ABERDEEN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 5. Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors March 3, 2009

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1 ABERDEEN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 5 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors At 7:09 p.m. President Doug Smith called to order the regular meeting of the Board of Directors in the Community Room at Aberdeen High School. Members present were Jeff Snell, Jeremy Hawkins, Sandra Bielski and Jennifer Hagen, along with Superintendent Martin Kay and 18 patrons and staff. The meeting began with the flag salute. The Board approved the consent agenda, which included minutes of the February 17, 2009, meeting; the donation of a mouthstick device for a student in a wheelchair from Mary McDonald of Cosmopolis, and correspondence from the state Board of Education confirming the district s certification compliance. Board member Jeff Snell thanked Kathy Rhodes and her crew for the nice meal they prepared for the evening s work study session. Board member Sandra Bielski said she has learned a lot at the meetings the Board has been involved with in recent weeks, including the focus group with community business leaders on Thursday, February 26, and the District Improvement Leadership Team meeting on Saturday, February 28, when David Warlick led a discussion about planning for the future of education. She also attended the Renaissance Club s celebration and was pleased to see students who otherwise might not have a lot in common gather together to do great things. Gayle Capsel, president of the local chapter of the Public School Employees, read a proclamation from Governor Christine Gregoire proclaiming the week of March 9-13 as Classified School Employee Week. The proclamation notes that classified school employees are involved in nearly every aspect of education and classified school employees are crucial partners with teachers, parents, administrators and school boards in public schools. Superintendent Kay said the district s classified staff serves many essential functions on behalf of students and it s appropriate for them to be recognized with a gubernatorial proclamation. Superintendent Kay thanked the Board for attending the Strategic Improvement workshop and presentation by David Warlick on February 28. He noted it is one of the few times students, board members, administrators, teachers, parents and community members have all been in the same room talking together about how to improve learning for students in Aberdeen. The feedback from those who CALL TO ORDER CONSENT AGENDA COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS CLASSIFIED SCHOOL EMPLOYEE WEEK SUPERINTENDENT REPORT STRATEGIC IMPROVEMENT

2 attended was very positive and the day marked the successful beginning and blending of Strategic Planning with the District Improvement Process. He also thanked board members for taking time to meet with members of the business community on February 26. The Board has been involved in more than 20 focus groups so far this past year. Business Manager Tom Laufmann distributed three reports for the Board to review before its March 25 budget workshop: general fund expenditures by program for the past five years, a revenue table detailing local, state and federal funding sources for the past five years; and general fund expenditures by program detail for The workshop is set for 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room. Board members had questions about whether a meaningful workshop can be conducted this month if the Legislature is not planning to adopt a state budget until late April or even May. Superintendent Kay said the state Senate s budget is due out the last week of March and is expected to provide enough additional information for budget planning purposes. The district must keep moving forward in order to adopt a reduction in force resolution in April and meet its legal mandate to notify certificated staff by May 15 if there is to be a reduction in force due to declining enrollment and lack of funding. The district also hopes to notify classified employees before the end of the school year about staffing levels. Superintendent Kay said there is enough information available to proceed on the premise that the district is likely to receive at least $1 million less from state and federal funding sources due to the economic budget crisis. In addition, the district s basic education allotment will be less due to declining enrollment. The bottom line is that the district will not be able to maintain current operations next year. Superintendent Kay said the goal is to make recommendations to the Board in March and then, in early April before the Board must make its final decisions, conduct a forum for staff and the community to share their thoughts. President Smith said there needs to be as much time as possible set aside for the staff and public to provide input. President Doug Smith, Superintendent Marty Kay and board members Sandra Bielski and Jennifer Hagen will attend the regional meeting of the Washington State School Director s Association at Centralia on March 11. Business Manager Tom Laufmann presented a report on the district s utility expenditures over the past 12 years. Costs peaked in and the district spends less today than it did four years ago thanks to upgrades at district buildings and the diligence of the maintenance 2 BUDGET PLANNING WSSDA REGIONAL MEETING UTILITY EXPENDITURES

