HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DISTRICT NO. 401 – KING COUNTY

 

Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting

 

February 27, 2008

                                                                                                                                                                 

 

CALL TO ORDER

President Burr Spani called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. in the Multi-purpose Room at Bow Lake Elementary School

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Bow Lake Elementary students belonging to Brownie Troop # 765 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

Alan Spicciati, Chief Accountability Officer

Steve Grubb, Executive Director/Elementary and Middle Schools

Susanne Jerde, Executive Director/Elementary and Middle Schools

Terri LePenske, Executive Director/Student Support Services

Susan Smith Leland, Executive Director/Finance & Business Services

Max Silverman, Executive Director/High Schools

Don Waring, Executive Director/Human Resources

Catherine Carbone Rogers, Director/Communication and Community Engagement

Susan Wood-Megrey, Interim Director/Curriculum

Rexanne Forbes, Manager/Communication and Community Engagement

Rod Sheffer, Project Manager/Facilities Services


 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Susan Goding moved approval of the February 13, 2008, executive session minutes and regular Board meeting minutes as presented; Sili Savusa seconded the motion.

 

The minutes were approved as presented.

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

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

 

The agenda was approved unanimously.

 

 

HOST PRINCIPAL

 

Bow Lake Elementary School Principal Diana Garcia welcomed the Board and community; commented on the various challenges of the staff faced during the beginning of school; expressed her appreciation to her staff and acknowledgeD those that were present; mentioned that Bow Lake Elementary is the 3rd largest school in the district; remarked on the school’s various programs; and introduced the parents in attendance that come every week to classes to learn English.

 

 

RECOGNITION

 

Superintendent Welch commended Communication and Community Relations Manager Rexanne Forbes for the excellent job she did coordinating the 2007-08 United Way Campaign.   Because of Rexanne’s efforts, Highline increased its total giving to over $72,000 this year, netting over $16,000 for the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence.

 

 

COMMUNICATION

 

Community/Staff Organizations and Committee Reports

 

King County Director’s Association Purchasing Department Executive Director Jim Borrow asked that a Board member from the Highline School District consider serving on the Board of Directors for the King County Directors’ Association.  

 

 

Scheduled Communication

 

Renee Crotty, 19253 33rd Avenue S., SeaTac, expressed her concerns regarding parking issues at Bow Lake Elementary School and recommended a number of changes to resolve the problems.

 

Cheryl Forbes, 5008 S. 182nd Street, SeaTac, commented on the lack of accessibility of restrooms on weekends for Little League and soccer parents/children, and inquired as to what happened to the request for the SeaTac Parks and Recreation Department to be able to open and lock the restrooms at the Bow Lake Elementary site.  Superintendent Welch said he would ask someone from Facilities to follow-up with her regarding her question.

 

Hansel Horton, 2736 S. 180th St., SeaTac, stated he would like to know how Bow Lake Elementary’s WASL testing scores compared to other schools’ scores in the district, and whether or not the school is receiving the same educational approach to address the WASL as other schools.  Superintendent Welch said he would talk with his staff and get back to Mr. Horton regarding his question.

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

Superintendent Welch read a proclamation acknowledging Classified School Employee Week and asked Local 763 Shop Stewards Alita White, Betty Albright, Rose Clark, and Ed Smith, President/Business Agent Evie Gradilla, and Business Agent Jason Powell to come forward and accept copies of the proclamation on behalf of their union employees, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Jan May accepted on behalf of the Administrative/Executive Assistants’ group; read a proclamation supporting the NEA’s Read Across America Program; reported on the meeting that Deputy Superintendent Dr. Carla Jackson and he had with the Highline Council PTSA; remarked on the meeting that Board Member Bernie Dorsey and he had with staff members at the Academy of Citizen and Empowerment; announced that OSPI asked the district to participate in a Competency Think Tank on March 5; mentioned a conversation he had with the City of Burien regarding the proposed Community Center and when they will put the initiative on the ballot; and reminded Board members of the upcoming PSESD dinner meeting for board members.

