[00:00:03] GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS RECONVENING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION AND IS CALLED TO ORDER. [3. RECONVENE BUSINESS MEETING- 6:30 pm] FIRST ON THE AGENDA IS A ROLL CALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS. [4. ROLL CALL-6:31 pm] DIRECTOR SMITH PRESENT. DIRECTOR NOBLE HERE. DIRECTOR CHASE HERE. DIRECTOR KILGORE AND I'M DIRECTOR KATIMS. WE'RE ALL IN ATTENDANCE. [5. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-6:32 pm] I'M NOW GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DR. MINOR FOR OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT. THANK YOU, DR. KATIMS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THIS PLACE, THE SDOHOBSH 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. [6. FLAG SALUTE-6:33 pm] THANK YOU. AND NOW WOULD YOU ALL JOIN ME TO RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG?ALLEGIANCE]. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA AS PRESENTED. [7. APPROVAL OF AGENDA-6:34 pm] DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND? MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS AND OUR AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. [8. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT-6:35 pm] NEXT, WE HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. I'D LIKE TO BEGIN THIS EVENING JUST BY TAKING A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE THOSE IN ATTENDANCE TO SOME NEW TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE HERE IN THE BOARDROOM. THIS IS PAID FOR BY OUR TECH LEVY. WE HAVE MICROPHONES THAT ARE NEW TO US. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL ENHANCE. THE PURPOSE OF GETTING THIS NEW EQUIPMENT WAS TO ENHANCE THE LISTENING EXPERIENCES OF BOTH THOSE IN THE ROOM AS WELL AS THOSE AT HOME. IT'S OUR GOAL TO MAKE THE WORK OF THE BOARD AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE. AND WE KNOW THAT IF YOU CAN'T HEAR US OR PEOPLE CAN'T HEAR US AT HOME, THAT CAN'T HAPPEN. AND SO WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS THESE ADDITIONS WILL HELP. IN ADDITION, WE NOW HAVE SCREENS UNDERNEATH, WHICH I THINK THEY DID SOME TIME AGO, OR WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THESE GLASS THINGS. BUT SCREENS UNDERNEATH, IF YOU SEE US LOOKING DOWN, THESE SCREENS MIRROR WHAT YOU SEE GOING ON BEHIND US AND ENABLED US TO TURN THAT ONE SO THAT THE AUDIENCE CAN BETTER SEE THAT ONE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THAT ONE FOR US TO LOOK AT. WE ALSO HAVE THEM ON OUR COMPUTER SCREENS TYPICALLY. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT. IF YOU WERE A PERSON HERE IN THE DISTRICT WHO HELPED WITH THESE IMPORTANT ENHANCEMENTS TO THE BOARDS, TO THE VIEWERS AND LISTENERS TO EXPERIENCE OUR COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCE, CAN YOU PLEASE STAND SO THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE YOU? THIS WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK AND. [APPLAUSE]. A LONG TIME IN COMING? THEY ALL CAME TONIGHT TO SUPPORT US AS WE GO THROUGH THIS. SO HOPEFULLY YOU WILL SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER. THAT WAS THE FASTEST RISING AND SITTING DOWN OF PEOPLE. BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [9. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-6:40 pm] NEXT, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF MINUTES. FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS. FIRST, AN APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 15 SCHOOL BOARD STUDY SESSION. WHEN WE DISCUSSED THE PROFILE FOR SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND? SO MOVED. I SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND FOR THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 15TH STUDY SESSION. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE MINUTES FOR THE NOVEMBER 15TH BOARD STUDY SESSION ARE APPROVED. SECONDLY, WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 22ND SCHOOL BOARD STUDY SESSION WHERE WE LEARNED ABOUT THE SIFT APPROACH. DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE? MOVE TO APPROVE? SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. [00:05:03] IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? I ABSTAINED. THANK YOU. AND THE MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 22ND SCHOOL BOARD STUDY SESSION ARE APPROVED. NEXT, WE HAVE THE MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 22ND REGULAR BOARD MEETING. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND? 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, PLEASE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED INDICATE BY SAYING NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE SORRY I ABSTAIN AND THE MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 22ND REGULAR BOARD MEETING ARE APPROVED. [10. ANNUAL ORGANIZATION MEETING- 6:50pm] NEXT, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL ORGANIZATION MEETING. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THE BOARD WILL ELECT FROM THE MEMBERS, A PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, AND A LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE ANNUALLY. SINCE WE HAVE NO NEWLY ELECTED OR REELECTED BOARD MEMBERS THIS YEAR, THE REORGANIZATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY 1210, OCCURS AT THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING IN DECEMBER, WHICH IS TONIGHT. WE WILL BEGIN BY TAKING A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT TO SERVE FOR THE ENSUING YEAR. DO I HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT? I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE NANCY KATIMS TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT. I'LL SECOND THAT. NANCY KATIMS IS NOMINATED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE TO NOMINATE NANCY KATIMS AS BOARD PRESIDENT. DIRECTOR SMITH, AYE. DIRECTOR NOBLE, AYE. DIRECTOR CHASE, AYE. DIRECTOR KILGORE, AYE. DIRECTOR KATIMS, AYE. AND I WANT TO THANK MY BOARD COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR TRUST IN ME. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. WE WORK WELL AS A TEAM, AND THAT'S WHAT I REALLY PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE. I WILL NOW CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT. I NOMINATE DEBORAH KILGORE. SECOND. DEBORAH KILGORE IS NOMINATED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE. I WILL NOW CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE TO NOMINATE DEBORAH KILGORE AS BOARD VICE PRESIDENT. DIRECTOR SMITH, AYE. DIRECTOR NOBLE, AYE. DIRECTOR CHASE, AYE. DIRECTOR KILGORE, AYE. AND. DIRECTOR KATIMS, AYE. CONGRATULATIONS, VICE PRESIDENT KILGORE. THANK YOU. NEXT, I WILL CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE KAREN CHASE. KAREN CHASE IS NOMINATED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE. I WILL NOW CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE. OH, THERE WAS A SECOND, RIGHT? YES. BY DR. KILGORE. THANK YOU. DR. SMITH, AYE. DIRECTOR NOBLE, AYE. DIRECTOR CHASE, AYE. DIRECTOR KILGORE, AYE. DIRECTOR KATIMS, AYE. CONGRATULATIONS. LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE CHASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW ME TO SERVE IN THIS POSITION. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU SERVE IN THAT POSITION AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD BECAUSE WE REALLY DO WORK WELL AS A TEAM AND WE ALL DO OUR ROLES IN VARIOUS WAYS. BUT THIS IS A GOOD, STRONG BOARD. EVEN WHEN WE DON'T AGREE, WE HAVE GOOD DISCUSSIONS AND LISTEN WELL TO EACH OTHER. [11. PUBLIC COMMENTS-7:10 pm] NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK YOU, GARY. THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AGENDA IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD. 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, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND OR STAFF AT A LATER TIME. PEOPLE MAY SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR A BOARD MEETING IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS. YOU MAY CHOOSE TO READ YOUR COMMENT ALOUD IN PERSON. YOU MAY CHOOSE TO READ YOUR COMMENT ALOUD VIRTUALLY, OR YOU MAY CHOOSE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT IN WRITING. THE BOARD READS ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS AND THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE MEETING AGENDA, WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE BOARD DOCK'S WEBSITE. TONIGHT WE HAD ONE WRITTEN COMMENT THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE BOARD WEBSITE WITH THE MEETING AGENDA WHEN IT'S POSTED AND WE HAVE NO COMMENTS [00:10:04] TO BE GIVEN VIRTUALLY. 