The board secretary or recorder will call roll of board members.
Minutes become official after approval by the Board.
Background:
According to statutory provision, each new director shall take an oath or affirmation to support the constitutions of the United States and the state of Washington and to promote the interests of education and to faithfully discharge the duties of her office to the best of her ability.
Superintendent Denny Waters will administer the oath of office to Mary Snitily.
Background:
According to statutory provision, each new director shall take an oath or affirmation to support the constitutions of the United States and the state of Washington and to promote the interests of education and to faithfully discharge the duties of his office to the best of his ability.
Superintendent Denny Waters will administer the oath of office to Ted Champine.
Background:
According to statutory provision, each new director shall take an oath or affirmation to support the constitutions of the United States and the state of Washington and to promote the interests of education and to faithfully discharge the duties of her office to the best of her ability.
Superintendent Denny Waters will administer the oath of office to Jackie Maddux.
Presenter:
Mark Watrin
Board President
Background:
"At the first regular meeting at which newly elected board members are seated in election years and at the first regular meeting in December in non-election years, the Board shall elect from among its members a president and a vice president to serve one-year terms. A newly appointed board member will not be eligible to serve as an officer unless a majority of the board has been appointed. If a board member is unable to continue to serve as an officer, a replacement shall be elected immediately. In the absence of both the president and the vice president, the Board shall elect a president pro tempore who shall perform the functions of the president during the latter's absence. The Superintendent shall act as board secretary. In order to provide a record of the proceedings of each meeting of the board, the superintendent shall appoint a recording secretary of the board.
Policy 1210 Annual Organizational Meeting, Election of Officers is attached.
Mr. Watrin will open the floor to board members for nominations for board president. When the nominations are closed, the recorder will take a roll call vote.
Presenter:
The New President of the Board
Background:
The new Board President will open the floor to board members for nominations for board vice president. When the nominations are closed, the recorder will take a roll call vote.
Policy 1210 Annual Organizational Meeting, Election of Officers is attached.
Presenter:
ASB Representatives
Battle Ground High School
Prairie High School
Summit View High School
CAM Academy
River HomeLink
Background:
Battle Ground Public Schools Board of Directors welcomes representatives from the district's high school Associated Student Body (ASB) organizations. The students will present an update to board members on current and recent school events and activities. At times, the board president may ask the representative to bring information such as student opinions back to the Board.
Presenter:
Board Members
Background:
Legislative Committee:
Rob Henrikson serves as the Board's Legislative Representative for the 2021 calendar year. He will give a report to the Board on current legislative news and events.
Audit Committee Report
Audit Committee members are Jackie Maddux and Mary Snitily. The audit committee will meet with Business Office staff prior to the first scheduled board meeting each month to review vouchers, the superintendent's and board of directors' budgets, payroll and the superintendent's time sheet. The committee will report back to the Board on the first board meeting of the month.
Battle Ground Education Foundation
Jackie Maddux serves as the Board representative on the Battle Ground Education Foundation.
WIAA Committee
Troy McCoy serves as the Board representative on WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association).
Washington State School Directors' Association Updates
Board members who serve on various Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) committees will have an opportunity to provide an update to the Board.
Tours Committee
The Board tours every school in the district by splitting up into three separate groups and visiting classrooms and offices. The tour schedule for the next two months follows:
| Glenwood Heights Primary School | Group 1 | December 7, 2021 | Completed |
| Laurin Middle School | Group 2 | December 10, 2021 | Completed |
| Tukes Valley Middle School | Group 3 | December 10, 2021 | Completed |
| Pleasant Valley Middle School | Group 1 | January 11, 2022 | Upcoming |
| Pleasant Valley Primary School | Group 2 | January 14, 2022 | Upcoming |
| Summit View High School & CASEE | Group 3 | January 14, 2022 | Upcoming |
| Group 1 Members | Troy McCoy, Jackie Maddux, Ricardo Martin Del Campo, Shelly Whitten |
| Group 2 Members | Rob Henrikson, Mary Snitily, Denny Waters |
| Group 3 Members | Mark Watrin, Sydney Cordon, A. Allen, or M. Michaud, or D. Kennedy |
Background:
An opportunity for board members to report out on their activities associated with their respective positions.
