Nov 08, 2022 Board Meeting

[00:00:01]

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, AND WELCOME.

[1. CALL TO ORDER-6:30 pm]

THE FIRST THING WE HAVE IS THE ROLL CALL.

AND I'LL START WITH DIRECTOR SMITH, WHO I BELIEVE IS ON ZOOM.

CAN YOU HEAR US, KEITH? WELL, LET ME GO AHEAD.

DIRECTOR NOBLE.

HERE. DIRECTOR CHASE.

HERE. DIRECTOR KILGORE.

HERE. AND I'M DIRECTOR KATIMS. DIRECTOR SMITH.

CAN YOU HEAR US? I DON'T THINK.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN HEAR US.

WELL, WE HAVE A QUORUM, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WHILE WE WORK OUT THE TECHNOLOGY.

YES. EXCELLENT.

SO YOU ARE NOW HERE.

WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

EVEN, EVEN VIRTUALLY.

[3. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-6:32 pm]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR.

KATIMS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THIS PLACE, THE SNOHOMISH PEOPLE, AND THEIR SUCCESSORS, THE TULALIP TRIBES, WHO SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL HAVE TAKEN CARE OF, HUNTED, FISHED AND GATHERED ON THESE LANDS.

WE RESPECT THEIR SOVEREIGNTY, THEIR RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, AND WE HONOR THEIR SACRED SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH THE LAND AND WATER.

BY ACKNOWLEDGING THESE HOMELANDS, WE COMMIT TO WORKING WITH TRIBAL NATIONS TO FURTHER THE EDUCATION AIMS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU. AND WOULD EVERYBODY PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME WITH THE FLAG SALUTE?

[4. FLAG SALUTE- 6:33 pm]

[5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA-6:34 pm]

DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED? MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

I SECOND, I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

ANY ABSTENTIONS.

AND THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

NEXT IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT REPORT.

[6. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT- 6:40]

MINOR. THANK YOU, DR.

KATIMS. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE TRAGIC SHOOTING AT INGRAHAM HIGH SCHOOL IN SEATTLE TODAY.

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THE VICTIMS FAMILY AND ALL OF THE STAFF AND STUDENTS AT THAT SCHOOL.

VIOLENT ACTS LIKE THIS SHOOTING CAUSE ANXIETY, WORRY AND SADNESS IN EVERYONE WHO IS ASSOCIATED WITH SCHOOLS.

AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO NEEDS HELP AT THIS TIME TO REACH OUT TO A COUNSELOR OR A TRUSTED ADULT IN THEIR SCHOOL BUILDING.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-6:50 pm]

DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE? MOVE TO APPROVE.

I SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, PLEASE SAY NAY.

ANY ABSTENTIONS.

THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 18TH STUDY SESSION ARE APPROVED.

NEXT, WE HAVE THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 18TH STUDY SESSION ON SAFETY PLANS.

DO I HEAR MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE? MOVE TO APPROVE.

I SECOND.

I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 18TH SCHOOL BOARD STUDY SESSION ON SAFETY PLANS PASSES, IS APPROVED.

[00:05:06]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND? I MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 25TH SCHOOL BOARD STUDY SESSION ARE APPROVED.

THE LAST SET OF MINUTES IS THE SET OF MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 25TH REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD BUSINESS MEETING.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND? MOVE TO APPROVE.

I SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 25TH REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ARE APPROVED.

NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS-7:00 pm]

ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD DURING THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING ARE NOT TYPICALLY ACTED UPON BY THE BOARD AT THIS TIME, BUT MAY BE FOLLOWED UP BY THE BOARD OR STAFF THE SUPERINTENDENT AT A LATER TIME.

PEOPLE MAY SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR A BOARD MEETING IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS.

ONE, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO READ YOUR COMMENT ALOUD IN PERSON.

TWO, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO READ YOUR COMMENT ALOUD VIRTUALLY.

OR THREE, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT IN WRITING.

TONIGHT, WE HAVE NOBODY WHO IS GOING TO BE GIVING THEIR COMMENT VIRTUALLY.

AND WE HAVE ONE WRITTEN COMMENT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED ABOUT THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM.

THE BOARD READS ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS AND THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE MEETING AGENDA, WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE BOARD DOCS WEBSITE.

THE BOARD ALSO ACCEPTS WRITTEN COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME THROUGH EMAIL.

WE READ EACH COMMENT AND EMAIL WE RECEIVE AND WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT IT TAKES FOR PEOPLE WHO WRITE THEM TO US.

WHILE WE ENCOURAGE AND APPRECIATE PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS THAT ARE READ ALOUD TO 3 MINUTES.

IF A COMMENT BECOMES TOO LENGTHY, I MAY NEED TO INTERRUPT IN ORDER TO ALLOW EACH PERSON EQUAL TIME.

FOR THOSE MAKING THEIR COMMENTS IN PERSON, PLEASE SPEAK CLOSELY INTO THE MIC AT THE PODIUM OVER THERE, ABOUT 3 TO 6 INCHES AWAY IN ORDER TO BE HEARD CLEARLY, BOTH HERE AND ON THE RECORDING.

WE ALSO ASK THOSE WHO ARE MAKING A PUBLIC COMMENT DURING A BOARD MEETING TO PLEASE MAKE THEIR STATEMENTS IN A CIVIL MANNER.

SIMILARLY, WE ASK EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE SHOW RESPECT BY LISTENING QUIETLY WITHOUT TALKING OR WHISPERING TO EACH OTHER SO THAT EVERYONE CAN HEAR EACH COMMENT. THE FIRST PERSON TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT IS BOB FRETZ.

THE 1619 PROJECT.

PLEASE DON'T USE IT AS A HISTORY BOOK.

IT'S THE WORST HISTORY BOOK EVER.

IT'S ABOUT 1619, THE MOST IMPORTANT YEAR IN OUR HISTORY, BECAUSE THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT IN OUR HISTORY OCCURRED WHEN ENSLAVED AFRICANS FIRST ARRIVED.

NOT TRUE. SPAIN HAD THE FIRST SLAVE SETTLEMENT, SOUTH CAROLINA, 1526, WHICH PROMPTLY FAILED AFTER THE SLAVES REVOLTED.

BY 1619 AFRICANS HAD BEEN IN WHAT'S NOW 18 STATES.

SLAVERY, SLAVE AUCTIONS, WHIPS AND CHAINS DID NOT EXIST IN 1619 VIRGINIA.

WOULDN'T A BOOK ABOUT 1619 SAY A LOT ABOUT 1619? BUT IT SAYS ALMOST NOTHING, MUCH OF IT WRONG.

ON PAGE 11 OF A 590 PAGE BOOK ABOUT 1619, YOU'RE READING ABOUT 1776, WHAT? 1619, A PORTUGUESE SHIP, THE SAO JOAO BATISTA MENTIONED IN A POEM IN THE BOOK, LEFT ANGOLA FOR VERACRUZ, NOT MENTIONED, IN MEXICO, MENTIONED ONCE IN THE PREFACE WITH ENSLAVED AFRICANS ON BOARD TO WORK IN GOLD MINES WITH A LIFE EXPECTANCY UNDER A YEAR NOT MENTIONED.

IT WAS INTERCEPTED BY AN ENGLISH SHIP, THE WHITE LION, MENTIONED IN THE PREFACE IN A POEM, AND A DUTCH PRIVATEER, THE TREASURER NOT NAMED, WHICH FOUND HALF THE AFRICANS ON BOARD ALREADY DEAD, NOT MENTIONED, TOOK SOME TO BERMUDA, NOT MENTIONED, WHERE SLAVERY WASN'T YET LEGAL, NOT MENTIONED, THEN BROUGHT THE OTHERS TO POINT COMFORT, VIRGINIA, MENTIONED TWICE, WHERE SLAVERY WASN'T YET LEGAL, NOT MENTIONED.

THEY WERE RESCUED FROM A VERY SHORT LIFE OF HORRIFIC LABOR UNDERGROUND.

THEY WERE SO LUCKY TO BE BROUGHT HERE, BUT ALMOST NOTHING IS SAID OF WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE OR AFTER THEY DISEMBARK.

A MARCH 1620 CENSUS NOT MENTIONED RECORDS 15 AFRICAN MEN AND 17 WOMEN IN JAMESTOWN.

[00:10:02]

ONE OF THE ANGOLANS, ANTONIO, NOT MENTIONED, RENAMED HIMSELF ANTHONY JOHNSON, MARRIED TO DEBORAH FOR OVER 40 YEARS, OWNED 250 ACRES, HAD WHITE EMPLOYEES, SUED A WHITE NEIGHBOR IN COURT, HAD TWO SONS WHO OWNED 550 ACRES.

HE HAS A WIKIPEDIA PAGE, WHICH THE 15 AUTHORS OF THE BOOK COULDN'T FIND.

BLACK INDENTURED SERVANTS AND FREE MEN CAME TO JAMESTOWN FROM ENGLAND, NOT MENTIONED.

ONE JOHN PUNCH, NOT MENTIONED, MARRIED A WHITE WOMAN IN OUR FIRST INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE EVER, NOT MENTIONED.

HIS DESCENDANTS, NOT MENTIONED, INCLUDE RALPH BUNCHE, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO WIN THE NOBEL PRIZE, 1948, AND ANOTHER NOBEL HONOREE, BARACK OBAMA, THROUGH HIS MOTHER, AN ANCESTOR OF OBAMA'S, KNEW THE ANGOLANS, AND THE BOOK DOESN'T MENTION IT.

SLAVERY WASN'T LEGAL TILL 1661, 42 YEARS LATER, NOT MENTIONED.

LIFE GOT WORSE AFTER BACON'S REBELLION 1676, WHEN BLACKS AND POOR WHITES ROSE UP TOGETHER AGAINST THE RULING CLASS, NOT MENTIONED.

THE EMPIRE STRUCK BACK, FREEDOM TOOK A HIT, BUT NOT UNTIL 1705, VIRGINIA PASSED THE SLAVE CODES, ITS FOUNDATIONAL LAW ON SLAVERY.

THE BOOK IS TERRIBLE.

IT'S NOT HISTORY.

IT TEACHES 10% OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 1619 AND IS SILENT ON 260 OF THE 350 YEARS THAT PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT UNTIL OUR FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT DIED TO END THE CRUEL PRACTICE.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT IS TONY SHAPIRO.

GOOD EVENING. DEBATE AND SHARING OF VIEWPOINTS FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM ARE NATURAL OCCURRENCE IN A FREE AND OPEN, VIBRANT SOCIETY. AMONGST THE DISTURBING TRENDS I SEE WITHIN OUR YOUNGER GENERATION IS A TENDENCY AND DESIRE TO BE CODDLED OR PROTECTED FROM EVENTS OR THOUGHTS THAT MAY CAUSE THEM MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL DISCOMFORT.

WE SEE THIS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES WHERE CONSERVATIVE SPEAKERS ARE BOOED AND PREVENTED FROM EXPRESSING THEIR VIEWPOINT AND EVEN HARASSED TO THE POINT OF REQUIRING BODYGUARDS.

A PRIME EXAMPLE IN OUR DISTRICT IS THE CONCERN SOME PARTIES HAVE EXPRESSED, WHICH THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS UNFORTUNATELY AGREED WITH AND REMOVED POLICE FROM OUR SCHOOLS.

REGARDING THE PRESENCE OF POLICE ON OUR CAMPUSES, FOR OUR SOCIETIES TO REGAIN OUR HISTORIC STANCE OF HAVING A FREE AND OPEN DEBATE, WE WOULD NEED TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS THE NEED TO LISTEN TO AND EVEN WELCOME DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS AND PERSPECTIVES FROM THEIR OWN.

SOME OF THE COMMENTS MADE LAST SESSION, LAST MEETING, INCLUDED THE POINT THAT WE ON OUR SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM, IF YOU WILL, DO NOT LOVE OR CARE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TURNED TO THE GAY LIFESTYLE.

NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

IN FACT, MY WIFE AND I HAVE A SON WHO IS GAY, WHOM WE LOVE AND ARE ACTIVE IN HIS LIFE AND IS A BIG PART OF OUR FAMILY, ATTENDING FAMILY DINNERS AND GATHERINGS. YET HE KNOWS WE DO NOT APPROVE OF HIS LIFESTYLE THAT HE'S CHOSEN.

BUT WE RECOGNIZE THIS IS HIS CHOICE.

