HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DISTRICT NO. 401 – KING COUNTY

 

Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting

 

                                               January 9, 2008

                                                                                                                                                                 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

President Burr Spani called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. in the Board Room of the Educational Resource and Administrative Center.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Chinook Middle School student Sunshine Fola led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

ROLL CALL

 

Board members present:

      Julie Burr Spani, President

      Bernie Dorsey, Vice President       

      Susan Goding

      Sili Savusa

      Michael Spear

     

Central office members present:

John Welch, Superintendent

Carla Jackson, Deputy Superintendent

Geri Fain, Assistant Superintendent/Support Services

Alan Spicciati, Chief Accountability Officer

Steve Grubb, Executive Director/Elementary and Middle Schools

Susanne Jerde, Executive Director/Elementary and Middle Schools

Andréa Johnson, Executive Director/Facilities Services

Terri LePenske, Executive Director/Student Support Services

Don Waring, Executive Director/Human Resources

Catherine Carbone Rogers, Director/Communication and Community Engagement

Tony Zeman, Director/Security and Safety

Susan Wood-Megrey, Interim Director/Curriculum

Nancy Adams, Coordinator/Early Childhood Education

Patty Compton, Specialist/Special Services

 

 

 

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Susan Goding moved approval of the December 12, 2007, regular Board meeting minutes as presented; Bernie Dorsey seconded the motion.

 

The minutes were unanimously approved as presented.

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

Bernie Dorsey moved approval of the agenda as presented; seconded by Michael Spear.

 

The agenda was unanimously approved as presented.

 

 

COMMUNICATION

 

Community/Staff Organizations and Committee Reports

 

New Futures Executive Director Ruth Dickey applauded the new Board members for being elected to the Board; congratulated Julie Burr Spani for being elected president; thanked the Board for their past support to the New Futures organization; mentioned New Future’s various programs; and reported that the organization is looking for a new site.

 

 

Scheduled Communication

 

Melessa Rogers, 13229 12th Avenue, Unit 212, Burien, spoke on behalf of the Neighbors of Seahurst Park regarding the proposed easement for the Westmark Development Emerald Pointe Project; stated the community’s concern regarding the environmental impact of the project, and expressed the group’s opposition to the easement request.

 

The following individuals commented in favor of retaining Officer Castro as the SRO at Chinook Middle School:

 

Sunshine Fola, 3745 S. 172nd Street, SeaTac

Doris Celestres, 19421 Military Rd. S, SeaTac

 

The following scheduled speakers were not in attendance:

 

Khadija Egeh, 9804 9th SW, Seattle

Mahaed Mohamud, 9804 9th SW, Seattle

 

 

 

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

Superintendent Welch remarked on the process around the Westmark Development Project and reminded the community of the upcoming public hearing on January 16 concerning the matter; addressed the comments pertaining to the practice of rotating officers throughout the district; and commended the students for expressing their support for Officer Castro.

 

Sili Savusa thanked Sunshine Fola for speaking, and commended the students for attending the meeting to show their support for Officer Castro.

 

 

MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Consent Agenda

 

Susan Goding requested item # 2, Policy Series 2000 Instruction – Second Reading and Adoption be pulled from the Consent Agenda, for discussion and revisions to some of the policies.

 

 

1.                  Resolution No. 2315 – Burien Heights Site – Agreement to Lease to Highline West Seattle Mental Health and Amend Current Lease for Sunny Terrace Site.  The Board adopted Resolution No. 2315, authorizing the superintendent or his designee to sign the ground lease with HWSMH for the Burien Heights property and the Sunny Terrace Lease Amendment, and authorized staff to execute any and all necessary documents.

 

3.         Donation to Camp Waskowitz High School Programs.  The Board approved the donation of $2,500 to Camp Waskowitz for the high school Environmental Science Center at Seahurst Park.      

 

4.         Donation to Marvista Elementary School.  The Board approved the $3,128.18 donation to Marvista for the sole purpose of purchasing math kits requested by the Math Cadre.                        

 

5.         Donation to Marvista Elementary School.  The Board approved the $4,117.36 donation from the Marvista PTSA for the sole purpose of supporting Marvista Elementary School’s cadre/school improvement plan.           

