Apr 23, 2024 Board Meeting

[00:00:01]

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME.

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

[2. ROLL CALL-6:31 pm (ALL TIMES ARE ESTIMATED)]

HERE. DIRECTOR SMITH.

DIRECTOR CHASE.

HERE. DIRECTOR KILGORE.

HERE. AND I'M DIRECTOR KATIMS. WE ARE ALL HERE THIS EVENING.

NEXT, I'LL ASK DOCTOR MINER IF SHE WOULD PLEASE DO THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

[3. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-6:32 pm]

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.

AND NOW, IF EVERYBODY WILL RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE FLAG SALUTE.

[4. FLAG SALUTE-6:33 pm]

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

NEXT IS APPROVAL OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

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

MOVE TO APPROVE.

I'LL 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 OF APPROVING TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS PRESENTED, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

ANY ABSTENTIONS.

AND TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

AND NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SUPERINTENDENT MINER FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

[6. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT-6:35 pm]

THANK YOU.

NEXT IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-6:40 pm]

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 19TH, 2024 SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL MEETING, WHICH WAS OUR BOARD RETREAT, AND THE MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 26TH SCHOOL BOARD REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING? 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 AYE AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 19TH, 2024 SPECIAL MEETING AND THE MARCH 26TH, 2024 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING ARE APPROVED.

NEXT, I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND FOR THE MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 9TH, 2024 SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL MEETING, WHICH WAS OUR STUDY SESSION ON OUR MID-YEAR DATA. 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? I DID WANT TO SAY SOMETHING VERY QUICK HERE.

I WASN'T PRESENT FOR THIS MEETING, BUT I WANTED TO JUST SAY TO THE COMMUNITY WHO PUT ME IN THIS POSITION, MY I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE THIS MEETING.

THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW OTHER I'VE HAD WORK COMMITMENTS HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE.

I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THOSE WHO'VE PUT ME HERE.

YOU DIDN'T PUT ME HERE SO I COULD MISS MEETINGS.

SO I DO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

I AM VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN DAY TO DAY DECISIONS.

AND SO ANYONE WHO HAS TAKEN NOTICE THAT I'VE HAD SOME ATTENDANCE ISSUES RECENTLY, I DO WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

BUT MOVING FORWARD, I WILL CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THESE DECISIONS.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SMITH.

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

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 9TH, 2024 SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL MEETING, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 9TH, 2024 SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL MEETING ARE APPROVED.

NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AGENDA IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD.

[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS-6:45 pm]

[00:05:01]

THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR THE AUDIENCE TO ADDRESS EACH OTHER.

PEOPLE MAY SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR A BOARD MEETING, EITHER BY READING YOUR COMMENT ALOUD IN PERSON OR BY SUBMITTING YOUR COMMENT IN WRITING.

THE BOARD READS ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS WHICH ARE LATER ATTACHED TO THE MEETING AGENDA AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE BOARDDOCS WEBSITE.

AND TONIGHT WE HAVE NINE OF THOSE WHICH WE'VE RECEIVED EARLIER AND AND READ, AND THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE.

IF YOU ARE PRESENTING YOUR COMMENT IN PERSON, PLEASE BEGIN YOUR COMMENT BY STATING YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE, YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISTRICT, AND THE AGENDA ITEM OR SCHOOL DISTRICT TOPIC THAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING.

WE REQUEST THAT IF YOUR COMMENT CONSISTS WHOLLY OR PARTLY OF TEXT VERBATIM FROM AN ARTICLE, AN ONLINE POST, AN EXCERPT FROM A BOOK, ETC., THAT YOU SIMPLY SEND US THE LINK TO THE TEXT AND SPEND YOUR COMMENT TIME TELLING US HOW THIS INFORMATION RELATES DIRECTLY TO DISTRICT WORK.

PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.

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

WE HAVE ALLOWED AN HOUR TONIGHT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, USUALLY WE ONLY ALLOW A HALF HOUR, I BELIEVE BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP.

IF YOU TAKE THREE MINUTES, WE WILL BE ABLE TO FIT THEM IN.

BUT IF ANYBODY CAN SHORTEN THEIR TIME, THEN THAT WILL GUARANTEE THAT EVERYBODY WILL HAVE TIME TO SPEAK.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR STATEMENT IN A CIVIL MANNER, WITHOUT DISPARAGING NAME CALLING OR OTHERWISE 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. 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.

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

WE READ EACH EMAIL WE RECEIVE, AND WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT IT TAKES FOR THOSE WHO WRITE THEM.

WE HAVE RECEIVED MANY, MANY, MANY EMAILS AS WELL AS COMMENTS ON OUR BUDGET, GOOGLE DOC AS WELL AS ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH THE BALANCING ACT SURVEY. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE INPUT.

WE HAVE RECEIVED A GREAT DEAL OF INPUT.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO RESPOND TO ALL THE EMAILS.

AT LEAST ONE OF US RESPONDS TO ALL OF THE EMAILS.

SO EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE SENT THEM TO THE THE SCHOOL BOARD AND DOCTOR MINER, WE THIS YEAR ARE NOT DUPLICATING.

SO IF YOU'VE GOTTEN ONE RESPONSE AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID.

LET'S SEE. FIND MY CURSOR.

OH, I'M GOING TO WORK HARD ON YOUR NAME.

THE FIRST ONE PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT IS FROM MAGDALENA KEDZIERSKI.

KEDZIERSKI. HOW CLOSE DID I GET? SO THANK YOU.

COME ON UP. MAKE SURE THAT THE MIC IS ON AND THAT, AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF WE CAN HEAR YOU OR NOT.

IS THIS WORKING? IS THERE A BUTTON ON IT? YOU, AND YOU MIGHT PICK IT UP SO THAT YOU CAN GET IT NEARER.

DO YOU WANT TO? YEAH. WELL, YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE IT OFF OF THE STAND IF YOU'D LIKE.

THERE YOU GO. THAT WORKS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

HI, I'M MAGDALENA KEDZIERSKI, AND I'M A STUDENT AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL.

I LIVE IN BRIER.

I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON AN ISSUE RELATED TO POLICY 3207 THAT DEALS WITH HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING.

UNFORTUNATELY, LAST WEEK I BECAME THE TARGET OF AN INTIMIDATION PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM HAPPENED DURING PASSING TIME AT SCHOOL, THE SCHOOL DAY IN FRONT OF MANY CLASSMATES.

THE THE INCIDENT WAS CONFRONTATIONAL, EMBARRASSING, AND MADE ME FEEL VERY UNSAFE.

ONE OF MY TEACHERS SUGGESTED TALKING TO ADMINISTRATION.

I WENT IN WITH MY MOTHER TO SEE THE VICE PRINCIPAL.

HOWEVER, HE SEEMED BOTHERED THAT I WAS THERE TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION.

HE NEVER GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, NOR, OH INFORMATION ABOUT THE INCIDENT, NOR THE TIME TO ADDRESS WHY I FELT UNSAFE.

HE TOLD ME THAT A SCHEDULE CHANGE THIS LATE IN THE YEAR WAS UNWARRANTED, AND THAT I SHOULD BE SATISFIED WITH AN APOLOGY FROM THE STUDENT, AND TO MY UNDERSTANDING, I SHOULD BE THE ONE TO SEEK THE APOLOGY.

THAT SEEMED RIDICULOUS.

I WAS THERE TO ASK, TO BE SEPARATED FROM SOMEONE THAT MADE ME FEEL UNSAFE, AND I'M TOLD TO GO GET THE PERSON TO APOLOGIZE.

HE THEN PROCEEDED TO QUESTION ME REGARDING WHETHER I KNEW WHAT YELLING REALLY WAS.

HIS EXACT WORDING WAS, HOW DID YOU KNOW HE WAS YELLING THAT TO ONLY PUT ME ON THE DEFENSIVE? AND TO ME IT SEEMED LIKE HE SAID I WAS OVERREACTING.

[00:10:01]

HIS TONE SUGGESTED THAT I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT INTIMIDATION OR HARASSMENT WAS, AND THAT I WAS JUST BEING DRAMATIC FOR ME.

HIS LINE OF QUESTIONING ESCALATED THE SITUATION AND TRULY MADE FOR A MORE UNPLEASANT SITUATION.

AS A RESULT OF THE MEETING, MY MOTHER THEN CONTACTED THE PRINCIPAL AND HE TOOK A TOTALLY DIFFERENT APPROACH IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM.

HOWEVER, BEING ON THE STUDENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, I FELT COMPELLED TO SAY SOMETHING.

TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, I COME FROM A FAMILY OF EDUCATORS, TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, AND SUPERINTENDENT.

I GET SUPPORT AND ADVICE FROM THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM.

BUT NOT EVERY STUDENT HAS THAT TYPE OF SUPPORT THAT MAKES THE SITUATION VERY INEQUITABLE AND UNFAIR.

IF THIS SITUATION WAS FRUSTRATING, PAINFUL FOR ME, WHAT'S IT LIKE FOR STUDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT? THAT'S WHY I'M HERE AND ASK YOU TO REMIND THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEALING WITH HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING POLICIES TO TRULY FOLLOW WHAT IS WRITTEN ON PAPER, GET THE INFORMATION ON THE REPORTING FORM IN WRITING OR JUST BY ASKING QUESTIONS SO THERE IS A BASIS FOR MAKING DECISIONS.

ALSO, PLEASE ASK ADMINISTRATORS TO LISTEN TO STUDENTS, HAVE EMPATHY, USE APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS, AND MOST OF ALL, DO NOT MINIMIZE HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, AND BULLYING WITHOUT ADEQUATE INFORMATION.

PLEASE PROVIDE TRAINING IN THIS AREA.

SOMETIMES REMINDERS ARE NECESSARY.

IT IS CRITICAL THAT ADMINISTRATORS ALSO REMIND STUDENTS THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO FILE A REPORT WHEN THEY FEEL THERE IS A VIOLATION OF POLICY.

3207 IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST POST IT AND SEND IT HOME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

WHEN A STUDENT SEEKS HELP, REMIND THEM THEY CAN FILE A HARASSMENT FORM.

THAT ONE STEP WILL ALLOW EVERYONE TO HAVE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS BEFORE MAKING ABSURD RECOMMENDATIONS.

I LEAVE YOU THIS JUNE, AND MY LAST WORDS TO YOU AS A GOVERNING BODY ARE TO NEVER FORGET YOUR BOARD POLICIES ARE ONLY MEANINGFUL AND EFFECTIVE IF THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY AND EQUITABLY IMPLEMENTED AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.

THANK YOU.

MAGDALENA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M GOING TO ASK DOCTOR MINER TO PLEASE FOLLOW UP AND TO GET BACK TO US WITH THE FOLLOW UP.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR COURAGE IN COMING FORWARD AND SHARING THAT WITH US.

IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

I'M SORRY THAT IT HAPPENED.

NEXT IS CHRISTIANA FATTY.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CHRISTIANA FATTE AND I RESIDE IN LYNNWOOD.

I AM A LEVEL TWO PARAEDUCATOR AT WORK EXPERIENCES, ALSO KNOWN AS WORK ADJUSTMENT.

I'VE WORKED AND SERVED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FOR 20 PLUS YEARS.

I AM HERE BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY ON BEHALF OF MY PROGRAM AND TEAM AT WORK EXPERIENCES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE STUDENTS WE SERVE TO BOLDLY ADVOCATE FOR A PAUSE ON A DECISION THAT WAS MADE TO DISSOLVE OUR CURRENT PROGRAM INTO FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS.

IT IS NOT THAT I, OR OUR TEAM, DO NOT SUPPORT THE IDEA OF OUR PROGRAM BEING OFFERED IN A HIGH SCHOOL SETTING, AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GOAL TO SUPPORT MORE STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE ACCESS FOR WHAT WE OFFER, WHICH YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PROGRAM HANDOUT, IS EXTENSIVE AND ROBUST.

WHY WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR A PAUSE IN THIS DECISION IS FOR THE FOLLOWING THREE REASONS.

ONE, AND THE 30 MINUTE MEETING, WHEN THIS DECISION WAS COMMUNICATED TO OUR TEAM, IT WAS ASKED BY OUR TEAM WHAT THE PLAN WAS, THE RESPONSE GIVEN, AND CONTINUES TO BE GIVEN BY OUR MANAGEMENT, THERE IS NO PLAN.

EXECUTING SUCH A BIG IMPACTING CHANGE WITHOUT ANY PLAN SEEMS UNWISE.

TWO, BEING THAT THERE IS A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO COME UP WITH THE PLAN AND EXECUTE IT, AND DO IT IN SUCH A WAY WITH TRANSPARENCY AND THE APPROPRIATE INVOLVEMENT OF STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO PROVIDE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION.

THERE JUST SIMPLY IS NOT ENOUGH TIME.

ANY DECISION MADE RASHLY AND WITHOUT PROPER PLANNING AND ORGANIZE SEEMS UNWISE.

THREE, TO OUR UNDERSTANDING, THIS DECISION WAS NOT FINANCIALLY DRIVEN.

HOWEVER, BEING THAT THERE IS GREAT CONCERN AROUND OUR DISTRICT BUDGET AND BEING FINANCIALLY WISE, THIS DECISION WOULD APPEAR TO CREATE MORE SPENDING THAT OTHERWISE CAN BE PUT TO BETTER USE.

