DIRECTOR'S MEETING MINUTES
June 13, 2011 7:00PM Regular Meeting-District Meeting Room
MEMBERS PRESENT
Jim Bays, Janice Watts, Bill Woodard, Steve Madsen, Mia Patterson-Student Representative, Michael Green-Secretary and Tegan Steen-Recording Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT
Deb Kernen, Becky Huesties, Mark Houk, Katie Longrie, Dan Uhlenkott, Asha Riley, Stacy Brown, John Shoup, Kim and Mark Knudson.
BOARD MEMBER ABSENCE
Bill Woodard moved to approve Tina Cayton's absence from the meeting.
Steve Madsen聽 yes Bill Woodard聽 yesJanice聽 Watts聽 yes聽 carried
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Student Representative Thank-You Celebration Jim Bays recessed the meeting at 7:03pm so that cake could be distributed for celebrating and thanking Mia Patterson for her time as Student Representative for the Board. The meeting reconvened at 7:14pm. Board members expressed their appreciation for Mia's time and input. She will be going to Central Washington University.
Update on Adequate Yearly ProgressAsha Riley gave the Board an update about Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). The State Uniform Bars increase significantly this year, increasing the likelihood that most schools throughout the state will be in "School Improvement." 聽The federal NCLB Act requires that one hundred percent of students must pass both reading and math in 2014.聽 This includes even the severely disabled students that the district serves.聽 AWIS is currently in step one of school improvement. Out of 295 school districts in Washington state, 212 school districts are currently in step 1 or higher of the AYP/School Improvement process. With this year's increase of the Uniform Bar most, if not all, school districts in Washington will not make AYP.聽 The Board discussed this. Steve Madsen said there's no incentive that's positive about this program.聽 Jim Bays said that improvement is good, but nobody will get there.聽 He said we should communicate this to our senators and representatives.聽
MINUTES
Janice Watts moved to approve the May 23, 2011 regular meeting minutes.
Steve Madsen yesBill Woodard yes Janice Watts yes聽 carried
REPORTS
Student Representative ReportMia Patterson gave her final report to the Board.聽 The Primary School will have their field day on Wednesday, June 15th. Mia will be in the Beaver suit. The Middle School's 8th Grade Party is Tuesday, June 14th. Each year parents help 8th grade students celebrate graduating to the High School. Senior Awards Night was, Tuesday, June 7th. 聽Big winners were: Charity Arn, Amanda Kysar, Caitlyn Brentin and Linda Muthandi. The ASB inducted their ASB Officers: President-Morgan Kinnear, Vice President-Trey Udy, Secretary-Courtney Tipton, Treasurer-Courtney Altiflish, Historian-Hannah Stepper, Board Representative-Katie Longrie.聽 The graduation ceremony was held Friday, June 10th at the WHS Stadium. Bo Brusco and Nicole Graybill were the student speakers. Mrs. Conditt was voted the staff speaker by the senior class. Senior Grad party was attended by 58 students.聽 The parents planned for everyone in the class to attend (136), so there were leftover gifts.聽 Prizes were handed out to each senior, plus about $75 worth of gift-cards. The last day of school is Thursday, June 16th due to snow make-up days.
Other ReportsBill Woodard asked Chris Wiseman if the PTSA was coming back to life. Chris said and that board members have been elected and they are planning a fall fundraiser.
Asha Riley complimented Mark Houk on the Primary School's first talent show. A lot of people really appreciated it.
Janice Watts asked if the TEAM High diploma was sufficient to get into the military, as she had recently heard otherwise.聽 Michael Green said that WSSDA had a recent article that said that the military has a higher rate of soldiers who fail to complete their term-of-duty from students who had graduated from alternative schools. The military has a tiered system for evaluating prospective recruits.聽 Traditional HS graduates are considered tier 1. Those with diplomas from alternative schools are tier 2. Dan Uhlenkott told the Board that he was encouraged by military recruiters to tell students who are interested in the military to transfer to the High School before the end of their senior year to receive a traditional High School diploma.
Janice had heard negative remarks about the WHS Navigation 101 program. John Shoup said he's not surprised. The High School is working to make it better. Mia said that it is a great concept, but can see both sides of the complaints.聽 The Board discussed this. John said that the staff has discussed the program and they have new fixes that they will implement.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Mr. Green said that the year is winding down. The school year end appears to be going smoothly. Stacy Brown and he are working hard to figure out the State budget information so that she can create a budget. This is a big challenge compared to past years. He hopes to have a budget workshop at the next Board meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE
The Board will send a thank you letter to Jim Imhoff for his second donation for the Carol Imhoff Memorial Scholarship.
