The Shelton School District Board of Directors met in regular session at 6:00 p.m. on June 27, 2006 in the board room located at CHOICE Alternative School.

 

Board members present:  Chairman Ross Gallagher, Julianna Miljour, Holly Sharpe, Sue McCausland and Bill Freund.

 

Staff members present:  Superintendent Joan Zook, Alison Nutt, Jackie McGuire, Debbie Wing, David Westermann, Wanda Berndtson and Roger McCausland.

 

Others present:  Jeanne Rehwaldt, Kirsten Workman and Paul Feenan.

 

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Gallagher called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Sue McCausland read the district’s Mission Statement.

 

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

There was one addition to the consent agenda which was a new Item 8.08 – supplemental personnel report.  Julianna Miljour moved to adopt the agenda as amended.  Bill Freund seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

 

REPORTS AND RECOGNITIONS

6.01 – Report from the Healthy Youth Task Force:

Task Force Chair Jeanne Rehwaldt and task force members David Westermann and Kirsten Workman reported on the recommendations of the Healthy Youth Task Force for implementing the district’s Nutrition & Physical Fitness Policy.  Their recommendations include:

 

Nutrition:

  • Students will receive a minimum of 8 lessons on Food $ense nutrition education in grades 1-7.  Health tips will be provided on school breakfast/lunch menus and during morning announcements, staff in-service training on wellness and self-care, parent newsletters and flyers at open houses and sporting events.
  • Through in-service training, staff will model healthy lifestyle behaviors.
  • Only food meeting nutrition guidelines will be sold during the school day.
  • Building principals will approve fundraising activities to insure compliance.  A list of creative fundraising alternatives to candy will be provided to each school.
  • The Food Services Director will complete a plan for upgrading the Shelton High School kitchen.
  • Soda machines will be replaced with water and 100% fruit juice.  Two soda machines will remain at Shelton High School for out of school time events, but will be turned off during the school day.  Fresh fruit and vegetables will be available during lunchtime at all schools.

 

 

Physical Fitness:

  • Utilize existing facilities, specifically the high school pool; continued emphasis on swimming for elementary students.
  • Reinstitute open gym stipend during lunch to provide physical activity for high school students during lunchtime and implement intramural program at high school level.
  • Work with principals and staff to schedule more time during lunch for physical activity.
  • Leadership at each school will develop a plan to increase minutes of physical education.  Provide opportunities to E.A.’s and teachers to develop physical activities.  Implement an incentive program similar to the SEAL program currently in use at Olympic M.S.
  • Incoming class of 9th grade students will be required to have PE credit for graduation.  Waivers will only be granted for religious or medial reasons. 
  • Provide zero hour class for students to obtain PE credit outside of regular school hours.

 

The Healthy Youth Task Force recognizes changes will be dependent on available funds, but feels the budget process should keep these goals in mind to fund wellness at all grade levels.  The task force will continue to meet, monitor and recommend implementation procedures yearly.

 

6.02 – 2005/06 Strategic Plan year-end report:

Joan Zook reported on the work that’s been done this year by the various schools and departments on the strategic plan.  Board members received in their packets a compilation of the end of year strategic plan reports from all buildings and departments.  Every one of the six goals and related objectives have been worked on this year.  Joan said what this tells us is that a great job was done in creating the strategic plan because it is relevant and is work that needs to be done and is being done.  The six strategic plan goals are: Quality Teaching, Learning and Assessment; Human Resources; Financial Resources; Family Involvement; School and Community Partnerships; and Planned Facility Improvements.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS

7.01 – Foreign Language credit requirements:

At the board’s request, Debbie Wing and Wanda Berndtson discussed the topic of a foreign language requirement for all high school students.  Wanda explained that this topic came before the Shelton High School Site Council this year and they did quite an extensive study.  They surveyed all peer districts in the Narrows League and then surveyed districts in our newly formed athletic league.  Currently, Shelton High School requires more credits for graduation (22 credits) than the state requires (19 credits).  The concern is with math and science and focusing on students staying in math classes until they pass the WASL, even if they have the proper amount of credits earned.  This school year, there were 200 students who did not pass math and only 20 of those students have signed up for summer school.  With the work yet to be done in math and then science, the Shelton High School Site Council does not recommend increasing the graduation requirements at this time.  Wanda added that Shelton High School’s world language program for the coming year has actually increased in size and students who plan on going on to college know they must have 2 years of a foreign language.