SO THE STATEMENT CONVEYED LAST MONTH THAT WE ARE HATEFUL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THIS LIFESTYLE AND COULD BE NOTHING, COULD BE NOTHING FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

SO I URGE THE BOARD TO SNAP OUT OF THIS NOTION THAT PEOPLE ON OUR SIDE OF THE FENCE ARE ON THE PERIPHERAL OF SOCIETY WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WE SPEAK.

PLEASE WAKE UP AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE LONG TERM PROBLEMS YOUR GROOMING AND TEACHINGS WILL IMPART TO MANY OF THIS GENERATION WILL ENTAIL HEARTACHES AND REGRETS WITH WHICH, WHICH WILL ENDURE LONG AFTER THEY LEAVE THESE SCHOOLS.

INSTEAD, LET'S FOCUS ON THE BASICS OF TEACHING THEM TO READ, WRITE, HOW TO USE ARITHMETIC, AND TO HAVE A LOVE OF HISTORY AND THIS GREAT COUNTRY THAT WE ALL BEEN BLESSED TO LIVE IN.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT IS DEBORAH LOBE.

HELLO. WELL, TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE SAFETY NIGHT.

SO I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU HAD ON OCTOBER 18TH, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY PLANS.

SO THAT IS EXCITING.

AND MY LAST SENTENCE WAS TO ASK YOU TO BE THE LEADER IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS SO THAT YOU WOULD BE THE LEADER THAT OTHER

[00:15:04]

SO UNFORTUNATELY, TODAY WE DID HEAR THE NEWS ABOUT INGRAHAM HIGH SCHOOL AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, A STUDENT HAD PASSED AWAY.

THE FORTUNATE SIDE IS THAT MORE STUDENTS DID NOT PASS AWAY.

IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT A FEW WEEKS AGO A STUDENT AT EDMONDS WOODWAY HIGH SCHOOL HAD BEEN FOUND WITH A HANDGUN IN HIS BACKPACK.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY FEARFUL.

I WOULD ASK THAT AS YOU ARE LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO DO MOVING FORWARD, THAT YOU WILL RECONSIDER ADDING THE POLICE BACK INTO THE SCHOOL.

ALL OF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL ON A DAILY BASIS AND WORRY ABOUT ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE SHOOT YOU . I HAVE A SISTER WHO WORKS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I HAVE BEEN FRIGHTENED FOR HER WHEN SHE HAS TEXTED ME AND SAID THEY ARE IN LOCKDOWN.

YOU ALSO DO NOT HAVE TO BE IN FEAR OF CHOOSING WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO USE A SAFE BATHROOM IN SCHOOL.

SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER THE CONCERNS THAT A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE BEING BULLIED.

THEY ARE FEARFUL AND THEY CAN'T LEARN WHEN THAT FEAR IS ALWAYS IN THE BACK OF THEIR MIND.

SO I THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT YOU END UP PROPOSING.

AND I HOPE YOU DO RECONSIDER BRINGING THE POLICE BACK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] NEXT IS KAREN MOSSMAN.

THIS INDEED IS ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY.

TODAY'S HEADLINES: SCHOOL SHOOTING AT INGRAHAM HIGH SCHOOL, NORTH SEATTLE, ONE KILLED.

WHAT IS EDMONDS DISTRICT'S CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF WHEN IT WAS THIS BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION THAT NOT TOO LONG AGO DECIDED TO WORK TO END ITS WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, STATING THAT THE STUDENTS DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT HAVING AN OFFICER IN SCHOOL.

WHY AREN'T STUDENTS BEING TAUGHT ABOUT RESPECT FOR ALL PEOPLE AND THEIR CHOSEN PROFESSIONS? I WILL DEFAULT THE DISTRICT WITH THAT DECISION MADE.

LET'S RECOGNIZE THE STUDENTS WHO DID SPEAK UP AT EDMONDS WOODWAY REGARDING THE RECENT GUN INCIDENT AT THE SCHOOL.

MY QUESTION IS WHY DID IT TAKE THREE STUDENTS TO REPORT THE SAME CONCERN BEFORE ACTION WAS TAKEN? YOU, THE DISTRICT, GOT LUCKY ON THIS, THIS TIME, THAT NO ONE WAS HURT OR KILLED.

BUT WHAT ABOUT NEXT TIME? THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY.

REVISIT THE DECISION YOU MADE TO DISMISS THE OFFICERS AND REINSTATE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO OUR BUILDINGS.

LET'S TAKE AN ACTIVE STEP IN THIS MATTER.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT IS BILL KLATT.

SO GOOD EVENING. I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND I AM AN ECONOMIST AND I WASN'T AWARE OF THE SHOOTING TODAY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO READ MY STATEMENT, WHICH I THINK COINCIDES WITH THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED TODAY.

THE GLOBAL ELITE HAVE FLOODED THE ZONE TO MAINTAIN THE CAPITAL HEGEMONIC ORDER.

MOST VOTERS ARE SIMPLY TOO BUSY BUSTING THEIR BACKS TO KEEP THE FOOD ON THE TABLE AND THE BILLS PAID, OR ARE TOO INDIFFERENT TO GET THE ENTIRETY OF WHAT HAS BECOME OF US INTO THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN WILLFULLY RETARDED THROUGH CENSORSHIP BY MOST OF THE TRADITIONAL MEDIA, BIG TECH PLATFORMS AND THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF.

MANY OF THOSE FAILURES ARE GENUINELY EXISTENTIAL THREATS TO OUR NATION.

TO WIT.

AN OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER AND BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, INFLATION AND A STAGNANT ECONOMY.

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE THROWN AWAY.

UNAFFORDABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS.

CENSORSHIP BY BIG TECH PLATFORMS.

[00:20:02]

HIGHER EDUCATION THAT DESPISES VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY.

SCHOOLS TEACHING HATEFUL RACIALISM.

VIOLENT CRIME.

CRIMINAL PROSECUTORS UNWILLING TO PROSECUTE.

PLUMMETING ACADEMIC AND SCHOOL PERFORMANCE.

A DANGEROUSLY SENILE PRESIDENT.

SCHOOL OFFICIALS OPENLY OPPOSING PARENTAL CONTROL.

MULTIPLE SCANDALS EXPOSED BY THE HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP.

A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT COSTS FAR TOO MUCH.

WIDESPREAD PERCEPTION OF GROWTH.

WIDESPREAD PERCEPTION OF GROSS WEALTH AND INCOME INEQUALITY.

BREATHTAKING GOVERNMENT INCOMPETENCE REFLECTED IN THE AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL PROCESS.

AND NATIONAL DEBT, WITH AN ANNUAL INTEREST RATE COST NOW APPROACHING $1 TRILLION PER YEAR.

UNCOMPETITIVE TAX BURDENS.

THE HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE NATION.

FLEEING POPULATION AND TAX BASE.

ONE PARTY RULE PROTECTED BY GERRYMANDERED MAPS.

ENDLESS PUBLIC CORRUPTION AND AN UNSUSTAINABLE PENSION BURDEN.

THE NEOLIBERAL GLOBAL CAPITAL WORLD ORDER IS FAILING OUR CHILDREN.

WHO WILL STAND WITH ME AS PARENTS TO HELP REORGANIZE THE SYSTEM AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL THAT SEEKS TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE GLOBALISTS IN ORDER TO MEET THE ACADEMIC NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] NEXT UP IS LONNIE ROGERS.

HI. I'M A PARENT IN THE DISTRICT, SO JUST SO YOU KNOW WHY I'M HERE.

STUDIES HAVE CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT CHILDREN WHO FEEL SAFE, SUPPORTED AND CONNECTED IN THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE FAR GREATER LEARNING OUTCOMES THAN STUDENTS WHO DO NOT FEEL HEARD, SEEN OR THAT THEY BELONG.

CHILDREN CANNOT LEARN WHEN THEY FEEL DISCONNECTED AND OTHERED BY THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND FOR SOME KIDS, SCHOOL IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY WHERE THEY RECEIVE SUPPORT.

FOR ALL STUDENTS, SCHOOL HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEIR WELL-BEING AND SENSE OF SELF.

TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS AS THEY ARE TRAINED, EDUCATED AND EXPERIENCED IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN IN WAYS THAT I AS A PARENT WILL NEVER BE.

KNOWING THIS, EDUCATORS HAVE DEVELOPED PROGRAMS LIKE SEL TO HELP ALL STUDENTS HAVE A CHANCE AT SUCCESS.

NOT JUST LUCKY KIDS LIKE MINE WHO KNOW NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE OR WHERE THEY GO IN LIFE, THEY HAVE MY UNWAVERING SUPPORT.

IN MY EXPERIENCE AS A PARENT OF A STUDENT IN THIS DISTRICT, EDMONDS IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB PREPARING KIDS FOR BEING WELL ROUNDED, SOCIALLY AWARE ADULTS.

STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE ARE CREATED BY CONNECTION.

CONNECTION IS CREATED THROUGH COMPASSION.

COMPASSION IS DEVELOPED THROUGH EMPATHY AND VULNERABILITY.

USING TOOLS LIKE SEL TO HELP DEVELOP EMPATHY IN OUR KIDS WILL LEAD TO LESS OF THEM DRAGGING AROUND THE TRAUMA THAT WE HAVE INFLICTED ON THEM BECAUSE OLDER GENERATIONS INFLICTED ON US BECAUSE IT WAS TOO SCARY FOR THEM TO LEARN TO BE VULNERABLE WITH THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE PURPOSE OF SCHOOL IS TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN SO THAT THEY MIGHT CREATE A FUTURE THAT THEY WANT TO LIVE IN.

FOR THAT THEY WILL NEED TO BE EMPATHETIC, PASSIONATE, CRITICAL THINKERS, NOT ANOTHER GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE MONEY IS THE END ALL, BE ALL WHILE THEY HOARD AS MUCH WEALTH AS THEY CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON AS THE WORLD BURNS AROUND THEM AND THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR BECOMES MEANINGLESS.

GOING BACKWARDS IS NOT GOING TO GIVE OUR KIDS A LIVABLE FUTURE.

THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO GO BACK TO, AND OUR KIDS RECOGNIZE THIS.

THEY NO LONGER CARE TO TRY KEEPING UP WITH THE JOHNSONS AS PREVIOUS GENERATIONS WERE FIXATED DOING.

THEY'RE FOCUSED ON BEING THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES AND LIVING BRAVELY, KNOWING THAT THAT IS WHERE FREEDOM REALLY LIES.

ONE MORE THING. LOVE MEANS ACKNOWLEDGING ANOTHER PERSON'S AUTHENTIC SELF.

IT MEANS SEEING THEIR HUMANITY AND MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

IT MEANS THEY DO NOT HAVE TO CHANGE OR HIDE WHO THEY ARE BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE.

IT MEANS CELEBRATING THEIR WORTHINESS AND THEIR HUMANITY.

IT DOES NOT MEAN FORCING THEM TO FIT INTO THE STORY THAT YOU TELL YOURSELF OUT OF THE FEAR OF HAVING TO FACE THE HURT AND TRAUMA IN YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE TOO SCARED TO UNPACK.

SO THAT SAID, I WOULD LOVE TO.

OH, SHOOT, I LOST MY PLACE.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE EDMONDS SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS BECOME A PLACE TO DISCUSS DISTRICT RELATED ISSUES LIKE SCHOOL SAFETY, OR THE BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT NEW PROGRAMS, AS OPPOSED TO THE CIRCUS OF REPRESSION AND FEAR THAT IT HAS BEEN, THANKS TO A CERTAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR PARENTAL RIGHTS TO RESTRICT EDUCATION AND WHERE MY CHILD'S SCHOOL ZONE BEGINS.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT IN THIS DISTRICT, THEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MOVE, TO HOMESCHOOL OR TO PAY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL.

BUT YOU DO NOT GET TO LIMIT MY CHILD'S EDUCATION BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID YOUR CHILD MIGHT LEARN EMPATHY AS IT IS A TEACHABLE SKILL AND IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

[00:25:02]

MY NAME IS JENNIFER TAYLOR.

I AM A PATRON OF THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A TEACHER WHO PASSIONATELY CARES FOR ALL STUDENTS AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY.

RECENTLY, THE CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF MET WITH OUR TEACHERS TO ANSWER SOME OF OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DUAL LANGUAGE IMPLEMENTATION PLANNED FOR 2023.

