PALOUSE SCHOOL DISTRICT #301  -  GARFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT #302

JOINT BOARD MEETING - THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2002

The Garfield school board and the Palouse school board meetings were reconvened at 8:21 p.m. by Palouse School Board chairman Jerry Schwartzman.

Present: Garfield board members Mike Cronk, Warren Neal, Jill Palmer, Roger Pennell and Craig Cochran. Palouse board members Mike White, Jerry Schwartzman, John Leendertsen, Kent Keller and Paula Echanove.

Also Present: Principal Bill LaMunyan, Principal/Superintendent Beverly Fox, and Recorder Cindy Kimberling.

Guests: Marv Pillers, Debbie Anderson, Sabrina Wride, Patty Kent, Jody Akins, Alice Rockhill, April Pfaff, Holly Thomas, and Ron Rosebrook.

Traffic Safety Contract, Garfield I-728 Plan, Palouse I-728 Plan, Reduction In Force, Volunteer Application, Jazz Band Trip, HS Schedule, Garfield Elementary Configuration Committee and Consolidated Program Review were added to the agenda.

The March 21, 2002 and April 9, 2002 (corrections made) meeting minutes were approved with a motion from Mike Cronk and Kent Keller. The motion passed.

Warren Neal and Jill Palmer moved to accept Jeanne Johnson's resignation as Garfield's Preschool Teacher with regrets. The motion passed. John Leendertsen and Mike White moved to accept Bob Maurus' resignation as Palouse's Fifth Grade Teacher. The motion passed. Craig Cochran and Jill Palmer moved to accept the resignation from Ann Lee. The motion passed. Paula Echanove and Kent Keller made the same motion for the Palouse Board. The motion passed. Warren Neal moved to accept Tim Coles' resignation as high school boys basketball coach with regrets and appreciation for many years as service. Craig Cochran seconded it. It passed with four yes votes and one no vote. Kent Keller and Paula Echanove made the same motion for the Palouse Board and it passed unanimously.

John Leendertsen and Mike White moved to hire the Superintendent for 2002 - 2003. The motion passed. Warren Neal and Craig Cochran moved to hire the Superintendent for 2002 - 2003. The motion passed with four yes votes.

John Leendertsen and Paula Echanove moved to hire the Palouse Principal for 2002 - 2003. The motion passed. Mike Cronk and Warren Neal moved to hire the Palouse Principal for 2002 - 2003. The motion passed with four yes votes.

Mrs. Fox had a draft of the Garfield Principal opening pamphlet. It was suggested by the board to add the Athletic Director's responsibilities under expectations. There was some concern about timing and having a recommendation for the May board meeting. The board was reassured that the pool can be reopened after May 15^th if the applicants are not adequate.

Mr. LaMunyan reported that of the schools in our region only 6 will play slow pitch next season and three of them are deciding whether to go to fast pitch. Slow pitch is dying. Middle School summer league is going to fast pitch this year. North Idaho went to fast pitch last year. John Leendertsen and Craig Cochran moved to approve high school softball for 2002 - 2003 to play fast pitch. The motion passed with eight yes votes and one no vote.

The Affirmative Action Report was completed by Beverly Fox. The premise is that the districts do not discriminate. Paula Echanove moved to approve the affirmative action plan and Mike White seconded it. The motion passed. Jill Palmer and Craig Cochran made the same motion for the Garfield Board. The motion passed with three yes votes and one no vote from Mike Cronk.

Jill Palmer hasn’t received everyone’s board evaluation. She has done some tabulating. She should have the results at the next board meeting.

John Leendertsen moved to accept the traffic safety contract for Dennis Griner. Paula Echanove seconded the motion. The contract will be adjusted according to the numbers of completing students. The motion passed. Mike Cronk and Jill Palmer made the same motion for the Garfield Board. The motion passed.

Warren Neal and Mike Cronk moved to approve the recommendation that the Garfield I-728 money be used for elementary teaching staff ($25,000) and for the preschool program ($8,500). The motion passed. Paula Echanove and John Leendertsen made the same motion for the Palouse Board. It passed.

John Leendertsen and Mike White moved to approve the recommendation that the Palouse I-728 money be used for P.E.P. ($10,000), Summer Reading Program ($3,000), Extended Learning Opportunities ($5,000), Class Size reduction classified aide ($4,000), and Certified teacher for combination class ($25,000). Mike Cronk and Warren Neal made the same motion for the Garfield Board. The motion passed.

Warren Neal and Craig Cochran moved to approve a Reduction in Force due to the discontinuation of the DSHS grant next school year. This will affect three staff members. The motion passed. Mike White and Paula Echanove made the same motion for the Palouse Board. It passed unanimously.

Warren Neal and Paula Echanove moved to approve the volunteer application from Vince Allen to help with the track program, based upon a clear background check. The motion passed.

Jill Palmer and Paula Echanove moved to approve the overnight trip for the Middle School Jazz Band on May 31, 2002 to the Tri-Cities. They will leave Thursday night and perform Friday at 8 a.m. The motion passed.

John Leendertsen moved to recommend to the administration to adopt the 6 period day for two years. Paula Echanove seconded the motion. The motion failed with 3 yes votes, 4 no votes and one abstention. Mike Cronk moved to remain status quo with the current schedule. Jill Palmer seconded the motion. It passed with 4 yes votes, 3 no votes, and one abstention.

Congratulations to Alli Bennett for receiving the Athletic Director of the Year award from WIAA. Teacher appreciation week is the first full week in May. Carl Perkins, vocational grant, was applied for. If we are awarded it, we will receive $2200. Athletic event prices will remain the same for 2002-2003.

The Middle School Curriculum Committee meeting is on May 1^st. Because of staff changes, and in order to get the new principal involved, this committee will hold off until things get settled more.

Bev Fox reported that the Middle School band received two 1+ ratings at the Festival in Clarkston. It was Secretaries Day this week, and they were treated to breakfast at Cher’s Restaurant. The county speech, spelling and math contest was held in Garfield. The school participated in the drop, cover and hold drill this week. The 7^th grade will be participating at the Ropes Course in Elberton the first week of May.

Bill LaMunyan reported that tomorrow is community clean up day at 1:30 p.m. This is a Chamber/school effort to clean up the community. The high school concert will be moved to the 28^th of May. There were not enough kids to fill cast parts for the play. High School Drama will not perform a play.

Lunch program audit was held at the end of March. There were a few items to be clarified. There were no findings and all things were fixed to the auditors' satisfaction.

The Garfield Elementary Configuration Committee visited Steptoe and Great Northern schools. The next step is to hold a public meeting. The Superintendent of the two schools may come to the meeting. There will be a committee recommendation. That recommendation could possibly be ready for the May board meeting. Palouse is also looking at area schools with combination classes. There will be a parent meeting. Mr. LaMunyan will also have a recommendation for the May board meeting.

Consolidated program review was done in March 2001. All programs were reviewed. There were no compliance issues.  

Alice Rockhill reported that the Educators Association is ready to negotiate. It was decided that Alice and Bev Fox will contact each other and get a date set for the initial meeting.

There being no further business the joint meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.