WE BELIEVE AS A TEAM, WE HAVE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE BARRIERS PRESENTED TO US AT MINIMAL TO NO COST TO THE DISTRICT AT THIS POINT.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS LACK OF CONSIDERATION SEEMS TO BE UNWISE.

THIS REQUEST IS OVERALL TO ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE GREATER SCHEME OF THINGS.

DDA AND DVR, AS WELL AS STUDIES SUGGEST AND SUPPORT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROGRAMS LIKE THIS DUE TO LIFE OUTCOMES AFTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THERE IS A BIGGER PICTURE TO BE UNDERSTOOD HERE.

WE ARE ASKING PLEASE GRANT US OUR REQUEST AND PAUSE THIS DECISION SO WE CAN HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS AND WORK TOWARDS BETTER AND MORE WISE AND

[00:15:02]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT UP IS JACK GAGNON.

GAGNON.

HI, I'M JACK.

I'M A EDMONDS RESIDENT AND THE TEACHER AT WORK EXPERIENCE.

MY NAME IS JACK GAGNON AND I'M A CERTIFIED TEACHER IN SPECIAL EDUCATION AND CURRENTLY THE TEACHER AT WORK EXPERIENCES.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, MY COLLEAGUES, AND MY PROGRAM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF WORK EXPERIENCES.

I HAVE FELT PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH SUCH DEDICATED STAFF AND STUDENTS, AND GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS THE PROGRAM WHERE I COULD BE ABLE TO BEGIN MY TEACHING CAREER.

I AM SADDENED BY THE DECISION TO DISSOLVE WORK EXPERIENCES AND MOVE IT TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS, AND AM ASKING FOR THERE TO BE A DELAY IN THIS DECISION DECISION SO MORE CONVERSATIONS CAN HAPPEN THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY PRODUCE SOLUTIONS THAT EVERYONE CAN GET BEHIND.

I AND OUR TEAM UNDERSTAND THIS DECISION HAS ITS ADVANTAGES AND WE UNDERSTAND AS A DISTRICT THIS IS A DECISION YOU WANT TO GO WITH, BUT WE WANT TO BE MORE INVITED, MORE INTO PROBLEM SOLVING ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS WE SERVE.

WORK EXPERIENCES HAS BEEN PROVIDING NECESSARY EMPLOYMENT SKILLS FOR STUDENTS LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN ALIVE.

IN MY TWO YEARS OF TEACHING, I'VE ONLY BEGUN TO SEE THE SURFACE OF WHAT WORK EXPERIENCES HAS ACCOMPLISHED, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT CONTINUE TO DO THIS GREAT WORK FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

I AND OUR TEAM UNDERSTAND THIS DECISION WAS JUSTIFIED DUE TO NEEDING CORRECT TO CORRECT ISSUES WITH STUDENTS RECEIVING THE REQUIRED CREDITS NEEDED FOR GRADUATING WITHOUT UNIQUE CREDITING, AMONG OTHER REASONS WE BELIEVE WE CAN HELP SOLVE.

HOWEVER, AS A PROGRAM, WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THE CASE MANAGERS AND TEACHERS WITH THE ACCRUAL ACCRUAL OF CREDITS AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO DO SO, AS WELL AS THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX FOR OTHER WAYS TO DO SO.

I HAVE SAID IT MANY TIMES BEFORE, I AM WILLING TO TEACH WHATEVER AND WHEREVER TO SEE THIS PROGRAM CONTINUE TO EXIST IN THE WAY THAT IT DOES TODAY AND CONTINUE AND GROW AND SUPPORT WITH THE VALUABLE THINGS BEING TAUGHT AND TRAINED ON.

ONE SUCH EXAMPLE IS THE COFFEE BUSINESS, WHERE STUDENTS HAVE LEARNED VALUABLE CUSTOMER SKILLS SUCH AS HOW TO TAKE ORDERS AND PROVIDE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE.

THEY HAVE ALSO LEARNED HOW TO KEEP THEIR WORKSPACE CLEAN, A VALUABLE PART OF ANY JOB, PARTICULARLY A BUSINESS THAT SERVES FOOD AND DRINKS.

IT IS IN THANKS PART NOT ONLY TO OUR WONDERFUL STAFF, STUDENTS AND CUSTOMERS, BUT ALSO THE EDMONDS FOUNDATION WHO SUPPORTED US THROUGH THIS VISION AND PROVIDED MUCH OF THE FUNDING FOR OUR COFFEE ROOM, AND THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO HAVE SUCH A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM OVERALL.

OUR CONCERN IS THE LACK OF PLANNING AROUND HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT AND REPLICATE WORK EXPERIENCE ON ALL HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL CAMPUSES WHILE WE ARE STILL FINISHING THE SCHOOL YEAR, IT WILL BE SEPTEMBER AGAIN BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.

MY HOPE IS THAT I, ALONG WITH MY TEAM AND OTHER DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO SOLVE THE ISSUE WITH CREDITS AND ENSURE ALL STUDENTS IN IS PROGRAMS ARE ABLE TO GRADUATE ON TIME.

I ALSO HOPE WE CAN WORK COLLABORATIVELY IN CREATING A SUCCESSFUL WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

WHEN THAT TIME COMES, I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE WE INVITE TO THE TABLE, THE BETTER, INCLUDING STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

NEXT UP IS MADDEN HAYFORD.

MY NAME IS MADDEN HAYFORD.

I'M A SIXTH GRADE STUDENT AT LYNDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I AM HERE TODAY TO PLEAD WITH YOU, DO NOT CUT THE MUSIC AND SPORTS PROGRAMS. I SAY THIS AS A TRUMPET PLAYER AND A BASKETBALL PLAYER.

I AM UNSURE THAT YOU TRULY KNOW HOW MUCH THESE PROGRAMS MEAN TO US STUDENTS.

FOR ONE, BAND IS SO MUCH FUN.

THE JOY IN THAT ROOM THAT HAPPINESS IS AMAZING.

I LOVE BAND CLASS SO MUCH.

I HAVE LEARNED SO MANY THINGS.

MY SISTER, A THIRD GRADER AT MY SCHOOL, IS LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT.

SHE LOOKS UP TO ME WITH SO MUCH ADMIRATION AND SHE HEARS ME PRACTICE, HEARS ME PLAY, AND LISTENS TO MY STORIES OF BAND CLASS.

SHE WAS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT WHAT INSTRUMENTS SHE WILL LEARN, HOW SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO BAND.

IT ALWAYS MAKES ME SMILE TO KNOW SHE LOOKS UP TO ME AND MY MUSICAL TALENTS.

BUT NOW, WHEN SHE LEARNED THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BAND AND ORCHESTRA MAY GET CUT, SHE WAS DEVASTATED.

IT MAKES ME SO, SO SAD TO REALIZE SHE MAY NEVER GET THE AMAZING ELEMENTARY MUSICAL EXPERIENCE I HAD.

ELEMENTARY BAND IS THE FOUNDATION TO MIDDLE, HIGH SCHOOL AND EVEN COLLEGE LEVEL BAND.

HOW CAN WE DENY HER THE CRUCIAL BUILDING BLOCKS OF MUSIC SHE AND OTHER GENERATIONS OF MUSICIANS NEED? NEXT, BEING IN A BAND OR ON OUR TEAM GIVES US STUDENTS A KIND OF FAMILY.

WE ALWAYS KNOW WE CAN GO TO OUR FELLOW TEAMMATES OR BAND MATES FOR HELP.

[00:20:04]

AND FOR KIDS IN A CITY LIKE LYNNWOOD, THIS IS CRUCIAL.

TWO MONTHS AGO, IN MY VERY OWN CUL DE SAC, LESS THAN 20FT FROM MY HOUSE, SOMEONE WAS STABBED IN A GANG RELATED INCIDENT.

THERE WAS A CAR CRASH, A FIGHT, AND FINALLY A HORRIBLE STABBING.

I DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT IT SHOWS THAT LIVING IN THIS CITY WITH CRIME ON THE UPRISE, WE NEED POSITIVE GROUPS TO BE A PART OF AND FRIENDS TO TURN TO.

WE ALL KNOW ABOUT TRUSTED ADULTS, BUT SOMETIMES THE FRIENDS THAT MAKE YOU LAUGH OR GET YOUR MIND OFF SOME BAD THINGS IS REALLY ALL YOU NEED.

AND SOMETIMES MAKING FRIENDS IS HARD.

I DON'T KNOW WHO MY FRIENDS WOULD BE, OR IF I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTIVE FRIENDS AT ALL, IF NOT FOR BAND AND BASKETBALL AND CUTTING SPORTS AND BANDS, DID YOU KNOW YOU MAY BE CUTTING APART FRIENDSHIPS THAT NEVER GOT TO BE MADE, OR LETTING KIDS BATTLE THE HARDSHIPS, LIVING IN AN INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS CITY ON THEIR OWN, WITHOUT A POSITIVE GROUP TO TURN TO WHEN THINGS GET ROUGH TO COME.

TO CONCLUDE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT MY HOPE, EVERY STUDENT'S HOPE, IS THAT WE CAN SOLVE THIS BUDGET CUT CRISIS WITHOUT CUTTING OUR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES BAND OR ORCHESTRA AND SPORTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE MONEY AND CUTS, BUT I CAN ONLY PLEAD THAT YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU ARE DOING BY CUTTING MUSIC AND SPORTS.

YOU ARE DENYING US ESSENTIAL ELEMENTARY MUSIC, DENYING US THE POSITIVE GROUPS TO BELONG TO AND DENYING US THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT ONLY HAPPEN ON A TEAM OR BAND.

SO PLEASE ONCE MORE, DON'T CUT THE MUSIC AND SPORTS PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS SUE DANIELS.

JESUS. AND I WOULD LIKE TO I'M GOING TO GO OFF SCRIPT BECAUSE I DIDN'T EXPECT JESUS TO COME TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS SUE DANIELS.

I LIVE IN EVERETT, HE'S.

AND YOU LIVE IN EDMONDS.

LINDA. LINWOOD.

YEAH. AND I'VE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT FOR NEARLY 25 YEARS, AND SUPERVISOR OF THE WORK ADJUSTMENT, NOW REFERRED TO AS THE WORK EXPERIENCES PROGRAM THAT JESUS ATTENDS.

I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE PROGRAM'S EVOLUTION, AND I'M PROUD, THAT WHAT BEGAN OVER 40 YEARS AGO AS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND A GROUP OF INVOLVED PARENTS, STILL EXIST TODAY WITH THE SAME HEART THAT DRIVES IT.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE UNFAMILIAR, THE PROGRAM SERVES MULTIPLE HIGH SCHOOLS.

JESUS MENTIONED HE GOES TO LYNWOOD AND STUDENTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED SIMILAR TO THE OTHER INTERDISTRICT COURSES WHERE STUDENTS ARE BUSED TO THE TRAINING CENTER LOCATED AT THE WOODWAY CAMPUS, WHERE STUDENTS ARE IMMERSED IN THE WORLD OF WORK.

THE SIMULATED WORKSPACE GIVES STUDENTS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO EXPERIENCE THE DEMANDS OF THE WORKPLACE AND FOCUS ON LEARNING THE SOFT SKILLS NEEDED FOR THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS.

FOLLOWING THAT MODEL.

THOSE PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS STARTED IN THE PAST.

WE WE STILL CONNECT WITH AREA BUSINESSES, RIGHT? WE DO WORK FOR DIFFERENT COMPANIES TO LEARN THE SKILLS THAT WE NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL LATER IN LIFE.

LET'S SEE, ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, IN A SHORT MEETING, OUR ADMINISTRATORS SHARED WITH THE STAFF THAT A DECISION WAS MADE TO MOVE THIS ONE OF A KIND PROGRAM TO EACH OF THE FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS.

AS PROGRAM SUPERVISOR WITH MORE EXPERIENCE IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND WITH OUR STUDENTS THAN ANYONE IN THE DISTRICT, I WAS SHOCKED THAT I WAS NOT ONLY LEFT OUT OF THESE IMPORTANT DECISIONS, BUT THAT IT WAS HAPPENING SO FAST AND WITHOUT A PLAN.

I'M ALSO WONDERING WHY THERE WAS AN INVOLVEMENT FROM KEY PEOPLE LIKE KAISER'S.

OUR TEAM AND MANY IN OUR EDUCATION COMMUNITY DON'T SUPPORT OR FEEL IT IS IN THE BEST BENEFIT TO THE STUDENTS WE ALL SERVE TO DO THIS AT THIS TIME.

I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE ME, THE PROGRAM, AND FOR OUR STUDENTS.

I'M REQUESTING A PAUSE ON THIS DECISION SO MORE CONVERSATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS CAN BE HAD AND MORE SOLUTIONS CAN BE EXPLORED FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS AND ALL OF OUR OTHER STUDENTS.

PLEASE GRANT THIS REQUEST TO PUT A PAUSE ON THIS DECISION.

[00:25:04]

DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD? YOU LOVE WORK. YEAH.

YEAH. AND YOU'RE A GREAT WORKER AREN'T YOU.

YEAH. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

CAN YOU THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR TIME? NEXT UP IS DON TRAN.

HELLO. MY NAME IS DON TRAN.