A COLLEAGUE ASKED, WHY NOW? CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF REPLIED, WHY NOT NOW? I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION AND ASK YOU, THE EDMONDS SCHOOL BOARD, TO FIRMLY ENCOURAGE THE CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF TO PLAN, PLAN, PLAN ON THE FOLLOWING KEY POINTS.

WHY NOT NOW? BECAUSE CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF DID NOT SURVEY, MEET WITH, NOR FLOAT THIS IDEA WITH THE MOUNTLAKE TERRACE FAMILIES, COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SYSTEM, MEANING ALL OF US TOGETHER AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, BEFORE MAKING THIS DECISION.

BECAUSE THIS IS A VITAL PIECE TO THE SUCCESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF AN IMMERSION PROGRAM, THE CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF MUST TAKE THE TIME NOW TO DO THIS SO THE COMMUNITY CAN HAVE INPUT INTO THIS PROGRAM, NOT JUST RECEIVE A PRESENTATION THAT SAYS THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO BE.

THAT INPUT SHOULD THEN BE CONSIDERED IN THE LONG RANGE PLANNING.

WE WANT THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM TO SUCCEED.

WHY NOT NOW? HOW CAN THE PRINCIPAL SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM OUTSIDE OF A PRINCIPAL'S REGULAR DUTIES IN OUR SCHOOL THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE LONG TERM EFFECTS FROM THE ISOLATING STUDENT EXPERIENCES OF COVID CLOSED SCHOOLS? WHY NOT NOW? BECAUSE DETAILS ABOUT CURRICULA HAVE NOT BEEN CLEARLY PROVIDED.

IMMERSION TEACHERS SHOULD BE GIVEN EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO TEACH ALL CONTENT AREAS IN BOTH LANGUAGES, COMPLETE AND UPDATED CURRICULA IN ENGLISH AND THE TARGET LANGUAGE. AUTHENTIC LITERATURE IN BOTH LANGUAGES.

VISUAL AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN BOTH LANGUAGES.

WHY NOT NOW? BECAUSE THE PROTOCOLS FOR ENROLLING, RECRUITING AND OR LEAVING THE PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN IRONED OUT.

WHY NOT NOW? BECAUSE THE PROGRAMS ALREADY STARTED IN OUR DISTRICT ARE IN THEIR INFANCY OF ONE YEAR AND TWO MONTHS, PUTTING THE EFFORT TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN THESE PROGRAMS WITHOUT SPREADING OUT THOSE PROCESSES TO THIN CAN ONLY ENHANCE AND ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF MORE PROGRAMS TO FOLLOW.

WHY NOT NOW? BECAUSE CONSIDERATION AND LONG RANGE PLANNING HAVE NOT OCCURRED FOR HOW TO HANDLE THE ONE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ONLY CLASS THAT WILL MOVE EACH YEAR SECOND TO THIRD TO FOURTH TO FIFTH WITH THE SAME STUDENTS YEAR AFTER YEAR THAT WILL INCLUDE ALL STUDENTS RECEIVING SUPPORT FOR THEIR IEP 504 MULTILINGUAL TITLE AND BEHAVIORAL NEEDS.

PLEASE INSIST THAT OUR CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF DO THEIR HOMEWORK, COMPLETE LONG RANGE PLANNING AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IMPLEMENTING DUAL LANGUAGE AT MTE WITH FIDELITY. THIS WILL TIME TO PREPARE.

THEN IT WILL BE TIME TO SUPPORT A SUCCESSFUL DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM AT MY BELOVED SCHOOL.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

NEXT UP IS RYAN MARTIN.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

I JUST CAME HERE TODAY.

I DON'T HAVE A SPEECH PREPARED, BUT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HERE.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS A MESSAGE SENT OUT REGARDING AN INCIDENT AT MEADOW DALE HIGH SCHOOL.

I WENT HOME THAT NIGHT. I DID A PUBLIC DISCLOSURE REQUEST.

IT TURNS OUT THAT A WEAPON WAS INVOLVED AT SCHOOL.

AMMUNITION WAS FOUND.

A STUDENT WAS DEALT WITH.

THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR QUITE A WHILE, THOUGH.

WE'VE HAD BIG PROBLEMS WITH GANGS IN THE SCHOOL AND NOT SURE IF THE SCHOOL BOARD IS AWARE OF IT.

BUT PERSONALLY, MY 9 TO 5 JOB, I AM A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

I'M ASSIGNED HERE TO SNOHOMISH COUNTY.

SO I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST BOTH AS A PARENT AND HERE AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.

RECENTLY, THIS PAST SUMMER, AS ANYONE MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE STRING OF SHOOTINGS.

I SPENT SIX YEARS IN THE ARMY.

THAT WAS A WAR ZONE.

I'M ASKING THE SCHOOL BOARD HERE FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

WE NEED TO MAKE OUR SCHOOL SAFER.

WE DO THAT. I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THIS AIN'T IT.

SO I'M JUST ASKING EVERYBODY HERE.

WE'VE GOT TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR KIDS.

WE CAN'T LET INGRAHAM COME TO OUR SCHOOLS.

THE GANGS THAT I'M DEALING WITH, THE GANGS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE SCHOOLS, THEY'RE THE SAME ONES SHOOTING IT OUT THIS SUMMER.

[00:30:01]

IT'S ALREADY HERE.

IT'S JUST SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE.

AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT. SO I JUST WANT THE SCHOOL BOARD TO BE AWARE OF THIS.

AGAIN, I HAVE VERY BIG CONCERNS FOR MY OWN SON.

I'M SURE A LOT OF PARENTS DO, TOO.

LIKE I SAID, SO, I KNOW WE'RE ALL PARENTS HERE.

I KNOW WE ALL HAVE VESTED INTERESTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

I LOVE LYNNWOOD. I DON'T WANT TO MOVE, BUT IT'S GETTING A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER TO STICK AROUND SOME TIME.

SO, ANYWAYS, I JUST WANT THE SCHOOL BOARD TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

SO, THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] NEXT UP IS TAMARA [INAUDIBLE].

HI. I WAS AT THE LAST MEETING, AND, I WAS UPSET FOR DAYS AFTER LISTENING TO MULTIPLE CHILDREN AND A MOTHER EXPRESS CONCERNS FOR SAFETY.

ONE YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS VERY POISED SAID THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH DIVERSITY.

SHE SAID, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT WE NEED SAFETY.

SHE ALSO SAID THAT THE TEACHERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN.

I LATER LEARNED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REMOVING THE POLICE FROM THE SCHOOLS.

I'M SURE YOU WERE TRYING TO ACT ON THE, IN THE CHILDREN'S BEST INTERESTS.

BUT I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER AFTER LISTENING TO THESE CHILDREN PLEAD WITH YOU FOR SAFETY.

I ALSO HEARD A YOUNG MAN EXPRESS THAT THEY NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF GRAFFITI WILL BE IN THE BATHROOMS. AND IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE.

BUT WHAT WAS REALLY DISTURBING ABOUT WHAT HE SAID WAS HE SAID THAT HE, THAT HIS FEELINGS OF SAFETY WERE DENIED.

THAT WAS SHOCKING.

WITH ALL THE TALK ABOUT FEELINGS AND SUPPORT AND EMPATHY AND WORKING TOGETHER, THIS YOUNG MAN FEELS LIKE HE'S NOT HEARD. AND THAT HIS CONCERNS ARE TREATED AS ILLEGITIMATE.

THAT'S REALLY PROBLEMATIC.

I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE UPCOMING CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'LL HAVE ABOUT SEX ED.

AGAIN, I THINK THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO YOUR BEST BY THESE KIDS.

BUT I WENT THROUGH AND LOOKED AT SOME OF THE CURRICULUM.

AND I WATCHED SOME OF THE VIDEOS IN THE AMAZE PROGRAM.

AND I READ THE WEALTH OF COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT, AFTER THOSE VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE . AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO PLEASE DO THE SAME.

I WOULD URGE PARENTS TO DO THE SAME.

PLEASE. WATCH THE VIDEOS.

CONSIDER THE PERCENTAGE OF THE VIDEOS THAT ARE ALIGNED A CERTAIN WAY.

AND READ THE COMMENTS, SOME OF WHICH ARE QUITE PREDATORY. PLEASE LOOK AT THEM BEFORE YOU ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO WATCH THOSE.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] NEXT UP IS ELIZABETH FLEMING.

HI. MY NAME IS ELIZABETH FLEMING.

MY DAUGHTER IS A GRADUATE OF EDMONDS WOODWAY.

ON SEPTEMBER 29TH AT EDMONDS WOODWAY HIGH SCHOOL, STUDENTS AND STAFF WERE PUT IN GRAVE DANGER.

NOT ONLY WERE THEY ENDANGERED BY THE STUDENT WHO WAS EVENTUALLY FOUND TO BE IN POSSESSION OF A LOADED GUN AT SCHOOL, BUT ALSO BY THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT PRACTICES AND POLICIES THAT WERE IN PLACE AT THE TIME.

BY WAY OF EXTRAPOLATION, NOT ONLY WERE THE NEARLY 2,000 INDIVIDUALS AT EDMONDS WOODWAY PUT IN GRAVE DANGER, BUT ALL OF OUR 20,000 STUDENTS AND ESD STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN PUT AT RISK FOR YEARS.

THANKFULLY, THE BOARD UPDATED THE DISTRICT POLICY CODE, 3432, WHICH WAS AMENDED TO, AMENDED ON OCTOBER 25TH AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT A

[00:35:09]

IT CLARIFIED THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY OF ANY POSSIBLE GUN THREAT.

ACCORDING TO MY EDMONDS NEWS, BASED ON INFORMATION REVEALED AT THE COURT HEARING OF THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS FOUND TO HAVE A GUN, IT WAS REVEALED THAT TWO STUDENTS REPORTED AND SHOWED THE ADMINISTRATION A TEXT THAT IN WHICH THE STUDENT, ACCUSED STUDENT, HAD ASKED IF THEY COULD HOLD ONTO HIS GUN.

THE ACCUSED STUDENT'S BACKPACK WAS SEARCHED AND NO GUN WAS FOUND.

THE SUSPECTED INDIVIDUAL WAS SENT BACK TO CLASS.

ONE OF THE TWO STUDENTS WHO HAD ORIGINALLY REPORTED THE TEXT REACHED BACK OUT TO THE ADMINISTRATION FEARING RETALIATION, AND SAID THAT THEY HAD SEEN THE SUSPECT WITH A GUN THE DAY BEFORE.

THE TWO STUDENTS DESERVE TO BE HONORED AS HEROES.

THESE TWO STUDENTS THAT STEPPED FORWARD.

EVEN GIVEN ALL OF THIS INFORMATION, THE ADMINISTRATION ALLOWED NEARLY TWO HOURS TO PASS AFTER THE INITIAL SEARCH OF THE BACKPACK.

FINALLY, A THIRD STUDENT REPORTED TO THE STAFF THAT THE SUSPECT HAD SHARED WITH THEM WHY THE GUN WASN'T FOUND AND IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS HIDDEN IN HIS PANTS.

THEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED.

THANKFULLY, THERE WERE NO FATALITIES OR INJURIES AS A RESULT, AND THANKFULLY, OUR WORST NIGHTMARES DIDN'T COME TRUE.

THE ACCUSED STUDENT WAS PREVIOUSLY FROM KING COUNTY, WAS MOVED TO EDMONDS WOODWAY AFTER BEING AT LYNNWOOD HIGH AND WORE AN ANKLE BRACELET.

KING COUNTY DETECTIVES WERE IN THE COURT HEARING AND HAD TWO OUTSTANDING ARREST WARRANTS FOR THIS TEEN, ARREST WARRANTS FOR THIS TEEN, BOTH FOR FIRST DEGREE ARMED ROBBERY.

ALSO, PER THE MEN REPORTS, SCHOOL DISTRICT KNEW WHEN HE ENROLLED THAT HE WAS WEARING AN ELECTRONIC ANKLE MONITOR.

DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAID THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW AND WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT THE KING COUNTY CHARGES THAT PUT THE MONITOR ON HIS LEG.

STATE LEGISLATION RCW 28A.225.330, RELATED TO ENROLLING STUDENTS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS, SAYS THAT SCHOOL ENROLLING, THE SCHOOL ENROLLING THE STUDENT SHALL REQUEST THE STUDENT'S PERMANENT RECORD, SHALL REQUEST THE STUDENT'S PERMANENT RECORD, INCLUDING RECORDS OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION, HISTORY OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR OR BEHAVIOR LISTED IN RCW 1304.155 FROM THE SCHOOL THE STUDENT PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED.