CITIZENS REQUESTS
None.
BOARD REPORTS AND REQUESTS
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Planning Summer Board RetreatThe Board decided on Monday, August 15th for their summer retreat. Michael will check with Tina Cayton to see if she will be available, as she was absent from this meeting. Tegan Steen will check to see if the ESD boardroom is available for the retreat.
Online Academy Report Asha Riley showed the Board the potential models, curriculum providers and components, for the Lewis River Academy. She had met with and provided information to parents of home-schooled and online learners.聽 They expressed an interest at the meeting and through a survey. Michael, Asha, Steve Rippl and Mark Knudson have been working on this program.聽 Mark had done research last year with Craig Downs. He had started online schools in Nevada previously.聽 Steve Madsen was concerned that the online school could have a negative impact in AYP.聽 Michael said that unless it grew substantially, it would not be a problem, as there wouldn't be enough in each any grade level band to trigger AYP sanctions. Steve said if the school did grow, that would change the conversation. 聽Mark Knudson said there is conflicting data about online programs regarding this.聽 He said that they are creating a better program than other online programs. Asha said part of the criteria is meeting academic goals. This in monitored. If students don't meet goals, they are exited from the program. Michael said that he told the group that we would not operate the program at a loss; which is what will drive the number of students in the program. Asha will continue to see if there is a commitment from enough families to start the online academy.
Policy Revision 3242-First ReadingThis policy regarding Closed Campus is being revised because of changes in the Navigations 101 and Opportunity Time programs. John Shoup said they are merging the programs and working towards making it more meaningful to students. One piece is rewarding students for meeting certain academic, attendance and behavior standards by allowing students to leave campus on Thursdays and Fridays with parent permission. These changes have been done in other schools successfully, according to Deb Kernen and John Shoup.聽 This requires the revision in the policy. The Board discussed this. There were some concerns regarding the lunch program that John said his staff have considered, and will monitor. The policy will be edited for clarity and brought back to the next meeting for second reading and approval.
Policy Revision 2255-First Reading This policy regarding Alternative Learning Experience Programs was revised to include Lewis River Academy. It will need another revision when the new statutes are released. It will be brought back to the Board for second reading and approval.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Board discussed the consent agenda.
Janice Watts moved to approve the consent agenda as presented.
Steve Madsen聽 yesBill Woodard聽 yes Janice Watts聽 yes 聽carried
ACTION ITEMS
Approval of 2011-2012 Lunch Prices Federal laws passed require the District to increase prices in the 2011-2012 school year. Basically, it states that the average selling price for a paid, reimbursable lunch must be equal to or more than the difference between the total federal reimbursement for free lunch and the total federal reimbursement for paid lunch (currently $2.46).聽聽We are not required to close the gap in pricing immediately.聽 Rather we can do it incrementally in steps of $.10 each year.聽 Jim Bays said that he would like us to be proactive and let people know that this increase is so that we will be in compliance.
Bill Woodard moved to approve the proposed lunch prices for 2011-2012 as presented.
Steve Madsen聽 yes Bill Woodard聽 yesJanice Watts聽 yes聽 carried
Approval of 2011-2012 Certificated Staffing PlanThe Board discussed the 2011-2012 certificated staffing plan, which arranges staff in the most beneficial way for student learning with the current knowledge of next year's budget. Jim asked if the Yale community were okay with less staff at the school. Becky Huesties said they preferred to keep all day Kindergarten over getting a 6th grade. Michael introduced Kim Knudson who will become the primary teacher at Yale.
Steve Madsen moved to approve the 2011-2012 Certificated Staffing Plan as presented.
Janice Watts聽 yes Bill Woodard聽 yes Steve Madsen聽 yes聽 carried
EXECUTVE SESSION
President, Jim Bays, recessed the meeting into executive session at 9:18 pm to discuss negotiations and student discipline with no action to be taken upon return. President, Jim Bays,聽reconvened the meeting into regular session at 10:05pm.
ADJOURNMENT
President, Jim Bays, adjourned the meeting of the Board of Directors at 10:05pm.
ATTEST:
_______________________________ Secretary to the Board
WOODLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT #404 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
____________________________________ President
____________________________________ Director