HIGHLINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DISTRICT NO. 401 – KING COUNTY

 

Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting

 

October 24, 2007

                                                                                                                                                                 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Matt Pina called the meeting to order at ­6:10 p.m. in the gymnasium at McMicken Heights Elementary School.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

McMicken Heights Elementary School fourth grader Adrian Cortez led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

ROLL CALL

 

Board members present:

Matt Pina, President

Julie Burr Spani, Vice President

Phyllis Byers

Susan Goding

Tom Slattery

 

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

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

Mark Finstrom, Director/Technology Services

Marianna Goheen, Director/College and Career

Nancy Pappas Barnhart, Director/Recruiting and Retention

Susan Wood-Megrey, Interim Director/Curriculum

Kim O’Neil, Assistant Director/Employee Services and Labor Relations

Rexanne Forbes, Manager/Communication and Community Engagement

Jacqueline Martinez-Vasquez, Manager/Family and Community Partnerships


APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Phyllis Byers moved approval of the October 10, 2007, executive session and regular board meeting minutes as presented; Susan Goding seconded the motion.

 

The minutes were approved as presented.

 

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

Susan Goding moved approval of the agenda; seconded by ­­­­­Julie Burr Spani.

 

The agenda was unanimously approved.

 

 

PRINCIPAL WELCOME

 

McMicken Heights Elementary School Principal Tom Symons welcomed the Board and community; thanked Adrian Cortez for leading the Pledge of Allegiance; thanked Music Specialist Thara Cooper and the Cougar Beat for providing musical entertainment before the meeting; referenced the comfortable chairs courtesy of  Neighborhood Life Center Church; announced the Trunk and Treat event taking place in the school parking lot on October 31; expressed his appreciation for the district’s dedication to teaching and supporting teachers through coaching; introduced McMicken Math Coach Laura Bohn and asked her to comment on the math program at the school. After Ms. Bohn shared her experiences with the Board, Principal Symons closed his welcome by introducing staff members that were present.

 

 

COMMUNICATION

 

Community/Staff Organizations and Committee Reports

 

United Way Coordinator and Communication and Community Engagement Manager Rexanne Forbes showed a short video to kick-off the district’s United Way campaign; addressed how employees could designate the Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence as their contribution recipient; and shared how the organization assists individuals from all walks of life.

 

 

Scheduled Communication

 

There was no scheduled communication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

 

Superintendent Welch thanked Ms. Forbes for serving as this year’s United Way coordinator and expressed his appreciation regarding her work with the campaign; commented on his meeting with district administrators and the faith-based leaders in the community to see where the district might partner our efforts to help the youth in our district, (noting the importance of the separation of church and state); expressed gratitude to the Communication and Community Engagement Department for coordinating the event; remarked on this year’s After High School Fair that took place at Evergreen, and reiterated how impressed he was with the event; expounded on the meeting he had with senators to give legislators an overview regarding the Early Learning Initiative work going on in the district; referenced conversations the City of Burien is having with legislators regarding attracting and retaining teachers in our district; and gave an update on where the district is regarding the upcoming bond sale.

 

 

MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

 

Tom Slattery pulled item #1 – Approval of 2007-2008 Addendum to Contractual Agreement for Financing and Operation of Puget Sound Skills Center.

 

2.   Admittance of Foster High School into the Seamount League for the 2008-09 School Year.  Briefing only, no action taken.

 

3.   Capital Facilities Improvement Plan – Cedarhurst Elementary School Replacement Project – Change Order No. 9 (Impact of July 14, 2007, Fire).  The Board approved Change Order No. 9 (impact of July 14, 2007, fire) on Bid No. 05/06-7 to Babbit Neuman Construction Company for the required replacement of items damaged by the fire in the amount of $1,659,377.92, plus Washington State sales tax, and authorized the superintendent or his designee to sign all documents necessary to initiate this change order.

 

4.   Capital Facilities Improvement Plan – Mount Rainier High School Replacement Project – Change Order No. 50.  The Board approved Change Order No. 50 on Bid No. 02/03-16 to Lydig Construction for additional temporary heating and ventilation in the amount of $334,500, plus Washington State sales tax, the general contractor’s costs of $11,708, and authorized the superintendent or his designee to sign all documents necessary to initiate this change order.

