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March 08, 2000

Regular School Board Meeting
6:00 pm
Adjourned: 11:03 pm
Ketchikan City Council Chambers

Restructuring:
Addressed Under Superintendent's Report -

'Mr. Thomas said he would be meeting with the elementary principals on Friday to work on developing a parental survey regarding restructuring. He suggested a Board workshop so the Board may review the survey. The Board agreed this work session could perhaps take place after the budget workshop on March 14.'

Restructuring:
Addressed Under Restructuring Task Force - Larry Eklund

'Principal Larry Eklund reported on the two meetings of the Restructuring Task Force on February 17 and 24 and the configuration options the group had discussed. There were some questions and discussion. Mr. Thomas stated that the bottom line in the restructuring decision was: if it is determined it is not a sound educational idea, the district should not go through with it.'

Source: Approved KGBSD Board of Education Minutes of the March 08, 2000 Regular School Board Meeting - A Public Record

No other comments or actions regarding restructuring were documented in the public record of the approved minutes of 03/08/00

March 22, 2000

Regular School Board Meeting
6:00 pm
Adjourned:9:41 pm
Ketchikan City Council Chambers

Restructuring:
Addressed Under Citizen Remarks
(1st Comment Period)

'Deb Jepson, parent of a child in elementary school and also a student in high school, said she begged the School board not to vote for restructuring of the schools. She added that the cuts planned to high school programs will have a devastating effect.'

Sheila Miller and her sister Liz Miller came to the podium. Liz Miller first spoke about communication between her sister and the superintendent, and criticized the superintendent for not responding regarding a particular issue. Then, she addressed the restructuring issue, and stated that most of the public is not in favor of restructuring. Ms. Miller said it is the duty of the Board to explain why the public should embrace the idea. She called restructuring an experimental concept using children as guinea pigs.'

Scott Brandt-Erichsen said dividing the grades up as planned in the restructuring idea will be a major inconvenience from a parent's perspective. Under the proposed scenario, a member of his family would be attending Houghtaling, Valley Park, White Cliff and Kayhi next year. This would make it difficult to be involved in any one of the schools, he said. Mr. Brandt-Erichsen said that if the proposal was due to financial problems, moving 100 kids to balance class sizes was preferable to restructuring the elementary schools completely which would disrupt all children.'

'Loren Stanton, born and schooled in Ketchikan, said he had kept an open mind as he attended the restructuring meetings. After thorough analysis, he said he was opposed to restructuring. The feedback from the public had been requests to slow down and for more research. However, Mr. Stanton said that lately there had been very little research and very little public comment. He also stated that the proposed budget did not reflect savings from restructuring. Mr. Stanton also referred to a committee which had studied inter-elementary transfers in order to keep class sizes more consistent. In order to solve the class size issue, Point Higgins and the Charter School should be included in restructuring, he said. Mr. Stanton also addressed next year's budget. He suggested the Board compare the 2001 budget with the 1998 budget, as he said that administrative line items have gone up while line items affecting the classroom budget have gone down.'

Tani Stenfjord appealed to the Board as a parent of young children. One of her children, as a kindergartner, had been fearful of attending school, but had been helped by an older student. Restructuring would mean a loss of these types of relationships, she said. She said she doesn't see the positive side of the idea. Ms. Stenfjord also mentioned a school in north Seattle which had been restructured and then had returned to its original structure.'

Debbie Patton said she came to speak as a parent and the president of the White Cliff PTA. Her concern stems from her profession as a substance abuse counselor who now works with victims of domestic abuse. She spoke of the importance of children bonding with an adult, and that some children don't receive this at home, but do bond with an adult at school. Ms. Patton is concerned that no such rapport will be established in the two-year period that the child is in one school before moving on. Ms. Patton also worried about the impact of restructuring on parent teacher groups and involvement by parents as many would have to choose between their children's schools. Lastly, Ms. Patton thanked the Board members for the time they spend in this position.'

