MINUTES
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Washington County School District
March, 10, 2009

A regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Washington County School District was held after due, legal, and timely notice being given to all members and interested parties.  Board President Kelly Blake called the meeting to order and welcomed all visitors.  Board members present were Wendell Gubler, Craig Seegmiller, Wes Christiansen, Carole Morris, Laura Hesson, and Travis Christiansen.  Staff members present were Superintendent Max H. Rose and Business Administrator Brent Bills.

OPEN MEETING - 3:30 p.m.

Board President Welcome – Kelly Blake
Pledge of Allegiance – Member T. Christiansen
Reverence – Member Gubler
 
PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
KariAnn Christiansen, Color Country Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution, informed the Board about the annual DAR Essay Contest & Scholarship.  She invited the Board to an award presentation for a 5th grade student at Horizon Elementary who was selected as a winner.  The presentation will be on March 27 at 9:00 a.m. at the school.

MINUTES
February 10, 2009
Member T. Christiansen presented a motion to approve the minutes from the February 10, 2009 School Board meeting.  Member Seegmiller seconded the motion that passed unanimously.

INFORMATION ITEMS
Enrollment
Enrollment information was provided in the Board packet.  Marshall Topham said staffing would be done around the current enrollment numbers with no growth.

ACTION ITEMS
District Business:
Purchases over $10,000
Personnel Items
Lava Ridge Intermediate School LAND Trust Change
Member Seegmiller presented a motion to approve the District business including the selection of Michelle North as the principal of Bloomington Hills Elementary and the District Insurance renewal.  Member W. Christiansen seconded the motion that passed unanimously.

Superintendent Contract Renewal
Member Morris presented a motion to renew the contract of Superintendent Max H. Rose for two years.  Member Seegmiller seconded the motion that passed unanimously.

City Easement for Sewer Line at Dixie Middle School
Mel Ashcraft explained that request from the city to modify the sewer line easement allowing the city to route the sewer line around trees at Dixie Middle School.  He said modifications were needed on the documents to correct errors.
Member T. Christiansen presented a motion to approve the city easement for the sewer line at Dixie Middle School following the needed modifications to the documents.  Member Hesson seconded the motion that passed unanimously.

Dixie Downs - Declaration of Magnet School
A Boundary Hearing will be posted for the April Board meeting.
Laura Hesson explained that proposed boundaries are being created for those who opt out of the dual immersion program but are in the current Dixie Downs boundaries. 
Member Seegmiller presented a motion to table the declaration of Dixie Downs Elementary as a magnet school.  Member T. Christiansen seconded the motion that passed unanimously.

Retirement Window
Lyle Cox reported on the Early Out option.  The applications are for a voluntary Early Out option.  Amounts would be prorated and amounts deducted from salary earnings if the employee returns to the District within five years. 
Member T. Christiansen presented a motion to approve the Early Out option window.  Member W. Christiansen seconded the motion that passed unanimously.

Selection of Bloomington Hills Elementary Principal
Included in District Business approvals above.

DISCUSSION ITEMS
None presented.

RECOGNITIONS
(Awards Presented at Schools)     
Superintendent’s Award for Excellence
    Cheri Stevenson, Vice Principal, Snow Canyon Middle School
    Tina Blanchard, At-Risk Paraprofessional, Snow Canyon Middle School
    Laura Joyce, Teacher, Dixie Downs Elementary
    Anita Knowlton, Secretary, Dixie Downs Elementary
    Inez Flores, Secretary, Dixie Downs Elementary
   
Volunteer of the Month
    Tracy Martin, Snow Canyon Middle School
    Bethany Twitchell, Dixie Downs Elementary
                                       
REPORTS:
Superintendent
Superintendent Max Rose reported on the RMC Research Corporation evaluation presented to the District and the Board.  Shelley Billig will be coming March 23rd and 24th to present information to the principals.  Goals have been drafted and were included in the Board packet.  The District will be working on the goals over the next few years. 

Kelly Blake mentioned that this District does a lot of things very well and that there was nothing included in the report that could not be overcome.

Board
Travis Christiansen said that the Southern Utah Bar Association is looking at giving out scholarships to students.  The event will be May 1 at the District Office.

Associations
Kathleen Wagner, WCEA, said that the UEA gives a Golden Apple Award for volunteers.  She said an application was submitted for Henry Ogborn who was selected as one of two recipients.
Ms. Wagner also mentioned that the WCEA gives scholarships to seniors of parents who are WCEA members.
Ms. Wagner said there is big concern with cuts to the quality teaching funds and cuts for teachers.  Brent Bills there would be some flexibility for where cuts will be made in the District.  She expressed hope that the District would consider those concerns with the flexibility.

Allen Frei, AFT, said they hope the budget cuts work out for everyone.  He mentioned that AFT is looking for applications for the classified employee of the year.  An email was sent to all principals.  He said they appreciate that tough decisions have to be made and asked for the Board to keep cuts fair and remember the classified employees.

PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
There were no requests to address the Board.

The Board reconvened to a working session.