KSD School Board Report by Tom Staly

Kennewick School Board Meeting         January 11, 2011         5 PM to 9 PM

All board members were present.

This meeting was a workshop which the board conducts in January and June for strategic planning.

Business:

• Nutrition Policy
• Gay-Straight Alliances in Schools
• Strategic Plan Development Process
• Community Presentations
• Long-term Housing for Students
• Note

Nutrition Policy

Sam Schick presented information from the KSD Nutrition Committee. Because student health and fitness affects school performance, the committee goal is make school healthier through nutrition and physical fitness. KSD has eliminated fries from lunches, is lowering fats, reducing portion sizes, reducing sodium, sugar and calories and is replacing white flour with whole wheat flour. There has been a 15% reduction in processed foods.

Schick asked for guidance from the board regarding regulating foods sold by clubs, boosters, DECA stores, classrooms and vending machines. He also asked when the Nutritional Committee should present a draft nutrition policy.

Board discussion suggested new policies be introduced over time through education of students and boosters about healthy nutritional choices. The board does not want to mandate policy but to encourage healthy choices. It was noted that with 65% of elementary students, 45% of middle school students and 25% of high school students eating school lunch, this limits school’s influence over what students eat.

The Nutrition Committee will draft policy recommendations for the board to consider.

Gay-Straight Alliances in Schools

Board member, Wendy London introduced information based on experiences of former KSD students who were harassed or threatened as a consequence of their perceived sexual orientation. Notable is that the Gay/Lesbian/Bi-sexual/Transgender (GLBT) student population is estimated to be 5%. Nine-tenths of these students have experienced harassment or bullying in school. Twenty percent of homeless youth are GLBT. These students have equal protection under law and school districts in Utah have been sued by the ACLU to provide accommodations.

Questions posed to the school board were whether the board will support establishment of GSA’s or a student safety advisory committee. Board discussion generally favored a broad focus on student safety with inclusive student clubs promoting tolerance. Several board members do support GSA’s. London will continue research with other school districts.

For more on this subject see Jacques Von Lunen’s Tri-City Herald article:

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/01/12/1323637/kennewick-glbt-students-still.html

Strategic Plan Development Process
Superintendent Dave Bond stated the main goal is to finalize KSD strategic planning by June or July so it can be adopted and implemented in schools for the next school year and presented a draft timeline which began board discussion. Board member Lynn Fielding offered an alternative timeline which would accelerate the planning process for completion in May. Following discussion there was board consensus to adopt the abbreviated timeline.

The distinction was made that the current agreement is for the process and not the actual strategic plan which will be the outcome when the process is completed next May. Fielding wants parents, community members and staff to have an opportunity to review the strategic plan and make recommendations before it is adopted. London made the point that issues like including the arts in the plan are an option for consideration. Board president, Dawn Adams will meet with Bond to schedule steps to facilitate the strategic plan development process. Bond indicated the January 26 board meeting will focus on information relative to the strategic plan. (See note below).

Community Presentations

Written public comments from the two community presentations offered October 29 and November 5, 2010 were presented to the board. District principals have recommended half day presentations and Bond stated there will less emphasis on data and more on policy. Board member Kathy White requested there be broader community representation and London offered there should be more meaningful dialogue with the community and that district data relate to the strategic plan.

There was board consensus to continue the community presentation format next fall on two consecutive Fridays in late September and early October. Bond will draft a plan to present to the board.

Long-term Housing for Students

Bond reported there is a need for growing facilities for three KSD programs. Home schooled students (Mid-Columbia Parent Partnership) are housed in three portables. More students will enter the program as high school students are added. Another portable will be provided next fall but long term needs require a more permanent facility.

There are 60 students at Phoenix in the Mid-Town Plaza location. It is planned to grow the program to 120 students which will require a larger facility. Legacy is housed in four portables at Kennewick High School with 70 students on campus and another 120 on-line. This enrollment is expected to grow.

Board consensus supports growing these programs and housing them in permanent facilities. Bond related several options and noted an architect is reviewing available buildings and costs to renovate them. Board members Fielding and White agreed that checking available commercial properties with current low rents might yield suitable facilities with reduced costs.

Note: Criticisms of district policy include the focus of math and reading doubles classes on students whose standardized test scores are near, but below the 50th percentile. By raising these students’ test scores the district more easily meets federal requirements. However, the most needy students receive fewer or no interventions. Similarly, the READY! For Kindergarten program has provided services to families already prepared to meet the needs of their children. Instead, the focus should be on families without resources or experience to prepare their pre-school children for reading.

I recommend the board consider these issues when drafting the annual Strategic Plan.