HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DISTRICT NO. 401 – KING COUNTY
Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting
April 20, 2009
CALL TO ORDER
President Dorsey called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. in the cafeteria at the Tyee Educational Complex.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Academy of Citizen and Empowerment senior Chasmon Tarimel led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Board members present:
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
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
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
Kim O’Neil, Assistant Director/Employee Services
Bernard Koontz, Coordinator/K-12 ELL
Jackie Martinez-Vasquez, Manager/Family and Community Partnerships
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Sili Savusa moved approval of the April 8, 2009, regular Board meeting and executive session minutes as presented; Julie Burr Spani seconded the motion.
The minutes were approved as presented.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Susan Goding moved approval of the agenda as presented; seconded by Julie Burr Spani.
The agenda was unanimously approved.
HOST PRINCIPALS
SeaTac PTSA President Maudette Richards welcomed the Board and community and introduced Odyssey, The Essential School Principal Joan Ferrigno. Principal Ferrigno had teacher Karen Herschleb and student Jonathan Castro comment on the school’s programs, student demographics, culture, and accomplishments.
Academy of Citizenship & Empowerment Principal Todd Moorhead remarked concerning the success of the transition of Tyee High School to small learning communities. Language Arts teacher Kerry Howe commented on how teachers relate to students concerning learning, how the teachers model citizenship, and talked about the difference the small learning community has made at the campus. Students Chasmon Tarimel and Tafifua Lemautu commented on their learning experiences at the school.
Global Connections Principal Rick Harwood talked about the school’s mission and accomplishments; remarked about the teaching practices used by all teachers; referenced the parent participation at the school; stated the school offered AP classes for all students in 11th and 12th grades; thanked the Solo Ensemble students that entertained the audience before the meeting; and remarked concerning DECA and Marketing projects. ELL teacher Jill Weseman commented on her experience at the school and the positive changes she has observed since converting to a small learning community. Student Roger Maldonado remarked on how the staff encourages and motivates students through experience, leadership, and student-teacher conferences.
PUBLIC HEARING
At 6:40 p.m., President Dorsey recessed the Board meeting to a Public Hearing regarding I-728.
Deputy Superintendent Carla Jackson related this year’s challenges concerning an I-728 funding plan recommendation for 2009-10; referenced the state’s House and Senate proposed budget reductions; and addressed the district’s strategy to have schools share what is most important to them, and then administration will match the needs with the final budget. A Board discussion followed the I-728 presentation.
President Dorsey closed the Public Hearing portion of the meeting and reconvened the regular school board meeting at 6:50 p.m.
COMMUNICATION
Community/Staff Organizations and Committee Reports
Highline Education Association President Stacie Hawkins remarked how proud she is of the level of teacher dedication for the students; mentioned the Working Together staff meetings that Board members, Superintendent Welch and she have attended; referenced her observation of the School Board’s dedication and thoughtfulness; commented on the budget and the difficult choices being made; and remarked concerning budget reductions for central office and non-essential positions.
Scheduled Communication
There was no scheduled communication.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Superintendent Welch acknowledged Administrative Professionals Week, and thanked all of the district’s administrative employees for their valuable contribution; reminded the Board that his year-end evaluation needs to be scheduled; and asked for a moment of silence for Mount Rainier High School student Eric Lewis who passed away last week.
MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION
Consent Agenda
Sili Savusa pulled item 8, Revised Graduation Policy 2410 – First Reading.
1. Resolution No. 2362 Capital Facilities Improvement Plan – McMicken Heights Elementary School Value Replacement Project – Final Acceptance of the Value Analysis Study Report. The Board adopted Resolution No. 2362 – Capital Facilities Improvement Project – McMicken Heights Elementary School Replacement Project – Final Acceptance of the Value Analysis Study Report, approving the report as follows: acceptance of ten (10) of the items as proposed, three (3) items partially accepted, rejection of thirty (30) of the items as proposed, and one (1) comment of clarification. The Board also authorized the staff to incorporate the accepted recommendations into the project.
2. Resolution No. 2367 – Capital Facilities Improvement Plan – Parkside Elementary School Replacement Project - Utility Easement with Puget Sound Energy. The Board adopted Resolution No. 2367 – Capital Facilities Improvement Plan – Parkside Elementary School Replacement Project – Utility Easement to Puget Sound Energy, and authorized the superintendent, or his designee, to sign and deliver all appropriate documents necessary to carry-out the actions authorized by the resolution.
3. Resolution No. 2368 – Interfund Loan Authorization. The Board approved Resolution No. 2368 – Interfund Loan Authorization, for authorization of interfund loans to cover cash flow shortfalls.
4. Resolution No. 2369 - Reduced Educational Program. The Board approved Resolution No. 2369 - Reduced Educational Program, implementing the reduction of the educational program for administrators and certificated staff in the district.
5. Final Acceptance of Two Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc./KCDA Purchase Orders, No. P084332 and No. P084304 - Glacier Site Roof Replacement on the 500 and 300 Buildings. The Board accepted the work completed at the Glacier site by Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc./KCDA related to Purchase Orders No. P084332, the 500 building roof replacement at a cost of $302,350.99, and No. P084304, the 300 building roof replacement at a cost of $329,173.82, plus Washington State sales tax and a KCDA administrative fee.
