Regular Board Meeting
November 20, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 P.M. by board chairperson Jerry Schwartzman.
Present: Jerry Schwartzman, Mike White, Kent Keller, and John Leendertsen
Also Present: Superintendent/Principal Fox, Superintendent/Principal LaMunyan, Business Manager Patsy Dunning, and Reporter Neva Kuehner
Guests in attendance: Marv Pillers, Richard Leinweber, Jennifer Cronk, Claire Irwin, Rusty Jamison, Ken Renstrom, Tim Coles, Bill Lawson, and Beth Rudzinis
Superintendent Fox asked to have items I, concerning the graduation rate and item J, discussion over the senior trip added to the Agenda under New Business.
John Leendertsen moved to accept the Consent Agenda. Mike White seconded the motion. Motion Passed.
Accounts Payable:General Fund: Vouchers 15922-15997 Warrants 27302-27377 $41,117.97
ASB Fund Vouchers 2535-2546 Warrants 2535-254 $10,528.49
October Payroll Warrants: Warrents 27202-27272 in the amount Of $120,776.05
A motion from Mike White and Kent Keller approved the October 23, 2003 minutes. The motion passed unanimously.
Superintendent Fox recommended Rebecca Young for a Child Care Provider position at the daycare.
John Leendertsen moved to hire Miss Young. Mike White seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Business Manager Patsy Dunning presented the financial report with the following fund balances.General Fund = $517,742.45 Capitol Projects = $34,946.74 ASB Fund = $65,596.90
Superintendent/Principal Fox had John Leendertsen, Jerry Schwartzman, and Mike White stand and raise their right hand as she read and they repeated the pledge of office for the Palouse School District. All three were sworn into office.
Kent Keller will be serving as the new Board Chairman, John Leendertsen as the Vice Chairman, Paula Echanove will serve as Site Council representative, WIAA representative will be Jerry Schwartzman, and Mike White will serve as the Negotiations Representative. A motion from Jerry Schwartzman and a second from Mike White approved the appointments.
Superintendent/Principal Fox reported on the progress of the daycare.
She stated that the cement should be poured as soon as tomorrow. The children registered to attend are currently being cared for at Sue Wilcombs. As soon as the cement has set up we can get the Fire Marshall to inspect the premises as well as the State inspectors.
The FFA schedule was tabled for the Joint Meeting.
Superintendent/Principal Fox reminded the board that a date for the Board Retreat still needs to be picked. Mrs. Fox suggested having the morning’s session discussion to cover the rolls board members play as well as standard operating procedures of the boards. The afternoon would consist of a discussion on Cost Sharing between the districts.
A motion to authorize early payroll in December was made by John Leendertsen and seconded by Kent Keller. Motion passed.
Superintendent Fox reported on the current Math and Reading Goals. The goals we have set are above the State minimum bar. Her suggestion was that we need to continue to keep raising the bar. According to Mrs. Fox the state has set that goal at 100% by the year 2014.Kent Keller moved to accept our Math and Reading Goals. Mike White seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
Bill Lawson and Beth Rudzinis addressed the board concerning an incident between their high school child and a bus driver. They asked the board for an appeal. They will be placed on next month’s agenda.
Graduation Rates and the Senior Trip were tabled at this time.
Jerry Schwartzman called the meeting to recess at 8:08 P.M
The Palouse Board reconvened at 10:30 P.M.
It was moved by John Leendertsen to accept the proposed FFA schedule without Trap Shooting. Kent Keller seconded the motion. Motion passed.
It was moved by John Leendertsen and seconded by Mike White to set the Graduation Rate of Garfield-Palouse High School at 73%. Motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 P.M.
Garfield School District #302
Regular Board Meeting
November 20, 2003
The meeting of the Garfield School District was called to order by board Chairman Mike Cronk.
Present: Mike Cronk, Warren Neal, Craig Cochran, Roger Pennell, and Jill Palmer.
Also Present: Superintendent/Principal Bill LaMunyan, Superintendent/Principal Fox, Business Manager Patsy Dunning, and Reporter Neva Kuehner.
Guests: Marv Pillers, Richard Leinweber, Jennifer Cronk, Claire Irwin, Ken Renstrom, Rusty Jamison, Buddy Carter, and Tim Coles.
Superintendent LaMunyan handed out a letter requesting board members to discuss the issue/concern over the current technology position.
There were no changes in Agenda
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE General Fund : Vouchers 15757-15819 Warrants 40467-40529 $31,496.78 ASB Fund: Vouchers 666-673 Warrants 666-673 $7,039.82 October Payroll Warrents 40390-40462 $93,520.75
The board reviewed the bills for the month of October.
