MEMBERS
PRESENT

Janice Watts, Jim Bays, Tina Cayton, Matt Donald, Steve Madsen, Michael Green-Board Secretary and Vicky Barnes-Recording Secretary

OTHERS PRESENT

Stacy Brown, Asha Riley, Leslie Lawley, Lesa Beucher, Alesha Beucher, Sarah Stuart, Marianne Green, Nicole Galloway, Nick Massie, Steve Hallstrom

CITIZEN’S COMMENTS

ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Community member, Leslie Lawley, addressed the board with a question concerning the status of the outdoor playground equipment at Woodland Intermediate School. Superintendent Michael Green replied Principal Carney will be giving an update on the status in his report for the December 14, 2015 board meeting.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Tina Cayton moved to approve the November 9, 2015 regular meeting minutes.

Janice Watts - yes

Jim Bays - yes

Tina Cayton – yes

Matt Donald - yes

Steve Madsen - yes

REPORTS TO THE BOARD

Student representative Report

Student representative Taylor Vossen reported winter sports began this week in the high school. She also noted she has heard nothing but good reviews concerning the food in the cafeteria.

Director of Facilities and Safety Report

Director Matt Donald asked a clarifying question about the Healthy Kids Grant and if the grant can be used for playground equipment. Superintendent Michael Green said he would follow up to find out the answer.

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Michael Green said he had nothing to report but would like to take the opportunity to introduce Nicole Galloway who is the district office secretary and a tremendous asset to the district. He said Nicole would be “tag teaming” as recording secretary with Vicky Barnes.  She was present to cross train for board meetings.

CORRESPONDENCE

There was no correspondence.

BOARD REPORTS, REQUESTS, AND COMMENTS

Director Tina Cayton said she noticed in the high school parking lot all of the handicapped parking places were full. She had several community members who attended the reception who needed to park in them question her concerning them being all full. She wondered if students were parking in them. Superintendent Michael Green said he would follow up with the high school administrators.

Director Matt Donald asked about the maintenance of the access road that runs between the soccer field and railroad tracks, noting it had potholes and standing water. Superintendent Michael Green said it is a railroad access road and is maintain by them.

President Janice Watts said she and new Director Sarah Stuart had attended the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) conference last week. She was especially impressed with keynote speaker Dr. Pedro Noguera who spoke on equity. She also attended sessions on Expanded Learning, Policy Governance and PBIS. She noted Principal Steve Carney had spoken about PBIS in the report to the board concerning Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying and that this program focuses on how to meet a student’s social and emotional needs as well as their educational needs. Incoming Director Sarah Stuart said she had also enjoyed the sessions and upon returning home had done further research into podcasts and your tube videos by Dr. Pedro Noguera to expand her understanding of equity. Superintendent Michael Green explained that the concept of Educational Equity involves meeting students where they are academically, socially, and behaviorally, and serving them so all students are learning at high levels.

Director Jim Bays thanked the community for the retirement reception and commented that in the last six-to-eight months, many changes have been made thanks to staff and community input. He said he had a “laundry list” of accomplishments he felt were noteworthy. One was that the board spent time reviewing how the Board operates as a board and conducts meeting and attended a workshop on meeting conduct and Robert’s Rules of Order. Also, the board addressed the issue of communications by approving the hire of a new Communications Manager and implemented a communications plan that will evolve as needed as well as approving the hire of a dedicated and experienced Human Resources professional in Vicky Barnes. The board also performed a systematic review of policies and procedures in the areas of Board of Directors, Communications, Nondiscrimination, and Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) and recently heard presentations from all of the schools on the actions taken to addressing HIB. He said the board now has a formal policy clarifying how staff can communicate directly with the board and also has plans to address Community Engagement and Community Education in the future. He stated that he hopes the Board continues with the positive momentum moving forward into the future.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

There was a power point report presented to the board on the Final Closeout of 2014-2015 Budget.

