The Cheney Free Press had a great overview of the discussion about holding a new bond election this coming spring. It's worth reading; the renovate v. build new debate doesn't have an easy answer.
It's not to late to join Citizens for Medical Lake Schools, either!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
WE is Dead, Long Live WE
Hello again!
Hopefully by now you’ve received your last issue of WE Magazine, the official in-house publication of the WEA. They’d like to move more towards doing electronic communications, a worthy goal with some high payoff potential. Here’s a couple of things you can do to get the most out of the new direction:
Hopefully by now you’ve received your last issue of WE Magazine, the official in-house publication of the WEA. They’d like to move more towards doing electronic communications, a worthy goal with some high payoff potential. Here’s a couple of things you can do to get the most out of the new direction:
- Check out Mike Ragan’s blog on the WEA website, here. Mike is one of the most thoughtful voices we have in the association, and you’ll be seeing ample commentary on his blog in the coming months.
- Sign up for President Mary Lundquist’s e-newsletter. It will keep you informed on all that’s going on in your association, and there’s a special talkback feature that will allow you to communicate directly with Mary about association concerns. You can sign up at the website; we recommend that you use your home email address.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Chris Gregoire is Coming to Town!
On Tuesday, October 30th Governor Chris Gregoire is holding a town hall meeting at Universtiy High School, 12420 E. 32nd Avenue, Spokane Valley. Doors open at 6:30 with the meeting set to begin at 7:00. There will be a good WEA presence there; please come out if you'd like to hear her agenda for the coming legislative session!
What's New from the Cheney Free Press
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Cyber-Lobbying
Mad as hell and not going to take it any more? Have we got an outlet for you!
If you click on over to the WEA website and look in the bar on the right hand side, you'll see a button with an American flag that says "Contact Congress Now!" Click it, and you'll be taken to the NEA's Legislative Action Center, where you can email your US Senators and Representatives to let them know what you think about the education issues of the day, including the upcoming reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind act.
It's amazing how easy they've made it. By typing in your zip code they'll be able to direct an email to your representative; you can either type in your own thoughts or click on phrases that work for you and they'll get dropped right into the body of the message. There are also links to official NEA positions on issues like merit pay, which could be a great resource for those out there working on their graduate credentials.
You can be heard in three minutes, and that's power.
(Note: Please only send political emails from your home computer!)
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Other Recent Medical Lake Articles from the Cheney Free Press
September 20th: A look at our WASL results.
September 27th: One of the ROTC kids is going to a national conference on security in Washington, DC!
October 11th: Highlighting the Character Counts program at Medical Lake Elementary.
All of us thank the Free Press for the great coverage they give our schools!
September 27th: One of the ROTC kids is going to a national conference on security in Washington, DC!
October 11th: Highlighting the Character Counts program at Medical Lake Elementary.
All of us thank the Free Press for the great coverage they give our schools!
Right Here at Home
In the past couple of weeks you might have seen information about two good causes cross your radar; we wanted to provide a bit more information about who they are and what they do for Medical Lake schools!
Along with your September pay warrants you received an automatic deduction sign-up sheet for Citizens for Medical Lake Schools, the group that supports our bond and levy campaigns. I've been lucky enough to attend several of their meetings in the past, and I'll personally attest that they're a good group that works hard for our kids.
With the simple majority measure being on the ballot soon, and the need for a new building for Medical Lake Elementary growing even greater as the years go on, our bond and levy committee can use all the support they can get. If you're so inclined, it's a great cause.
Another local group that does great things right here at home is Dollars for Scholars. The Cheney Free Press did a great article about their work here; the potential that their endowment drive has to help MLHS seniors on their way to college is incredible. Our own Carol Tyson is involved with the Cardinal STAR campaign; if you'd like more information (or to donate!) she'd be happy to help.
The MLEA gives several scholarships every year as part of Dollars for Scholars. If you're interested in being part of the group that looks at the scholarship applications, look for an email in the spring!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Know Your Contract #2: The Per Diem Comparison
I received a handout at one of the WEA-EW Council Meetings last year, and I thought it was a fascinating look at how TRI time works in different districts. TRI is sometimes better known as per diem; it's the money you receive above and beyond your base salary for the work that we do outside the classroom.