3 staff. Tom Laufmann praised Mike Gadwa s constant oversight of the computerized heating and lighting systems for the buildings and grounds. The district recently joined a program called Plant Operations Support Consortium, a group of school districts, colleges, state agencies and cities that have joined together to find ways to reduce costs for all members. Tom Laufmann said efforts are under way to increase recycling at all of the schools and buildings thanks to a program offered by LeMay Enterprises and Grays Harbor College. RECYCLING After a presentation by Tom Laufmann, on a motion by Jennifer Hagen, seconded by Jeff Snell, the Board decided to purchase a new, full-size bus from Schetky N.W. Sales Inc., of Portland, Ore., for $115,626.28, to be delivered in the fall. Laufmann explained that the price of a fullsized bus has increased about $8,000 this past year and prices continue to rise. Director Hagen asked whether the board s vote locks in the price. Laufmann said yes. The purchase is being made from the Transportation Vehicle Fund and is part of the routine replacement cycle. The fund can only be used to purchase buses and district vehicles. Tom Laufmann reported that the portable buildings the district had hoped to get for free to remodel into restrooms and concession stands at Stewart Field are no longer available. While a permanent solution is the best solution, the Board agreed the opportunity had been worth pursuing given the cost savings. Curriculum and Instruction Director Tita Mallory reported that the Fine Arts Program Review Committee met on February 25. In addition to its curriculum review, the committee is preparing a bid for new equipment and instruments. During the district s TRI Day on February 13, most of the grade school staff participated in math training. At Miller Junior High School, the focus was on AVID strategies, at Aberdeen High School the topic was High Schools that Work and at Harbor High School the staff focused on bully prevention and team collaboration. Eighteen seniors at Aberdeen High School have submitted Collection of Evidence materials as an alternative to taking the WASL. WASL testing for students in grades begins at the high school on March BUS PURCHASE CONCESSION BUILDINGS AT STEWART FIELD FINE ARTS TRI DAY WASL SCHEDULE 3

4 16. Tita Mallory also presented material from the new Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn on changes he plans to make to student testing and assessment. Director Sandra Bielski asked whether many 9 th grade students had planned to take the WASL. Close to 200 had signed up and there was disappointment it had been canceled, Mallory said. Many had planned to take it either as practice or to get it out of the way as a graduation requirement. Canceling it was a costsaving decision by the state. On a motion by Sandra Bielski, seconded by Jeremy Hawkins, the Board adopted the school calendar. The first day of school will be Tuesday, September 8, the day after Labor Day. Board members asked whether consideration had been given to starting before Labor Day and Superintendent Kay said there was a clear consensus not to start before Labor Day because of the impact it would likely have on enrollment for state funding purposes. Superintendent Kay said the calendar for A.J. West will be presented at the March 17 meeting. On a motion by Jeff Snell, seconded by Jennifer Hagen, the Board agreed to grant the Grays Harbor PUD s request for an easement on district-owned property at Pioneer Park for lighting and electrical upgrades. McDermoth Principal Kate Schreck reminded everyone about the Vision 2020 forum scheduled for Thursday, March 5. The next regular meeting of the Board is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in the Community Room. Jennifer Hagen and Jeff Snell will audit the bills. At 8:06 p.m. President Smith recessed the regular meeting for an executive session regarding personnel issues expected to last approximately one hour. The meeting reconvened at approximately 9 p.m. Following a review by Personnel Director Anna Shanks, on a motion by Sandra Bielski, seconded by Jennifer Hagen, the Board approved personnel matters. The Board granted a leave of absence to Gretchen Ray, a fifth-grade teacher at Robert Gray Elementary School, effective March 25 to June 19, 2009, and approved the hiring of Esther Garza- Maloney and Helen Chavez as substitute teachers. The Board approved the following classified hires: Bailey Adams, student helper in the After School Program, effective March 2; Adam Johnson, temporary technology support, effective February 23; Mitchell Pearce, 4 SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR EASEMENT COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE NEXT MEETING EXECUTIVE SESSION PERSONNEL CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL CLASSIFIED

5 student helper in the After School Program, effective March 2; Oliver Stanton, student helper in the After School Program, effective February 26, and Greggery Teel, para-educator in the After School Program at Central Park Elementary School, effective February 25. In addition, the Board approved the termination of Christine Popowich, para-educator, effective February 20; approved a leave of absence for Pamela Black, para-educator, effective February 12 to March 6, and approved a leave of absence extension for Sonya Cautrell, bus driver, ending February 25; approved the hiring of substitute para-educator Timothy Fields and substitute custodians Alaina Delanoy and Cindy Keen. The following extra-curricular contracts were approved for Aberdeen High School effective March 2: Steve Reed, head coach, track; Kelly Stewart, Tracie Millett, April Meissner and Jacob Dove, assistant track coaches; Dan Sundstrom, head coach, girls golf; Ken Ashlock, head coach, fast pitch; Greg Pier and Kristal Hyde, assistant coaches, fast pitch; David Bruncke, head coach, girls tennis; Allyce Bruncke, assistant coach, girls tennis; Larry Fleming, head coach, boys soccer; Alfie Bensinger and Mike Bieker, assistant coaches, boys soccer; William Rabung, head coach, baseball; Jeffrey Springer, assistant coach, baseball; Ron Clark and Robbie Chicano, spring intramurals; and Jon Lawrence and Michael Schnoor, assistant coaches, baseball. The hiring of Gienelle Harless as volleyball coach at Miller Junior High School was also approved effective February 23. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m. EXTRA- CURRICULAR CONTRACTS ADJOURN Doug Smith, President Martin W. Kay, Secretary 5