FURTHER IN EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT SECTION 3000 CODE 3141.

IT STATES THAT A STANDARDS FOR ACCEPTING OR REJECTING AN APPLICATION OF STUDENT OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT ALLOWS THE DISTRICT TO REJECT THE APPLICATION IF THE STUDENT HAS DISCIPLINARY RECORDS OR DOCUMENTATION I HAVE TO ASK THE BOARD, GIVEN ALL OF THIS, HOW ON EARTH DID THIS INDIVIDUAL EVER GET APPROVED TO ATTEND ANY OF OUR SCHOOLS? I WONDER IF PARENTS ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, WHY IT'S HAPPENING, AND I THINK THEY WOULD WANT TO KNOW IF IT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE IT IS THEIR CHILDREN BEING UNKNOWINGLY EXPOSED TO THIS GREAT PROCEDURE.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP IS MELANIE NORRIS.

WE HAVE ANOTHER SECTION LATER IN THE AGENDA FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

SO WE WILL REMEMBER THAT.

SO NEXT UP IS STEPHANIE, STEPHANIE SCHENDEL.

HELLO. THANK YOU.

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM PROPOSED AT BOTH SPRUCE AND MOUNTLAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY.

TODAY IS ELECTION DAY AND OUR CHANCE TO CAST OUR VOTE AND MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD IN THE LEADERSHIP GUIDING OUR COMMUNITY, STATE AND COUNTRY.

WE ALSO USE OUR VOTE TO INFORM THAT LEADERSHIP AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AFFECTING OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES.

WHETHER IT'S VOTING ON A PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT OR TO PASS A SCHOOL BOND OR TO CHANGE A TAX RATE, VOTING MATTERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE DECISION TO IMPLEMENT THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM AT BOTH SPRUCE AND MOUNTLAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARIES WAS MADE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, AND THE PEOPLE IMPACTED, THE STUDENTS AND STAFF AT THESE TWO SCHOOLS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING THEM WERE NOT GIVEN A VOICE.

THE DECISION TO START THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM AT SPRUCE AND MOUNTLAKE TERRACE APPEARS TO BE SOLELY DRIVEN BY DATA.

NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES ON A SPREADSHEET ARE PUSHING FORWARD A TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION THAT, WHILE FEASIBLE, LACKS HUMANITY, EMPATHY AND A BASIC CONSIDERATION FOR THE PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THIS DECISION.

WHILE DATA IS A POWERFUL TOOL AND WE ARE NOT QUESTIONING THE VALIDITY OR INTEGRITY OF THE RESEARCH SUPPORTING THIS DECISION TO EXPAND THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM, WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD AND THE LEADERS OF THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM FOR TIME.

TIME TO ALLOW THE SHAREHOLDERS TO HAVE A VOTE IN THIS IMPORTANT DECISION.

BY EXCLUDING THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE MOST IMPACTED BY THIS DECISION, THEY HAVE BEEN ESSENTIALLY DISENFRANCHIZED.

[00:40:08]

WE AT SPRUCE ELEMENTARY ARE ASKING YOU, THE BOARD, TO PLEASE GIVE OUR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, OUR STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY, THEIR VOICES BACK BY SIMPLY GIVING US MORE TIME TO PURPOSEFULLY AND INTENTIONALLY SEEK THE IDEAS, INPUT AND BUY-IN NEEDED TO LAUNCH THIS PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP IS [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD EVENING. SINCE TONIGHT'S ELECTION NIGHT, I THINK IT'S TOPICAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENT REPRESENTATION IN THIS BOARD'S PROCESSES, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THEY REPRESENT THE GROUP THAT IS MOST SUBJECT TO ANY RULES PASSED DURING THESE MEETINGS.

YET, IN SPEAKING WITH THEM OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, THEY FEEL THE LEAST HEARD AND THE LEAST ABLE TO AFFECT THEIR SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.

WHILE THEY APPRECIATE THE STEPS THAT THIS BOARD HAS TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOL IS A WELCOMING AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT, STUDENTS I'VE MET HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY SOME SHORTCOMINGS, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SAME AS WHAT WE HAVE HEARD.

WHILE THEY SHARE IN THE ANXIETY THAT STUDENT VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM MAY BRING TO A CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT, THEY TOLD ME SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT.

THE PEOPLE WHO THEY FEEL MOST HARMED BY ARE NOT THEIR PEERS.

THEY'RE IN THIS VERY ROOM AND THEY'RE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PODIUM I'M AFRAID.

THEY FEEL THEY'RE CAUGHT BETWEEN A SUBSET OF THE COMMUNITY WHO SPEAKS FOR BUT NEVER LISTENS TO, NOR UNDERSTANDS THEIR EXPERIENCES, NOR THE HARM THAT THEIR WORDS BRING.

AND STAFF, FACULTY AND YES, ADMINISTRATION, WHO IN THE FACE OF THIS HARM, LACK THE SPEED, BRAVERY OR THE INSIGHT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST, THEY DON'T FEEL REPRESENTED.

AND WHEN A STUDENT'S HEARTFELT RECOUNTING OF THEIR EXPERIENCES AS A MINORITY IN THIS DISTRICT UNDER THE PRIOR SRO PROGRAM WERE MET WITH AUDIBLE DISSENT FROM THIS AUDIENCE, CAN YOU TRULY BLAME THEM? IN ANOTHER INSTANCE, THEY CITED CHANGES TO THEIR DRESS CODE POLICY WERE NOT ADEQUATELY COMMUNICATED.

EMAILS WERE SENT OUT WHEN THE CHANGE WAS MADE, BUT THESE EMAILS WERE SENT ONLY TO THEIR PARENTS, NOT TO THE STUDENTS WHO WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THESE POLICIES.

WHY DON'T WE HAVE TRUST ENOUGH IN OUR STUDENTS TO INFORM THEM OF THESE POLICIES? POLICY CHANGES WHICH THEY LAMENTED THEY HAD NO INVOLVEMENT IN DRAFTING, WHICH THEY THEN TOLD ME WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY LEVIED AGAINST FEMALE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS OF COLOR, EVEN WHEN IT CAME TO IDENTICAL CLOTHING ITEMS. HOW CAN YOU, AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN GOOD FAITH, CLAMOR FOR THE RETURN OF AN SRO PROGRAM WHICH THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES WERE THE PRIMARY INITIATOR OF ITS REVOCATION, WHEN WE SEE HOW UNEVENLY THE RULES THAT ARE ALREADY ON OUR BOOKS GET ENFORCED BY ADULTS EVEN WITHOUT BADGES AND GUNS? IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN 198 INSTANCES OF LETHAL SCHOOL VIOLENCE AT CAMPUSES WITH AN SRO PROGRAM.

IN TOTAL, SROS HAVE STOPPED TWO.

THAT IS A 1% SUCCESS RATE.

AND YOU MIGHT ASK WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN THE MEANTIME.

THEY WERE BUSY ARRESTING 50,000 STUDENTS EVERY YEAR, PERMANENTLY ALTERING THE COURSE OF THEIR LIFE.

ARE YOU TRULY WILLING TO BET THAT OUR STUDENTS WOULDN'T BE TARGETED UNDER SUCH POLICY, WOULDN'T LOOK A LOT LIKE THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY OUR RULES? YOU KNOW, WE TEACH STUDENTS THAT OUR DEMOCRACY COMES ONLY FROM THE CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.

BUT HOW DO WE EXPECT THEM TO BELIEVE US WHEN THEY SEE THEMSELVES NOT AS CITIZENS, BUT AS SUBJECTS TO BE SUBJECTED TO WHATEVER PARANOIAS ARE FED TO US BY OUR NIGHTLY NEWS? I WOULD MAKE TWO ASKS.

FIRST, THE DISTRICT CONTINUE IN ITS EFFORTS TO ENSURE DIVERSE STUDENT REPRESENTATION AND POLICY MAKING, AS THIS IS THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH STUDENT TRUST CAN BE GAINED.

AND SECOND, THAT THE DISTRICT CAN CONSIDER OFFERING RETRAINING FOR FACULTY AND ADMIN PERSONNEL ON IMPLICIT BIAS AND GENDER INCLUSIVE SCHOOL POLICY, WHICH THESE STUDENT TESTIMONIES HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR.

IF OUR STUDENTS CAN'T TRUST THOSE ENFORCING OUR RULES TO ENFORCE THEM EVENLY OR IN DEFENSE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE, THEN WE SHOULD NOT EXPECT THEM TO FOLLOW THEM.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] NEXT UP IS. NEXT UP IS SARAH DILLING.

SO. WOW.

IT'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS TONIGHT.

MY FIRST POINT ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY AND PEOPLE WANTING TO PUT THE POLICE BACK IN SCHOOLS.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT AT THE TIMES WHEN I'VE BEEN IN A SUBWAY SANDWICH SHOP AND A POLICEMAN HAS WALKED IN, WOW! GUN, GUN, GUN IS WHAT MY BRAIN SAYS.

AND I CAN'T IMAGINE MY KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL AND HAVING THAT RUNNING THROUGH THEIR HEAD ALL DAY LONG.

I ALSO FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT SOMEBODY WAS VERY CROSS ABOUT STUDENTS WANTING A SAFE SPACE.

[00:45:01]

AND SOMEBODY ELSE SAID, KIDS ARE SO FEARFUL THEY NEED A POLICEMAN TO MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE, WHEN IN FACT THE POLICEMAN IS WHAT MAKES THEM NOT FEEL SAFE FOR CERTAIN OF THE KIDS.

YOU CAN SHAKE YOUR HEAD ALL YOU LIKE, BUT SOME OF THE KIDS DON'T FEEL SAFE WHEN COPS ARE AROUND.

OTHER KIDS FEEL SAFER.

EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.

BUT ONE CANNOT SAY THAT POLICE IN AN ABSOLUTE SENSE WILL MAKE A SCHOOL SAFER.

TODAY, AT INGRAHAM HIGH SCHOOL, THE POLICE WERE THERE WITHIN 4 MINUTES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE POLICE ON CAMPUS EITHER.

FOUR MINUTE RESPONSE TIME.

THAT'S DAMN GOOD.

I AM IMPRESSED.

I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A SIMILAR RESPONSE TIME IN OUR DISTRICT.

WHAT WOULD THE POLICE, NEING AWARE THAT SCHOOL IS HAPPENING AND PROBABLY HAVING SOMEBODY LISTENING TO THE RADIO FOR IT.

THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF US HAVE THE ANSWER TO IT, JUST LIKE THE FEDERAL OFFICER SAID.

WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER INSTEAD OF TELLING PEOPLE THEY DID THE WRONG THING AND THEY SHOULD UNDO IT BECAUSE JUST UNDOING THINGS IS HOW WE GOT HERE. WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.

[APPLAUSE] NEXT UP IS NICOLE HAROLD.

HI, MY NAME IS NICOLE HAROLD.

I'M THE MUSIC TEACHER AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST.

I UNDERSTAND THE LAST THREE YEARS IN PARTICULAR, BUT LET'S JUST GO FOR THE LAST 20.

EVERY YEAR HAS BEEN HARDER AND, YOU ARE IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION IN THE SAME WAY THAT I'M IN AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION WHEN I'M IN A CLASSROOM FULL OF KIDS THAT ALL NOW HAVE TRAUMA.

EVERY SINGLE STUDENT DOES.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE TRAUMA, YOU'RE A UNICORN.

SO, WHEN WE HEARD THAT WE WERE GETTING THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM AT OUR SCHOOL, MY INITIAL SHOCK WAS NOT.

MY INITIAL SHOCK WAS NOT ONE OF WHAT WAS ME BUT WHAT IS GOING ON? THERE WAS NO PLAN LIKE LAID OUT CLEARLY IN WITH A BUDGETARY COMPONENT BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO TAKE STAFFING AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE MOVEMENT OF FUNDS.

I KNOW THAT YOU CAN REALLOCATE FUNDS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT YOU HAVE TO APPROVE THAT AS THE BOARD.

YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF BUDGET DECISIONS AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN ONE YET, SO IF YOU HAVE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT TO SHARE SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS NOW? I LOVE MY COMMUNITY.

DR. MINOR TALKED TO ME FOR 45 MINUTES ABOUT MY COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE A HISTORY OF WRAPPING IN PROGRAMS. WE ACTUALLY HAD PRESCHOOL IN OUR BUILDING FOR TWO YEARS AND WE WRAPPED AROUND THEM.