 

Julianna Miljour said she would have to agree after seeing how many honor students did not receive WASL honor cords at this year’s graduation.  Sue McCausland added that kids are starting to realize that when it comes to looking for a job, whether they are college bound or not, a person who is bilingual is more likely to get hired.  She also wondered if offering Chinese or Japanese might be more useful than offering German and Wanda said she was correct.   Bill Freund commented that his interested in adding a foreign language requirement is that students may not choose to take a foreign language at the beginning of their high school career, then later on they may decide they want to attend college and may have closed an avenue for themselves by not having two years of a foreign language.  Joan Zook added that she believes foreign language needs to start in kindergarten and hopes that is the direction we can eventually go.

 

Julianna Miljour recommended the board re-visit the world language requirement again in 2007 because of its importance and the other board members agreed.

 

7.02 – Title IIa and Title V grant applications for 2006-07:

Debbie Wing told board members that the on-line grant application process for 2006-07 is not up and running yet at OSPI and may not be until August, which is why the actual Title IIa and Title V grant applications are not included in the board packets.  In lieu of that, she will be asking board members to approve the “content/intent” of the grant applications.  Debbie said that both of these grant applications mirror the applications the board approved last year.

 

Title IIa:  The Title IIa allocation for 2005-06 was $216,385 and the district has no reason to believe that there will be much of an increase for 2006-07 and is certainly hoping it will not decrease.  These funds are designated by the federal government chiefly for professional development.  This will provide 14 hours of professional development in 2006-07 for each certificated teacher and supports principal professional development.  Title IIa also helps pay for mentor leads who work with our beginning teachers with regard to their professional certification requirements and pays for 2 days of training prior to the start of school for teachers new to the district.

 

Title V:  The Title V allocation for 2005-06 was greatly reduced from previous years (from approximately $25,000 down to $13,365).  We do not know the allocation yet for 2006-07 but have no reason to believe that it will change.  The approximate $13,365 for 2006-07 will be divided amongst the seven schools on an FTE basis and will be used solely for after school reading/writing and math intervention programs (which are also supported through I-728). 

 

Bill Freund made a motion to approve the “content/intent” of the Title IIa and Title V grant applications for the 2006-07 school year.  Sue McCausland seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Bill Freund was concerned about the low participation in this year’s Summer School and asked how much of the district’s resources had been used so far for Summer School teacher contracts, etc.  Debbie responded that the Summer School teachers are lined up, but will only be issued contracts if we have the students enrolled.  Bill also said he was told by an OSPI staff member today that these funds designated for Summer School will be available for the district’s use through next August and Debbie said that was correct.

 

Item 7.03 – Substitute bus driver wages:

Sandi Thompson, Director of the Mason County Transportation Cooperative, presented a Substitute Bus Driver Attraction and Retention Proposal for the board’s review and approval.  The coop is experiencing problems recruiting and retaining substitute drivers, which is a problem state-wide.  Currently, substitute drivers are paid at a much lower rate than regular drivers ($10.70 per hour) and receive no benefits.  When new sub drivers are trained, they must pay a number of different fees totaling $236.50 before becoming certified.  Trainees also have 20 hours of non-paid classroom time and approximately 25 to 30 hours of non-paid behind-the-wheel time.  After they complete all required training and are hired, it may take up to 2 months before they receive a paycheck.  (For example:  A driver beginning work on September 1st would turn in their time card  on October 1st and would not receive a paycheck until October 31st since the district pays just once per month.)  When MCTC does not have enough sub drivers, they must use Laidlaw at a cost of $28.50 per hour.  Last year $10,000 was spent on Laidlaw drivers alone.

 

At the May meeting of the Mason County Transportation Cooperative Board, the following recommendation was voted on and approved:

  • MCTC will pay half of the sub driver training fees up front, with the second half being reimbursed after their six-month employment anniversary; and
  • Increase the sub driver wage to $11.50 per hour.

 

Board members had a lengthy discussion about not wanting to set a precedent for the other employee unions by reimbursing training fees; the complexity of our payroll system which will not easily allow paying new employees mid-month during their first month of employment; approving the wage increase but tabling the fee reimbursement until a later date; that the MCTC Board has already agreed to and approved these changes because they feel they are necessary; and the fact that these sub drivers are employees of the entire Coop (consisting of Shelton, Grapeview, Southside and Hood Canal) and not just the Shelton School District.