YEAH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT, STARTING OVER.

HELLO. MY NAME IS DON TRAN.

I'M A FORMER STUDENT OF THE SCHOOLS HERE IN EDMONDS DISTRICT AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE RECENT MUSIC CUTS HERE IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I MOVED TO WASHINGTON WHEN I WAS AROUND TEN.

THAT'S AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT I WAS STARTING MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TEN YEAR OLD ME OUT OF BOREDOM, I WAS, I'M THINKING I DECIDED TO PICK UP SAXOPHONE AND IT WAS THAT MOMENT THAT PROBABLY CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER.

FROM THAT MOMENT ON, I WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE THAT.

I WOULD MAKE SO MANY FRIENDS.

I NEVER KNEW THAT I WOULD, I HAD SUCH A CREATIVE SIDE TO MY SIDE TO ME.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE GOING AROUND PERFORMING SO MANY VENUES, GOING TO COMPETITIONS.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE PERFORMING ON THE BIG STAGES IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE.

I MADE MY BEST FRIENDS IN MUSIC, AND I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO GET INTO MY UNIVERSITY OF CHOICE ON A FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP JUST BECAUSE I WAS INVOLVED IN THE MUSIC PROGRAM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT IT WAS ALL BECAUSE I WAS LUCKY, OR IT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF MY HARD WORK.

BUT REALLY, IT WAS BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE MUSIC PROGRAM, WHETHER THEY WERE THERE TO LEARN OR TO TEACH, THEY WERE ALL THERE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER SO THAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS, IMPORTANT THINGS, THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM, THINGS THAT ARE EVEN IMPORTANT TO SOCIETY. I BELIEVE MUSIC IS INTEGRAL TO THE SOCIETY.

I REALIZE MUSIC PROGRAMS AREN'T A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS MODEL FOR EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN GENERAL.

AND I KNOW IT'S A COMPLICATED MATTER.

IT'S NOT BLACK AND WHITE, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE GIVE THESE KIDS A CHOICE, THAT THEY HAVE THE CHOICE.

IF THEY WANT TO GO INTO ROBOTICS, THEY COULD.

IF THEY WANT TO GO INTO SPORTS, THEY CAN.

IF THEY WANT TO GO INTO MUSIC OR IN THE ARTS, THEY CAN.

AND I THINK THEY DESERVE THAT SAME LEVEL OF BACKING AND SUPPORT THAT GAVE THEM THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT I WAS GIVEN.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE MANY GREAT THINGS LIKE I WAS ABLE TO THAT I NEVER WOULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT THE MUSIC PROGRAM.

SO MY REQUEST IS JUST PLEASE DON'T CUT MUSIC FROM OUR SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS JASON MOORE.

JASON MOORE, LYNNWOOD.

LAST SPECIAL MEETING, THE BOARD WAS DISCUSSING THE CUTS THAT WERE DISCUSSING TODAY.

THE FOR THE BUDGET, INCLUDING FIRING UP TO 20 PARAEDUCATORS, 15 TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS AND MUCH MORE.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE STAFF, WHEN THEY GIVE PRESENTATIONS, COULD TRANSLATE TO A LANGUAGE THAT THE PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND.

INSTEAD OF REFERRING TO THESE POSITIONS IN DECIMAL POINTS AND PERCENTAGES.

THESE ARE PEOPLE IN REAL POSITIONS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WITH FEELINGS, HOPES AND DREAMS, NOT JUST ANOTHER DATA SET.

WE APPRECIATE THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO BOTHERED TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS.

[00:30:05]

THIS SHOWS THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT THAT YOU CARE ENOUGH TO ASK AT LEAST ONE QUESTION.

BUT TO THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, WE FIND IT VERY TROUBLING THAT YOU ARE READY TO VOTE YES ON WHATEVER THE STAFF DIRECTS YOU TO DO SO WITHOUT EVEN GIVING THESE PEOPLE.

THAT YOU'RE READY TO FIRE THE DECENCY OR RESPECT OF EVEN ASKING ONE SIMPLE QUESTION.

WE THINK YOU SHOULD REEVALUATE WHY YOU ARE SERVING THE PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD.

IT MAY BE TIME FOR YOU TO MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE.

WE SUPPORT THE TEACHERS, THE STUDENTS, THE PARENTS IN THIS DISTRICT FOR THEIR DESIRE FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY, HONESTY AND JUSTICE WHEN DEALING WITH THIS DISTRICT.

PLEASE REMEMBER BOARD MEMBERS.

THIS BOARD IS A CHECK AND BALANCE TO THE STAFF, THE DISTRICT, THE OSPI AND THE STATE.

AS LONG AS YOU ARE WILLING TO ACT TRANSPARENTLY, HONESTLY AND EFFICIENTLY, WE WILL ALSO SUPPORT YOU.

THE PEOPLE OF THIS DISTRICT ARE STILL DEMANDING AN ANSWER TO WHAT HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF THESE TWO FEMALE FEMALE STUDENTS WHO WERE KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AT TWO DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOL BATHROOMS. WHAT WERE THE PUNISHMENTS? HOW WAS THE DISTRICT GOING TO ENSURE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN? NEXT THE STUDY SESSIONS.

WHEN WILL THIS BOARD START ARCHIVING VIDEO OR AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THESE MEETINGS? IT WOULD BE VERY INFORMATIVE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS DISTRICT TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT, TO REVIEW WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT FOR THEM.

AND JUST THROW IT OUT THERE ONE MORE TIME.

YOU. ANYBODY FROM THE DISTRICT? PARENTS, STUDENTS WANT TO CONTACT US? IT'S PARENTS FOR SAFE SCHOOLS AT PROTON.ME, PARENTS FOR SAFE SCHOOLS AT PROTON.ME.

THANK YOU. CAN I? DIRECTOR KATIMS, I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE QUICK THING TO THAT.

WE DID HAVE.

I KNOW THAT I HAD AN HOUR WITH DOCTOR MINER AND LYDIA.

I BELIEVE EACH ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES DID AS WELL TO DISCUSS THIS BUDGET STUFF.

SO THAT WE COULD GET A LOT OF OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED BEFORE SHOWING UP IN HERE, ASKING QUESTIONS THAT WE COULD ALREADY GET ANSWERED EASILY FROM STAFF.

SO WE DID ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS THEIR OWN QUESTIONS.

WE ARE AVAILABLE VIA EMAIL.

THERE ARE WAYS TO GET AHOLD OF PEOPLE, HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

NO DESIRE TO NOT BE TRANSPARENT.

YOU KNOW, WE WE HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS ONE.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP IS ROCHELLE HUME.

HI, MY NAME IS ROCHELLE HUME.

I LIVE IN BRIER, HAVE A 10TH GRADER AT EDMONDS-WOODWAY AND A FOURTH GRADER AT BRIER ELEMENTARY, AND THIS IS MY SIXTH YEAR TEACHING GENERAL MUSIC AT BRIER ELEMENTARY.

MY MAIN PURPOSE TODAY IS TO PROMOTE THE AMAZING MUSIC TEACHERS WHO HAVE BUILT A DISTRICT WIDE COMPREHENSIVE MUSIC PROGRAM BASED ON SOUND RESEARCH.

THIS CURRICULUM HAS BEEN WELL DESIGNED TO BE EQUITABLE, ENGAGING, EXCELLENT AND INCLUSIVE.

EVERY STUDENT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME MUSICAL FROM THE YOUNGEST AGE TO LEARN AN INSTRUMENT WHEN THEIR BRAINS, BODIES, AND INTERESTS ARE AT A PEAK.

TO PARTICIPATE IN LEVELED PROGRAMS IN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS THAT CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS IN CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION, AND COMMUNITY, CULMINATING IN HIGH LEVEL, AWARD WINNING ENSEMBLES THAT MAKE OUR PROGRAMS KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND BEYOND.

EVERY PART OF THIS CONTINUUM WAS DESIGNED BY A COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY OF DEDICATED MUSIC TEACHERS.

LEAVING OUT ANY OF THE PARTS WILL HAVE LASTING EFFECTS.

I KNOW THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS TO MAKE SOME CUTS, BUT I HAVE ALSO HEARD A FEW MISCONCEPTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR UP.

MISCONCEPTION ONE THEY'RE STILL GETTING MUSIC.

ALL MUSIC CLASSES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.

SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADERS CANNOT ACCESS OR PERFORM THE SAME LEVELS OF MUSIC.

YOU CANNOT HAVE A VIBRANT HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL PROGRAM WITHOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR, EVIDENCED BY THE LOSS OF OUR CHOIR AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL LAST YEAR.

CUTTING ONE THING IMPACTS EVERYTHING FOR YEARS TO COME.

MISCONCEPTION TWO, OTHER DISTRICTS START INSTRUMENTS IN SIXTH GRADE AND HAVE AMAZING PROGRAMS. WHILE TECHNICALLY TRUE, ALL BEGINNING INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAMS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.

SNOHOMISH AND SEATTLE HAVE SIXTH GRADE BEGINNING INSTRUCTION 4 TO 5 DAYS PER WEEK, VERSUS OUR TWICE A WEEK MODEL.

THOSE SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS RECEIVE AT LEAST TWICE AS MUCH INSTRUCTION AS OURS.

[00:35:01]

THIS WOULD ONLY ACCOUNT FOR 15% OF THE MONEY NECESSARY TO KEEP ELEMENTARY BAND AND ORCHESTRA.

MISCONCEPTION FOUR, WE HAVE TO CUT MUSIC.

I COMPLETED THE BALANCING ACT AND DID NOT CUT ANY SPORTS OR MUSIC.

IT IS POSSIBLE.

MISCONCEPTION FIVE, CUTTING MUSIC SAVES MONEY IN THE SHORT TERM.

THIS MAY BE TRUE IN THE LONG TERM.

MUSIC CLASSES ARE ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMICAL BECAUSE THEY OFFER ARTS AND CTE CREDITS FOR GRADUATION AT A VERY LOW PER STUDENT COST.

BECAUSE MOST MUSIC CLASSES CAN AND DO OPERATE AT LARGER ENROLLMENT NUMBERS, BUILDING LARGER MUSIC PROGRAMS IS A MORE ECONOMICAL OPTION, BUT THAT STARTS BY BUILDING MUSICALITY AND EXCITEMENT.

BEGINNING IN KINDERGARTEN AND CONTINUING WITH AMAZING EDUCATORS AND OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT GRADUATION.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE, MY QUIET, ANXIETY PRONE 10TH GRADER HAS ALWAYS FOUND HER VOICE, HER PLACE, AND HER BELONGING IN MUSIC FROM ROBIN LARSON IN GENERAL MUSIC AND CHOIR AT TERRACE PARK TO JAKE BERGEVIN AND CHARLOTTE REECE AT EDMONDS-WOODWAY, EVERY MUSIC TEACHER HAS FOSTERED HER LOVE OF MUSIC, EXPANDED HER CONFIDENCE, ENCOURAGED HER CREATIVITY AND CHALLENGED HER SKILL SET.

I ASK YOU, I NEED TO ASK YOU.

THAT'S MORE THAN YOUR THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR FAMILY IS INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS CAREFULLY DESIGNED CONTINUUM OF EXCELLENCE, AND MY FOURTH GRADER DESIRES AND DESERVES THE SAME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CLOSING I URGE YOU TO HONOR THE AMAZING EDUCATORS WHO HAVE MADE EDMONDS A DISTRICT KNOWN FOR MUSIC.

THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE PEOPLE KEEPING TO THEIR TIME LIMIT.

THE NEXT PERSON UP IS LARISSA PIGOT.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS LARISSA PIGOT.

I'M A RESIDENT OF MOUNTLAKE TERRACE.

I HAVE A SENIOR AND AN MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL.

EVERY TIME WHEN I COME TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, I FEEL VERY NERVOUS AND EMOTIONAL.

IT FEELS LIKE AS IF I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF THE BOARD OF DOCTORS AND I'M ADVOCATING FOR A DYING PATIENT.

LAST YEAR, DURING THE BOARD MEETINGS, WE HEARD THE SAME COMMENTS OVER AND OVER.

THE COMMENT WAS MUSIC IS JUST AN ELECTIVE AND SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME AS ANY OTHER ELECTIVES.

OKAY, LET'S DISREGARD THE BENEFITS OF THE MUSIC PROGRAM AND ITS EIGHT YEAR DURATION FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL.

AND LOOK AT THE DATA.

LAST YEAR, THE BOARD HAD SEVERAL ELECTIVE LIKE MANY ELECTIVE PATIENTS AND LIMITED RESOURCES.

AND WE UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE CUTS.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE VISITED THE MUSIC PATIENT.

KIDS WERE CRYING IN ALMOST ALL BOARD MEETINGS, PLEADING TO KEEP THEIR MUSIC CLASSES.

THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAME IN SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM.

THE BOARD RECEIVED OVER THOUSANDS OF EMAILS AND LETTERS.

A FEW VISITORS CAME TO SUPPORT A THEATER PATIENT.

AS FOR THE REST OF THE ELECTIVES, NOBODY CAME.

NOBODY ADVOCATED FOR THE REST OF THE ELECTIVES BECAUSE NOBODY CARED ENOUGH.

THE SCHOOL BOARD DECISION WAS TO KEEP THE ELECTIVES, WHICH NOBODY ADVOCATED FOR, AND CUT THE MUSIC PROGRAM BY 40% AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL.