Restructuring:
Addressed Under New Business
'Moved by Pickrell, second by Smestad that the Board of Education approve the restructuring of the elementary schools to establish Houghtaling as a preschool through second grade; White Cliff as a third/fourth-grade; and Valley Park as a fifth/sixth-grade and that the planning for restructuring begin in September of 2000, with the reassignment of teachers to begin in the spring of 2001 and the reassignment of students to begin in the fall of 2001.'

'Ms. Pickrell related the study she had put into the restructuring idea and her decision. She stated that the time line is too short to restructure for next year and indicated that her motion will provide time for adequate planning and obtaining staff and parental input.'

'Board Member Patty Barnes said she has been opposed to restructuring from the beginning, especially trying to accomplish it this year. Mrs. Barnes compared this decision to the Ready for Work proposal which was only implemented after several years of planning.'

'Mr. Harrington said postponing restructuring leaves it open to sabotage. If the Board decides to restructure, it should take the next step, he said, suggesting that step be the grouping of all kindergarten students at Houghtaling next year.'

'Board Member Dorothy Smestad said this is the first time she's heard of a school which went back to its original structure, after restructuring. She related some of her own experience with a restructured school, and stated she is in favor of restructuring.'

'Mr. Pfeifer read some e-mails he had received from parents regarding restructuring. One parent said it is practical to restructure next year, and that teachers and schools should support it. Another parent wrote that public comments made at a recent Board work session indicated deep-rooted prejudices against Valley Park, and that restructuring was the only way to get rid of this. Mr. Pfeifer then divulged his opinion on restructuring. He said postponing restructuring will add more of a fiscal note to the process, but additionally he is unwilling to be sidetracked at this point by restructuring.'

'Ms. Ramiskey said she does not believe the majority of the public is against restructuring as was stated by a speaker at the podium. Support has been indicated in public comment and in letters. She stated that saving money for her was not a primary issue in the restructuring decision. Rather, she indicated, her concern is with issues such as the number of children who are struggling in reading. She related the state's plan to begin identifying at-risk schools. Mr. Ramiskey commented that restructuring takes away some of these socioeconomic issues as all children of the same age would be together in one school.'

'There was more discussion.'
(No summary of the discussion was included in this public record.)

Restructuring:
Addressed Under Moved by Harrington, Second by Pickrell

'Moved by Harrington, Second by Pickrell to move all kindergarten students into Houghtaling next year.'

After some discussion regarding this motion, Mr. Harrington said he would withdraw it. He said he would reluctantly support Ms. Pickrell's motion, but it did not make sense to bus kids all over town next year.'

'Ms. Ramiskey echoed a concern with undertaking restructuring while other immediate issues, such as a superintendent change, are facing the district. She also said she intimates not all the principals are totally supportive of the change. In addition, Ms. Ramiskey mentioned qualms with Valley Park being targeted for the fifth and sixth grades as it did not have the largest gym or music area.'

'Moved to amend by Ramiskey, second by Harrington that the motion be amended to state simply that the 'Board approve the restructuring of the elementary schools and that planning begin in September 2000, with realignment of teachers in the spring of 2001, and reassignment of students in 2001.'

Substitute Motion
Voice Vote: (2 nays)
Motion Passed

Source: Approved KGBSD Board of Education Minutes of the March 22, 2000 Regular School Board Meeting - A Public Record

April 12, 2000

Regular School Board Meeting
6:00 pm
Adjourned:10:36 pm
Ketchikan City Council Chambers

Restructuring:
Addressed Under Budget Discussions
'Moved by Harrington, second by Johnson to direct staff to come up with a budget which shows the fiscal costs of restructuring the elementary schools (i.e. moving etc.)'

'There was discussion about the possible costs of moving.' (Not included in the public record.)

Restructuring:
Addressed Under Board Member Comments

'Mr. Harrington addressed restructuring, stating if the Board is serious about this change, it should direct the administration to create 3 kindergartens and 3 first grades at Houghtaling next year. He said that doing so would mean less disruption to primary children as the school would be a K-2 school the following year.'

'Four Hands'
'After discussion, his four hands request was supported.'
(A summary of the discussion was not included in the minutes of the public record.)