Roger Pennell inquired about The Association of School Principals and what exactly the dues paid for. Mr. LaMunyan explained that the Association sent out several newsletters, bulletins, and also gives us a reduced rate for workshops the Association puts on during the year.
Roger Pennell said that he would like to drop out of the Association for a year. Superintendent/Principal LaMunyan said they could try it for one year. Business Manager Patsy Dunning said she could pull the voucher for the fee.
Accounts Payable were paid by a motion from Craig Cochran and seconded by Roger Pennell.
Roger Pennell asked that the minutes of the October 23, 2003 meeting be revised and clarified concerning his request to have both Superintendents sign requisitions on purchases that effect both School Districts. Roger would like the Superintendents to then bring it to the boards for discussion. He would also still request that the School Districts get three bids where vehicles are concerned.
Craig Cochran moved to accept the minutes of the October 23, 2003 meeting upon revision. Roger Pennell seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Business Manager Patsy Dunning gave the financial report.
FUND BALANCES General Fund -$364,716.07 Capitol Projects -$11,706.53
ASB - $23,222.15 Transportation - $253,163.66
Superintendent/Principal LaMunyan recommended Kasey Kampster for the 11 hour Title I position and Mr. Skip Wilson for the Middle School Boys Assistant Basketball Coach. Warren Neal moved to hire both Ms. Kampster and Mr. Wilson.Jill Palmer seconded the motion. Vote taken, motion passed.
Mr. LaMunyan directed the board’s attention to the letter he handed out outlining his concern over the current technology position. Mr. LaMunyan asked the board to read over the letter and it would be further discussed at the joint board meeting.
There was discussion over the upcoming deadline to submit Levy and Capitol Project information to the courthouse. Superintendent LaMunyan said we were going to be putting some industrial carpet down the hall to the Science room to cover up the broken tile. He would eventually like to replace all the tiled halls with carpet. Mr. LaMunyan estimates the total project to be somewhere around $9,000.00. Jill Palmer asked him to look into the cost of carpet tiles. Mr. LaMunyan said he would look into that and have more information at the next meeting. Principal LaMunyan said that is the only foreseeable large project in the near future. Roger Pennell asked if we could raise the Capitol Projects Levy amount. Patsy reported that the year 2000 was the last time we ran a Capitol Projects Levy.
Roger Pennell inquired about the roof and asked if the wind and rain had brought any new leaking. Richard reported that he has seen no signs of leakage.
Patsy Dunning reported that Levy resolutions need to be into the courthouse no later than January 16, 2003.
The Maintenance and Operation Levy amount was set at $220,000. The Capital projects Levy was set amount at $20,000.
Mr. LaMunyan read a resolution to the board allowing Mr. Rusty Jamison to attend the WSSDA annual conference on November 12, 2003 through the 15th. It was moved to accept the resolution by Warren Neal and seconded by Craig Cochran. Motion passed.
Superintendent LaMunyan asked the board to approve the early payroll for the month of December. Roger Pennell made a motion to accept early payroll. Jill Palmer seconded the motion. Motion passes.
The meeting was called to recess at 7:34 P.M.
Garfield School District #302
Palouse School District #301
Joint Regular Board Meeting
November 20, 2003
The joint board meeting was called to order by Mike Cronk at 8:05 P.M.
In attendance: Mike Cronk, Warren Neal, Craig Cochran, Roger Pennell, Jill Palmer, Jerry Schwartzman, Mike White, Kent Keller, and John Leendertsen.
Also in attendance: Superintendent/Principal Bill LaMunyan, Superintendent/Principal Bev Fox, Business Manager Patsy Dunning, and Recorder Neva Kuehner.
Guests: Louanne Deerkop, Marv Pillers, Penny Weagraff, Joe Merry, Randy Zehm, Tim Coles, Richard Leinweber, Rusty Jamison, Ken Renstrom, Buddy Carter, Members of the Gar-Pal FFA Soils Team, Jennifer Cronk, and Claire Irwin.
Superintendent LaMunyan asked for a discussion over the current Transportation/Technology position be added to the agenda. Superintendent Fox added discussion over the Senior Trip to the Agenda.
Jerry Schwartzman moved to accept the minutes of the October 23, 2003 meeting. Craig Cochran seconded the motion. All ayes, motion carries.
Superintendent/Principal Bill LaMunyan showed a brief presentation of a Middle School Spring Break trip Science teacher Michael Allen is planning. This trip is being planned at no expense to the School District and Mr. Allen is volunteering his time to take the kids on the trip. Mr. Allen plans on traveling from Garfield to the Columbia Gorge, Seattle, Olympia, Leavenworth and finally back to the Palouse.
