HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DISTRICT NO. 401 –
Minutes of
August
22, 2007
CALL TO ORDER
President Pina called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. in the Board
Room of the Educational Resource and
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
Phyllis
Byers
Susan
Goding
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
Andréa Johnson, Executive Director/Facilities
Services
Susan Smith Leland, Executive Director/Finance &
Business Services
Terri LePenske, Executive Director/Special Services
Max Silverman, Executive Director/High Schools
Don Waring, Executive Director/Human Resources
Catherine Carbone Rogers, Director/
Susan Wood-Megrey, Coordinator/K-8 Math and Science
and Interim Director/K-12 Curriculum
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Phyllis Byers moved approval of the August 8, 2007, regular Board
meeting and August 15, 2007, executive session as presented. Susan Goding 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 approved unanimously.
COMMUNICATION
Community/Staff
Organizations and Committee Reports
There were no community/staff organizations or committee reports.
Scheduled Communication
There was no scheduled communication.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Superintendent Welch introduced Johnathan Letcher as the interim
principal of Hazel Valley Elementary School; shared information about two
grants recently awarded to the district: (1) a three-year, $600,000 grant from
the National Center for Family Literacy for comprehensive literacy services for
Hispanic families at Mount View, White Center Heights, and Beverly Park
Elementary Schools and (2) a $140,000 one-year grant (with anticipation of it
being extended over three years) from the International Research and Studies
Program of the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs in Washington,
D.C. to further develop our Speak Your Languages Program at the Puget Sound
Skills Center, where students use their heritage language to become
interpreters; thanked Dr. Steve Grubb for his success in obtaining the Family
Literacy grant and Dave Cotlove for his efforts in obtaining the interpreters
grant; expressed appreciation of the Port of Seattle’s fundraising efforts of
$132,000 to Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence, and through this
endowment 18 scholarship have been awarded to Highline students; remarked on
the professional development opportunities offered by College Success
Foundation this Thursday for secondary counselors; and shared the DVD Hopes and Dreams, which was shown at the
administrative retreat last week focusing on cultural competency and listening
to the parents’ hopes and dreams for their children.
MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD
ACTION
Consent Agenda
Before the Consent Agenda
was read into the record, Julie Burr Spani asked a question about Action Item #4.
Coordinator of K-8 Math and Science and interim K-12 Curriculum Director Susan
Wood-Megrey and Deputy Superintendent Carla Jackson responded to the question
that staff are developing a systematic process by which all curricula will be
reviewed to make sure it aligns with the program and state standards, including
the International Baccalaureate Program.
1.
Resolution No. 2289 – Capital Facilities
Improvement Plan –
2.
Resolution No. 2298 – Approval to Renew
2007-2008 Interdistrict and Interagency Cooperative Agreements to Provide
Services for Students with Disabilities. The
Board adopted Resolution No. 2298 authorizing renewal of interlocal agreements
for the 2007-2008 school year with neighboring school districts for Highline to
provide services to students with disabilities, membership in the eDataDoc
Cooperative; and authorized the superintendent to sign the appropriate
documents.
3.
Resolution No. 2300 – 2007/2008 Budget Adoption. The Board approved Resolution No. 2300 – 2007/2008
Budget Adoption fixing the General Fund Expenditures in the amount of
$167,894,000; Transportation Vehicle Fund expenditures in the amount of
$1,109,000; Capital Projects Fund expenditures in the amount of $136,117,400;
Debit Service Fund expenditures in the amount of $21,460,291; and the
Associated Student Body Program Fund expenditures in the amount of $2,126,500.
4.
Proposed Adoption of Math and Social Studies
Instructional Materials for
5.
Revised Proposed 2007-2008 “Away” Board
Meeting Location Schedule. The Board approved
staff’s recommendation that the away Board meeting schedule for the 2007-2008
school year be as follows:
September 26, 2007 6 p.m. Parkside Elementary
October 24, 2007 6 p.m.
January 23, 2008 6 p.m.
February 27, 2008 6 p.m.
