APPROVED 2/5/18

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District

148 N. Binkley St., Soldotna, AK 99669

Board of Education Meeting Minutes Monday, January 15, 2018

Generated by Debbie Tressler on Thursday, January 18, 2018

1. Opening Activities

A. Call to Order 6:05 p.m.

B. Pledge of Allegiance/National Anthem/Alaska Flag Song

C. District Mission Statement

Mr. Kelly read the district mission statement.

D. Roll Call

Members Present: Marty Anderson, Debbie Cary, Dan Castimore, Lynn Hohl (via telephone), Mike Illg, Zen Kelly, Tim Navarre, Jason Tauriainen, Penny Vadla

Members Absent: Calvin Mitzel, student representative

E. Approval of Agenda

Approve the agenda as revised.

Motion by Tim Navarre, second by Jason Tauriainen.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Yes: Marty Anderson, Debbie Cary, Dan Castimore, Lynn Hohl, Mike Illg, Zen Kelly, Tim Navarre, Jason Tauriainen, Penny Vadla

F. Approval of Minutes

The minutes of December 4, 2017 were approved as printed.

Motion by Mike Illg, second by Tim Navarre.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Yes: Marty Anderson, Debbie Cary, Dan Castimore, Lynn Hohl, Mike Illg, Zen Kelly, Tim Navarre, Jason Tauriainen, Penny Vadla

2. Awards and Presentations

None.

3. School Reports

A. Tebughna School, Ms. Pam Potter

Via video, Ms. Pam Potter, school principal, explained the school's climate, culture, programs, activities and academics. She shared a video highlighting the students, school, programs, village, and community.

B. Cooper Landing School, Mr. Doug Hayman

Mr. Doug Hayman, school principal, introduced Mr. Tommy Gossard, school teacher. Mr. Gossard introduced his children, Linnaea and Cooper Gossard, who presented a video highlighting the school's history, program, students, activities, academics, staff, and community. Mr. Gossard explained how the school uses Polycom technology to provide learning opportunities with other district schools. Linnaea and Cooper answered the board's questions regarding the Polycom distance classes. Mr. Hayman thanked the students and Mr. Gossard for coming to present for the school. He expressed appreciation for the school and its staff for their work to make a small school successful. He thanked the administration and the IT department for their work and support.

4. Public Presentations/Comments (Items not on the agenda)

No comments were offered.

5. Hearing of Delegations

None scheduled.

6. Communications and Petitions

Mr. Dusek noted the general information packet items regarding the equipment fund disbursements, board member attendance to district and other events update, and the pool update. He received a formal request from the Kenai Peninsula Education Association (KPEA) and Kenai Peninsula Education Support Association (KPESA) to open contract negotiations; a copy has been added to the board packet. He announced there is currently an opening on the State Board of Education for the Third Judicial District, which is our area, and offered his assistance to anyone wishing to apply. Upcoming dates include:

1/16 Special Board meeting and joint budget work session with the Borough Assembly

1/24 District administrator meeting and calibration day

1/25 Meeting at West Homer Elementary to update the site councils on student transportation

February School Board Appreciation Month

2/1 Deadline for BP Teachers of Excellence and Educator Ally Nominations

2/5 Next regular board meeting.

7. Representative selected by the following: Advisory Committee, Site Councils and/or Authorized Student Support Organizations, K.P.A.A., K.P.E.A., K.P.E.S.A., Borough Assembly

Mr. David Brighton, KPEA president, wished everyone Happy Martin Luther King Day. He reported that the NEA Delegate Assembly was held last Thursday through Saturday and the group from Kenai was the largest to ever attend. He stated that forward funding is the Association’s legislative priority. He is looking forward to negotiations and hopes things will go smoothly and quickly. He shared that Ms. Sinclair was unable to attend the meeting due to a family issue.