In the chart below TRI Minimum indicates how much per diem money a first year teacher at the lowest end of the salary schedule makes; TRI Maximum is what a teacher with a Masters + 90 could earn. The other two columns compare those amounts to us here in Medical Lake, and as you can see it's a pretty good picture:
Some notes to consider:
*I couldn't find numbers for Orchard Prarie, Wilbur, Great Northern, Pullman, Reardan, Springdale, or Republic. Pullman especially interested me, since they're in our league--I'll keep searching!
*There are only three districts that beat us on TRI for beginning teachers (Mead, Spokane, and West Valley), and 6 for the veteran teachers (the aforementioned three, plus Central Valley, Cheney, and Deer Park).
*Consider, too, the advantages that Mead and Spokane have in property taxes. West Valley is grandfathered in at a higher levy lid rate than we are, too, which gives them a leg up in the amount of money they can bring in.
*We might not have beaten Colville in football, but we've got it all over them in this ranking.
*Finally, remember all the hard work that has gone into getting us into this position. Special thanks goes out to Carol and all that have served on the bargaining team over the years, either with her or before her.
If you have any questions about this chart, please contact Ryan at the address in the sidebar!
In the chart below TRI Minimum indicates how much per diem money a first year teacher at the lowest end of the salary schedule makes; TRI Maximum is what a teacher with a Masters + 90 could earn. The other two columns compare those amounts to us here in Medical Lake, and as you can see it's a pretty good picture:
| District | TRI Minimum | Difference from ML | TRI Maximum | Difference from ML |
| Almira | $345 | -$1,724 | $650 | -$3,250 |
| Central Valley | $1,552 | -$517 | $4,726 | $826 |
| Cheney | $1,952 | -$117 | $5,375 | $1,475 |
| Chewelah | $259 | -$1,810 | $488 | -$3,412 |
| Clarkston | $862 | -$1,207 | $1,625 | -$2,275 |
| Colville | $86 | -$1,983 | $163 | -$3,737 |
| Colfax | $710 | -$1,359 | $1,244 | -$2,656 |
| Coulee-Hartline | $345 | -$1,724 | $650 | -$3,250 |
| Davenport | $690 | -$1,379 | $1,660 | -$2,240 |
| Deer Park | $1,862 | -$207 | $4,577 | $677 |
| East Valley | $1,768 | -$301 | $3,332 | -$568 |
| Ellensburg | $1,102 | -$967 | $1,865 | -$2,035 |
| Freeman | $690 | -$1,379 | $2,064 | -$1,836 |
| Liberty | $1,035 | -$1,034 | $1,950 | -$1,950 |
| Mead | $2,663 | $594 | $9,538 | $5,638 |
| Medical Lake | $2,069 | $0 | $3,900 | $0 |
| Moses Lake | $1,811 | -$258 | $3,413 | -$487 |
| Newport | $862 | -$1,207 | $1,625 | -$2,275 |
| Nine Mile | $1,638 | -$431 | $3,088 | -$812 |
| Othello | $1,380 | -$689 | $2,600 | -$1,300 |
| Quincy | $1,035 | -$1,034 | $1,950 | -$1,950 |
| Ritzville | $872 | -$1,197 | $1,643 | -$2,257 |
| Riverside | $1,380 | -$689 | $3,189 | -$711 |
| Spokane | $2,808 | $739 | $8,049 | $4,149 |
| Walla Walla | $1,552 | -$517 | $2,925 | -$975 |
| West Valley | $2,547 | $478 | $8,741 | $4,841 |
Some notes to consider:
*I couldn't find numbers for Orchard Prarie, Wilbur, Great Northern, Pullman, Reardan, Springdale, or Republic. Pullman especially interested me, since they're in our league--I'll keep searching!
*There are only three districts that beat us on TRI for beginning teachers (Mead, Spokane, and West Valley), and 6 for the veteran teachers (the aforementioned three, plus Central Valley, Cheney, and Deer Park).