Presenter:
Denny Waters
Superintendent
Background:
Denny Waters will provide periodic updates on events and/or recognitions throughout the district.
Presenter:
Michelle Reinhardt
Executive Director of Human Resources
Background:
A human resources report will be provided to the Board by Michelle Reinhardt.
Presenter:
Shelly Whitten
Deputy Superintendent
Background:
Shelly Whitten will provide an update to the Board on the Teaching and Learning Department.
Presenter:
Michelle Scott
Chief Financial Officer
Background:
Michelle Scott will give an update to the Board on student enrollment.
Presenter:
Kevin Jolma
Executive Director of Facilities
Background:
Kevin Jolma will give the Board an update on current projects.
Presenter:
Rita Sanders
Communications Officer
Background:
Rita Sanders will report on district events and promotions.
This is a meeting of the Battle Ground Public Schools Board of Directors, and it is open to the public to attend, view presentations, and hear the discussion between board members during open session.
The Board welcomes comments from citizens during Citizens' Comments and asks that those wishing to address the Board observe the following process:
Please follow the procedures for Citizens' Comments by stating your name, limiting your time to three (3) minutes, and refraining from discussing confidential matters. A digital timer will sound when the time limit is reached.
Board members do not normally respond to questions or petitions during Citizens' Comments. They will listen and give direction to the Administrative Team if action is deemed necessary.
Background:
Vouchers and payroll reports are presented to the Board at the first meeting of the month for approval. A summary sheet for both items is attached.
Background:
Contracts listed for Board ratification are enclosed in the attached spreadsheet. A cover page containing more detail may be attached for facilities' items. All amounts are no more than $75,000. Items over that amount will be listed as a separate item under the Consent Agenda or under New Business.
Background:
Personnel reports are prepared by the Certificated and Classified Specialists for Board approval. The reports, attached, may contain items such as New Hires, Terminations, Assignment Changes, Resignations, Retirements, and Recommendations for Permanent Employment. Coaching assignments are listed when appropriate. The specialists will list incumbent employees and reasons for changes or new hires if appropriate. Confidential information is not contained in this report.
Background:
Per Policy 2320, student travel requests require board approval if they are overnight trips. Advisors are required to submit all required paperwork at least two weeks in advance to Cheri Dailey, Director of Business Operations and Risk Management. Advisors must clear the trip with their building principal prior to submitting the request to Risk Management. Advisors are required to submit itineraries, budget information, transportation information and learning objectives along with the dates of travel and information on the group of students traveling with chaperones.
Exceptions to the rule are travel requests for state and national tournaments and competitions. The procedures for these types of trips is outlined in Procedure 2320P. Often the tournaments come up quickly and there is not enough time to present the trip to the board prior to the trip. In this case, advisors must submit all paperwork to the Risk Management Officer prior to the trip for approval. The trip is then ratified by board members at their next regularly scheduled board meeting.
Student travel requests are attached.
Background:
A Laurin staff member would like to donate a Kawai piano to Laurin Middle School's band program. The piano's market value is $7,000.
Under Board Policy 6114, gifts greater than $2,500 are subject to board approval. Under this policy, all gifts shall become district property and shall be accepted without obligation relative to use and/or disposal.
Principal Travis Drake from Laurin Middle School will be available to answer questions from the board if they arise.
Background:
The Public School Employees Association (PSE) is the Collective Bargaining Unit representing Battle Ground Public Schools (BGPS) classified employees. BGPS and PSE agree to extend the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for one year through August 31, 2022 but agree to revisit Schedule A during this extension period.
The revision to the PSE salary schedule reflects a 2.0% increase.
The revision also indicates a change to the title and classification of the Low Voltage Technician.
The salary schedule, title and classification changes will be effective for the 2021-2022 school year.
Background:
The salary schedule (attached) reflects the following changes: increase in minimum wage, increases in certificated and administrative substitute wages, and increases in classified substitute wages. These changes to the rates allow us to be more comparable with our surrounding districts, thus increasing the ability to provide adequate substitute coverage in our buildings.
