HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DISTRICT NO. 401 – KING COUNTY
Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting
October
12, 2005
CALL TO ORDER
President Slattery called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. in the
Boardroom of the Educational Resource and Administrative Center.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Cascade Middle School’s Reading Coordinator for Read Right Terry
Carlson and Special Education Coordinator John McDonald led the flag salute.
ROLL CALL
Board members present:
Tom
Slattery, President
Steve
Denmark, Vice President
Phyllis
Byers
Matt Pina
Mengstab Tzegai
Central office members present:
John Welch, Superintendent
Geri Fain, Assistant Superintendent
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
Alan Schmidt, Director/Facilities Services
Tony Zeman, Director/Security and Safety
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Phyllis Byers moved approval of the minutes of the September 28, 2005,
regular board meeting as presented.
Matt Pina seconded the motion.
The minutes were approved as presented.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Phyllis Byers moved approval of
the agenda as presented, seconded by Mengstab Tzegai.
The agenda was approved unanimously.
COMMUNICATION
Community/Staff
Organizations and Committee Reports
Highline High School PTSA Service Area Vice President Meg VanWyk
reported on a leadership change for the Highline Council PTSA stating Melissa
Musser is now the President and Bernie Dorsey is the Vice President; reported
on the Legislative Assembly and discussed the top priority issues for this
year; stated Washington PTSA President Linda Hansen said the PTSA was not
supporting the WASL as a graduation requirement, but they are supporting I-901 - the Clean Air Act; commented on
the urgent need for donations to the HCPTSA Social Service Fund; and stated
there is concern within the community regarding the district’s science and
literacy programs, waiver days, and said there is some confusion regarding the
implementation of the small learning communities.
Scheduled Communication
Linda Smith, 1913 SW 167th Street, Burien, commented on
Highline High School’s high school redesign program; expressed concerns
regarding the limited success small learning communities have had nationally;
and encouraged the board to research three schools that have been successful
with this format.
The following students spoke regarding small learning communities being
integrated with the honors program, and expressed their concerns regarding
honors students falling behind those students that are in full honors classes:
Andrew Reusch, 431 S.W. Normandy Road, Normandy Park
Katie Dolan, 32138 37th Place S., Auburn
Eva Ghirmai, 12832 24th Avenue S., SeaTac
Aaron Smith, 37833 35th Way S., Auburn
Lisa Grayson, 2414 S.W. 149th, Burien, commented on the
importance of the German language program at Highline High School.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Superintendent Welch addressed both the Mount Rainier students’ and
Linda Smith’s concerns regarding small learning communities and honors classes;
announced that the Life After High School College Fair will be held on November
15 at the Performing Arts Center; shared an article from the Edutopia Magazine
that featured Aviation High School; reported that Aviation High School will
also be referenced on the Buck Institute of Education’s teachers’ website;
shared that on October 26 the district is hosting (along with the Highline
Schools Foundation for Excellence) a school bus tour of some of our new
schools; announced he will be conducting a series of community conversations to
listen to the community regarding what graduates should know and how can
students be better prepared for college, career, and citizenship; and reported
the Northwest Regional Educational Lab showcased Tyee High School’s literacy
initiative.
PRESENTATIONS
Assistant Superintendent Geri Fain gave a presentation on the Capital
Facilities Improvement Plan 2006, Phase II and the proponents of the bond
proposal.
MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD
ACTION
Consent Agenda
1.
