March 24, 2005
Regular Board Meeting
In Attendance: Craig Cochran, Roger Pennell, Jill Palmer, Ken Renstrom, and Rusty Jamison.
Also in Attendance: Superintendent Bill LaMunyan, and reporter Neva Kuehner.
Board Chairman Craig Cochran called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
Superintendent Bill LaMunyan asked that item D be added under New Business.
General Fund:
Vouchers: 16612-16668
Warrants: 42479-42535 $46,455.10
ASB:
Vouchers: 770-773
Warrants: 770-773 $1,126.77
Payroll:
Warrants: 42408-42478 $89,481.04
Jill Palmer moved to approve the consent agenda including the minutes of the February 24, 2005 meeting. Roger Pennell seconded the motion. Motion passes
Superintendent contract was tabled at this time.
Jill Palmer moved to approve the Affirmative Action Plan. Ken Renstrom seconded the motion. Motion passes.
With there being no further business the meeting was recessed at 7:13pm.
Palouse School District #301
March 24, 2005
In Attendance: Kent Keller, Mike White, Val Fisher, Jerry Schwartzman and John Leendertsen
Also in Attendance: Superintendent/Principal Bev Fox, Principal Steve Heeg, Reporter Neva Kuehner, Craig Cochran, Ken Renstrom, and Jill Palmer
Guests: Jim Goodwin
General fund:
Vouchers 16995-17015
Warrants 29632-29692 $39,092.44
ASB:
Vouchers 2779-2797
Warrants 2779-2797 $7,631.86
Payroll:
Warrants: 229489-29571 $126,770.22
John Leendertsen moved to approve the Consent agenda including the minutes of the February 24, 2005 regular Board meeting. Mike White seconded the motion. Motion passes.
Superintendent Bev Fox updated the Board on the upper gym litigation. STRATA engineering will be down to meet with Rick McKinney. Superintendent Fox stated that the walls are a big concern right now as well. Columbia Paint from Moscow, Idaho will be over to look at the walls. One concern is that the joints were not sealed properly besides that there is moisture in the walls. Mike White asked if the heater would be looked at as well. Superintendent Fox said that the heater was a whole other issue. Kent Keller asked Mrs. Fox if additional items could be added to the lawsuit as investigation progresses. Mrs. Fox stated that the District would be able to add to the lawsuit, and she will have a chance to look over the write up before it goes to court.
Superintendent Fox drew the Board’s attention to a handout in their notebooks, which summarizes Superintendent-Board roles and responsibilities.
Superintendent Fox reported that we have been put on the waiting list to join the Digital Learning Commons. This company provides online AP and enrichment classes for students. The program also has resources for teacher professional development. Scholarships for classes are available according to the District’s percent of free/reduced priced children.
Superintendent Fox reported to the Board that every child not meeting the standard on the WASL would eventually have an Individual Learning Plan according to state’s mandated schedule.
Superintendent Fox stated that the Palouse School District would have a combined First/Second grade classroom next year. The two classes have spent time together this year and all teachers involved feel very comfortable in this decision. Superintendent Fox said that Debbie Dawes will help in the classroom with math and reading for part of the day and the other half will be spent as a reading specialist. Superintendent Fox said that the parent’s meeting was well attended and the parents had excellent questions.
Jerry Schwartzman moved to approve the Affirmative Action Plan. John Leendertsen seconded the motion. Motion passes.
With there being no further business the meeting was called to recess at 8:00pm.
Garfield School District #302
Palouse School District #301
March 24, 2005
Regular Joint Meeting
In Attendance: Craig Cochran, Jill Palmer, Ken Renstrom, Rusty Jamison, Kent Keller, John Leendertsen, Mike White, Jerry Schwartzman, and Val Fisher.
Also in Attendance: Superintendent/Principal Bill LaMunyan, Superintendent/Principal Bev Fox, Principal Steve Heeg, and Reporter Neva Kuehner.
Guests: Jim Goodwin, Alli Bennett
Craig Cochran called the meeting to order at 8:05pm
A new joint agenda, principals’ reports, and Board evaluations were added to notebooks.
There were no changes to the joint agenda.
Jill Palmer moved to approve the minutes of the February 24, 2005 joint meeting. Jerry Schwartzman seconded the motion. Motion passes.
Principal Steve Heeg reported that the Girls H.S. Basketball team had placed 8th at state competition. Mr. Rick Bender, a cancer survivor, has come to the High School to speak to the High School students about the risks of smokeless chewing tobacco. The National Honor Society held their induction ceremony at Schweitzer Engineering. Mr. Heeg reported that the induction ceremony was well attended.
Superintendent/Principal Bill LaMunyan reported that Ian Flynn had won a purple rosette in Geography at this years Speech, Spelling, Math, and Geography contest. David Wall won two purple rosettes, one for spelling, written, and one for spelling, oral. Mike Allen will be once again be leading a group of students to Washington D.C. for a Spring Break trip. This trip is not a school-sponsored activity. Mr. Allen volunteers his time as a service to our youth.
Garfield Special Person/Grandparent Day will be held on April 1, 2005.
Superintendent/Principal Fox reported that there will be a Special Education program review on April 1, 2005.
Palouse will be having their Special Person/Grandparents Day on April 1, 2005 in the afternoon.
Principal Fox thanked Tina Coles for all her hard work in organizing the Speech, Spelling, Math, and Geography contest.
Athletic Director, Alli Bennett, updated the Boards concerning the new WIAA reclassifications. According to Mrs. Bennett the new classifications will happen in the fall of 2006. Mrs. Bennett stated that from all she has seen and heard the 17% amendment has widespread support especially with the B schools. Geography in some areas will cause some adjustment in leagues and Districts.
Discussion over Board Operating Procedures was table for this months meeting.
Jerry Schwartzman moved for Palouse to approve both the Homeless as well as Dangerous Weapons policies. Val Fisher seconded the motion. Motion passes. Jill Palmer moved to approve both policies for the Garfield Board. Rusty Jamison seconded the motion. Motion passes.
John Leendertsen moved to approve the WIAA resolution for the Palouse School District. Mike White seconded the motion. Motion passes. Ken Renstrom moved to approve the WIAA resolution for the Garfield Board. Jill Palmer seconded the motion. Motion passes.
Track, Baseball, and Softball volunteers: Scott Kent, Jessica Anderson, Mike Allen, George Landle, and Neal Manning were brought to the Board for their approval. Jerry Schwartzman moved to approve the list of volunteers. Mike White seconded the motion. Motion passes.
John Leendertsen asked if the days spent out of school for Board waiver days were better for the students instead of being in the classroom. Superintendent/Principal Fox stated that these days are very beneficial to the teachers. The days are spent working on curriculum development. These days also allow the teachers time to work on the state mandated guidelines. Mike White moved to approve a 177-day school year with the 3 Board waiver days for a total of 180 days. Ken Renstrom seconded the motion. Motion passes.
Both Boards discussed the Board Evaluations. Chairman Craig Cochran stated that in every category poor communication popped up. After much discussion the two Boards came up with a list of five goals.
Make a goal to attend each other’s meetings
Be prepared to be an active participant at meetings
Talk to Board members from both Boards, not just your own.
Balance discussions of athletics with educational issues.
Recognize the Boards’ role within the Districts. Get Back to Board Business.
The two Boards decided to try having the individual Boards meet from 7:00-7:15 and from 7:15-7:30. The Joint Board will then meet at 7:30pm. The Boards will begin the new meeting times at the April meeting to be held in Palouse.
With there being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:10pm.