Background:
The 2021-22 school year has been more challenging than ever to fill positions, particularly Special Education Assistant (SEA) positions. At any given time there is an average of 15 open SEA positions. It is also common for SEAs to be hired into their position and then quickly move to other positions within the district. This revolving door creates inconsistency for students and remaining staff within programs. We are hopeful that an incentive will help in the recruitment and retention of these staff and give more stability to these programs through the end of the year. In the event that the incentive does not lead to the filling of these vacancies, the district may use outside contracting agencies temporarily until the positions can be filled internally. This will only be for the 2021-22 school year and not precedent setting.
Presenter:
Background:
Presenter:
Scott McDaniel
Director of Technology Services
Background:
Battle Ground Public Schools Department of Technology Services has applied for and been awarded $1,377,195.14 (Chromebooks $823,737.02 and hotspots $553,458.12) in grant funding through the Federal ERate as part of the Emergency Connecity Fund or ECF. ECF is a new $7.17 billion program that helps schools provide devices and connectivity for students for remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period. ECF will help close the homework gap for students who currently lack necessary internet access or the devices they need to connect to classrooms. We have seen an unprecedented need for Chromebooks to allow for remote instruction. Our application included procurement of 1,900 Chromebooks as well as hotspots for students. This amount represents a combination of what we would typically purchase for a school year to support 1:1 computing as well as replacement for obsolete devices.
The purchase of Chromebooks will be fully paid for directly by the ECF program. The Chromebooks will be purchased under the WA State Contract #05815-017 / NASPO ValuePoint MNNVP-133 & WNWNC-115 through MicroK12. This contract has been reviewed by Darcy Spiekerman and meets federal procurement guidelines.
1,900 HP Chromebooks MicroK12 $759,905.00
Tax 63,832.02
Total $823,737.02
In addition to the funding for Chromebooks, we will also be able to submit monthly broadband fees for hotspots for reimbursement. This means we will fund hotspots with the ECF award rather than ESSER II funds approved at the November 22nd board meeting.
Presenters:
Allison Tuchardt and Dave Cresap
Directors of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Background:
The Instructional Materials Committee (IMC) of Battle Ground Public Schools consists of nine members, including two parents, three teachers, one building administrator, two district administrators, and one district support staff. The purpose of the IMC is twofold:
Review and evaluate the procedural and process components of curriculum adoptions as outlined in Board Policy. If the evaluation indicates that the adoption process is aligned to Board Policy, the IMC will recommend the Board hear the first reading of the curriculum proposal.
Review and determine actions, if any, of Requests for Reconsideration for instructional or library materials.
The Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment is recommending five new members to the IMC for either two or three-year terms, beginning December 13, 2021 and running through December 31, 2023 (for two-year terms) or December 31, 2024 (for three-year terms). The members recommended for approval are:
Rachelle Simmons Building Administrator (three-year term)
Rob Shadle Teacher (three-year term)
Ted Schelvan Teacher (three-year term)
Jordan Sherman Parent (two-year term)
Jon Flick Parent (three-year term)
Note: These four people will continue to be members of the IMC
Heather Smithline (Teacher - currently in year two of a three-year term)
Allison Tuchardt (District administrator - term ongoing)
Dave Cresap (District administrator - term ongoing)
Paula DeLano (District support staff - term ongoing)
Background:
Board members will have an opportunity to add agenda items to upcoming board meetings.
Board members separately participate in many community and district events throughout each month as they are able. Each meeting they will review the calendar of upcoming events and discuss their participation.
Presenter:
Mark Watrin
Board President
Background:
Since 2011, school boards across Washington State have participated in the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) Board Self-Assessment, which is based on the five Washington School Board Standards. The report generated by the survey questions is thorough and thought-provoking. Participating boards report that analyzing this data as a team leads to rich and productive discussions.
The data is organized in a color-coded, horizontal-stacked bar chart that shows Battle Ground Public Schools Board of Directors results at the level of the five standards. The explanation for the color code is just above the data chart. Subsequent pages show the data from each question, with the page header showing the standard and benchmark the question relates to.