WOODLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 404 DIRECTOR'S MEETING MINUTES
April 13 2009 7:00PM Regular Meeting-WMS/WHS Commons
MEMBERS PRESENT
Jim Bays, Bill Woodard, Janice Watts, Tina Cayton, Steve Madsen, Chelsey Rohm-Student Representative, Michael Green-Secretary, and Tegan Steen-Recording Secretary
OTHERS PRESENT
See sign-up sheets attached.
MINUTES
Bill Woodard moved to approve the minutes of the March 23, 2009 regular meeting.
Steve Madsen yes Bill Woodard yes Tina Cayton yes Janice Watts yes carried
SCHOOL REPORTS
The Board received the school reports and had no questions for Administrators.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORT
Chelsey Rohm reported that WASL testing began today and runs through the first of May. Bo Brusco won top overall drummer at the Pasco Jazz Band competition. Prom is this weekend at the Oregon Convention Center. The next ASB meeting will be held on April 23rd.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Michael Green reported that the State Auditor's report said that last month's audit disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards. He congratulated Deb Kernen and her staff since the audit focused on Special Services.
Michael said that the WMS Jazz Band took first place at the Pasco Jazz Band competition. He had tickets for sale for the Beaver Booster Spaghetti Feed.
CORRESPONDENCE
The Board reviewed a copy of a thank you letter for Jim Imhoff for filling in for Mark Houk. They also reviewed a copy of a letter that will be sent to Budget Advisory Team (BAT) members thanking them for their work. Jim Bays read Rocky Pankratz letter indicating his opposition to the idea of closing Yale School. This letter was included in the Board's packet.
Jim Bays said that the Board received an invitation to a Lelooska Foundation event that includes a silent auction. Steve Madsen said that he received a letter expressing opposition to the closing of Yale School from Mariah Reese.
CITIZENS REQUESTS
Mariah Reese read a list of requests and questions for the Board and a statement expressing the opposition of the BAT idea of closing Yale School. (See attached.)
Jim Bays addressed some of Ms. Reese's concerns, saying that the Board would be viewing the BAT ideas for the first time this evening and that they were only ideas. The Board has not begun work on the budget yet. The public comment was not for ideas of the Board, but for the Budget Advisory Team. He said he was critical of the ideas going to the public because he was afraid that it would cause confusion, rumors and misconceptions. He said that the Board is just beginning the budget work.
The Board answered questions about the BAT process and public input from Bonnie Walton and Julia Stoll. Jim Bays assured the public that they would have time this evening for public comments on each of the items on the BAT list of recommendations.
BOARD REPORTS AND REQUEST
Steve Madsen said that it is incorrect that the public thinks they have no representation for the Yale Valley. He said he only received one email regarding concerns about the idea of closing Yale School. He told the Yale audience that they can contact him by phone or email address. Julia Stoll asked Steve to give the audience members who have no internet access his phone number. He gave them his number, but asked that nobody call him at 2:00am.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Budget Advisory Team Recommendations
Jim Bays read a statement which is attached. He told the audience that they will have a chance to comment on items after Michael read each one and gave a short explanation of the recommendation. Mr. Green said that he received information about some of the State reductions, but that they have not been finalized do to a stalemate between the House and Senate. He said the estimate of the cuts at this point looks to be around $800,000. This is better than the February outlook of over $1 million. He discussed the BAT process and the coding error that caused some of the public input to be lost. Mr. Rippl had done all he could to recover the information when he discovered the problem, but some of the information was unfortunately lost.
The Board received questions and comments about items from the BAT list of recommendations from audience members including: John & Kathie Huffman, Bonnie Walton, Brian Staines, Julia Stoll, Mariah Reese, Charlotte Stoll-Smith, Andrew McNeal, Kristi Olson, Ken Vetter, Tim Doane, Gloria Loughery, Josiah Wilfon, Todd Dinehart, Becky Huesties, Kim & Larry York, Paul Cline, Pete Kovalenko, Kim Baldwin, Kelly Fink, Toni Harms, Stephanie Bishop, Jamie Ammons, Grant McNeal, Walt Hanson, Sr., George Thoeny, Jennifer Cullison and John Shoup. Most of the questions and comments had to do with the BAT recommendations regarding Yale School.
*The Board took a break from the discussion at 9:19pm and resumed discussion at 9:30pm.
The Board also discussed the items with the Superintendent. He told them that more detailed information would be provided to them at the Board work session next Monday. The Board decided to start the work session at 5:30pm on Monday in the District Meeting Room. The meeting is a public meeting, but the Board will not be taking any public input at that time because it is a work session. Jim Bays said that the Board will have a public hearing or hearings before and after decisions have been made. Jim said that the public may contact the Board at any time with comments or suggestions.
ACTION ITEMS
Consent Agenda Janice Watts moved to approve the consent agenda as presented.
Educational Opportunities for Children & Families Contract Tina Cayton moved to approve the Educational Opportunities for Children and Families Cooperative and Lease Agreement.
Jim Bays said that the back side of the Head Start portable is very dirty and asked Michael to ask the EOCF to take care of it.
Resolution No. 2524-Authorization to Execute a Warranty Deed for a Road Right-of-Way This item is for a piece of roadway at Woodland Intermediate School that the District is giving to the City of Woodland.
Janice Watts moved to approve Resolution No. 2524-Authorization to Execute a Warranty Deed for a Road Right-of-Way.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Board President, Jim Bays, recessed the meeting into executive session at 11:22pm to discuss property and negotiations with no action to be taken upon return. Board President, Jim Bays, reconvened the meeting into regular session at 11:44pm.
ADJOURNMENT
Board President, Jim Bays, adjourned the meeting of the Board of Directors at 11:44pm.
ATTEST:
_______________________________ Secretary to the Board
WOODLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT #404 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
____________________________________ President
____________________________________ Director