Highline School Board Summary: 04/19/2023
Board Meeting Agenda
Board Meeting Recording
Board Meeting Transcript
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call:
Present: All Directors – Van, Alvarez, Howell, Hagos, Garcia
Present: Superintendent Duran
Recognitions: None
Scheduled Communications:
- Sandy Hunt (9.5 – Remodeling of Southern Heights) HEA President. Thanked Director Hagos for attending the WA representative assembly. Also recommended climate change policies be at the forefront of decisions when building new buildings or remodeling. Spoke specifically to the Board about upgrading ventilation in Southern Heights.
- Katie Kresly (9.1 – Graduation Alliance) Expressed gratitude for the Board reinforcing the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance in schools. Had questions about Motion 9.1 to pay an extra $300,000 to Graduation Alliance, a dropout recovery program. She asked about the effectiveness of this program and the recent increase in spending from the originally approved amount of $515,000 in August 2022.
- Alex Myrick (Academic Achievement) Spoke about OSPI’s recent report listing the 120 lowest performing schools. He said Washington State has over 6,000 schools and yet four of Highline Schools were on that lowest performing list.. He recommended Highline return to focus on academics.
- James Payne (Parent Serves Lawsuit to School District) (Instruction on Race and Identity) A father of two at North Hill Elementary. Described a compulsory Black Lives Matter (BLM) assembly at his childrens’ school and Director Howell’s public support for the politically motivated assembly. He spoke about the Black National Anthem being sung and reminded the audience that there is only one National Anthem in the United States and the divisiveness of singing a different anthem. He concluded by serving the board with a lawsuit to address political activism being taught in Highline schools.
- Patricia Bailey (Religion at School) Retired School Teacher. She talked of the gender ideology being taught in schools and compared it to a state religion. Requested the school board stop this unconstitutional practice.
Superintendent’s Update:
- Introduced Jackie Bryant – new interim Chief Financial Officer
- Wrapping up Strategic Plan Advisory Group Meetings
- Gold Star Breakfast, Sponsored by Highline Schools Foundation – Friday April 21st at Cedarbrook to celebrate great work supporting students
School Board Reports:
Legislative Report: None
Director Reports:
Director Howell: Reported on visiting several schools with Superintendent Duran
- Cascadia MS Evergreen, Glacier MS and Cedarhurst –
Director Alvarez:
- Attended a ribbon cutting event to celebrate opening of a school-based health center at Highline HS. Reported Healthpoint has provided services to students of Evergreen and Tyee for nearly 15 years.
- Healthpoint clinic services include sports physicals, medical care, and dental care. Stated that they follow the same state laws as other health-care providers. Students under 18 have to get parental permission for most medical care. There are some exceptions in state law.
Director Garcia:
- Reported groundbreaking for Evergreen HS on May 19, at 3:15 pm. Afterwards, there will be a public design and construction information meeting open to community members.
- Attended a Community Art Gallery Event that showcased student art.
Director Hagos:
- Attended Curriculum Adoption Showcase on Monday (4/17) – elementary and middle school – science, secondary music, and upper level math.
- National Library Month – she visited library events, reported on Math Space program and thanked librarians.
Director Van:
- Reported on a new PE class at Highline HS called Functional Fitness which pairs students who receive special-ed services with students who receive general education.
Action Items Moved to Consent Agenda: (Approved 5/0)
Motion approved review prepared by Cornerstone General Contractors and Implementation Plan prepared by Bassetti Architects.
Motion approved review prepared by Vanir Construction Management, Inc. and the Implementation Plan prepared by Integrus Architecture
8.5 Motion to Approve Evergreen High School Replacement Project – Approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price Contract Amendment No. 1 and Purchase Order No. CP230035 with Cornerstone General Contractors (revised since introduction)
Motion approved Evergreen High School Replacement Project – Approval of Guaranteed Maximum Price Contract Amendment No. 1 and Purchase Order No. CP230035 with Cornerstone General Contractors in the amount of $8,538,035 plus Washington State sales tax of $862,341.54 for a total of $9,400,376.54
Approval of Minutes:
Approval of Payroll Warrants and Accounts Payable Vouchers Directors Alvarez and Hagos
Approval of Personnel Report
Approval of February 2023 Board Financial Report
Action Items:
8.1 Motion to Approve Purchase Order Increase of $500,000 for the Annual Contract with Everdriven, LLC for 2022-23 SY (Approved 5/0)
Approved the PO increase of $500,000 with Everdriven, LLC, to support our Foster and McKinney Vento qualified students, bringing the contract total to $1,245,000 for the 2022-23 SY.