Source: Approved KGBSD Board of Education Minutes of the April 12, 2000 Regular School Board Meeting - A Public Record

Restructuring;
Addressed under Citizen Remarks
(1st Comment Period)

'White Cliff teacher Kathy Paulson spoke to the Board about assistance which kindergarten teachers provide to first-graders in reading and how this benefits the high-risk students. She noted the plan to move a kindergarten teacher out of White Cliff to Houghtaling. Ms. Paulson asked why the Board is moving the kindergarten in light of this optimum reading program.'

'Rebecca Bowlen spoke of how the decision to move a kindergarten teacher out of White Cliff might affect her son and other students. She said she finds it ironic that a wonderful reading program will possibly be put at risk, when one of the Board's goals is to improve reading. Ms. Bowlen suggested the Board wait to move a kindergarten teacher until next year's kindergarten numbers are known.'

'Krystine Martin, a first-year teacher, praised White Cliff kindergarten teacher Robin Edenshaw for her one-on-one work with Ms. Martin's students. If a kindergarten section is removed, she is concerned by the fact there will be only one kindergarten teacher to work with two first grade classrooms.'

'Lynn Jorgensen, a White Cliff kindergarten teacher, also spoke about the possible effects of moving a kindergarten classroom out of White Cliff. She said if a benefit of restructuring is for teachers to work at the same grade level to share their ideas, then White cliff will miss out next year. Ms. Jorgensen also talked about a kindergarten/preschool program which is part of preschoolers' IEPs. This program will be very difficult to fill with only one kindergarten teacher, she said.'

'Kindergarten teacher Robin Edenshaw spoke to the same issue. She said the Board should reconsider its directive to move a kindergarten section for three reasons: it will effect the reading program in which a kindergarten teacher helps first graders with reading for a certain period each day; losing this teacher will affect the reading goal; and the two kindergarten teachers will not be able to benefit from being a team. Ms. Edenshaw asked the Board to wait until restructuring occurs and accomplish the moving of staff all at once.'

'Myra Zelensky, whose child will be a first-grader next year, said the Board should make an educated decision on this issue by waiting until after kindergarten registration is completed.'

'Barbara Kinunen, third grade teacher at White Cliff, said she has seen the successes of the kindergarten teacher working with first graders. If the kindergarten is moved, this has a domino effect on the rest of the school, she said.'

'Tani Stenfjord said she plans to enroll a kindergartner at White Cliff for next year, and that she also has a first-grader who has benefited from extra time with reading. She said the Board is not listening to the public, stating that she hasn't heard very many people who are in favor of restructuring. Ms. Stenfjord also spoke about a school in the Seattle area which had restructured, then gone back to its original organization. Finally, Ms. Stenfjord said she hadn't understood that restructuring was a done deal.'

'Penny Pedersen, parent of a kindergartner at White Cliff, asked that instead of making moves piecemeal, the board compose a total plan for the restructuring and debate it over the next year.'

'Mary Larsen, a Chapter 1 reading tutor at White Cliff, talked about the origin of the kindergarten teachers working with first grade students on reading. Having extra certified teachers to help out with reading has been very effective, she said. Students have a greater chance of not being at-risk with this reading team in place.'

'Kindergarten parent Judy Christensen also addressed the reading assistance issue. She pointed out this helps free up the first-grade teacher to work more with other students, so that those in the class benefit. She added that it makes sense to her as well to wait until after kindergarten registration to move a kindergarten section.'

'Tina Peckham, White Cliff parent and teacher, said she had come to share the views of the White Cliff staff on restructuring. She said they feel that allowing more time for planning is a good decision. However, they'd like to see research on the educational reasons for restructuring. Ms. Peckham cited benefits of retaining the White Cliff's organization as it is now. She said that none of the positives or negatives of restructuring have been thoroughly researched.'

'Terri Robbins, fifth grade teacher at White Cliff, said she was glad that Board Member Johnson had clarified the decision on restructuring. She said she had misunderstood that the Board had actually voted to restructure.'

Restructuring:
Addressed under Board Comments
Note: Moved by Harrington, second by Barnes to extend the meeting until 10:15 p.m.

'Mrs. Barnes referred to the public comments that evening and said the Board's action on these issues had caused confusion. She asked for a reconsideration of the Four Hands directive regarding kindergarten from the previous Board meeting. Ms. Pickrell also indicated she wanted to reconsider that Board directive.'

