for Meridian

Board Meeting Minutes
November 28, 2001

CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE/INTRODUCTIONS

Chair Rob Olson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Ten Mile Creek Elementary student Dante Washington led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Board members present were Rob Olson, Judy Boxx, Mary Mattison, Charlie Crabtree, and Sheri Folsom.

ADOPT AGENDA

A motion to adopt the agenda was made by Judy Boxx and seconded by Sheri Folsom. Motion passed.

CONSENT AGENDA

The following items on the consent agenda were approved on a motion by Charlie Crabtree and seconded by Judy Boxx.

A. Minutes for October 17, 2001 and November 7, 2001
B. Accounts Payable/Payroll
C. Budget Status Reports

REPORTS

A. Principals' Reports
The reports from building administrators outlined a very full month of activity. All principals reported on the highly successful parent-teacher conferences. The schools all had a 90 percent or better response that was attributed to the efforts to accommodate working parents with evening conferences. Curriculum was addressed with work being done on Highly Capable Program, social studies, and reading. Judy Hossner reported that the walls were up on the new gym and progress is evident. Jane Colson stated the portables are in use and the play shed is completed. MHS athletic teams made the playoffs and the girls' soccer team took second in state as well as receiving the academic state championship award for the second year in a row. Bagel Buddies at TMCE is up and running with great support from RTL and the Bagelry. MMS 8th graders will be taking a field trip to Pacific Science Center in Seattle by way of Amtrak, and all schools have scheduled Winter Concerts for the week of Dec. 17th. MMS students raised $4000 in the Read-a-Thon, STARS Program at MMS has been so successful that students have been double shifted, and Ms. Karney's students at TMCE created a quilt to acknowledge the event on September 11. Due to lack of programs for their grade level, MMS Activity Director Jerry Sanderson scheduled American Red Cross babysitting classes for interested 6th graders. Sixth graders are also invited to the high school to participate with the Chess Team. Other programs reported on were the expansion of the K-5 Parent Volunteer Program, MMS Technology collaboration at TMC, committee work on report cards at IRPS, school improvement planning at MMS, promotion/retention at MMS, and parent interaction with Basmati, the computer software program where students and parents can check grades on-line.

B. Special Programs
Dr. Holt and Readiness to Learn Coordinator, Jeannie Fitzsimmons, shared the previous years assessment of the RTL Program. The data shows that the program has nearly doubled its number of contacts with families in our district. The service is to a diverse population, but the overall impact generated increased attendance and academic gains. The program is becoming so popular that the staffing is proving to be far short of the demand for service. Board member Mary Mattison asked the rationale for placing the focus on K-6 grades when the data shows a need in the upper grades. Mrs. Fitzsimmons acknowledged that more could be done, but not without more staffing. Not included in the assessment was the tremendous generosity of the community in contributing food and gifts for Christmas baskets to help the many families served.

C. Superintendent's Report

1. Enrollment Report
   Superintendent Dickerson reported that November enrollment is down 15 FTE from last month, but is still above the September count. Mr. Michaelson gave information on why some students have left the high school. He said most of the students have moved to other districts.
   
   
2. School Construction Update
   Mr. Dickerson said all the smaller projects have been completed or are near completion at this time. The portables are in use at Ten Mile Creek Elementary and the play shed is completed and ready for final inspection. John Stewart was present and reported the gym walls are going up. He said the work on the parking lot improvements at IRPS and TMCE will take place next summer, and work on the bus garage remodel is underway at this time. Mr. Dickerson said he has plans to prepare a construction budget update and will also plan a facility walk-through for the board members and facility advisory committee members in the near future.
   
   
3. Timber Ridge Report
   Larry Spencer, principal of Timber Ridge Center, Jason Tetlow, Dean of Students, and student Jessie Piepereit were present to give information on the center. Mr. Spencer said this is the fourth year of the five-school consortium and that the school year is off to a good start. He said they have an enrollment of 210 students of which 17 are from Meridian. He reported 20 students graduated from Timber Ridge last year and they expect to graduate approximately 20 students in 2002. He said more students are earning credits toward graduation. Mr. Tetlow said that some students are being mainstreamed back into their community schools, and that the center is communicating better with individual schools. Jessie Piepereit described his educational program. Some of the highlights Mr. Spencer shared are that students are becoming more involved with the community; they are linking with interagency programs such as Northwest Youth Services and Sea Mar; the center is now part of the Washington Schools Information Processing Cooperative; and several student support services such as tobacco education and anger management programs are in place.
   