THE MUSIC PATIENT WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, REGROUPED, REPLACED SOME LIMBS, BUT SURVIVED IN HOPES FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

NOW WE LEARN THAT THE FIFTH AND GREAT MUSIC CLASSES ARE ON THE CHOPPING BOARD, SO THE REST I'M DEVOTED TO THE MEMBERS WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH DOCTOR KATIMS AND DIRECTOR CRAMER.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE ARTS, SO THE REST OF MY SPEECH WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE MEMBERS WHO DO NOT SUPPORT THE MUSIC PROGRAM, AND IT'S FINE FOR THE CUTS. SO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF MUSIC PROGRAM.

IT'S THEY ARE THEIR LEGS.

NOW THE LEGS OF THE MUSIC PATIENT WILL BE CUT OFF.

EVERYBODY HERE UNDERSTANDS THAT ELIMINATING FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADES MUSIC CLASSES WILL KILL THE MUSIC PROGRAM.

IF ALL ELECTIVES ARE SUPPOSED TO GET AN EQUAL TREATMENT.

WHY DID WE WITNESS THE MUSIC PROGRAM BEING TARGETED SO SEVERELY IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER ELECTIVES? I SEE THAT, AND THE QUESTIONS COME TO MY MIND WHAT IS THE REASON OF THIS BIAS? I WANT TO REPLY TO THE COMMENT MADE BY THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING.

THE COMMENT WAS PARENTS SHOULD NOT BE WORRIED IF FIFTH AND SIXTH MUSIC CLASSES ARE CUT BECAUSE THE DISTRICT KEEPS THE GENERAL MUSIC EDUCATION CLASS.

I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE GENERAL MUSIC EDUCATION CLASS DOES NOT TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

[00:40:03]

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD NOTIFY THE PARENTS OF THE FIFTH GRADERS THAT THE KIDS WILL DISCONTINUE PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NEXT YEAR.

THE SCHOOL BOARD TALKS A LOT ABOUT THE QUALITY AND HOW, AND NOW YOU'RE ELIMINATING THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THE STUDENTS TO HAVE A FREE MUSIC EDUCATION.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP IS LIAM SALAS.

HELLO. MY NAME IS LIAM SALAS, AND.

OH, YEAH.

SURE. SO MY NAME IS LIAM SALAS AND I'M AN ALUMNUS OF EDMONDS-WOODWAY HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WANT TO SHARE SOME OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND WHY I THINK THE MUSIC PROGRAM SHOULD BE PROTECTED.

SO WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN GOING INTO INTO HIGH SCHOOL AT WOODWAY, I CAME FROM A REALLY SMALL CLASS OF ABOUT 25 KIDS IN THE EIGHTH GRADE.

MY FRESHMAN YEAR WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I WOULD WALK THROUGH THE HALLS EVERY DAY, AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN SURROUNDED BY SO MANY PEOPLE AND HAVE NEVER FELT SO ALONE.

I WOULD WAKE UP A LOT FEELING LIKE THERE WAS NO POINT IN WAKING UP.

I'D FEEL LIKE THAT I DIDN'T MATTER.

AND THAT STICKS WITH YOU FOR A LONG TIME.

AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY STILL REALLY HARD FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT.

I MEAN, I'M LAUGHING NOW, BUT THIS IS NOT FUNNY.

THERE WAS ONE THING THAT I.

THAT I KNEW I COULD DEPEND ON, THAT I DID LOOK FOR IT TO GOING TO EVERY DAY, AND THAT WAS GOING TO JAZZ BAND EVERY DAY.

I STARTED OFF IN THE THIRD JAZZ BAND, AND CERTAINLY NOT THE FIRST.

THAT YEAR WAS ONE OF THE BEST BANDS I'VE EVER HEARD.

NOT THE SECOND, BUT JAZZ THREE.

AND THE MORE TIME I SPENT IN THAT BAND ROOM, THE MORE TIME I SPENT TALKING TO PEOPLE, THE MORE TIME I SPENT PLAYING MY INSTRUMENT.

I FELT LIKE I HAD A REASON TO EXIST.

TAKING AWAY THE MUSIC PROGRAMS AT AT MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

HIGH SCHOOLS TAKES AWAY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS WHO ARE SEVERELY DEPRESSED LIKE ME, TO FIND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO HAVE SOME KIND OF SENSE OF COMMUNITY, TO FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG, AND TO GIVE THEM A REASON TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY.

I BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL BOARD IS FULL OF GOOD PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT ULTIMATELY, TAKING AWAY THE MUSIC DEPARTMENTS AT SO MANY SCHOOLS IS ULTIMATELY AN ACT OF CRUELTY THAT I KNOW NONE OF YOU WANT TO DO.

SO I JUST IMPLORE YOU TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

BECAUSE THESE MUSIC PROGRAMS ARE THIS ISN'T SOME GAME THAT YOU CAN JUST CUT.

THIS ISN'T SOME CLUB YOU CAN JUST CUT.

MUSIC IS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT, LEARNED SKILL THAT NEEDS INSTRUCTION FROM REAL TEACHERS.

YOU CAN'T JUST. IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO JUST TEACH.

TEACH YOURSELF HOW TO HOW TO READ OR PLAY AN INSTRUMENT TO AT ANY LEVEL, LET ALONE THE LEVEL OF A BEGINNER.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED.

AND I KNOW I'M RUNNING SHORT ON TIME, BUT I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

I'M NOT SOME MUSICAL GENIUS.

I AM GOING TO.

I'M ABOUT TO GRADUATE.

THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FROM THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AS A DIRECT ADMIT TO THE COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.

AND EVERY DAY, I WISH THAT I.

I WENT TO MUSIC SCHOOL TO CARRY ON THE TRADITION OF JAZZ MUSIC.

EVERY DAY I THINK ABOUT IT, AND EVERY DAY I REGRET NOT DOING IT.

THANK YOU.

NEXT IS ALEX WEBER.

HELLO. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

I'M SORRY I'M A LITTLE EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE LIAM IS MY PARTNER WHO I MET IN THE JAZZ BAND.

I'M ALSO A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND AN ALUMNUS OF EDMONDS-WOODWAY AND I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS WITH YOU.

I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE FRIENDSHIPS MADE IN BAND, AND I DON'T THINK I NEED TO SAY ANY MORE ON THAT AT THIS MOMENT.

BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS, WHEN I WAS GOING INTO HIGH SCHOOL, THERE WERE SEVEN BANDS

[00:45:06]

1 OR 2 OF EACH AND IT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE PRIORITIES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD IN THIS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE. LIKE COMING HERE IN THE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE BUDGETING IS NOT MATCHING UP.

LIAM AND I WENT TO THE STATE LEGISLATURES AND THEY REFERRED US TO YOU GUYS.

YOU GUYS ARE REFERRING THEM, US BACK TO THEM.

AND I'D LOVE TO TALK WITH ONE OR A FEW OF YOU ABOUT SOLUTIONS TO THAT AND HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

WE WERE THINKING ABOUT MAKING A PETITION.

BUT IT'S HARD TO FIND INFORMATION ABOUT LIKE WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO TO ACTUALLY MAKE AN IMPACT.

OBVIOUSLY IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME, BUT WE PLAN TO BE HERE EVERY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, EVERY STATE LEGISLATURE MEETING.

JUST TO SHOW US THAT WE'RE HERE, WE'RE LISTENING, WE'RE WATCHING.

AND WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR US AND OUR STUDENTS AND OUR BANDS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, ALEX AND PLEASE REACH OUT TO EITHER KAREN CHASE, WHO'S THE LEGISLATIVE REP, OR ME OR BOTH OF US, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU GET INVOLVED WITH OUR ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF IRONIC THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE TURNED YOU BACK TO US, BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR INVOLVEMENT.

SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS PARIS BORTZ.

HI. MY NAME IS PARIS BORTZ AND I'M A FIFTH GRADER TAKING ORCHESTRA AT TERRACE PARK ELEMENTARY AND I'M CONCERNED THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING GETTING RID OF BAND ORCHESTRA FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DUE TO A LACK OF FUNDING.

PLEASE RETHINK THIS OPTION.

I KNOW MANY OF MY FELLOW STUDENTS HAVE WAITED A VERY LONG TIME TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, MYSELF INCLUDED WOULD YOU REALLY WANT TO RID US OF THAT OPTION NOW, AFTER YEARS OF WAITING FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY JUST TO THROW IT ALL AWAY.

THERE'S A GIRL. SHE.

SHE REALLY CARES ABOUT THIS CAUSE ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHERS.

AND SHE, IF YOU ARE TIRED OF MUSIC, IS ALREADY PLANNING TO MAKE A SYSTEM TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE WHO CAN'T AFFORD PRIVATE LESSONS TO HAVE A SHOT AT IT.

SHE IS DOING COMMISSIONS, AND ALL THAT MONEY SHE MAKES FROM DOING THAT GOES TO HELPING PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD PRACTICES.

THIS SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO HER, TO ALL OF US.

I BET YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN THE POSTERS MY PEERS HAVE PUT ON THE WALLS.

WOULD YOU REALLY RID US OF A ALL OF US? OF A CAUSE THAT WE WERE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT, SO PASSIONATE THAT I'M TALKING TO YOU ALL RIGHT NOW? WOULD YOU REALLY RID US OF SUCH OPPORTUNITIES AND WHEN I SAY US, I SAY ALL OF US FIRST GRADERS ALL THE WAY TO FOURTH, NEVER HAVING THE CHANCE TO MAKE SUCH BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.

IT'S TRAGIC, IS IT NOT? NEVER HAVING A PEAK AT SUCH WONDERFUL THINGS.

I BEG YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS AND THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT WE CAN DO INSTEAD TO CUT THE BUDGET.

DO WE REALLY NEED A BRAND NEW CURRICULUM? WE ALREADY LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE ONES WE HAVE, SO WHY WOULD WE NEED A NEW ONE IF WE ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED PLEASE, PLEASE GIVE US A CHANCE TO HAVE MUSIC IN OUR LIVES. AND THIS IS JUST A SMALL EXAMPLE OF REPRESENTING HOW PASSIONATE TERRACE PARK ELEMENTARY IS, WHICH MY FRIEND LUCIA PASSED AROUND IN FIFTH GRADE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

STEVE MOSSMAN.

STEVE MOSSMAN, MOUNTLAKE TERRACE RESIDENT.

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF PEOPLE'S GOD GIVEN, CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED CIVIL RIGHTS BY THE STAFF OF EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE STAFF OF THE SCHOOLS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

IT HAS PRESENTED ITSELF VIA DISCRIMINATION OF STUDENTS WISHING TO HAVE GROUPS OR CLUB ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS, BUT BEING REFUSED SPACE TO MEET OR WILLING TEACHER OVERSIGHT BY SCHOOL STAFF LEADERSHIP.

THESE DISCRIMINATIONS ALSO SEEM TO BE INSTIGATED BY SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS 1 OR 2 PEOPLE STATING THAT THE BELIEFS OF THE GROUP OFFENDS THEM, OR HAS SAID SOMETHING THAT HURTS

[00:50:06]

I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND THE WASHINGTON STATE CONSTITUTION, WHICH YOU ALL SWORE AN OATH TO, ALLOWS PEOPLE TO FREELY ASSEMBLE, FREELY SPEAK DISAGREEABLE WORDS, AND TO HOLD CONTRARY BELIEFS WITHOUT FEAR OF REPRISAL OR DISCRIMINATION, NO MATTER WHAT, NO MATTER WHO MAY BE OFFENDED.

THE BIGGER IRONY OF THIS SITUATION IS THAT THE LOGIC FOR INFLICTING THIS DISCRIMINATION IS BEING BASED ON A LAW RECENTLY ENACTED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

SENATE BILL 5427, WHICH DOES NOT EVEN GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR.

EVEN WHEN IT DOES, IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT THE USE OF THIS LAW IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WOULD BE APPLICABLE OR HOLD UP TO SCRUTINY DUE TO THE CONFLICT WITH THE RIGHTS SPELLED OUT BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION OR ARTICLE ONE, SECTIONS FOUR AND FIVE OF THE WASHINGTON STATE CONSTITUTION.

ACTIONS LIKE THESE HAVE HAD LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST THEM ALL AROUND THE US, AND COURTS HAVE CONTINUALLY RULED IN FAVOR OF THE PEOPLE OR GROUPS BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. IF SUCH ACTIONS WERE TO CONTINUE BY DISTRICT PERSONNEL, SERIOUS LEGAL SUITS COULD BE FILED, LEAVING OPEN THE OFFENDING PARTIES TO PERSONAL LIABILITIES AND JUDGMENTS AND THE DISTRICT TO POTENTIALLY HUGE MONETARY DAMAGES AND PENALTIES.

REMEMBER, INEQUALITY TO, FOR ONE, IS AN INEQUALITY FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. NEXT ARE KAYLEIGH MARQUIS AND MYLA ABDEL-MALEK.

ABDEL-MALEK.

HER NAMES ARE MILA ABDELMALEK AND KAILEE MARQUIS.

WE WERE SIXTH GRADERS FROM CEDAR WAY ELEMENTARY.

WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS WHY WE SHOULD.

