HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DISTRICT NO. 401 – KING COUNTY
Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting
October
26, 2005
CALL TO ORDER
President Slattery called the meeting to order at 5:39 p.m. in the library
at Chinook Middle School.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chinook Eight-Grade Student Ambassador Josh Santiago 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/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
Alan Schmidt, Director/Facilities Services
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Matt Pina moved approval of the minutes of the October 12, 2005, regular
board meeting as presented, Steve Denmark seconded the motion.
The minutes were approved as presented.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Phyllis Byers moved approval of
the agenda as presented, seconded by Matt Pina.
The agenda was approved unanimously.
HOST PRINCIPAL
Chinook Middle School Principal Todd Moorhead welcomed the board and
community to the school and introduced staff members that were in attendance.
PRESENTATION
Hilltop Elementary School Educational Assistant Dan Davis and United
Way Loan Executive Peter Wolf presented an overview of the upcoming November United
Way campaign.
President Slattery asked the audience to observe a moment of silence on
behalf of Aviation High School students Brittany Boatright and Kandyce Cowart
and the pilot Eugene Hokanson who were killed in an airplane accident on October
15.
On behalf of the Highline School District senior leadership team,
Superintendent Welch recognized Student Services Manager Jean Thurber for her dedication
and outstanding service over the years, and particularly with the transfers she
handled this fall.
COMMUNICATION
Community/Staff
Organizations and Committee Reports
Highline Education Association President Alan Sutliff stated his
appreciation to the board for their support regarding Resolution 2193; reported
that the UniServe representative position has been filled and the new person will
be coming on board January 2006; and commented he is working with Human
Resources to balance out over-load issues.
Scheduled Communication
There was no scheduled communication.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
John Welch thanked the community and several individuals for their
support regarding the recent tragedy involving our Aviation High School
students; referenced the upcoming services for Brittany Boatright and Eugene
Hokanson; commented on the recent system improvement grant the district
received from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; congratulated Tyee High
School on a successful grand-opening for the three small schools and thanked Max
Silverman and the teachers and staff at Tyee for all their hard work; addressed the honors program concerns that
were expressed at the last meeting and stated administration is talking to
teachers and visiting our honors classes over the next several weeks, as well
as visiting other districts to see what they are doing for their advanced students; announced the college night scheduled on
November 15 and reported administration will be meeting with college representatives
beforehand about what courses ninth-grade students should be taking to prepare
for college; reported on the State’s education study—Washington Learns; and
commented on two OSC students who received scholarships from the DigiPen
Institute of Technology, one scholarship worth $60,000 and the other for
$30,000.
MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD
ACTION
Consent Agenda
1.
Resolution No.
2192 – No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Legislative Language. The board adopted Resolution No. 2192 – No
Child Left Behind (NCLB) Legislative Language which outlined flexibility needed
in particular elements of NCLB/AYP to help every student succeed.
2.
Resolution No.
2193 – Adequate Funding of Special Education.
The board approved Resolution No. 2193 – Adequate Funding of Special
Education to ensure that the State provides adequate funding for all students
in special education programs in the State of Washington; and authorized the
superintendent to take appropriate measures in support of the efforts of the
School Districts’ Alliance for Adequate Funding of Special Education,
authorizing the use of the District’s name in the amicus brief.
3.
New Policy –
3117 – Homeless Education – For Adoption.
The board approved Policy 3117 – Homeless Education authorizing
the district to provide a free, appropriate education to all eligible students
who live within district boundaries, or who are otherwise eligible to attend
Highline Public Schools, including children and youth who are homeless.
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 #169548 dated 10/13/2005 for $57,735.00;
Capital
Projects Fund warrant #169549 dated 10/13/2005 for $79,198.20;
General
Fund warrants #169550 through #169803 dated 10/19/2005 for $828,983.75;
Capital
Projects Fund warrants #169804 through #169833 dated 10/19/2005 for
$1,090,426.01;
ASB
Fund warrants #169834 through #169863 dated 10/19/2005 for $25,357.63;
Trust
Fund warrant #169864 dated 10/19/2005 for $1,452.00;
General
Fund warrants #169865 through #169867 dated 10/25/2005 for $928.32;
General
Fund warrants #169868 through #170086 dated 10/26/2005 for $425,548.15;
Capital
Projects Fund warrants #170087 through #170100 dated 10/26/2005 for
$492,920.37;
ASB
Fund warrants #170101 through #170131 dated 10/26/2005 for $33,327.94;
and
Trust Fund warrant #170132 dated 10/26/2005 for $121.59.
5.
Personnel Matters. The board approved one (1) leave, four (4) resignations, nine (9)
new hires, three (3) new assignments, one (1) special coach, one (1)
certificated exception, and five (5) others as listed in the regular agenda and
three (3) leaves, one (1) resignation, four (4) new hires, two hundred
sixty-two (262) supplemental contracts, and two (2) others as listed in the
supplemental agenda.
6.
PTSA Donation to Parkside
Elementary School. The board
approved the $3,650 donation by Parkside Elementary School’s PTSA to cover the
cost of transportation for Parkside student field trips.
Steve
Denmark moved approval of the consent agenda, Matt Pina seconded the motion.
The
consent agenda was approved unanimously as presented.
PRESENTATION
Teaching,
Learning, and School Improvement Assistant Superintendent Carla Jackson, Executive
Director Secondary Schools Alan Spicciati, and Chinook Middle School Principal
Todd Moorhead gave an overview for improving student achievement at Chinook
Middle School - recognizing the improvements the school has made, and
addressing those areas that still need improvement.
Following
the presentation there was a discussion regarding what is being done to engage
the parents in the success of their children and how administration is
partnering with the community to obtain support for the students. Questions regarding what collaboration is
being done with other schools regarding similar programs were also addressed.
DISCUSSION
1. Legislative Report
There was no legislative report given.
Phyllis Byers asked Superintendent Welch if the
district was hosting a legislative breakfast this year. Superintendent Welch said that event is
being planned for sometime the end of November - first of December.
Tom Slattery reported there is a legislative portion
scheduled during the WSSDA Annual Convention in mid-November.
2. Other
Business
Matt Pina asked the board to
consider having all board meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. instead of a 7:30 p.m.
start time. Board members discussed the
matter and agreed they would like to have feedback from the community regarding
the proposed change.
Matt Pina reported on the
opening of Central Washington University’s campus at Highline Community College.
Tom Slattery recommended the
Position 3 board member be given the responsibility of Aviation High School,
Big Picture and other new ventures. Board members all agree with the recommendation.
Phyllis Byers and Mengstab
Tzegai commented on Tyee’s grand-opening function.
3. Follow-up
Items
Matt Pina requested the
board add a report regarding the pilot apprenticeship program and the impact on
the district, all members agreed.
Matt Pina also requested a
follow-up item regarding the curriculum for advance placement programs for all
the district’s high schools, including Big Picture and Aviation High School.
4. Next Steps
Tom Slattery announced that following the meeting
there would be a work/study session regarding real estate and an executive
session regarding a personnel matter; November 8 is election day; and reminded
everyone that on November 16 there would be student-led conferences at Chinook.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be
held on November 9, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. at the Educational Resource and
Administrative Center.
UNSCHEDULED COMMUNICATIONS
Matt
Moeller, 20218 12th Avenue S., SeaTac, asked the board to logistically
support the community football organization.
ADJOURNMENT
Tom Slattery adjourned the meeting at 7:03 p.m.
__________________________________
President,
Board of Directors
____________________________
Secretary to the Board