Business Manager Stacy Brown said 2014-2015 was a year of many changes and through it all the district has remained in great shape fiscally. She showed the board a summary of the historical fund balance from 2008 to 2015 and noted 11.4% in expenditures was very healthy. She said the state sends out each year what they look for in a healthy budget and Woodland Public Schools is always at the top in these areas. She noted in unbudgeted items the administrative salaries were reflecting the settlement and the cost of the substitute principal. She also noted that the increase in staff cost was mostly custodian labor for moving schools and that the biggest increase in Attorney/Audit/Election fees was attorney fees. Director Tina Cayton asked if attorney fees show up under the board’s budget. Business Manager Brown said yes, attorney fees, other than those for KWRL, are under the board’s budget.

Business Manager Brown also showed a report on Levy dollars and noted they do not change very much. In Certificated Salaries the increase is a reflection of additional time due to professional development which is connected to TPEP, (the new teacher evaluation system). She said it has been phased in over three years and the district does receive some minimal grant money for this. She said in Classified Salaries the increase is a reflection of increased custodial, maintenance and business office staffing. She addressed the increase in the Food Service Program saying the meal participation was lower and she is working with Sodexo to finalize some of the expenditures. She said Sodexo committed that the district would make $4,800 and has been great in working with the district. She said the Special Education increase was due to high cost students and adding staff to address needs of the students.

Business Manager Brown showed the General Fund Revenues and said the percentage in regard to the totals do not change much. She said the State Special Purpose included increases in transportation of students as well as bilingual and special education services for students.

Director Steve Madsen asked if next year it would be possible to compare three (3) years since many of the expenditures are due to the move and anomalies. Business Manager Brown said she would do a three year comparison. 

Director Matt Donald asked if printing of curriculum was included in the cost of curriculum. Superintendent Michael Green said it is sent out to be printed so would fall under contracted services. Director Matt Donald asked where the chrome books being used in the schools would fall in the budget. Business Manager Stacy Brown said under Instructional Technology. 

In looking at Before and After School Care Business Manager Stacy Brown said Woodland Child Care is no longer being subsidized by the district due in part to the change to full-day kindergarten. In Other Funds she said Capital Projects still have some expenditures and state matching funds to still be received. In Debt Service the district refunded a past issue and also has only two payments remaining to pay off the non-voted debt that was incurred to pay for energy enhancements. She noted Mark Prussing is good at keeping the bond and levy millage rate stable. The board asked clarifying questions about the interest rates and Business Manager Stacy

Brown said the district has a very low rate. Director Tina Cayton said the report was great.

 CONSENT AGENDA

Director Steve Madsen moved to approve the consent agenda.

Janice Watts - yes

Jim Bays - yes

Tina Cayton – yes

Matt Donald - yes

Steve Madsen – yes

ACTION ITEMS

Approval of Revisions to Policy 2255

Superintendent Michael Green said the policy was unchanged from the first reading and said Policy 2255 had been updated to address Bridges Academy and some clean-up for consistency in wording of the policy.

Director Jim Bays moved to approve the revisions to policy 2255.

Janice Watts - yes

Jim Bays - yes

Tina Cayton – yes

Matt Donald - yes

Steve Madsen – yes

Approval of Revisions to Policy 5610

Superintendent Michael Green said the policy was unchanged from the first reading..

Director Tina Cayton moved to approve the revisions to policy 5610.

Janice Watts - yes

Jim Bays - yes

Tina Cayton – yes

Matt Donald - yes

Steve Madsen – yes 

WHS Change Order #31

Superintendent Michael Green said this was hopefully the last change order. Director Matt Donald asked about the seating in the stadium. Superintendent Michael Green said it is part of the basic contract and we have 90 days to accept.

Director Jim Bays moved to approve the WHS change order #31.

Janice Watts - yes

Jim Bays - yes

Tina Cayton – yes

Matt Donald - yes

Steve Madsen – yes

ADJOURNMENT

President Janice Watts recessed the meeting of the Board of Directors at 6:29 p.m. for Executive Session under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) with no action to follow.

ATTEST:

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Secretary to the Board

WOODLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT #404
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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President

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Director

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Director

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Director

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Director