THEY WERE SO CUTE.

I DONATED 10 MINUTES OF MY TIME TO EACH CLASS EVERY WEEK IN THE HOPES THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY CHANGE MY FTE TO ALLOW ME TO TEACH PRESCHOOL.

IF YOU'VE NEVER DONE PRESCHOOL MUSIC, IT'S A BLAST.

PLEASE TRY IT. GYMBOREE MUSIC TIME.

HAPPY TIME. WE CAN DO THIS AS AN ADDITION.

IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE'LL BE ABLE TO CREATE IT FROM THE GROUND UP.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN THAT CHANCE.

PLEASE GIVE US THE TIME TO DO SO.

WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR FAMILIES.

I. THERE'S A BIT OF A TRAUMA BOND AMONG ALL STAFFS NOW THAT HAVE SURVIVED THROUGH COVID AND, WE CAN DO ANYTHING.

SO JUST GIVE US THE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT AND WE'LL DO IT AND IT'LL BE AMAZING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP IS [INAUDIBLE] MORRISON.

HI, EVERYONE.

I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS. IT HAS COME TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS. I AM A STUDENT AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL WHO HAS ACTUALLY WORKED ON BRINGING THE GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS TO OUR SCHOOL FOR ABOUT A

[00:50:07]

AND AS A STUDENT WHO IDENTIFIES AS NON-BINARY AND AS A LEADER FOR STUDENTS, THESE CONCERNS HAVE NOT BEEN BROUGHT UP TO ANYONE.

PEOPLE ARE AFRAID THAT MEN WILL DRESS UP AS WOMEN AND TERRORIZE PEOPLE IN THE BATHROOMS, THAT THERE WILL BE BULLYING.

BUT THE GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS ARE THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO USE THEM.

AND MOST PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW, LIKE DON'T USE THEM, DON'T KNOW THEY EXIST, THEY'RE ALSO IN A HALLWAY AT OUR SCHOOL THAT IS KIND OF HIDDEN.

AND SO IF YOU REALLY NEED TO USE THEM, THEY'RE THERE.

BUT IF YOU'RE REALLY AFRAID OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, IF YOU JUST TAKE EIGHT STEPS OUT THE HALLWAY, THERE'S GENDER BATHROOMS. SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE A CONCERN WITH THAT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE DO HAVE A CONCERN WITH THAT.

BUT I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY PROBLEMS BROUGHT UP TO US YET WITH ALL THIS.

ALSO, TALKING ABOUT SAFETY.

I'VE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE EVENING, I SAW AS A STUDENT, OUR SCHOOL ACTUALLY WENT INTO LOCKDOWN RECENTLY AND THEY DIDN'T REALLY TELL US A LOT OF INFO, ONLY THAT AN UNKNOWN PERSON AT FIRST ENTERED OUR BUILDING.

THAT'S QUITE A PANIC TO ALL OF US, KNOWING THAT WOODWAY HAD A PERSON WITH A LOADED GUN AND NOW THAT THERE WAS A SHOOTING TODAY.

AND SO THAT'S QUITE SCARY BEING A STUDENT GOING INTO LOCKDOWN AND NOT KNOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING AND HAVING A FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE.

I EVEN TEXTED MY MOM AND SHE WAS, I COULD TELL SHE WAS AFRAID IN HER TEXT MESSAGES OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING, SAYING THAT AN UNKNOWN PERSON ENTERED OUR BUILDING. LUCKILY, IT WAS NOT, NO HARM WAS DONE AND IT WAS LIFTED AND WE WERE ALL SAFE.

BUT IT'S, IT'S VERY SCARY.

AND I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN IN THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO FIX THAT AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH THAT.

BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE NEXT GENERATION AND WE DON'T WANT TO LIVE IN FEAR FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES, SOMETHING HAPPENING.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP IS VICTORIA CASTANEDA.

HELLO.

THAT IS SAFE.

OH. THIS JUST NOW TURNED ON? ALL RIGHT, THAT'S OKAY. I CAN [INAUDIBLE].

AND THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A SCHOOL THAT PROTECTS THEM AND SHOWS THEM LOVE, RESPECT, THAT IS SAFE, CREATING RELATIONSHIPS THAT MAKES OUR SCHOOLS SAFE.

I HAVE MY OWN IDEA. OH, I HAVE SOME TIME.

I HAVE MY OWN IDEAS ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT SAFETY IN THE SCHOOL IS.

AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN SCHOOL FOR A WHILE NOW, AND I HAVE BEEN A STUDENT FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.

IF SOMETHING GOES DOWN IN A SCHOOL, YOU BEST BELIEVE YOUR STUDENT IS SAFE IF THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN, THEY HAVE SOMEONE THAT THEY CAN TRUST AND THEY SEE THEM AS THEIR FULL SELF AGAIN.

SO IT'S 2022.

GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS ARE HERE TO STAY.

AND THIS IS NOT JUST AS LIKE MAKING UP THINGS IN OUR HEAD.

THIS IS A EFFORT THAT WAS RUN BY STUDENTS AND MADE POSSIBLE BY STUDENTS.

SO ISN'T THAT WHAT WE WANT? RIGHT? WE WANT OUR KIDDOS TO LIKE HAVE AN IDEA AND GO FORWARD WITH IT AND DO ALL THE THINGS THROUGH THE VERY MIXED, YOU KNOW, LIKE AN INTERESTING SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE.

THEY DID THAT THEY, THEY DID ALL THAT.

NOW THEY HAVE IT, SO WE SHOULD LET THEM HAVE IT.

COOL. [APPLAUSE]

[00:55:07]

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME TIME TO SPEAK.

NOW, FORGIVE ME IF I GET EMOTIONAL.

MY DAUGHTER IS A SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOLER.

HER STEPBROTHER WAS AT THE SCHOOL WHERE THE CHILD WAS KILLED TODAY.

MOST OF HER DAY, SHE DID NOT KNOW IF HE WAS OKAY.

AND MY SON HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

HE IS A DIABETIC AT SCHOOL AS WELL.

SO FORGIVE ME BEING LATE.

I HAD TO GO HOME, GET THEM SET UP AND COME BACK.

I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO WRITE, SO I'M JUST GOING TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART.

I TEACH VERY PROUDLY AT SPRUCE ELEMENTARY.

THIS IS MY 24TH YEAR OF TEACHING.

I HAVE LOVED TEACHING IN EDMONDS.

I STARTED IN THE HIGHLINE DISTRICT.

I HAVE ALSO TAUGHT IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, WHICH I LOVED.

AND THEN I HAPPILY GOT HIRED HERE IN EDMONDS IN 2004.

I HAVE TAUGHT AT CEDAR VALLEY WHERE THE DUAL LANGUAGE WAS PUT IN LAST YEAR, VERY LAST MINUTE.

I HEARD LAST YEAR FROM MANY FRIENDS THERE WHO LEFT ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT THAT DECISION WAS.

I THINK THEY WERE TOLD IN JANUARY IF I WAS CORRECT, AND THEN THEY WERE, THE SCHOOL CHANGED IN THE FALL.

SO THEY HAD JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO MAKE A DECISION.

BUT JUST SPEAKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS DISTRICT, I LITERALLY BRAG ABOUT THIS DISTRICT TO OTHER FRIENDS OF MINE IN SEATTLE AND PEOPLE THAT TALK ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT DON'T SEEM TO REALLY REPRESENT THEIR COMMUNITY.

I'VE ALWAYS BRAGGED ABOUT IT.

AND TO BE REALLY HONEST AND FRANK, THE NEWS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM COMING TO POTENTIALLY AT SPRUCE THIS FALL ALSO COMPLETELY SHOCKED ME. WE WERE FLOORED.

ALL DISTRICT CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATIONS TAKE YEARS PLANNING, DISCUSSIONS, TIME FOR COLLABORATION, TIME FOR QUESTION.

WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

I WAS, I COULDN'T BELIEVE.

I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO SAY, OH, THIS IS FOR 2024-2025.

WE ARE ON BOARD JUST LIKE THE OTHER TEACHER, THE MUSIC TEACHER, SPOKE BRILLIANT.

I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR IT.

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN THESE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, EVEN ASIDE FROM THE PANDEMIC.

RIGHT. OUR SCHOOL HAS MOVED TWICE BECAUSE WE HAD TO MOVE INTO A TEMPORARY BUILDING AND BACK.

I SPENT WEEKS IN AUGUST JUST SETTING UP MY CLASSROOM.

SO IF IT'S JUST SETTING UP A SPACE TAKES WEEKS OF PREP, IMAGINE WHAT IT DOES TAKE FOR A WHOLE PROGRAM TO BE PUT INTO A SCHOOL.

WE ARE GOING TO BE BEHIND THE PROGRAM.

WE ARE JUST LITERALLY BEGGING FOR MORE TIME.

THIS WILL SERVE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.

THIS WILL MAKE OUR STAFF FEEL A PART OF THE DECISION AND A PART OF HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS IMPLEMENTATION THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE.

I GUESS I'LL JUST LEAVE IT WITH THAT.

I'M JUST ASKING FOR MORE TIME.

AND I GUESS ONE MORE THING.

TEACHERS, WE ARE PEOPLE TOO.

CLEARLY, I HAD THESE TWO EMERGENCIES IN MY LIFE AND I'M BEING TOLD, OH, YOU CAN LEARN SPANISH ON ZOOM.

OUR LIVES ARE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY FULL.

ASIDE FROM BEING TEACHERS, WHICH WE LOVE.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] I BELIEVE THAT'S THE END OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING FORWARD AND SHARING YOUR VIEWS.

THE BOARD TAKES THEM ALL VERY SERIOUSLY.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[9. CONSENT AGENDA-7:30 pm]

TONIGHT THERE ARE 12 ITEMS. THREE RELATE TO PERSONNEL AND TO AGREEMENTS WITH STAFF ASSOCIATIONS IN THE DISTRICT.

ONE IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTHWEST ESD FOR SERVICES FOR A STUDENT WHO HAS SPECIAL NEEDS.

ONE IS A DATA SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE SNO-ISLE LIBRARIES THAT GIVES OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE K-12 SPECTRUM ACCESS TO A NUMBER OF SNO-ISLE RESOURCES THAT ARE REALLY EXCELLENT AND SEVEN RELATE TO FIELD TRIPS.

DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? MOVE TO APPROVE.

I SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND FOR OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

IS THERE DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO THANK DR.

BAUMGARTNER AND HIS TEAM FOR GETTING THIS AGREEMENT WITH THE PROF TECH AND ALSO THE PROF TECH TEAM.

I'M GLAD TO SEE IT.

IS THERE OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

[01:00:03]

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE CONSENT AGENDA PASSES.

WE HAVE ONE ITEM OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS, AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DR.

[10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS- 7:45 pm]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR.

KATIMS. WELL, AS YOU MAY RECALL, IN OCTOBER, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT A DRAFT OF BOTH THE POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR 3220 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. AND AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, WE RECEIVED COMMENTS FROM SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS.

YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED THE AMENDMENTS THAT YOU REQUESTED IN THIS PROPOSED POLICY AT THIS TIME.

AND TONIGHT WE ARE PRESENTING THAT TO YOU FOR A SECOND READING WITH THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BOARD DOES APPROVE POLICY 3220 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT SCHWAB WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE BEFORE TAKING ACTION ON THAT ITEM.

SO FIRST, DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE POLICY 32, THE REVISED POLICY 3220 ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION? MOVE TO APPROVE.

I SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.

IS THERE DISCUSSION? I APPRECIATE THE INCLUSION OF THE LANGUAGE AND THE CONVERSATION WE HAD AT THE LAST MEETING, SO I AM VERY PLEASED TO SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THIS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT OUR MOUNTLAKE TERRACE NEWSPAPER HAS BEEN UNDER THIS BASICALLY A POLICY JUST LIKE THIS.

OH, OKAY. SORRY.

THERE'S BEEN A POLICY VERY, LIKE THIS WITH NO ADMINISTRATIVE WATCHING OVER OR APPROVING THE NEWSPAPER.

AND THEY'VE GOTTEN NATIONAL AWARDS FOR THIS AND FOR THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN DOING THIS.

AND NOW, NOW THIS IS BEING REQUIRED FOR ALL THE SCHOOLS.

