MINUTES
November 26, 2001 - 6:30 p.m.
PUBLIC MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Central Valley School District No. 356
Educational Services Center
19307 E. Cataldo
Greenacres, WA  99016

Board Members Present:
Kay Bryant, President
Cindy McMullen
Nolan Daines
Craig Holmes
Anne Long


1.    President Kay Bryant called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  Minutes of the regular meeting of  November 13, 2001, were approved as submitted.

2.    PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3.    OATH OF OFFICE FOR NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS
Superintendent Stanley administered the Oath of Office to Nolan Daines, Craig Holmes, and Anne Long.

4.    BOARD REORGANIZATION
A.    Nomination of board member to serve as President:
Craig Holmes nominated Cindy McMullen for the office of President.  There were no other nominations.
Votes:
Long:   Yes      McMullen:  Yes       Holmes:  Yes      Daines: Yes       Bryant:  Yes      

B.    Nomination of board member to serve as Vice President:
Cindy McMullen nominated Craig Holmes for the office of Vice President.  There were no other nominations.
Votes:
Long: Yes        McMullen:  Yes       Holmes:  Yes        Daines: Yes       Bryant: Yes       

C.    Nomination of board member to serve as legislative representative:
Cindy McMullen nominated Kay Bryant for the office of Legislative Representative.  There were no other nominations,
Votes:
Long: Yes        McMullen: Yes         Holmes: Yes        Daines: Yes          Bryant: Yes      

D.    Lots were drawn for voting order as follows:
#1 - Craig Holmes; #2 - Anne Long; #3 - Nolan Daines; #4 - Kay Bryant; #5 - Cindy McMullen.

5.    HEARING OF INDIVIDUALS/GROUPS
Mike Gilmore,  Central Valley High School Senior Class President, asked the board to reconsider the policy regarding open campus. Mr. Gilmore suggested a 'limited' open campus for juniors and seniors due to construction in April eliminating the lunchroom.

Angie Waco, ASB Secretary at Central Valley High School, James Layman, Activities Coordinator, and Jared Richardson, Treasurer, spoke in support of a voluntary drug testing program.  

6.    SCHOOL BOARD UPDATES
A.    High School Construction:

University High School Project Manager  
Harvey Morrison, reported the project is ahead of schedule.  Favorable weather conditions have helped with the construction progress and outside work continues.  Site work between the building and athletic fields has been graded and curbed and finish work is progressing well.  

Central Valley High School Project Manager David Cooper, reported work is also progressing well with the project 75% complete.  They are three weeks ahead of schedule and projecting completion in March.  Work is being done to finish the exterior before winter weather sets in.  Interior  windows and doors are in and lockers are being installed.  Phase 2 bid is anticipated in January.
 
B.    Social Studies Adoption:
Kathy Steblaj, University High School, reported the Social Studies Task Force has completed the recommendation for Scope and Sequence for grades 9-12.  Their next task is to outline the syllabus for the new Citizenship seminar that will replace the current Civics class beginning in 2003.  The Horizontal Committee has completed the Scope and Sequence for grades 6-8.  It has been recommended that Washington State History and Government be moved to grade 8.  It previously has been part of Northwest Regional History at grades 9 and 11.  By making this change, our curriculum will be aligned with the Washington State EALRS, benchmarks, and future WASL.  

C.    Math Adoption :
Dr. Karen Cockburn, Math Coordinator, described the need for curriculum changes for 9th graders.  The needs of all students are not being met and more experiences which promote deeper understand and more engagement on the part of the student are needed.  Materials and experiences need to match the expectations set forth in the Washington framework for achieving the Essential Academic Learning   requirements. With reconfiguration, the time is right for change with the transition to the 9-12 format.    Three credits are important because mathematics is a basis for entering any career and  the increased emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, reading and writing demands an additional year of high school math. In addition,  many students would choose to end their high school math careers after 10th grade and thus fail to perform adequately on entrance exams at both community college and university levels. 

D.    Annual Financial Report:
Jan Hutton highlighted major points of financial report for the year ending, August 31, 2001.  Expenses are reflected at $72,803,023  and revenues at $73,104,201.  An increase in the fund balance is reflected due to a reserve of $200K for reconfiguration.  Currently, the fund balance is 3.7%.  For the past few years, the fund balance has been steady and stable and is expected to return to 3.5% next year. State average fund balances are at 7.2%.  $1.9 million is in reserve for arbitrage. 