*Consider, too, the advantages that Mead and Spokane have in property taxes. West Valley is grandfathered in at a higher levy lid rate than we are, too, which gives them a leg up in the amount of money they can bring in.
*We might not have beaten Colville in football, but we've got it all over them in this ranking.
*Finally, remember all the hard work that has gone into getting us into this position. Special thanks goes out to Carol and all that have served on the bargaining team over the years, either with her or before her.
If you have any questions about this chart, please contact Ryan at the address in the sidebar!
Friday, September 28, 2007
What's Important from the October Issue of NEA Today Magazine
There are three articles that we'd like to highlight this month, for different reasons:
1) "In Your Corner" is all about how careers can be ruined by false allegations, and why it's important to have support if it ever happens to you. Like we've talked about before here at the MLEA Report, you have the right to representation if you think that a meeting could have an unfavorable outcome. We're here to help, and if there's ever something your Association can do for you, please let us know!
2) One of the big initiatives that the WEA is working on is the Living Wage Campaign to shine a light on the low salaries that many of our parapros are earning. To that end they've put together a wonderfully thoughtful video on the issue, which you can watch here.
3) Finally, the National Education Association has thousands of dollars in grants available for members interested in the chance to do research, attend conferences, or pursue professional development. There's a deadline coming soon, so if you're interested check here.
Have a wonderful month of October!
**Your MLEA Exec Board**
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Notes from the September School Board Meeting
Perhaps the shortest meeting ever, not that anyone's complaining!
First, the monthly What's Right Report:
Julie--There have been excellent turnouts at the open houses she's seen. It's neat to see so many parents involved.
Kelly--She recently attended a legislative assembly and had a good time.
Rod--He recently attended an away volleyball game and was impressed at how Medical Lake's athletic facilities compared to this league rival.
Peggy--She attended PIE (Parent Information Evening) at the Elementary School. An excellent event, and there was pie!
Ron--The football games have been going well; it's a testament to the good coaching the kids are getting. The new pressbox will also be a great thing for the school.
Pam--We have an excellent, supportive school board. She also praised the partnership we have with Fairchild and the access the district has been able to get.
Ralph--When Colville's team bus broke down, our transportation department stepped up to help them get home.
Don--The September payroll got done, which is always something of a minor miracle because of all the changes that have to be entered into the system and tracked.
The other highlight of the night was a report on fall athletics presented by Dr. Veltri. There are 236 kids turned out this season, broken down as follows:
Cheerleading--11
Dance Team--12
Volleyball--48 players on 3 different teams
Soccer--36 players
Cross County--49 runners
Football--80 players
The meeting adjourned shortly before 7:30.
First, the monthly What's Right Report:
Julie--There have been excellent turnouts at the open houses she's seen. It's neat to see so many parents involved.
Kelly--She recently attended a legislative assembly and had a good time.
Rod--He recently attended an away volleyball game and was impressed at how Medical Lake's athletic facilities compared to this league rival.
Peggy--She attended PIE (Parent Information Evening) at the Elementary School. An excellent event, and there was pie!
Ron--The football games have been going well; it's a testament to the good coaching the kids are getting. The new pressbox will also be a great thing for the school.
Pam--We have an excellent, supportive school board. She also praised the partnership we have with Fairchild and the access the district has been able to get.
Ralph--When Colville's team bus broke down, our transportation department stepped up to help them get home.
Don--The September payroll got done, which is always something of a minor miracle because of all the changes that have to be entered into the system and tracked.
The other highlight of the night was a report on fall athletics presented by Dr. Veltri. There are 236 kids turned out this season, broken down as follows:
Cheerleading--11
Dance Team--12
Volleyball--48 players on 3 different teams
Soccer--36 players
Cross County--49 runners
Football--80 players
The meeting adjourned shortly before 7:30.
The October Rep Council Meeting is Coming Soon!
The next meeting of the WEA-Eastern Representative Council is Wednesday, October 10th at 5:30. The special guest will be State Senator Chris Marr, who is also holding a special listening session prior to the council meeting, at 4:00, where he'd like a chance to talk with teachers and hear their concerns prior to the beginning of the next legislative session in January.
