Labor/Management Meeting
Minutes
March 16, 2004
Present:
1.
Sick Leave and Annual Leave on Pay Stubs
(Bonda Albers).
Mary said she
feels that they resolved this issue. This
issue affects staff who work 9-months regarding accruals and adjustments. Mary said the adjustments were made in
February, but they were not accurate, so now they are redoing the
accruals. The Business Office has
contacted Olympia to see the right way to do it. Partial adjustment has happened, not full
adjustment. Dean asked Mary if she could
send out an e-mail letting people know what is going on. Don asked if there is another delay, let
Bonda and Shelley know.
2.
Capital Project Update (
Rob said he sent
an e-mail out to staff describing the 15 upcoming projects. On March 25th the bid opening will
occur. The projects are: Kennedy building (seismic bracing-temporary),
new courtyard in area north of the library in the Irwin school building,
fencing up to the edge of school along McLoughlin, electrical vault below road
will be moved, Ahlsten cottage will be remodeled for the Police Department to
move in August 2004, new parking lot on backside by old play area, relocation
of the track to the open area of campus (tree removal), mezzanine in the
commissary, new boilers in Irwin, and new boilers in the boilerhouse. Rob
stated that the lighting will upgraded with the track moving. The Sherman Auditorium will be updated with
new lighting, curtains, sound system, HVAC upgrade, sprinkler heads, etc. Dean said that the Kennedy building was built
in 1962 and every 20’ there is a steel beam that runs from the ground up, with
rebar that is not tied to the steel.
Egress issues are also an issue.
The goal is to have the building complete by fall of 2006. The Kennedy building will still exist until
the new building is constructed with safety measures included. Rob stated we
will be covering the current play area. Jim
suggested that when construction issues impact pedestrian travels, to give
everyone a heads up.
3. Legislative
Update (
Dean said that this was a
fast session. Dean stated we were informed
that during the session that WSSB received a $25,000 reduction this year. Dean asked that we receive a line item
veto. Dean mentioned that it appears
when an agency does everything that stakeholders, including the legislature
wants us to do we gets penalized for creative and efficient use of state
funds. Dean stated we requested a
supplemental for Distance Learning and the item did not make either the House
or the Senate budget. House Bill 2704 on
Alternative Learning Experiences related to Digital/Distance Learning was
introduced this year. This gives schools
additional flexibility in that area.
This had unanimous support in the House and with the Governor but
received resistance in the Senate and Home School organization. Stefan Hudson testified in Olympia regarding
the importance of Distance Learning.
4. Miscellaneous
Dean said that at a recent conference, discussion was
held regarding student enrollment and many teachers felt that currently, there
are a number of older and much younger school kids, with a lack of middle-aged
students. Department of Services for the
Blind allowed us to use their parent mailing list so parents can obtain more
information regarding WSSB. Bonda asked
if Dee felt that more students will be coming to WSSB from the eastside. Dean said that Dee is over in that area this
week in the Tri Cities/Walla Walla area and we will know more next week. Dean
said that on Channel 29 an informational PowerPoint is running regarding our
school. Dean would like to take a
similar PowerPoint to various cable channels across the state to get the
information out. Dean said we are doing
an upgrade to our school’s video to mark the change in technology, etc. Also, the school’s Foundation will be getting
a video made and will be reviewing the video tonight. The Foundation is interviewing two applicants
for a part-time Director position with the Foundation, which is separate from
the school.
Bonda asked if WSSB considered having an on-site
infant program. Craig said we are looking at starting a pre-school program next
year. WSSB has identified 7 preschool
students. Dee is handling much of the programmatic side of this. Craig is also hoping that the LIFTT program
takes a leap this year. Jim asked if
part of the issue of the low numbers in the LIFTT program was marketing. Craig said yes. Craig’s goal is to have 15
students in the program. Bonda is
suggesting starting a birth to three program. Craig said we could work in that
direction, but feels it would be easier to do the preschool program then work
with Department of Services for the Blind as they are responsible for the 0-3
program. Dean stated that at the last
board meeting discussion was held regarding starting a parent listserv, that
only includes parents so that confidentiality is respected. Danya has followed up on this and has found
some software that would help facilitate this.
Discussion also held regarding a grant that was received from Hewlett Packard
for a Science program.
Janet reported that Lori asked her to let the group
know that she was unable to attend because she was involved in an IEP meeting
and wanted to know if moving the meetings to after school would be a
consideration.
Craig said accreditation is happening next week and
8-12 people will be on campus Sunday-Tuesday (March 21-23). Their purpose will be to review our programs,
talk to staff, students, etc. Dean said
that Janet is working on updating the staff pages on the intranet and
information will be posted there regarding accreditation.
The
meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m. The next
meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 1:30 p.m.
(WSFE to meet at
________________________________ ________________________________
Dean
O. Stenehjem, Ed.D.
Superintendent
President
– Local WSFE