 

Bill Freund then made a motion that the Shelton School Board approve the recommendations that were approved by the MCTC Board in May for substitute bus driver salaries and reimbursement of training fees.  Sue McCausland seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

 

7.04 – 2006-2009 bargained agreement with the Shelton Athletic & Activities Association:

The 2006-2009 bargained agreement with the Shelton Athletic & Activities Association (SAAA) was presented for approval.  There a very few language changes and some stipend increases.  Joan Zook said that both the district and the SAAA are pleased with this new agreement.  Holly Sharpe made a motion to approve the 2006-2009 bargained agreement with the SAAA and Julianna Miljour seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Holly Sharpe made a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented, with the addition of the supplemental personnel report as a new Item 8.08.  Bill Freund seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.  The board: 

 

·        Approved minutes of the June 13, 2006 regular school board meeting.

·        Approved General Fund Voucher Nos. 104270 through 104566 in the amount of $524,648.39.

·        Approved General Fund Voucher No. 104567 in the amount of $300.00.

·        Approved Capital Projects Fund Voucher Nos. 1619 through 1623 in the amount of $146,966.41.

·        Approved Associated Student Body Fund Voucher Nos. 16381 through 16487 in the amount of $74,939.71.

·        Approved Transportation Vehicle Fund Voucher No. 11 in the amount of $18,789.84.

·        Approved Private Purpose Trust Fund Voucher Nos. 109 through 110 in the amount of $89.10.

·        Approved Payroll Voucher Nos. 40049 through 40179 in the amount of $2,331,538.55.

·        Approved travel to Central Washington University on August 14-17, 2006 for the Shelton High School Dance Team to attend Dance Team Camp.

·        Approved travel to Chewelah, WA on July 29-August 2, 2006 for Shelton High School ASB Officers to attend AWSP Leadership Camp.

·        Approved cancellation of General Fund Warrant Nos. 103672 and 103742 and ASB Fund Warrant No. 16178 either issued in error or lost by the vendor.

·        Approved the regular and supplemental personnel reports and submitted and as attached.  (See Attachment #1.)

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

9.01 – Budget status report:

Jackie McGuire gave a budget status report as of the end of May 2006.

 

BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

·        Bill Freund had a great time on his two week sailing trip, sailing to Desolation Sound in the Strait of Georgia in a 40 ft. sail boat.  He spent two of those days aboard writing reports for Washington Learns.

 

·        Holly Sharpe hired a student to work for her through the Career Center at Shelton High School.  She also noticed that the outside of the CHOICE school had been tagged with spray paint.  Joan Zook commented that maintenance and custodial staff are usually very prompt in removing graffiti but they have been in training.  Holly also mentioned that the board has been receiving the various school newsletters sometimes a month late and would like to get them in a more timely fashion next year.  Alison will check on this.

 

·        Julianna Miljour enjoyed both CHOICE and Shelton High School graduation ceremonies.  She also applauded the buildings for their work on the strategic plan.  Julianna asked if it were true that holding meetings during lunchtime, such as SADD Club, was no longer allowed at Oakland Bay Junior High.  Joan said this was true but thought the issue with the SADD Club had been resolved.  Julianna said that because of transportation issues, lunchtime may be the only time some students may be able to attend a meeting and it appears that membership is the SADD Club has dropped significantly since moving to evening meetings.

 

·        Sue McCausland said it’s been very quiet around her house because both her sons are on a mission trip to Mexico with a group of 25 others.  She also said she appreciated taking the time tonight to discuss several agenda items in detail and felt board members educated each other through the process.

 

·        Ross Gallagher commented that graduating senior Amanda Hobson is an excellent example of the good things that are happening at CHOICE Alternative School.  This is the first year a student from CHOICE has received a Drake Scholarship award.

 

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER

Because of vacation schedules, Joan Zook asked board members if there was an interest in having just one board meeting in July and moving the 2nd meeting in August to August 29th.  In terms of meeting agenda, the budget will be reviewed again at the July 11th meeting, a budget hearing at the August 8th meeting, and adoption of the budget on August 29th.  Bill Freund made a motion to cancel the July 25th regular board meeting and move the August 22nd meeting to August 29th.  Julianna seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Also, Holly is having surgery on July 11th so will miss that board meeting and Julianna may be out of the country during the August 8th meeting.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 8:40 p.m. Chairman Gallagher announced that the board would take a 5-minute recess and would then enter into executive session for 45 minutes for superintendent goal setting and evaluation.

 

ADJOURN

Chairman Gallagher declared the meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.