 

5.   Management-Professional Schedule 1 & 2, 2007-2008.  The Board approved the revised Management-Technical Salary Schedules 1 & 2 for the 2007-2008 school year.

 

6.   Annual Board Administrative Support Stipend 2007-2008.  The Board approved the Annual Board Administrative Support Stipend 2007-2008 for administrative support for the 2007-2008 school year.

 

7.   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 #199596 through #199752 dated 10/17/2007 for $480,483.28;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #199753 through #199773 dated 10/17/2007 for $1,137,341.85;

ASB Fund warrants #199774 through #199796 dated 10/17/2007 for $10,568.87;

Trust Fund warrant #199797 dated 10/17/2007 for $52.78;

General Fund warrants #199798 through #199948 dated 10/24/2007 for $390,356.10;

Capital Projects Fund warrants #199949 through #199992 dated 10/24/2007 for $3,711,456.35;

and ASB Fund warrants #199993 through #200010 dated 10/24/2007 for $13,706.33.

 

8.   Personnel Matters.  The board approved five (5) new hires, one (1) certificated exception, and two (2) others listed in the regular agenda and three (3) resignations, nine (9) new hires, one (1) new hire – retire/rehire, two hundred seventy-two (272) supplemental contracts, and one (1) other as listed in the supplemental agenda.     

 

9.   Administrative Salary Schedule 2 (2007-2008).  The Board approved the preliminary Administrative Salary Schedule 2 (2007-2008) pending completion of a final agreement.                                                                      

 

Tom Slattery moved approval of the revised Consent Agenda; Susan Goding seconded the motion.

 

The Consent Agenda was unanimously approved as revised.

 

 

MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

 

Approval of 2007-2008 Addendum to Contractual Agreement for Financing and Operation of Puget Sound Skills Center. 

 

Board Member Tom Slattery pulled item #1, 2007-2008 Addendum to Contractual Agreement for Financing and Operation of Puget Sound Skills Center, noting that the item would be considered at the November 7 Board meeting.

 

PRESENTATIONS

 

Technology Services Director Mark Finstrom gave an overview of the district’s Instructional Technology Plan Compliance Component as it relates to the State’s requirements; gave examples of how the district is integrating technology in schools; and presented the district’s Student Information System (SIS) Plan.

 

A Board discussion followed Mr. Finstrom’s presentation.

 

Communication and Community Engagement Director Catherine Carbone Rogers and Family and Community Partnerships Manager Jackie Martinez-Vasquez gave a presentation on the Cultural Competency Vision for the district; and reported on the recent cultural competency training given to the Administrative Forum.

 

A Board discussion followed the presentation regarding how the district measures achievements concerning cultural competency; and reiterated the importance of a systemic, comprehensive approach to cultural competency.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

1.  Legislative Report

 

No legislative report was given.

 

2.  Other Business

 

Julie Burr Spani urged community members to contact friends and family regarding the importance of the Simple Majority legislation on the November ballot; and referenced a study time-line regarding the proposed re-configuration of middle schools.

 

Susan Goding remarked on the math plan presented at the last Board meeting and questioned the strategy of the plan. A Board discussion followed Ms. Goding’s comments. The Board agreed the pilot would be evaluated before implementing a district-wide plan.

 

Matt Pina gave an update on his work with the Highline Forum; reported there is not a plan for a fourth runway at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport; commented on the Student Enrollment Summary and the over-crowding in some of the new schools; and mentioned the Spanish class he is taking and remarked how it has helped him relate to the district’s ELL students.

                  

Superintendent Welch commented on the Spanish class and thanked the ELL Department for putting the program together; remarked that he is proposing another Board transition work/study to be held on December 4; and announced that on November 7 the public will have the opportunity to recognize those Board members who will be leaving the Board come December.

                                           

3.  Next Steps

 

The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held on November 7, 2007, in the Board Room of the Educational Resource and Administrative Center; preceding the Board meeting, there will also be a work/study session regarding the Board’s legislative agenda.

 

 

UNSCHEDULED COMMUNICATIONS

 

There was no unscheduled communication.

 

                                                                                                                                                

ADJOURNMENT

 

Tom Slattery moved the meeting be adjourned; Susan Goding seconded the motion.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

President Pina declared the meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                            __________________________________

                                                                                    President, Board of Directors

 

 

____________________________

 Secretary to the Board