The Shelton School District Board of Directors met in regular session at 6:00 p.m. on June 24, 2008 in the board room located at CHOICE High School.

 

Board members present:  Chairman Holly Sharpe, Sue McCausland, Gene Crater and Julianna Miljour.

 

Staff members present:  Superintendent Joan Zook, Alison Nutt, Linda Arnold, Jackie McGuire and Deb Fausti. 

 

Others present:  Jeff Green, Trevor Clarke, Helen Thomson, Jim Ghiglione and his wife Sherry.

 

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Sharpe called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

 

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

There was one addition to the consent agenda which was a new Item 9.06 – supplemental personnel report.  Gene Crater made a motion to adopt the agenda with the addition of Item 9.06.  Julianna Miljour seconded the motion and the motion passed 3-0.

 

Julianna Miljour read the district’s Mission Statement.

 

BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

§         Gene Crater just returned from his high school’s 100th class reunion.

 

REPORTS AND RECOGNITIONS

7.01 – Recognition of Jim Ghiglione:

The superintendent and board members honored former school board member Jim Ghiglione.  Jim served on the board from 1989 to 1997 and after leaving the board remained an advocate for the district with the community and served a key role in the passage of the district’s M & O levies.  Jim and his wife Sherry are relocating to Lopez Island in July.

 

7.02 – Full Funding Coalition:

Joan Zook spoke about the Full Funding Coalition’s presentation to the Basic Education Finance Joint Task Force.   The goal of the Full Funding Coalition is to create a new system that redefines and fully funds basic education at levels that meet Washington’s constitutional requirements so that schools have the resources to provide all students the opportunity to achieve the state’s learning goals within a policy framework that emphasizes shared accountability.  The Coalition is made up of members of the Washington State School Directors Association, the Washington Association of School Administrators, the Association of Washington School Principals, the Washington Education Association and the Public School Employees of Washington.

 

DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS

8.01 – Proposed 2008-09 Highly Capable grant application:

The 2008-09 proposed Highly Capable grant application was submitted for approval.  The application was prepared by the Hi-Cap Advisory Committee and outlines the 2008-09 program as was discussed by the committee at the last board meeting.  Joan Zook recommended board approval.  Gene Crater moved, seconded by Julianna Miljour, to approve the 2008-09 grant application.  The motion passed 3-0.

 

8.02 – Proposed adoption of 7th grade Pacific Northwest History curriculum:

The Social Studies Curriculum Committee is recommending approval of Pacific Northwest History course materials for the 7th grade level at Olympic Middle School in the amount of $4,099.60. Currently, the course is offered at the 9th grade level for .5 credit which is configured in the total graduation requirements at Shelton High School.  Pacific Northwest History is a required course of study for all Washington State students, however the course is not required to have graduation credit attached to it.  OSPI has recommended this course be taught at the middle school level.  By moving the Pacific Northwest History course to the 7th grade, Shelton High School can offer an additional WASL type preparation course to 10th graders either during the fall or during the spring just prior to the WASL.  Shelton High School will continue to offer Pacific Northwest History to students new in Washington State who have not met a previous state history requirement.  Gene Crater made a motion to approve the curriculum adoption as presented and Julianna Miljour seconded the motion.  The motion passed 3-0.

 

8.03 – Proposed 2008-09 Interdistrict Cooperative Agreement with New Market Skills Center:

The proposed 2008-09 Interdistrict Cooperative Agreement with the New Market Vocational Skills Center was presented for approval.  Superintendent Zook commented that we have around 90 students each year who take advantage of the wonderful programs offered at New Market.  Gene Crater moved, seconded by Julianna Miljour, to approve the 2008-09 Interdistrict Cooperative Agreement.  The motion passed 3-0.

 

8.04 – Proposed amendments to the 2007-2010 agreement with ESP:

Linda Arnold explained that there were two minor changes to the 2007-2010 bargained agreement with the Educational Support Personnel dealing with job descriptions and paid holidays that were easily agreed to by both parties.  Gene Crater moved, seconded by Julianna Miljour, to approve the changes to the agreement.  The motion passed 3-0.

 

8.05 – Use of Drake Trust Funds:

The board talked several weeks ago about the possibility of dividing the Drake Trust Fund in half and using $100,000 to repair the Shelton High School track and tennis courts, renaming them the Drake Memorial Track and Tennis Courts, and keeping the remaining $100,000 in the Drake Scholarship Fund to be used for scholarships.  They also discussed whether to only award scholarships out of the interest earnings from the $100,000, as they have done in the past, or to dip into the principle.  Joan and Jackie have spoken with the district’s attorney and he agrees that the commitment required within the original trust document has been satisfied and the money could go to use in serving Shelton High School, if that was the board’s desire.  The attorney would have to determine whether we could just leave $100,000 in the current trust fund for scholarships or if we would have to dissolve the entire fund and start over.  Chairman Sharpe said if that were the case, then we could stipulate that for the next 10 years only the interest could be used for giving scholarships, for example.

