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Beaverton School District
Beaverton School District

Beaverton Schools

School Board Business Meeting
Beaverton School District 48 
Merlo Station
October 22, 2018
6:35 p.m.


 

Board Members Present:

Becky Tymchuk, Chair
Eric Simpson, Vice Chair
LeeAnn LarsenDonna Tyner 
Susan Greenberg 
Anne Bryan
Tom Colett

Staff Present:
  • Don Grotting, Superintendent

  • Ginny Hansmann, Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning

  • Carl Mead, Deputy Superintendent of Operations

  • Gayellyn Jacobson, Chief Financial Officer

  • Steve Langford, Chief Information Officer

  • Sue Robertson, Chief Human Resource Officer
     

Staff Present:
  • Maureen Wheeler, Public Communications Officer

  • David Williams, Administrator for Strategic Relations/Initiatives

  • Camellia Osterink, District Legal Counsel

  • Nicole Will, Executive Administrator for Elementary Schools

  • Steven Sparks, Executive Administrator for Long Range Planning

  • Craig Beaver, Administrator for Transportation

  • Cary Meier, Principal, Ridgewood Elementary School

  • Annie Pleau, Principal, Sato Elementary School

Visitors: 30
Media: 0

PUBLIC SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET HEARING – 6:25 p.m.

There were no comments.

CALL MEETING TO ORDER – Becky Tymchuk

School Board Chair Becky Tymchuk called the business meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.

Pledge to the Flag

Crisann Breed led everyone in the Pledge.

Recognition of Students, Staff and Community

The Board recognized Crisann Breed with the Flag of Learning and Liberty.  Crisann recently retired with 38 years of service to the District. 

The Board recognized Bill James, music teacher at McKay Elementary School who was recently inducted into the Pacific University Hall of Fame.

BOARD PROCEDURES Becky Tymchuk


There were no changes to the agenda.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

  • Christy Croghan spoke regarding the Academic & Communication Enhancement Program at the Capital Center.  She feels that the facilities are inadequate for students.
  • Megan Phillips, a teacher at Cedar Mill Elementary, spoke about the difficulty in her son’s transition to Cedar Park Middle School.  She does not feel that his needs are being met.
  • Lynne Mutrie spoke about the Walk and Roll to School Day earlier this month.  Over 3,000 people participated from 27 schools.
  • Emily Ruggles, a Spanish teacher at Westview, shared that she is the advisor for the Black Coalition student group.  She stated that it is a challenge giving formative feedback to all of her students.
  • Erika Backs is a teacher and union rep at SST and is concerned about the lack of an SRO at the Capital Center.
  • Mary Beth Piccirilli is a homeowner in the Timberland area and is opposed to the addition of 60 parking spaces to the middle school as it will diminish the green space. 

REPORTS

  1. Superintendent’s Comments – Don Grotting

There will be a community Budget Listening Session on Monday, October 29th at 6:30 p.m. at the Timberland site.

Several stakeholders have been meeting to advocate for revenue reform in an effort to make investments.  OSBA, OSEA and COSA leaders are all advocating for revenue.  It is the hope that the governor will have a rollup of $9.1B as a starting point.

Some investments include:

  • Full funding of Measure 98 and flexibility to spend dollars at the middle school level.
  • Investments being sought for $15.8M to increase and diversify educator workforce.
  • Investments being sought for $75M for social/emotional learning at the state level outside of the general allocation.
  • Investments being sought for $163.5M for Early Learning childhood experiences for three and four-year old children.  Some of these children will enter kindergarten without any academic or social emotional skills and fall below the poverty level. 
  • Investments being sought for $100M for seismic and $100M in matching bond funds to help districts address safety and maintenance needs in their schools.

According to a recent economic forecast we could be looking at a $1B shortfall.  Schools are trying to work with businesses and OSBA to look at what kind of revenue reform we can work together on.

