During a regular meeting of the Battle Ground School Board of Directors Aug. 19, board members approved the 2013-2014 school-year calendar, designating dates for parent-teacher conferences, professional development and teacher collaboration.
This final version of the calendar does not change any of the no-school days or seasonal breaks that were designated in the “key dates” calendar approved several weeks ago. However, it includes other features such as the early-release days.
A copy of the calendar is accessible at www.battlegroundps.org. Board members and district administrators stressed that they do not expect to make any changes to this calendar later in the school year.
Board members John Idsinga, Mavis Nickels, Steve Pagel, Ken Root and Monty Anderson discussed the Board’s meeting schedule for 2013-2014 and appointed members Anderson and Nickels as a subcommittee to come back with a recommendation at the Aug. 26 meeting. Among the details in question are which months to schedule two regular meetings rather than just one, and whether to have some meetings in the evenings. The standard starting time in 2012-2013 was 4:30 p.m.
Mitch Taylor, Jim Pegoraro and Stephanie McClintock, who are all running for positions on the Battle Ground School Board this year, were present at the meeting and expressed that the Board should hold at least one meeting each month in the evening for people who are unable to make it to afternoon meetings. Taylor and Pegoraro are running against each other for the District No. 3 position and McClintock is unopposed for the District No. 5 position, as Pagel (who currently holds the position) is not seeking re-election.
Prior to the Aug. 19 regular meeting, MaryBeth Lynn, assistant superintendent for finance and school operations, presented the district’s proposed budgets for general operations, associated student bodies, debt service and capital projects during the first of two public hearings on the 2013-2014 school-year budget. A second hearing was held Aug. 26.
Policy changes approved Board members also approved several policy changes during the Aug. 19 meeting.
• Community service: In compliance with legislative action (House Bill 1412), Board members approved on first reading Policy 2414, “Community Service,” to support students and provide incentives for their community service.
• Classroom Management: Board members approved a revision of Policy 3241, “Classroom Management, Corrective Actions or Punishment.” The changes are in keeping with the recommendations of the Washington State School Directors Association.
• Staff Evaluation: Revision of Policy 5240, “Evaluation of Staff,” was approved on first reading. The policy is being adjusted to conform to new state requirements for teacher and principal evaluations.
