Eatonville School District
Board of Directors Regular Meeting
August 28, 2002

by Penny Chambers

    Chairperson Robert Bass called the Aug. 28 regular meeting of the school board to order and led the flag salute at 7:02 p.m. Among those present were board members Donna Mettler, Ron Springer, Mark Ashcraft and Rick Thompson.
     Once again, as with the Aug. 12 school board meeting, now carried over as “unfinished business,” the 2002-2003 district goals were the focal point of the meeting. These goals will be used to evaluate Superintendent Ray Arment’s job performance and determine whether or not to extend the superintendent’s contract for one more year (July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005). A draft of the 2002-2003 goals was presented to the board, followed by a lengthy discussion. At approximately 10:45 p.m. the open meeting adjourned into an executive session to discuss personnel. After the open meeting reconvened at 11:10 p.m., the board agreed to select goals from the 2002-2003 district goals for the superintendent’s evaluation, scheduled for this Dec. The 2002-2003 district goals will be revised and amended for finalization at the Sept.9 board meeting. (See story “School Board Meeting August 12, 2002”)
    Superintendent Arment does not accomplish these goals single-handedly. They involve his coordination with various staff members and teachers, as well as members of the community. Even had the board been prepared, and presented the goals to Arment at the Aug.12 meeting (as the superintendent pointed out during that meeting), this doesn’t give him a great deal time to achieve the goals. Chairperson Bass acknowledged at the Aug.12 meeting that the school board should have addressed this issue sooner. During the meeting on Aug.12 a special meeting was called by the board for the following Friday, Aug.16, in order to solidify the goals and pass along to the superintendent. Almost one month later the board proposes to have these goals ready to present to Superintendent Arment at the Sept.9 meeting.
     Additional unfinished business discussed by the board was the Communication Plan. Chairperson Bass presented a draft of the board’s plan. Bass contacted Washington State Schools Director’s Association (WSSDA) for information regarding the plan. He reported WSSDA will put together a plan, but will not have anything available for the board until Sept. 9. Vice-chair Donna Mettler has not been able to get in contact with Puget Sound Educational School District (PSESD) for information on a communications plan. Further action has been tabled until the next board meeting. The open meeting adjourned for a break at 11:37 p.m., reconvening at 11:39 p.m.
    “New Business” topics addressed by the board included a three-point-six percent (3.6%) increase for non-union employees for the 2002-2003 school year, proposed by Superintendent Arment. Mark Ashcraft made a motion, seconded by Donna Mettler, to approve the three-point-six-percent increase for non-represented employees; the board passed the motion unanimously.
Arment also proposed a revised extra curricular salary schedule based on the 2002-2003 state salary allocation schedule. Ashcraft made a motion, Mettler seconded, to approve the revised extra curricular salary schedule based on the 2002-2003 state salary allocation schedule; this motion also carried unanimously.
     The Superintendent Commented in response to a director’s concern about teachers using Instructional Development/Enhancement Agreement (IDEA) allocations for technology purchase. Arment explained that IDEA funds are provided by the collective bargaining agreement (Section 1X.12) and teachers do have the authority to spend money on items for their classrooms.
Board member Rick Thompson commented the climate in the high school feels positive. New principal, Garth Steedman, addressed parents while student advisory groups made up of juniors and seniors addressed the freshmen during their orientation.
     Ashcraft reported the first Extra Curricular Co-Curricular Committee (EC4) meeting was held Tuesday, Aug. 27, and the meeting went well. The EC4 committee was commissioned by the board to perform an over-all review of extra curricular/co-curricular activities, stemming from an occurrence during a basketball game last year. EC4 meetings will be held on the third Thursday of each month, except Dec. A copy of the draft meeting minutes, committee charter and committee list were presented to the board. (EC4 board meeting minutes please see following story.)
     Ashcraft also commented that the freshmen orientation went well and the kids were excited.
The Consent Agenda, which was actually the first order of business brought before the board, was carried unanimously with a motion brought by Ashcraft, seconded by Ron Springer. A number of the personnel actions approved by the board were:
1.The employment of a new Athletic Director/Dean Of Students, Lewis Reese.
2. The employment of Harold Dempsey as business education teacher at Eatonville High School.
3. The employment of Bruce Brewer as the Marketing teacher at Eatonville High School.
4. The employment of Rhonda Smith as head swimming coach at Eatonville High School, effective 08/26/02 – 10/24/02
5. The employment of Greg Burd at Eatonville Elementary, skilled in physical education, reading, and library.
6. Accept the resignation of Dorothy Culliton, Eatonville Elementary, teacher assistant.
7. Accept the resignation of Lana White, Weyerhaeuser Elementary, breakfast cook.
8. Employ Trina Lingenfelder, Special Services, leave replacement teacher assistant, effective September 3, 2002 – June 18, 2003.
9. To employ Tami Sample, instructional assistant.
Other items unanimously approved by the board under the Consent Agenda included:
1. Approve July, 2002 Payroll $969,139.60
2. Approve August, 2002 General Fund $154,238.57
3. Approve August, 2002 ASB Fund $7,888.12
4. Approve August, 2002 Capital Projects $104.50
5. Approve July, 2002 Financial Report
Future Agenda Items will include the Communications Plan, Strategic planning, 2002-2003 District Goals, layout for the 2002-2003 school year board meetings, and placing memorial items on school district property.
The open meeting recessed at 12:45 a.m. for a scheduled executive session to discuss contract negotiations and a legal issue. The open meeting reconvened at 1:27 a.m. with no action taken and immediately adjourned.
The next scheduled meeting of the school board is set for Monday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. in the district conference room, 208 Lynch Street. For more information call the office of the superintendent at 360-879-1000.

EC4 Meeting Minutes

"Pity the poor kids who grow up in a big city. They miss the little things that made growing up in a small town, ah, so wonderful."
~Tom Morrow