March 26, 2008 6 p.m. Cedarhurst Elementary
April 16, 2008 6 p.m.
May 28, 2008 6 p.m.
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:
Payroll warrants as listed totaling $192,357.64;
Payroll automatic deposits dated 7/31/2007
for $5,630,809.82;
Payroll wire tax transfer dated 7/31/2007 for
$2,121,796.18;
General Fund warrants #197501 through #197638
dated 8/15/2007 for $381,303.55;
Capital Projects Fund warrants #197639
through #197667 dated 8/15/2007 for $6,483,651.68;
ASB Fund warrants #197668 through #197675 dated
8/15/2007 for $7,432.56;
Capital Projects Fund warrant #197676 dated 8/15/2007
for $21,000.00;
Capital Projects Fund warrant #197677 dated
8/16/2007 for $504,092.70;
General Fund warrants #197678 through #197872
dated 8/22/2007 for $430,970.96;
Capital Projects Fund warrants #197873
through #197898 dated 8/22/2007 for $1,182,290.15;
ASB Fund warrants #197899 through #197917
dated 8/22/2007 for $18,136.81;
and Trust Fund warrant #197918 dated 8/22/2007
for $1,000.00.
7. Personnel Matters. The Board approved two (2) resignations, eight (8) new hires, four (4) new hires –
retire/rehire, one (1) supplemental contract, two (2) special coaches, and one
(1) other as listed on the regular agenda; and fifteen (15) resignations, four
(4) new hires – teacher cadre, fifteen (15) new hires, two (2) new hires –
retire/rehire, four (4) supplemental contracts, one (1) special coach, one (1)
new assignment, and four (4) others as listed on the supplemental agenda.
Tom Slattery moved
approval of the consent agenda as presented.
Phyllis Byers seconded the motion.
The consent agenda
was unanimously approved as presented.
There
was no unscheduled communication.
1. Legislative Report
Susan Goding shared information about the America
Competes Act; remarked that Senator Rosemary McCullough plans to put forward
that School Board Directors be required to have seven hours of training each
year and plans for a leadership academy for superintendents and principals.
Tom Slattery discussed House Bill 2148, which would
change state law governing how a district can annex territory in another school
district. Currently, either a simple majority of the district’s voters signing
a petition or a majority of the district’s school board members can initiate
the process. HB 2148 would eliminate the school board’s initiation process. The
Board discussed how Highline might possibly be affected by the annexation of
the north Highline area by either the City of
2. Other
Business
Julie Burr Spani attended
the new teacher orientation where the Highline Schools Foundation for
Excellence presented each new teacher with a gift box filled with coupons from
local businesses. She also promoted the Foundation’s upcoming fundraiser, Rock
‘n Roll Dance & Luau on Saturday, September 22, at the Normandy Park Cove,
where those attending can donate used musical instruments. Ms. Burr Spani also shared information about Scurryin’ Around Burien, which benefits
New Futures, a local non-profit agency that partners with schools, parents, and
local police to bring academic and social success to struggling children in our
community. This event will take place on Sunday, October 7.
Tom Slattery reported that
he attended the Mount View Block Party, where 700 backpacks filled with school
supplies were given to the students. He also noted that the
Susan Goding inquired about discussing policies at Board
meetings. The superintendent
shared the Board work plan
for the coming year in which four meetings are designated for discussing policy
sections and the possibility of converting some of the district’s policy series
to the revised WSSDA policy series. Ms. Goding also discussed her objection of international
flags representing the district’s students. Following comments by each of the
Board members, it was determined that flags are educational tools and not a policy
issue.
Phyllis commented that she
attended the second day of the Administrative Retreat and noted the cultural
competency commitments made by all administrators will be displayed in the ERAC
lobby.
3. Next Steps
Matt Pina announced the Board would hold a regularly
scheduled meeting on September 12, 2007, at 6 p.m., in the Educational Resource
and Administrative Center Board Room.
ADJOURNMENT
Phyllis Byers moved the meeting be adjourned, Susan Goding seconded the
motion.
__________________________________
President,
____________________________
Secretary to the