If you're interested in attending either or both of the meetings, please let Ryan or Wendy know as soon as possible so we can reserve your spot!
Shoreline Teachers to Stage 1 Day Strike this Thursday
The situation isn't as settled as I thought, it seems.
This Thursday the Shoreline Education Association is staging a 1-day strike to protest class size shenanigans at the elementary level. They're also declared a vote of no confidence in their superintendent, reports the Seattle Times, and there's more here from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Dr. Homeslice is a proud union blogger who covers the nationwide strike scene, and you can also always check Washington Teachers for information from around the state.
We send our best wishes to Shoreline for a fair and just resolution to the problem!
This Thursday the Shoreline Education Association is staging a 1-day strike to protest class size shenanigans at the elementary level. They're also declared a vote of no confidence in their superintendent, reports the Seattle Times, and there's more here from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Dr. Homeslice is a proud union blogger who covers the nationwide strike scene, and you can also always check Washington Teachers for information from around the state.
We send our best wishes to Shoreline for a fair and just resolution to the problem!
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Why WEA-PAC Matters and our Local WEA-PAC Drive
In the next few days one of your building reps will be coming around to speak to you about WEA-PAC and asking you to join. This year we have payroll deduction available for $2.25 a month; fill out a form, and you're good to go forever! You can also sign up the traditional way and write a one-time check; either works and is greatly appreciated.
It's been two good years for WEA-PAC. If you remember the bad old days of getting 0%-0%-4%-0%-3%-0% for our cost-of-living raises in a six year period, then you know just how great getting 3.5% last year and 4.2% this year really is. The battle over gainsharing didn't go the way we wanted it to, but getting the retirement age lowered to 62 and allowing new teachers to choose between TRS2 and TRS3 were gains when we could have lost gainsharing and gotten nothing in return.
This year it's a short 60-day legislative session, but with the next gubernatorial election on the horizon and a host of initiatives going on statewide it's also a critical time to make sure the teacher's voice is heard.
The work we do in Olympia is important, and it's your WEA-PAC dues that make that possible. When asked if you'd be willing to join, please give it your thoughtful consideration.
If you have any questions you can contact Ryan, Wendy, or your building rep. Thank you!
The Simple Majority
Wendy and I talked with you a bit at the opening day meeting about the Simple Majority campaign. It's maybe the most important piece of school legislation that we've ever had a chance to vote on. It only cover school levies--school bond issues will still require a 60% supermajority, for better or worse--but 50% + 1 is a far fairer standard that what we have now.
The link above will take you to the home page for the Simple Majority 2007 campaign, where you can find all the information that you'd ever want to share with friends and family. Simply Better Schools also has a great website (with video!), and the Washington State School Directors Association has a great information resource here.
Sally McNair, our Uniserv rep, is the prime local contact for the simple majority in Eastern Washington, and she'd be more than happy to talk with you about what it all means. Ryan also has tons of information from the Council; if you have any questions, either can help you out!
COP Grants Forms are Now Available!
The COP grants are the regional council's way of helping local councils pay for innovative projects that would otherwise go wanting; we've been fortunate enough here in Medical Lake to be awarded several of them over the years. Monica Houston at the Elementary used hers to fund a technology purchase for her classroom; Cheryl Spilker at Hallett used it for the school fitness activities; and Ryan Grant at Michael Anderson is using his to pay for field trips for the kids who participate in the Before School Intervention Program.
If you're interested in applying for one of the grants, please speak with a member of the exec board or your local building rep and we'll get you the information ASAP. It's one of the easiest grant applications you'll ever fill out, and it's always nice to bring our dues money back to Medical Lake.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Teacher Strikes
5/17 is a blog by a fellow Washington teacher, over in Olympia, and he's done some good reporting on the labor situation in Shoreline and Bethel. The job actions are over, thank goodness, and every district in Washington is now back to work.
The local connection is that our office rep from WEA-EW, Sally McNair, was part of the crisis team that went over to help the teachers during the strike. I'm sure she'll have stories to tell at the first rep council meeting this Wednesday, September 12th at 6:00; if you're interested in attending, let Wendy or Ryan know!
