The Shelton School District Board of Directors met in regular session at 5:30 p.m. on September 25, 2007 in the board room located at CHOICE Alternative School.

 

Board members present:  Chairman Julianna Miljour, Sue McCausland, Marty Crow, Holly Sharpe, Peter Boome (arriving at 5:35 p.m.) and student representative Daniel Glenn.

 

Staff members present:  Superintendent Joan Zook, Alison Nutt, Linda Arnold, Jackie McGuire, Wanda Berndtson, Bill Hicks and Steve Warner.

 

Others present:  Jeff Green, Valerie James, David Frost, Ione Vrabel, Denny Temple, Scott Eichhorn, Dick and Bev Wentz, Gene Crater, Dele and Kathy Gunnerson, and several Shelton High School students.

 

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Miljour called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

There were two modifications to the consent agenda:

1.      Remove Item 8.04 – Approval of General Fund, Capital Projects Fund, ASB Fund and Private Purpose Fund Vouchers for September 2007.   (These will be approved at the October 9th regular meeting.)

2.      Addition of Item 8.07 – Approval of the supplemental personnel report.

Holly Sharpe made a motion to adopt the agenda with the removal of Item 8.04 and the addition of Item 8.07.  Marty Crow seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Sue McCausland read the district’s Mission Statement.

 

COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

·        David Frost commented that his children are in the 4th and 5th grade and one did well on the WASL and the other did not.  He said he strongly believes that schools should go back to teaching more of the basic reading, writing and spelling.

 

·        Valerie James told board members she resigned as the head fast pitch coach at the end of last season.  She said there is a problem every year with athletes not turning in their fast pitch uniforms.  Page 9 of the Athletic Handbook states that students must turn in all equipment and uniforms before they are allowed to turn out for another sport, which is not happening. Students are not being held accountable and parents are holding uniforms hostage as a form of revenge.  Valerie said she has brought this to the attention of the Athletic Director and after 6 years of coaching feels she should have received more support.  Holly Sharpe and Sue McCausland agreed that this is a problem and that we need to hold students accountable.  Marty Crow said equipment and uniforms should be like library books and textbooks that you have to pay for if not returned.

 

 

REPORTS AND RECOGNITIONS

6.01 – Report on the Athletic Study:

Dele Gunnerson gave an overview of the Athletic Study he recently conducted at the request of the superintendent.  He thanked the 24 coaches, parents and student athletes he spent time interviewing and said he hopes the community is applauding Superintendent Zook for taking the risk to bring him into the district to take a look at our athletic program.  Dele went over each of the conclusions in his report (see Attachment #1) and concluded by saying that his report does not provide any specific recommendations but hopes he has given the board good information to work with.

 

Superintendent Zook said the next step is for Wanda Berndtson and Bill Hicks to develop action plans to address the needs identified in the report and hopes they will be ready to report back to the board at the next meeting.  Parent Ione Vrabel commented that she liked Mr. Gunnerson’s statement of “the best” and wondered in the district was hiring the “best” coaches.  Her observation is that they may not be the best but they may already work for the school district, have the extra time and need the extra money.  She encouraged the district to look at hiring practices and hire at the best coaches for kids and not necessarily who is already here.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS

7.01 – Proposed Resolution No. 07-11:

Proposed Resolution No. 07-11 supports Constitutional Amendment EHJR 4204 allowing for a simple majority vote for school levies.  Holly Sharpe moved, seconded by Sue McCausland, to approve Resolution No. 07-11.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

7.02 – Proposed 2007-2010 bargained agreement with the Educational Support Personnel:

Holly Sharpe made a motion to approve the 2007-2010 bargained agreement with the Educational Support Personnel.  Marty Crow seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.