 

6.         Donation to Highline High School.  The Board approved the $5,958.13 donation from the Highline High School Booster Club for the Class of 2008 in the amount of $1,959.45, and the donation to the Highline High School Cheer Club in the amount of $3,998.68.                                                                           

 

7.         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 $157,629.90;

Payroll automatic deposits dated 12/28/2007 for $6,079,851.65;

Payroll wire tax transfer dated 12/28/2007 for $2,270,471.37;

General Fund warrants #202144 through #202403 dated 12/19/2007 for $546,581.22;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #202404 through #202443 dated 12/19/2007 for $4,036,251.10;

ASB Fund warrants #202444 through #202482 dated 12/19/2007 for $27,533.11;

Trust Fund warrants #202483 through #202484 dated 12/19/2007 for $724.25;

General Fund warrants #202485 through #202579 dated 12/20/2007 for $3,087,392.49;

General Fund warrants #202580 through #202750 dated 1/2/2008 for $339,212.24;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #202751 through #202765 dated 1/2/2008 for $916,413.71;

ASB warrants #202766 through #202789 dated 1/2/2008 for $15,918.99;

Trust Fund warrant #202790 dated 1/2/2008 for $40.00;

General Fund warrants #202792 through #202809 dated 1/9/2008 for $113,324.95;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #202810 through #202834 dated 1/9/2008 for $617,102.99;

and ASB Fund warrants #202835 through #202840 dated 1/9/2008 for $1,545.12. 

                                                         

8.         Personnel Matters.  The Board approved two (2) resignations, one (1) new hire – teacher cadre, and two (2) new hires as presented on the regular agenda; and one (1) resignation, one (1) new-hire teacher cadre; one (1) new hire, one (1) special coach, and eight (8) others as listed on the supplemental agenda.

 

9.         Donation to Beverly Park Elementary School.  The Board approved the $5,500 donation from the Beverly Park PTSA for the sole purpose of field trip expenses for classroom teachers.

 

Sili Savusa moved approval of the consent agenda as revised; Michael Spear seconded the motion.

 

The revised consent agenda was unanimously approved.

           

 

MATTERS FOR BOARD ACTION

 

Item #2 - Policy Series 2000 Instruction – Second Reading and Adoption. 

 

Julie Burr Spani commented on a few policies and asked for changes in the wording regarding the policies.  Policies 2125, 2126, and 2421 were pulled from Policy Series 2000 -Instruction and will be discussed at a future meeting. The rest of the policies were approved as presented or with the recommended changes. 

 

Julie Burr Spani moved the reinstatement of Policy Series 2000 - Instruction for approval, with the recommended changes, with the exception of policies 2125, 2126, and 2421, which will be discussed further at a work/study session; Bernie Dorsey seconded the motion.

 

The Board unanimously approved Policy Series 2000 – Instruction, with the recommended changes, except for policies 2125, 2126, and 2421.  These policies will be discussed further in a work/study session and brought to the Board for approval at a later date.

 

A discussion followed regarding how to facilitate future information to the Board.

 

PRESENTATION

 

Dr. Carla Jackson introduced Executive Director of Student Services Terri LePenske who, along with Early Childhood Education Coordinator Nancy Adams and Special Services Specialist Patty Compton, gave a presentation on the district’s Early Learning Programs.

 

 

UNSCHEDULED COMMUNICATIONS

 

Robert Thorpe, 705 2nd Avenue , Seattle, commented in support of the easement for the Westmark Development Project.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

1.  Legislative Report

Susan Goding reported she has been appointed to serve as the area representative to the Federal Relations Network; remarked she would like to attend the Federal Relations Network Conference in Washington DC­; mentioned she would like to see the Board become members of the National School Board Association; and asked Superintendent Welch for specific information to present to the federal legislators.

 

Board members supported Ms. Goding attending the Federal Relations Network Conference.

 

A discussion followed regarding the kind of information that would be needed for the visits with federal legislators.

 

2.  Other Business

Ms. Goding stated she would like to respond to letters to the editor; also she remarked she wants the Board to discuss education in the future concerning technology and the district’s vision regarding technology—whether it increases educational opportunities for students.  Bernie Dorsey asked whether the discussion was regarding the use of technology or the substance of the technology.  Ms. Goding stated she would like for the district to set goals regarding technology in the classroom.  The matter will be addressed at the upcoming Board work/study January 16.

                                                                                     

3.   Next Steps

 

The Board will hold a work/study session on January 16, 2008, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Cedarbrook Conference Center in SeaTac regarding Board Development.

 

The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held on January 23, 2008, at 6 p.m. at Mount Rainier High School.

 

                                                                                                                                                

ADJOURNMENT

 

Susan Goding moved the meeting be adjourned; Bernie Dorsey seconded the motion.

 

President Burr Spani declared the meeting adjourned at 7:­­36 p.m. to an executive session regarding a personnel complaint, and announced the Board would adjourn from the executive session with no action taken.

 

                                                                       

                                                                                    __________________________________

                                                                                    President, Board of Directors

 

 

 

____________________________

 Secretary to the Board