recap Information from meetings of your School Board

January 13, 2015 • Volume 27, Issue 9

Board of Directors: President Mark Stoker • Vice President Edri Geiger • Kathy Gillespie • Mari Greves • Dale Rice Superintendent: Dr. Steven Webb

VANCOUVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Continued . . .

Thank you, Mari Greves“As many of you know, this is the last meeting for Board member Mari Greves. Mari has served on the Board for 20 years and has witnessed transformative change in the district and also great progress,” said Board Presi-dent Mark Stoker. “I have enjoyed serving with Mari during my seven years on the Board. She is a model Board member, the epitome of class, and a person I respect very much.”

Board director Kathy Gillespie said, “The first Board member I ever spoke with was Mari Greves. What I remember is that Mari was very patient and she spent a lot of time listening to my concern. It was everything I expected from a Board mem-ber, and so Mari is the reason I wanted to be on the Board. It’s been great.”

“Mari has shared her deep love for the district, students, and staff,” said Vice President Edri Geiger. “She has a great love of all the children in the district, all 23,000 of them. Her work on the Board has always been to make things better for them—just like she would do for her own six granddaughters. Mari, thank you. We’re going to miss you.”

Director Dale Rice added, “Mari has always had a gift for dealing with difficult issues in a very graceful way. I’ve always valued her style. In the many hours of deliberation that we go through, Mari’s attributes of grace and poise are very helpful. She has made this Board better.”

“There has been unprecedented achievement on behalf of kids and families during Mari’s tenure,” said Su-perintendent Steve Webb.

Dr. Webb went on to list numerous accomplishments including maintaining 50 years of voter support for district maintenance and operations levies, completion of 30 school construction and renovation projects,

From left: Greves’ son-in-law Dr. Joel Grow; granddaughter Emma Grow; daughter Dr. Mollie Grow; Greves; granddaughter Ellie Grow; and husband, Dr. John Greves

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developing programs of choice including two magnet schools, integration of technology into schools and classrooms, increased partnerships, improving instructional quality and ensuring a well-rounded education for all students.

“It has been one of the highlights of my career to serve with you, and I want to wish you the very best in retirement and great joy and happiness. Thank you,” concluded Dr. Webb.

“My heart is filled with gratitude to be a part of this marvelous school district,” said Greves. “We are so fortunate and blessed to have a community that supports its schools. And our community is blessed to have a school system with strong leadership and vision for the work that’s being done every day by our inspirational teachers, administra-tors and staff. We have new requirements but so many opportunities. It’s been a joy. Thank you very much.”

In honor of School Board Recognition Month, Dr. Webb also thanked the entire Board of Directors for their service to Vancouver Public Schools. Collectively, the district’s current Board members have provided more than 65 years of support and leadership to the district.

“This Board is committed to serving kids and families,” said Dr. Webb. “On average, Board members spend 20-30 hours per month at Board meetings, in committee meetings, or out in the field at schools. I want to acknowledge your service and leadership on behalf of Vancouver Public Schools children. Thank you.”

Teacher Steve Lorenz wins state Solve for Tomorrow contestHudson’s Bay High School horticulture teacher Steve Lorenz was named a state winner in the 2015 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest. He received a technology package valued at $20,000 to showcase the work he and students have done using mushrooms to reclaim paper and cardboard waste. Lorenz will com-pete nationally for a chance to win a $120,000 grant.

Principal Val Seeley said, “I am truly honored to have Steve on our staff at Bay. He has been teaching in the district for 30 years, with 27 of those years at Bay. Steve has developed an amazing horticulture program that is constantly full as students beg to be in his classes.”

“We’re working with the Board and with the district to remediate waste,” said Steve Lorenz about his winning project. “Instead of hav-ing a loss of revenue by hauling away paper and cardboard, we are breaking it down with mushroom mycelia and we’re growing a food source. Tomorrow we are taking 10 pounds of mushrooms to the culinary arts program at Fort Vancouver High School and they’re go-ing to make a vegetarian burger out of it. Our goal is to take school waste, break it down, make a revenue source out of it, and reduce the waste at the school. Our students have been working very hard on this and we’re really proud of them.”