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 IT TAKES FOR THOSE WHO WRITE THEM. WHILE WE ENCOURAGE AND APPRECIATE PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENT 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 COMMENT IN PERSON. PLEASE. GO TO THE PODIUM. SPEAK FAIRLY CLOSELY INTO THE MIC. ALTHOUGH THE NEW MICS ARE MORE SENSITIVE THAN THE OLD ONES IN ORDER TO BE HEARD CLEARLY FOR US, EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING AT HOME. WE ALSO ASK THOSE WHO ARE MAKING A PUBLIC COMMENT DURING A BOARD MEETING TO PLEASE MAKE THEIR COMMENTS IN A CIVIL MANNER WITHOUT TARGETING ANY ONE PERSON OR GROUP IN THE DISTRICT. 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. AND TONIGHT WE MAY HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT REQUIRE AN INTERPRETER AND THOSE WE WILL GIVE 6 MINUTES IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME. SO THE FIRST PERSON TO GIVE A PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT IS LUCILLE DOWNEY. HI, MY NAME IS LUCILLE DOWNEY. I AM IN THIRD GRADE AT MADRONA K-8 SCHOOL. I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW THE SNOW AFFECTED ME AT SCHOOL EARLIER THIS MONTH. I USE A POWER WHEELCHAIR AT SCHOOL TO HELP ME GET AROUND. THE DAY AFTER OUR SNOW DAY. MY DAD TOOK ME TO SCHOOL. ALL THE HANDICAPPED SPOTS WERE STILL SNOWING. I WAS VERY SURPRISED I COULDN'T USE THEM. MORE SNOW WAS EVEN PILED INTO THEM. WE COULDN'T GET MY WHEELCHAIR OUT OF THE VAN BECAUSE OF THE SNOW AND THE ICE IN THE HANDICAPPED PARKING. WE HAD TO PARK IN THE BUS LANE AND MY DAD HAD TO LIFT MY WHEELCHAIR OUT FARTHER THAN USUAL AND HELP ME GET OUT OF THE SNOW. AFTER SCHOOL THAT DAY, I HAD TO LEAVE SCHOOL A DIFFERENT WAY BECAUSE MY NORMAL WAY WAS SNOWY. THE WHOLE SCHOOL CAME DOWN THAT DIFFERENT WAY ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THERE WAS NO ROOM. THERE WAS NOT ROOM FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE ONLY PARTS OF THE PATH WERE CLEARED OFF. THIS MADE ME HAVE LOTS OF STRESS AND WORRIES BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS CROWDED TOGETHER AND THERE WAS A HIGH CHANCE I WOULD RUN OVER SOMEONE AND I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT. IT TOOK A LOT OF DAYS UNTIL THE HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOTS WERE CLEARED ALMOST A WEEK. THIS MEANT LOTS OF EXTRA WORK FOR ME AND MY FAMILY WHO LOAD AND UNLOAD MY WHEELCHAIR. MY TEACHER HELPS ME GET LEAVE CLASS 5 MINUTES EARLY SO I WOULDN'T GET CAUGHT IN THE BIG CROWDS. THAT WAS GOOD, BUT IT MEANT I HAD TO MISS SOME LEARNING, WHICH WAS BAD. IT WAS NOT RIGHT FOR IT TO TAKE SO LONG FOR THE HANDICAPPED PARKING SPOTS AND THE PATHWAYS TO BE CLEARED. SCHOOLS SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. PLEASE WORK ON PLAN SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND CAUSED ME LOTS OF STRESS AND WORRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LUCILLE. THAT WAS VERY BRAVE OF YOU TO COME AND SHARE THAT WITH US. AND I KNOW STAFF IS LISTENING AND WE'LL DO WORK TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. PRESIDENT KATIMS, MAY I SAY SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY HERE? I JUST WANTED TO MENTION LUCILLE. SO MY JOB ACTUALLY IS TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES GET AROUND IN THE STATE. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I LOOK AT. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY SAD. I THINK A LOT OF THE TIMES THAT PEOPLE UNINTENTIONALLY PUT UP BARRIERS, AND I SEE THAT ALL THE TIME. AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE INSTANCES WHERE I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK ANYONE MEANT TO HURT YOU, BUT IT'S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE SO THAT THOSE OF US THAT DON'T HAVE THESE CHALLENGES CAN SEE THEM. SO I REALLY WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION. AND I'M CERTAIN THE DISTRICT WILL WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS BETTER FOR YOU IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, KEITH. NEXT IS CHRISTY ROBERTSON. [00:15:09] SINCE WE ARE IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON, I WANT TO REFLECT ON MY 33 YEARS OF TEACHING AND HOW THE CELEBRATION OF HOLIDAYS WAS REMOVED. THEN I WANT TO CONTRAST THAT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOOL LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES REGARDING LGBTQ IDEOLOGY. WHEN I STARTED TEACHING, SCHOOLS INCLUDED INSTRUCTION AND ACTIVITIES REGARDING CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH AND THANKSGIVING. CHRISTMAS AND THANKSGIVING ARE NATIONAL HOLIDAYS, AND ALL ONE MUST DO IS LOOK AT THE CROWDS IN AIRPORTS AND TRAIN STATIONS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THEM EITHER AS RELIGIOUS OR SECULAR HOLIDAYS. OVER TIME, HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES WERE REMOVED FROM SCHOOLS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DID NOT CELEBRATE THOSE HOLIDAYS. THE MINORITY OF PEOPLE WHO DID NOT CELEBRATE THEM DID NOT WANT THE SCHOOLS SUBJECTING THEIR CHILDREN TO INSTRUCTION AND ACTIVITIES WITH THOSE THEMES. RESPECT FOR THAT MINORITY VIEW SET THE STANDARD AND PEOPLE. THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS RESPONDED BY SWITCHING TO WINTER VACATIONS AND WINTER MUSIC PROGRAMS. AT ONE SCHOOL WHERE I TAUGHT THE PRINCIPAL BAND THE USE OF THE COLORS RED AND GREEN IN ANY ART PROJECTS DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. NO ONE LABELED PEOPLE WITH THESE CONCERNS AS BEING PHOBIC. NO ONE SUGGESTED THAT THESE PEOPLE REMOVE THEIR CHILDREN FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FIND CONFORMITY ELSEWHERE. ALL PEOPLE ARE ACCEPTED AND RESPECTED WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CHRISTMAS, THANKSGIVING AND HOLIDAYS. ALL PEOPLE ALSO NEED TO BE ACCEPTED FOR WHO THEY ARE AS THEY ARE NO MATTER HOW THEY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES. STUDENTS NEED TO BE TAUGHT TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH COMPLETE RESPECT. THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION IN LGBTQ IDEOLOGY. THE CONFLICT IS THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE NOW INCLUDING EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION IN LGBTQ IDEOLOGY. TWO YEARS AGO, I WITNESSED MY GRANDSON'S EDMONDS KINDERGARTEN TEACHER READ A STORY TO THE CLASS WITH AN EXPLICIT TRANSGENDER THEME. ANOTHER FAMILY I LEARNED ABOUT HAD THEIR FIRST GRADE CHILD COME HOME FROM AN EDMONDS SCHOOL WITH AN LGBTQ THEMED COLORING PAPER TITLED QUEER AFFIRMING. I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN FROM A NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO REPORTED AN ELEMENTARY CHILD COMING HOME CONFUSED BECAUSE THIS CHILD'S TEACHER TAUGHT THE CLASS THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE TO BE BOYS OR GIRLS. THE CHALLENGE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IS HOW TO RESPECT ALL VIEWS REGARDING OUR DIVERSE HUMANITY AND VALUES. ANOTHER CHALLENGE IS WHEN AND HOW TO TEACH DIFFERING VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL MATTERS. SEXUAL TOPICS OF ANY KIND ARE NOT APPROPRIATE IN THE PRIMARY GRADES, AND I ASK THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD MAKE THIS CLEAR TO ALL PRIMARY TEACHERS. [APPLAUSE]. NEXT IS [INAUDIBLE]. HELLO? AARON, HAVE YOU PASSED OUT THE PICTURE? THANK YOU. AARON'S GOING TO BE PASSING OUT THESE PICTURES TO ALL OF YOU THAT I TOOK ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2ND. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I'M THE PARENT OF TWO DISTRICT STUDENTS WITH MY OLDEST RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. MY SON IS AUTISTIC, AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT MANIFESTS IS IN DIFFICULTY BEING AWARE OF HIS SURROUNDINGS. IT WAS DURING HIS TIME AT CHASE LAKE THAT WE HAD A PRETTY TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE WHERE HE WAS VERY NEARLY HIT BY A BUS IN THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT. OUR FAMILY WORKED WITH HIS PEDIATRICIAN WHO RECOMMENDED WE GET A DISABILITY PARKING PASS. THIS PERMIT HE'S HAD FOR FOUR YEARS BECAME ESPECIALLY CRITICAL WHEN THIS PAST SEPTEMBER HE BROKE HIS LEG AT RECESS AND IS NEEDED TO USE A WHEELCHAIR OR A WALKING BOOT FOR MOBILITY AND ACCESS. UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES WITH DISABILITY PARKING SPACES, ACCESS AISLES AND RAMPS ARE FEDERALLY REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN ACCESS AND USE TO THESE SPACES AND THEIR CONNECTION POINTS. BUT DURING OUR RECENT SNOWSTORM, WE FOUND THE MAINTENANCE AND CARE OF THESE AREAS WERE SEEMINGLY THE LAST THING ON ANYONE'S MIND. THE MAIN SIDEWALKS THEMSELVES, AT LEAST AT MEADOW DALE ELEMENTARY, WHERE MY CHILDREN ATTEND, HAD BEEN SHOVELED AND SALTED BUT STOPPED SHORT ONCE YOU REACH THE DISABLED PARKING SPACES. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A NUMBER OF PARENTS FRUSTRATED OVER THE CONDITIONS AT THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL, I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO VISIT ROUGHLY 30 SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2ND. THIS WAS MORE THAN TWO DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL SNOWFALL IN SCHOOL CANCELLATION. TWO DAYS AFTER THE DISTRICT DEEMED IT SAFE FOR STUDENTS TO RETURN TO SCHOOL AND TO NAVIGATE THE GROUNDS. AND AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE PHOTOS I'VE PASSED ALONG, EVERY SCHOOL HAD DANGEROUS, INADEQUATE ACCESS FROM THE DISABLED PARKING SPACES WITH EDMONDS WOODWAY HIGH SCHOOL BEING THE ONLY [00:20:08] EXCEPTION. ALSO EDMONDS ELEMENTARY. BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET ANY SNOW AT THEIR ELEVATION. SOME SCHOOLS USE THE RAMPS AND PARKING SPACES TO DUMP EXCESS SNOW FROM OTHER WALKWAYS AND PARKING AREAS. AT ONE SCHOOL, SNOW WAS PILED UP ON THE ACCESS AISLES AND RAMPS, REQUIRING A STUDENT WHO USES A £100 MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR AND SHE OR HERSELF WEIGHING OVER £50 TO BE PHYSICALLY LIFTED BY HER MOTHER AND A KIND STRANGER OVER THE SNOW PILE. THIS IS NO WAY EQUITABLE OR UPHOLDING OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S DIGNITY OR RIGHTS TO ACCESS FAIR EDUCATION. I RECENTLY SPOKE WITH BRETT DE VRIES, THE MANAGER OF THE DISTRICT'S MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CURRENT POLICY IS THAT SCHOOLS ARE INDIVIDUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SHOVELING THE SNOW ON THEIR WALKWAYS, BUT THAT ONCE THE WALKWAYS REACH THE DISABILITY ACCESS RAMPS AND ACCESS AISLES AND SPACES, IT BECOMES DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITY. HE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE DISTRICT'S FIRST PRIORITY IS TO SHOVEL BUS LANES IN PARKING LOTS. HOWEVER, THESE DISABLED PARKING SPACES ARE STILL BEING OVERLOOKED. IS THAT MY TIMER? THAT'S YOUR 3 MINUTES. OKAY. I WOULD JUST ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER THE ADA AND ACCESS FOR ALL CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ANTHONY [INAUDIBLE]. NO. GOOD EVENING. WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE TERM DEMOGRAPHICS IS DESTINY. YET PERHAPS WE HAVEN'T CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT THAT OUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, WHICH IS DIRECTLY TIED TO OUR BASE POPULATION, MORE SPECIFICALLY A POPULATION COMPRISED OF WELL-EDUCATED CITIZENS WHO CREATE A PRODUCTIVE AND PROSPEROUS WORKFORCE. A SECONDARY CONSIDERATION OF THIS FACT IMPACTS PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES, BOTH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL, WHO MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER HOW DEPENDENT THEIR SALARIES ARE ON A TAX REVENUE PAID IN LARGE PART BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR WORKFORCE. A ROBUST PRIVATE SECTOR ECONOMY WILL BECOME MORE CRITICAL AS THE WORLD ABANDONS THE DOLLAR AND OIL BECOMES DOMINATED, DYNAMIC PRICED IN OTHER DENOMINATIONS BESIDES THE DOLLAR. ELIMINATING THE ABILITY OF AN UNDISCIPLINED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SPEND MONEY WAY BEYOND OUR IMAGINATION AND NOT TO MENTION OUR MEANS TO REPAY THESE DEBTS. SO PUTTING ASIDE GOVERNMENT FUNDING, A HEALTHY SOCIETY IS DEPENDENT ON A GROWING POPULATION JUST TO REMAIN STABLE. WE NEED A GROWTH RATE OF 2.1 CHILDREN PER WOMAN TO BE EQUAL. YET WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 1.44 AND FALLING RAPIDLY. THEREFORE, WHY DOES THIS BOARD EMBRACE, TEACH AND PROMOTE GROOMING AND THE NORMALIZATION OF TRANSGENDERISM TO OUR YOUNG PUPILS WHOSE MINDS HAVE BARELY BEGUN TO DEVELOP? PROVERBS 28:22 EIGHT SAYS TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, AND EVEN WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM THIS. YOUR MISGUIDED TEACHINGS WILL STAY WITH THESE CHILDREN LONG INTO ADULTHOOD WHILE THIS DYSPHORIA DESTROYS THEIR ABILITY TO REPRODUCE. ADDITIONALLY, YOUR FOCUS ON THIS ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR IS CORRUPTING THE SOULS AND MINDS OF THESE IMPRESSIONABLE CHILDREN, AND THE SOCIETAL CONSEQUENCES OF THIS WILL IMPACT THE FUTURE PUBLIC FUNDING OF SCHOOLS AND THE OVERALL STABILITY OF OUR SOCIETY, WHICH WE ARE JUST NOW BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE. THIS BOARD HAS A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE AND PRODUCE A VIBRANT, PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN. WE NEED SCHOOLS TO FOCUS ON THE BASICS OF READING, WRITING AND ARITHMETIC AND HISTORY. SO MANY OF US ARE QUESTIONING YOUR MOTIVES FOR TEACHING THIS DESTRUCTIVE MENTALITY AND PROMOTING THIS TO OUR NEXT GENERATION. THIS IS EXEMPLIFIED BY YOUR ACTIONS, SUCH AS BARELY MENTIONING THE MEANING OF AND WHY WE CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING, YET MAKING THE WHOLE MONTH OF JUNE A CELEBRATION OF BEING GAY AND NOW TRANSGENDERISM. TODAY, ONE OUT OF 20 COLLEGE AGE PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY ARE INHABITING THE WRONG BODY. HISTORICALLY, ACCORDING TO PEW RESEARCH, THIS NUMBER HAS BEEN ONE OUT OF 30,000. NOW, I KNOW OTHERS IN THIS AUDIENCE WILL STAND UP AND SAY, I AM SPEAKING HATE SPEECH. YET THIS IS NOT HATE SPEECH BUT REALITY. AND IF REALITY IS HATE SPEECH TO YOU, I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD WAKE UP AND REALIZE THE TRUE STATE OF OUR SOCIETY. [00:25:05] [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP IS ROBERT FRITZ. [INAUDIBLE] . GOTCHA. A 29 MERRY CHRISTMAS, A 2019 POLL STUDY. A SURVEY SAYS 93% OF AMERICANS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS. HALF SEE IT PRIMARILY AS A RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY. HALF DON'T. A 2017 POLL ON HOW TO GREET AT CHRISTMASTIME, 52% SAID IT DOESN'T MATTER. 37% SAID MERRY CHRISTMAS. 15% SAID HAPPY HOLIDAYS. ONE THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS IS WHEN YOU SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS, YOU COULD BE SAYING HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS OR SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING AND EITHER ONE IS FINE WITH ME. IN 1870, CHRISTMAS WAS ESTABLISHED AS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY, ALONG WITH THANKSGIVING, INDEPENDENCE DAY AND NEW YEAR'S. NOW, EASTER IS NOT A FEDERAL HOLIDAY, BUT WHEN YOU SAY HAPPY EASTER, ARE YOU COMMEMORATING JESUS, JESUS RESURRECTION OR GLAD THE EASTER BUNNY IS COMING? I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T CARE. IT'S UP TO YOU. BUT TWO THIRDS OF ALL AMERICANS BELIEVE THE CHRISTMAS STORY. 19% SAY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. WORLDWIDE, CHRISTMAS IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY MOST EVERYWHERE. IT IS NOT A HOLIDAY, SAY, TO SOME 200,000. SOME 200 COUNTRIES ON EARTH CELEBRATED. IT IS NOT A HOLIDAY IN ONLY 25 COUNTRIES STRETCHING FROM MOROCCO TO JAPAN. BUT IN SOME OF THOSE, LIKE JAPAN, THOUGH, IT'S NOT A HOLIDAY. GIFTS AND TREES ARE CELEBRATED. CHRISTMAS IS KFC'S BIGGEST DAY IN JAPAN, 3.6 MILLION CUSTOMERS. CHRISTMAS TREES WERE NOT ORIGINALLY CHRISTMAS. EVERGREEN TREES IN WINTER STARTED IN EGYPT, CHINA AND ISRAEL, LATER IN PAGAN EUROPE AND PAGAN ROME SATURNALIA WINTER FESTIVAL. FOR CENTURIES THEY WERE PAGAN BEFORE BEING CALLED CHRISTMAS TREES. SO CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT DIVERSITY AND MOST EVERY COUNTRY ON EVERY CONTINENT, CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATED. THE BIBLE IS AN INCREDIBLY DIVERSE PIECE OF LITERATURE TAKING PLACE IN ASIA, EUROPE AND AFRICA. IT TAKES PLACE IN OR MENTIONED SOME 18 MODERN COUNTRIES FROM INDIA TO SPAIN, ETHIOPIA TO CROATIA. AS A BABY, JESUS WAS BORN IN ASIA, PERSECUTED BY A KING INSTALLED BY ROMANS FROM EUROPE, THEN FLEEING TO SAFETY IN EGYPT. IN AFRICA. IT DOESN'T GET MORE DIVERSE THAN THAT. TODAY, ONE THIRD OF THE WORLD IS CHRISTIAN, ONE FOURTH MUSLIM, 1/10 OF A PERCENT. JESUS, JEWISH JESUS AND HIS FAMILY WERE JEWS. I MENTIONED MUSLIM BECAUSE BOTH JESUS KNOWN TO MUSLIMS [INAUDIBLE] AND HIS MOTHER MARY, THE ONLY WOMAN NAMED IN THE KORAN, FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN THAT BOOK. SO HALF THE WORLD KNOWS ABOUT THEM, THOUGH THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN THEIR STORIES. LASTLY, WHEN IT COMES TO DIVERSITY, THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TAKES THE CAKE. THE BIBLE, WHICH CAN EASILY RUN 1000 PAGES, IS NOW IN FULL AND 717 LANGUAGES. THE NEW TESTAMENT IN 1500 AND PARTS OF THE BIBLE IN ANOTHER 2200, WITH MORE