BG Board, Briefly Summary of Battle Ground Public Schools, Board of Directors’ Meetings
School Tours The Board of Directors toured three schools and multiple district buildings this month to meet staff, visit classrooms, and talk with administrators. The board visited Battle Ground High School on May 1, Summit View High School & CASEE Buildings on May 5, then CAM Academy, BGPS Warehouse, and BGPS Transportation Offices on May 12. These tours allow the administration to highlight the programs, teachers, and staff within the school that make them unique.
Meeting Date: May 12, 2014 Regular Board Meeting – 6:30 PM Welcome Captain Strong Primary School Principal, Michael Michaud, welcomed multiple guests to the school including the students and families viewing the District Art Show, board members, and new superintendent Mark Hottowe. Mr. Hottowe also gave a short welcome and words of appreciation to the Board and audience members.
Award Ceremony Washington State Achievement Award Winners
On behalf of the State Board of Education and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) ESD 112 Superintendent, Dr. Twyla Barnes, and Communications Director Lori Simpson, presented three Battle Ground schools with the 2013 Washington Achievement Awards. CAM Academy was recognized BG Board, Briefly submitted May 16, 2014
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for “Overall Excellence” scoring in the top 5% of all schools state-wide in the areas of math and reading proficiency over the last three years. Captain Strong Primary School (pictured above) and Battle Ground High School were recognized in the area of “High Progress” scoring in the top 10% of all schools that have made the most progress in the area of student performance over the past three years. Principals, Colleen O’Neal (CAM Academy), Michael Michaud (Captain Strong Primary), and Tim Lexow (Battle Ground High School) were at the ceremony with staff to accept the award and banner. Washington Achievement Award winners are selected using the Washington Achievement Index and criteria in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility waiver. The award is given in six categories: Overall Excellence, High Progress, Reading Growth, Math Growth, Extended Graduation Rate, and English Language Acquisition. School and district representatives were honored at the statewide awards ceremony in Lacey, WA on April 24.
District Art Show Winners
The 55th Annual District Art Show winners from all grade levels were announced and honored. Captain Strong Primary School hosts the annual art show with support from the Battle Ground Art Alliance. Each grade level had multiple winners and honorable mentions. A complete list of winners can be found on the district website http://www.battlegroundps.org/blog/districtartshowwinners. River HomeLink senior, Riley Donahue, was also recognized by principal Mark Clements for his recent Judge’s Choice Award from the 2014 OSPI Art Show. Riley’s “Ditat Deus (God Enriches)” was purchased by OSPI for permanent display. You can read more and view photos of Riley’s piece by clicking here.
BG Board, Briefly submitted May 16, 2014
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Communications Battle Ground Mentor Collaborative Collaborative Coordinator Curtis Miller and guests, Luke Ross, Lead Dog for Captain Strong Primary School’s Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students), and Emmy Pellico, Battle Ground High School’s digital photography teacher, presented multiple collaboration projects currently underway in the school district. Mr. Miller gave a history of the Collaborative and outlined the goals for the coming year with an increased focus on supporting the great work the schools and staff are already doing. Mr. Ross told board members of the Captain Strong Watch D.O.G.S. program that boasts a 92% success rate of having mentoring on campus. Male volunteers sign up for a shift from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM and can be found in the hallways, on the playground and in classrooms working side by side with kids. Captain Strong Primary School is also implementing three “Buddy Benches” (pictured above) designed for students on the playground who are looking for someone to talk to or play with. Third grade students at Captain Strong Primary asked Principal Michaud for the benches after learning about them from a news report. Each bench was built by volunteers with donated materials and is designed to share encouraging words. One bench is covered with words of encouragement, signed by Prairie High School’s “Teach One to Lead One” class, as well as school and district leaders including board members and Superintendent Hottowe. Another bench was painted by a Battle Ground High School art class with images of friendship. A third bench is currently in construction. Lynn Hicks signing Captain Strong’s "Buddy Bench"
Ms. Pellico presented a collaboration with local graphic artist and two BGHS students, Tim Macky and Kate Hall, who have been working on the development of a logo for the Collaborative. The multi-month process has given the students the opportunity to work with professional graphic designers, pitch ideas, and create samples for the Collaborative to choose from. The Collaborative’s leadership team will be selecting a final logo in their May meeting. For more information on the Battle Ground Mentor Collaborative please visit http://www.connectbattleground.com/.
Stuff the Bus Update Geraldine Schut updated board members on the May 3, Stuff the Bus Food Drive. “With the help of many volunteers and community donations, the Battle Ground Chapter of PSE collected 2,793.4 pounds of food and $781.04 for the North County Food Bank,” said Schut. “Thank you Cascade Student Transportation, Fred Meyer, and Safeway for your continued support of this event.”
BG Board, Briefly submitted May 16, 2014
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Board Business Pupil Transportation Contract Board members voted to approve the Pupil Transportation Services Contract amendment with Cascade Student Transportation for a rate increase of .8%. This increase, totaling approximately $48,000, was decided on as a mutual agreement between Cascade Student Transportation and the District due to the financial impact waiver days had on the fixed cost of transportation. This increase will take effect in the upcoming year’s contract.
Revision of Policy 2190, Highly Capable Program Board members approved the changes to Policy 2190 to reflect the recent OSPI changes of identifying and serving highly capable students in grades K-12. Prior to this, the policy language did not include specific grade levels in providing instructional programs to meet the needs of identified students.
Policy 3211- Transgender Students Board members tabled the discussion of Policy 3211 to a Work Study session on June 10 at Prairie High School.
Adoption of Policy 4215, Use of Tobacco and Nicotine Products and Delivery Devices Board members approved updating Policy 4215 to include language banning the use of electronic smoking/vapor devices, non-prescribed inhalers, and/or nicotine delivery devices on district property.
New Business Healthy Youth Survey The board voted to amend a previous decision on the District’s implementation of the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey. The board voted to reinstate the sixth grade survey form. Previously they voted to remove the sixth grade survey and only administer the 8th, 10th, and 12th grade survey forms. However, after further review of the sixth grade survey questions and talking with district administrators who use the data for program development and grant applications, the board reversed their original decision. The Healthy Youth Survey will take place in the fall of 2014.
Upcoming Regular Board Meeting You are invited to the next Regular Board Meeting on Saturday, May 31, 8:00 AM at the District Stadium. This meeting will open with the annual Air Force Jr. ROTC “Pass-in-Review.” All community members, staff and students are invited to attend. The board members will conduct normal business following the conclusion of the Review at Battle Ground High School’s Media Center. For more information please visit the Board of Directors’ webpage. (link)
BG Board, Briefly submitted May 16, 2014
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