October 22, the Bethel Board meeting was held at Bethel Middle School.

Fisrt they held a study session about aquatic center options. Kory Brown, Pacific Lutheran University’s assis­tant professor of management, has been retained as a consultant on the aquatic center study. He presented to the Board his analysis of the various aquatic options to be considered by the Board. For more info, visit: http://www.boarddocs.com/wa/bethel/Board.nsf/files/9CQP9E5CC5D0/$file/Aquatic%20Analysis-Kory%20Brown.pdf. Additional materials used in Brown’s presentation are attached to this email.

They received a presentation from Bethel Middle School principal Jeff Gutfeld and his sixth grade staff.

The presentation discussed the academic interventions and deeper understandings of CORE Plus.

It also included a video of classroom strategies at work.

Superintendent Tom Seigel recognized the following principals for their school’s achievement on 2013 MSP/HSPE testing.

Elementaries: Camas Prairie-Shean McKenzie, Centennial-Tamie Wright, Clover Creek-Commie Mortenson, Elk Plain School of Choice-Mike Merrin, Graham-Amy Low, Kapowsin-Machelle Beilke, Naches Trail-Nancy Sonnenburg, Nelson-Kelley Boynton, Evergreen-Kim Hanson, North Star-Khris Hillius, Pioneer Valley-Stephen Rushing, Rocky Ridge-Michelle Fox, Spanaway-Brad Graham, Thompson-Chad Honig

Middle Schools: Bethel-Jeff Gutfeld, Spanaway-Tami Nelson, Liberty-Tom Mitchell, Cougar Mountain-Sara Stewart

High Schools: Spanaway Lake-Julie Baublits, Bethel-Cliff Anderson, Graham-Kapowsin-Lynn Gill

Superintendent Tom Seigel awards a plaque to Nelson ES principal Kelley Boynton and Evergreen ES principal Kim Hanson. Both have the Most Improved Elementary Schools in the District.

Graham-Kapowsin High School principal Lynn Gill re­ceives a plaque from Superintendent Tom Seigel for having the Most Improved Secondary School in the District.

They received a donation of $741 to Spanaway Lake High School from the 723 Networking group. The 723 Networking group raised the funds during the recent ABC Day event. Funds will be used to support the SLHS Link Crew, which welcomes incoming ninth grade students.

They accepted Policy 5240: Evaluation of School Personnel for first reading/further study. This year, the District officially began it’s transition to the new Teacher-Principal Evaluation Program. Despite the related procedures being covered in the bargaining agreement between the District and the Bethel Education Association, RCW 28A.405.100 requires that each Board of Directors have a policy that, at a minimum, covers the following elements: the selected framework, the eight criterion identified by the State and the four-level rating system.

And they received a presentation from Resource Con­servation Manager Michael Knaack, which included an update on current and future conservation efforts. Already these efforts have saved the district over $5 million. To view the pre­sentation, visit http://www.boarddocs.com/wa/bethel/Board.nsf/files/9CQP7Y5CA7B6/$file/Re­source%20Conservation%20Presentation.pdf.