   
4. Deer Creek Water Association
   Mr. Dickerson reported on water usage at the high school. He said Deer Creek continues to be concerned about water usage although the usage is down when compared to last year. He reported that Keith Shelly has been working with Deer Creek personnel to help isolate leaks and make repairs.
   
   
5. Curriculum Report - Reading/Highly Capable
   Mr. Dickerson said the Reading Program would be the topic for the December educational meeting and information would be shared at that time. PUBLIC COMMENT - There was no public comment. RECESS The board recessed at 8:15 p.m. and returned to regular session at 8:24 p.m.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A. Second Reading and Adoption - Policy Revisions
There was second reading of board policy revisions number 4200 and number 4315. After discussion Charlie Crabtree moved to adopt the policy revisions. Mary Mattison seconded the motion. Motion passed. (See attached summary)

B. Strategic Plan
Superintendent Dickerson reported that the Strategic Planning was a positive process. He said some finishing touches need to be done to complete the process such as addressing the action plans, more details to goals, and deciding who will do what work, and then finally putting it all into a presentable format.

C. I-728 Program Plans
Mr. Dickerson said the I-728 committee has been meeting on a regular basis and outlined work being done on the Extended Learning Program and the Early Childhood components of the plan. Mary Mattison commented that one of the bulleted items on the adopted I-728 plan was to focus on literacy and math and that she wanted to make sure that was happening.

D. School Levy Planning
Mr. Dickerson presented informational handouts from the previous Citizens' Advisory Committee that outlined the recommendations for the maintenance and operation levy in 2000. He also presented a graph that illustrated how levy revenues are distributed. Discussion followed regarding the need to keep up with inflation, purchasing new textbooks, and technology. Superintendent Dickerson said the planning committee would meet again next Tuesday to continue the planning process.

NEW BUSINESS

A. MHS Student Trip to Hawaii
High School teacher Pat Preisinger was present to give information on a proposed physics trip to Hawaii for students during Spring Break 2002. He shared a tentative itinerary, which described some of the science activities and answered questions. Charlie Crabtree made a motion to approve the trip to Hawaii and Sheri Folsom seconded the motion. Motion passed.

B. Resolution No. 13-01 - Timber Ridge Program Approval

C. Timber Ridge Contracts
Superintendent Dickerson said Resolution No. 13-01 updates and replaces the resolution regarding Timber Ridge that was approved when the program was started. The new resolution was drafted by legal counsel on behalf of the consortium to be in agreement with the new contracts. The new contracts specify three separate programs, which include self-contained special education, contract learning, and the core program. Mary Mattison made a motion to approve Resolution No. 13-01 and the contracts with Timber Ridge Center. Sheri Folsom seconded the motion and the motion passed.

D. Resolutions No. 11-01 and 12-01 - Transfer of funds to Debt Service
Fund Resolutions No. 11-01 and 12-01 were approved on a motion by Sheri Folsom and seconded by Judy Boxx.

E. District Use of Property on Smith Road
Mr. Dickerson said he would like to begin discussion regarding the future of the Smith Road property. He asked if the property should be viewed as an asset or sold, and monies used to pay off debt. Discussion followed regarding where development in the district is most likely to occur, and with that in mind, where the best site for a new school would be. Rob Olson said it is important to look 10 to 20 years for long-range planning. It was decided that a property appraisal should be done which would enable the district to have a better frame of reference to finalize plans.

F. First Reading - Policy Revisions
There was first reading and discussion of board policy revisions. (See attached summary sheet.)

G. Personnel Report
The personnel report was approved on a motion by Mary Mattison that was seconded by Sheri Folsom. (Copy attached)

ADJOURNMENT

Chair Rob Olson adjourned the meeting at 9:15 p.m.