'Mr. Harrington explained why he made his original suggestion to place a third section of kindergarten at Houghtaling and argued that his reasoning was still valid. He said the reading program would be impacted regardless because there would be one less kindergarten teacher somewhere.'

'Discussion continued on the effects of moving a kindergarten section. Ms. Barnes did not receive the requisite support for her '4 hands' request.'

'Ms. Smestad stated that although there were some in the public who don't think restructuring will take place, the Board has voted to restructure. She also said that although there isn't a lot of available research on restructuring, most districts who have done so, have not gone back to their original organization.'

Source: Approved KGBSD Board of Education Minutes of the April 26, 2000 Regular School Board Meeting - A Public Record

Restructuring:
No Reports, comments, discussion, actions or testimony documented in the public record -

Source: Approved KGBSD Board of Education Minutes of the May 10, 2000 Regular School Board Meeting

Restructuring:
Addressed Under Citizen Remarks
(1st Comment Period)

'Kim Stahl, representing the PTA Council of Ketchikan, referred to a poll taken of PTA members at two of the elementary schools regarding restructuring. She stated that the responses were overwhelmingly against restructuring, and attributed some of this to lack of knowledge about the pros and cons of the issue. She requested that parents be survey regarding restructuring before the end of the school year.'

'Debbie Patton from the White Cliff PTA reported on the results of their survey on restructuring. The majority of the responses were in opposition to restructuring, she said. Ms. Patton said the parents felt the decision was made without their input, and without adequately informing them. On another issue, Ms. Patton said she was concerned by the number of children who had registered for kindergarten next year at White Cliff, in light of a decision to move a kindergarten section out of that school.'

'Susan Bachant said she has had kids in all the elementary schools and that all the schools have their good points. However, she said she is against restructuring and asked the Board to poll parents on this issue. She said the community doesn't need more upheaval, noting the teachers' strike in November had been traumatic.'

Source: Approved KGBSD Board of Education Minutes of the May 24, 2000 Regular School Board Meeting

June 01, 2000

Special School Board Meeting
6:00 pm
Adjourned: 6:30 pm
Ketchikan High School Library

Restructuring:
No Reports, comments, discussion, actions or testimony documented in the public record -

Source: Approved KGBSD Board of Education Minutes of the June 01, 2000 Special School Board Meeting

June 14, 2000

Regular School Board Meeting
6:00 pm
Adjourned: 8:03 pm
Ketchikan City Council Chambers

Restructuring:
Addressed Under Board Comments -

'Ms. Pickrell also commented on summer school. She said it was good to see teachers actively discussing methods for teaching reading. She talked about a book which has been used to train local teachers in a new method of reading comprehension. She noted that the method requires that the children have a good foundation first. She stated that the focus on identifying children who need help with reading reaffirms to her the need to restructure the elementary schools. Ms. Pickrell also thanked Mr. Thomas for his service, noting that the long hours and work had probably been hard.'

'Ms. Ramiskey said one of the first issues she wanted the Board to discuss with the new superintendent was restructuring. She said that the record needs to be set straight for the public on this subject. From the beginning, the Board's focus on restructuring was whether a K-2 school would enable all children to leave that school reading well, she said, not budgetary concerns. Ms. Ramiskey, citing Gates McInitie [sic] test data, stated that in grades 1 through 5, up to 53% of Ketchikan students are not reading up to grade level.'

Source: Approved KGBSD Board of Education Minutes of the June 14, 2000 Regular School Board Meeting

Restructuring:
No Reports, comments, discussion, actions or testimony documented in the public record, the approved school board minutes -

Source: Approved KGBSD Board of Education Minutes of the July 26, 2000 Regular School Board Meeting

August 9, 2000

Regular School Board Meeting
6:00 pm
Adjourned at 7:22 pm
Ketchikan City Council Chambers

Restructuring:
No Reports, comments, discussion, actions or testimony documented in the public record -

Source: Approved KGBSD Board of Education Minutes of the August 9, 2000 Regular School Board Meeting