8. Superintendent's Report

Mr. Dusek reported that the Alaska Community Foundation Grant will reinstate the district’s petroleum academy for students. BP Teachers of Excellence nominations are due February 1. Mr. James Harris, last year’s Teacher of the Year for Alaska, was recently recognized during the college football national championship game. He stated that the legislative session begins Jan. 16 and the governor’s State of State address will be Thursday, Jan. 18. He announced that in March, Kenai Central High School will host this year’s Alaska Supreme Court Live program; the case will be the State of Alaska versus the Alaska Democratic Party. He thanked Mr. Navarre for his help is getting the program brought to the district. In December, he hosted the first Coffee with the Superintendent in Homer and is planning one each for Kenai and Soldotna. He partnered with the Sea Life Center for some curriculum work and looks forward to future partnering opportunities. He has been meeting regularly with the borough administration regarding the budget and thanked Mayor Pierce and Mr. John Quick for the meetings. He attended the Homer City Council meeting on Jan. 8 to speak on after-school opportunities. The Tebughna School community meeting for their new principal has been held and Mr. Dusek will soon have more information on administrator hiring plans. He spoke at the Industry Outlook Forum on Jan. 10. He expects to be very busy in the coming week as the legislative session begins and he continues his work with the Alaska Superintendents Association (ASA) as the past-president. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 18-19, he will attend the Alaska Council of School Administrators (ACSA) meeting in Anchorage. On Monday Jan. 22, he will attend the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) reclassification committee meeting. His next Facebook Live will be held on Jan. 23. On Jan. 25 he will attend the Homer area transportation meeting. He will be in Anchorage again the weekend of Jan. 26 for an Alaska School Development Network (ASDN) meeting. Jan. 29-30, he will be in Juneau where he will speak to the joint legislative committee and the State Board of Education regarding the district’s work with professional development. Mr. Dusek will attend the Commissioner of Education’s meeting on Feb. 1 regarding the Education Challenge and updates on ESSA. The next board meeting is Feb. 5. On Feb. 6 the board and assembly will hold another joint budget work session. He will be visiting various schools to collect artwork to take to Juneau for this year’s display. He met with U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan earlier in the day and discussed federal impacts to KPBSD.

9. Reports

A. Finance Report

Mr. Jones presented the financial report of the District through December 2017.

B. Quarterly Budget Transfer Report

Mr. Jones presented the budget transfer report for various schools and departments within the District during the second quarter of FY18.

C. Board Reports

Mr. Illg attended the Dec. 7 Coffee with the Superintendent meeting in Homer. On Dec. 11 he spoke to the Homer City Council regarding the school board’s work and the district’s significance to the Homer area. On Dec. 12 he attended the West Homer Elementary Christmas performance; Dec. 14, the Homer Middle School winter program; and Dec. 18 part of the Homer High School concert. On Jan. 9 he participated in part of the Board Policy Review Committee meeting via video.

Mr. Navarre reported that on Dec. 19 Governor Walker and the first lady visited Tustumena Elementary School to read to students. He attended the Mt. View Elementary Christmas concert at the KCHS auditorium. He “saw” Santa Claus on Dec. 21 at Nikiski North Star.

Mr. Tauriainen attended the Nikiski North Star Christmas concert at Nikiski High. He attended the girls’ basketball tournament at KCHS and the Kenai - Nikiski basketball game (at Nikiski High). He spoke with Mayor Pierce and Mr. Quick on Dec. 28 regarding budgeting and funding.

Ms. Hohl reported further on her attendance to sessions at the AASB Annual Conference. She visited Aurora Borealis Charter School, Kenai Alternative School, Sterling Elementary, Cooper Landing and Moose Pass. She attended the Moose Pass holiday program. She participated in the Governance Handbook committee meeting on Nov. 30.

Mrs. Valda attended a portion of the English Language Arts Committee meeting. She attended the Soldotna High and Soldotna Prep concert and the K-Beach Elementary concert, both held at Soldotna High. She attended part of the Soldotna Elementary and Soldotna Montessori concert. She expressed appreciation for the district’s music programs and teachers.

D. Committee Reports

Mr. Castimore reported that the Board Policy Review Committee met on January 9 and discussed their agenda items.

Mr. Kelly reported that the Finance Committee met earlier in the day and discussed their agenda items.

Ms. Castimore (for Ms. Hohl) reported that the Charter School Oversight Committee met earlier in the day and discussed their agenda items.

E. Board Work Session Report

Mrs. Vadla reported that the board held work sessions entitled: ELA Curriculum Revision, Transportation, Voznesenka School Report, FY19 Budget, District and Board Goals Update, Legislative Session, and Governance Handbook Update. All members present at the meeting, attended the work sessions. Mr. Navarre left at 3:00 p.m.

The board held two student expulsion reviews and upheld the administration's recommendations on both.

10. Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Consent Agenda

Move to approve Consent Agenda items 10 B-E and G

Motion by Tim Navarre, second by Zen Kelly.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Yes: Marty Anderson, Debbie Cary, Dan Castimore, Lynn Hohl, Mike Illg, Zen Kelly, Tim Navarre, Jason Tauriainen, Penny Vadla

B. 2017-18 Long-Term Substitute Teacher Contract(s)

C. 2017-18 New Teacher Contract(s)

D. Leave of Absence Request/Certified

E. Resignation(s)

G. Budget Transfers over $50,000

Note: Item 10F. Leave of Absence Request/Support was withdrawn by the employee.