AND I'M JUST REALLY HAPPY ABOUT IT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? AND I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY, I THINK IT'S EXCELLENT THAT WE HAVE THIS KIND OF POLICY AND THAT IT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER WITH A COMBINATION, A COMBINED WORKING TOGETHER OF TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND DISTRICT STAFF, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

AND SO IT MEETS EVERYBODY'S NEEDS AND CONTINUES TO BRING HOPEFULLY THE BEST KINDS OF JOURNALISM EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.

AYE.

AND THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 3220 ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS APPROVED.

NEXT, WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

[12. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES]

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

AS WE DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING, THE PRIORITIES OF THE WSSDA LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT HAVE BEEN CONDENSED DOWN TO THE PRIORITIES THROUGH A POLL OF ALL THE DIRECTORS TO ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE CATEGORIES.

AND THIS IS AVAILABLE.

IT'S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT. I MADE, I JUST MADE COPIES FOR THE BOARD TONIGHT.

AND ANY STUDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE THEM, I'LL JUST PASS THIS DOWN SO THE STUDENTS GET THEM.

THEY, IN PREPARATION FOR PREPARING FOR THE '23 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE CATEGORIES ARE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL ED, PROVIDE THE NEEDED RESOURCES FOR AMPLE, EQUITABLE AND STABLE EDUCATION, FEED STUDENTS, CONSTRUCT SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS, AND TRANSPORT EACH AND EVERY STUDENT.

THOSE ARE CATEGORIES BY WHICH WE WILL FOCUS OUR ATTENTION.

THE NEXT STEP IN THE LEGISLATIVE, THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE IS DOING, IS TAKING EACH OF THESE BROAD BUCKETS AND CREATING A TOPIC BRIEF WHICH IS ON YOUR SECOND PAGE.

YOU TAKE A LOOK. WE'LL MAKE THIS AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC WHO'S INTERESTED, ON EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES.

AND THAT IS CURRENTLY WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE IS DOING RIGHT NOW.

WITH THAT, WE GENERATE THE LIST OF QUESTIONS AND DEVELOP A TALKING BRIEF WITH 4 TO 6 TALKING POINTS.

SO MY QUESTION TO MY BOARD HERE IS I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP IN ON ONE OF THESE.

I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO PRIORITIZE SOMETHING THAT WE THINK OUR DISTRICT WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY FOCUS

[01:05:06]

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE US TO BE THINKING ABOUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE ALSO, LAST YEAR, AND THE YEAR BEFORE, HAD STARTED A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS TO START WORKING ON A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR OUR DISTRICT AND TO THINK ABOUT WHEN WE COULD GO DOWN TO OLYMPIA TO TESTIFY IF WE HAVE ANY PARTICULAR STORIES THAT ARE SPECIFIC THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.

AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON THE 17TH TO THE 19TH.

DISTRICT, YOU TWO ARE GOING IN PERSON.

AND I BELIEVE.

RIGHT? YOU THREE, YOU TWO, ALL THREE.

THESE TWO, OKAY, ARE GOING IN PERSON.

DISTRICT AREA 1 IS GOING TO BE HAVING A MEETING, WE'RE DISTRICT AREA 1, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE MEETING THURSDAY AT 2:00 WITH ALL THE DIRECTORS OF DISTRICT AREA 1.

DISTRICT AREA 1 IS HERE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CANADIAN BORDER.

AND SO ALL THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OF THAT ARE GOING TO GATHER SPECIFICALLY TO TALK ABOUT ANY SHARED PRIORITIES THAT WE CAN, THAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS AND ANY PARTICULAR PERSONAL STORIES WE HAVE THAT SPECIFICALLY RELATE TO THE PRIORITIES THAT WE WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR . MEANING, AND THIS IS PARENTS, STUDENT, ANYONE THAT HAS A PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THE, FOR INSTANCE, FEEDING STUDENTS.

I MEAN, OF COURSE WE NEED FEED STUDENTS, BUT I CAN SAY THAT, BUT IF WE'VE GOT A FAMILY THAT HAS A PARTICULAR STORY ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR SCHOOL MEALS, FOR THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR ABILITY FOR THEIR STUDENT TO FULLY PARTAKE IN THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AT EDMONDS, IT HAS MORE IMPACT THAN ME GOING UP AND ADVOCATING.

AS MUCH AS I LIKE MYSELF ADVOCATING I'D MUCH RATHER TAKE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS.

OUR STUDENTS AREN'T HERE TONIGHT, BUT THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS ALSO.

AND, SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

NEXT STEPS ARE MAKING BRIEFS FOR ALL OF THESE.

THEN WE IDENTIFY, WE HAVE PARTICULAR LEGISLATORS, WE BELIEVE, THAT ARE GOING TO BE AMBASSADORS FOR THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES, AND WE'LL BE STARTING TO CONNECT WITH THEM ALREADY. AND I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

SO FOR US, THINKING ABOUT, LIKE RIGHT NOW, IF ANYONE WANTS TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, I PERSONALLY WAS GOING TO JUMP IN ON THE SPECIAL ED, WHICH WOULD BE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

A LOT OF THAT'S BECAUSE, AND THE SALARY BASE AND STAFFING, REBASE AND STAFFING, IS WHEN WE WERE THINKING ABOUT AND PROVIDING THE NEEDED RESOURCES FOR AMPLE, EQUITABLE AND STABLE EDUCATION.

JUST BECAUSE OF INTEREST THERE.

BUT IF WE HAVE INPUT ON ANY OF THESE, WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE DISCUSSION.

YOU DON'T NEED TO ANSWER ME RIGHT THIS SECOND.

BUT YOU CAN, IF YOU'VE GOT, IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING, YOU'RE GOING TO THINK ABOUT IT, PLEASE SHARE.

MY GUT IS THE PROVIDE THE NEEDED RESOURCES FOR AMPLE, EQUITABLE AND STABLE EDUCATION, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO SORT OF OVERRIDE LOTS AND LOTS OF THINGS.

AND IF WE HAD THAT, THAT WOULD GIVE US A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY TO DO PERHAPS SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

SO THAT'S WHERE I'M LEANING.

I DO WANT TO MENTION, THOUGH, I, LAST WEEK DID A PRESENTATION FOR BRIER TERRACE, MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES KIDS.

AND WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACT OF DECISIONS MADE ON THEIR LIVES, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS ASKED REALLY FREQUENTLY WAS WHY ARE THERE NO MORE FREE MEALS? AND SO THAT WAS CLEARLY AN INTEREST THAT WAS COMING FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS WHO WERE WELL AWARE THAT THEY HAD GOTTEN IT SOMEHOW AND NOW THEY WEREN'T GETTING IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN AWFULLY GOOD QUESTION.

ACTUALLY THE, I WAS PAUSING NOW BECAUSE, OH MY GOSH.

BECAUSE THE LEGISLATORS NEED TO HEAR THAT.

RIGHT. THIS IS A CONCERN FOR THE STUDENTS, TOO.

YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T WE FEEDING THE STUDENTS? WELL, WE KNOW THAT IT'S FUNDING, RIGHT.

WELL, AND YOU KNOW, AND I EXPLAINED IT HAD BEEN DURING COVID AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BUT THEN I SAID, IT IS SOMETHING WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR, THE SCHOOL BOARD.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHICH HELPED THEM BETTER UNDERSTAND ANOTHER ROLE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT I FELT IN THIS CONTEXT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BRING THEIR VOICES HERE.

NO, I APPRECIATE THAT. IT WAS SEVERAL OF THEM.

IT WASN'T JUST ONE OF THEM.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT ONE A LOT THEN.

OKAY. ON THE.

I WOULD JUST ADD MY VOTE TO THAT.

I MEAN, I KNOW WE'RE NOT VOTING.

FEEDING STUDENTS, I THINK IS WHERE I SEE THE BIG PRIORITY.

[01:10:04]

IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE FAMILIES AND IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY, IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CHILDREN.

I JUST CAN'T, I CAN'T THINK BEYOND IT ALMOST.

AND I AM DISMAYED THAT OUR KIDS ARE NOT GETTING FREE MEALS RIGHT NOW.

IF THEY HAVE TO BE IN SCHOOL, THEY SHOULD BE FED.

IF THEY'RE NOT, IF THEY'RE HUNGRY, THEY CANNOT LEARN.

AND I'M ALSO CONCERNED BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH COVID IS OVER, OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING THROUGH SOME REALLY SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC PROBLEMS AND IT HITS THE FOOD BANKS JUST THE SAME AS IT HITS ANYBODY ELSE.

PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW, FOOD BANKS DON'T RUN ON FOOD DRIVES.

I MEAN, THEY REALLY APPRECIATE IT, BUT THEY BUY FOOD TO DISTRIBUTE.

AND THAT FOOD IS COSTING QUITE A BIT MORE NOW.

AND SO THE FOOD BANKS ARE HANDING OUT LESS FOOD.

AND I'VE GOT TO SAY, AND WE HAVE, OR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO THE FOOD BANKS IS NO SMALLER THAN IT WAS DURING COVID.

SO ANYWAY, THAT'S WHERE MY VOTE WOULD BE, IS JUST THE STATE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR KIDS THAT WAY AND LET US EDUCATE THEM.

FOOD INSECURITY.

GOT IT. I WOULD ONLY WEIGH IN AS FAR I TOTALLY AGREE ABOUT FOOD, AND I'M DEFINITELY HEARING A LOT FROM OUR SCHOOLS ABOUT THE FOOD SITUATION.

FROM A STRATEGIC STANDPOINT, I HAVE A WONDERING AROUND, WHILE I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE KEY IS PROVIDE NEEDED RESOURCES FOR AMPLE, EQUITABLE AND STABLE FUNDING. I BELIEVE THAT LEGISLATORS MAY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE CHECKED THAT BOX WITH MCCLEARY.

LIKE THAT IS DONE, BUT I DO THINK IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION WAS NEVER FULLY FUNDED THROUGH MCCLEARY.

WE SPEND A LOT OF LOCAL LEVY DOLLARS ON SPECIAL EDUCATION BECAUSE WE ARE UNDERFUNDED BY THE STATE.

AND SO FROM A MESSAGING STANDPOINT, I MEAN, IF WE COULD FREE UP THOSE DOLLARS, WE COULD DO OTHER THINGS WITH THOSE.

SO TO YOUR POINT, IT GAINS US EITHER ONE OF THOSE TWO THINGS.

BEING FULLY FUNDED BY THE STATE WOULD FREE UP DOLLARS.

AND I DO WONDER ABOUT STRATEGICALLY WHETHER THERE'S BETTER MESSAGING AROUND US BEING ABLE TO GO TO OLYMPIA AND SAY OR MAYBE NOT BETTER.

IT'S DIFFERENT MESSAGING IF WE CAN GO TO OLYMPIA AND SAY, THIS IS HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ON SPECIAL EDUCATION, WE ARE SERVING THE NEEDS OF OUR KIDS AS WE ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DO SO.

AND WE WANT TO DO SO, BUT WE'RE SPENDING LOCAL DOLLARS ON THAT MANY DISTRICTS.

AND THERE'S A HUGE INEQUITY IN THAT BECAUSE MANY DISTRICTS EITHER CANNOT PASS LEVIES, CANNOT PASS LEVIES AT THE CAP, AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO SERVE THEIR STUDENTS IN THE SAME WAY THAT WE CAN. SO I THINK THERE'S A COMPREHENSIVE MESSAGE THERE THAT MAY RESONATE.

BUT AS WE TALK FURTHER, I LOVE YOUR IDEA ABOUT HAVING A COMMITTEE.

CERTAINLY WHEN I HAVE GONE SIDE BY SIDE TO OLYMPIA WITH OUR UNION PARTNERS, WITH OUR TEACHERS AND WITH OUR KIDS, I KNOW WHO LEGISLATORS PAY ATTENTION TO. AND NO OFFENSE TO ANY OF US HERE, IT'S NOT GENERALLY BOARD MEMBERS OR SUPERINTENDENTS, IT'S THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS.

AND SO I THINK WHEN WE CAN HAVE THAT PARTNERSHIP AND ELEVATE ALL OUR VOICES AS ONE, IT'S REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEADING TO OLYMPIA WITH YOU AND HOPEFULLY BRINGING SOME STUDENTS AS WELL AS OUR UNION PARTNERS AND OUR TEACHERS WITH US.

I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT SESSION.

IT'S REFRESHING AS WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING OUT OF COVID TO ACTUALLY DO THIS AGAIN.