All school districts will experience between 5-7% PERS increase over the next biennium.  The estimated increase for Beaverton is $23M. 

The Governor’s recommended budget will be coming out the first week of December.   The next revenue forecast will be on November 14th.

  1. School Reports

Ridgewood Elementary School – Cary Meier

  • Ridgewood Elementary opened in 1958 and is celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.  There are rich traditions in the community and they have great parent support. 
  • Principal Meier recognized the need to work on subgroups, Special Ed and minority students. 
  • They received a Student Success Coach this year and it has been amazing. 
  • Social and emotional baggage is a barrier to student’s education and is often a disruption to the classroom.
  • Teachers just returned from New York where they listened to Lucy Calkins speak on curriculum.  It was amazing and aligns well with the Primary Years Programme.
  • The collaboration time on Wednesday’s has been invaluable. 
  • This year they will be tackling attendance issues.

      Questions/Comments from the Board:

  • Impressed with 5th grade rate, anything special going on there?  It’s a very small cohort and they just implemented the workshop model.
  • 100% of students reporting that someone cares about them.  How did they achieve that?  A sense of community, teachers who love their job and personal connections that are made.
  • Attendance has dipped down a bit.  Any idea why?  They house a Special Ed class and those students have more medical needs that cause them to miss more school.  Families are taking more vacations with school starting earlier this year.  Is it possible to add an asterisk or something on schools that house a Special Ed class?  That is something that can be looked into.
  • Disruptive learning – do you track any data on the number of room clears during a year?  It is tracked by individual kids.  They are tracking the use of the success room this year from month to month but do not have a specific number on room clears.
  • Ridgewood will be up for reauthorization of the Primary Years Programme.  What is one benefit that you could list?  The quality of teaching.

Sato Elementary School Annie Pleau

  • Sato is celebrating their second year.  Principal Pleau was proud of the opening of the school.  There is a real sense of community which provides opportunities to embrace who they are.  There is a lot of historical context in the area.  There will be a Tree Dedication Ceremony on November 15th at 1:00 p.m. to honor the Sato family.
  • Challenges are the rapid growth around Sato.  This year there are over 600 students and 28-29 students in kindergarten classes. 

      Questions/Comments from the Board:

  • Teachers feeling like they contributed to decision making is a little low.  Do you know why?  Not sure, there are a lot of leaders who are excited and Principal Pleau expects that to rise this year.   
  • Will you have a fifth kindergarten class next year?   Yes, anticipating that we will have enough students for five classes.
  1. 2018 – 2019 School Enrollment – Steven Sparks

Overall, District enrollment increased by 38 K-12 students from the previous year with a decline at the elementary level offset by a slight increase in the middle school grades and a larger increase in high school.

This year’s kindergarten class was 100 students less than previous years. 

Elementary grades (K-5) experienced a decline of 130 students.  This was the third year of decline for elementary level.

Middle school grades, including all Options and SUMMA programs were relatively stable, with a net overall increase of 25 students. 

High school grades, including Options’ schools, experienced the most growth of the three school levels with a net increase of 143 students. 

Title I schools experienced a net decline of 165 students.

The District will continue to see growth in the north and south part of the district.   In the south, Mountainside High School will have a 12th grade next fall and they will continue to grow.  The central area of Beaverton is a mixture of decline and rapid growth especially around Elmonica Elementary School.

The District will continue to monitor development as it takes place and will be coming forward soon with a series of potential objectives for a boundary adjustment for Elmonica.  Currently, the district is finalizing plans with the Portland State University Population Research Center to develop a long-range forecast which will be the basis for a middle school adjustment that begins in the spring of 2019.  That data will also be used to update the facilities plan.