The local connection is that our office rep from WEA-EW, Sally McNair, was part of the crisis team that went over to help the teachers during the strike. I'm sure she'll have stories to tell at the first rep council meeting this Wednesday, September 12th at 6:00; if you're interested in attending, let Wendy or Ryan know!
We're back!
Hello MLEA friends,
First, we apologize for the lack of updates on the website the last few months. Last year was the year 1, let's get it worked out phase, but we have a ton of good ideas for year 2. We'll also send out updates to let you know when there's new content, so check back often!
To catch up, though, here's the links to the past few month's worth of articles in the Cheney Free Press regarding our Medical Lake school board meetings. We always have an association representative in attendance, and if you ever have questions about the meetings or clarification from the article you can email me here and I'll try my best to give you what you need!
Cheney Free Press articles: August July June May April March
Other projects that the MLEA will be working on this year include supporting the Simple Majority campaign, our WEA PAC membership drive, and working on the next renegotiation of the contract this coming June.
As always, please feel free to contact your building rep or a member of the exec board if you have any questions!
First, we apologize for the lack of updates on the website the last few months. Last year was the year 1, let's get it worked out phase, but we have a ton of good ideas for year 2. We'll also send out updates to let you know when there's new content, so check back often!
To catch up, though, here's the links to the past few month's worth of articles in the Cheney Free Press regarding our Medical Lake school board meetings. We always have an association representative in attendance, and if you ever have questions about the meetings or clarification from the article you can email me here and I'll try my best to give you what you need!
Cheney Free Press articles: August July June May April March
Other projects that the MLEA will be working on this year include supporting the Simple Majority campaign, our WEA PAC membership drive, and working on the next renegotiation of the contract this coming June.
As always, please feel free to contact your building rep or a member of the exec board if you have any questions!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Know Your Contract #1
One of our goals with the website is to talk about some of the clauses in the contract and how they affect you directly. If there's anything you would like clarified directly, please let Ryan know at the email address to the right!
Question: I’ve been called into the principals office, and I’m worried about what the conversation might be. What rights do I have under the contract?
Answer: As with many things in life, it depends.
The important thing to recognize is that you have the right to speak with your union rep at any point in the disciplinary process; however, your supervisor has no obligation to tell you that you have that right. If you’re talking with the principal and you feel like it’s a conversation that could result in discipline, ask them flat out, “Could I be reprimanded for what we’re discussing?” If the answer is yes, you have the right to stop the conversation right then and there and get a building rep or association officer to help you out.
However, if your principal tells you that it isn’t a disciplinary matter, then it’s completely your decision on how to proceed. Trust your instincts, trust your own comfort level, and always remember that we’re here to help. Good luck!
Question: I’ve been called into the principals office, and I’m worried about what the conversation might be. What rights do I have under the contract?
Answer: As with many things in life, it depends.
The important thing to recognize is that you have the right to speak with your union rep at any point in the disciplinary process; however, your supervisor has no obligation to tell you that you have that right. If you’re talking with the principal and you feel like it’s a conversation that could result in discipline, ask them flat out, “Could I be reprimanded for what we’re discussing?” If the answer is yes, you have the right to stop the conversation right then and there and get a building rep or association officer to help you out.
However, if your principal tells you that it isn’t a disciplinary matter, then it’s completely your decision on how to proceed. Trust your instincts, trust your own comfort level, and always remember that we’re here to help. Good luck!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
One more thing on retirement....
Have you checked out the retirement calculators that are available on-line? They're either interesting or scary, depending on how close to the happy occasion you are, but they are a thoughtful guide to how you're doing and where you're going.
To look up your plan you'll need to go to the Department of Retirement Systems website, here. If you follow the "Defined Benefit Account Access" link at the top of the page you can get access to the information for your own account; you'll need to register, but it's worth the time. If you'd rather not bother with the on-line calculator you can download one of the "self-estimate worksheets" and follow the directions.
For those of us on TRS 3 with a defined contribution portion to their plan, you'll also need to make a visit to ICMA Retirement, the company that manages all of the plan 3 accounts for the state. Again, you'll need to register if you want to look up your personal information, but if you have a ballpark figure of how much is currently in your account you can use the calculator here to get an estimate of what your monthly payout would be, how much you'll have at retirement, and the other big numbers that are important for planning.
