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Highland School District #203

Regular Board Meeting

Highland High School

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The November 20, 2007 Regular Board Meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm.by Board Chair Julie Smith. Others present were Board Members Nikki Keller, DeeDee Trepanier, Becky Laughery and Bruce Allen; Superintendent Gary Masten; MWC Principal Janice Sauve, TIS Principal Andy Woehler, Director of Student Services Barb Gilbert, HJH Principal Kelly Thorson, Athletic Director Eric Diener, TIS Principal Intern Mindy Schultz, Director of Business and Operations Dean Schlenker, HEA Co-President Sharon Hill, Superintendent Intern Heather Hastie-Ulery, Recording Secretary Sharon Fisher; Levy Committee members and some teachers, students and patrons of the district.

Becky Laughery led the flag salute.

It was moved by Bruce and 2 nd by Becky they approve the Minutes of the October 23, 2007 Regular Board Meeting; motion passed.

COMMUNICATIONS

Julie presented Scottie Pride Awards to Scott Ennis, Trey Trepanier and Joe Trepanier.

The other recipient, Randy Adams, was unable to attend.

Board Members reviewed the various workshops they attended during the recent WSSDAConference held in Seattle November 14-17. They reported there were many workshops on accountability of administrators, teachers and districts. Nikki attended the Legislative Session.

Gary gave a quarterly status on the 2007-08 Board Goals. He reported that the District has really focused on the Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment goal by expanding the use of learning walk protocols, quality instruction that is research-based, cohort III. Gary said Andy is working on developing an Electronic Standards Based Report Card that can be implemented for grades K-6.

HJH Principal Kelly Thorson introduced math teachers James Heinle and Sandy Gavin as well as students Taylor Gredvig, Megan Hollibough and Joanna Rivera. The students had prepared audience participation exercises involving the CMP2 math principles. They guided the Board members and audience through one demonstrating “probabilities” and another involving square footage and perimeters. There was also a brief discussion on “grouping” versus memorized multiplication tables.

OLD BUSINESS

 Gary reviewed the Meaningful High School Diploma/State Board of Education meeting. There was discussion on “Kevin’s Law”, Special Ed students and “walking with your cohort grade”, not necessarily earning a diploma at that time if the Special Ed student is going to be a fifth-year senior. The State Board of Education is taking public comments on this, and other issues, until November 27 th.

There was no other Old Business.

NEW BUSINESS

 There was brief discussion on the School Improvement Plans presented as drafts by the administrators at the October Board meeting. DeeDee moved, with 2 nd by Bruce that they approve the MWC, TIS, HJH and HHS School Improvement Plans as presented. Motion passed.

After discussion on the HEA Collective Bargaining Agreement changes Bruce moved with 2nd by DeeDee that they approve the HEA Collective Bargaining Agreement changes as written. Motion passed.

Kim Lee reviewed Levy Committee recommendation for the 2009-2010 M & O Levy (Levy Committee Chair Ryan Monson was out of town). They propose $3.25 per $1,000 for two years ($3.07 to maintain status quo plus 13 cents for capital projects and 5 cents/$1,000 for extracurricular. Bruce moved they authorize the Levy amount of $3.23 per $1,000 for each of the two years, to be put before the voters in a February 19 Levy Election. There was no second. Further discussion resulted in a decision by the Board to gather some additional input from the community and hold a Special Board meeting on November 28 at 7:30 pm to approve the Levy amount.

Dean gave the October 2007 Budget Status and the Enrollment Report.

Administrator Reports

TIS Principal Andy Woehler and Principal Intern Mindy Schultz reviewed the first TIS Literacy Night, which was very successful. Andy announced that the Accelerated Reader program is shifting to emphasize accuracy. Several teachers attended the Social Studies grant workshops. Social Studies WASL will be a Classroom-Based Assessment (CBA) model.

Eric Diener reported that Greg George was attending a conference to align Science with WASL standards. He said the Social Studies grant is geared toward Classroom Based Assessment, which is required by next year for all school districts. He also reported that HHS had 99% attendance at the student-led conferences, with several make-up conferences scheduled. Eric announced that Highland will be hosting basketball districts in February. There are 39 boys participating in basketball. There are currently 8 wrestlers, the minimum number to have a team.

Kelly Thorson reported that HJH had a successful CMP2 Math Night for parents on November 13, with two lessons per grade level. It is near the end of the trimester. He has written a new writing research grant for federal funding (SRI is the company doing the research). The groupis not getting a partnership, but will get $8,000 to be a “control group” and after four years we will get a partnership for three years. This is part of National Writing Project and CWU is the local site for the project. HJH hosted the Admin walk-through (Learning Walk Protocol) on instruction, how it flows, where “rigor” was, etc. They will do this once a month.

Janice Sauve, MWC principal, reported they had a great Veteran’s Day assembly. The students also enjoyed a Birds of Prey assembly and a Literacy Afternoon. MWC staff will be working at a McDonald’s McTeacher Nights at the Summitview McDonalds as a fundraiser. The students are working hard in preparation for the Winter Program.

Director of Student Services Barb Gilbert sent staff to inservices/professional development in Special Ed Transition, Behavior Modification/Autism, STARS program and SIOP. Twelve families participated in the first 4-year Old Night of this year. There will be a PAC meeting on December 3. She is ordering materials for a segmented math class. Special Ed students at HHS have completed the November WASL (developmentally appropriate tests).

Gary reviewed the Personnel Report for this month. Nikki moved, with 2 nd by Bruce that the Board approve the Personnel Report as presented; motion passed.

Nikki had no further Legislative Report.

Dean reviewed the bills and clarified some of the higher payments.

It was moved by Bruce and 2 nd by Becky that they approve the payment of bills as follows:

General Fund for $123,637.28 with warrants 46324 through 46456; ASB Fund for $13,738.89 with warrants 4087 through 4105; and Payroll for $256,915.94 with warrants 46457 through 46541 and $416,275.02 by direct deposit. Motion passed.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 pm.