HI, OUR NAMES ARE MILA ABDELMALEK AND KAYLEIGH MARQUIS AND WE ARE OUR SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS FROM CEDAR WAY ELEMENTARY. WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS WHY WE SHOULDN'T ELIMINATE BAND AND ORCHESTRA.

WE WILL BE GOING MAINLY ON WITH FACTS FOR THIS COMMENT.

ORCHESTRA MEMBERS CAN MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND LEARN TO COOPERATE AND COLLABORATE.

TEAMWORK. ORCHESTRA MEMBERS LEARN TO LISTEN, HARMONIZE, AND FOLLOW DIRECTION.

ORCHESTRA MEMBERS ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THEMSELVES AND [INAUDIBLE] ORCHESTRA MEMBERS CAN SET ASIDE WORRIES AND ENJOY FUN ACTIVITY AND FEEL LIKE THEY ARE AWAY FROM ALL THEIR STRESS.

MUSIC TRAINING CAN IMPROVE YOUR MATH COMPREHENSION, SPECTACLE AND PATTERN RECOGNITION LANGUAGES AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS.

LEARNING TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT CAN INCREASE YOUR PHYSICAL COORDINATION.

MUSIC TRAINING CAN INCREASE YOUR CREATIVITY AND ABILITY TO VIEW PROBLEMS FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

MUSIC CAN BE HEALTH CAN BE A HEALTHY OUTLET FOR YOUR EMOTIONS.

MUSIC TRAINING CAN TEACH YOU SELF DISCIPLINE.

YOU CAN LEARN THAT YOU CAN DO THINGS.

YOU CAN LEARN TO SET GOALS AND ACHIEVE THEM.

YOU CAN LEARN TO FOCUS.

YOU CAN LEARN TO FOCUS.

YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO FIX FLAWS.

YOU CAN LEARN LEADERSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP.

YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT HISTORY AND LITERATURE, ABOUT AN ARTS AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS STEPHEN KEELER.

[00:55:08]

I'M A RESIDENT OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON.

I'M A TAXPAYER WITH NO CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SUPERINTENDENT MINER, YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER AT THE MOST RECENT BOARD MEETING, TWO HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES FROM EDMONDS-WOODWAY SPOKE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND CURRICULUM POSSIBILITIES.

I FOUND THEIR COMMENT TO BE OF BOTH INTEREST AND RELEVANT.

I HAD I DIDN'T TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK THEIR SITE ON PEW RESEARCH, BUT I HAVE NO REASON TO DOUBT THE INTENTION AND THE RELEVANCE OF OF WHAT THEY WERE SPEAKING ABOUT.

I DID, HOWEVER, FIND IT NECESSARY TO GO TO THE PEW RESEARCH WEBSITE AND DO SOME FURTHER CHECKING MYSELF.

I HAVE PROVIDED A DOCUMENT, A SINGLE PAGE, TO EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND YOU, AND THERE MIGHT BE SEVERAL EXTRAS WHICH YOU CAN KEEP.

I WOULD ASK, IF POSSIBLE, IF YOU COULD FORWARD THAT DOCUMENT TO BOTH STUDENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THEM TO SEE IT. IN SUMMARIZING TONIGHT, I FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS DATA, RUN APPROPRIATE ANALYSIS, AND REACH THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS BASED UPON A BALANCE OF INPUTS.

STUDENTS MUST BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOURCES OF DATA ERROR AND UNDERSTAND HOW INSTRUMENTATION MAY INDUCE SUCH AGENCIES, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, THE NATIONAL SNOW AND ICE DATA CENTER.

AND THE UNITED STATES.

THE UNITED STATES CLIMATE REFERENCE NETWORK ARE VALUABLE RESOURCES, AND STUDENTS MUST BE INTRODUCED TO THEM.

CAN THIS HAPPEN IN A DISTRICT? CLIMATE CHANGE CURRICULUM.

CURRICULUM? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. KEELER.

AND I WANT TO JUST SAY I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE.

ONE OF MY CHILDREN IS NOW THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE US CLIMATE ALLIANCE.

AND I AM WELL AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF US PROTECTING THE CLIMATE OR EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

TO TRY TO HELP OUR STUDENTS SORT OF PALES IN COMPARISON TO SAVING OUR ENVIRONMENT.

AND YOUR DISCUSSION OF THE NEED FOR SCIENCE THINKING, REASONING, BEING ABLE TO CHECK RESEARCH ARE CRITICAL THINKING THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS LEARN.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

NEXT IS BILLY KENNEDY.

HI. EXCUSE ME.

BILLY CONNOLLY.

THAT'S OKAY, IT'S FINE.

I LIVE IN EDMONDS, BORN AND RAISED.

I LOVE EDMONDS LOVE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, FRANK DEMURO A GOOD FRIEND AND A MENTOR OF MINE.

HE TOLD ME YEARS AGO, HE SAYS, BILLY, LOOK AROUND.

HE GOES, LOOK AT ALL THESE DISTRICTS AROUND HERE.

WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU SEE? WHY ARE THEY SUCCESSFUL? LET'S LOOK AT THE SUCCESSFUL ONES.

AND HE SAID, AND HE'S AND I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, AND I'M YOUNG AND I'M LIKE, SO WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT HERE? AND HE GOES, THEY GOT STRONG MUSIC AND ARTS AT THEIR CORE.

AND I, AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, I GOT TO DO MY RESEARCH.

I GOT TO BACK THIS UP AND I DID.

AND MUSIC AND ARTS IN ALL OF THESE, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL DISTRICTS IN OUR STATE HAD MUSIC AND ARTS AT ITS CORE, THRIVING.

AND IT WASN'T A COINCIDENCE.

IT'S. IT'S JUST A FACT.

I LOVE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT I THINK IT'S IT'S A MAJOR REASON WHY IT IS A SUCCESSFUL DISTRICT, HONESTLY.

I WANT TO KEEP IT TO THAT POINT OUT OF CORE.

ADD A CURRICULUM THAT'S AT A STATE LEVEL, AND IT SHOULD BE AT EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICTS AT ITS LEVEL.

I GOT FOUR BOYS.

THEY'RE ALL INTO MUSIC.

THEY LOVE MUSIC. THEY'RE ALL BASEBALL PLAYERS.

THEY ALL WENT THROUGH LINDALE, LITTLE LEAGUE.

THEY, I WAS HELPING WITH THE SOUND SYSTEM ONE EVENING, AND WE'RE GETTING THINGS READY.

AND WE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO ADVOCATE KIDS TO JOIN IN AND WE'RE READY.

[01:00:01]

TO TO ANNOUNCE THE GAME.

AND ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE PARENTS IS LIKE, BECAUSE THE KID WAS STUMBLING A LITTLE BIT AND HE'S LIKE, NO, WE GOT IT, WE GOT IT.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. AND I'M LIKE, WHOA, HEY! HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, RICK OR DAVE NIEHAUS IF YOU DON'T LET THESE KIDS START? WE NEED THESE FEEDER PROGRAMS IN PLACE.

IT I MEAN, ANYBODY THAT STARTS MUSIC AS A LATER ADULT, THEY'RE GOING TO ENJOY IT THOROUGHLY.

BUT THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO.

THE ADVANCEMENT STARTS AT AN EARLY AGE.

WE NEED THESE FEEDER PROGRAMS. IT'S IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

THE OTHER THING, JUST TO KEEP ON A LIGHTER NOTE, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT IT AS MUCH AS I CAN.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I'VE TRIED TO SUPPORT AND KEEP IT OUT OF SUCH A WEALTHY SPORT.

IT HAS TO STAY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IT'S IT'S VITAL THE I SUPPORTED MY KIDS IN BASEBALL AND AQUASOX GAME AND THEY WANTED ME TO DO AN AD IN THE IN THE PROGRAM.

I'M LIKE, OKAY, I'M GOING TO DO AN AD.

YOU BET. AND I PUT A FIFTH GRADER ON A CELLO AND I SAID, DREAM BIG ON THE CAPTION.

AND BELOW IT I SAID, THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN BASEBALL AND THERE IS, AND I SO I'M CHALLENGING YOU FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

PLEASE, INSTEAD OF TURNING ON THE NEWS IN THE MORNING OR THE TODAY SHOW, PUT ON A RECORD.

MAYBE PUT ON ALEXA AND LISTEN TO THE CALIFORNIA HONEY DROPPERS.

OKAY? YOU.

IT WILL CHANGE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. NEXT IS CAROLYN HARVEY.

HELLO, MY NAME IS CAROLYN HARVEY.

I LIVE IN EDMONDS AND I'M A PARENT OF AN 11TH GRADER AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE ELEPHANT.

LAST YEAR, AS WE KNOW, TERRORISTS LOST SEVERAL CLASSES.

THOSE CHANGES HAVE BEEN REALLY IMPACTFUL FOR US.

FROM THAT EXPERIENCE, I CHOSE TO GET EDUCATED.

I WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET CHALLENGES, WHAT HAPPENED, AND ALONG WITH OTHER PARENTS, I VOLUNTEERED TO PARTNER WITH YOU TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ROOT CAUSES.

I'VE LEARNED A TON THIS PAST YEAR SOME OF IT THANKS TO A FEW OF YOU.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

BUT PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT YOU SERVE A COMMUNITY THAT IS SMART, PASSIONATE, CREATIVE, AND ENGAGED, REALLY ENGAGED.

AND THIS IS A GIFT.

WE'RE HERE PRIORITIZING OUR STUDENTS EDUCATION, AND WE'RE ASKING TO BE PART OF A SOLUTION.

SOME OF OUR ADVOCACY HAS CAUSED CONFLICT, DEFENSIVENESS, AND I THINK THAT DISTRACTS FROM OUR POTENTIAL.

WE ALL KNOW THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND, BUT IF YOU CAN PUT US TO WORK, FIGURE OUT HOW TO BRING THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER, YOU'LL HAVE A POWERHOUSE THAT CAN'T BE STOPPED. SO HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

I'M ADVOCATING FOR PERFORMING ARTS.

AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE PROGRAMS TO SAVE, I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT OUR COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND WORK WITH ALL OF YOU TO DRIVE ADEQUATE, NECESSARY FUNDING FROM THE STATE. BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO BRIDGE THE NEXT YEAR, MAYBE A COUPLE OF YEARS, SO THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR.

IN THE PAST MONTH, THE MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ONE ENSEMBLE WON BOTH THEIR DIVISION AND THE SWEEPSTAKES AT NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL.

THEY PERFORMED AT THE PARAMOUNT THEATER ON STAGE WITH FIVE TOP HIGH SCHOOLS FROM THE AREA FROM THE GREATER SEATTLE AREA.

AND JUST THIS WEEKEND THEY WON THEIR GROUP COMPETITION AND THE FESTIVAL SWEEPSTAKES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO LIONEL HAMPTON JAZZ FESTIVAL.

IN THE PAST MONTH, INSTEAD OF ELIMINATING THE FOUNDATIONS THAT THESE AWARD WINNING PROGRAMS NEED, I ASK THAT YOU FIND A WAY TO PROTECT OUR ELEMENTARY ENSEMBLES, PROTECT OUR FOUNDATIONS, AND ALL OF OUR MUSIC EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CAROLYN, AND ALSO FOR ALL THE ADVOCACY THAT YOU'VE BEEN HELPING US WITH.

NEXT IS JENNIFER CASTLE.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CASTLE.

I LIVE IN EDMONDS.

I'M THE PARENT OF A SEVENTH GRADER AT EDMONDS-WOODWAY HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE MUSIC BOOSTERS THERE.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS WE KNOW, THINGS WE DON'T KNOW IN PARTNERSHIPS.

SO FIRST, WHAT WE KNOW.

WE KNOW YOU GUYS ARE SITTING HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE YOU CHOSE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND STUDENTS.

[01:05:03]

WE KNOW YOU HAVE TOUGH CHOICES TO MAKE THIS BUDGET SEASON, AND WE HAVE TOUGH CUTS TO ENDURE.

WE ALSO KNOW THE BUDGET CAN BE BALANCED WITHOUT CUTTING FIFTH GRADE ORCHESTRA AND BAND, AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE THAT DID NOT TAKE THE BALANCING ACT SERIOUSLY THIS YEAR WILL NOT MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN.

THEY WILL FILL IT OUT AS WE GO FORWARD.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE MORE CUTS THAT AREN'T ANNOUNCED YET IN MUSIC ENSEMBLES AT THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND WE KNOW THE DOCUMENTED BENEFITS OF ENSEMBLE PROGRAMS ON GRADUATION RATES, ATTENDANCE.

WE KNOW STUDENTS REPORT A SENSE OF BELONGING, EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, COLLABORATION, COMMITMENT, COMMUNICATION.

AND LASTLY, WE ALSO KNOW THAT MUSIC PARENTS ARE GOOD CITIZENS THAT DON'T JUST CARE ABOUT MUSIC, WE CARE ABOUT OUR OVERALL SCHOOLS.

AND WE KNOW THAT IF THE SCHOOLS ARE PROPERLY FUNDED IN OTHER AREAS, IT WILL ALSO HELP.

MUSIC. WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS WHY CAN'T THE CONTRACTUAL PROBLEM BE SOLVED? SO FIFTH GRADE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IS THE REQUIREMENT.

