EVERETT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
EVERETT, WASHINGTON
Regular Meeting
The Board of Directors of Everett Public Schools, Snohomish County, Washington,
held a regular Board meeting on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, beginning at 4:30 p.m., in the
Board Room of the Educational Service Center, 4730 Colby Avenue, Everett,
Washington. Those in attendance were: Carol Andrews, Kristie Dutton, Jessica Olson,
Ed Petersen and Jeff Russell.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
President Petersen called for any revisions to the agenda. There were none. Jeff
Russell moved to adopt the agenda. Kristie Dutton seconded the motion. Board
member Olson moved to amend the agenda to address: 1) posting the audio recordings
of Board meetings on the District website as soon as they are available rather than
waiting until the minutes are approved; 2) amending the format of the voucher lists to
budget codes; and 3) the Board’s recent violation of the Open Public Meetings Act on
the WSSDA listserv. President Petersen called for a second. There was none and the
motion died for lack of a second. President Petersen then called for a vote on the
original motion which had been moved and seconded. The motion passed, with four
Board members voting “yes” and Board member Olson voting “no.”
ADOPTION OF
AGENDA
CONSENT AGENDA
Kristie Dutton moved to approve the Consent Agenda. Jeff Russell seconded the
mo tion.
a. Approval of Minutes (as corrected) (E:206/10);
b. Personnel Report (E:207/10);
c. Voucher Lists (E:208/10);
d. Alternative Programs Annual Report 2009-2010 and Alternative Learning
Experience Programs & Staffing Ratios for 2010-2011 (E:209/10);
e. Interagency Memorandum of Understanding Between the Division of Children and
Family Services and the Everett School District Regarding Educational Stability for
Children in Foster Care (E:210/10);
f. Declaration of Surplus Property (E:211/10);
CONSENT
AGENDA
g. Revisions to Fee Schedules for Community Use of Facilities (E:212/10);
h. International Field Trip—Cascade High School Band & Choir Students Travel to
Beijing, China and Seoul, South Korea in the Spring of 2011 (E:213/10);
i. Classified Non-Represented Non-Exempt 2010-2011 Salary Schedule (E:214/10);
j. Event Support Personnel 2010-2011 Salary Schedule (E:215/10);
k.
Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters 2010-11 Salary Schedule (E:216/10);
l. Everett Professional & Technical 2010-2011 Salary Schedule, Positions on the
Professional & Technical Salary Schedule, and Professional & Technical
Employees Vacation Schedule (E:217/10);
m.
Service Employees International Union Local 925 2010-11 Salary Schedule (E:218/10);
n. Everett Association of Paraeducators 2010-2011 Salary Schedule (E:219/10);
o.
Everett Association of Educational Office Personnel 2010-11 Salary Schedule (E:220/10);
p. Financial Reports as of April 30, 2010 (E:221/10).
The motion carried unanimously.
RECOGNITION OF RETIREES
Two retirees were welcomed: Joann Gutzmer and Doug Kloke.
RECOGNITION OF
RETIREES
PUBLIC COMMENT
President Petersen called on the one individual who asked to make public comment.
Audience Comments Regarding Items Not on the Agenda:
Andrea Meissner—Everett High School parent—Provided written comment as well
as verbal—she is concerned regarding continued harassment of her daughter (E:222/10).
Audience Comments Regarding Items on the Agenda:
None.
PUBLIC
COMMENT
SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS
Dr. Cohn called on Silver Lake Elementary principal Mary O’Brien to share
information about Silver Lake’s school improvement process (E:223/10).
Next, Dr. Cohn circulated a booklet he received recently at a change of command for
Naval Station Everett. Such contacts demonstrate the partnerships our district has with
the military.
SUPT’S
COMMENTS
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
JoAnne Buiteweg, English teacher and English department chairperson at Sequoia High
School, was honored as the 2010-2011 Everett Public Schools Teacher of the Year
(E:224/10). Among those on hand to honor JoAnne were her husband and two children.
TEACHER OF THE
YEAR SELECTION
The Administration provided the Board members (for draft review) with a newly-
revised draft of the 2010-2011 Annual Strategic Plan which was forwarded
electronically to Board members prior to tonight’s meeting (E:225/10). A revised plan
was distributed at tonight’s meeting (attached). Board member feedback was sought.
First reading of this document will come at the June 22 Board meeting, with adoption to
be recommended at a future Board meeting.
