jan_2011_board

MINUTES
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Washington County School District
121 W Tabernacle, St. George, Utah 84770
January 11, 2011

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, Carole Morris, Laura Hesson, Cal Durfey, and Wes Christiansen. Staff members present were Superintendent Max H. Rose and Business Administrator Brent Bills.

OPEN MEETING – 4:00 p.m.
Board President Welcome – Kelly Blake
Pledge of Allegiance – Member Seegmiller
Reverence – Member Gubler

PUBLIC HEARING
Conducting a public hearing to receive input from the public with respect to the issuance and sale of up to $20,000,000 general obligation bonds, for the purpose of (1) raising money to purchase one or more school sites, buildings and furnishings and improve existing school property under the charge of the Board, (2) paying the costs incurred in connection with the issuance and sale of the general obligation bonds and (3) the potential economic impact that the facilities will have on the private sector.

The Board received no public comments on the issuance and sale of bonds.

CONSENT AGENDA
A. Minutes:
    1. December 6, 2010
    2. December 14, 2010
B. Purchases over $10,000
C. Personnel Items
D. Hurricane Elementary School LAND Trust Plan Change

Member Seegmiller presented a motion to approve the Consent Agenda items A through D. Member Christiansen seconded the motion that passed unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON BOARD ACTION ITEMS
No comments were given on the Board action items.

BOARD ACTION ITEMS
Superintendent Contract Renewal
The Board asked to suspend this action until a future meeting.

Consider adoption of a resolution authorizing the distribution of an Official Notice of
Bond Sale relating to the sale of the Board’s general obligation bonds, and related matters.

Brent Bills said Board approval allows us to put the bonds on the sale. It is a formality for the issuance of bonds.

Member Durfey presented a motion to approve the resolution authorizing the distribution of an Official Notice of Bond Sale relating to the sale of the Board’s general obligation bonds, and related matters. Member Seegmiller seconded the motion that passed unanimously.

DISCUSSION ITEMS
Internship/Practicum Policy – Lyle Cox
Lyle Cox said the policy has been created to work out problems with practicum and internships. It was also recently found that counselors were being placed at schools without going through the state. The policy combines administrative interns, counselors, practicum’s, interns, student teachers and Dixie College SEE students and helps to determine their placement. Lyle Cox said he has received comments on the deadline date of February 15 being made a priority date, also on the limitations of administrative interns in the school. Brent Bills said that we do not receive any funding teachers in their first year of internship. Lyle Cox also mentioned that student teachers do their student teaching assignment the first ten weeks of the school year, then the District hires them on as a teacher so they do receive income beginning mid November. Interns do their student teaching then immediately become a teacher. Student teacher vs. an intern is based on the placement program. When student teaching, they are considered the teacher on record but the staff developer and teacher work with them, then they transition into teaching the class. Student teachers also work with the EYE program and collaboration with other teachers through PLC programs.

Election of President and Vice President
Member Morris presented a motion to nominate Laura Hesson as Board President. Member Gubler seconded the motion that passed unanimously.

Member Blake presented a motion to nominate Cal Durfey as Board Vice President. Member Christiansen seconded the motion that passed unanimously.

INFORMATION AND REPORTS
District Recognitions and Awards:
     Superintendent’s Award for Excellence
          Terri Howell, Media Coordinator, Snow Canyon Middle School
          John Page, At-Risk Paraprofessional, Snow Canyon Middle School
          Susan Goodman, Teacher, Arrowhead Elementary
          Jeff Williams, Custodian, Arrowhead Elementary
     Volunteer of the Month
          Gina Gottfredson, Snow Canyon Middle School
          Jennifer Cloward, Arrowhead Elementary

Laura Hesson briefly reported on the award presentations at Snow Canyon Middle School and Arrowhead Elementary.

Reports:
Superintendent
Superintendent Max Rose said this has been a successful year so far. He mentioned that the Board has given a directive to implement PLCs as an absolute standard, and would also have schools implement interventions both ways.

Board
Wes Christiansen said that Hurricane Middle School is making assignments and grades so accessible for students through the Internet and PowerSchool. He feels we need to get that information out more for parents.

Kelly Blake reported on the USBA Convention and hearing DuFour speak on PLCs.   He said the District needs 100% compliance to make it effective. The Board supports the administration making a full implementation of PLCs.

Carole Morris said she is working with parent group at Dixie Sun Elementary. She said that the students look really great in their uniforms and they are making great achievements. She also mentioned that she was shown results of students and she noticed that students with intervention progressed more.

Wendell Gubler also mentioned attending the USBA Convention. He participated in a session by Michael Ballam who presented on the need for well-rounded students through Fine Arts programs.

Association
Kathleen Wagner, WCEA, said with upcoming legislation the UEA is sponsoring an Education Day on the Hill. She asked for the Board to support the event and allow teachers to participate if they are interested. The association would pay the sub costs. Lyle Cox asked that teachers interested in attending coordinate the time through him.   She said she also appreciated hearing the comments from the legislators and their support to keep the decisions on a local level at the legislative luncheon held at the District. Superintendent Max Rose said there are grumblings of another voucher bill. Kathleen Wagner said there is information on the UEA website, www.myuea.org, on the bills and ways to contact the legislators.

PTA/PTO/Community Council
Jerry Olsen, Dixie Sun Elementary PTA, said he has been assigned to represent the school for public relations. His purpose in Board meeting is to advocate for Dixie Sun and the dual immersion program. He said that Gregg Roberts, USOE, is coming to present information dual immersion to the Board. He said he is in support of the state plan for dual immersion. He referred to SB41, which helped created dual immersion programs throughout the state. He said there are now 51 programs throughout the state including Chinese, Spanish, and French. He said they are hoping to add German and Russian programs as well. He feels Dixie Sun is at the top of all the schools as they are the only one doing full school dual immersion.   He invited the Board to view the DVD “Speaking in Tongues.” The DVD follows students through a dual immersion program. The Board was also given a packet of information on dual immersion. He thanked the Board for supporting the Dixie Sun program. He feels they have a great staff and said his students are not falling behind by being involved in the program. Kelly Blake said that we went to a dual immersion program to help with the drop out rate of our Hispanic students. It has also been a benefit for English speaking students to learn another language, but he said the Board is still waiting for the data to come in for the program. Students who started the program in the 1st grade are now in the 5th grade.

PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD – 3 min. each
No comments were given from the public.