WE DON'T KNOW IF MUSIC PROGRAMS ARE BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY CUT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SECONDARY BUILDING CUTS AS WE'RE GATHERED HERE TONIGHT. WE DON'T KNOW IF SECONDARY MUSIC CLASSES ARE CUT, WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE ON THE OVERALL GRADUATION RATES.

IF LEFT STUDENTS ARE IN MUSIC, WHAT WILL ATTENDANCE LOOK LIKE FOR KIDS IN MUSIC WHO WE DIDN'T KNOW WERE ON THE MARGINS BECAUSE THEY CAME TO SCHOOL HAPPILY BECAUSE OF MUSIC OR THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THESE STUDENTS, IF THEY SHOULDN'T BE ABLE, IF THEY SHOULDN'T, CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN ENSEMBLE MUSIC.

ON A PRACTICAL MATTER, WHERE WILL STUDENTS AND LARGE ENSEMBLES GO IF CUTS ARE MADE? SOME CLASSES ARE TWICE AS BIG AS A REGULAR CLASS, SO ONCE THOSE STUDENTS ARE OUT MAKING OTHER CHOICES FOR ELECTIVES, WHERE WILL THEY BE IN TWO CLASSES INSTEAD OF ONE ENSEMBLE? WELL, FTE NEED TO BE ADDED DOWN THE LINE TO HOUSE THESE KIDS FOR THOSE CLASSES.

FINALLY, LET'S TALK ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS.

WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.

THINK ABOUT THE BOND.

AFTER FAILING BACK IN 2018 2019, MANY PARENTS THIS YEAR JOINED THE YES FOR KIDS AND THE MUSIC BOOSTERS AT OUR SCHOOL IN MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, RALLIED TO FILL VOLUNTEER HOURS, MAKE PHONE CALLS, PROMOTE INVOLVEMENT WITH OUR SCHOOLS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH PSO AND OTHER GROUPS.

AND IT PASSED AND THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN WORKING ON THAT.

I'M INVITING EVERYONE LISTENING TONIGHT TO ME TALK TO SAY, GET INVOLVED WITH LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY.

THE TIME IS NOW LEADING INTO THE BIG BUDGET AND THE LONGER SESSION NEXT YEAR.

WRITE THE LEGISLATORS PARTICIPATE IN TOWN HALLS AND STAY TUNED FOR CALL OUTS FOR ACTION IN THE COMING MONTHS FROM THE PARENT GROUPS.

LASTLY, AS WE PARTNER, OH EIGHT SECONDS, AS WE PARTNER WITH YOU FOR MUTUAL OBJECTIVES WITH THE STATE, WE ALSO WANT YOU TO PARTNER WITH US AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR VOICES TO KEEP ENSEMBLE MUSIC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, JENNIFER, AND ALSO FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING ON BEHALF OF ADVOCATING FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS.

NEXT IS CARA MILLER.

HELLO, MY NAME IS KIERA MILLER AND I'M HERE TO DISCUSS GETTING RID OF BAND AND ORCHESTRA.

ORCHESTRA IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING FOR TWO YEARS.

ALONG WITH OTHER EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER THINGS THAT MAY BE GETTING ELIMINATED ARE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT IN MY OPINION, I THINK ORCHESTRA IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT OTHER THINGS, LIKE I KNOW THAT THE KINDERGARTEN FAIR MAY BE IMPORTANT TO OTHER PEOPLE, BUT I KNOW THAT ORCHESTRA IS IMPORTANT TO MY ENTIRE ORCHESTRA CLASS.

THE ENTIRE FIFTH GRADE CLASS.

THE FIFTH GRADE CLASS HAS ALMOST 40 STUDENTS.

AND THEN THE SIXTH GRADE CLASS HAS ABOUT 20 TO 30 AND.

BAND. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THEY HAVE, BUT I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY A LOT.

AND THEN LOOKING AT THE QUAD CONCERTS, I THE QUAD CONCERT I ATTENDED EARLIER THIS YEAR, THERE WERE OVER 300 PARTICIPANTS AND AFTER FIFTH GRADE GETS ELIMINATED. IF IT DOES, WHICH I PERSONALLY HOPE IT DOES NOT.

I KNOW AFTER FIFTH GRADE, IF FIFTH GRADE GETS ELIMINATED, THEN ALL OF THE OTHER GRADES GET AFFECTED.

AND THEN FIFTH GRADE IT WILL GO TO SIXTH GRADE.

SIXTH GRADE IT WILL GO TO SEVENTH.

AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

IF FIFTH GRADE GETS ELIMINATED, THEN THAT JUST BASICALLY ELIMINATES THE ENTIRE FUTURE OF BAND AND ORCHESTRA.

I AM VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS AND CARE A LOT ABOUT BAND AND ORCHESTRA.

I HAVE LOVED MUSIC MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AND ORCHESTRA WAS SOMETHING I HAVE LOOKED FORWARD TO EVER SINCE I WAS IN AT LEAST FIRST GRADE.

[01:10:01]

AND I HEARD ORCHESTRA PLAYING IN THE LIBRARY OR SOME KIND OF MUSIC.

AND ON THE OTHER EAR I HEARD BAND.

I HAD NO IDEA WHICH ONE IT WAS, BUT I HEARD IT, AND I REMEMBER THINKING, I WANT TO DO THAT.

I WANT TO BE THAT COOL PERSON.

AND I HEARD IT AND IT MADE MY ENTIRE LIFE CHANGE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND LAST IS MARISSA CORTEZ.

MARISA CORTEZ, GOOD EVENING.

I'M A CURRENT MOM OF AN ELEMENTARY STUDENT AND A PROUD MOM OF FORMER STUDENT.

MANY OF YOU KNOW, CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME? I'M MICHELLE AND WE ARE HERE TALKING ABOUT THE AMAZING PROGRAM WORK EXPERIENCE, WORK EXPERIENCE.

ME AS A MOM, I CAN TELL YOU IS AMAZING BECAUSE I TRUST ON THE STAFF.

I TRUST ON THE CAPACITY THAT THEY HAVE TO HELP OUR STUDENTS.

THEY HELP TO, THEY SUPPORT THEM TO BE INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS FOR THE REAL LIFE.

THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENTS IS AMAZING.

ALSO, THEY HAVE THAT COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN COME AND THAT COMMUNITY SPEND TIME IN THE REAL WORKS.

AND I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU TO DOUBLE CHECK, TRIPLE CHECK AND TAKE THIS PROGRAM REALLY SERIOUS BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST NUMBERS, IT'S ABOUT PERSONS.

IT'S ABOUT HOW CAN BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AS INDIVIDUALS AND MICHELLE, CAN YOU SHARE HOW DO YOU HOW DO YOU LEARN WORK EXPERIENCE? [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS, THIS AMAZING PROGRAM HELPED A LOT.

A LOT TO BE INDEPENDENCE, STUDENTS, INDEPENDENCE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF THE WHOLE BOARD, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS COME TONIGHT TO MAKE COMMENTS.

THE PASSION AND CARING THAT YOU ALL SHOW IS THE STRENGTH THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP THAT GOING AND KEEP WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR ALL OUR KIDS.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO TOOK THE TIME TO COME OUT AND TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[9. CONSENT AGENDA-7:45 pm]

WE CAN DISCUSS INDIVIDUALLY AND OR VOTE ON SEPARATELY IF WE DECIDED WE NEEDED TO DO THAT.

THERE ARE 16 ITEMS ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT.

FIVE HAVE TO DO WITH PERSONNEL AND MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDINGS WITH OUR STAFF ASSOCIATIONS.

ONE IS TO LIMIT OUT OF STATE TRAVEL FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

ONE IS PURCHASES OF CHROMEBOOKS, ONE IS OUR MONTHLY BILLS AND VOUCHERS, AND EIGHT ARE FIELD TRIPS.

AND YES, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO LEAVE, WHICH PEOPLE SEE IF STUDENTS WANT TO LEAVE, IF YOU HAVE HOMEWORK, YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY.

[01:15:15]

SO NUMBER ONE IS LIKE A HEADING.

NO WORRIES.

PRESIDENT KATIMS, CAN I SPEAK OUT OF ORDER VERY QUICKLY BEFORE THE WORK EXPERIENCE PEOPLE LEAVE? I JUST WANTED TO SAY I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR PROGRAM.

I'M A HUGE ADVOCATE. I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS AT THE END ABOUT IT.

I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE COMING DAYS, BUT JUST KNOW THAT I AM SOMEONE WHO IS KEEPING AN EYE ON YOUR PROGRAM.

I BELIEVE IN IT AND THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU. SO.

THAT'S OUR. I'VE GIVEN YOU THE SUMMARY OF OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THEM AS PRESENTED.

SECOND, I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE, AND A SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION? I'D LIKE TO SAY HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE OF THE MOUS FROM OUR VARIOUS STAFF ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR BASICALLY SALARY BY GIVING UP FURLOUGH DAYS AND GIVING UP PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE ALL VALUE AS PROFESSIONALS IN ORDER TO HELP.

I ALSO WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE'VE PREVIOUSLY SEEN MOUS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE CABINET, AND WE WILL BE SEEING ONE FROM EEA. SO I JUST WANTED TO REALLY POINT OUT THAT THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR VOTERS BECAUSE THE CHROMEBOOK PURCHASES ARE AND BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE EVERY ONE OF OUR KIDS HAS A COMPUTER AND THAT WE HAVE SYSTEMS SET UP FOR REPAIRS.

AND GETTING MONEY BACK FOR REPAIRS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE THAT IS FUNDED BY OUR TECH LEVY.

SO I JUST I WANT TO AGAIN THANK THE VOTERS AND THANK OUR ASSOCIATIONS FOR STEPPING FORWARD.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. HEARING NONE.

I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

EVERYBODY IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

ANY ABSTENTIONS AND THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

WE HAVE ONE REPORT THIS EVENING.

BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL REPORT FROM FEBRUARY OF 2024.

[10. REPORTS-8:10 pm]

I WAS VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT THAT.

OKAY, SO WE HAVE FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH OUR ESSER CLAIMS. AND SO WE ARE SHOWING THAT AT THIS POINT, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, WE'RE ABOUT A MILLION LOWER IN FUND BALANCE.

AND YOU WILL SEE THAT NOW WITH HALF THE YEAR UNDER OUR BELTS, THAT THAT IS ABOUT WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO TREND.

ENDING THE YEAR.

WE IN THE SORRY, CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.

I THINK I'VE TALKED TOO MUCH TONIGHT IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BE SELLING BONDS SO THAT WE WILL SEE MORE OF A REALIZATION OF THE AMOUNT THAT WE PUT IN THE REVENUE CATEGORY BECAUSE WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE THE PROCEEDS IN JUNE.

IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT, MAY, LATE, MAY BOND SALE.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING A REFUNDING BOND SALE.

THOSE IMPACTS WOULD BE SEEN IN 24-25 AND BEYOND.

NOT QUITE YET THIS YEAR.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YOU'LL SEE IT IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

OKAY. SO 50% THROUGH THE YEAR, SALARIES AND BENEFITS ARE REALLY CLOSE TO 50%.

OF COURSE, THEY MAKE UP 89% OF OUR EXPENDITURES.

FORTUNATELY, SUPPLIES AND PURCHASE SERVICES ARE BELOW 50%.

TRAVEL AND CAPITAL OUTLAY ARE OVER BUDGET, BUT THEY ARE SUCH SMALL AMOUNTS.

AND REMEMBER THAT WHEN I SAY TRAVEL MORE THAN 50% OF IT IS.

IF I TEACH IN TWO BUILDINGS, I GET MILEAGE TO GO IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO BUILDINGS.

SO IT'S NOT TRAVEL IN THE WAY THAT MOST PEOPLE.

IT'S KIND OF THE REQUIRED MILEAGE THAT WE HAVE TO PAY.

I TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE BUDGET STUDY SESSION, THAT THE STATE IS INCREASING THE ALLOCATION FOR MATERIAL, SUPPLIES AND OPERATING COSTS,

[01:20:08]

THEY SAID, WE WILL RECEIVE IT THIS SPRING.

I'M ANTICIPATING MAY APPORTIONMENT, BUT WE DON'T KNOW QUITE FOR SURE.

SO APRIL, ALTHOUGH APPORTIONMENT COMES OUT SOON, SO PROBABLY MAY OR JUNE.

AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I DO.

SO YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE IS SHOWING IMPROVEMENT OVER PRIOR MONTHS.

REALIZE THAT THE INCREASE IN M SOCKS AND INCREASE IN THE PROTOTYPICAL SCHOOLS MODEL IS BEING USED FOR THE 24-25 BUDGET SHORTFALL, SO IT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SO AT THE END OF AUGUST, IT WILL BE SET ASIDE ASSIGNED FOR THE 24-25 BUDGET.

SO UNASSIGNED SUBJECT TO FUND BOARD POLICY WILL NOT BE IMPACTED.

BUT IT'S HELPING US NEXT YEAR, BUT WE'RE RECEIVING IT THIS YEAR AND SAVING IT FOR NEXT YEAR.

TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR STABLE ENROLLMENT.