6. Final Acceptance of Two Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc./KCDA Purchase Orders No. P084759 and No. P084738 – Tyee High School (Tyee Educational Complex) Roof Replacement on the 600 and 300 Buildings. The Board accepted the work completed at Tyee High School (Tyee Educational Complex) by Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc./KCDA related to Purchase Orders No. P084759, the 600 building roof replacement at a cost of $289,314.01, and No. P084738, the 300 building roof replacement at a cost of $289,570.44, plus Washington State sales tax and a KCDA administrative free.
7. King County Investment Pool Agreement Amendment. The Board approved the King County Investment Pool Agreement Amendment, and authorized the superintendent to sign and/or approve any related documents pertaining to the agreement.
9. Parkside School Improvement Plan. The Board approved the Parkside School Improvement Plan for the 2009-2010 school year.
10. Madrona School Improvement Plan. The Board approved the Madrona School Improvement Plan for the 2009-2010 school year.
11. 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 #217539 through #217691 dated 4/08/2009 for $319,537.30;
Capital Projects Fund warrants #217692 through #217713 dated 4/08/2009 for $188,242.52;
ASB Fund warrants #217714 through #217736 dated 4/08/2009 for $34,806.34;
Trust Fund warrant #217737 dated 4/08/2009 for $73.60;
General Fund warrants #217738 through #217875 dated 4/15/2009 for $755,370.27;
Capital Projects Fund warrants #217876 through #217898 dated 4/25/2009 for $1,313,650.08;
and ASB warrants #217899 through #217913 dated 4/15/2009 for $20,503.54.
12. Personnel Matters. The Board approved one (1) resignation and two (2) other as listed on the regular agenda; and seven (7) resignations, one (1) new hire, and one (1) new hire-retire/rehire listed on the supplemental agenda.
Susan Goding moved approval of the consent agenda as revised; Julie Burr Spani seconded the motion.
The revised consent agenda was unanimously approved.
MATTER REQUIRING BOARD ACTION
Revised Graduation Policy 2410 – First Reading.
Sili Savusa asked for clarification of the revised graduation policy. Deputy Superintendent Dr. Carla Jackson and K-12 ELL Coordinator Bernard Koontz addressed Ms. Savusa’s questions.
Sili Savusa moved approval of Revised Graduation Policy 2410 – First Reading; Susan Goding seconded motion. The Board unanimously approved Graduation Policy 2410 for a first reading, with adoption at a subsequent meeting. No action was taken.
PRESENTATION
Deputy Superintendent Carla Jackson, Executive Director of Instructional Design & Development Angus Mairs, and K-12 ELL Coordinator Bernard Koontz gave an update regarding the secondary ELL study; gave illustrations regarding what ELL students experience when they come to America, and how the district meets the needs of children who have a language barrier; remarked on the importance of a culturally responsive teaching and learning plan; commented on core content class teachers who have the ability to reach the ELL students; gave examples of how the teachers are doing coaching and consulting work; showed how the facilitators are increasing classes in social studies and science; mentioned how management is accessing the system; showed what a facilitator’s plan would look like; and commented on the department’s next steps.
A Board discussion followed the presentation.
There was no unscheduled communication.
1. Legislative Report
No legislative report was given.
2. Board and Superintendent Business and Updates
Susan Goding proposed a solution as to how the district should fund athletics and the fine arts programs. A Board discussion followed. The majority of the Board agreed that this was not the time to consider the proposal, and that a decision should be made at a later time so that their direction would include comments from the community councils being formed.
Julie Burr Spani encouraged the Board to visit the Explorers Program at Bow Lake; and announced that she is not going to run again for her Board position and encouraged interested community members, in Area 2, to consider serving on the Board.
Sili Savusa asked teachers to ensure that parents are aware of the upcoming community budget forums–dates and locations.
Superintendent Welch addressed the Evergreen Pool closing in June and asked Board members if they were interested in writing a letter to King County regarding keeping the pool open. The Board supported the superintendent creating a letter for the Board president to sign regarding the matter.
3. Next Steps
President Dorsey announced the following upcoming meetings:
· Three community forums to give the public an opportunity to provide input regarding budget reductions for the 2009-2010 school year: April 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pacific Middle School; April 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Hazel Valley Elementary; and April 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Evergreen Campus, and mentioned that the meetings will be held in the cafeteria at each location.
· A work/study session on May 6, 2009, from 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Cedarbrook Conference Center, in SeaTac, for a School/City Summit with city leaders in our district.
· The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held on May 13, 2009, at 6 p.m. at the Educational Resource and Administrative Center. During the Board meeting, there will be presentations regarding the Math Adoption and Early Learning.
ADJOURNMENT
Susan Goding moved the meeting be adjourned; Michael Spear seconded the motion.
President Dorsey declared the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
__________________________________
President, Board of Directors
____________________________
Secretary to the Board