Capital Facilities
Improvement Plan 2006 (Phase II) – Setting Bond Amount and Election Date. The board approved the submission to the voters of the Highline
School District at a special election to be held March 14, 2006, a proposition
authorizing the district to issue its general obligation bonds in the principal
sum of $148,000,000 for the purpose of: (1) capital construction including the
replacement of Shorewood, Midway, Parkside and Marvista Elementary Schools with
bond funds and the replacement of McMicken Heights Elementary School with
matching and reimbursement funds; (2) renovating the dining hall and replacing
the kitchen and water tank at Camp Waskowitz; (3) installation of camera
surveillance systems, security fencing and security lighting at the district’s
middle schools and high schools; (4) technology improvements, upgrades, support
and replacements; (5) funding prioritized capital improvements and
unanticipated facility emergencies, and directed the superintendent to move
forward with all required documents to qualify for the March 14, 2006, special
election. Such bonds to be payable from
excess property tax levies; and instructed the superintendent to develop a
resolution for the October 26, 2005, school board meeting for legal
notification to King County of this bond issue.
2.
New Policy – 3117 - Homeless
Education – First Reading. The board considered Policy
3117 - Homeless Education for first reading.
No action was taken.
3.
Proposed Schedule of
Work/Study Sessions and Board Presentations.
The
board approved the recommended dates for work/study sessions and presentations
for the 2005-2006 school year.
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:
Payroll warrants as listed totaling $256,914.15;
Payroll automatic deposits dated 9/30/2005 for $6,937,203.50;
Payroll wire tax transfer dated 9/30/2005 for $3,029,129.86;
General Fund warrants #168909 through #168911 dated 9/29/2005 for $44,793.97;
General Fund warrant #168912 dated 9/30/2005 for $11,900.00;
General Fund warrants #168913 through #169185 dated 10/05/2005 for $786,200.94;
Capital Projects Fund warrants #169186 through #169211 dated 10/05/2005 for $942,588.80;
ASB Fund warrants #169212 through #169230 dated 10/05/2005 for $26,463.93;
General Fund warrant #169231 dated 10/06/2005 for $25.00;
Capital Projects Fund warrant #169232 dated 10/06/2005 for $25.00;
Capital Projects Fund warrants #169233 through #169234 dated 10/07/2005 for $7,353.30;
General Fund warrants #169235 through #169487 dated 10/12/2005 for $356,258.90;
Capital Projects Fund warrants #169488 through #169511 dated 10/12/2005 for $1,101,125.82;
ASB Fund warrants #169512 through #169546 dated 10/12/2005 for $24,613.51;
and Trust Fund warrant #169547 dated 10/12/2005 for $100.01.
5. Personnel Matters. The board approved four (4) resignations, eight (8) new hires, and two (2) supplemental contracts as listed in the regular agenda; and three (3) leaves, two (2) resignations, twenty-two (22) new hires, four (4) new assignments, four (4) special coaches, and thirteen (13) others as listed in the supplemental agenda.
6. Donation to Highline High
School. The board approved the
$3,317 donation to Highline High School from the Highline High School PTSA to be
used for awards to staff for designated purchases of equipment, books,
supplies, and author visits.
President Slattery thanked
the Highline High School PTSA for their donation.
Steve Denmark moved approval of the consent agenda
as presented, seconded by Mengstab Tzegai.
The consent agenda was unanimously approved as
presented.
Assistant
Superintendent/Teaching, Learning and School Improvement Carla Jackson,
Executive Director/Secondary Schools Alan Spicciati, Executive Director/Elementary
Learning Marsha Spreier, Beverly Park Elementary School Principal Kathy
Anderson, and Cascade Middle School Principal Pat Larson gave an overview for
improving student achievement at Beverly Park Elementary and Cascade Middle
School.
Superintendent
Welch thanked the group for all their work in putting the performance
agreements in place.
1. Legislative Report
No report
was given.
2. Other
Business
No other
business was discussed.
3. Follow-up
Items
On Track.
4. Next Steps
The next regularly scheduled school board meeting
will be held on October 26, 2005, at 5:30 p.m. at Chinook Middle School.
The
following individuals commented on the district’s conversion to small learning
communities and the honors program:
Linda Hughes, 18535 Beverly Lane S.W., Normandy Park
Marco Spani, 3761 S.W. 171st Street,
Burien
ADJOURNMENT
Tom Slattery adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
__________________________________
President,
Board of Directors
____________________________
Secretary to the Board