Mr. Buddy Carter along with the FFA Soils Team members, Amberly Kent, Brynn Weagraff, Chris Hunt, Travis Deerkop, and Rachel Motteram presented an overview of how soils judging takes place and what exactly they are looking for in the judging process. Team members spread themselves out around the Board members as Mr. Carter ran a mock work up of what they might find at a field location. With the help of the FFA Soils Team the Board members filled out an evaluation of the mock soil site. Mr. Carter reported that a few of our FFA Soils Team members have scored perfect scores in the past and many of the current members this year have scored almost perfect scores. It was reported that our Soils Team has placed first in the State this year and will be attending the National Competition, which takes place the first full week in May in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Mr. LaMunyan reported that the Garfield Elementary concert was very nice and complimented Mrs. Gist for the wonderful job she had done. The Middle School Drama team will be performing the play The Last Gladiator on December 17th and 18th. Miss Kasey Kampster is directing the play.
Mr. Rusty Jamison gave a brief overview of his trip to the Washington School Directors Association Conference in Seattle, WA. Mr. Jamison said that liability issues were one of the main topics discussed and that the Association had lawyers there to address the topic. Financial restraints of small school districts were another topic Mr. Jamison learned about at the conference. He felt that going to the conference was very valuable and that he may go again in the future.
Superintendent Fox asked the Board for recommendations on dates to hold the annual Board Retreat. Saturday, February 7th, 2003 was chosen to hold the retreat. Mrs. Fox reported that she would be in the process of trying to get a facilitator for that date. She once again suggested having the morning topic being that of Board roles and standard operating procedures and have the afternoon session look at cost sharing and pilot programs.
The first reading of the accountability goals was read to the Board.
The schedule for the 2004 Board meetings were set to be the 4th Thursday of each month except for the November and December meetings, which will be held on the 3rd Thursday of those months due to the Holidays. Jill Palmer moved to accept the meeting dates as proposed. Mike White seconded the motion. All ayes, motion carries.
Mr. Carter brought the subject of FFA trapshooting to the Board. Mrs. Fox reported that the school’s insurance company had been contacted about the matter to see what their feelings were on the event. Superintendent Fox reported that our insurance company suggested that it not be a school event. The insurance company did send a list of conditions if the School District decided to approve the activity. Mr. Carter stated that he had approximately 20 students interested in trapshooting. The activity would have to be in coordination with the local gun club. Mr. Carter reported that students would be responsible for purchasing their own ammunition and guns. When traveling to shooting ranges it would necessary to have a private vehicle transport the ammunition and guns. Mr. LaMunyan asked if Mr. Carter thought this was part of his advisor position? Mr. Carter stated that he felt it was above and beyond his current responsibilities. He felt it was more of a recreational activity but he would be willing to participate in two or three shoots a year without any additional stipend. Students would fall under the School Code of Ethics and would have to be in the FFA organization. Mr. Carter said that in order to assure safety he would reserve the right to let students shoot on a specific day. Officer Randy Zehm and Officer Joe Merry are working on getting certified to teach Hunter’s Safety. Kent Keller said that he could see trapshooting as being a good thing but questioned if the school should take on the responsibility of putting adolescents in a position of having a gun? Jerry Schwartzman commented that if we could get kids into the program it might give them the motivation to keep their grades up. Mike Cronk asked Mr. Carter if there had been a number set for the amount of kids that could participate. Mr. Carter replied that the number of participants would depend on the number of volunteers we have to help with the activity. Mike Cronk asked if the Board would have to approve the list of volunteers? Mrs. Fox said that would be something to look into. Roger Pennell stated that we can make all the rules we wanted but you cannot control the mind of the person with the firearm. He felt it was sticking our necks out on the line to endorse trapshooting. Warren Neal said he was also concerned about the day and age we are in. Mr. Carter said we need to do as much study on the subject as we can. Mr. Carter said he would plan on meeting with the Superintendents.
Mrs. Fox reported to the Board that she had received a letter from the school’s insurance company concerning foreign travel. The insurance company stated that they do not want travel into a foreign country at anytime. Mrs. Fox was going to do some more questioning of the insurance company to see if we do continue to take our seniors to Canada if they would cover us if something should happen while we were there. Tim Coles said that Fairmont Hot Springs has enough attractions to keep the kids busy and it is all contained. Roger Pennell asked if the current insurance company is the only insurance company to cover schools? Patsy Dunning said no, there were other companies but we have been with Canfield and Associates for years and they have good coverage and rates. Ken Renstrom commented that a lot of insurance companies will still cover you but use wording on letters to discourage you from doing things to cut their liability. Mrs. Fox said she would contact the insurance company and ask some more direct questions about their coverage.
Closed session negotiations were eliminated from the Agenda.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:23 P.M.