Oakville School District

Board Meeting Minutes

January 25, 2010

Chehalis Tribal Community Center

Call to Order:  Meeting called to order at 5:43 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance

Establish Quorum/Acceptance of Agenda:  Members present were Steve Mittge, Laura Bale, Don Secena & Mary Hutchinson.  Judith Palmer arrived at 6:01 p.m.

Special Recognition:  Kathy Lorton recognized the school board members by giving them each an Oakville School District Middle School polo shirt, certificate of proclamation & placemat.

Correspondence:  Canfield Insurance report; Governors budget memo; Energy Efficiency Grant notice award & Daily World News article regarding upcoming Levy were reviewed.

Community Comments:  Question regarding open or closed campus was discussed.  Concerns regarding amount of garbage around area, request for trash cans to be placed outside gym doors during lunch times and/or at game time was made.  Mary Hutchinson mentioned the constant running of hot water in the MS boy’s locker room and requested repairs be made.  Judith Palmer introduced newspaper articles regarding the levy.  A representative from the Friends of the Library and OCCC (Oakville Community Campaign Coalition) spoke to the board about options they are looking at for a new building on the school property.  There will be a meeting with the city council about the possibility of a building that would be big enough to house city offices as well; such as the police, court facilities, utilities and city business offices along with the Timberland library.

Election of Officers:   Steve Mittge opened the meeting for nominations for chair person.  Laura Bale nominated Steve Mittge for chair person, Mary Hutchinson seconded.  Motion carried.  Steve Mittge opened nomination for vice-chair.  Steve Mittge nominated Mary Hutchinson, Laura Bale seconded.  Motion carried.  Mary Hutchinson nominated Laura Bale for pro-tem, Judith Palmer seconded.  Motion carried. 

Minutes:  Judith Palmer moved to accept both December 18th & 21st minutes as presented, Laura Bale seconded.  Passed Unanimously.

Reports:

            a.  Special:  None

b. Business:  LeeRae Ball presented her report to the board.  There are new reporting requirements for the ARRA funds.  She has also been coaching the Rainier School District’s business manager on budget committee meetings and procedures.  She also reported that she has been working with several contractors on E-Rate grant and we should have a conclusion on bids in the near future.

c.  Maintenance:  Reviewed Mr. Johnson’s written report.  Questions were asked by the board about the high school gym bleacher conditions.  This will be revisited at the next board meeting.

d.  Board Committees:  None

e.  Administrative:   Jeff Hunt reviewed creating a middle school commons area; building pride and  ownership by creating a teaching and learning environment.  We have also installed a new wall and door to separate the middle school and elementary classrooms, changing the middle school climate.  PTSA has donated polo shirts to give to each middle school student at no cost.  We are raising our expectations for behavior and discipline, and have already seen changes in student behavior and attitude.  The middle school teachers and I anticipate continued positive changes.  We are also looking into on-line learning services (academics are available) such as credit retrieval and teaching through technology.  We need ways to assess kids to fit into schedules for students transferring in from other districts, placement testing for reading and mathematics, etc.  Mr. Hunt is hoping to be a pilot for this program in Washington State.  We will need to spend some monies to initiate this, but will be well worth it.

f. Superintendent:  Kathy Lorton discussed levy information.  Last week, the district held a public levy meeting.  There is a need for more signage and advertising.  We sent out public service announcements on our levy to the Chehalis Tribal newspaper, The Cruizer, The Daily Chronicle and Daily World.  Some articles were to be published and others not.  Our unions, PSE and OEA, sent information home with students about the levy.  A student also sent a letter she composed to the editor and a flyer to be distributed door to door.  A phone tree system will also be implemented prior to election.  The next levy meeting is tomorrow, January 26, 2010 to discuss having paid advertisements in the newspaper(s).

Consent Agenda: Judith Palmer moved to accept the consent agenda as presented.  Seconded by Laura Bale.

Passed Unanimously.

Old Business:

a.  Flag Etiquette:  Judith Palmer mentioned the flags on the north side by the High School Office are staying up.  If they stay up, it’s okay, but need to have a light on them.  She would like to suggest that students take the flags down each night.  She then distributed the United States Code Title 36 information about flag etiquette.  Steve Mittge mentioned that it is not an enforceable code but rather a suggested code.

b. Levy Committee Update:  Kathy Lorton reviewed earlier in her Superintendents report.

New Business:

a.   OEA 09-11 Contract Ratification:  Laura Bale moved to accept the proposed OEA contract as

presented for ratification.  Seconded by Mary Hutchinson.  Passed Unanimously.

Community Comments:   Don Secena will not be attending February board meeting because of prior

commitments.

Future Agenda Items:

            a.   Article by Vidette Editor regarding Montesano S.D. board.

            b.   E-Rate project contracts – part of LeeRae’s Business report.

Executive Session:  None

Laura Bale moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:41 p.m.  Seconded by Mary Hutchinson.  Passed Unanimously.  Meeting adjourned.

            February 22, 2010