11. Action Items

A. English Language Arts Curriculum Revision

Move to approve the English Language Arts Curriculum.

Motion by Tim Navarre, second by Dan Castimore.

Move to amend to remove Ms. Hohl's name on page 3.

Motion by Lynn Hohl, second by Tim Navarre.

Final Resolution: Amendment Carried

Yes: Marty Anderson, Debbie Cary, Dan Castimore, Lynn Hohl, Mike Illg, Zen Kelly, Tim Navarre, Jason Tauriainen, Penny Vadla

Final Resolution: Motion Carried as amended.

Yes: Marty Anderson, Debbie Cary, Dan Castimore, Lynn Hohl, Mike Illg, Zen Kelly, Tim Navarre, Jason Tauriainen, Penny Vadla

B. Fireweed Academy Charter School Contract

Move to approve the request by Fireweed Academy Charter School to amend their contract to include specific Pupil Teacher Ratios (PTR) as illustrated in the attached contract.

Motion by Tim Navarre, second by Marty Anderson.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Yes: Marty Anderson, Debbie Cary, Dan Castimore, Lynn Hohl, Mike Illg, Zen Kelly, Tim Navarre, Jason Tauriainen, Penny Vadla

12. First Reading of Policy Revisions

None.

13. Public Presentations/Comments

None.

14. Board Comments

Ms. Hohl reported on her attendance of the first full day of the 2017 Registered Apprenticeship Roundtable sponsored by the Alaska Department of Labor in Anchorage. She clarified that she attended the Charter School Advisory Committee meeting earlier in the day but, did not chair the meeting as she was participating via telephone. She announced that the National Ocean Science Bowl Competition will be held next month at Seward High School.

Mr. Tauriainen stated that it is basketball season and encouraged people to attend the games and support students. He declared a possible conflict of interest in participating in the employee contract negotiations as his wife is a district employee.

Mr. Navarre expressed dissatisfaction with the board’s subscription to the “Board and Administrator” monthly newsletter.

Ms. Cary thanked presenters for their programs. She expressed appreciation for Polycom and technology used for the meeting. She expressed appreciation for the ELA Curriculum and the committee’s work.

Mr. Illg expressed appreciation for district wrestlers' success. He stated that Homer High has a nationally ranked wrestler. He declared a possible conflict of interest in participating in the employee contract negotiations as his wife is a district employee.

Mr. Kelly noted the resignation of Nancy Kleine, Nanwalek and Port Graham principal, and thanked her for her service to the district. He also noted the resignation of Ray Archuleta, Paul Banks Elementary teacher, and thanked him for his service. He declared a possible conflict of interest in participating in the employee contract negotiations as his wife is a district employee.

Mrs. Vadla thanked all of the presenters. She thanked the administration for their work on the board packet. She commented on Mr. Navarre’s statement regarding the “Board and Administration” newsletter.

Mrs. Vadla announced that employee contract negotiations will begin and information will be posted on the website as available.

Regarding the declarations of a possible conflict of interest from Mr. Tauriainen, Mr. Illg and Mr. Kelly, Mrs. Vadla ruled that a conflict of interest does not exist for any of the three members as participating in the contract negotiations does not constitute substantial financial interest to any one of them. Mr. Tauriainen, Mr. Illg and Mr. Kelly may participate in the process.

Mrs. Vadla announced that after the executive session, no business will be conducted except to adjourn the session and the meeting.

15. Executive Session

A. Executive Session-Negotiations

7:31 p.m.

Move the board go into executive session to discuss matters, the immediate knowledge of which would clearly have an adverse effect upon the finances of the district. Specifically, the session is held to discuss employee contract negotiations.

Motion by Dan Castimore, second by Marty Anderson.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Yes: Marty Anderson, Debbie Cary, Dan Castimore, Lynn Hohl, Mike Illg, Zen Kelly, Tim Navarre, Jason Tauriainen, Penny Vadla

B. Adjourn Executive Session

Ms. Hohl left the meeting at 8:33 p.m. and was not part of the vote.

8:35 p.m.

Move to adjourn the executive session.

Motion by Dan Castimore, second by Debbie Cary.

Final Resolution: Motion Carried

Yes: Marty Anderson, Debbie Cary, Dan Castimore, Lynn Hohl, Mike Illg, Zen Kelly, Tim Navarre, Jason Tauriainen, Penny Vadla

16. Adjourn

At 8:36 p.m. Mrs. Vadla adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Mrs. Penny Vadla, President

Mr. Dan Castimore, Clerk

Submitted by Mrs. Debbie Tressler

Administrative Secretary to the Board of Education