The board secretary or recorder will call roll of board members.
Presenter:
Board Members
Background:
Legislative Committee
Mary Snitily serves as the Board's Legislative Representative for the 2023 and 2024 calendar years. She will give a report to the Board on current legislative news and events.
Audit Committee Report
Audit Committee members are Mark Watrin 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
Andrew Lawhon serves as the Board representative on the Battle Ground Education Foundation.
Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Committee
Ted Champine serves as the Board representative on the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) committee.
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. Tours have been completed for the 2022-2023 school year and will resume in the fall of 2023.
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:
Shelly Whitten
Deputy Superintendent
Background:
Shelly Whitten will provide an update to the Board on the Teaching and Learning Department.
Presenter:
Michelle Reinhardt
Executive Director of Human Resources
Background:
A human resources report will be provided to the Board by Michelle Reinhardt.
Presenter:
Michelle Scott
Chief Financial Officer
Background:
Michelle Scott will give an update to the Board on finances.
Presenter:
Kevin Jolma
Executive Director of Facilities
Background:
Kevin Jolma will give the Board an update on current projects.
Presenter:
Amanda Richter
Director of Communications & Community Outreach
Background:
Amanda Richter 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 sign in on the sign-in sheet provided which is located close to the entrance.
Please follow the procedures for Citizens' Comments by stating your name, limiting your time to three (3) minutes, and refraining from discussing confidential matters.
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.
Thank you for your comments.
Minutes become official after approval by the Board.
Minutes become official after approval by the Board.
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:
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:
Maxim Healthcare Staffing Services has been providing temporary district healthcare and teaching staff. Our district has had difficulty directly hiring for these positions due to staffing shortages and the inability to find qualified candidates. The contracted staffing Maxim provides would normally be district employees. We reached out to several contractors and this vendor was able to meet our needs in a timely manner. Lowest cost was not a factor in our decision because costs are comparable between staffing agencies. This contract is for special education district-wide healthcare and teaching staffing services for unfilled positions for the 2023-24 school year. Up to $500,000 (this estimate cost is based on projected 2023-24 FY expenditures).
Executive Director of Special Services Kellie Clay will be available for questions if they arise.
Background:
Signing Resources & Interpreters (SRI) has been providing contracted staffing for district ASL services since 2010. Our district has traditionally filled these positions using contracted staff depending on student(s) needs. We have reached out to several contractors for rate quotes to ensure SRI is providing a competitive rate. It has been determined that Signing Resources & Interpreters does offer a comparable cost to other agencies and is able to meet our needs in a timely manner. This contract is for up to $302,400, which will cover the cost of three full-time 1:1 interpreters for three students for the 2023-24 school year.
Background:
Policy 5161 Civility in the Workplace, is discretionary, but is being recommended to the board because staff conflict has been strained by outside forces brought into the school environment in recent years. This increase in tension among staff could be addressed with staff through this policy. Its implementation could help ensure the district is able to maintain a work environment that is safe, civil, and grounded in both orderly conduct and mutual respect so as to contribute to a quality educational environment for students before situations escalate to a hostile environment.
The first reading was unanimously approved on July 24, 2023.
Background:
Policy 5254 Staff Expression, although discretionary, is being recommended to the board due to an increase in questions from staff about what are the guidelines they can use to determine if free speech for them exists in their role as a district employee. The policy focuses on employees speech that occurs as a result of the employee's employment with the school district. For instance, while performing job responsibilities, using district facilities as employees, or appearing to be acting in their role as a district staff member. The policy does not provide an exhaustive list of permitted or non-permitted speech but ensures that implementing this policy and procedure does not conflict with other district policies.
The first reading was unanimously approved on July 24, 2023.
Background:
Our Public School Employees (PSE) of Battle Ground follows a practice of comparing current positions with like positions locally and throughout the state. This practice is referred to as Position Review Committee (PRC). The purpose of the PRC is to ensure the district is offering competitive salaries and to help retain qualified employees. Positions reviewed in the Spring of 2023 were: Basic Education Assistants (BEA), Paraeducators, Special Program Paraeducators, and Secretaries. Based on the work completed, we are recommending that certain positions within these classifications are increased in level. The cost of this recommendation is approximately: $464,000.
Presenter:
Background:
Presenter:
Travis Drake
Director of Instructional Leadership, Secondary & ALE
Background:
The Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) updated and re-titled Policy 2411 to reflect House Bill 1686 (2013), which included replacing the term "certificate of educational competence" with "high school equivalency certificate." The policy has been retitled, High School Equivalency Certificate. In addition, the policy was updated to better reflect current regulations. For instance, the policy now includes the eligibility requirements to take the high school equivalency test found in WAC 131-48-100, and clarifying the application and decision process for determining whether an individual has a substantial and warranted reason for leaving the regular high school program found as prescribed in WAC 180-96-045-048.
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.