Board director Gillespie said, “With this project, Mr. Lorenz and his students have demonstrated that getting your hands dirty and working with fungi is not only old-fashioned fun but it’s also useful. This type of project-based exploration and science showcases the hands-on creative and collaborative projects that define excellence in STEM education. We’re happy to know that students at Hudson’s Bay are engaged in meaningful projects that may one day have an impact beyond our own community. Congratulations.”

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Hudson’s Bay teacher Steve Lorenz, left, and Principal Val Seeley

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Bravo, musicians!Fourteen VPS students were selected for the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) 2015 All-Northwest high school honor groups and Washington Music Educators Association’s (WMEA) 2015 All-State honor groups.

Selected for the NAfME All-Northwest Mixed Choir: Spencer Reid-Rice, a tenor from Skyview High School.

Selected for the NAfME All-Northwest Orchestra: Jason Anderson, a violinist from Columbia River High School; Halie Borror, a violinist from Skyview High School; and Eva Stoumbos, a string bass player from Vancouver School of Arts and Academics (VSAA).

WMEA All-State Symphonic Choir: Lauren Clark, an alto from Fort Vancouver High School; Mason McCloud, a tenor from Skyview; and Nathan Harris, a bass from Skyview.

WMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra: Caroline Brenner, a violinist from VSAA; Gabi Durose, a string bass player from VSAA; Rio Ishii, a string bass player from Columbia River; and Emily Liu, a violinist from Skyview.

WMEA Junior All-State Orchestra: Brent Hall, a violinist from Thomas Jeffer-son Middle School, and Mya Howard, a cellist from VSAA.

WMEA Junior All-State Rainier Band: Donald Wil-liam Higgins, a French horn player from Discovery Middle School.

Music teachers are: David Chartrey, Columbia River; Kimberly Claassen, Fort Vancouver; Philip Denton, Skyview; Sarah O’Mara, Sky-view; Ann Medellin, VSAA and Thomas Jefferson; David Conditt, Discovery.

All students invited to join All-State and All-Northwest honor groups will perform at the NAfME 44th Biennial Northwest Division Conference in Spokane in February.

“These students are chosen from the top students who submit their music to these musical organizations. It’s a courageous endeavor that they’ve pursued,” said Jim O’Banion, principal of Vancouver School of Arts and Academ-ics. “But the outcome,” he told the students, “is that you will have an extraordinary, indescribable experience with a group of 60 to 120 members led by an outstanding conductor. This experience will become a lifelong memory. I wish you success in Spokane. Congratulations.”

“We’re proud of you, your dedication, your commitment, your hard work, and your discipline,” said Director Greves. “We’re grateful to your parents who have provided the opportunities and the encouragement that it takes to get to this level. And we’re grateful to your teachers. Thank you.”

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From left: Kimberly Claassen, Emily Liu, Donald William Higgins, Eva Stoumbos, Lauren Clark, Brent Hall, Jason Anderson, Dave Chartrey, Spencer Reid-Rice, Mason McCloud, Philip Denton, David Conditt, and Jim O’Banion. Not pictured: Halie Borror, Caroline Brenner, Gabi Durose, Nathan Harris, Mya Howard, Rio Ishii, Sarah O’Mara, and Ann Medellin.

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Board approves agenda itemsThe Board approved the following agenda items dealing with graduation, personnel legal services, and the purchase of laptops for secondary teachers.

