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, December 9, 2008, 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, Karen Madsen and Ed Petersen. Absent: Sue Cooper.
{Note: Board member Andrews was delayed and did not arrive until 4:40 p.m.}
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| ADOPTION OF AGENDA
President Madsen called for any changes to the agenda. Interim Superintendent Karst Brandsma reported that there would be a revised Personnel Report. With that, Kristie Dutton moved for adoption of the revised agenda. Ed Petersen seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. | ADOPTION OF AGENDA | |
| APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ed Petersen moved for adoption of the minutes of the regular meeting of November 25, 2008. Kristie Dutton seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. | APPROVAL OF MINUTES | |
| Everett Public Schools Policy 1120—Organization of the Board, states, in part, that at the first regular meeting in December, the Board shall elect a president and vice-president to serve one-year terms and, in even-numbered years, a legislative representative who will serve two-year terms. With that, President Madsen called for nominations for the position of Board president. Ed Petersen nominated Sue Cooper. Kristie Dutton seconded the nomination. It was noted in Ms. Cooper’s absence that she had communicated with Ms. Madsen and the superintendent’s office that, if her name was put forth, she would accept the nomination of president (E:73/09). By roll call vote, the election of Sue Cooper to the office of president carried unanimously.
| ELECTION OF OFFICERS | |
| In President Cooper’s absence, outgoing President Madsen called for nominations for the position of Board vice president. Kristie Dutton nominated Ed Petersen and Karen Madsen seconded the nomination. By roll call vote, the election of Ed Petersen to the office of vice president carried unanimously. Ms. Madsen then called for nominations for the position of Board legislative representative.
{Board member Andrews arrived at 4:40 p.m., just in time to accept the nomination of legislative representative.}
Kristie Dutton nominated Carol Andrews and Ed Petersen seconded the nomination and the motion carried unanimously. Ms. Madsen passed the gavel to Vice President Petersen who conducted the remainder of the meeting in the absence of President Cooper.
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| SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS
Mr. Brandsma reported that the District’s Safety Net application is being finalized for submission to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Last year, the District submitted applications for reimbursement during both available ‘windows’ and received approximately $1.2 million. Executive Director for Special Services Kris McDowell reported that this year’s application is for $1,052,609. There are three opportunities to apply. | SUPT’S COMMENTS
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| Several current and past students have been in the news recently. Past graduates Brent Lillibridge (JHS) and Travis Snider (JHS) are professional baseball players. Katie Karsten (EHS) recently appeared on the front page of the Local section of The Herald as a super kid, and Andrew Hopkins (son of Board member Andrews) was pictured with some of the many items his school (Heatherwood Middle School) collected for its food drive.
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| Executive Director for Area One Jim McNally introduced Everett High School Leadership Activities Director Casey Chaffee, who described that school’s work to feed the needy. Every student in the school is involved in this all-out effort which resulted in collecting $7,000 this year. Eighty families were served. Donations also went to Volunteers of America and St. Vincent De Paul. Student organizers Nikki Lauritzen and Hannah Hawkins commented. The Board commended them on their caring and selflessness.
| SUPT’S COMMENTS
(cont’d) | |
| Executive Director for Human Resources Lynn Evans reported that 60 District staff have become National Board certified (E:74/09). Certification is a year-long process that requires teachers to submit a four-part portfolio and a six-exercise content and pedagogy assessment. The portfolio is assessed by a national panel of peers. Lynn called on Valerie Strong (Forest View), Aaron Holmberg (Jefferson), Linda Adams (Special Services) and Carol Tanner (Jackson High), each of whom commented briefly.
A District reception will be held to honor these staff on January 23. | ||
| PUBLIC COMMENT
Vice President Petersen reported that two comment cards had been received. After outlining the guidelines for public comment, he called on: 1) Barbara Bailey—Snohomish County resident and a co-chair of Stewards of the Land & Community—She read from a prepared text which was also distributed to the Board and included a copy of the Hearing Officer’s decision as well as demographic information (E:75/09). Her group is opposed to the placement of more radio towers in the Snohomish Valley, one of the reasons being that children within 3.7 miles of AM radio towers may be twice as likely to develop leukemia. She urged the District to take a position on this issue. 2) Andrea Day—Snohomish County resident—She also spoke in opposition to the radio towers and expressed concern regarding health issues for children. | PUBLIC COMMENT
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RECOGNITION OF RETIREES
None. | RECOGNITION OF RETIREES
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| ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
Financial reports as of September 30, 2008 and October 31, 2008 were provided for the Board of Directors’ review (E:76/09). The reports include year-to-date information on revenues and expenditures, General Fund projections, a cash report and an investment summary. Director of Finance Jeff Moore said the ending funding balance was slightly under the five percent target. Patterns are being monitored closely. |
FINANCIAL REPORTS | |
| The attached information about the purchase and implementation of a new Algebra Review course text was provided to the Board for first reading, with adoption to be recommended at a future Board meeting (E:77/09). The District will implement an Algebra Review course at District high schools in the Spring of 2009. This course will review the major concepts and skills of Algebra 2 and prepare students for the college math placement examination. Students will take the Asset examination in partnership with the community college. Those who pass the exam will qualify for college math placement at the community college level.
