Chelan Digital Academy
LCSD Board Minutes 10/8/2019
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
DATE: October 8, 2019
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: District Learning Center
PRESENT: Barry DePaoli, Jim Colbert, Jeff Fehr, Ken Brunner, Lynda Foster, Agustin Benegas-Garcia, Heidi Busk, Brad Wilson, Sarah Clarke, Erik Peterson, Scott Granger, Brian Wood, Amber Finch, Amelia Glass, Carmel Haug, Kim Thorpe, Ashlyn Sanderson, Max Nimz, and Georgia Mashayekh
AGENDA ITEMS / PUBLIC REQUESTS – COMMENTS
- Call to Order
Jim Colbert called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
- Approval of Agenda
Barry asked to introduce some staff members and add an action item for a Milk Bid.
Jeff moved and Lynda seconded a motion to amend the agenda as requested; motion carried.
- Approval of Minutes – September 24, 2019
Ken moved and Jeff seconded a motion to approve the minutes as presented; motion carried.
- Public Comments or Request on Non-agenda Items
There were no public comments.
Barry introduced Carmel Haug, 3rd Grade teacher, and Amelia Glass, 5th Grade teacher. Both teachers told the board a bit about themselves and thanked them for the opportunity to teach in the Lake Chelan School District.
STUDENT REPORT
- HS ASB Officer Team
Max Nimz and Ashlyn Sanderson gave a presentation to the board talking about this year’s focus on the Green Zone, Homecoming Week events, Improvements for the new school year, results of a survey on the healthy school environment, and Upcoming Events. There was a question about ASB Representative Meetings which Max and Ashlyn ans. There is discussion about changing the color of the graduation gowns for the girls in the district to white.
There will be a Harvest Fest later this month and will be open to the public.
INFORMATION/DISCUSSION ITEMS
- Farm to School Grant: Nels Lund, CMS
Nels found out from Jeanna Smith that there are grants that are available for agriculture and schools.
He shared information about a Whole Kids Foundation Bee Grant that he is interested in applying for from Whole Foods Market. He would like to install and maintain two top bar bee hives adding this to his curriculum for electives and science. There are several students who would be interested in creating and maintaining the hives. There are orchards bordering the school property that this could help. This opportunity could cross over curriculum for MS and HS from maintenance to sales of honey.
Nels is interested in other grants also and he is talking with community members about natural science curriculum opportunities.
The grant requires part one to be completed by October 15th and part two by October 31st.
The board and administrators think that there should be conversation with the neighbors and with school nurses about their thoughts about bees on the district property.
There will be an action item at the end of the meeting.
BUILDING SUMMARIES
- Chelan High School: Brad Wilson
Brad and the HS staff have created a leadership team to work on improving the culture of the school for learning. He went over what the new leadership group has looked at in the last couple of meetings; 21st Century Learning Skills, reflection on data from the past few years, school climate, and review of the accreditation plan. The volunteer guiding coalition include: Ken Barnes, Marty Rothlisberger, Paula Fitzpatrick, Amber Finch, Lori Jenkins, Heather Fox, Frank Phelps, Brad Wilson, and Joe Harris. There are other staff who are waiting to rotate into the coalition.
The board discussed how many students in the ASB representatives don’t feel safe at school and whether this has more to do with the school directly or the overall climate of the community and nation. With a diverse population many students are feeling that others don’t understand what is going on.
- Chelan Middle School: Brian Wood
The 7th graders spent a week in Holden Village for their outdoor camp. While they were out of the district Brian worked with his advisory team delving into the current surveys, discipline, and grade data. The advisory team is concerned with the survey results concerning safety at CMS and is trying to decipher if this is at CMS in particular or people feeling safe in the community.
There is a focus on PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) consistency this year, with help from Wenatchee consultants, Jody Smith Payne and Corrine Pflug-Tipton, who worked with Make Your Day in Wenatchee SD and will be working beside CMS and MOE with LAP dollars. They will be helping with behavior in the classroom.
CMS staff are doing a book study on Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching and Learning ( Sharroky Hollie) to be more cognizant of how they work with all students as individuals.
Agustin talked about his experience with the 7th grade trip to Holden Village. It was a great experience for the kids being able to build relationships with staff, counselors, and peers. So many students are struggling with feeling safe at home and at school, making it more difficult to learn. This gave him a new understanding of the importance of the social/emotional support for students to feel safe enough to be able to learn.
Manson & Chelan SD are working with Thrive Chelan Valley on more social/emotional support in the community and schools.
DISTRICT REPORTS
- Special Programs: Sarah Clarke
Sarah shared a presentation including information on the current Special Education student count. There was a survey of the SPED teachers for what kind of professional development they want this year. The 1st meeting in September covered data, reflection on program strengths, what works and doesn’t work in the programs, what’s next for October, and future goals. This was a great meeting as there is a need for healing and restoring this year. There are several new teachers and a new director so this has changed the climate of the program and provided an opportunity for changes.
Social/Emotional Learning is an important part of learning and keeps students from being ready for school learning. Sarah shared photos of the students and teachers in Life Skills and what the students are doing this fall.
Brad and Sarah talked about some PLC (Professional Learning Communities) collaboration time between teachers and paras at the MS/HS.
Barry shared a parent compliment about the SPED program with the board.
- Superintendent: Barry DePaoli
Barry shared a list that he created about helping a new board member as they start their new position. He asked for input to see if this covers how to introduce a new board member to the rolls and responsibilities of the board. This is a draft at this time and will be a fluid document until the new board member is officially a director. The directors suggested some other subject to cover: funding and funding sources, educational acronyms, Board decision levels, and levy & bond structure.
Barry will plan for a mini board retreat later this year.
Jim Colbert is not continuing in his position as a board member in November. Kim Thorpe is running unopposed and will become a new board member in November.
POLICY/PROCEDURE UPDATES
The board talked with Brad and Barry about the requirement changes. Brad says that they are talking with students about Graduation Pathway Options. The High School and Beyond Plan is important to keep students on track for graduation.
This was a first reading and the board will take this policy/procedure to the next meeting.
Agustin moved and Lynda seconded a motion to add the 3421 Protocol to the Procedure and approve the updated form; motion carried.
ACTION ITEMS
Lynda moved and Jeff seconded a motion to approve the Payables as presented; motion carried.
- Milk Bid
Barry told the board that J&G Distributing, Inc. was the only milk bid this year and recommends approving their bid for the food service program.
Jeff moved and Lynda seconded a motion to approve the Milk Bid from J&G Distributing, Inc.; motion carried.
- Whole Kids Foundation Bee Grant request
The board would like more discussion with local bee keepers, school nurses, and neighbors about the possibilities and concerns around raising bees on campus.
Ken moved and Lynda seconded a motion to allow Nels Lund to move forward with the Bee Grant application, with final approval and installation pending planning and conversation with school and community members; motion carried.
Barry brought up information about the Holiday Hills development behind the MS/HS about where a road may be constructed. This is a project that should be watched to see how it may affect the school district traffic and enrollment.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
- To discuss the performance of an employee with no action to be taken. RCW42.30.110
Jim moved the Board to Executive Session at 7:47pm for approximately 30 minutes to discuss the performance of a public employee with no action to be taken.
ADJOURNMENT
Jim Colbert reconvened to regular session and adjourned the meeting at 8:15pm.
________________________________________ _______________________________________
Jim Colbert, Board Chair Barry DePaoli, Superintendent
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