• Revised Regulation 5126, Graduation: As the district prepares for the new state Core 24 graduation requirements, revisions in Regulation 5126 allow more flexibility for high school students to meet credit requirements for gradua-tion. Proposed revisions also allow high school students to waive up to two of the three required semesters of physi-cal education if they participate in a district-sanctioned Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) or non-WIAA approved school-based interscholastic athletic program or activity (cheer, dance, or drill). The proposed revisions also address the unfortunate situation when a high school student passes away prior to graduation. Parents vary in the recognition they desire during the deceased student’s class graduation. The district will offer parents sev-eral options for recognizing their deceased child. In consultation with parents, the principal will arrange the appro-priate commencement ceremony recognition.

• Th ree-year contract for 2015-2017: Following the retirement of the district’s current outside legal counsel for personnel, the district issued a request for proposal in search of another firm. Based on application scores and final interviews, the committee recommended Porter Foster Rorick, LLP for personnel legal services.

• Purchase agreement 2014-048: In support of Design II strategic priorities, the district recommended the purchase of 1,000 Hewlett-Packard laptop computers to replace existing teacher laptops at all secondary schools. This strategy enables the district to reuse the existing teacher laptops to meet increasing Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium testing requirements and will provide needed flexibility for this spring’s testing window.

Superintendent’s report

Superintendent Steve Webb presented the following on Gov. Jay Inslee’s budget.

“As you know, Gov. Inslee released his proposed biennial budget as required this past December. The centerpiece of his budget plan is his education funding package, consisting of a $2.3 billion two-year investment for early learning ($156 million), K-12 education ($2 billion), and higher education ($165 million). Gov. Inslee’s budget documents note that the proposed $1.3 billion basic education investment would constitute full implementation of House Bill 2776. While this is true, it is important to remember that full implementation of HB 2776 does not fully imple-ment HB 2661, nor does it comply with the Supreme Court’s orders in the McCleary decision.

“Setting aside the recently passed Class Size Initiative 1351, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction estimates that an additional $4.5 billion is the minimum level of new funding required under McCleary. Although a solid second step, the governor’s budget proposal misses that mark significantly.

“As you know, this is a process and the governor’s budget proposal is the first marker. Chief Financial Officer Brett Blechschmidt has prepared a presentation, Impact of Governor’s Proposed Budget 2015-2016, outlining the first biennium.”

“The governor’s budget adds $7 million to Vancouver Public Schools’ (VPS) maintenance, supplies and operating costs category, which falls under discretionary funding,” reported Blechschmidt.

In the governor’s budget, VPS also would get an additional $4 million for staffing and salary increases. These desig-nated funds are allocated for grades 7-8 counselors, high school Learning Assistance Program staff, and K-5 family engagement coordinators. However, only schools with more than 50 percent poverty rates would receive this fund-

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ing. The majority of this funding, just over $3 million, would go to a 3 percent cost-of-living allowance (COLA). It should be noted that because all staff are not funded by state formulas, the additional cost to the district to provide the COLA to all employees would be an estimated $750,000.

VPS’ combined total under Gov. Inslee’s budget is $11,551,718 for 2015-16 of the biennium.

Blechschmidt noted that the governor’s budget doesn’t comply with Initiative 1351, which calls for 50 percent of targeted class-size levels to be funded in the 2015-17 biennium.

Blechschmidt hopes to update the Board on the house and senate budgets on March 24, but he cautioned that time-line is optimistic.

Legislative reportEdri Geiger reported on several items including an update on the Legislature’s reaction to the governor’s budget re-lated to the McCleary decision, as well as brief updates about the Voting Act, No Child Left Behind, Initiative 1351 and her work on the Discipline Task Force report.

RetirementsSheyla Hayes, district resource officer, retired on Dec. 17, 2014, with 25.4 years of service.

Jim Souders, school bus driver, will retire on Jan. 31, 2015, with 16.8 years of service.

Kathryn Tuttle, a clerk at Sacajawea Elementary School, will retire on Jan. 20, 2015, with 24.3 years of service.

Pat Nuzzo and Amanda Richter • Communications Office

Vancouver School District • 2901 Falk Road • Vancouver, WA 98661