Kennewick School Board Report for September 28

By
Tom Staly
– October 8, 2011Posted in: Board Meeting Notes

Kennewick School Board Meeting      September 28, 2011    5:30 PM      

Board members present:  Dawn Adams, Heather Kintzley, Kathy White, Brian Brooks, Maricarmen Garcia

                                  Absent:  Lynn Fielding 

Business:

  • Policy No. 3560 Students: Student Clubs was considered first because approximately 200 community members were present to witness the board’s review of this issue.  After nearly an hour the board voted to grant equal access to school facilities to non-curricular clubs.  See details below.    
  • Superintendent Dave Bond noted that Governor Gregoire has called a special legislative session to consider a likely state budget shortfall of $1.5 billion.  Schools might face a mid-year budget cut.
  • Bond asked the board for permission to write a response to Sunday’s Tri-City Herald editorial critical of KSD’s reading goal.

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/09/24/1656861/the-verdict-is-in-on-kennewicks.html

  • Bond reported test results from the MSP, HSPE, EOC and MAP.  See details below.
  • Lorraine Cooper presented several Kindergarten readiness videos which Kennewick has developed in cooperation with the United Way and Richland and Pasco School Districts.  The videos are shown on local TV in English and Spanish to inform parents of the need to prepare their children to enter Kindergarten.  Cooper is tracking responses to the videos to determine their effectiveness.
  • Greg Fancher reported the participation of many local child care workers in Child Care Provider Training on September 24th.  Participants were provided a library of appropriate books to read to children in their care.
  • Policy No. 2153 Instruction: Education of Students with Disabilities Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Second Reading was presented by Chuck Lybeck.  This policy was passed unanimously by the board.
  • Policy N. 3413 Students: Student Immunizations and Life threatening Health Conditions, Second Reading was presented by Ron Williamson.  This policy was passed unanimously by the board.
  • Bond presented a levy timeline for board approval.  The levy will provide $30 million for operation of Kennewick schools.  The final resolution will be discussed and voted on during the November 9 board meeting.

 

Student Clubs

Kintzley moved to restore equal access to all student clubs by reversing the board’s vote taken on August 17.  During a lengthy speech to visitors at the meeting Kintzley acknowledged she had made a mistake and would step up to correct her prior decision.  She made clear that non-curricular clubs would have access to ASB accounts but not ASB funds.  Non-curricular clubs could raise funds which would be held in ASB accounts. 

Community members present spoke to the issue of student clubs with most favoring the motion to grant equal access.  After half an hour public comment was ended.

Board member White attempted to offer an amendment allowing building principals authority to assign staff as club advisors to non-curricular clubs.  The amendment failed for lack of a second.  There was an audible collective groan from the audience when White’s motion was not considered.

Board president Adams gave a rambling monologue blaming the media for misrepresenting her motives regarding her votes denying equal access to non-curricular clubs.

The motion passed 3 to 1 with White voting no.  White stood by her belief that principals should be empowered to assign club advisors to non-curricular clubs.

For details see the Tri-City Herald article by Michelle Dupler:

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/09/29/1660369/kennewick-school-board-reverses.html

 

State Test Results

In general, state MSP test scores for reading are declining while MAP scores are improving.  State scores can be adjusted for poverty using a formula created by education consultant Jim Lewis.  Applying this to scores in some Kennewick schools shows better results.  State Superintendent Randy Dorn has said the state tests are getting harder. 

Bond restated his belief that MAP scores are more reliable and valid than MSP or HSPE scores.  There is some head scratching about declining state test scores which are inconsistent and don’t make sense in some instances.  Drops in test scores are hard to explain.  Bond is perplexed by some math scores which are inexplicable.  He said that something funky is going on. 

When asked about what he would like to see in state testing, Bond replied he wants to see testing stabilize for kids.  We should not see variations of 10 points year to year when testing 60,000 students statewide.

A district patron asked about what happens with students who don’t test well or who experience test anxiety.  Bond responded that KSD teaches test taking strategies to students and is working diligently with elementary students to develop their test taking skills.

Click here to see Kennewick test scores:

http://ksdcitizens.org/2011/10/10/kennewick-school-district-test-results/