MEMBERS
PRESENT

Janice Watts, Sarah Stuart, Lesa Beucher, Matt Donald, Steve Madsen, Taylor Vosson, Michael Green-Board Secretary and Vicky Barnes-Recording Secretary

OTHERS PRESENT

Malinda Huddleston, Angela Campbell, Deb Kernen, Lan Ha, Nick Massie, Dan Uhlenkott, Scott Landrigan, Asha Riley, Jake Hall, John Shoup, Jim Bays, Stacy Brown, Lynell Tsugawa-Murray, Steven Carney, Leslie Lawley

CITIZEN’S COMMENTS

ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Patron Nick Massie welcomed the new directors to the board. He requested the board look at the start time of the board meetings because he believes a later start time would increase public participation.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Director Madsen moved to approve the minutes from the November 23, 2015, and December 14, 2015, board meetings. 

Director Watts – yes

Director Stuart - yes

Director Beuscher – yes

Director Donald - yes

Director Madsen - yes

REPORTS TO THE BOARD

Student Representative Report - Student Representative Taylor Vosson apologized to the board for her lack of attendance and reassured them she was working with her coach to be released from practice to attend the meetings. She said she had heard from some students who expressed interest in having coffee available on campus. Sodexo Food Services manager, Lan Ha, said the school currently has iced Starbucks available and she would check with the student store to see if hot coffee could be added to the menu. Director Watson asked Lan Ha about fresh fruit cups which had been a previous request of students. Lan Ha said they are seasonal items and students will see them in the spring.

Taylor also said that students had questioned if off campus lunch times would return. Superintendent Michael Green responded that the having a closed campus was a district policy that had been recommended by administration. He added students could work through either the principal or a request to the board to have the policy revisited. Director Donald asked Principal Shoup if he had heard from students regarding this issue. Principal Shoup said he is currently doing senior exit interviews and students have brought the closed campus up since to him in those conversations.  The freedom previously available to upperclassmen has been seen in the past as a rite of passage. Principal Shoup said once he explained the rationale behind the decision, the students said they understood and supported the decision but still missed it.

Superintendents Report – Superintendent Michael Green invited the directors to attend the Legislative Conference on January 31 and February 1. He explained that on Sunday attendees receive briefings and updates on legislature and on Monday there are opportunities to speak with legislatures face-to-face. Director Madsen had originally signed up to attend but is now unable to attend. None of the other directors are able to attend.

Superintendent Green also invited board members to attend the Chamber of Commerce Banquet on January 23, 2016, at the Heathman Lodge, saying it is a great way to connect with the business community. Currently Director Watts and her husband are attending. He asked for them to let him know by early next week at the latest. 

Superintendent Green also highlighted the press release concerning Jennifer Cullison receiving the Claes Noble Educator of the Year and said Jennifer had also been invited by Governor Inslee to attend the State of the State speech in Olympia on January 12, 2016.

CORRESPONDENCE

There was no correspondence.

BOARD REPORTS, REQUESTS, AND COMMENTS

Director Donald asked that the start time of the meeting be put on the next meeting as an agenda item. Director Madsen said from his previous experiences, he has found having one meeting a month at a later start time better accommodates the community. He said the board could look at addressing agenda items which have more interest to the community at that meeting.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Board Retreat - Superintendent Michael Green gave three days that the board had agreed on as possible days to hold the upcoming Board Retreat. The Board agreed on March 12, 2016, as the best day. Superintendent Michael Green said he and President Watts would work together on an agenda focusing on Team Building, Training and Goal Setting. He asked if the directors to let him or President Watts know if they have other items they would like to have added to the agenda.

School Board and Superintendent Operating Principles, Policy 1620 - The Board of Directors reviewed the School Board and Superintendent Operating Principles, Policy 1620. Superintendent Michael Green said they are the foundation of the relationship between the board and the superintendent. President Watts took the board through each section. Director Madsen expressed a desire to see more clarity of when the board can communicate with each other and what constitutes a quorum. Superintendent Michael Green said if it is informational and something they all need to know they can communicate to other board members. He cautioned that sharing anything beyond information is a violation of Open Public Meetings Act. He will draft a revision and bring it back to the board at the next meeting for their review.

Director Stuart asked clarifying questions concerning her response to patrons who express concerns about the district. Superintendent Michael Green said her response would be to listen to concerns and then direct them to the appropriate administrator. President Watts talked about the difference between talking to an administrator as a board member versus a parent and that it is important to communicate the “hat” you are wearing at the meeting. Director Donald likes the information on the website that explains what goes on at board meetings and said “see website” could be added to the policy. A question came up about how teachers address concerns to the board. Superintendent Michael Green said that relationship is addressed in policy.

Evaluation of the Superintendent, Policy 1630 - Superintendent Michael Green discussed Policy 1630 which addresses evaluation of the superintendent. He explained that the historical practice of the school board has been to review the performance of and provide written feedback to the superintendent in the early spring of the year but each year the board indicates that it would make more sense to do the superintendent's evaluation at the end of the year, and prior to goal-setting for the coming year.

The board may wish to consider modifying the practice going forward so that the evaluation of the superintendent happens in July when more metrics from the prior year are available.  Additionally, this timing would dovetail nicely into goal-setting for the ensuing year.  

This timing would allow the opportunity for the superintendent to work toward improvement in areas of identified deficiencies prior to the April 1 timeline by which the board must take action on the renewal of the contract.

CONSENT AGENDA

Director Donald moved to approve the January 11, 2016, consent agenda.

Director Watts - yes

Director Stuart - yes

Director Beuscher - yes

Director Donald - yes

Director Madsen - yes

ACTION ITEMS

Approval of SEIU 925 Collective Bargaining Agreement – Superintendent Michael Green referred to the prior contract, the tentative agreement, the agreed upon salary schedule and the draft Collective Bargaining Agreement, noting the draft still needs to be proofread. His recommendation was to approve the collective bargaining agreement with SEIU as presented.

Director Donald moved to approve the SEIU 925 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Director Watts - yes

Director Stuart - yes

Director Beuscher - yes

Director Donald - yes

Director Madsen - yes

Approval of Request for ESD Services – Cowlitz Day Treatment Program – Superintendent Michael Green explained that Woodland Public Schools currently sends our highly impacted K-8 students to either Fir Grove, 49^th Street or other programs in Oregon. He said we have struggles getting our students in so the Cowlitz County Superintendents and Special Education Directors have been working with the ESD to establish a “Day Treatment Program” in Cowlitz County. The board asked qualifying questions concerning the amount of time a student attends a day treatment program. Special Education Director Deb Kernen said, on average, a student spends two (2) years at a day treatment program where they receive education and required state testing with a low teacher/student ratio. She said they have been very successful in giving students needed tools to return to Woodland Public Schools. Director Madsen asked if there was any idea of what the county need was for a center like this. Superintendent Michael Green said he did not know the total number but that the breakeven number is 30 students and he was told that it would not be a problem to meet that number. He said the facility was previously the Three Rivers Gym.

Director Donald moved to approve the Request for ESD Services - Cowlitz Day Treatment Program.

Director Watts – yes

Director Stuart - yes

Director Beuscher – yes

Director Donald - yes

Director Madsen – yes

ADJOURNMENT

President Watts adjourned the meeting at 5:37 p.m.

ATTEST:

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Secretary to the Board

WOODLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT #404
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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