Questions/Comments from the Board:

  • Why the decrease overall in Summa?   The testing for SUMMA has become much more rigorous and less students qualify.
  • The difference in change from Beaver Acres and Elmonica?  Why so much growth?  Sunset View apartments are affordable units that are in the Elmonica attendance area.  There are a lot of students in that development.
  • Is there anything that was a surprise?  The largest surprise was Elmonica and that it exceeded the projections and seeing the declines in other locations.  It was surprising to see the large number of kindergartners at McKay.  Will there be any last-minute movement of portables?  No, two additional portables have already been moved to Elmonica.  Those portables will open in the next few weeks.
  1. Financial Update - Gayellyn

The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) will be going out this week for the Audit Committee to review.  It will be finalized in November and brought forward to the Board in December for review.

A supplemental budget transfer is requested for a change to the general fund from Instruction to Facilities Acquisition & Construction for $250,000.  These funds will be used for capital improvements at schools, such as the proposed flashing lights in front of Sunset High School.

Questions/Comments from the Board:              

  • Have all of the candidates been invited for next week’s Budget meeting?  Board members are welcome to invite the candidates in their area.

BREAK 7:40 – 7:50

DISCUSSION ITEM

  1. Establishment of Sunset Date for Student Transportation Between BSD & HSD – Carl Mead and     Craig Beaver

The boundary adjustment between BSD and HSD did not address transportation services for existing BSD students living in the area annexed to Hillsboro School District at the time of adoption on December 14, 2015.  At that time, no provisions were made for establishing a transitional timeline for student transportation.  There are 14 students eligible for transportation who live in the area formerly located in the Aloha/Mountain View/Hazeldale school boundaries.  Four routes currently serve eight students using bus services.  Eliminating transportation at the end of the 2018-2019 school year represents a $20,700 annual savings.  June 14, 2019 is the date recommended as a sunset date for transportation services to these students.

 Questions/Comments from the Board:

  • What did we promise at the time.  No evidence was found regarding long-term transportation from previous Board documents.  In September letters were sent to the students and no one responded back. 
  • Total cost - was that the total cost?  Yes, $20,000 is the total cost of savings.    
  • Are there any issues about the transportation being reimbursed?  There is a wide disparity of ages.  Why did we decide to move forward now?  We need to continue to look at ways to cut costs and the Board never addressed it back in 2015.  We typically do not have a long-term grandfathering clause.  We would commit to the next 12 years for transportation for this area if we were to continue bussing current enrolled students.  Hillsboro School District has been contacted and they were going to take action on kids who continue to move into that area.
  • Do schools know that they should not being enrolling those Hillsboro students?  Yes.
  • Do we know the families that have technically been grandfathered in or are there still some out there?  There are at least two new children in our system who just moved in. 
  • Surprised that there are 2 kindergarten students.  The open enrollment process will be available for these families to remain in Beaverton.  However, they will not be eligible in sports.
  • Board member Larsen feels strongly that we owe it to them to continue to bus them.

Parents were notified in September, about the meeting tonight and the meeting next month.

ACTION ITEMS

  1. Supplemental Budget Approval (18-1022) – Gayellyn Jacobson

Administration is requesting the Board transfer $250,000 from Instruction to Facilities Acquisition & Construction in the General Fund in accordance with ORS 294.463(1) to avoid any over-expenditure of appropriations for capital improvements at schools.

LeeAnn Larsen made the motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. Donna Tyner seconded and the motion passed unanimously by a vote of 7 to 0 by Becky Tymchuk, Eric Simpson, Anne Bryan, Tom Colett, Susan Greenberg, LeeAnn Larsen, and Donna Tyner.

  1. Resolution on Improving Attendance – Becky Tymchuk

Questions/Comments from the Board:

Board member Bryan struggles with how to measure success for all students and attendance has always been highlighted and how important it is.  She is glad that the Board is reinforcing the commitment toward attendance.  The State is putting a focus on attendance as well.

LeeAnn Larsen made the motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. Donna Tyner seconded and the motion passed unanimously by a vote of 7 to 0 by Becky Tymchuk, Eric Simpson, Anne Bryan, Tom Colett, Susan Greenberg, LeeAnn Larsen, and Donna Tyner.

