Kennewick School Board Meeting April 20, 2011 5:30 PM
All board members were present.
Business:
• More than a half dozen community members spoke favorably about KSD supporting the establishment of GSA clubs in district high schools.
• Superintendent Dave Bond reported that proposed state Senate and House budgets are not good for schools. The House budget is somewhat less damaging to school programs.
• Kathy White noted some schools are promoting school vegetable gardens with support from the school lunch programs. White commended Akshai Baskaran for achieving a National Merit Scholarship in addition to several other scholarships.
• Dave Bond and Ron Williamson presented information about student clubs which the board had requested. After considerable discussion the board voted 3 to 2 to give all student clubs equal access to district facilities. See details below.
• After consideration of options the board agreed to support construction of a new elementary school in east Kennewick. KSD Administration will focus on strategies to implement that recommendation. See details below.
• Chuck Lybeck presented the grades 9 to 12 district-wide Social Studies adoption. The adoption was approved unanimously. See details below.
• Ron Williamson presented the first reading of Policy No. 3207 Students: Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying, and Cyber Bullying. This first reading was approved unanimously by the board.
Student Clubs
I refer readers to the Tri-City Herald article by Jacques Von Lunen:
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/04/21/1459536/kennewick-schools-to-allow-gay.html
I want to add some observations from the board discussion. Bond and Williamson had made the case for board approval of this request for equal access for student clubs based on federal law, state law, case law and support of building principals. Board members Fielding and Adams were fishing for loop-holes to stall a decision. Wendy London maintained that now was time to take action complying with law, following the policies in Pasco and Richland and serving the needs of all KSD students.
To her credit, board member Heather Kintzley offered the motion to approve the policy which was seconded by Wendy London. While Kintzley, London, Kathy White and Akshai Baskaran expressed support for the issue, Fielding and Adams pressed their case to wait. When White called for the question, Adams snapped back that she had more to say.
After Adams and Fielding made their final points, Kintzley declared it was time to move ahead and the vote was taken. Final policy will be developed this summer to be adopted for next school year.
Note: It seems Kintzley has found her voice as a board member. My hope is this could translate to genuine consideration of other significant issues like whole child education and improved offerings for exploratory and elective classes in middle and high schools.
Elementary Schools
KSD hired Design West to study the needs for elementary schools in east Kennewick where there is a significant population of second language learner students and students who receive free or reduced price lunch.
The goal is retain building loads between 450 and 525 students. One consideration was to increase Washington Elementary to 700 students by adding classrooms and staff and reducing student populations at Amistad, Cascade, Canyon View and Eastgate to 500 students.
Five building configurations were considered for Washington. Remodeling costs ranged from just over $5 million to $6.6 million. Bond expressed “sticker shock” over these costs and the board consensus was to retain smaller schools.
After discussion the board recommended building a new elementary school. For the short term KSD will utilize portable classrooms and may adjust school boundaries. Consensus was to minimize use of portables at elementary schools as soon as possible.
Administration will initiate plans for a new elementary which will require purchasing property in a suitable location.
Secondary Social Studies Adoption
US History – district-wide for grade 11 US History classes
Magruders American Government – district-wide for grades 11-12 Social Studies classes
An Introduction to Human Geography – HS bound book – district-wide for grades 9-12 AP Human Geography classes
American Government Institutions and Policies – district-wide for grade 12 AP American Government classes
Psychology 9th Addition – district-wide for grades 11-12 AP Psychology classes
