November 18, 2004
Regular Board Meeting
In Attendance: Kent Keller, John Leendertsen, Val Fisher, Mike White
Also in Attendance: Superintendent/Principal Bev Fox , Principal Steve Heeg, Business Manager Patsy Dunning, Reporter Neva Kuehner
Guests: Miss Sue Redman
Board Chairman Kent Keller called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.
Discussion over the budget will take place when Business Patsy Dunning is finished with the Garfield meeting.
Accounts Payable:
General Fund:
Vouchers 16716-16758
Warrants 29055-29097 $28,341.15
Vouchers 2703-2710
Warrants 2703-2710 $7,300.52
Warrants 28895-28976 $125,105.82
Mike White moved to approve the Consent Agenda Val Fisher seconded the motion. Motion passes.
Kent Keller has applied for a sabbatical for a year starting summer of 2005. John Leendertsen suggested that Kent Keller remain Board Chairman until he leaves for the sabbatical if it is granted. Val Fisher will take over the Legislative Representative position that was held by Paula Echanove.
Business Manager Patsy Dunning presented each Board member with a copy of the 2003-04 year end financial report. (F-196)
The Board discussed the budget and several options for reducing spending this year as well as in the future. Reductions will be looked at in all major areas including staffing.
The meeting was recessed at 8:00 P.M.
The Palouse Board reconvened at 10:35 P.M. A work session was set for December 8, 2004 at 7:30 P.M.
A motion was made by John Leendertsen to table the discussion of the High School Counselor Position, a report on the WSSDA Conference, and report on the upper gym until the next Board meeting. Val Fisher seconded the motion. Motion passes.
With there being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:40 P.M.
Garfield School District #302
November 18, 2004
Regular Board Meeting
In Attendance: Craig Cochran, Jill Palmer, Roger Pennell, Rusty Jamison and Ken Renstrom
Also in Attendance: Superintendent/Principal Bill LaMunyan, Business Manager Patsy Dunning, Reporter Neva Kuehner.
Guests: Tim Coles, Bob Richards
The meeting was called to order by chairperson Craig Cochran at 7:05 P.M.
There were no changes in agenda items
Vouchers 16363-16436
Warrants 41939-42012 $35,766.25
Vouchers 742-751
Warrants 742-751 $2,944.63
Warrants 41866-41938 $90,730.58
Chairman Craig Cochran asked the Board if they had any questions on the Accounts Payable or on the minutes of the past meeting.
With there being no questions, Ken Renstrom moved and Jill Palmer seconded to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion passes.
Business Manager Patsy Dunning presented the end of the year recap and financial report to the Board. Mrs. Dunning invited Board members to call her if they have any questions.
Rusty Jamison reported on his WSSDA conference attended in Spokane. Mr. Jamison said he came back with a better appreciation of the staff here in Garfield.
Mr. Bob Richards addressed the Board about his concern over transportation of athletes back to Garfield after away sporting events. He reported that his granddaughter had contacted him after a game to let him know there would not be transportation from Palouse to Garfield. Mr. Richards wanted the Board aware that sometimes the coaches were making the decision not to run the bus to Garfield for one or two players so those children are getting a ride in a private vehicle driven by other students. Rusty Jamison voiced concern about the liability of transporting students in private vehicles from Palouse to Garfield following game nights. Chairman Craig Cochran directed Mr. LaMunyan to contact Bev Fox and Steve Heeg to let them know about Mr. Richards’ transportation concern and to report back to them with any action taken to resolve this situation.
Discussion on Middle School Activities Director. No Action taken.
Discussion on Middle School Assistant boy’s basketball coach. No action taken.
With there being no further business the meeting was recessed at 7:59 P.M.