  1. Consent Agenda – Becky Tymchuk

LeeAnn Larsen made the motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. Donna Tyner seconded and the motion passed unanimously by a vote of 7 to 0 by Becky Tymchuk, Eric Simpson, Anne Bryan, Tom Colett, Susan Greenberg, LeeAnn Larsen, and Donna Tyner

1. Personnel
BE IT RESOLVED that the employee(s) who are recommended herein for administrator and teacher elections, leaves of absence, and resignations/terminations are accepted by the School Board as submitted at this meeting.

2. Approval of School Board Meeting Minutes
BE IT RESOLVED that the minutes for September 24, 2018 be and hereby are approved.

3. Grant Report
BE IT RESOLVED that the Grant report be and hereby is approved as submitted.

4. Public Contracts
BE IT RESOLVED that the School Board authorizes the Superintendent or a designee to obligate the District for the public contract items as submitted at this meeting.

5. 2019 – 2021 District Calendars
BE IT RESOLVED
that the Beaverton School Board approved the 2019-2020 District Calendar Option 1; and the 2020-2021 District Calendar Option 1 with the understanding that budgetary and contractual decisions may impact the implementation of final calendars.

6. Charter Schools Evaluation
BE IT RESOLVED that the Charter Schools Evaluation are hereby approved as submitted.

7. Second Reading of School Board Policies
The policies listed below were presented for second reading.  All policies were adopted.

  • ECACB – Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) a.k.a. Drone
  • GBC – Staff Ethics
  • GBN/JBA – Sexual Harassment
  • IGBA – Students with Disabilities – Child Identification Procedures
  • IGBAG – Special Education – Evaluation Procedures
  • IGBAJ – Special Education – Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
  • IGBHE – Expanded Options Program
  • JBA-GBN Sexual Harassment

BOARD COMMUNICATION – Board Members

  1. Individual School Board Member Comments
  • Donna Tyner attended the Padres Unidos meeting at Merlo Station. 
  • Susan Greenberg participated in the BEF Phone-a-Thon.  She has started to meet with principals and visit schools.
  • Tom Colett participated in the BEF phone-a-thon as well.  He also visited with the Chehalem PTO and is looking forward to volunteering in the future.  He visited William Walker and was impressed with the Student Success Coach.
  • LeeAnn Larsen was in Utah last weekend with other School Board members.  Board members presented what was going on in their state.  She presented on revenue reform.
  • Anne Bryan reported that the Planning Committee is talking about things structurally to improve student experiences.  She was glad to hear about the attendance resolution and that we need to be aware of attendance barriers for students that we sometimes put in place without knowing.  There needs to be more awareness of future planning needs in the community.  Growth continues to be an issue as we build and fill schools.  People are making assumptions that we have property that we do not have.  Anne has also been visiting schools.
  • Eric Simpson reported that the Citizens Bond Accountability Committee has met for a second time to look at the Raleigh Hills project.  They talked about some options of whether to go through with the original commitment from the bond or potentially build a new school.  It was pretty unanimous that there were better options than the current one. 
  • Becky Tymchuk participated with Vose for the Walk and Roll to School day.  She also participated in the BEF Phone-a-Thon, visited Hiteon Elementary and Stoller Middle Schools.  She had her first AVID class.  AVID is short of mentors if anyone would like to volunteer.  She appreciates the work that the Student Advisory Committee is doing.  They will be reporting at the November 26, 2018 meeting.

CLOSING COMMENTS – Becky Tymchuk and Don Grotting

None.

INFORMATION ITEMS

  1. School Board Community Engagement Subcommittee Notes
  2. School Board Planning Subcommittee Notes

ADJOURNMENT

Becky Tymchuk adjourned the meeting at 8:17 p.m.

Submitted by
Mary Hawkins

______________________________________
Board Chair Becky Tymchuk