HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DISTRICT NO. 401 –
Minutes of
February
25, 2009
CALL TO ORDER
President Dorsey called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. in the cafeteria
at
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Bernie
Dorsey President
Sili
Savusa, Vice President
Julie
Burr Spani
Susan
Goding
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
Susan Smith Leland, Executive Director/Finance &
Business Services
Terri LePenske, Executive Director/Student Support
Services
Angus Mairs, Executive Director/Instruction Design
and Development
Max Silverman, Executive Director/High Schools
Don Waring, Executive Director/Human Resources
Catherine Carbone Rogers, Director/Communication and
Community Engagement
Tony Zeman, Director/Security and Safety
Branden Mitchell, Coordinator/K-12 Literacy
Jackie Martinez-Vasquez, Manager/Family and
Community Partnerships
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Michael Spear moved the minutes of the February 11, 2009, regular Board
meeting be revised concerning the motion to table the discussion regarding the
Puget Sound Skills Center; Sili Savusa
seconded the motion. The motion to correct the minutes was unanimously
approved.
Susan Goding moved approval of the February 11, 2009, regular Board
meeting as revised per Mr. Spear’s request; Julie Burr Spani seconded the
motion. The minutes were approved with the noted changes.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Michael Spear moved that the agenda
be revised to allow him five minutes for conversation under the “Board and
Superintendent Business and Updates” portion of the agenda; Susan Goding
seconded the motion.
Susan Goding moved approval of the agenda as revised; Michael Spear
seconded the motion.
The agenda was unanimously approved as revised.
HOST PRINCIPAL
Mount View Elementary School Principal Mark Demick welcomed the Board,
Superintendent Welch, and guests; commented on the school’s vision of rigor,
relationship, and relevance; referenced family and community organizations that
partner with the staff to keep the “lights of learning” on at the school and through
after-school programs; announced the school has received a grant to provide
summer school this year; declared how proud he is of the students at Mount View
Elementary; mentioned that Mount View Elementary will be a dual language school
where students will have the opportunity to learn two languages; thanked
community organizations for their work at the school; remarked on how the
school is helping each student succeed, not only academically but socially as
well; and Mount View Elementary students Uziel Martinez and Shani Calamiong
(along with her friend Angelica Gil) recited their poems that were selected to
compete in the SCORES national poetry slam in
President Dorsey thanked the students from
COMMUNICATION
Community/Staff
Organizations and Committee Reports
Highline Education Association President Stacie Hawkins remarked on
legislation concerns; read a petition from school district employees asking the
Board not to endorse HB 1410/ SB 5444, or its replacement (HB 2261), stating
the bill does not address funding solutions; and asked the Board to ensure all
voices, including teachers, are heard when considering changes.
Scheduled Communication
Julie Kastien, 14405 24th Avenue SW, Burien, commented on
the Washington Education Association’s and the Highline Education Association’s
concerns regarding current legislation issues and the state’s budget deficit; stated
that years of under-funding for basic education from the state is at a critical
stage; remarked that statewide cuts to students’ learning can no longer be
tolerated, and that reform must come with revenue; and mentioned the groups
support the prototype for school-model funding for basic education.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Superintendent Welch announced that Julie Hunter has been selected as
the next principal at Mount Rainier High School; read a proclamation for Read
Across America and asked Highline Education Association President Stacie
Hawkins to accept the proclamation; read a proclamation in honor of Classified
School Employee Week and asked Deborah Pierson, Carla Nakashima, Rose Clark,
Kevin Youngs, and Jan May to accept a copy of the proclamation on behalf of
their employee groups; and mentioned President Dorsey, Stacie Hawkins, and he attended
a Working Together staff meeting at Big Picture, noting the role Big Picture plays
in the district, and pointed out what a great job Big Picture High School is
doing.
President Dorsey reiterated the positive impact
MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD
ACTION
Consent Agenda
Michael Spear pulled item #1, Revised Policy 1105 - Director
Districts for Adoption, to discuss his concern over the new policy points
recommended for Policy 1105 should district property change hands, and felt the
language could be an issue. Superintendent Welch stated the matter hadn’t been
resolved, and said he would follow-up on the question and suggested the item be
removed from the Consent Agenda.
