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, February 24, 2009, 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, Sue Cooper, Kristie Dutton, Karen Madsen and Ed Petersen.
[Note: Karen Madsen was late in arriving due to traffic.]
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| ADOPTION OF AGENDA
President Cooper called for any changes to the agenda. Interim Superintendent Karst Brandsma reported that there would be a revised Personnel Report. He further requested that Item 9c—Recess for Middle School Art Show Reception, and Item 9d—Executive Session to Review the Qualifications of an Applicant for Public Employment, be deleted as they were no longer necessary. Thirdly, he asked that an addendum to the agenda be inserted immediately following Item 1—Adoption of Agenda, for an Executive Session to Review the Performance of a Public Employee. He estimated that the executive session would be of approximately ten minutes’ duration. With that, Kristie Dutton moved for adoption of the revised agenda. Ed Petersen seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. | ADOPTION OF AGENDA | |
| BOARD ACTION AND/OR DISCUSSION
At 4:35 p.m., immediately following adoption of the revised agenda, President Cooper recessed into executive session to review the performance of a public employee. She announced that the executive session would be of approximately ten minutes in duration. [Note: Board member Madsen arrived at 4:40 p.m.] At 4:45 p.m., President Cooper re-convened the regular Board meeting and moved to Approval of Minutes. | ADDENDUM—EXECUTIVE SESSION—REVIEW THE PERFORMANCE OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
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| APPROVAL OF MINUTES
· Karen Madsen moved for adoption of the minutes of the special Board meeting of February 6, 2009. Ed Petersen seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. · Ed Petersen moved for adoption of the minutes of the special Board meeting of February 9, 2009. Kristie Dutton seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. | APPROVAL OF MINUTES | |
| Kristie Dutton moved for adoption of the minutes of the regular meeting of February 10, 2009. Ed Petersen seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
· Carol Andrews moved for adoption of the minutes of the special Board meeting of February 19, 2009. Karen Madsen seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. | ||
| SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS
Mr. Brandsma called on the Executive Director for Area Two Dr. Molly Ringo, who announced that Jackson High School principal Terry Cheshire has been selected as the 2009 WESCO Region Principal of the Year. The award is organized through the Association of Washington School Principals and is given regionally according to high school membership in the state’s athletic conferences. Terry was hired at JHS in 2004. | SUPT’S COMMENTS | |
| Under his leadership, the graduation rate and test scores at the school have risen dramatically. Advanced placement classes have increased, as have opportunities in the special education program. The music program continues to garner kudos and awards. The school’s enrollment has grown to approximately 2,000, and right along with it parent involvement has increased. During his tenure, Terry has shepherded the construction of 11 new classrooms. Terry introduced his wife, Kitty; his son, Ryan, who is a senior at JHS; and Ryan’s friend, Katy, who attends Archbishop Murphy High School. President Cooper congratulated Terry and said he has addressed the challenges and opportunities presented at Jackson with grace, skill and courage.
Next, Chief Academic Officer Terry Edwards reported that a team of six representatives from OSPI are in the District (today and tomorrow) auditing the District’s performance and implementation of all federal programs. Called the CPR (Consolidated Program Review), this audit happens once every three years and involves many hours of District staff time gathering, copying and assembling the required information/data into notebooks for the auditors. Their final report will be available later this spring. Mr. Brandsma noted that the spring WERA (Washington Educational Research Association) conference takes place at the end of March at SeaTac Airport, as announced in WERA’s quarterly newsletter, The Standard Deviation. The District’s Director of Curriculum & Assessment Ric Williams has a leadership role in WERA and, for many WERA activities, Everett has an opportunity not only to be well-represented, but also many District programs and initiatives actually become springboards for other districts as well. In this month’s edition, there are a number of articles that are highlighted. For instance, Dr. Peter Hendrickson, one of the District’s Curriculum Specialists, published a couple of articles in this edition and there is a piece authored by Special Services staff Sara Woolverton and Peggy Thesing. Peggy was one of the District’s first paraeducators who went through the City University program, earned her teaching certificate and now she is a facilitator writing articles for the WERA journal about District activities in special education regarding goal-writing and instructional challenges for students on IEPs. During the conference, the District’s Director of Curriculum & Instruction MaryAnn Stine will present about Everett’s implementation of the Academic Youth Development (AYD) Program in math. Pre-conference workshops will include one by District Literacy Facilitators Deb Ritchhart, Barb Tibbits and Cindy Foster about some of Everett’s literacy initiatives. It is a highly-regarded conference, and Everett Public Schools is well-represented. Next, Molly Ringo introduced Woodside Elementary’s principal Wayne Kettler and its counselor Richard Cleveland, both of whom appeared live recently on KING-5 television as part of a series of programs sponsored by Thrive by Five Washington. This organization works to create the early learning supports, services and systems that Washington children and families need. Everett Public Schools staff members are among those invited to be interviewed in a series of KING 5 television spots highlighting the importance and benefits of students being prepared for entering kindergarten. The segment with Wayne and Richard, along with others in the series, will air periodically on KING, KONG, and Northwest Cable News television stations. Molly showed the clip. Afterwards, Wayne and Richard commented briefly. |