Palouse School District #301
Garfield School District #302
Joint Board Meeting
In Attendance: Craig Cochran, Jill Palmer, Roger Pennell, Rusty Jamison, Ken Renstrom, Kent Keller, Val Fisher, Mike White, John Leendertsen
Also in Attendance: Superintendent/Principal Bill LaMunyan, Superintendent/Principal Bev Fox, Principal Steve Heeg, Business Manager Patsy Dunning, Reporter Neva Kuehner
Guests: Sue Redman, Tim Coles
Chairman Craig Cochran called the Joint Board Meeting to order at 8:05 P.M.
Craig Cochran asked that item B be added under New Business concerning H.S. Basketball volunteers. Item C concerning approval of M.S. Basketball volunteers and building volunteers was added to the agenda. Discussion of 2004-2005 was added to the cost-sharing topic.
John Leendertsen asked that comments made by Rusty Jamison at the October 28, 2004 meeting be added to the minutes concerning the third Football coach hired this season. Rusty Jamison asked that the following be added to the October minutes. The hiring of the third Football coach was a one-year only recommendation and was not meant to set any precedent.
Ken Renstrom made a motion to approve the October 28, 2004 minutes as revised. Val Fisher seconded the motion. Motion passes.
Rick Smith and Noel Akin were recommended as High School Boys Basketball volunteers. Bob Russell, Marilyn DePartee, Sally Bishop as Garfield School District Volunteers and Kellen Smick for a M.S. Boys Basketball volunteer.
Ken Renstrom moved to approve all the volunteers. Val Fisher seconded the motion. Motion passes.
Principal Bev Fox reported that the Elementary is still working on Accelerated Reading goals. There is a large outing planned to attend the IMAX film Polar Express, in Spokane, for those children meeting their reading goals.
Principal Steve Heeg said that he has heard many positive things about the Fall Concert and the work Mrs. Stefani is doing. Girls H.S. Volleyball finished their undefeated season as State B Volleyball Champions!
Principal Bill LaMunyan stated that he had handed out copies of his monthly Principal’s report. The Garfield Elementary Students were also working on Accelerated Reading goals and will also be planning an outing to see the film Polar Express film in Pullman. Mr. LaMunyan commented that the Elementary concert was a great success and that Mrs. Stefani is doing a fantastic job.
Jill Palmer volunteered to help M.S. Cheerleading advisor, Summer Catts, with supervision, if needed when she needs to be with the High School Cheerleaders.
Business Manager Patsy Dunning asked the Board to look over the Cost Sharing report and give her any changes they might see. Patsy Dunning asked about the Middle School Activities Director position. This was a new position for the 03-04 school year. John Leedertsen commented that the Administrator always did the responsibilities of this position.
Superintendent/Principal Fox said this position was never discussed at the Joint Meeting. Superintendent Bill LaMunyan asked if the Palouse Board did not want to cost share it. John Leendertsen said that the Garfield Board handled it all on their own and did not give Palouse a heads up on the position. Craig Cochran stated that since the position was not brought up at the Joint meeting he feels that Garfield should pay for the position. Roger Pennell made a motion for the Garfield Board to accept the responsibility of Patti Wilkinson’s position and her stipend of $3,000. Rusty Jamison seconded the motion with a statement that this is for the 03-04 cost sharing year, but unless another motion is made Garfield will continue to pay for this position. Motion passes.
John Leendertsen stated that we need to discuss cost sharing of each new position. Patsy Dunning said that is important when it involves Middle School and High School that we make decisions as a Joint Board. Rusty Jamison asked about the financial situation in Palouse. John Leendertsen said that the Palouse Board is being pro-active about the budgets for the next few years. It is a matter of being fiscally responsible, Superintendent Fox stated. Superintendent/Principal Fox said she is concerned with declining enrollment, as are most small schools in the state.
John Leendertsen moved to approve early payroll for the month of December. Mike White seconded the motion. Motion passes.
The Board dates for the 2005-year were brought to the Boards for approval. John Leendertsen asked the Board to move the July meeting up one week. It was moved by Mike White that all Board meetings would be on the 4th Thursday of the month except for the months of July, November, and December. Rusty Jamison seconded the motion. Motion passes.