BECOMING AVAILABLE EVERY WEEK, 90% OF THE PERCENT OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION HAS AT LEAST PART OF THE BIBLE AND THE LANGUAGE THEY UNDERSTAND. FOR MOST OF THESE LANGUAGES, BIBLE TRANSLATORS WERE THE FIRST RATE. ANYTHING IN THAT LANGUAGE YOU LIKE DIVERSITY, MEET THE WORLD CHAMPS, THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. AND BY THE WAY, MERRY CHRISTMAS. SANTA CLAUS IS COMING. HAVE YOU BEEN TO KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN YET THIS MONTH? THANK YOU. NEXT IS CINDY WHITEMAN. HELLO. I'M CINDY WHITEMAN. I HAD TWO APPOINTMENTS THIS FALL TO LOOK AT SOME INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL AT THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER. I ASKED THE SUPPORT SPECIALIST TO SEE SOME OF THE CURRICULUM THAT IS TAUGHT IN READING LANGUAGE, HISTORY AND SCIENCE. I WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE THIRD JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH TEXTBOOKS. OF COURSE, I WAS ONLY ABLE TO SKIM THROUGH THE TEXTBOOKS. MOST OF THE MATERIALS THAT I LOOKED AT HAD COMMON CORE STANDARDS LISTED, TEACHER GUIDELINES THAT WERE COMPREHENSIVE AND FAIRLY SIMPLE TO FOLLOW AND CONTENT THAT SEEMED INTERESTING AND AGE APPROPRIATE FOR THE SUBJECT. THE ONE CURRICULUM THAT CAUSED ME TO BE CONCERNED WAS DR. LUCY CALKINS. UNITS OF STUDY FOR READING AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING ON NOVEMBER 22ND. [00:30:05] I REMEMBER AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER FROM THE MOUNTLAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY CAMPUS MENTIONED IN HER COMMENTS THAT THE TEACHERS DID NOT WANT THE CALKINS READING CURRICULUM. NOW, I'M NOT SURE IF SHE MEANT JUST HER CAMPUS OR ACROSS THE DISTRICT. BASED ON THE REPORT CARD FOR THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT ON THE OSP WEBSITE, THE READING OF MATH SCORES HAVE BEEN NEAR OR BELOW THE 50TH PERCENTILE SINCE 2014 2015. DR. CALKINS WORKSHOP STYLE APPROACH TO TEACHING READING IS OBVIOUSLY INADEQUATE AND NOT PROMOTING STUDENT SUCCESS IN READING. I DID NOT FIND OUT WHEN THIS CURRICULUM WAS ADOPTED IN OUR DISTRICT. THE TEACHER'S MANUAL THAT I LOOKED AT WAS LIKE A COLLEGE TEXTBOOK WITH PAGES OF INFORMATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR EACH LESSON. WHAT TEACHER HAS THE TIME OR DESIRE TO READ MULTIPLE PAGES BEFORE TEACHING THE LESSON? DR. CALKINS CURRICULUM DOESN'T ALIGN WITH THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS READING SKILLS DO NOT NATURALLY DEVELOP THROUGH EXPOSURES TO PICTURES, TEXTS AND OTHER CUES. ACCORDING TO A 2020 REPORT FROM STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT PARTNERS, A NONPROFIT CONSULTING GROUP. CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE ESPECIALLY NEED EXPLICIT INSTRUCTION AND PRACTICE TIME WITH LETTER SOUND RELATIONSHIPS, VOCABULARY, BUILDING LIFE EXPERIENCES AND OPPORTUNITIES. CHOOSING A READING CURRICULUM THAT WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL THE STUDENTS ACROSS THIS HUGE DISTRICT IS A DAUNTING TASK. DR. CALKINS READING PROGRAM MAY BENEFIT CHILDREN WHO KNOW HOW TO READ BEFORE ENTERING SCHOOL. STUDENTS FROM AFFLUENT FAMILIES WITH MANY BOOKS AT HOME, PARENTS WHO READ TO THEM PLENTY OF FOOD TO EAT AND MANY LIFE EXPERIENCES MIGHT DO WELL WITH THIS READING CURRICULUM. I HAVE NOT USED THIS WORK STYLE TYPE READING CURRICULUM. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE DISTRICT IS UPDATING SPELLING. YAY. MAYBE READING SHOULD BE NEXT. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS DEBRA, WHO DID NOT PUT YOUR LAST NAME. SO WHEN YOU COME UP, WOULD YOU PLEASE IDENTIFY YOUR LAST NAME AS WELL? HELLO, MY NAME IS DEBRA LOBBY. THANK YOU. MY TOPIC IS SAFETY, AND I WANT TO BRING A HUMAN ELEMENT TO IT, WHICH IS WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME. WHEN MY SISTER WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HER P.E. TEACHER HAD ASKED HER TO TURN OUT ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE GYM. AFTER ALL, THE STUDENTS HAD LEFT. MY SISTER IS PROBABLY SECOND GRADE. SO SHE'S TRUSTING THIS PE TEACHER AND REALIZES IT'S DARK IN THERE. THE TEACHER COMES UP TO HER, PUTS HIS HAND OVER HER MOUTH AND TELLS HER SHE CAN'T SCREAM. NOBODY WILL HEAR HER. HE MOLESTED MY SISTER. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN SHE TOLD MY MOTHER, MY MOTHER DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. SO SAFETY ALSO IS AT THE HANDS OF THE PARENT. IT'S NOT JUST AT THE POLICIES THAT COME DOWN FROM SCHOOLS, BUT IT'S ALSO. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE PARENT AND ALSO POLICY MAKERS, UNFORTUNATELY. SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL SEND TEACHERS THAT DO ABUSE CHILDREN TO OTHER SCHOOLS INSTEAD OF FIRING THEM BECAUSE THESE TEACHERS ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE UNION. UNFORTUNATELY, MY SISTER TO THIS DAY, SHE SAW HIS OBITUARY THIS SUMMER IN THE PAPER. SHE STILL HAS PTSD TO THIS DAY. THE OTHER POLICY THAT I WANT TO TIE TO THIS IS I WANT YOU TO RE-LOOK AT THE BATHROOM POLICY. ALLOWING YOUNG MEN TO GO INTO GIRLS BATHROOMS OPENS UP THE DOOR FOR PREDATORS TO BE ABLE TO GO [00:35:10] INTO THESE GIRLS BATHROOMS. AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT YOUNG GIRLS LIKE MY SISTER WHO WAS MOLESTED, THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE. AND THEY'RE GOING TO STRUGGLE IN LEARNING. THE OTHER ISSUE IS, BOYS, I'M A MOTHER OF GROWN BOYS, BUT YOU HAVE TO PROTECT BOYS AS WELL. MANY OF US WHO HAVE GROWN UP IN ARE IN THIS ROOM. WE HAVE ALL MANY OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED BEING MOLESTED, ME INCLUDED. IT'S COMMON, UNFORTUNATELY. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AGAIN AT THE SAFETY ISSUES. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT IS [INAUDIBLE]. HI. UH, MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE], AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE FILM CLUB AT LAKE HIGH SCHOOL. WE IN OUR CLUB ACT AS FILM CRITICS, SO WE JUST WATCH MOVIES AND MAKE, LIKE, VIDEO REVIEWS THAT WE PUT ONLINE. SO FAR, WE'VE BEEN TO SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL THIS YEAR AS PRESS, AND WE'RE GETTING INVITED BACK TO GO AGAIN NEXT MAY. OUR NEXT GOAL IS TO GO TO SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL IN UTAH, AND WE NEED BOARD APPROVAL TO GO THERE. SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR US, AND IT'D BE A BIG DEAL FOR ALL OF US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, [INAUDIBLE], FOR GIVING US THAT CONTEXT TO THE FIELD TRIP REQUEST. NEXT UP IS ROSA [INAUDIBLE]. SPANISH] . TRANSLATION. HI, MY NAME IS ROSA [INAUDIBLE]. I'M A MOUNTLAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY PARENT AND MY STUDENT. THIS IS REGARDING THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM. I BELIEVE THAT COMMUNICATION GENERATES POSITIVE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE. IT IS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR CHILDREN'S LEARNING. HAVING A BILINGUAL PROGRAM IN OUR DISTRICT IS ONE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANT. IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE FOR THE ENTIRE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE CHILDREN WHO DO NOT HAVE CONTACT WITH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. [00:40:01] WITH THE BILINGUAL PROGRAM, STUDENTS WILL LEARN IN AN ENVIRONMENT ACCORDING TO THEIR CULTURE. THIS WILL BRING MOTIVATION, SECURITY AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLASSES. IN THE FUTURE OUR CHILDREN WE HAVE WILL HAVE VERY VALUABLE TOOLS TO FACE ANY CHALLENGES. AND WHY NOT? THEY WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN ALL ASPECTS, INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL WORK AND SOCIAL. THESE PROGRAM WILL SATISFY THE SOCIAL AND COMMUNICATIVE NEED TO STRENGTHEN COLLECTIVE WORK RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM THAT IS STARTING AT MOUNT LAKE TERRACE SCHOOL NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. FOR ALL THESE REASONS, I THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE SUPPORT TO OPEN THIS DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM IN OUR SCHOOL AND CONTINUE SUPPORTING THE LATINX COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. NEXT IS SARAH DILLING. HELLO. A FEW COMMENTS. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT AIRPORTS ARE FULL AT THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS IS BECAUSE THEY ARE FEDERAL HOLIDAYS WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY GIVEN BREAKS FROM THEIR JOBS AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY, IF THEY CAN AFFORD PLANE TICKETS, TRAVEL, NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THEY CELEBRATE EITHER OF THOSE HOLIDAYS. THE CONCEPT OF AN LGBTQ IDEOLOGY IS A NEW ONE ON ME. THAT'S A NEW ONE. IT SOUNDS LIKE EITHER A TEACHER IS CONFUSED ABOUT HOW THINGS WORK. IT'S A CHOICE TO BE A GENDER. WHY NOT TEACH SOMETHING ARCHAIC LIKE A LIFESTYLE'S OR A STUDENT MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS BEING TAUGHT? WHICH OFTEN HAPPENS AT THE KINDERGARTEN LEVEL, FROM WHAT I REMEMBER OF THE YEARS. PERHAPS THAT IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO HOW TEACHERS WHO AREN'T JEWISH ATTEMPTING TO TEACH ABOUT HANUKKAH BECAME PERHAPS A BAD LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND ONE WE DON'T CHOOSE TO REPEAT ANYMORE. PROVERBS TRAIN UP A CHILD AND THE WAY THEY ARE TO GO. WELL, I CHOOSE TO TRAIN MY CHILDREN NOT TO HATE OR FEAR THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEM. AND THAT'S HOW I CHOOSE TO TRAIN MY CHILDREN UP. WOMEN ARE ALSO NOT HERE SIMPLY TO BE INCUBATORS FOR RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS WHO THINK WE NEED TO KEEP A CERTAIN BIRTHRATE BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO ALLOW IMMIGRANTS INTO THE COUNTRY ANYMORE. CELEBRATING OSTARA AND HER PAGAN ROOTS MAY BE AN ALTERNATIVE REASON THAT PEOPLE ENJOY THE LATE SPRING. NOT SOME SORT OF MISBEGOTTEN GUY CAME OUT OF A THING IN THE DISAPPEARED. AND THERE'S A BUDDY THAT LAYS EGGS AND THEY'RE COLORED ANYWAY. CHILDREN WHO ARE TAUGHT THE PROPER NAMES FOR THEIR BODY PARTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE OR SEX OR SEXUAL ABUSE IN PARTICULAR. IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT GROOMING BEHAVIORS, THE INSISTENCE ON NOT EDUCATING CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR BODIES IS ACTUAL DATA SUPPORTED GROOMING BEHAVIOR. AND EVERY TIME SOMEBODY SAYS WE SHOULDN'T TEACH LITTLE KIDS ABOUT SEXUAL STUFF, I HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT THEM. IF CHRISTIANITY IS SO DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE, WHY DOES IT KEEP APPEARING HERE AT THIS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION ATTEMPTING TO EXCLUDE PEOPLE FROM OUR SCHOOLS? NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA. OUR CONSENT AGENDA IS A GROUP OF ROUTINE ITEMS. DID I MISS SOMEBODY? OH. GIVE ME A MINUTE. WE HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON WHO SIGNED UP WHO WASN'T ON THERE, AND WE MIGHT AS WELL DO IT NOW. GIVE ME A SECOND TO GET BACK TO THAT. [INAUDIBLE] YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT. THANKS. THE NEXT THE FINAL PERSON THIS EVENING IS LISA HERNANDEZ. THANK YOU. HELLO. I ADDED MY NAME JUST AT THE END HERE. I CAME TO SUPPORT THE DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM AND SUPPORT ROSA IN SHARING HER SUPPORT FOR IT. AND I WAS REALLY BLOWN AWAY BY THE HURT THAT I AM EXPERIENCING FROM HEARING TEACHERS AND LEADERS IN OUR SCHOOL TALK AGAINST A GROUP OF CHILDREN WHO DESERVE LOVE AND COMPASSION AND KINDNESS AND SPACE. AND IT IS JUST VERY DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR THAT IN THE MEETING THAT I'M SHOWING UP IN WHEN MY KIDS ARE ALSO [00:45:06] EXPOSED TO THE OPTIONS AND THE CHOICES AND THE WIDE EXPRESSION OF HUMAN POSSIBILITY. AND THAT'S HOW I WANT TO RAISE MY KIDS. AND THEY'RE HERE TODAY AND THEY'RE HEARING YOU SAY THAT'S NOT OKAY. AND THAT IS HEARTBREAKING. AND I HOPE YOU HEAR IT IN MY VOICE. I HOPE YOU HEAR IT IN THE THE WOMAN THAT SPOKE BEFORE. BUT THAT IS A LARGE DISAPPOINTMENT AND I WANTED TO SHARE THAT. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR TONIGHT. [12. CONSENT AGENDA-7:40 pm] THIS IS A GROUP OF ROUTINE ITEMS THAT WE TEND TO VOTE ON TO GET AS A GROUP, BUT WE CAN SEPARATE AND DISCUSS SEPARATELY AND VOTE ON SEPARATELY IF WE SO CHOOSE TO DO SO. TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES NINE ITEMS. THREE HAVE TO DO WITH PERSONNEL AND STAFF ASSOCIATION AGREEMENTS, AND SIX HAVE TO DO WITH FIELD TRIPS. DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA? MOVE TO APPROVE. I SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I WANT TO MENTION THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF WHY SCRIBE OR LAKE HAD REQUESTED THE FIELD TRIP. AND NOW THAT I KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A VERY EXCITING POSSIBILITY AND I WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME BACK DURING THEIR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER YOUR FIELD TRIP AND JUST LET US KNOW HOW THAT WENT. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'LL BE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR YOU ALL. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA PASSES. NOW WE HAVE REPORTS. [13. REPORTS-7:50 pm] I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR. MINOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE JUST HAVE ONE REPORT PRESENTATION THIS EVENING IN THIS SECTION, AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME LYDIA SELLIE FORWARD TO SHARE OUR OCTOBER BUDGET STATUS REPORT. YOU KNOW? NO. TO SPEAK. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT. NOW, IF I'M TOO LOUD, LET ME KNOW. BEFORE I WAS NOT. SO THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR OCTOBER. WE ARE NOW FINALLY WELL IN THE 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR. SO ON THIS PAGE, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE IS DOWN ABOUT 4.6 MILLION FROM WHERE WE WERE AT LAST OCTOBER. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PROJECTED ENDING FUND BALANCE FROM THE SEPTEMBER REPORT. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE SEPTEMBER REPORT ON THE LINE GRAPH, YOU'LL SEE THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST MONTH. SO I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT REVENUES ARE HIGHER THIS YEAR IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND. THE LEVY THAT WAS PASSED IN 2021 COLLECTIONS ACTUALLY STARTED IN 2022 JANUARY OR FIRST TAX COLLECTIONS REALLY ARE IN THE SPRING. SO OCTOBER LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS REVENUE AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE INCREASE. OKAY. I KNOW I SAID IN SEPTEMBER THAT THIS FEDERAL REVENUES WOULD RIGHT THEMSELVES IN OCTOBER. JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, WHICH IS NEXT MONTH. PLEASE. WE WILL HAVE MADE ALL OUR CLAIMS TO OSP FOR 2122 FEDERAL REVENUES. AGAIN, THAT'S JUST ON THIS PIE CHART OR HAVE PIE CHART GRAPH IS JUST DEMONSTRATING THAT WE ARE STILL NEGATIVE ON FEDERAL REVENUES, WHICH WILL BECOME POSITIVE IN NOVEMBER. ON THIS CHART. IT JUST DEMONSTRATES THAT YEAR OVER YEAR WE ARE ABOUT 6% HIGHER IN EXPENDITURES, WHICH IS VERY CONSISTENT WITH THE IMPLICIT PRICE DEFLATOR, WHICH WAS BASICALLY THE AMOUNT OF SALARY INCREASES YEAR OVER YEAR. AGAIN, JUST POINTING OUT THAT THE ENDING FUND BALANCE PROJECTION IS PRETTY MUCH VERY SIMILAR TO WHERE WE WERE AT IN THE SEPTEMBER REPORT. [00:50:04] IT'S NICE TO SEE OCTOBER ENROLLMENT COMING UP OVER SEPTEMBER. IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME PATTERN AS EVERY YEAR, BUT 2021, WHICH OF COURSE, 2021. WE STARTED IN REMOTE LEARNING AND THEN WENT INTO A HYBRID MODEL. SO THE PINK GRAPH IS GOING TO BE THE ANOMALY. THE BLUE, THE GOLD AND THE GREEN ARE CONSISTENT WITH PRIOR YEARS. SO WE HAVE COME UP. AND THEN I'VE INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION, WHICH WE'RE NOT DISPLAYING THE FIVE BUDGET STATUS REPORT PAGES. AND I THINK I CAN GET YOU BACK. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION, [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU, LYDIA. [14. UNFINISHED BUSINESS- 8:10 pm] BUT ONE ITEM OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS THIS EVENING, A SECOND READING TO APPROVE REVISED POLICY, 6925 CONTRACTS FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES. IT IS RECOMMENDED BY STAFF THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THE REVISIONS TO POLICY 6925 IN ACCORDANCE WITH W CHAPTER 3890 CONTRACTS FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND. MOVE TO APPROVE? SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE. DIRECTOR SMITH, AYE. DIRECTOR NOBLE, AYE. DIRECTOR CHASE, AYE. KILGORE, AYE. DIRECTOR KATIMS, AYE. AND THE REVISED POLICY 6925 CONTRACTS FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES IS APPROVED. WE HAVE ITEM ONE ITEM OF NEW BUSINESS THIS EVENING. [15. NEW BUSINESS- 8:20 pm] A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE A CONTRACT TO AWARD TWO SECURITY SOLUTIONS FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF 436 SECURITY CAMERAS. IT IS THE RECOMMENDED ACTION BY STAFF THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVE THIS CONTRACT AWARD. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. SO MOVED. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR VOTERS. WE'RE ABLE TO PUT IN ALL OF THESE SECURITY CAMERAS THAT ARE BOTH ADDITIONAL TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND TO REPLACE SOME THAT ARE OBSOLETE OR OLD AND NEED TO HAVE THE NEW TECHNOLOGY AS PART OF THE LEVY THAT THE VOTERS DID APPROVE. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT KIND OF SUPPORT FOR OUR SAFETY AND OUR STUDENTS SAFETY. HEARING. NO MORE DISCUSSION. I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE. DIRECTOR SMITH, AYE. NOBLE, AYE. DIRECTOR CHASE, AYE. DIRECTOR KILGORE, AYE. DIRECTOR KATIMS, AYE. AND THE CONTRACT AWARDED TO SECURITY SOLUTIONS FOR PURCHASING AND INSTALLING 436 SECURITY CAMERAS IS APPROVED. WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS. AARON, IS THAT RIGHT? THEREFORE, THE NEXT ON THE ON OUR AGENDA IS OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND OUR NEWLY ELECTED LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE CHASE, WE WILL TURN TO [17. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES] FOR ANY UPDATES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE BEING REELECTED TO THIS ROLE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE 2023 SESSION. SO WE'VE GOT A FEW THINGS GOING ON. I THINK THAT YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2023 AND IN PREPARATION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WE'VE DISTILLED DOWN THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR AT OUR LEGISLATORS. SO IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT, IN OUR PAST DISCUSSIONS, WE HAD DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE THESE PARTICULAR. PRIORITIES. AND THANK YOU FOR DR. MINER AND STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS IN A LOVELY FORMAT AND LANGUAGE THAT I THINK WILL GIVE US A REALLY GOOD FOUNDATION FOR WHEN WE MEET WITH OUR LEGISLATORS. AS YOU'RE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT, I'M GOING TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I'VE DISCOVERED THAT MOST LEGISLATORS NOW DO NOT WANT PAPER. [00:55:04] THEY WANT JUST ELECTRONIC COPIES. HOWEVER EVEN SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMETHING IN PAPER, I THINK, FOR OUR OWN PURPOSES, AND SOMETIMES THEY'D LIKE TO SEE IT. SOME OF THE PLANNING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS WASEDA HAS SET UP MEETINGS WITH OUR LEGISLATORS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, NEAR THE END OF THE MONTH, JANUARY 31ST, FEBRUARY 1ST, AND FEBRUARY 3RD, AS YOU RECALL. AND PERHAPS THE AUDIENCE DOES NOT KNOW THIS, WE ARE REPRESENTED BY THREE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS, THE 21ST FIRST AND 32ND, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH NINE DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES AND SHARE OUR PRIORITIES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP ANY DISCUSSION ON OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES OR IF WE THINK THESE ARE SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO PROCEED FORWARD WITH. OR ANY COMMENTS WHATSOEVER. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE DISTRICT AND THAT OUR LEGISLATIVE REPS HAVE DONE. THIS REALLY CAPTURES OUR PRIORITIES PRETTY WELL AND I APPRECIATE THE PROCESS THAT THE BOARD HAS GONE THROUGH TO SORT OF SET THE STAGE FOR THIS. SO THANK YOU. IT LOOKS REALLY IT'S GOING TO BE HELPFUL FOR ME WHEN I RUN INTO THESE PEOPLE AND THERE'S NINE OF THEM. SO YOU RUN INTO ONE OF THEM ONCE IN A WHILE. YEAH, I AGREE. I THINK THIS IS DONE VERY WELL. WHILE THERE WERE MANY PRIORITIES. AND I THINK WE'D LIKE TO SEE MANY IMPORTANT PIECES PASSED IN THE NEXT SESSION, THESE ARE THE TOP ONES. I MEAN, WE WANT TO FEED OUR KIDS. WE NEED THE FUNDING FOR BOTH SPECIAL EDUCATION AND FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD, AND I THINK THIS CAPTURES IT. SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. IT'S SUCCINCT AND IT'S ATTRACTIVE. I YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T CLAIM ANY OF THE CREDIT ON THE LAYOUT THERE, SO I WANT TO KUDOS TO THE TEAM THAT WORKED ON THIS. IF THEY'D LIKE TO BE CALLED OUT, THAT'S UP TO THEM. SO WHAT? THIS IS GREAT. SO I THINK THIS IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE WHAT'S REALLY NICE IS HERE AND FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, YOU HAVE SOME SPECIFICS ON WHY THESE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND IMPORTANT TO THE DISTRICT. AND SO THAT'S WHY I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO CRAFTING THIS. WE ALSO DO HAVE IN PREPARATION WITH SHARING THIS WITH EVERYONE, I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A VOTE ON THAT. I THINK WE CAN JUST MAKE THAT DECISION TOMORROW. DISTRICT AREA ONE IS HAVING A PREPARATION MEETING AND EVERYONE'S INVITED HERE. IF YOU WOULD ALL LIKE TO ATTEND, I CAN SEND YOU THE INVITE TO 330 ON ZOOM AND IT'S WITH DISTRICT AREA ONE TO MEET AND DISCUSS THE PRIORITIES BECAUSE COLLECTIVELY AS AN AREA, WE SHARE A LOT OF THE SAME PRIORITIES. BUT THEY IMPACT DIFFERENT DISTRICTS DIFFERENTLY. AND SO WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND IT'LL BE FACILITATED WITH ONE OF OUR. WAS BOTH STRATEGIC REPS MARISSA AND THEN AS WE KNOW, FEBRUARY 27TH, WE HAVE THE DAY ON THE HILL AND FEBRUARY 26 IS THE WAS THE LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE. TRADITIONALLY PRE-COVID WE INVITED HAD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO COME DOWN TO OLYMPIA FOR A DAY ON THE HILL. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT. SEEN IF THERE'S INTEREST, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO FACILITATE AND HAVE STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN IF THEY WOULD, IF THEY SO CHOOSE. I PERSONALLY THINK IT'S REALLY FUN AND THE LEGISLATORS VERY MUCH PREFER SPEAKING TO STUDENTS THAT I BRING THAN ME. SO JUST SAYING SO THERE'S A PROCESS IF WE WANT TO DO THAT WE'LL FIND OUT ABOUT. AND I THINK. THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON UPDATES. WE'RE JUST SYNTHESIZING THINGS DOWN. THERE ARE GROUPS THAT ARE WORKING ON TALKING POINTS FOR THESE SPECIFIC TEN PRIORITIES THAT WAS TO CHOSE. AND ONCE WE HAVE THOSE TOGETHER, I WILL SHARE THEM. I DO NOT HAVE A COPY OF ALL OF THEM. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CHASE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN. THANKS. AND THEN WE'LL JUST GET THIS UP ON THE WEBSITE, RIGHT? IT'S GREAT. SUPER. NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND WE'LL START WITH OUR STUDENTS. [18. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS] PETER, YOU WANT TO START? OH, SIR. HE MAKES. IT'S BEEN LIKE A CRAZY FEW WEEKS JUST WITH ALL THE SNOW, YOU KNOW, MOVING FROM NEW YORK TO WASHINGTON. SNOW WASN'T REALLY THE FIRST THING THAT WAS ON MY MIND MOVING HERE, ESPECIALLY LIKE I JUST GOT A SNOWSTORM AND, YOU KNOW, MY FRIEND'S GOT LIKE OR SHE HAD LIKE TEN FEET IN HER FRONT YARD. [01:00:01] AND THEN I HAD A SNOW DAY FOR FOUR INCHES. SO IT WAS A LITTLE WEIRD TO LIKE, SAY WE HAVE A SNOW DAY. AND SHE'S LIKE, YEAH, WELL, I CAN GET OUT MY FRONT DOOR. AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WELL, WE ALL HAVE OUR [INAUDIBLE] AND SO THE SNOW WAS ALSO REALLY NICE. JUST FELT LIKE HOME, BUT. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE'S SO MUCH JUST NOT INCLUSION. AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THE HOLIDAYS ARE A TIME WHERE WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AND TO APPRECIATE EACH OTHER FOR WHO WE ARE AND NOT HIGHLIGHT SPECIFIC PARTS OF OURSELVES THAT YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH, BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T CHANGE WHO WE ARE AS INDIVIDUALS. AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS FORGET, IS THAT WE'RE NOT ALL JUST DEMOGRAPHICS OR PEOPLE, AND EVERYONE HAS THEIR WAYS OF COPING WITH THINGS AND EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN LIFE JOURNEYS THAT THEY'RE GOING ON. AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO RESPECT THOSE JOURNEYS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT YOUR JOURNEY. THEY'RE HOW THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIVE THEIR LIVES AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE FIND HAPPINESS FOR THEMSELVES IN THEIR LIVES. AND THAT'S A REALLY INTIMATE AND IMPORTANT EXPERIENCE TO HAVE, ESPECIALLY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES AND POSSIBILITIES OF WHERE THE WORLD CAN TAKE YOU AND WHAT IT CAN OFFER YOU. AND I JUST IMPLORE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WATCH THIS AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SPEAK BOTH EITHER WAY YOU THINK, JUST TAKE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TO REFLECT