AND THE THE INTRICACIES OF THE MESSAGING AND THINKING ABOUT IT, THAT'S EXACTLY, THESE ARE THE KIND OF CONVERSATIONS THAT I ACTUALLY REALLY ENJOY HAVING UP HERE AT OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS. SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE INPUT ON THIS.

AND I'LL KEEP, I'LL BRING THIS BACK TO THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND THEN WE CAN SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH OUR, MORE MESSAGING FOR US.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO I THINK, DR.

MINOR, YOU'RE PROBABLY REALLY CORRECT THAT THE LEGISLATORS THINK THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEM WITH MCCLEARY, BUT WHAT THEY ALSO DID WHEN THEY WERE QUOTE "SOLVING" IT IS CREATING MORE PROBLEMS. SO WHAT I'M WONDERING, FOR EXAMPLE, IS WHERE DOES THE REGIONALIZATION FACTOR FALL? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AND THAT'S STILL A REAL IT'S RIGHT THERE. IT'S THE FOURTH BULLET POINT DOWN ON THE SECOND ONE.

YEAH, I SEE IT.

NO. NO, WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT A BIG SECTION LIKE SEATTLE HAS A HUGE DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAN ANYBODY ELSE FOR SOME REASON PER STUDENT I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S SO MANY INEQUITIES.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE HELP MAKE THAT MESSAGE THAT, YEAH, YOU SORT OF SOLVED PART OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THEN YOU CREATED NEW PROBLEMS ALONG THE WAY,

[01:15:10]

DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE DONE IN THE PAST, WHICH I CAN CERTAINLY PUT ON THE TABLE HERE IS TO CREATE A ONE PAGER ESSENTIALLY TELLING OUR DISTRICT STORY.

I HAVEN'T TOLD OUR DISTRICT STORY BEFORE, BUT I'VE TOLD OTHER DISTRICTS STORY BEFORE THAT YOU CAN EASILY PASS OUT, HAND TO PEOPLE, WHICH WOULD TALK ABOUT HERE'S HOW WE COMPARE.

HERE'S THE CHALLENGE OF HAVING A NEIGHBORING DISTRICT BE AT A DIFFERENT PLACE.

SO WE CAN TELL A LOT OF THOSE STORIES, BUT IT'S ON A VERY, INSTEAD OF MAYBE IN A MORE GENERAL SENSE OR IN AN ABSTRACT SENSE, REALLY TELLING THE STORY OF HOW IT IMPACTS OUR DISTRICT.

AND SO WE CAN DEFINITELY BRING UP SOME OF THOSE POINTS.

AND I THINK A SIMPLE ONE PAGER VISUAL IS SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT HANDY WITH THAT.

IT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN, RIGHT? UNLESS WE HAVE SOME, WE CAN TELL A STORY.

SO GREAT. AND HAVING IT IN WRITING.

I THINK THE OTHER ISSUE WITH THE FUNDING, WE KNOW THE SPECIAL ED IS A REAL PROBLEM, BUT, AND LEGISLATORS DO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM WITH MCCLEARY.

BUT WE HAVE GOOD STORIES THAT WE CAN SAY IT'S NOT TOTALLY SOLVED.

YES, WE HAVE MUCH LOWER CLASS SIZES.

IT'S REALLY, IT'S REALLY HELPED US WITH CLASS SIZES AND THE AMOUNT OF TEACHERS THAT WE HIRE.

BUT IT HAS NOT HELPED US ENOUGH IN COUNSELORS, NURSES AND ALL ANCILLARY NON TEACHING CERTIFICATED PHYSICIANS WHERE THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH COUNSELORS AND OTHER SPECIALISTS IN THE PROTOTYPICAL SCHOOL MODEL.

SO THAT'S THE PART THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

I AGREE. DIRECTOR SMITH, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU NEED TO ADD? I DON'T, I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY.

I DON'T HAVE THE LIST RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I'LL WEIGH IN ON THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW AND JUST SAY THAT I THINK THAT IT'S VERY TRUE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

AND FOCUSING ON THESE PROGRAMS THAT AREN'T FULLY FUNDED IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL THINGS WE CAN DO.

SO MAKING THOSE PRIORITIES THAT WE TRY AND GET FULLY FUNDED I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND I'LL ALSO JUST THROW A PLUG BECAUSE WE HEARD ABOUT A LITTLE BIT AGO IN ONE OF OUR STUDY SESSIONS, THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT THE DISTRICT OFFERS AND PEOPLE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH STUFF.

YOU KNOW, DON'T BE AFRAID TO GO TO A COUNSELOR AT YOUR SCHOOL AND ASK SOME QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WILL BE THERE TO HELP YOU.

AND WE SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS FUNDED COMPLETELY, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

I'M FORWARD IT TO YOU RIGHT NOW, KEITH.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. I THINK THAT'S GIVES SOME DIRECTION MOVING FORWARD ON THE NEXT STEPS THAT WE'VE GOT.

I'M GOING TO MEET WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING ON SPECIFIC TALKING POINTS ON THIS.

SHARE WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH REGIONALIZATION, STUDENT MEALS, AND SPECIAL ED AND, WHICH, I'VE GOT TO DO THAT IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS ANYWAY. SO THIS IS GOOD TIMING.

GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS.

IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL.

I THINK WE'RE MORE EDUCATED THIS YEAR THAN WE'VE BEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE GET A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM WSSDA.

SO WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF SUPPORT.

AND THEY'RE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB COMING OUT OF COVID TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE TOOLS WE NEED.

AND I'VE GOT A GREAT PARTNER IN DA 1 IN CARL UP AT GRANITE FALLS.

SO GREAT. THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU TO YOU GUYS WHO ARE GOING TO THAT MEETING TO HELP FOLLOW THROUGH.

SO NEXT ON THE AGENDA ARE OUR BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.

[13. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]

USUALLY I HAVE STUDENTS THAT MEET ME IN, BUT I'M NOT THERE.

ARE WE SHORT OF STUDENTS THIS EVENING? WE ARE. THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT ARE NOT WELL AND ARE UNABLE TO GO.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT. WE DON'T HAVE ANY.

I, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF A PERFECT SEGWAY THAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THERE BECAUSE I WAS HELPING SOMEONE TODAY, A SENIOR IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY COULD TURN FOR STUFF.

AND HAVING DONE SOME VOLUNTEER WORK IN THE COUNTY, I KIND OF KNEW OF SOME PROGRAMS THAT WERE THERE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT, AND THAT WAS REALLY REWARDING FOR ME ON A LOT OF LEVELS. AND IT JUST GOT ME THINKING THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT AND OUR COMMUNITIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

SO I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE HAVE AS A DISTRICT AND KIND OF DO A CALL TO ANYBODY WHO'S THERE TODAY.

IF YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DONATE SOMETHING, THAT'S FANTASTIC.

[01:20:04]

BECAUSE WITHOUT PEOPLE, THOSE PROGRAMS DON'T RUN AND THEN YOU MAY NOT SEE IT, BUT ON THE BACK END, OTHER PEOPLE STRUGGLE MORE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT STORY WITH EVERYONE TODAY AND JUST SAY IF IT'S NOTHING BUT TIME, IT'S STILL EXTREMELY VALUABLE TO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY OUT HERE THAT IS VERY CONCERNED WITH OUR STUDENT SAFETY.

IT WAS VERY TRAGIC WHAT HAPPENED AT [INAUDIBLE] TODAY.

OR I'M SORRY. INGRAHAM.

I GET THOSE TWO BACKWARDS.

AT INGRAHAM TODAY AND I THINK THAT IT'S FANTASTIC THAT WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE TAKING THE INTEREST AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN, THAT OUR CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE SAFE.

SO I RESPECT THE FACT THAT MAYBE NOT ALL OF US ARE GOING TO AGREE ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, BUT WE SHOULD ALL HAVE A SEAT AT THAT TABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS GET HOME SAFE EVERY DAY, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE, THAT'S ALL WE REALLY WANT.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SMITH AND DIRECTOR NOBLE.

YES. WELL, FIRST, I WANTED TO JUST SAY MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS AND STAFF AT INGRAHAM.

JUST A HORRIBLE SITUATION YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE IT HAPPENING AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT IN OUR DISTRICT, BUT IT CERTAINLY COULD.

I WANTED TO NOTE THAT THIS IS REALLY TRAUMATIC TO THE STUDENTS AT INGRAM, BUT IT'S ALSO TRAUMATIC TO STUDENTS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION AND INCLUDING OUR DISTRICT.

THIS IS REALLY SCARY STUFF FOR A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS AND THEY ARE VERY, MANY OF THEM WILL BE EXTREMELY TRAUMATIZED BY THIS.

AND WE'LL HAVE COUNSELORS OUT AT ALL OUR HIGH SCHOOLS TOMORROW.

BUT BE AWARE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ANGST IN OUR STUDENTS AND GIVE THEM A LITTLE EXTRA SPACE AND A LITTLE EXTRA SUPPORT IF YOU CAN.

ON A NICER NOTE, LAST WEEK I WAS, HAD THE PLEASURE OF CHAPERONING A FIELD TRIP FOR A TEACHER I KNOW AT WEST GATE ELEMENTARY, AND WE WENT TO THE CASCADE ART INSTITUTE IN EDMONDS.

IT WAS REALLY GREAT. IT WAS REALLY FUN SEEING THE KIDS, THESE SIXTH GRADERS.

SOME OF THEM ARE TALLER THAN ME.

IT'S AMAZING HOW BIG THESE KIDS ARE NOW.

THEY PROBABLY ALWAYS WERE, BUT THEY REALLY SEEM BIG NOW.

IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

THE KIDS WERE WONDERFUL.

THE ART INSTITUTE HAS A REALLY NICE PROGRAM THAT THEY PUT ON FOR THE KIDS, SO THAT WAS FUN.

ALSO, LAST WEEK, I WENT TO OAK HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT VISIT WITH DIRECTOR KATIMS ALSO.

AND WE REALLY HAD A NICE TIME WALKING AROUND THE SCHOOL.

AND THAT'S, I'M SO THRILLED THAT THAT SCHOOL IS GETTING REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN YOU WALK AROUND, IT IS SO OLD AND THEN YOU WALK OUTSIDE AND HALF THE FIELD IS TAKEN UP WITH PORTABLES. IT'S JUST A HARD SCHOOL TO RUN, BUT THEY HAVE GREAT SPIRIT THERE, A WONDERFUL, HAPPY PEOPLE THERE.

AND IT WAS JUST A VERY FUN OCCASION TO GO VISIT THAT SCHOOL.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR NOBLE AND DIRECTOR CHASE.

THANK YOU, GARY, FOR ALSO MENTIONING THE, TAKING SOME TIME AND GRACE WITH ALL OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS WE ALL GRAPPLE WITH THE REACTIONS OF THE TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED TODAY.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.

THE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.

AND DO REMEMBER, THIS IMPACTS ALL OF US.

AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ISSUE TODAY.

AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE DISCUSSION, KNOW THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR SCHOOL BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY TAKES VERY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE WE LOVE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS A STRONG COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK WE CAN STAND TOGETHER IN UNDERSTANDING THAT A BELONGING IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN IN IS THE PRIORITY THAT WE CAN ALL ALIGN UPON.

THAT'S ALL I REALLY, REALLY HAVE FOR YOU.

I THINK THE LEGISLATIVE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO JOIN MY BOARD MEMBERS IN OUR EQUITY TRAINING THAT WE PARTICIPATED WITH WITH WASSDA.

AND SO I REALLY ENJOYED THAT TIME TO DO SOME PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING AS A BOARD AS THE CYCLE OF CONTINUOUS LEARNING.

SO I THINK THOSE KIND OF EXPERIENCES ALSO MAKE OUR BOARD STRONGER AND MAKE OUR BETTER LEADERS AND MAKE US ALL BETTER LEADERS IN THE DISTRICT FOR ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU DIRECTOR CHASE.

AND DIRECTOR KILGORE.

THANK YOU. I AM LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS.

[01:25:02]

I HAVE A KID IN A HIGH SCHOOL HERE, AND OF COURSE I TAKE IT PERSONALLY.

OF COURSE I WANT MY CHILD AND HIS FRIENDS AND EVERYONE IN THE DISTRICT TO BE SAFE.

I WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.

I WAS INVOLVED IN THE DECISION TO REMOVE THE SROS.

FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY PLAN.