Michael Spear moved that item #1, Revised Policy 1105 –
Director District Boundaries be pulled from the Consent Agenda and brought back
at a subsequent date; Sili Savusa seconded the motion.
The Consent Agenda was unanimously approved as revised.
2. Donation
to
3. Approval
of Vouchers and Warrants (voucher review for February 11 through February 18, 2009). 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 #215882 through #215883
dated 2/06/2009 for $78,490.21;
General Fund warrants #215884 through #216060
dated 2/11/2009 for $529,850.73;
Capital Projects Fund warrants #216061 through
#216085 dated 2/11/2009 for $2,430,417.99;
ASB Fund warrants #216086 through #216104 dated
2/11/2009 for $14,545.93;
Trust Fund warrant #216105 dated 2/11/2009
for $432.25;
General Fund warrants #216106 through #216274
dated 2/18/2009 for $971,459.11;
Capital Projects Fund warrants #216275
through #216294 dated 2/18/2009 for $1,092,980.22;
ASB Fund warrants #216295 through #216314
dated 2/18/2009 for $23,852.75;
and Trust Fund warrants #216315 through #216316
dated 2/18/2009 for $235.60.
4. Personnel
Matters. The Board approved three
(3) resignations, four (4) new hires, four (4) supplemental contracts, and one
(1) other as listed on the regular agenda; and two (2) new hires, eight (8)
supplemental contracts, and one (1) other as listed on the supplemental agenda.
Michael Spear moved
approval of the revised Consent Agenda; Julie Burr Spani seconded the motion.
The consent agenda
was unanimously approved as revised.
PRESENTATION
Deputy Superintendent
Dr. Carla Jackson, Executive Director of Instructional Design & Development
Angus Mairs, Executive Director of Elementary and Middle Schools Steve Grubb,
Executive Director of High Schools Max Silverman, and Coordinator of K-12
Literacy Branden Mitchell gave an update on the K-12 Reading and Writing Plan, specifically
addressing areas of powerful literacy instruction, effective teacher support, how
students are learning, and current and upcoming developments.
A Board discussion
followed the presentation.
1. Legislative Report
Susan Goding gave an update regarding new
legislation being presented to the legislature, and specifically referenced HB 1410
and SB 5444 being replaced by new legislation and remarked on funding issues.
President Dorsey wanted clarification regarding HS
1410 and SB 5444 being changed and the legislation now is HS 2261. Michael Spear added that Board members will
receive a copy of legislative bill SB 6048 in their Friday packet.
2. Board and Superintendent Business and Updates
Sili Savusa commented that high school fairs should not
be scheduled on Board meeting nights, and remarked regarding the information
card that was sent to the community.
Michael Spear welcomed incoming Mount Rainier High
School Principal Julie Hunter to the district, and thanked Heidi Geise for her
leadership when serving as the interim principal at the school; and announced
the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence has hired Nancy Paré as their
new executive director.
President Dorsey postpone his discussion regarding
professional attire guidance for employees to a future meeting.
Michael Spear commented on the urgency of a bullying-
and suicide-prevention program; asked the Board to discuss what can be done to
prevent students being bullied and student suicides; asked Kelly Chatwood of
the Youth Suicide Prevention Program to address any questions the Board might
have regarding piloting a suicide-prevention program.
A Board discussion followed.
Julie Burr Spanif recommended the superintendent, or
his designee, and Mr. Spear get together with Ms. Chatwood to discuss what
can be done to support students. There
was further Board discussion regarding including cultural competency, and
expanding the conversation to include social and emotional learning, as well as
drug prevention.
Superintendent Welch suggested Ms. Chatwood connect
with Executive Director of Student Services Terri LePenske, who supervises the
crisis team and counselors. Superintendent Welch said he would set up a meeting
and then report back to the Board concerning the discussion.
3. Next Steps
President Dorsey announced that the next regularly
scheduled board meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at 6 p.m. in
the Board Room at the Educational Resource and
Janet
Ravenkamp,
Superintendent
Welch asked Susan Smith Leland to respond to the question. Ms. Smith Leland
commented that a small portion of the lottery fund is delegated for schools.
ADJOURNMENT
Julie Burr Spani moved the meeting be adjourned; Susan Goding seconded
the motion.
President Dorsey declared the meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.
__________________________________
President,
____________________________
Secretary to the