WOODLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 404 DIRECTOR'S MEETING MINUTES
November 12, 2013 5:00PM Regular Meeting-District Meeting Room
MEMBERS PRESENT
Janice Watts, Bill Woodard, Tina Cayton, Jeremy Stuart, Michael Green-Board Secretary and Tegan Steen-Recording Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT
Matt Donald, Mark Houk, Chris Wiseman, Deb Kernen, Dan Uhlenkott, Asha Riley, and John Shoup.
MEMBER ABSENCE
Bill Woodard moved to approve Jim Bays’ absence from the meeting.
Jeremy Stuart yesTina Cayton yesBill Woodard yesJanice Watts yes carried
MINUTES
Bill Woodard moved to approve the October 28, 2013 regular meeting minutes.
Jeremy Stuart yesBill Woodard yes Janice Watts yes carried
BOARD REPORTS
Student Representative ReportNone.
Other ReportsMichael Green told the Board that Cari Thomson will be at the next Board meeting to give a CTE (Career and Technical Education) presentation.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Michael reported that there will be a meeting with Skanska USA Building, Inc. to discuss construction tomorrow; then, the pre-construction meeting in a coming week. He hopes the new WHS site construction work will start at the beginning of December. He was at Yale today and said that the gym should be completed after Christmas, so their play will be held at a local church. That project is moving along well.
Asha and Principals are working hard to train staff on the Common Core and Teacher Evaluation changes. Janice Watts asked if, during the roll-out, one third of the staff will be evaluated this year at each building. Michael said that there will be more like half the staff evaluated this year at WPS, but the other buildings will evaluate about one third and each of the following two years.
CORRESPONDENCE
NEWS Request for FundingMichael received a letter from NEWS requesting funding for their continued support to get the legislature to fully fund education. In the past, the Board has supported this organization with a dollar per student (like other districts in the State). He asked the Board if they wish to continue to support NEWS in the same manner. They said they would, at the suggested rate.
IDEA DeterminationMichael received a letter from OSPI stating that our District has met the requirements for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is a challenge for many districts. Michael commended Deb Kernen and staff for this achievement.
CITIZENS REQUESTS
None.
BOARD REPORTS & REQUESTS
KWRL Annual MeetingBill Woodard reported that he attended the annual KWRL Board meeting. He said that he thinks Shannon Barnett was a great hire, and that Shannon did a fine job of providing complete information to the Boards. Bill said that KWRL has a new website with a section on “KWRL Heroes”, which highlights staff. Bill thinks this is good for staff morale. The Board discussed Bill’s report.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
WPS School-wide PlanMark Houk discussed the WPS school-wide plan with the Board. He highlighted key areas that WPS is working on for improvements. They are: Use of Data, Professional Development, Culture/Environment and Community Connections. Asha Riley asked the Board to give words of encouragement to staff for all their hard work during the changes to and their training for Common Core and Teacher Evaluations, as they have had to do a lot of training this year.
Setting Levy Rates for 2015-2018Michael said that he and Stacy Brown have been working on estimates of increases to the budget for the year that the new High School will open. There will be additional expenses for the District to utilities and office, grounds and custodial staff, and in other areas, as well. Michael recommend a three-year M&O levy with a flat collection amount of $3,950,000 in each of the three years (2015-2018). The Board agreed. Michael will add a resolution to the next agenda that reflects this.
First Reading of Revisions to Policy No. 6950The construction management team thought that the wording for this policy regarding Contractor Assurances, Surety Bonds and Insurance, and Construction Contract Changes should be modified, to clarify the Construction Change Directives (CCDs) were based on estimates, not actual costs. The change to the wording reflects this. The Board agreed, and this revision will be added to the next agenda for second reading and approval.
Location of January 13th Board MeetingMichael suggested that the Board move there January 13th meeting to the Yale Gym, so that they can have a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new gym. They agreed. Michael later asked if the Board wished to change the start time of the meeting. They did not wish to change the time of the meeting, so it will remain at 5pm.
State Assessment UpdateAsha discussed the state assessment data with the Board. The overall area of focus of improvement for District staff is math. Other districts similarly struggle in this area. Asha and Heidi Rhodes, Secondary Learning Specialist, are looking at what our students are struggling with. They believe that if students in lower grades don’t understand fractions, decimals and percentages, they will struggle with algebra. The District’s reading and writing performance is good. Michael said that in the old days, the assessments showed comparisons to other students, not a standard. This can be harder for students to attain because the standard has greater variability than a normed assessment. Asha told the Board that the data is important, but not the end-all. They have been collecting better information on mathematics in the last 3 years, using interim math assessments. Staff are using data to set good goals and monitor to adjust instruction as they move through the curriculum.
CONSENT AGENDA
See attached consent agenda.
Jeremy Stuart moved to approve the consent agenda as presented.
Janice Watts yesBill Woodard yes Tina Cayton yesJeremy Stuart yes carried
ACTION ITEMS
Second Reading and Approval of Policy Nos. 1400,2151, 3210, 3246, 3432, 4260, 4310, 6030, 6220There has been no changes to these policies since the last Board meeting.
Bill Woodard moved to approve Policy Nos. 1400,2151, 3210, 3246, 3432, 4260, 4310, 6030, 6220 as presented.
Approve Granting Easement to Clark PUD for KWRL PropertyThis agreement is to bring electrical service into the KWRL property at Paradise Point.
Jeremy Stuart moved to approve the easement as presented and authorize the Superintendent to sign the document on the Board's behalf.
Janice Watts yesBill Woodard yesTina Cayton yesJeremy Stuart yes carried
Resolution No. 2583-Providing for the Issuance of Bonds and Delegation of AuthorityMichael, Stacy and Mark Prussing reviewed underwriters for the upcoming bond, last week. The mutual recommendation was for Piper Jaffray for this negotiated bond sale.
Tina Cayton moved to approve Resolution No. 2583 as presented.
Approval of Bond Underwriter for Upcoming Bond Sale
Bill Woodard moved to approve Piper Jaffray as the underwriter for the upcoming sale of bonds.
Please Approve Yale Change Order #2Michael brought this change order back to the Board for formal Board approval, which covers 6 changed items. Michael explained the items, which included: Remediation of UST Backfill, Adding Sheet Metal Trim, Adding Plywood for a Climbing Wall, Replacing Sidewalk, Revising the Parking Accessibility Ramp and Upgrading the Flooring.
Jeremy Stuart moved to approve Yale Change Order #2, as presented.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER
Michael reminded the Board that the WQCC Hosted After Hours, was Thursday at 5pm at the new police station.
He said that both Jeremy Stuart and Matt Donald won their positions on the Board at this last election. He congratulated them.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice President, Janice Watts, adjourned the meeting of the Board of Directors at 6:05pm.
ATTEST:
_______________________________ Secretary to the Board
WOODLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT #404 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
____________________________________ President
____________________________________ Director