Superintendent’s Report

▬   Superintendent Carl Bruner presented certificates of appreciation to these individuals for their contributions to pedestrian safety in school zones: Mikael Love, Assistant Public Works Director for the City of Mount Vernon; and David Deach, Mount Vernon Police Department. (Lieutenant Chris Cammock accepted the certificate on behalf of Officer Deach.)

▬   Superintendent Bruner introduced Susan Davidson and Susan Marr, co-presidents of the Mount Vernon Educational Support Association, and acknowledged and thanked office professionals throughout the district in recognition of Education Office Professionals Week.

▬   Superintendent Bruner announced that over 1,000 cards of thanks were sent to volunteers in recognition of School Volunteer Appreciation Week.

▬   Finance Director Jennifer Larson presented monthly financial, impact fee collection, and enrollment updates.

▬   Project Coordinator Michael Brown updated the Board on efforts relating to the recently initiated performance contracting program overseen by the Washington State Department of General Administration. A district tour of facilities allowed engineers to obtain specific data as part of an in-depth audit and for use in preparing cost proposals for energy savings.

Information Items

▬   A public hearing was conducted by Assistant Superintendent Cathey Frederick relating to proposed use of Initiative 728 funds, with funds designated in 2008-09 for class size reduction, extended learning opportunities, and professional development for educators.

▬   A representative from Landed Gentry Development, Inc. requested a waiver of impact fees for the 78-unit Montreaux Phase I senior housing development located at South Waugh Road and East Broadway Street in Mount Vernon. The Board will take action on May 14.

Action Items

The Board of Directors:

▬   Approved the Consent Agenda (including three student field trip requests, agreements with ESD 189 and AVID, and the personnel report).

▬   Heard a request from Centennial School students for a districtwide helmet procedure, and directed the superintendent to implement the procedure.

▬   Approved boundary adjustments for Centennial Elementary School due to overcrowding, with students living in the following boundaries to be assigned to Lincoln Elementary School effective with the 2009-09 school year: Interstate 5 north to Stewart/Hoag Roads, Hoag Road east to its intersection with Continental Place, Continental Place south to its intersection with College Way, and College Way west to its intersection with Interstate 5. The Board further directed that students impacted by this boundary adjustment would not be required to change schools if additional boundary adjustments occur at a later date.

▬   Heard a presentation relating to a full-service community schools grant opportunity, and approved a related interagency agreement with partners Skagit/Islands Head Start, Skagit Valley Community College, the Skagit Valley YMCA, and Skagit County Community Action Agency for early learning and school readiness services for children from birth to age 6.

▬   Adopted changes to the 2007-08 school year calendar due to a snow closure on January 28, with school ending on June 12 for 7^th grade students and June 13 for students in grades K6-8. High school students will end school on June 13 as previously scheduled. 

▬   Accepted gifts to the district from Washington Mutual ($277.84), Haggen’s ($376.40), The Magic Group ($331.50) and the Mount Baker Parent Group ($1,000.00).