 

7.03 – Proposed 2007-08 Highly Capable Program grant application:

Steve Warner spoke briefly about the 2007-08 Highly Capable Program grant application and the three different ways students are served in our district.  We have 2 FTE Hi-Cap teachers and this grant pays for one-half of the salary for one of the teachers.  Holly Sharpe moved, seconded by Peter Boome, to approve the 2007-08 Highly Capable Program grant application in the amount of $35,458.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

7.04 – Proposed Board Policy No. 3244:

Proposed Board Policy No. 3244 – Prohibition of Corporal Punishment – was presented for approval.  Superintendent Zook said this was just a housekeeping matter and that we follow RCW and WAC, but in reviewing the RCW recently for another purpose she discovered that the RCW states the board is required to adopt an actual board policy.  This proposed Board Policy No. 3244 is identical to the RCW.  Holly Sharpe made a motion to approve Board Policy No. 3244 and Peter Boome seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

7.05 – Proposed master list of ASB clubs and activities:

Holly Sharpe made a motion to approve the master list of ASB clubs and activities for the 2007-08 school year and Sue McCausland seconded the motion.  Peter Boome then asked what this list was exactly and if the district supported religious clubs.  The superintendent said that religious clubs are allowed to exist but the district is not allowed to pay an advisor.  Holly Sharpe then withdrew her motion to approve the master list.  The two new clubs on the list will be put back on the October 9 board agenda for official approval, as well as approval of the master list of ASB clubs and activities.

 

7.06 – Board study session dates with principals:

It is time to set board study session dates with the principals to review their School Improvement Plans.  Joan Zook said the principals are asking for the dates to be in November so that they have time to update their plans with their staff.  After some discussion amongst board members, the dates of October 30, November 5 and November 19 were set as study session dates.  Chairman Miljour will be out of the country on November 5 and possibly on November 19.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

Holly Sharpe made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the deletion of Item 8.04 and the addition of Item 8.07.  Marty Crow seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.  The board:

·        Approved minutes of September 11, 2007 regular school board meeting.

·        Approved minutes of the September 19, 2007 joint Mason County school board meeting.

·        Approved overnight travel to Camp Bishop in Shelton on October 19-21, 2007 for NJROTC cadets to attend freshman cadet orientation.

·        Approved Payroll Voucher Nos. 41897 through 42042 in the amount of $2,653,099.13 for September 2007.

·        Approved the regular and supplemental personnel reports as presented and as attached.  (See Attachment #2).

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

·        Tomorrow the House Education Committee will be visiting Evergreen Elementary to see the dual language program in action.  Representative Kathy Haigh in on this committee and will be there.  They are looking at our program for things that might be considered by the legislature this year to improve the English language learner program and second world language for students.

 

·        The Rachel’s Challenge Program is being held today and tomorrow for our secondary students and for parents in the evening.  Rachel Scott was the first student killed at Columbine High School and after her death her father discovered her dairies which talked about how she would have a short life and how she would make an impact on the power of kindness. 

 

 

 

BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

·        Dan Glenn started classes at South Puget Sound Community College yesterday and is a new uncle.

 

·        Peter Boome also started school yesterday and said that one day last week he did a presentation at Shelton High School during all 6 periods.

 

·        Holly Sharpe is going to miss the October 9 board meeting due to eye surgery; invited everyone to come to the Citizen’s for Shelton Schools Chili Feed from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Shelton High School SUB prior to the homecoming football game; and had a before and after picture of the $500,000 artificial football stadium turf at the high school in Barrow, Alaska, which is 350 miles north of the Article Circle.

 

·        Sue McCausland was disappointed that in light of our recent athletic issues that very few parents attended the evening presentation to hear nationally renowned speaker Bruce Brown at Shelton High School.  She said Mr. Brown has great things to offer on athletic issues.  But, the Rachel’s Challenge event for parents last night was widely attended.

 

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER

Superintendent Zook placed at each board members seat annual pledge drive information for the Shelton Schools Foundation.  The Foundation supports the work of staff above and beyond what the district can do.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

At 7:03 p.m. Chairman Miljour announced that the board would take a 5-minute recess and then enter into a 15 minute executive session for an update from the superintendent on two recent employee issues.

 

At 7:20 p.m. the board returned to regular session.

 

ADJOURN

Chairman Miljour declared the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                    Chairman, Board of Directors

 

                                                                       

Secretary to the Board