HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DISTRICT NO. 401 – KING COUNTY

 

Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting

 

January 23, 2008

                                                                                                                                                                 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

President Burr Spani called the meeting to order at 6:13 p.m. in the Great Hall Theater at Mount Rainier High School.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Jan May 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

Susan Smith Leland, Executive Director/Finance & Business Services

Max Silverman, Executive Director/High Schools

Catherine Carbone Rogers, Director/Communication and Community Engagement

Mark Finstrom, Director/Technology Services

Nancy Pappas Barnhart, Director/Recruiting and Retention

Tony Zeman, Director/Security and Safety

Susan Wood-Megrey, Interim Director/Curriculum

 

 

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Michael Spear moved approval of the January 9, 2008, regular Board meeting and executive sessions as presented; Bernie Dorsey seconded the motion.

 

The minutes were approved as presented.

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

President Burr Spani moved that the agenda be revised to have host Principal Toni Pace speak before turning the meeting over to the Public Hearing.  Board members unanimously agreed.

 

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

 

The revised agenda was unanimously approved.

 

 

HOST PRINCIPAL

 

Mount Rainier High School Principal Toni Pace welcomed the Board and community and thanked them for Mount Rainier High School’s new facility; referenced the transitions that have taken place at the school over the past several years; mentioned that Mount Rainier High School received OSPI’s “school of distinction” award for academic improvement; and offered Board and community members a tour of the new school facility.

 

 

PUBLIC HEARING

 

At 6:20 p.m. President Burr Spani recessed the meeting to a Public Hearing and introduced Executive Director of Facilities Services Andréa Johnson who presented information regarding the proposed sale of real property located at 1210 SW 136th Street, Burien, WA.

Following her presentation, the public was given an opportunity to comment on the proposed intent to sell the property.

 

President Burr Spani closed the Public Hearing portion of the meeting and reconvened the regular school board meeting at 7:09 p.m.

 

 

COMMUNICATION

 

Community/Staff Organizations and Committee Reports

 

Julie Burr Spani gave a report regarding the Highline Forum.

 

 

Scheduled Communication

 

Sili Savusa moved that the Scheduled Communication portion of the meeting be moved to after the Superintendent’s Report, seconded by Michael Spear.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

Superintendent Welch announced that Governor Gregoire proclaimed January 2008 as School Board Recognition Month, presented certificates to each Board member, and read a proclamation from the Governor; reminded everyone of the Bow Lake Elementary grand opening on January 24; mentioned the dates of upcoming high school fairs; announced that 20 students from the district—19 from Aviation High School and 1 from Mount Rainier High School—were selected as Washington Aerospace Scholars for 2007-2008; and asked for a moment of silence for Evergreen’s Technology, Engineering, & Communications School teacher Owen Simmerer who passed away on December 7, and for Karen Gullberg of Pacific Middle School who passed away on January 19.

 

 

Scheduled Communication

 

Brittany Vaitului, 4217 S. 260th Street, Kent, commended School Resource Officer (SRO) Mike Castro for his contribution to the students and staff of Chinook Middle School. 

 

Superintendent Welch announced that the decision has been made to keep SRO Mike Castro at Chinook Middle School for the remainder of the year.

 

 

MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Consent Agenda

 

1.   Approval of the New Salary Schedules for the Professional and Technical Non-represented Group 2007-2008.  The Board approved the consolidation and title change of the Management-Professional Salary Schedule I & II to reflect the new schedule and title of Professional-Technical Salary Schedule for the school year 2007-2008.

 

2.   Policy 1400 Changes - First Reading and Adoption.  The Board approved the recommended changes to Policy 1400 – Regular Meetings – changing the start time and frequency of Board meetings.

 

3.   Summary of Bid Calendar.  Briefing only, no action was taken.

 

4.   Bid No. 111907 Fresh Produce. The Board awarded the contract for Bid No. 111907, Fresh Produce, to Tomy’s Produce.  This award is based on the overall lowest responsive bid received.                

 

5.   Donation to Marvista Elementary School.  The Board approved the $3140 donation from Marvista PTSA for the sole purpose of purchasing sets of encyclopedias for Kolbe’s, Sutherland’s, Watt’s, and Roberts’ classrooms.        

 

6.   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 warrants #202841 through #203031 dated 1/16/2008 for $783,685.45;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #203032 through #203052 dated 1/16/2008 for $6,746,976.06;

ASB Fund warrants #203053 through #203076 dated 1/16/2008 for $15,113.30;

Trust Fund warrant #203077 dated 1/16/2008 for $78.94;

General Fund warrants #203078 through #203183 dated 1/23/2008 for $528,875.30;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #203184 through #203185 dated 1/23/2008 for $1,823.11;

ASB warrants #203186 through #203198 dated 1/23/2008 for $4,324.67;

and Trust Fund warrants #203199 through #203201 dated 1/23/2008 for $307.11.

 

7.   Personnel Matters.  The Board approved five (5) resignations and six (6) others as listed on the regular agenda; and five (5) resignations, two (2) new hires, one (1) special coach, and four (4) others as listed on the supplemental agenda.  

 

8.   Proposed Changes to the Classified Substitute Employees’ Salary Schedule.  The Board approved changes to the Classified Substitute Employees’ Salary Schedule, and increased the above-referenced position wages to $8.07 per hour, effective January 1, 2008.                                                                                   

 

Susan Goding moved approval of the consent agenda as presented; Sili Savusa seconded the motion.

 

The consent agenda was unanimously approved as presented.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

1.   Federal Relations Network

Susan Goding proposed the Board consider passing a resolution in support of H.R. 648 to improve the No Child Left Behind Act; and asked how the Board felt about getting involved with legislation.

 

A Board discussion followed.

 

Michael Spear stated he would recommend a resolution be brought before the Board for approval regarding support of H. R. 648. 

 

Superintendent Welch said he would ask his staff to look at the resolution draft proposed to ensure it coincided with district goals.  It was agreed a resolution supporting the legislation would be presented to the Board at the February 13 regularly scheduled Board meeting.

 

2.   Legislative Report

      No legislative report was given.

 

3.  Board and Superintendent Business and Updates

Superintendent Welch reminded Board members they received a draft of the Work/study Sessions and Presentations Schedule and asked them to review the schedule for approval at the next Board meeting.  He also noted he added a work/study on Monday, January 28, starting at 5:30 p.m. regarding Graduation­-Who’s Walking.

 

President Burr Spani announced which Board members would be speaking or attending at the upcoming high school commencement ceremonies in June.

 

Julie Burr Spani recommended a formal thank you note be sent to organizations or individuals who give a donation to the district.  The Board agreed.

 

Julie Burr Spani commented on the student enrollment report, and asked for an explanation whenever numbers were up or down significantly from projection.

                                                                                           

4.   Next Steps

President Burr Spani reminded Board members of the work/study session on January 28, 2008, from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., at the Educational Resource and Administrative Center regarding Graduation – “Who’s Walking.”

 

President Burr Spani announced the next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held on February 13, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Educational Resource and Administrative Center.

 

 

UNSCHEDULED COMMUNICATION

 

There was no unscheduled communication.

 

                                                                                                                                                

ADJOURNMENT

 

President Burr Spani announced that the Board would adjourn to a work/study session regarding Special Education.

 

Susan Goding moved the meeting be adjourned; Michael Spear seconded the motion.

 

President Burr Spani declared the meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.

 

                                                                       

                                                                                    __________________________________

                                                                                    President, Board of Directors

 

 

 

____________________________

 Secretary to the Board