HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DISTRICT NO. 401 – KING COUNTY

 

Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting

 

March 12, 2008

                                                                                                                                                                 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

President Burr Spani called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. in the Board Room of the Educational Resource and Administrative Center.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

Jim Rogers of Rogers and Norman 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

Angus Mairs, Executive Director/K-12 Curriculum Design & Alighment

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

Nancy Pappas Barnhart, Director/Recruiting and Retention

Susan Wood-Megrey, Interim Director/Curriculum

Michael Sita, Coordinator/Secondary Alternative Programs

 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Susan Goding moved approval of the February 27, 2008, regular Board meeting minutes and the March 10, 2008, executive session minutes as presented; Michael Spear seconded the motion.

 

The minutes were approved as presented.

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

President Burr Spani requested the agenda be modified to include dialogue under the “Discussion” section of the agenda regarding the proposed easement for Emerald Point.

 

Susan Goding moved approval of the modified agenda; seconded by Bernie Dorsey.

 

The modified agenda was approved unanimously.

 

 

COMMUNICATION

 

Community/Staff Organizations and Committee Reports

 

Highline Education Association President Stacie Hawkins referenced the Accountability work/study session taking place after the Board meeting; commented on what accountability looks like for teachers and students in the classroom; read a portion from the book Accountability for Learning by Douglas Reeves that addressed the purpose of accountability, and the importance of acknowledging positive successes as well as confronting failure or challenges; and expressed her hope that administration would approach the matter in a thoughtful, intentional, and professional manner.

 

 

Scheduled Communication

 

Marvin Jahnke, 12112 26th Avenue SW, Burien, commented on his environmental concerns regarding the Emerald Point/Westmark Project; and asked that tonight’s minutes reference the January 23, 2008, Public Hearing at which a number of community members expressed their opposition to the Highline School District selling or granting an easement to Westmark for the Emerald Pointe project.

 

Superintendent Welch asked Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Geri Fain to clarify the district’s responsibility regarding an environmental impact statement and SEPA review. 

 

Ms. Fain explained that the City of Burien is responsible for the Environmental Impact Study (EIS); stated the district is required to go through the SEPA process when the district is involved with major construction or renovation; mentioned that since this is not a district development or construction project, the district does not complete a SEPA review; and reiterated the fact that the district has no authority over the Westmark Development project.

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

Superintendent Welch read a proclamation acknowledging March 17-23 as School Retirees Appreciation Week and presented the proclamation to Southwest King School Retirees’ Association board members Chris Rohr and Nancy Rudy; introduced Angus Mairs as the new executive director of K-12 Curriculum Design & Alignment; reported on his visit with Beverly Park Elementary School kindergarten parents regarding the vision for preparing all children for college and career, and the Guaranteed Education Tuition program (GET); commented on the Para Los Ninos open house he attended; announced that Aviation High School received a $600,000 grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation; mentioned a visit from Oregon’s Central Point School District to observe our teachers instructional practices in literacy at Shorewood Elementary School and the Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment; announced that the Academy of Citizenship and Empowerment was featured in the University of Washington’s newsletter as a place for quality instructional practice; noted that the Evergreen campus schools were featured for their work in the Learning Network (which is a publication by the Small Schools Project); announced the following athletics achievements at the state competitions for the AAA division: Mount Rainier High School Boys’ Basketball Team took 4th place in their division, Jesus Torres from Tyee’s Boys’ Wrestling Team came in 2nd  in his division, and a person in the audience reported that Siri Berg of Highline High School’s Girls’ Wrestling Team came in 2nd  in her division; remarked that congress is exploring the possibility of legislation that would provide economic stimulus funding; noted that this week the high school reading and writing portion of the WASL is taking place, and thanked staff for their work relating to the WASL; and pointed out that the high school math and science portions will take place in April, along with all the subjects related to elementary and middle schools.

 

 

MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Consent Agenda

 

1.                  Policy 4321 Revision – Promotions and Advertising – First Reading.  Policy 4321 Revision – Promotions and Advertising was a briefing only, no action taken.

 

2.                  Donation to Hazel Valley Elementary School.  The Board approved the $3500 donation from Hazel Valley PTA for the sole purpose of purchasing emergency kits for the students and teachers at Hazel Valley Elementary School. President Burr Spani expressed her appreciation, on behalf of the Board, for the donation.

 

 

 

3.                  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 $129,001.00;

Payroll automatic deposits dated 2/29/2008 for $6,013,776.48;

Payroll wire tax transfer dated 2/29/2008 for $2,255,864.89;

General Fund warrants #204432 through #204530 dated 2/28/2008 for $3,149,679.33;

Capital Projects Fund warrant #204531 dated 2/28/2008 for $171,547.60;

General Fund warrants #204532 through #204762 dated 3/05/2008 for $960,953.09;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #204763 through #204787 dated 3/05/2008 for $238,544.95;

ASB Fund warrants #204788 through #204823 dated 3/05/2008 for $46,057.26;

General Fund warrants#204824 through #205064 dated 3/12/2008 for $323,796.46;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #205065 through #205092 dated 3/12/20008 for $2,304,488.25;

ASB Fund warrants #205093 through #205119 dated 3/12/2008 for $16,686.43

and Trust Fund warrant #205120 through #205121 dated 3/12/2008 for $467.43.

                                     

4.         Personnel Matters.  The Board approved six (6) resignations, two (2) new hire – teacher cadre, three (3) new hires, three (3) special coaches, and three (3) 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 as presented.

 

 

UNSCHEDULED COMMUNICATIONS

 

There was no unscheduled communication.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

1.  Legislative Report

 

Superintendent Welch reported that the Capital Budget included the district’s noise mitigation funding of $1.5 million and Aviation High School dollars for design.

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Board and Superintendent Business and Updates

 

Westmark/Emerald Point Property

President Burr Spani commented on the potential sale or easement regarding the Westmark/Emerald Point property; shared facts surrounding to the property issue; assured the community that the Board is taking all of the comments and communications they have received into consideration; and reiterated that a decision will not be made until after the final EIS has been received.  A Board discussion followed President Burr Spani’s remarks.

 

President Burr Spani congratulated Susan Goding for being appointed to serve on the KCDA Purchasing Board.

 

President Burr Spani commented on a letter Board members received concerning starting high school at a later time, and asked for a work/study session regarding the matter.  Superintendent Welch stated he would discuss the matter with Alan Spicciati and ask him to obtain research on the subject and then staff will analyze how the change might affect the overall district. A Board discussion followed.

                                                                                           

3.   Next Steps

 

The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held on March 26, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. at Cedarhurst Elementary School.  There will also be a work/study session that night regarding 2000 (Instruction) Policies.

 

                                                                                                                                                

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

President Burr Spani declared the meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m. to two work/study sessions: 1) the continuation of the Capital Facilities Plan & Future Bond work/study, and 2) a work/study regarding Panasonic/Accountability.

 

                                                                       

                                                                   

President, Board of Directors

 

 

 

 Secretary to the Board