edison Award; Shawn Bennett of Highline High School received the Integrity
Award; Wealtha Deakings of Highline High School received the Legend Award, and
honorary legend awards went to retirees Carol Brennan from Nutrition Services
and Alan Schmidt from Facilities Services.
This year there was a tie for Classified Employee of the Year and Guy
Morford of Midway Elementary and ZZ Newman from the ELL program received the honor.
Phyllis Byers recognized the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence
trustees for their support to the district.
Kathy McCabe thanked everyone for their support of the Gold Star Awards
and announced the organization raised $45,000 at their annual luncheon.
President Byers recognized this year’s winners of the Reflections
awards, sponsored by the Washington State PTA.
The following students received Awards of Excellence: Erick Andrews and Avery Gardner of Marvista
Elementary, Thao Nguyen from Evergreen High School, Tyler Kimmel of Highline
High School, and Marie Thoma of Sylvester Middle School.
COMMUNICATION
Community/Staff
Organizations and Committee Reports
Highline Education Association President Alan Sutliff commented on the
transition process for Bow Lake Elementary; remarked on a Gates grantee meeting
he attended; stated the HEA Executive Board will be meeting with Highline
School District Cabinet next week; and thanked administration for their
communication efforts.
Highline Council PTSA Legislative Chair Meg Van Wyk stated the Tyee
campus is having difficultly retaining a PTA and expressed her concerns
regarding how the small learning communities could have a negative impact the
parent support for the schools.
Highline Council PTSA Arts in Education Coordinator Debbie Thoma remarked on the arts programs and her
concerns regarding the lack of arts in the district due to small learning
communities; she also announced that this year the council will be awarding a
scholarship to a senior.
Scheduled Communication
The following individuals commented on the need for a new track at
Steve Carlson,
Katie Dolan,
Jerry Bamburg,
Ray Prentice,
Carol Loughlin,
State Representative for the 33rd District
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Superintendent Welch remarked the on the State’s exit audit and stated the
district received a good report with no findings; reported on his meetings with
the Trusted Advocates of White Center; commented on the request for a new track
at Mount Rainier High School; and announced the upcoming community meetings
regarding the Strategic Plan—May 31 at Madrona Elementary and the June 1 meeting
at Hazel Valley Elementary.
MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD
ACTION
Consent Agenda
General Fund warrants #178806 through #179120
dated 5/17/2006 for $567,660.56;
Capital Projects Fund warrants #179121 through
#179131 dated 5/17/2006 for $187,326.08;
ASB Fund warrants #179132 through #179178 dated 5/17/2006 for $32,893.95;
Trust Fund warrant #179179 dated 5/17/2006
for $30.00;
Capital Projects Fund warrant #179180 dated
5/18/2006 for $2,389,259.90;
General Fund warrants #179181 through #179389
dated 5/24/2006 for $817,693.68;
Capital Projects Fund warrants #179390
through #179409 dated 5/24/2006 for $371,323.05;
ASB Fund warrants #179410 through #179447
dated 5/24/2006 for $21,401.84;
and Trust Fund warrant #179448 dated 5/24/2006
for $442.06.
Jon Gores of Seattle Northwest Securities, Bob Yeasting from
Yeasting & Associates, and Lee Voorhees from Foster, Pepper & Shefelman
commented on Resolution No. 2221 - Issuance and Sale of an Estimated $89,000,000 Par Value of Unlimited General Obligation Bonds, 2006, of
the Highline School District No. 401 and recommended the negotiated sale of the
bond.
The consent agenda
was unanimously approved.
1. Legislative Report
There was no legislative report.
2. Other
Business
There
was no other business discussed.
3. Follow-up Items and Work/Study Sessions
On schedule.
Superintendent Welch announced
that there will be an executive session on June 7 following the Dual Language
work/study.
4. Next Steps
President Byers stated on
June 7 there will be a work/study session followed by an executive session; and
next regularly scheduled board meeting will be held on June 14 at 6 p.m.
in the Boardroom of the Educational Resource and
The
following individuals remarked on the importance of SRO officers in our
schools:
Carlos Bratcher,
Frank Gaul, 3230 30th W, Seattle
Cameron Lefler,
Matt
Moeller,
ADJOURNMENT
President Byers remarked that following the meeting there were
work/study sessions on High School Improvement and the 2006/07 Budget.
The motion was unanimously approved.
Phyllis Byers adjourned the meeting at 7:29 p.m.
__________________________________
President,
Board of Directors
____________________________
Secretary to the Board