AND I URGE YOU, IF YOU ARE FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND OF COURSE WHAT WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO ALL THE THINGS IN THE WORLD, BUT SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T PREVENT SOMEBODY WHO'S REALLY INTENT ON HURTING PEOPLE.

BUT I WOULD URGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE MATERIALS, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A REALLY COMPREHENSIVE PERSPECTIVE ON SAFETY.

EVERYTHING FROM THE PHYSICAL PLANT, THE BEING ABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDOWS AND NOT HAVING A BUNCH OF FOLIAGE IN THE WAY IS VERY IMPORTANT.

OUR NEW CONSTRUCTION, OF COURSE, THAT DOESN'T HELP SOME OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, BUT OUR NEW CONSTRUCTION REALLY PREVENTS A LOT OF STRANGERS FROM GETTING ON CAMPUS.

SO WE DO TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND THE PLAN INCLUDES, I WANT TO SAY, LIKE 20, AT LEAST 20 SEPARATE ITEMS RANGING FROM PHYSICAL TO HAVING VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, HAVING LIAISON OFFICERS FOR MOST OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, HAVING OUR OWN SECURITY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE MADE THE DECISION TO NOT HAVE THE SROS IN THE SCHOOLS, WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STUDENTS CAME TO US AND SAID, WE DON'T LIKE IT, YOU KNOW, AND I'D HEARD FROM MY OWN KIDS.

THERE WAS, IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THEM.

AND IT WASN'T ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS ARE NOT MINORITY STUDENTS, BUT IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THEM TO BE IN A SCHOOL WITH ARMED POLICE.

IT WAS. IT MADE THEM FEEL LESS SAFE THAN WITHOUT.

AND WE LOOKED INTO THE RESEARCH.

WE DID LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

WE LOOKED AT WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE SAW THAT AT LEAST IN THE CASE OF GUN VIOLENCE, HAVING AN SRO VERSUS SOME OTHER WAYS OF DOING THINGS, HAVING VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LEAS, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT DIDN'T HELP.

AND THIS IS A TERRIBLE THING TO HAVE TO SAY.

BUT IN SOME WAYS IT HURT.

AND SO, AND THAT HAS NOT CHANGED.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THANKFULLY, WHEN IT COMES TO GUN VIOLENCE, THE DATA ARE STILL PRETTY SMALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, WE HEAR ABOUT THESE TERRIBLE INCIDENTS, BUT SCHOOLS ARE STILL VERY, VERY SAFE FOR YOUR KIDS.

AND SO THE DATA, THE DATA WE HAVE, IT'S A SMALL DATA SET.

SO WE CAN'T SAY WITH CERTAINTY.

BUT WHAT IT SHOWS US SO FAR IS THAT SROS, AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO GUN VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOLS AND THESE INCIDENTS, YOU KNOW, LIKE LIKE THE ONE AT INGRAHAM YESTERDAY, IT'S NOT THE THING, IT'S NOT THE THING.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED ARE WE NEED OUR KIDS TO HAVE THAT SEL TRAINING, THAT EDUCATION.

WE NEED THEM TO FEEL BETTER.

WE NEED THEM TO FEEL LESS TRAUMATIZED.

WE NEED THEM TO BE.

AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SEL, I KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS ABOUT WHAT IT IS.

I'VE SEEN IT, OR I'VE SEEN SOME OF IT BECAUSE DURING THE PANDEMIC I VOLUNTEERED WITH A CLASSROOM ONLINE, AND PARTICULARLY ON THE DAY WHEN WE HAD SEL.

AND THE KIDS.

YEAH, I'M SORRY. SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

AND THE KIDS LEARNED ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS OF HANDLING THEIR EMOTIONS, THEIR CONFLICTS.

YOU KNOW, INSTEAD, WHEN I'M GETTING SUPER HEATED, HOW CAN I CALM MYSELF DOWN? HOW CAN I THINK ABOUT ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF OF DEALING WITH CONFLICT? AND SO THESE ARE THE YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT IS NOT THE TRICK.

IT'S NOT THE THING THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING.

BUT WE WANT OUR KIDS TO BE AS HEALTHY AS WE CAN MAKE THEM.

AND I THINK IT DOES, THERE IS RESEARCH TO SHOW THAT IT DOES ADDRESS SOME OF THIS.

[01:30:08]

YES, WE DO HAVE INCREASED GANG ACTIVITY AND THAT IS ONE THING THAT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.

I'M NOT GOING TO PAPER OVER IT.

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT AT LEAST OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE SAID, THIS IS WHY WE NEEDED TO BE IN YOUR SCHOOLS SO THAT WE COULD MONITOR THIS. AT THE SAME TIME THE INCIDENTS THAT WE HAD HERE IN LYNNWOOD THIS SUMMER, THEY DIDN'T HAPPEN IN SCHOOL.

THESE KIDS, THEY'RE ENGAGED IN GANG ACTIVITY INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.

SO, AGAIN, WITH THESE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT LIAISONS, I JUST ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THOSE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS, TO BUILD THOSE, TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND TO ADDRESS THIS GANG ACTIVITY SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT IS CONCERNING TO ME.

AND SO I JUST ASK, WELL, MR. SCHWAB'S NOT HERE, BUT I WILL ASK HIM AGAIN, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON TOP OF THAT IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY.

AND SO ANYWAY, I SPENT ALL MY TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT.

I ALSO I LIKE DUAL LANGUAGE VERY MUCH, AND IT'S A PRIORITY IN THE DISTRICT.

IT'S THE LAW OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.

WHETHER WE DO IT IN 11 OR TEN MONTHS OR A YEAR AND TEN MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP EXPANDING IT BECAUSE AS FAR AS I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD VOTED FOR IT.

AND IT SEEMS SO FAR TO BE WORKING.

IT SEEMS TO BE HAVING SOME PROMISING RESULTS.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL JUST CUT MYSELF OFF AND TURN IT OVER TO DR.

KATIMS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR KILGORE.

I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS TONIGHT.

I APPRECIATE MY BOARD COLLEAGUES COMMENTS VERY MUCH ON SAFETY.

I'M NOT GOING TO REITERATE, I ECHO EVERYBODY'S CONCERN.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO IS I'VE PROMISED THAT AT EVERY MEETING I'LL DO AN UPDATE ON THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.

AND AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, I TOLD EVERYBODY ABOUT A SURVEY THAT'S OPEN FOR FOLKS.

IT'S STILL OPEN UNTIL THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH.

I WANT TO THANK THE OVER 1000 PEOPLE SO FAR WHO HAVE COMPLETED IT.

THIS IS TO GIVE INPUT ON WHAT YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT THAT THE BOARD NEEDS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT THAT WE WILL BE HIRING.

YOU CAN FIND THE SURVEY RIGHT ON THE DISTRICT HOME PAGE UNDER FEATURED NEWS.

SINCE THERE'S NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, THAT GIVES PEOPLE TIME TO DO IT.

IT ONLY TAKES ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES TO DO.

IT'S FOR STUDENTS, STAFF, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARENTS.

SO IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE GIVE US YOUR VALUABLE THOUGHTS ON THAT TOPIC.

IT WILL ALSO TELL US HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE DISTRICT.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR US.

I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE SINCE THE LAST BOARD MEETING TO PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF REALLY INTERESTING SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITIES.

LIKE DIRECTOR CHASE MENTIONED, SEVERAL OF US GOT TO GO TO AN EQUITY TRAINING THAT WAS PUT ON BY OTHER SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTORS THROUGH THE WASHINGTON STATE SCHOOL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION.

AND IT REALLY MIRRORED AND REINFORCED THE DISTRICT'S INCLUSION AND EQUITY POLICIES THAT WE HAVE.

WE'RE REALLY RIGHT THERE WITH THE EXPECTATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

WITH DR. MINOR, I VISITED SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND OAK HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY, ALONG WITH DIRECTOR NOBLE, AND GOT TO CHAT WITH KIDS ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE LEARNING, WHAT WAS GOING ON.

TWO VERY, HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY, BOTH REALLY, REALLY ENJOYABLE VISITS.

I ALSO GOT TO VISIT BRIER TERRACE MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH DR.

MINOR AND THEN A WEEK LATER AND I MENTIONED THIS WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE KIDS INPUT, I GOT TO GO AND MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO FIVE CLASSROOMS. MY RESPECT FOR TEACHERS, WHICH IS ALREADY REALLY HIGH, WENT WAY HIGHER FOR HOW TIRED I WAS AT THE END OF THAT DAY.

AND IT WAS ON THE TOPIC OF LOCAL ELECTIONS AND HOW THAT IMPACTS PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES.

I USED THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE AND THE POLICIES WE MAKE FOR THEM TO SEE HOW THE DECISIONS THAT LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS MAKE IMPACT PEOPLE'S EVERYDAY LIVES.

[01:35:03]

I ALSO TALKED ABOUT BALLOT MEASURES AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THEM.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE BONDS AND LEVIES IN TERMS OF HAVING TECHNOLOGY, WHICH THEY REALLY APPRECIATE, HAVING BUILDINGS, THE FACILITIES TO TAKE CARE OF.

IT WAS, I HOPE IT WAS AS ENJOYABLE AND ENLIGHTENING FOR THEM AS IT WAS FOR ME.

IT WAS WONDERFUL. THEY WERE GREAT KIDS.

WITH REGARD TO THE COMMENTS, THERE WAS JUST ONE INACCURACY THAT I WANTED TO CLARIFY.

SOMEBODY SAID THAT THEY LOOKED AT OUR SEX EDUCATION PROGRAM ON A YOUTUBE THEY CALLED IT THE AMAZE PROGRAM.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING CALLED THAT.

WE USE THE NO AND FLASH CURRICULAR MATERIALS.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT THE DISTRICT USES, PLEASE CONTACT LISA GONZALEZ, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OVER STUDENT LEARNING.

AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE DISTRICT USES, NOT WHAT IS JUST ON YOUTUBE AS SOME RANDOM SEX ED PROGRAM.

SO I REALLY WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT WHAT WAS MENTIONED MIGHT BE WHAT WE'RE DOING.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT PROGRAM IS.

THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS I WANT TO THANK DR.

MINOR. SO, SHE'S BEEN DOING A LOT OF HARD WORK ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT, ON OUR KIDS, FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR STAFF.

AND IT'S NOT EASY TO JUMP INTO AN INTERIM POSITION, GET TO KNOW STAFF, GET TO KNOW OUR NEEDS QUICKLY, KEEP THE MOMENTUM OF OUR PROGRESS MOVING FORWARD.

AND IT IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR US EVERY DAY.

AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

THANK YOU. WELL, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION SPONSORED BY THE LATINO EDUCATIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTE AT THE EDMONDS WATERFRONT CENTER.

NOT ONLY WAS IT JUST A BEAUTIFUL CULTURAL CELEBRATION OF A VERY IMPORTANT CULTURAL EVENT, BUT ALSO JUST RECOGNIZING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IT WAS REALLY FANTASTIC.

THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY TONIGHT, AS THE DAUGHTER OF A WORLD WAR II VETERAN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED, ALL OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED. AND I KNOW MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WILL BE THINKING ABOUT THAT AS A FUTURE OPTION FOR THEMSELVES.

I'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF THEM ABOUT THAT.

SO THOSE WHO WILL BE SERVING, I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT HOLIDAY TO RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICES OF SO MANY PEOPLE TO PRESERVE THE FREEDOMS OF ALL OF US.

THANK YOU. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT HAVING TALKED TO KIDS ABOUT LOCAL ELECTIONS SEEMS APROPOS OF TODAY.

I HOPE EVERYBODY VOTED.

THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS ANY ITEMS THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ON FUTURE MEETINGS THAT HAVEN'T ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED.

[14. ITEMS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION OR INFORMATION]

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW YET.

I'M WONDERING IF WE SHOULD REVISIT OR GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TERMS OF THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM, SINCE THAT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT.

SO IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

WE DID HAVE A REPORT EARLIER IN THE YEAR THAT WAS AN EVALUATION OF WHAT HAPPENED AT CPE AND CEDAR VALLEY THAT SEEMED VERY POSITIVE, BUT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR US AS WE KEEP HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY AND STAFF PARTICULARLY ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT.

OR MAYBE IN A FRIDAY MEMO WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO DO THAT.

OKAY. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.

ANYTHING ELSE? FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER.

WELL, I BELIEVE, THAT BEING SAID, THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.