AGAIN, WE HAVE OUR ABOVE BUDGET AND PRIOR YEAR, WE DO HAVE QUITE A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN BOTH RUNNING START AND OPEN DOORS PROGRAMS, BUT WE ARE ALSO SHOWING ENROLLMENT INCREASES IN BOTH BASIC ED AS WELL AS ALTERNATIVE LEARNING EDUCATION.

SO EVERY CATEGORY BASICALLY.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON FEBRUARY? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S REALLY HEARTENING TO SEE THE INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT.

SURE. WE HOPE THAT CONTINUES THROUGH THE YEAR.

I HOPE ATTENDANCE IS ALSO GOING ALONG WITH IT AS WELL.

MORE KIDS AND BETTER ATTENDANCE WOULD BE REALLY GOOD.

THAT WOULD BE. THANK YOU, LYDIA FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU REGULARLY DO, BUT PARTICULARLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THIS IS A TOUGH TIME FOR YOU AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU'VE ANSWERED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

WE BOTHER YOU A LOT AND ASK FOR INFORMATION A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD, IN TERMS OF ENROLLMENT, THIS IS A TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE START TO LOOK AT ENROLLMENT VERY CAREFULLY FOR NEXT YEAR.

THE BIGGEST UNKNOWN FOR US IS OF COURSE KINDERGARTEN.

THERE ARE NO ROLL UPS FOR KINDERGARTEN.

WE DON'T KNOW OUR KINDERGARTEN PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON BIRTH RATES.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF WHAT WE KNOW.

AND SO THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE COLLECTING IN THE PAST, WE HAVEN'T HAD REALLY GOOD DATA TO LOOK AT YEAR OVER YEAR.

WHAT I LIKE TO LOOK AT IS YOU KNOW, IF 50% OF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, LET'S SAY, BEVERLY, ARE REGISTERED BY MAY 1ST, THAT WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET IN SEPTEMBER, I CAN START TO SEE THOSE TRENDS YEAR OVER YEAR.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE LAST YEAR'S AND WILL BE COLLECTING ON THIS WEEK, THE FIRST ROUND OF THOSE.

HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED AT YOUR SCHOOL? HOW MANY KIDS KINDERGARTNERS DO YOU HAVE IN.

AND WE'LL START WATCHING THOSE PROJECTIONS VERY CAREFULLY AND THEN COLLECTING THOSE ABOUT EVERY THREE WEEKS BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST, MID AUGUST, SO THAT WE'RE REALLY WATCHING AND SEEING HOW MANY STUDENTS WE CAN GET INTO OUR KINDERGARTEN CLASSES.

BUT NEXT IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

[11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS- 8:30 pm]

THE 2024-2025 REDUCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.

WANT TO ASSURE THE BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY THAT THESE SITUATIONS ARE NEVER ENGAGED IN LIGHTLY? IT'S NEVER AS HARD FOR ME AS THE PERSON WHO IS MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AS IT WILL BE FOR PEOPLE WHO WILL ULTIMATELY FIND OUT THEY DON'T HAVE A JOB NEXT YEAR.

THESE ARE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING DECISIONS.

AND AS SOMEONE SAID, ACKNOWLEDGING THE HUMANITY OF THOSE INVOLVED.

BUT THESE ARE THE SITUATIONS IN A THAT WE ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE IN A BUDGET THAT IS 89% STAFFING WHEN THERE ARE BUDGET REDUCTIONS.

IF THIS IS PASSED, THE ROOF WILL BE ENACTED IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO ENACT THE BUDGET REDUCTION SHARED IN THE STUDY SESSION.

ADDITIONALLY, ALL RIFS ARE ENACTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.

AND WE HAVE A TEAM OF FOLKS WHO LOOK OVER THOSE VERY CAREFULLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T MAKE MISTAKES AND THAT WE HONOR PEOPLE'S APPEAL, RIGHTS, ETC..

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND TO FOR RESOLUTION NUMBER 2409, THE 2024-25 REDUCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. WITH GREAT PAIN, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

[01:25:05]

AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? MY MIC IS RED, SO I'LL ASK A QUICK QUESTION.

SO I KNOW THAT THIS REDUCED EDUCATION PROGRAM RESOLUTION IS JUST THE MAXIMUM AUTHORIZED LAYOFFS THAT IT IS.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M INFORMED AND I CAN INFORM MY FELLOW STUDENTS IF THEY WILL BE RECEPTIVE TO THAT AT ALL.

AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW THIS RESOLUTION WILL AFFECT CLASS AND EXTRACURRICULAR OFFERINGS, LIKE, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, MUSIC AND SPORTS CUTS, IF THERE IF THERE IS ANY EFFECTS FROM THIS RESOLUTION TO OFFERINGS.

SO THE WAY THE WAY SCHOOL SCHEDULING WORK IS WORK, SCHOOL SCHEDULES, WORK IS DE-LINKED FROM BUDGETS IN MOST WAYS.

SO LET'S SAY I'LL MAKE UP A CLASS.

KNITTING DOESN'T GET ENOUGH STUDENTS TO RUN IT IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

KNITTING MAY NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE MASTER SCHEDULE THAT'S BUILT FOR A SCHOOL.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A REFLECTION OF BUDGET CUTS.

IT IS JUST A REFLECTION THAT STUDENTS WHO HAVE AGENCY IN CHOOSING THEIR CLASSES DIDN'T CHOOSE THAT CLASS.

SO THOSE THINGS PLAY OUT IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.

WHETHER YOU GET THE CLASSES YOU SIGNED UP FOR HAS BOTH TO DO WITH BUDGET, BUT MORE TO DO WITH WHAT YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS ARE SIGNING UP FOR AND WHAT CLASSES ARE FULL, SO TO SPEAK.

SO AS I SAID, IT'S VERY COMPLICATED, AND WE HAVE TO CARRY THIS OUT IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AND OUR STAFFING PLANS.

DOES THAT ANSWER IT FOR YOU? IT SHOULD. OKAY.

I DON'T BELIEVE THE STUDENTS WILL BE RECEPTIVE TO IT, THOUGH.

YEAH, BUT STAFFING IS DIFFERENT THAN.

BUDGET CUTS.

YEAH. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS.

HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL.

VOTE. DIRECTOR.

CRAMER. AYE.

DIRECTOR. SMITH AYE.

DIRECTOR CHASE AYE.

DIRECTOR. KILGORE AYE.

DIRECTOR KATIMS. AYE. AND RESOLUTION 2409, THE 2024-25 REDUCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IS APPROVED.

WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS THIS EVENING.

[12. NEW BUSINESS- 8:45 pm]

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

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

VOTE. DIRECTOR CRAMER.

AYE. DIRECTOR SMITH.

AYE. DIRECTOR CHASE.

AYE. DIRECTOR KILGORE.

AYE. DIRECTOR KATIMS. AYE. AND THE CHANGE ORDER TO AUTHORIZE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING HVAC REPLACEMENT PROJECT AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL TO PURCHASE HVAC EQUIPMENT AND COMMENCE DESIGN OF SUMMER 2025.

CONSTRUCTION WORK IS APPROVED.

AND JUST A SIDE NOTE THAT WAS FUNDED OUT OF THE 2021 CAPITAL LEVY.

SO THANK YOU TO OUR VOTERS FOR FUNDING THAT.

THE NEXT ONE IS 12.2.

THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AUTHORIZE ME OR MY DESIGNEE, TO SIGN THE CELL TOWER SITE LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DISH WIRELESS FOR THE LEASE OF THE MEADOWDALE PLAYFIELD SITE AND OPERATION OF A CELL CELLULAR TOWER COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY.

THIS LEASE AGREEMENT WOULD GENERATE $40,000 OF REVENUE ANNUALLY.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND MOVE TO APPROVE? SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION.

AND PERHAPS IT WAS IN THE BACKGROUND.

IS THIS AN ONGOING AGREEMENT? AND WE MAKE IT FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND THIS IS A RENEWAL.

EXACTLY. SO THIS WE HAVE A CURRENT ONE THAT WAS DATED JANUARY 2016, WHICH EXPIRES ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.

AND SO THE TERMS OF THIS AMENDMENT WOULD BE EXTEND THE LEASE FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEN YEAR PERIOD AND WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL EXTENSIONS THEREIN.

THERE ARE 3% ANNUAL INCREASES TO THE LEASE BUILT IN BEGINNING IN YEAR TWO.

SO EACH YEAR 3% INCREASE.

THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY.

IT'S NICE TO SEE REVENUE.

ANY OTHER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'M SORRY I HAD MOVED ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

I APOLOGIZE THIS ONE BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO I APOLOGIZE.

SO I WANT TO CORRECT THIS. THE MEADOWDALE IS THE NEXT ONE IS TEN YEARS.

[01:30:03]

UNLESS WE TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT.

AND THIS ONE AUTOMATICALLY INCREASES 4% BEGINNING IN YEAR TWO.

THESE ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CONTRACTS, SO THIS ONE IS 4% BEGINNING IN YEAR TWO.

AND WHAT'S THE TOTAL REVENUE PER YEAR FROM THIS PARTICULAR ONE.

THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS 40,000 OKAY.

WITH THE INCREMENTS WITH THE ANNUAL INCREMENTS OKAY.

OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I WONDER WHY WE COULD GET 4% FROM ONE OF THEM AND ONLY 3% FROM ANOTHER ONE.

THE OTHER ONE IS A LONGER TERM, SO SOMETIMES THEY WANT TO NEGOTIATE A LONGER TERM WITH A SLIGHTLY SMALLER, BUT WE'RE GUARANTEED FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

MAKES SENSE. OKAY.

SO FOR RIGHT NOW, WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON ITEM 12.2, WHICH IS THE DISH WIRELESS SITE LEASE AGREEMENT FOR CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY AT MEADOWDALE PLAYFIELDS.

AND I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL.

VOTE. DIRECTOR KRAMER.

AYE. DIRECTOR SMITH.

AYE. DIRECTOR CHASE.

AYE. DIRECTOR KILGORE.

AYE. DIRECTOR KATIMS. AYE. AND THE DISH WIRELESS SITE LEASE AGREEMENT FOR CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY AT MEADOWDALE PLAYFIELDS IS APPROVED.

THE SECOND ONE IS THE NEXT ONE IS AN AGREEMENT GENERATING $47,975 IN THE FIRST YEAR. THIS IS ALSO AT THE MEADOWDALE PLAYFIELD SITE WITH VERIZON, SO THIS EXTENDS THE TERMS OF THE EXISTING LEASE.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT'S TEN YEARS 3% INCREASES AND CAN AUTOMATICALLY BE EXTENDED FOR 210 YEAR PERIODS.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE? AND A SECOND. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE.

AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING? NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL.

VOTE.

WIRELESS SITE LEASE AGREEMENT EXTENSION FOR CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY AT MEADOWDALE PLAYFIELDS IS APPROVED.

OUR LAST ITEM THIS EVENING FOR NEW BUSINESS IS A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT AWARD.

PACIFIC MOBILE TO REMOVE EIGHT RELOCATABLE CLASSROOMS FROM OAK HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE BOND WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION THIS SUMMER, SOON STAY TUNED FOR SCHEDULING A SHOVEL, A RIBBON, NOT A RIBBON CUTTING A GROUNDBREAKING.

THERE WE GO, AT OAK HEIGHTS, WHICH WILL BE SCHEDULING SOON, THESE EIGHT CLASSROOMS WILL BE RELOCATED TO SHERWOOD STADIUM.

THE STADIUM, OUR CURRENT PORTABLE AT THE STADIUM, HAS OUTLIVED ITS NATURAL LIFE.

HILLTOP WOODWAY CENTER, EDMONDS-WOODWAY HIGH SCHOOL AND TWO TO FORMER ALDERWOOD AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE THOSE AND CONTINUE TO USE THOSE.

THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE 2021 LEVY.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE.

AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? GET YOUR HARD HATS READY.

HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.

PACIFIC MOBILE TO MOVE EIGHT RELOCATABLE CLASSROOMS FROM OAK HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS APPROVED.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATES.

[13. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES]

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR KATIMS. THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MET THIS LAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY TO REVIEW A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT WERE TO THE WSSDA LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS.

THEY'RE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF SOME EVALUATION FOR SOME THAT DID NOT GET THAT, GOT THE DO NOT PASS RECOMMENDATION.

ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, THESE THESE PROPOSALS WILL STILL GO TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BUT THEY WILL HAVE CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE. THERE'LL BE ANOTHER MEETING IN ON MAY 4TH TO TALK ABOUT THE THE NEXT STEPS AND GET ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LEDGE COMMITTEE.

SO IT'S STILL IN PROCESS.

DON'T HAVE ANYTHING QUITE YET.

TO SEE WHERE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE.

AND THEY'RE ALSO HAVING A DISTRICT AREA ONE MEETING THIS SATURDAY UP ON SAN JUAN ISLAND.

THE FOLKS UP IN THE NORTH END OF DA ONE WERE COMPLAINING THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE MEETINGS.

SO NOW THE MEETINGS ARE GOING TO THEM.

SO WE'LL GET TO MEET UP ON SAN JUAN ISLAND THIS WEEKEND.

ARE YOU GOING? YES, I AM, YEAH.

AND THEN YOU WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR LEGISLATIVE PLANS? ARE WE NOT READY FOR THAT YET? FOR OUR. WE CERTAINLY CAN.