[available to view this 7-minute discussion at 26:00 minute mark on the recording]
Director Van asked Scott Logan about both Motions 8.1 and 8.2.
Van: Action item, 8.1 is for a PO increase of $500,000 and 8.2 is for a PO increase of $250,000 for the remainder of the school year. It is an unfunded state mandate. How many students are being supported by these two PO’s since it comes out of our budget?
Scott: State funds students partially – up to 17 miles, but many contracted students live outside the school district, some as far as Monroe.
Over 50% of original PO (of 8.1) was to pay off a previous balance, from last year, due to a bookkeeping challenge which was addressed and fixed. [nearly $375,000]
Total of 246 students are transported, of the 600 McKinney-Vento and foster students.
Everdriven – 113 students, and HopSkipDrive – 133 students.
Take the 246 students and you multiply it by– 44 days of school left at time of this report– that comes out to 21,600 trips left in this school year for that group of students. Trips are often single-rider to prevent kids in cars for long periods of time.
Van: I know the goal is to keep students in schools they are comfortable with, what is standard for helping them back to their local community school? Is it after one school year?
Kisa: By law, yes, but it is complex.
Hagos: When we have contract rides funded and students don’t show up for school, do we still have to pay for empty rides?
Scott: It is legally required transportation, we ask families to let us know so we can cancel the ride. They get three times to miss and have to re-enroll if they exceed. [So, yes, we pay for empty rides]
8.2 Motion to Approve Purchase Order Increase of $250,000 for the Annual Contract with HopSkipDrive for 2022-23 SY (Approved 5/0)
Approved the PO increase of $250,000 with HopSkipDrive to support our Foster and McKinney Vento qualified students, bringing the contract total to $850,000 for the 2022-23 SY
Introduction Items:
9.1 Motion to Increase Graduation Alliance Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) Program Approval of this motion would approve an increase of $300,000 to the purchase order for the Graduation Alliance ALE program.
9.2 Motion to approve Revision to the Administrative Salary Schedule One
9.3 Motion to approve Resolution 18-23 WIAA School Board Delegation
9.4 Motion to approve Resolution No. 17-23 City of Des Moines Right of
Way Expansion and Temporary Construction Easement
9.5 Motion for approval of XXX Contract for Remodeling of Southern
Height Approval of this motion would approve XXX Contract for Remodeling of the Southern Heights. Contract Approval will be through the OMNIA State Contract, which allows the district, upon receipt of all submittal requirements, to issue a Purchase Order with XXXXXXX., under the Omnia Contract, in the amount of $XXX,XXX.XX, plus Washington State Sales Tax of $XX, XXX.XX, for a total of $XXX,XXX.XX.
Director Garcia: County is releasing HVAC System Program, he will follow up.
Director Howell: If approved, what is the timeline?
Scott: Timeline will start in October.
9.7 Motion for approval of Central Administration Building South Roof Replacements Contract with Garland/DBS, Inc. Approval of this motion would approve the Central Administration Building South Roof Replacements Contract with Garland /DBS, Inc. Contract Approval will be through the OMNIA State Contract, which allows the district, upon receipt of all submittal requirements, to issue a Purchase Order with Garland/DBA, Inc., under the Omnia Contract, in the amount of $XXX,XXX.XX, plus Washington State Sales Tax of $XX,XXX.XX, for a total of $XXX,XXX.XX.
Director Howell: Is this happening before the Groundbreaking?
Scott: yes, and it will be ongoing
9.9 Motion to approve Evergreen Replacement Project – Approving the Builder’s Risk Insurance
Director Van – we approved builders, so wouldn’t that already be a requirement?
Scott: General contractors can purchase builders’ risk on behalf of the school district and add to the price of the project. Better for the district to own the policy we negotiated under $0.40 on the dollar for a builders risk program (instead of $0.70 per dollar).
Items be moved to consent agenda for 5/3/23: (Approved 5/0)
9.2 Motion to approve Revision to the Administrative Salary Schedule One
9.3 Motion to approve Resolution 18-23 WIAA School Board Delegation
Adjourned at 6:47 PM
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NEXT School Board Meeting:
May 3rd, 6pm
Central Office Building
15675 Ambaum Blvd SW Burien, WA 98166
General Meeting Information:
- Highline School Board meetings are generally held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 6 PM in the Central Office Boardroom.
- Community members can give New (two-minute) verbal commentary in Scheduled Communications.
- Call the District Office at 206-631-3070 – New (Sign up begins at 9:00 a.m. on the Monday of the week of a Board meeting; sign up closes at 9:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting.on the day of the meeting in order to be included on the agenda.)
- Board Meetings can be viewed via Live stream.