It's also worth noting that the DRS does a great job of presenting workshops around the state to teach us about retirement issues; you can find a list of upcoming workshops here.
To look up your plan you'll need to go to the Department of Retirement Systems website, here. If you follow the "Defined Benefit Account Access" link at the top of the page you can get access to the information for your own account; you'll need to register, but it's worth the time. If you'd rather not bother with the on-line calculator you can download one of the "self-estimate worksheets" and follow the directions.
For those of us on TRS 3 with a defined contribution portion to their plan, you'll also need to make a visit to ICMA Retirement, the company that manages all of the plan 3 accounts for the state. Again, you'll need to register if you want to look up your personal information, but if you have a ballpark figure of how much is currently in your account you can use the calculator here to get an estimate of what your monthly payout would be, how much you'll have at retirement, and the other big numbers that are important for planning.
It's also worth noting that the DRS does a great job of presenting workshops around the state to teach us about retirement issues; you can find a list of upcoming workshops here.
For TRS Members: Protecting your Retirement Benefits
One of the big issues that the WEA is working on in Olympia this year is the gainsharing provision of TRS 1 and 3. This is a benefit that was promised to us as a part of the retirement systems, but it's also something that the legislature has had their eye on as a way to fund other programs.
Another one of the issues related to retirement is the proposed Rule of 85, whereby members of TRS 2 and TRS 3 could retire with full benefits as soon as the sum of their age and years of experience was greater than 85. As is, the penalties for retiring before 65 are incredibly severe.
You can help by calling your elected official on the legislative hotline, 1-800-562-6000. If you don't know who your representatives are in the state house and senate you can look them up by using the handy Find Your District feature from the Washington State Legislature homepage.
For more information, you can visit the Under the Dome section of the WEA website here.
Another one of the issues related to retirement is the proposed Rule of 85, whereby members of TRS 2 and TRS 3 could retire with full benefits as soon as the sum of their age and years of experience was greater than 85. As is, the penalties for retiring before 65 are incredibly severe.
You can help by calling your elected official on the legislative hotline, 1-800-562-6000. If you don't know who your representatives are in the state house and senate you can look them up by using the handy Find Your District feature from the Washington State Legislature homepage.
For more information, you can visit the Under the Dome section of the WEA website here.
What We're Working On!
As we've reached the halfway point of the school year, I thought I'd share with you some of the upcoming events going on with the Association:
It's an exciting time in education here in Washington, with the legislature in session and the recommendations of Washington Learns beginning to become policy. We'll do our best to keep you informed!
- February 6th: Big 6 Local Meeting. When it comes to the number of members in the Association we here in the MLEA are the 6th largest in the council. We've been meeting with the other large councils to talk about issues we have in common, and it's lead to some great conversations that have the potential to help us make our district even better.
- February 14th: Exec Board Meeting with Dr. Veltri. We've been meeting on a monthly basis to talk about the state of the district, which has given us an excellent opportunity to talk about issues impacting teachers directly with the administration. If you have any concerns please share them with one of us or your building rep and we'll pass them along!
- February 15th: Central Cluster Meeting at the WEA-Eastern Office. This is in place of our usual monthly council meeting. It's a low-key affair, very conversational, where the locals from our immediate area get together to talk about the state of education and what's going on. If you're interested in attending, email Ryan or Wendy and they'll give you the details.
- February 21st: Take the Lead presentation at Windsor Elementary. Wendy Stewart is on the local outreach committee for the WEA's Take the Lead initiative, and she'll be doing a presentation with other speakers from the council at Windsor Elementary at 4:00. For more information on Take the Lead you can read here, or ask any member of the MLEA exec board.
It's an exciting time in education here in Washington, with the legislature in session and the recommendations of Washington Learns beginning to become policy. We'll do our best to keep you informed!