2010-2011 ANNUAL
STRATEGIC PLAN
(draft review)
The attached proposed revised Policy 1450—Minutes, was provided for first reading,
with second reading and adoption to be recommended at a future Board meeting and
was done in response to the Board’s request that the Board’s policy instructions be clear
about directors who do not vote on the prevailing side of an issue (E:226/10). In
addition, the proposed revision specifies that the names of directors who abstain on an
issue and their reason for abstaining will be included in Board meeting minutes.
PROPOSED
REVISED POLICY
1450—MINUTES
(regarding “no”
votes & abstentions)
(
1
st
reading
)
The audit reports were provided for the Board of Directors’ information (E:227/10).
Jeff Moore commented, noting that this is the seventh straight year of no audit findings.
WA STATE AUDITOR’S
REPORTS—9/1/08
THRU 8-31-09 (issued
May 17, 2010)
President Petersen moved tonight’s Board Comments ahead of the Action Items.
Board member Dutton thanked her colleagues for attending the Superintendent’s
Scholar awards event and Dr. Cohn for his comments. She also reminded the group of
the upcoming graduation ceremonies later this month.
Board member Russell commended Dr. Cohn for his comments at the Walsh-Platt
event.
Board member Olson said it is a mistake not to be posting the audio recordings of a
Board meeting right after the Board meeting. She also recommended adding the budget
code to the voucher lists. Thirdly, in her opinion there was a violation of the Open
Public Meetings Act on the WSSDA listserv when she, then President Petersen and then
Board member Dutton were part of a discussion about board meeting protocol. This
should not be repeated. President Petersen said an opinion from the Policy & Legal
Services Director at NSBA is that it was not a violation of the OPMA because there was
BOARD
COMMENTS
not a discussion going on among the three Board members and the final response was to
a person in Marysville, not to Mr. Petersen or Ms. Olson. Board member Andrews said
accusing the Board of a violation is premature and not a fair conclusion—it is like a
conversation directors have at a conference—there was no action taken. Ms. Olson
disagreed and provided a copy of the listserv exchange for the record (E:228/10).
Board member Andrews addressed Board member Olson’s statement about the voucher
lists and adding budget codes. In her opinion, doing so would add a lot of paper and
work to the process. Jeff Moore replied that the format search could be endless. Board
member Olson said, at the time of the decision of the approval to modify the format of
the voucher lists, she was under a different impression about the meaning of “category.”
Board member Andrews noted that the Board was supplied three choices for viewing
when deciding about the configuration of the voucher lists and went with the one
currently in use.
President Petersen called for a rest break at 6 p.m.
President Petersen re-convened the regular meeting at 6:10 p.m.
BOARD
COMMENTS
(cont’d.)
ACTION ITEMS
The recommendation was that the Board of Directors adopt Resolution 1000—
Authorization to Issue Contracts to Administrative Supervisory Staff, and Adoption of
Interim Administrative 2010-2011 Salary Schedule 1, Interim Administrative 2010-
2011 Salary Schedule 2, Interim School Administrative 2010-2011 Salary Schedule
(Res. 30/10). Board member Dutton moved to adopt the aforementioned Resolution
1000. Carol Andrews seconded the motion. Discussion followed.
Board member Olson said that no discussion with the Board had occurred prior to
putting the adoption before the Board for action. She noted the presence of car
allowances, vacation buy back and extra days. Dr. Cohn responded that the Board had
received the information previously, the Board had held a closed session to discuss
these professional negotiations and individual Board members had also discussed the
contract terms and salary schedules with the superintendent, including Ms. Olson. Dr.
Cohn said the car allowance is a fairly standard compensation provision for when a staff
member needs to use their own vehicle. The allowances are counted as income for IRS
purposes. The extra days are provided for work above and beyond their regular
contracts. Every effort is made to make compensation packages competitive.
Board member Dutton said she appreciates the work of all of the administrators in the
room—they do awesome work. There is a process in place to ensure that we remain
competitive in our industry. Board member Russell said we do not need to be
apologetic for compensating our administrators well. Public education is the single
most important institution in our society. Board member Olson said the resolution is
neither fair nor equitable and that administrators are getting a four percent increase over
last year.* These numbers were provided on Friday, giving little time for a review. Dr.
Cohn responded that the information was provided beforehand, as noted earlier.
