The board held a study session on recess and a public hearing on the 2008-09 fiscal year budget prior to the regular board meeting on July 24.
Recess study session:
Assistant Superintendent Michael Power presented the results of a survey regarding elementary school recess that was completed by 402 elementary school teachers from all 37 elementary schools. A summary of the findings showed:
- Most teachers reported that students get 30 minutes of recess, including lunch recess.
- Just over half of the teachers said children get one day of additional recess per week, and 17 percent said their students get additional recess every day.
- Fifty-five percent indicated their students get no additional recess.
- Thirty-seven percent of the teachers taking the survey are satisfied or very satisfied with the current recess policy which allows teachers to decide when to allow additional recess; and 43 percent are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the policy.
Superintendent Art Jarvis supports the concept of a daily recess in addition to the lunch recess. He said the actual scheduling should be left to the building administrators and teachers, and clear expectations can be established such that the intent to have recess is not in question.
Dr. Jarvis believes that the recess issue is part of the question on how to best help students achieve higher standards. “I clearly support best practices in reading and math, but do not believe that narrowing the focus and eliminating other education activities is the best way to engage children. Broader engagement of students in areas such as arts, music, physical activities and career and technical education is essential, and they are directly beneficial to efforts to improve student performance,” Dr. Jarvis said.
The board charged the superintendent with developing a separate policy for recess with clear language that shows the intent of the board is for elementary students to get recess every day outside of lunch periods. There will two readings of the proposed policy at board meetings before the board votes on the policy.
Community recognition:
The Korean Women’s Association of Tacoma and retired Tacoma Public Schools teacher Sulja Warnick presented a check for $36,300 to the district to help the Korean language programs at Baker Middle School and Mt. Tahoma High School. Seattle Consul General Lee Ha Ryong participated in the presentation. The Foundation for Korean Language and Culture in the United States donated $13,000 and the Ewha Woman’s University in Korea donated $2,000 of the $36,300.
Lincoln Center update:
At its July 24 meeting, the board heard an update on the Lincoln Center pilot project by Lincoln High School co-principals Pat Erwin and Greg Eisnaugle. About 60 incoming freshmen have committed to the academy. Community members also spoke in favor of the project and how it could help revitalize the Lincoln neighborhood.
The board adopted:
- Resolution No. 1828 for the adoption of the 2008-09 budget.
- Resolution No. 1829, authorizing the superintendent to purchase the premises at 1117-1123 Broadway (Ted Brown Music Building) from Broadway Centers Investors LLC, reserving the right to reduce the size of the premises by up to 100 square feet to allow for an expanded entry way into the building in which the premises are located.
The board approved:
- Tacoma Public Schools participation in the Pierce County Skills Center.
- The agreement between the Tacoma School District No. 10 and the Puget Sound Educational Service District for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance program for July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009.
- The award of a contract to PetroCard for vehicle fuel services.
- The interdistrict agreements for educational services to students with disabilities from the following school districts: Bethel, University Place, Clover Park, Fife, Franklin Pierce, Mercer Island, Peninsula, South Kitsap, Steilacoom, Sumner and Yelm.
- Submission of a Title II-Enhancing Education Through Technology grant request to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to provide elementary staff members with training in their new technology labs and other technologies installed.
- Submission of an Even Start grant request to OSPI for a Family Literacy Program at the Madison site.
- Submission of a grant request to OSPI for Highly Capable student programs.
- Submission of a grant application to the Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS), Administration for Children and Families, Region X, for the Head Start center-based, part-day program for 540 low-income families and a home-based, part-day program for 23 children.
- Submission of a grant request to OSPI for the state transitional bilingual program with an estimated 1,870 students to be served during the 2008-09 school year.
- Submission of a Title III English Language Acquisition grant request to OSPI for students who have been identified as speaking a primary language other than English.
The board authorized the superintendent to sign the interlocal cooperative agreement with the Tumwater School District so it can use the Tacoma School District contracts.
The board also approved the following administrative appointments:
| Name |
To |
From |
| Toni Pace |
Director, Secondary Education |
Principal, Highline H.S.,
Highline School District, Seattle |
| Jennifer Cooper |
Assistant Principal, Edison E.S. |
Teacher, Lister E.S.,
Tacoma School District, Tacoma |
| Kathryn Comfort |
Director, Curriculum & Instruction |
Supervisor, Curriculum & Instruction
Clover Park District, Lakewood |