 

Sue McCausland was unable to attend the meeting, but asked the superintendent to convey to the rest of the board her thoughts which were to divide the fund into two equal parts -- $100,000 to go to track and tennis court repair and $100,000 to remain for scholarships and was agreeable to dip slightly into the principle for giving scholarships.  Sue felt that more students and community members would benefit from the division.

 

Gene Crater personally knows the Drake daughter and felt they would not be disappointed with the decision to split the funds and felt they would be more pleased that the Drake name would be remembered.

 

Julianna Miljour said she would support the division of the funds and preserving the Drake name for the track and tennis courts, but wondered what plan the district would have in place to preserve the track and tennis courts over the long term.  She did not think the Drake family would want their name attached to something that was in poor shape and not well maintained.

 

The board then had a lengthy discussion about the cost involved to repair both the track and tennis courts.  The tennis courts have outlived their normal life span.  To repair the courts the way they should be done is approximately $126,000.  The other alternative is $300,000 for a complete replacement.  To thoroughly repair the track is approximately $77,000 and then $15,000 every 2-3 years to reseal it.  To completely redo the track would cost upwards of $185,000 depending on the product.  Because of the airport overlay, the district may need to move these two facilities down the road with the passage of the next bond issue.  Joan sees a 10-year window for repairs in the event we are lucky enough to pass a bond issue.  The district is planning on track repairs this summer at a price of $50,000 to give the track another 5-7 years life span with some maintenance in between.

 

Chairman Sharpe said that since the district already has money earmarked in the budget to replace the top 3 layers on the track, we could use some of the Drake funds to do an even better repair job and replace 6 layers.  However, by adding more layers the track still won’t last any longer than 7 years – the same amount of time by doing the lesser repair.  She proposed taking $50,000 of the $100,000 and put towards track replacements and keep the other $50,000 invested for ongoing track maintenance.  Julianna and Gene agreed.  Julianna also felt that there should be language in the new trust agreement that the track always be named the Drake Memorial Track and that there be language in the scholarship portion of the new trust agreement that the district be bound for another 10 years to use just the interest earnings from the $100,000 for scholarships before being allowed to dip into the principle.  Julianna also said the district needs to continue to look for ways to repair the tennis courts because there are not many courts in the county. 

 

Joan will ask our attorney to draw up a new trust agreement for the board to take action on.

 

8.06 – Date for the next Facilities Task Force study session:

Superintendent Zook felt the next step the board should take is to hear from the two major developers who have site plans available and are proceeding with the city, because both are proposing land for schools sites within their developments.  The board tentatively set the date of Tuesday, September 16th for a study session and Joan will contact the developers.

 

8.07 – Moratorium on athletic travel outside a 150 mile radius:

Joan Zook commented that at the last budget study session, the board discussed trimming of athletics and activities and limiting non-league travel to a shorter radius.  Some of the coaches are trying to make plans for the fall so a decision needs to be made.  Joan told board members that Wanda Berndtson was concerned with one thing and that is that there be an exception for travel for post-season playoffs and the board agreed.  Gene Crater asked if this rule would apply to trips where the students paid their own travel expenses and it did not cost the district a dime.  Joan relayed Sue McCausland’s feeling on this which was in support of the 150 mile radius and any other travel would have to be approved on an individual basis.  Holly Sharpe disagreed with that and felt that everyone would then want an exception to the rule.  After a brief discussion Gene Crater and Julianna Miljour agreed that if we are going to limit travel to a 150 mile radius then it should be for all sports with no exceptions except for post-league playoffs.  Joan Zook said she guessed that other districts were having similar discussions due to budget constraints.  Gene Crater made a motion to approve a moratorium on athletic travel outside a 150 mile radius with the exception of post-season playoffs.  Julianna Miljour seconded the motion and the motion passed 3-0.

 

8.08 – Board goals for 2008-09:

The board goals listed are the same as the superintendent’s goals for 2008-09.  Chairman Sharpe felt the board and the superintendent should be working together on the same goals, which are: 1) Resource Conservation; 2) Strategic Planning; 3) Long-Range Facilities Planning; and 4) Impact Fees.  Julianna Miljour moved, seconded by Gene Crater, to approve the board goals as listed above.  The motion passed 3-0.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Gene Crater made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the addition of the supplemental personnel report as a new Item 9.06.  Julianna Miljour seconded the motion and the motion passed 3-0.  The board:

§         Approved minutes from the June 17, 2008 regular school board meeting;

§         Approved overnight travel to Central Washington University on July 17-20, 2008 for students in the Shelton High School Band’s Percussion / Drum Line to participate in the Sounds of Summer Drum Camp.

§         Approved General Fund Voucher Nos. 111210 through 111213 in the amount of $42,069.39.

§         Approved Payroll Voucher Nos. 43012 through 43124 in the amount of $2,719,117.35 for June 2008.

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

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

11.01 – Budget status report:

Jackie McGuire gave a budget status report as of May 2008. 

 

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER

The board now has their own district e-mail addresses and access to a secure location to pick up board documents. 

 

ADJOURN

Chairman Sharpe adjourned the meeting at 7:33 p.m.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                    Chairman, Board of Directors

 

 

                                                                       

Secretary to the Board