 

 

MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Consent Agenda

 

Bernie Dorsey requested Policy 2125 be amended to include teaching regarding caring for infants and young children.  A Board discussion followed.  It was agreed that the curriculum would include teaching the caring for infants and young children.

 

Julie Burr Spani asked that the Policy 2126 under Aids Prevention Education be more specific and includes teaching that research shows that condoms and other means of protection are important for youth who are sexually active.  Board members supported her suggestion.

 

Since Potential Adoption of Three (3) New Board Policies in the 2000 Series was a “first reading” and no action was required, the above suggestions will be included in the policies when they are brought to the Board for approval.

 

1.            Potential Adoption of Three (3) New Board Policies in the 2000 Series – First Reading.  Briefing only, no action taken.

 

2.            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 #203990 through #204190 dated 2/20/2008 for $459,580.45;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #20419 through #204211 dated 2/20/2008 for $3,740,578.72;

ASB Fund warrants #204212 through #204233 dated 2/20/2008 for $10,367.79;

General Fund warrants #204234 through #204399 dated 2/27/2008 for $622,764.98;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #204400 through #204405 dated 2/27/2008 for $2,140,926.74;

ASB warrants #204406 through #204430 dated 2/27/2008 for $28,288.37;

and Trust Fund warrant #204431 dated 2/27/2008 for $27.01.

 

3.            Personnel Matters.  The Board approved two (2) resignations, two (2) new hires, three (3) special coaches, one (1) certificated exception, and one (1) other as listed on the regular agenda; and three (3) resignations, two (2) special coaches, and two (2) others as listed on the supplemental agenda.

 

Bernie Dorsey moved approval of the consent agenda as presented; Susan Goding seconded the motion.

 

The consent agenda was unanimously approved with the suggested amendments to the policies in the 2000 Series.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

1.  Legislative Report

 

No legislative report was given.

 

 

2.  Board and Superintendent Business and Updates

                        

Michael Spear commented on the parking situation at Bow Lake Elementary and reiterated that staff should look into the matter and find a resolution to the matter.

 

Bernie Dorsey remarked on his visit to the Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment with Superintendent Welch.

 

Sili Savusa commended Executive Director of High Schools Max Silverman and his staff on the great job they did regarding all the high school fairs; and mentioned that the Puget Sound Skills Center was inadvertently left out of the promotional video that featured the district’s high schools and that it needed to be included as part of the video.  Superintendent Welch stated that a new video would be filmed next year and that he would ensure that the Puget Sound Skills Center be included in the video to show the full spectrum of high school choices.

 

Julie Burr Spani asked that the Board consider a work/study session regarding sports and extra curricular activities for students.  Susan Goding asked that parents and students be involved in the conversation.  Superintendent Welch said he would review the Work/Study and Presentation Schedule and see where the requested work/study could be added.

 

Julie Burr Spani remarked that several school financing levies were approved in the last election, and remarked that several of the levies would not have passed had it not have been for the Simple Majority legislation.  She inquired as to why the Simple Majority isn’t the same for bond issues.  A Board discussion followed.

                                                                  

3.   Next Steps

 

President Burr Spani announced that on March 10, 2008, from approximately 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Educational Resource and Administrative Center there will be executive sessions concerning legal matters regarding real estate and property lease, personnel, and potential litigation.

 

President Burr Spani also mentioned that the next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held on March 12, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Educational Resource and Administrative Center.

 

 

UNSCHEDULED COMMUNICATIONS

 

Cheryl Forbes, 5008 S. 182nd Street, SeaTac, commented on the Simple Majority legislation matter.

                                                                                                                                       

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

 

President Burr Spani declared the meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m. to a work/study session in the library regarding the 2008-09 Budget.

 

                                                                       

                                                                                                           

 

                                                                                    __________________________________

                                                                                    President, Board of Directors

 

 

 

____________________________

 Secretary to the Board