E.    Superintendent's Report :
Mr. Stanley reported the Valley Chamber will sponsor a legislative luncheon focusing on I-728 at the Valley DoubleTree on December 7th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

This evening, Skip Bonuccelli, along with a parent and a teacher attended a forum at the Spokesman- Review on Fairness in Reporting student activities.

Mr. Stanley has contacted the firm that generated the software for electronic board meetings.  We expect to have a representative in the district the 2nd or 3rd week in December.  Any members of the board are welcome to sit in on the meeting.

Mr. Stanley suggested 'middle schools' be the discussion topic for the December 10th board meeting.  He also suggested that meeting be held at Bowdish Junior High School to allow viewing of ScanTek system.  The board concurred.

The board retreat originally scheduled for January 18 and 19, 2002 will be moved to January 25 and 26, 2002.  Reservations have been made at the Coeur d'Alene Resort. This is the time for the board to review the superintendent's evaluation, board protocol and the board's self evaluation.  Mr. Stanley suggested the board have a presenter work with them for a half day session, perhaps on diversity.  Mr. Stanley will work with Mrs. McMullen on an agenda for the retreat. 

Written Reports:
A.    Year long staff development plans 

7.    CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion by Craig Holmes to approve the following Consent Calendar items.  Second by Kay Bryant.
A.    Personnel recommendations
B.    Gifts/donations:
        *Nursery equipment valued at $564.97 to Bowdish JHS from Blue Iris Water 
          Gardens & Walter Creations;
        *$1,020 to Opportunity Elementary from Opportunity PTSA for classroom 
          supplies and games; 
        *$925 to University HS from University HS Booster Club for girls basketball;
        *Copy machine valued at $1,000 to the STEP Program at NPJHS;
C.    Study and Survey Planning Grant Award for $31,647. 
D.    Permission to bid Educational Service Center HVAC System, Rebid No. 
        272-01-11-B. 
E.    Approve vouchers from the General, ASB and Capital Projects Funds. 
Votes:
Long:  Yes     McMullen: Yes      Holmes: Yes     Daines: Yes      Bryant: Yes       

8.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A.    Consider Board Policy 6505, Security, for second reading.  
This item was deferred to a future meeting.

9.    NEW BUSINESS
A.   Consider Central Valley High School Wrestling Drug Testing.  
After discussion, motion was made by Kay Bryant to approve this program with the stipulation that Central Valley High School report back to the board with definite procedures for the wrestling drug testing program to reflect what was discussed this evening, by December 10, 2001.  Second by Craig Holmes.
Votes:
Long: Yes       McMullen:  Yes        Holmes: Yes         Daines: Yes        Bryant: Yes       

10.    INFORMATION
A.    Approved travel requests.
B.    Letter from OSPI regarding Adams Elementary modernization.

11.    DISCUSSION TOPIC - Graduation Requirements.
Assistant Superintendent, Mike Pearson, Central Valley High School Principal, Paul Sturm, and University High School Principal, Erik Ohlund discussed new graduation requirements.

The charge for the Academic Program Committee was a comprehensive review of total K-12 programs, develop guiding principles, and recommend revision with a five year program review.  The priority was to keep the total number of credits at 23, four more than required by the state. The objective was to keep credits at an average of 6 per year with   flexibility, keep the number of electives at 8, move from more prescriptive in grades 9/10 to more choices for upper classmen, and follow the Pathways concept required by the State of Washington to keep students interested in school.

No changes were recommended in English, science, health/fitness, occupational education or arts.  Proposed changes were Math from 2 to 3 credits, social studies from 3 to 2.5, communication from 1 to .5 (culminating project). 

Rationale for the increase in math credits is that Essential Academic Learning Requirements in mathematics are greatly expanded from those in the past. Writing is now required in mathematics and many students take no math past grade 10 in the current system. 

12.    COMMENTS BY BOARD MEMBERS
Mr. Daines said he was impressed by the student from Central Valley High School who spoke about open campus.  He would like to see the board request that the principal and administration explain their viewpoints on this matter to the board.

Mr. Holmes congratulated new board members.

Mrs. Long said she appreciated being able to attend the WSSDA Conference last week and that it was a great experience.

Mrs. McMullen welcomed new board members

13.    EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 10:00 p.m., the board moved to an executive session for approximately 45 minutes to discuss a personnel matter.

14.    ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:45 p.m.