Board member Russell moved the previous question. Board member Dutton seconded
the motion and the motion passed with 4 “yes” and one “no,” that being Board member
Olson. President Petersen moved to a vote on the motion for adoption of Resolution
1000. The vote was four “yes” and one “no,” that being Board member Olson.
ADOPTION OF RES.
1000—AUTHORIZE
ISSUANCE
CONTRACTS TO
ADMIN. SUPV. STAFF
& ADOPTION OF
INTERIM ADMIN. 2010-
2011 SALARY
SCHEDULE 1, INTERIM
ADMIN. 2010-2011
SALARY SCHEDULE 2,
INTERIM SCHOOL
ADMIN. 2010-2011
SALARY SCHEDULE
(
closed session discussion
may be held)
President Petersen recessed the Board into a closed session at 6:40 p.m. to discuss
collective bargaining. The closed session concluded at 7 p.m. and returned to open
session.
ADDENDUM—CLOSED
SESSION REGARDING
COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING
The recommendation was that the Board of Directors authorize the superintendent to
execute the successor collective bargaining agreement between the Everett Education
Association/United Teachers of Everett and Everett School District No. 2 (E:229/10).
Kristie Dutton moved to authorize the superintendent to execute the successor collective
bargaining agreement between the Everett Education Association/United Teachers of
Everett and Everett School District No. 2. Carol Andrews seconded the motion.
Board members Dutton and Andrews thanked the team for their hard work. President
Petersen said it is marvelous to come to an agreement at this time of year.
The motion carried with 4 “yes” and 1 abstention, that being Board member Russell
who abstained because his wife is a teacher in the district and a member of the EEA.
Immediately following the Board’s vote, Superintendent Cohn took a moment to text
Kim Mead, EEA President, to inform her of the results of the Board’s vote.
At 7:10 p.m., President Petersen called for a rest break and for the Board to move to
Conference Room A where the executive session was to be held beginning at 7:15 p.m.
for one hour to review the performance of a public employee.
TENTATIVE
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN EPS &
EEA UNITED
TEACHERS OF
EVERETT
(closed
session discussion
may be held)
WORK/STUDY SESSION
None.
EXECUTIVE/CLOSED SESSION
Because Board member Olson did not join the Board for 15 minutes and the start of the
session was delayed, President Petersen did not begin the executive session until 7:25
p.m. when all Board members were in the conference room. He stepped outside the
room to re-announce that the purpose of the executive session was to evaluate the
performance of a public employee, that the executive session would last approximately
one hour, and that action may be taken afterward.
At 7:40 p.m., Board member Olson left the executive session and did not return to the
Board meeting.
At 8:25 p.m., President Petersen opened the door and said the executive session would
extend for 30 minutes.
At 8:55 p.m., President Petersen opened the door and said the executive session would
extend for 10 minutes.
At 9:05 p.m., President Petersen concluded the executive session and called for a brief
rest break to move to the Board Room to re-convene in open session.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION—
REVIEW THE
PERFORMANCE
OF A PUBLIC
EMPLOYEE
At 9:15 p.m., President Petersen re-convened the regular meeting in the Board Room
for consideration of an addendum action item to approve an addendum to the
superintendent’s contract (E:230/10). Board member Olson was not present.
President Petersen called for a motion to have an addendum to the agenda for action
Action Item 7c—Approve Addendum to Superintendent’s Contract. Kristie Dutton
moved to have the aforementioned addendum added to the agenda. Jeff Russell
seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Carol Andrews moved to
approve the addendum to the Superintendent’s contract. Jeff Russell seconded the
motion and the motion carried unanimously. Board member Dutton thanked Dr. Cohn
for a great year on behalf of District staff and students. President Petersen echoed those
comments and said that Dr. Cohn has addressed the many tasks the Board asked of him
such as community relations, labor relations and board development and
professionalism.
ADDENDUM—
ACTION ITEM—
APPROVE
ADDENDUM TO
SUPT’S
CONTRACT
Dr. Cohn said he appreciates the support of the Board members and their level of
commitment.
*Dr. Cohn noted for the record that there was NOT a four percent salary increase for
cabinet members as was mentioned earlier in the meeting, their salary adjustments are
commensurate with other staff, and that other compensation was re-assigned.
ADDENDUM—
ACTION ITEM—
APPROVE
ADDENDUM TO
SUPT’S
CONTRACT
(cont’d.)
With no further discussion President Petersen adjourned the regular meeting at 9:20 pm.
_____________________________
________________________________
Gary Cohn, Secretary
Ed Petersen, President