SUPT’S COMMENTS (cont’d.) | |
| PUBLIC COMMENT
None. | PUBLIC COMMENT
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RECOGNITION OF RETIREES
Director of Communications Mary Waggoner introduced George Brattain, who is a master maintenance mechanic and is retiring after 18 years in the District. Associate Superintendent for Finance & Operations Bob Collard commented, saying that George is one of the friendliest faces in the District as well as being hardworking and dedicated. George encouraged continued support of the maintenance department and described how tirelessly the maintenance team works on behalf of all students. President Cooper thanked George for his years of service and said the work of the maintenance department is much appreciated. When Board members visit the schools, they often hear positive comments about the cleanliness and good repair of the sites. | RECOGNITION OF RETIREES
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| ITEMS FOR INFORMATION
The Administration presented an overview of the Capital Projects Fund, including funding sources; budgeting and tracking costs; and recent, current and upcoming projects (E:133/09). Director of Facilities and Planning Mike Gunn opened the presentation by talking about the organizational structure of the department. They manage 80 consulting contracts and 40 vendor contracts and track approximately 70 construction projects. He talked about funding sources for projects and past and future levy and bond efforts. He described the budgeting and tracking of costs as well as recent, current and upcoming projects. Board member Petersen complimented Mike on his thorough synopsis and said he appreciated the overview. |
REPORT—CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND OVERVIEW | |
| ACTION ITEMS
Karen Madsen moved for approval of the revised Consent Agenda. Kristie Dutton seconded the motion. |
CONSENT AGENDA | |
| 1) Personnel Report (E:134/09);
2) Voucher Lists (E:135/09); 3) Final Acceptance: Grease Trap Upgrades at Cascade, Everett & Sequoia High Schools; and Hawthorne, Lowell & Madison Elementary Schools (E:136/09); 4) Final Acceptance: North Middle School Auxiliary Gymnasium Addition (E:137/09); 5) Proposed Tuition for Pre-School Program (E:138/09); 6) Proposed Tuition for All-Day Kindergarten (E:139/09); 7) Monetary Gift in the Amount of $7,950 from Verizon Communications to Penny Creek Elementary School for the Purpose of Expansion of the Lucy Calkin’s Writing Curriculum (E:140/09). The motion carried unanimously. |
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| BOARD COMMENTS
Board member Madsen said the state-of-the-school reviews (SOSRs) have been enjoyable and interesting. President Cooper said she looks forward to attending the alternative SOSRs. Board member Dutton reported that she attended Emerson Elementary School’s alternative SOSR and it was excellent. Board member Madsen said four major bills regarding education reform have been scrapped. A new pair of intent bills have been written. She went on to say that the League of Education Voters proposed doing a resolution in support of the ideas that were contained in the bills (1410 & 5447) that were scrapped, but Ms. Madsen said she is more inclined to let the process do its work without involvement from the Board. President Cooper concurred that it is more helpful to have broad parameters. Ms. Madsen will give the Board the link to the League of Education Voters. President Cooper said she attended a meeting of the Superintendent’s Diversity Task Force and found it to be a very productive meeting with good information. It was a thoughtful group with valuable dialogue. | BOARD
COMMENTS | |
| BOARD ACTION AND/OR BOARD DISCUSSION
A study session was held concerning strategic planning for 2009-2010. Deputy Superintendent Matt McCauley distributed a copy of the 2008-2009 Strategic Plan and a draft of some initial thoughts and concepts to include in the 2009-2010 plan (E:141/09). A Zoomerang survey is being sent to all Leadership Team members seeking responses on the current Strategic Plan. Matt will share feedback from the survey with the Leadership Team at a future Leadership Team meeting and with the Superintendent’s Cabinet. He will also send the survey to the Board and ask for their key areas of interest. An item regarding the Strategic Plan will appear on the March 10 Board meeting. Board member Petersen said he appreciates this process. On Item 2.1a, he asked about metrics for measuring welcoming environments. Mr. Brandsma noted that there will be a presentation to the Board on March 10 regarding welcoming environments. |
STUDY SESSION—STRATEGIC PLANNING 2009-2010 | |
| The Administration provided a budget update. Mr. Brandsma reminded the Board that he has been making presentations to each site. The first of three meetings of the Superintendent’s Community Advisory Group was held last night and it went well. He shared handouts from the meeting which included a list of the membership (community members and District staff) and a PowerPoint presentation about the District’s fiscal outlook for 2009-2010 (E:142/09). The goal of the group is to consider the financial challenge confronting the Everett School District and the approach taken; to provide advice on several potential actions that could raise community interest; and to provide general advice on how to communicate to the public actions to be taken in order to remain fiscally sound. A study session regarding the budget will be held on March 10. President Cooper said the Board appreciates the work being done to involve and inform the community about budget issues.
| STUDY SESSION—BUDGET UPDATE
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| President Cooper adjourned the regular meeting at 6:10 p.m.
_______________________________ ________________________________ Karst Brandsma, Secretary Sue Cooper, President |