Notes from the January 23rd, 2007 School Board Meeting
What's Right:
This month's What's Rights all centered around the school board, since January is School Board Appreciation month. Don Johnson shared that he feels comfortable working with them in a way that other district financial officers don't; Ralph Headlee talked about how they're here for the kids; and Dr. Veltri praised them for being here for the kids. The Board gave themselves a collective pat on the back for the good rapport that they've had with each other, also thanking the administrative staff for helping them guide the district.
Athletic Director Chris Spring ended the time by talking about the upcoming spirit competition with West Valley. Kids from all over the school were working hard on making it a memorable night, and his hope was that 2,000 people would show for the games. A live video feed was going to be run to the auditorium in case of overflow attendance.
Communications:
Dr. Veltri read a proclamation from Governor Gregoire to go along with the School Board Appreciation theme. She estimates that the board has nearly 50 years of combined service to the district. Each board member was presented with a coat in the school colors to recognize them for their service.
Consent Agenda: The agenda was passed unanimously.
Individual Action Items:
The date of an upcoming Board work session was moved, because three members couldn't make it on the originally scheduled date. It will now be held on March 6th.
An older copier machine from Hallett was surplused. It now costs more to repair it than the actual machine is worth.
The Educational Support Services action plan was presented. They are working hard on how the principles in Response to Intervention can help us identify and respond to the kids' needs. They will make a report at the Board meeting next December to share the progress they've made.
Reports and Discussions:
Julie and Kelly agreed to pass out the diplomas during graduation. The alternative high school is still deciding what venue they'll use for their graduation ceremony (possibilities include the HS auditorium, or during a school board meeting), and they've selected black and silver as their school colors.
With regards to impact aid, the enrollment on base keeps declining though there is the possibility of a new tanker coming in by 2009. Nearly 50% of the students in the district are military kids, which is a number we shoot for.
Superintendent's Report:
The district is working at getting fuel tanks installed on district-owned land that could be used to fill up the busses, but the city is asking for an environmental impact report which could delay the process. More background information can be found at the Cheney Free Press.
There's a leak in the floor at MLMS that will require some jackhammer work over the spring break. There's also asbestos in the ceiling tiles at the district office which will need to be abated over the break.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
This month's What's Rights all centered around the school board, since January is School Board Appreciation month. Don Johnson shared that he feels comfortable working with them in a way that other district financial officers don't; Ralph Headlee talked about how they're here for the kids; and Dr. Veltri praised them for being here for the kids. The Board gave themselves a collective pat on the back for the good rapport that they've had with each other, also thanking the administrative staff for helping them guide the district.
Athletic Director Chris Spring ended the time by talking about the upcoming spirit competition with West Valley. Kids from all over the school were working hard on making it a memorable night, and his hope was that 2,000 people would show for the games. A live video feed was going to be run to the auditorium in case of overflow attendance.
Communications:
Dr. Veltri read a proclamation from Governor Gregoire to go along with the School Board Appreciation theme. She estimates that the board has nearly 50 years of combined service to the district. Each board member was presented with a coat in the school colors to recognize them for their service.
Consent Agenda: The agenda was passed unanimously.
Individual Action Items:
The date of an upcoming Board work session was moved, because three members couldn't make it on the originally scheduled date. It will now be held on March 6th.
An older copier machine from Hallett was surplused. It now costs more to repair it than the actual machine is worth.
The Educational Support Services action plan was presented. They are working hard on how the principles in Response to Intervention can help us identify and respond to the kids' needs. They will make a report at the Board meeting next December to share the progress they've made.
Reports and Discussions:
Julie and Kelly agreed to pass out the diplomas during graduation. The alternative high school is still deciding what venue they'll use for their graduation ceremony (possibilities include the HS auditorium, or during a school board meeting), and they've selected black and silver as their school colors.
With regards to impact aid, the enrollment on base keeps declining though there is the possibility of a new tanker coming in by 2009. Nearly 50% of the students in the district are military kids, which is a number we shoot for.
Superintendent's Report:
The district is working at getting fuel tanks installed on district-owned land that could be used to fill up the busses, but the city is asking for an environmental impact report which could delay the process. More background information can be found at the Cheney Free Press.
There's a leak in the floor at MLMS that will require some jackhammer work over the spring break. There's also asbestos in the ceiling tiles at the district office which will need to be abated over the break.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
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