Chief Academic Officer Terry Edwards said this course is part of the District’s math renewal process. The text has been reviewed by District math teachers, the math facilitators, the District Instructional Materials Committee and has been found to be free of gender and ethnic bias and is of high quality. It is a semester course beginning in the spring and will help the students brush up and sharpen their skills. | ADOPTION OF NEW MATH TEXTBOOK FOR COLLEGE ALGEBRA REVIEW: ALGEBRA 2 PEARSON/ PRENTICE HALL COPYRIGHT 2009—first reading
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| The Administration provided information on how the District used student achievement funds during the 2007-2008 school year and what was accomplished with this funding (E:78/09). The dual goals of the Student Achievement Funds are to increase student achievement and increase on-time graduation rates for all students. Student achievement funds have become the single most important source of categorical funding for the District. During the 2007-2008 school year, the District received in excess of $8,000,000 from the State of Washington. These funds help the District reduce class size, provide extended day learning opportunities for students, early learning assistance, facility improvements for class size or extended day programs and professional development opportunities for staff. Terry Edwards reviewed the evening’s PowerPoint presentation.
| STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT FUND REPORT
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| The Administration reported on District efforts to support professional growth for teachers (E:79/09). Lynn Evans opened the presentation and was quickly followed by Dr. Betty Cobbs, Director of Teacher Assistance and Mentoring, who reviewed, via PowerPoint, the District’s Teacher Assistance Program, workshop topics, support provided and feedback. She then reviewed the role of the mentors. Next, Mary Ann Stine, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, talked about the professional growth continuum for teachers, professional certification, National Board Certification and research. She reviewed the differences between National Board Certification and professional certification.
| SUPPORTING PROFESSIONAL GROWTH FOR TEACHERS
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| The attached proposed revised Policy 3250—Release of Student Directory Information, was provided to the Board of Directors for first reading, with adoption to be recommended at a future Board meeting (E:80/09). The proposed changes include clarifications to the definition as well as removal of the student’s date of birth and inclusion of grade level as part of student directory information. Director of Communications Mary Waggoner commented.
| PROPOSED REV. POLICY 3250—RELEASE OF STUDENT DIRECTORY INFO
(clarifying the definition, removing date of birth & including grade level)—first reading
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| ACTION ITEMS
Kristie Dutton moved for approval of the revised Consent Agenda. Karen Madsen seconded the motion. |
CONSENT AGENDA | |
| 1) Personnel Report (E:81/09);
2) Voucher Lists (E:82/09); 3) Proposed Revised Policy 3240—Student Conduct (clarification of discipline relating to field trips) (E:83/09); 4) Proposed Revised Policy 4215 - Title I, Part A, Parental Involvement (regarding parental involvement in Title I schools) (E:84/09); 5) Proposed Revised Policy 4316—Notification of Threats of Violence or Harm (regarding addition of a threat assessment team) (E:85/09); 6) Proposed Revised Policy 5140—Tobacco Use Policy (regarding employee violation of the policy) (E:86/09); 7) Award of Bid for the Building Network Infrastructure Modernization Data – Package 4 (Gateway & North Middle Schools, Lowell & Madison Elementary Schools) (E:87/09); 8) Agreement Between Everett Public Schools & Northwest School of Innovative Learning for Education Services to Specific Students of Everett Public Schools (E:88/09); The motion carried unanimously. |
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| The Administration recommended the Board of Directors adopt Resolution 931: Triway Grange Quit Claim Deed (Res. 13/09). Snohomish County is in the process of acquiring approximately 4,550 square feet of property along Seattle Hill Road from the Triway Grange 1093 for road improvement purposes, and has asked the District for a quit claim deed to the property as well. This is because in 1939, Consolidated School District No. 331 (the predecessor to Everett School District No. 2) deeded this property to the Triway Grange with the stipulation that it will revert back to the District if the grange is ever dissolved or does not maintain and use the property. At the current time, the District claims no title or interest in the portion of the property being acquired by Snohomish County.
Director of Facilities and Planning Mike Gunn commented. He noted that legal counsel has reviewed the document. Following a brief discussion, Karen Madsen moved to adopt the aforementioned Resolution 931. Kristie Dutton seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. | RESOLUTION 931: TRIWAY GRANGE QUIT CLAIM DEED
RESOLUTION 931: TRIWAY GRANGE QUIT CLAIM DEED (cont’d. ) | |
| BOARD COMMENTS
Board member Madsen reported that she attended a meeting in Olympia of the Joint Task Force. Vice President Petersen noted that tomorrow, there will be a ceremony at Hawthorne Elementary School naming that school’s library in honor of Shirley Walthall. Board member Madsen shared an update of the superintendent search process. Vice President Petersen called a ten-minute rest break at 6:25 p.m. Vice President Petersen re-convened the regular meeting at 6:35 p.m. | BOARD
COMMENTS | |
| BOARD ACTION AND/OR BOARD DISCUSSION
The Administration provided a budget update. Karst Brandsma reported that he, Karen Madsen and Bob Collard were recently invited to tell the ‘Everett Public Schools story’ on getting each student to standard. They presented to the Early Learning and K-12 Senate Education Committee in Olympia. He and Board member Madsen reviewed the PowerPoint presentation for the meeting (E:89/09). He distributed an article from the Seattle Times, a memo about the District’s economic outlook and budget readiness, and a draft list of cost-savings measures for immediate implementation. |
STUDY SESSION—BUDGET UPDATE | |
| Vice President Petersen adjourned the regular meeting at 7:40 p.m.
_______________________________ ________________________________ Karst Brandsma, Secretary Ed Petersen, Vice President _________________________________ Karen Madsen, Outgoing President |