AND. WONDER IF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS REALLY HELPING ANYONE OR IF IT'S HURTING SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T, WHO NEED SOME REASSURANCE THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY NO MATTER WHAT PATH THEY'RE CHOOSING TO TAKE AND NO MATTER WHAT LIFE THEY'RE MAKING FOR THEMSELVES AND I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID THAT RIGHT, BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT'S ON MY MIND RIGHT NOW. AND I'M TIRED, SO. THANK YOU, PETER. THAT WAS VERY WELL SAID AND WE APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS. OHANA. SORRY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED. NOT WITH THE BOARD, BUT WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE PUBLICLY. YOU ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE CHILDREN WATCHING THIS. AND AS A STUDENT, I AM A CHILD. NO SURPRISE THERE. I AM TRANS. AND I BELIEVE MY LIFE SHOULD BE VALUED FOR A LIFE, NOT BECAUSE IT'S A TRANS LIFE, BUT BECAUSE I WANT TO LIVE. SO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING OUT. BUT, LIKE, REALLY HURTS ME. AND I KNOW IT DOESN'T HURT JUST ME. IT HURTS. NOT EVERYONE, OBVIOUSLY, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT TO ALL THE KIDS WATCHING THAT ARE LGBT OR A MINORITY. PLEASE DON'T BE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT THAT YOU'RE CHOOSING THIS LIFE PATH. YOU SHOULD BE RESPECTED. JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE HUMAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. HANNAH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID. WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE HERE AND WE RESPECT AND HONOR WHO YOU ARE AND THE VOICE THAT YOU BRING THAT PEOPLE MUST HEAR. THEY MUST HEAR. THANK YOU. THE FIRST THING I WANTED TO MENTION WAS DIRECTOR CHASE'S OFFER TO STUDENTS TO GO DOWN TO SPEAK AT OLYMPIA. I THINK THAT IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY A FEW YEARS AGO WITH THE SONOMA COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING TO DO A SIMILAR THING. AND IF YOU'RE SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO THINKS THE LEGISLATURE ISN'T LISTENING WHEN PEOPLE GO DOWN THERE, WE GOT TWO OF OUR THREE THINGS THAT WE WENT TO FIGHT FOR PASSED AND THAT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO THE LEGISLATURE LEGISLATORS DO LOVE TO HEAR FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THEY ESPECIALLY LOVE TO HEAR FROM STUDENTS. SO IF YOU'RE SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO'S A STUDENT WHO MAYBE THINKS IT DOESN'T MATTER OR ISN'T REALLY SURE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO DOWN. IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE. AND THE CAPITOL IS A REALLY FUN PLACE TO SEE. IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE INSIDE OF THE BUILDING AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. THE OTHER THING THAT I DID WANT TO MENTION, TOO, WAS AFTER LOOKING AT THE PICTURES, IT DOES LOOK LIKE THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME AREAS WHERE AS A DISTRICT, WE CAN DO BETTER AT CLEANING OUT AREAS FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. I'LL SPARE YOU ALL THE BORING DETAILS OF MY JOB, BUT WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE A LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THESE THINGS, WE DEFINITELY SHOULD BE MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS [01:05:08] CAN GET INTO OUR BUILDINGS AND WITH MORE SNOW IN THE FORECAST. I JUST HOPE THAT THE I'M SURE THE DISTRICT WILL LOOK INTO WAYS THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS FOR THE REST OF THE WINTER SEASON, NOT BE AN ISSUE FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE LITTLE BARRIERS THAT ARE EXISTING IN LIFE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ABILITY. AND IT TAKES THOSE PEOPLE TO SPEAK OUT AND LET US KNOW THAT THOSE ARE THERE. AND IT'S NEVER THROUGH MALFEASANCE OR TRYING TO PUT UP THE BARRIERS. WE JUST DON'T KNOW. AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE. SO I WANT TO THANK ANYONE WHO DID SPEAK UP DURING THIS TIME TO SAY THAT THERE WAS A BARRIER FOR THEM, BECAUSE NOW WE KNOW AND WE CAN GET BETTER FROM THAT. AND THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY IS HERE WE ARE IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND I DIDN'T THINK PEOPLE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER IT'S CHRISTMAS OR HANUKKAH OR KWANZAA OR ANYTHING ELSE. SO THIS WASN'T MEANT TO BE SOME SORT OF BIG SPEECH ABOUT THAT. I JUST WANTED TO WISH EVERYONE AND THEIR FAMILIES AN EXCELLENT HOLIDAY SEASON, HAVE A GREAT TIME TO GO OUT, MEET PEOPLE, STAY SAFE. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ILLNESSES GOING AROUND. SO I HOPE EVERYONE COMES BACK HEALTHY FROM THE HOLIDAYS AND TAKE THIS AS A CHANCE TO RECHARGE AND REALLY REFLECT ON THE LAST YEAR AND HOW YOU WANT TO LIVE THE NEXT YEAR. SO THANK YOU ALL. DIRECTOR NOBLE. YEAH. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I AGREE. EVERYBODY HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY. I WANTED TO DO A SHOUT OUT FOR LYNNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND MEADOWDALE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THEIR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAM. BOTH OF THEM MADE IT TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT. ONLY 20 TEAMS STATEWIDE MAKE IT TO THE TOURNAMENT, SO TO TOP 20 TEAMS. AND THEN WHEN I ACTUALLY GOT INTO THE TOP TEN OUT OF OVER 200 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TEAMS, VOLLEYBALL TEAMS ACROSS THE STATE. SO WE SHOULD REALLY BE PROUD OF THOSE TWO TEAMS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING SO WELL. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CHASE. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR KATIMS. A COUPLE OF THINGS. I SO ENJOYED TOURING THE WOODWAY CAMPUS THE OTHER DAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO WONDERFUL SEEING THE PRESCHOOLERS AND THE KINDERGARTNERS ALL ENGAGED AND HAPPY AND LEARNING THAT I'M SO FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND SO THANKFUL THAT I'M A BOARD DIRECTOR FOR THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT AND REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING DOWN THERE. IT WAS VERY FUN. I ACTUALLY DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE. SO AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR STUDENT ADVISORS HERE FOR THEIR INSIGHT AND AND PERSPECTIVE. AND I HOPE THAT OUR AUDIENCE MEMBER CAN HEED THE COMMENTS OF OUR STUDENTS, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY DO AS A DISTRICT. YOU KNOW, IT'S DEFINITELY DARK OUT, TOO, ISN'T IT? IT'S GETTING SO FRICKING DARK. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS. REMEMBER TO WEAR SOMETHING BRIGHT OUT, BUT ALSO REMEMBER THAT DECEMBER 1ST IS WINTER SOLSTICE. IT IS THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR, [INAUDIBLE]. WHAT I SAY [INAUDIBLE] IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, TO SAY THE 21ST, RIGHT. IT'S COMING RIGHT UP SOLSTICE. SO I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE OUR FIRST DAY OF WINTER SOLSTICE ON DECEMBER 21ST, AND THEN WE CAN CELEBRATE THAT THE LIGHT WILL BE RETURNING SOON. SO I JUST AM SO THRILLED THAT THAT'S HAPPENING AND WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU IF YOU HADN'T REMEMBERED THAT THAT WAS COMING UP SOON. AND I THINK THAT WAS IT FOR RIGHT NOW. AND I'LL PASS THE BATON, PASS THE TALKING STICK TO YOU. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR KILGORE. OH, I'M SO EXCITED TO PUSH THIS NEW BUTTON. IT'S WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID WANT TO ALSO THANK OUR TECH GROUP FOR IS THAT IT HAS SOME CAPABILITIES TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEARING IMPAIRMENTS, AS I DO. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO HELP COBBLE TOGETHER SOMETHING FOR ME PRIOR TO THIS. BUT NOW THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY NICE FOR ME. SO THANK YOU. I FEEL SEEN OR HEARD AND I DIDN'T I HAVE BEEN HAD A VERY BUSY MONTH OF TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH. AND ONE OF MY TRIPS WAS TO THE STATEWIDE SCHOOL DIRECTORS CONFERENCE SOME IT WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT IT FEELS LIKE A LONG TIME BECAUSE I'VE JUST BEEN JETTING AROUND FOR VARIOUS PERSONAL REASONS. I DON'T KNOW. BUT ANYWAY, THE REALLY COOL THING ABOUT GOING TO THE STATE CONFERENCE IS MEETING OTHER SCHOOL DIRECTORS AND AND MEETING [01:10:01] OLD FRIENDS AND NEW. WE HAVE, WHAT, 285 DISTRICTS IN OUR STATE, AND THEY RANGE FROM WHAT, LIKE SIX OR SEVEN STUDENTS IN ONE VERY REMOTE DISTRICT TO, OF COURSE, 40,000 OR SO IN SEATTLE. SO WE'RE CONSIDERED A LARGE DISTRICT. BUT I MEET PEOPLE WHO COME FROM VERY SMALL DISTRICTS. THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT INTERESTING PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES, BUT WE'RE ALL THERE, OF COURSE, FOR THE SAME REASON, WHICH IS TO HELP OUR KIDS LEARN. SO ANYWAY, IT WAS REALLY FASCINATING. MY FAVORITE PART OF IT IS HEARING OTHER DIRECTORS STORIES AND THEIR EXPERIENCES. AND I DID GET SOME QUALITY TIME WITH OUR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. I DID JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR SUPERINTENDENTS WHEN WE WERE ON THE PLANE BACK AND I'LL STOP AFTER THIS. IT WAS CHOCK FULL OF SUPERINTENDENTS FROM THIS REGION. WE WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WOULD REALLY THEY HAD TO TAKE CARE OF US BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE. SO ANYWAY, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. THANK YOU. I USUALLY PREPARE MY COMMENTS. I HAVE TO SAY. PUBLIC COMMENTS MADE THAT ARE AGAINST ANY GROUP OF OUR STUDENTS HURT MY HEART. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. WHY SOME PEOPLE FEEL IT NECESSARY. TO CALL OUT A GROUP OF OUR STUDENTS. AS SOMEHOW DIFFERENT OR NOT AS IMPORTANT AS OTHER STUDENTS OR OTHER PEOPLE. AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK AND WHISPER, YOU CAN GO OUTSIDE TO DO IT. I REALLY SPEAKING. FROM. WE HEAR IT MEETING AFTER MEETING. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU FEEL IT'S NECESSARY. TO SAY THINGS THAT ARE UNTRUE AND MAKE DAMAGING COMMENTS ABOUT A GROUP OF OUR STUDENTS. IN OUR DISTRICT. EVERYBODY COUNTS. EVERYBODY'S IMPORTANT. AND WE AS A BOARD MAKE THAT CLEAR. TODAY WAS AN IMPORTANT DAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IT WAS THE SIGNING OF THE RESPECT OF MARRIAGE ACT, AND MY SON AND HIS HUSBAND GOT TO ATTEND. IT'S A VERY HAPPY MOMENT. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RELIGION. I GREW UP JEWISH. IT WAS THAT AT A TIME WHEN CHRISTMAS WAS ALL THAT WAS IN THE SCHOOLS. I FELT DIFFERENT. I WAS ISOLATED. I WAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. I KNOW HOW THAT FEELS. I SURVIVED. I'M FINE. TOMORROW, I'M VISITING A TEACHER, FRIENDS OF MINE CLASSROOM WHO ASKED ME TO COME AND TALK ABOUT HANNUKAH WITH HER MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS. WE HAVE NOT TAKEN RELIGION OR HOLIDAYS OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS. WE'VE SIMPLY OPENED IT UP SO THAT EVERYBODY, NO MATTER WHAT YOU CELEBRATE, IS OKAY, AND EVERYBODY GETS TO SHARE WHAT MATTERS TO THEM. BUT WE DON'T GET TO IMPOSE IT ON OTHER PEOPLE. WE DON'T. IT'S YOUR BELIEFS. WE DON'T IMPOSE THEM ON OTHER PEOPLE TO OUR BELIEFS. WE KEEP THEM TO OURSELVES. WHAT MATTERS IS THAT WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO BE GOOD THINKERS, TO REASON LOGICALLY, TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS IN THEIR LIVES, HOW TO READ, WRITE AND DO MATH IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD. THAT WAS WHAT I WAS PLANNING TO SAY TONIGHT. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU GUYS FOR TRUSTING ME AND FOR BEING A GREAT TEAM AND FOR SUPPORTING THE THINGS THAT MATTER. SO I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ANDREA COLLINS, WHO'S HERE WITH US. YOU KNOW, ANDREA, AS ANDREA PLEASE STAND UP BRIEFLY. YOU KNOW, ANDREA IS A PRINCIPAL IN OUR DISTRICT. SHE'S ALSO PROUDLY SERVING AS THE SUPERINTENDENT INTERN THIS YEAR. AND SO FOR THIS PARTICULAR AWARD, MEANING SHE ATTENDED ALL MEETINGS, KIND OF AGENDA SETTING, ETC., ABOUT THIS MEETING IN ORDER TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROCESS. SO I'M HAPPY THAT SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO JOIN US. I DO WANT TO RESPOND TO THE COMMENTS AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS ABOUT OUR RESPONSE TO THE SNOW. WE DID HAVE A FOLLOW UP MEETING I DID, ALONG WITH SOME OF OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS FOLKS AND TRANSPORTATION. [01:15:06] AND THE FIRST THING THEY POINTED OUT TO ME WAS THAT WE FELL SHORT OF OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR CLEARING ADA SPACES. WE DO HAVE PLANS. EACH SCHOOL HAS A PLAN FOR CLEARING SNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THE ADA STALLS ARE CLEAR AND THAT PILED UP SNOW IS NOT INTO THOSE. WE FELL SHORT OF OUR EXPECTATIONS. WE FELL SHORT OF TRAINING WITH OUR CONTRACTORS WHO WE USE FOR THAT. AND WE ARE WE WILL BE HOLDING OURSELVES ABSOLUTELY TO A HIGHER STANDARD MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE STALLS ARE CLEARED. AND I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYONE WHO EXPERIENCED THAT AND KNOW THAT WE RECEIVE FEEDBACK. WE ARE ACTING ON THAT FEEDBACK. AND I INTEND THAT THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE A SNOW EVENT, WHICH I'M ON TEAM NO SNOW, WE'RE RECRUITING FOR PLAYERS, SO PLEASE JOIN ME. BUT IF WE DO HAVE ANOTHER SNOW EVENT, I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL SEE US RISE TO THE LEVEL THAT WE HOLD FOR OURSELVES WITH THAT SNOW EVENT. AND IF WE DO NOT, I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU WILL GIVE US ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK, BUT WE'LL BE WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY FOR THAT PARTICULAR PART OF OUR WORK AS WELL AS OTHERS THAT WE FOUND IN THIS EVENT. THE FINAL THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TONIGHT IS JUST TO TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT THE FACT THAT I'M ALMOST AT THE HALFWAY POINT OF MY INTERIM SUPERINTENDENCY HERE IN THE DISTRICT. SIX MONTHS HAS FLOWN BY IN A MOMENT, IT SEEMS. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME, TO SHARE A COUPLE OF PERSPECTIVES. FIRST, I JUST HAVE TREMENDOUS GRATITUDE TO OUR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TRULY THE INSIGHTS AND THE GIFT OF TIME THAT PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN ME AS I STRIVE TO LEARN ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY. AND IT'S ALL BEEN IN SERVICE AND SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS. IT'S BEEN TREMENDOUS. AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO GENEROUS WITH THEIR INSIGHTS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH THEM. I'M TREMENDOUSLY GRATEFUL NEXT TO OUR STAFF. I MEAN, EVERY DAY, WHETHER I'M IN THIS BUILDING OR WHETHER I'M OUT TOURING SCHOOLS. AND I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT DIRECTOR CHASE DID REALLY HAVE TO BE LIKE ESCORTED OUT OF A CLASSROOM BECAUSE SHE WAS HAVING SO MUCH FUN WITH THE STUDENTS. WHETHER I'M HERE, I'M IN OUR BUILDINGS OR I'M IN AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY, THE DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT I SEE ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS BY OUR STAFF EVERY DAY IS INCREDIBLE. THEY ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. AND IN EVERY POSITION THEY HOLD GRATITUDE TOWARD OUR STUDENTS, BOTH OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE, OUR STUDENTS WHO I MEET IN THE HALLWAYS, BUT ALSO THE STUDENTS WHO SERVE ON THE SUPERINTENDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THEY ARE A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO ME, ALL OF THEM. THEY I SAY STUDENTS ARE WHAT GET SUPERINTENDENTS UP IN THE MORNING TO COME DO THIS WORK. AND I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL OF THEM. TWO OF YOU REPRESENTED HERE TONIGHT, SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEIR VOICE TO PROVIDE ME WITH COUNCIL AS WELL AS THEIR INSPIRATION AND FINALLY, GRATITUDE TO THE BOARD. I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU ALL A LITTLE BIT DURING THIS FIRST SIX MONTHS OF MY INTERIM SUPERINTENDENCY. YOU SERVE WITHOUT EGO AND YOU SERVE ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITIES, CHILDREN. AND I APPRECIATE YOU SO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ARE THERE ANY ITEMS OR TOPICS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ON FUTURE MEETINGS? [19. ITEMS FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION OR INFORMATION] I KEEP ASKING. YEAH, I WILL. AND I DO, I THINK. WHAT'S IT, HARMONY, THAT PUT THIS LAYOUT TOGETHER? YES. HARMONY AND HER TEAM WORKED VERY HARD. GRAPHIC DESIGNER TO PUT THAT LAYOUT TOGETHER BASED ON THE BOARD'S OPPORTUNITIES. LYDIA CONTRIBUTED THE SPECIFICS AROUND PERSONALIZING THAT AND MAKING IT TELL THE EDMONDS STORY. AND SO GRATEFUL TO ALL OF THEM FOR THAT. SO THERE YOU GO. I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD A SAFE, HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON, CELEBRATING WHATEVER YOU MIGHT CELEBRATE. FAMILY, HOPEFULLY. AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.