Craig Cochran began by saying that the Garfield Board would still like to have Bob Wolf as a third Basketball coach. Rusty Jamison stated that he did not feel comfortable after the last Board meeting. He stated that it is a great opportunity for two Jr. coaches to learn from a senior coach. Rusty Jamison moved to recall the previous motion regarding the M.S. third coaching position. Ken Renstrom seconded the motion. Jill Palmer asked if this motion was to just open the discussion. Chairman Cochran said yes, it was. Jill Palmer said that to begin with she did have a concern that only the Boys’ Basketball team would get a benefit out of working with Mr. Coles. Then she realized that one of the coaches also is Girls’ Basketball Head Coach. That was a selling point for her. Rusty Jamison stated that the Garfield Board was not trying to set a precedence by hiring three coaches. Roger Pennell stated that he was a young coach once and the best experience is to be mentored under the best. Real knowledge comes from being under a coach that knows how to coach.
Roger Pennell moved to hire Bob Wolf as a second assistant coach. Garfield will pay for his salary for one year only. Mr. Wolf would be hired for a one-year position. Rusty Jamison seconded the motion.
Kent Keller made the statement that the move to hire three coaches for M.S. boys’ basketball is flawed, as follows: It is not fiscally defensible according to common sense and existing administrative procedures. It would set bad precedents for special treatment of certain athletic programs, for the hiring of mentors in athletic and other programs, and for coaching by athletic directors. It would also set the precedent, for cooperative decision-making, of one Board changing an administrative procedure without bringing that decision to a vote of both Boards. It is not clear that this would be the best way to address either the immediate coaching issues nor the general issue of better transitions from M.S. to H.S. athletics.
Val Fisher brought up the argument of Title 9. It was again mentioned that Dan Kallaher coaches both boys and girls basketball so it would benefit both programs. Jill Palmer stated that given the decisions made at the last meeting the only thing left on the table was Mr. Wolf and whether or not to hire him for the third position. Rusty Jamison commented that we have already made promises to Mr. Coles and Mr. Kallaher and we should not go back on those promises. Kent Keller said that when you are training a teacher they don’t develop by just standing back and watching. You as the mentor need to stand back, evaluate and give feedback. The Garfield Board commented that when the scenario was presented to them, that is exactly what would be happening. The first few games Mr. Coles would coach then slowly turn the reigns over to Mr. Kallaher and Mr. Wolf. He would watch them coach and give feedback to them both positive and negative. Mr. Coles addressed the Joint Board and gave a brief explanation of how he sees these positions, as well as his own, working. He said that we are just trying to do the best for the kids. Kent Keller said on behalf of Jerry Schwartzman the past administrative procedures dictate having two coaches for sports. It is in the Co-Op procedures to go to both Boards for approval. Roger Pennell asked, “Could you change Tim Coles’ position to that of Head Mentor?”
The previous motion made by Roger Pennell and seconded by Rusty Jamison for Garfield to hire Mr. Wolf and pay his salary for one year only was brought to vote. 0 ayes, 5 nay Motion fails.
Tim Coles agreed to have his stipend as Head Basketball coach added to his Athletic Director pay. Dan Kallaher and Bob Wolf would be Co-Assistant coaches. Jill Palmer made a motion to hire Bob Wolf as “co-assistant coach” for Middle School Boys’ Basketball for one year only which is non cost shared and paid for by the Garfield School District. Rusty Jamison seconded the motion. Motion carried. Roger Pennell made a motion to increase Tim Coles’ stipend of Athletic Director by $2,942.00. This amount will be cost shared between the Garfield and Palouse School Districts. Tim Coles original stipend of $3,500 would still be paid by Garfield and would not be cost shared. Ken Renstrom seconded the motion. Motion carried.
With there being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:35 P.M.