New administrators selected
The board approved hiring Rosanne Fulton as assistant superintendent, K-12, and Claudia Mason as principal of Bryant Montessori School at its Aug. 27 school board meeting.
Dr. Rosanne Fulton has served as executive director, Curriculum and Instruction, for 10 years in the Denver Public Schools. She was mathematics coordinator in the Boulder Valley School District and taught mathematics at the middle and high school levels in various districts. She earned her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Denver.
Claudia Mason will take over at Bryant Montessori for Paula Bond who moved to Geiger Elementary School to prepare Geiger for becoming the district’s second Montessori school. Mason has 10 years experience as a PreK–2 Montessori teacher in New York and Paris. Most recently she was the principal at Arts Focus Magnet in Portland, Ore. Prior to that position, Mason was an assistant principal at Arts Focus K–12 in Seattle. Her other experience includes seven years as a grades 3–8 teacher in the Edmonds School District, Curriculum and Assessment in Seattle, and head teacher/counselor at the Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Children’s Regional Hospital/Medical Center, Seattle.
Tacoma 360 update
Assistant Superintendent Michael Power gave an update on the Tacoma 360 project. One of the benefits of Tacoma 360 is that helping support the alignment and coordination of community services delivered by multiple organizations, the work of supporting children and families is shared and capacity is enhanced, resulting in higher quality support for Tacoma youth.
At its Aug. 27 board meeting, the board:
Approved:
- The travel request for the Wilson High School boys’ water polo team to attend the Newberg, Ore., Waterpolo Invite Oct. 2–3.
- The interdistrict agreements of educational services to students with disabilities from area school districts.
- The submission of the Title II–Enhancing Education through Technology application to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to provide elementary staff with training on new mobile labs and other technologies installed.
- The submission of a grant application for Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education funds to improve the academic, career and technical skills of high school students.
- The submission of the Title I, Part D, Neglected and Delinquent Youth Local application to provide funding for teachers to work with students completing an individualized program at Remann Hall School.
- The submission of the Highly Capable grant to OSPI for funds to support a comprehensive program for the identification and education of Highly Capable students.
- The grant application from Second Language Acquisition to OSPI for the continuation of the state transitional bilingual program.
- The memorandum of agreement between the Tacoma School District No. 10 and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department for use of district facilities for emergency services from September 2009 through August 2014.
- The submission of the IDEA-B and Preschool Sec 619 grant to supplement special education staffing needs.
- The submission of the IDEA Stimulus and IDEA 619 grant to provide services to special education students.
- The agreement between the Tacoma School District No. 10 and the Puget Sound Educational Service District regarding the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) for July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010, which provides the entire basic funding for the 2009–10 school year.
- The interlocal agreement with the City of Tacoma and Metropolitan Parks Tacoma to establish Tacoma 360, a three-year pilot beginning in the fall of 2009. Tacoma 360 is a strategic approach that intentionally aligns and links both school and community supportive services to improve learning and developmental outcomes for youth.
- The interlocal agreement between OSPI and the Tacoma School District No. 10 for the location and use of services by the Washington Improvement and Innovation Center (WIIC). The district will provide office and meeting space for the WIIC and related telephone and Internet access. The district will receive the opportunity to participate in professional development classes/workshops at the WIIC at no cost.
- The submission of the application for Technology Stimulus Grant funds to add an additional instructional facilitator for two years.
The board also:
- Accepted the application to The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association for the 2009-10 school year.
- Signed the Puget Sound joint purchasing cooperative interlocal agreement. The agreement results in lower food prices for all member districts.
- Adopted Resolution No. 1849 accepting the commissioning report for the construction of the new Gray Middle School.
- Adopted Resolution 1850 approving the cancellation of warrants not presented within one year of their date of issue.
- Adopted Resolution 1851 authorizing the district to apply for allocation from OSPI of the qualified school construction bond program to fund planned energy conservation measures in the district.
- Authorized the superintendent, or his designee, to negotiate and enter into an agreement for an easement with the City of Tacoma for connecting to a storm water main that runs north to south through the playfield at the Park Avenue School site.
Next meeting:
The board will hold a study session on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 5 p.m. followed by the regular board meeting at 6 p.m. in the fourth-floor auditorium at the Central Administration Building, 601 S. 8th St.