WE SEND OUT A POLL WITH SEVERAL DATES TO OUR NINE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.

WE'VE HEARD BACK FROM MANY OF THEM, I THINK SIX SO FAR, WITH FOUR SO FAR BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT AT ONE DATE.

[01:35:01]

AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SCHEDULING THAT.

GREAT. THANK YOU. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DATE GETTING FINALIZED.

WE'VE SET IT UP.

THIS IS LIKE THE FIRST.

YEAH. AND SO THE GOALS ARE REALLY ONE IS TO REALLY GIVE THEM A PICTURE OF WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE OF THE FACT THAT THEY UNDERFUND US FROM THE VARIOUS PEOPLE WHO WILL BE THERE, WHO CAN GIVE THE STUDENTS PERSPECTIVE, THE IMPACT ON THEM.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE WOULD BE EXCELLENT PEOPLE PARENTS, PARENTS OF SPECIAL ED, PARENTS OF MUSIC, PARENTS.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S NOT A SINK IN A BUILDING, THAT KIND OF THING.

SO REALLY PAINT THAT AND THEN ASK FOR THEIR ADVICE.

SO UNLIKE OTHER LIKE, TOWN HALLS THAT I'VE GONE TO WHERE WE'VE BEEN KIND OF AGGRESSIVE ABOUT WHY HAVEN'T YOU DONE THIS OR YOU NEED TO DO THIS OR THIS IS MORE THIS IS OUR PLIGHT.

AND WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND ON HOW WE CAN BEST MEET THIS? WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE AND GUIDANCE? BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO HEAR.

AND THEN WHEN WE FOLLOW IT WE'LL SAY YOU SAID IT WOULD WORK.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE PLAN.

AS A FIRST STEP FOR THE FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THIS.

SO EVERYBODY STAY POSTED.

OKAY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR KEEPING UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TERMS OF LETTING US KNOW.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

SO NEXT OUR BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND WE START WITH OUR STUDENTS.

[14. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE BEEN A VERY DEDICATED AND COMMITTED STUDENT ADVISOR AND WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO BE HERE.

AND I KNOW YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND READ EVERYTHING, AND WE I JUST WANT TO PUT A SHOUT OUT RIGHT NOW PUBLICLY TO YOU FOR, FOR BEING SO DEDICATED TO YOUR ROLE. YEAH, I WILL SAY THAT THE FIRST THING THAT I DID WHEN I WOKE UP ON FRIDAY WAS TO CHECK THE BOARD AGENDA.

SO THERE YOU GO.

SO. SO I JUST WANT TO START OUT BY SAYING THAT I LISTENED TO THE BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK, AND I'M SITTING HERE AT THE BOARD MEETING TODAY, AND I'VE AND I'VE LISTENED TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

I'VE OBSERVED THAT WE'VE HAD I NORMALLY DURING THESE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE NORMALLY HAVE LIKE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHERS AND VERY INFREQUENTLY DO WE GET YOUNG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ACTUALLY SPEAK ON THESE ISSUES.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS VERY COURAGEOUS OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BEING ABLE TO ADVOCATE ON ISSUES THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

IF I WAS IF I WAS AT THAT AGE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY REALLY SCARED TO ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF.

BUT BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR ISSUES THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT, I THINK THAT YOU HAVE IS A GREAT SKILL TO HAVE THAT, THAT A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF YOU, SO BE PROUD OF THAT.

ALL RIGHT, SO ANOTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS I LET PEOPLE KNOW I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT CTE.

LYNNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL HAD TWO STUDENTS GO TO THE TO A SKILLS SKILLS USA ASSEMBLER MANUFACTURING COMPETITION AT THE BOEING EVERETT PLANT.

TWO STUDENTS FROM LYNNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL WITH 75 STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE TO SO THEY CAN TO WORK ON THEIR RESUME AND INTERVIEWING SKILLS, AS WELL AS MANUFACTURING SKILLS.

AND THOSE TWO STUDENTS HAVE LEARNED A LOT AND MADE CONNECTIONS, AND THEY'VE DONE GREAT.

ANOTHER THING, ANOTHER PATTERN THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT IS ROBOTICS, AS I CAN'T GO MORE THAN ONE BOARD MEETING ABOUT THIS.

THE LAST TIME I SAID THAT BOTH TERRACE 1778 AND LYNNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, 2522, HAD QUALIFIED FOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS DOWN IN PORTLAND, OREGON.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF PICKING CHILL OUT TO JOIN OUR ALLIANCE AS WELL AS 492.

ANOTHER ROBOTICS TEAM FROM SEATTLE AND AND THE RESULT IS WE ENDED UP IN FOURTH PLACE.

AND AND THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR BOTH BOTH TERRACE AND LYNNWOOD TO QUALIFY FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HOUSTON, WHICH IN WHICH THEY WENT TO LAST WEEK. THAT'S LYNNWOOD SIX TIME FIRST, THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2018 AND TERRACE'S FIFTH TIME SINCE 2018.

HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO BOTH TEAMS, AND THEY'LL BE HAVING ANOTHER CELEBRATION OF THE FALL, PROBABLY.

[01:40:03]

THOSE ARE GREAT UPDATES AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ROBOTICS.

IT'S EXCITING. ROBOTICS TEACHES SO MUCH THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF, BUT IN TERMS OF TEAMWORK AND COOPERATION.

AND WHEN TEAMS JOIN TOGETHER AND HELP EACH OTHER, EVEN IF YOU KNOW THEY'RE BOTH IN COMPETITION, BUT THEY ALSO HELP SUPPORT EACH OTHER, IT'S IT'S PHENOMENAL. IT'S MORE THAN ROBOTS.

YEAH, YEAH, IT'S MORE THAN ROBOTS.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CRAMER.

THANKS. I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT LIDDY'S WORK WITH THE BUDGET.

IT'S THE LEAST THANKED TASK.

THE ONE WHO TELLS YOU HOW MUCH WE HAVE AND HOW LITTLE.

HOW IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO GO VERY FAR.

AND OFTENTIMES, I THINK PEOPLE LIKE TO, YOU KNOW.

CAST STONES AT THE MESSENGER.

BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO MAKING SURE IT'S AS ACCURATE AND UP TO DATE AS POSSIBLE EVERY SINGLE TIME, AND WITHOUT FAIL, ANSWERING ALL OF OUR NATTERING QUESTIONS WHICH WE ALL SEEM TO DO OFTEN.

AND THEN I ALSO JUST WANT TO.

I GUESS. SHOUT OUT TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.

FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS THAT WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN.

AS WE ARE FACED WITH THIS TASK AHEAD OF US.

AND THAT'S ALL I WILL SAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SMITH.

THANKS. SO I WANTED TO HIT ON A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.

ONE OF THEM IS YOU MAY NOT REALIZE HOW RARE OUR STATE IS WHEN IT COMES TO DIRECT DEMOCRACY.

WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT ACTUALLY ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE INITIATIVES AND REFERENDUMS. THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED, I THINK, IN THE STATE, BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST WHAT WE DO.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND HERE WHO HAVE A LOT OF PASSION RIGHT NOW AND WANT THE STATE TO FUNCTION DIFFERENTLY THAN IT IS, SPECIFICALLY WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION FUNDING, THE HARDEST PART ABOUT REFERENDUMS AND INITIATIVES IS GETTING ENOUGH SIGNATURES FOR THOSE THINGS TO ACTUALLY APPEAR ON A BALLOT.

I'M NOT GOING TO TELL ANYBODY WHAT THEY SHOULD WRITE OR HOW IT SHOULD LOOK OR ANYTHING ELSE, BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS WE HAVE VERY STRONG, DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN THIS STATE, AND WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES ON THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL.

SO IF YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT AND YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE SOME CHANGES MADE, JUST A SUGGESTION FOR SOMETHING FOR YOU TO LOOK INTO.

I ALSO TOLD THE WORK EXPERIENCE PEOPLE THAT I WOULD SPEAK ABOUT THEIR SITUATION A LITTLE BIT MORE, THEIR, THEIR PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I FOR YEARS WORKED IN RETAIL, WORKED FOR KFC FOR YEARS.

AND WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME THROUGH, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT'S VERSION OF WORK EXPERIENCE, BUT OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WERE VERY SIMILAR AND THE KIDS THAT WOULD COME THROUGH WERE ALWAYS GREAT.

WE LOVE THEM.

IT WAS SO AWESOME.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO THINK THAT WE GAVE THEM FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH THAT TOO, YOU KNOW, THAT IT WASN'T JUST WITHIN THEIR PEER GROUP.

IT WAS EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, WHO WORKED THERE.

WE WERE FRIENDS WITH THEM.

WE WELCOMED THEM IN.

UM VERY HARD WORKERS.

THEY LEARNED A LOT OF REALLY GOOD STUFF BEFORE THEY EVEN GOT TO US.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I WAS TELLING THE WORK EXPERIENCE PEOPLE THAT I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A PAUSE ON ANYTHING OR ANYTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THOSE ARE THE BEST OPTIONS.

BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS I'M AN INCREDIBLY STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THE PROGRAM BECAUSE I'VE SEEN HOW IT WORKS.

AND SO FOR THEM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY KNEW THAT IF NOTHING ELSE, I WILL KEEP AN EYE ON IT, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IN THAT PROGRAM.

AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO COME FROM THOSE BACKGROUNDS GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU. AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANTED TO JUST MENTION HERE, AND I DON'T WANT TO SEEM LIKE I'M LECTURING.

I WAS SOMEONE WHO RAN FOR A STATEWIDE POSITION YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS DURING MCCLEARY.

AND SO I HAD TO HAVE VERY STRONG OPINIONS ON SCHOOL FUNDING AND VERY STRONG OPINIONS ON MCCLEARY.

I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW IN THE 70S THE STATE HAD A VERY SIMILAR LAWSUIT, SAME OUTCOME, AND ACTUALLY THE EXACT SAME OUTCOME.

MONEY WENT INTO EDUCATION, THERE WAS A LEVY LID.

AND THEN TIME PASSED.

BIG DISTRICTS STARTED TO RUN INTO FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. THEY PUSHED TO HAVE THE LEVY LID TAKEN AWAY, LEVY LID WAS RAISED, BIG DISTRICTS STARTED GETTING MORE MONEY FROM THEIR TAXPAYERS, WERE ABLE TO FUND THEIR BASIC EDUCATION BETTER.

THEN WE END UP WITH MCCLEARY TOO.

WELL, I GUESS THE FIRST ONE WASN'T CALLED MCCLEARY, BUT THE ONE THAT WE ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH, AND WE'RE JUST WALKING DOWN THAT SAME PATH AGAIN.

[01:45:07]

AND WE'RE GOING TO END RIGHT BACK UP IN COURT, JUST LIKE WE DID 40 YEARS AGO, JUST LIKE WE DID 20 YEARS AGO.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING EVERYONE HERE ASK FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS.

THEY EXIST. I HAD SOME OF THEM.

I WON'T GO INTO THEM HERE, BUT THERE ARE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM.

IN A WAY THE LEGISLATURE IS GETTING WITH THESE CUTS THAT WE'RE MAKING.

THEY'RE GETTING WHAT THEY WANTED BECAUSE THEY SAID, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH MONEY FOR BASIC ED.

AND IF YOU WANT TO FUND ANYTHING ELSE, THAT'S UP TO YOU.

WELL, THEY FUNDED BASIC ED FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

NOW WE'RE HAVING TO FILL THAT GAP.

AND NOW ALL THOSE EXTRACURRICULARS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE USING ALL THAT LEVY MONEY ON WE CAN'T AFFORD ANYMORE.

AND THEY'VE TOLD US NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

SO ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS.

TELL THEM THAT YOU'RE DEMANDING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS.

BECAUSE FRANKLY, I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE EVERY FEW YEARS CUTTING BUDGETS.

AND I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE EVERY 20 YEARS TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE WHY LEVY LIDS ARE BAD IDEAS.

AND WITH THAT, I GUESS I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE.

DIRECTOR CHASE.

WELL, ACTUALLY, AFTER MY TWO COLLEAGUES, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING MORE TO ADD BECAUSE YOU JUST GOT IT.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THAT TO GET FOR THOSE OF YOU AT OUR BOARD MEETING, IT'S LIKE THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, RIGHT? THERE'S SO MUCH WORK BEHIND THE SCENES EDUCATION, QUESTIONS, PASSION, THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE SITTING IN BEHIND THE AUDIENCE, THE AUDIENCE COMING OUT TO SEE US.

OUR STAFF OVER HERE, OUR TECH FOLKS TO GET US TO THIS MEETING THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AND WANT TO ASK FOLKS TO STAY AND CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE, BECAUSE IT TAKES IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US.

I THINK THAT THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE HERE FOR THE STUDY SESSION AND, YOU KNOW, SAW THE THE DIRECTION THAT OUR BUDGET'S GOING.

YOU KNOW, REALLY KIND OF DEEPLY UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A DEEPER PROBLEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE ADVOCACY IS GOING TO WORK IF IT TAKES ALL OF US AT SOME POINT, IT'S GOING TO TIP.

AND I HAVE GREAT FAITH THAT WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER.

SO THERE WE GO.

DIRECTOR KILGORE.

OH. THANK YOU.

WELL, FIRST, I'D LOVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE STUDENT LEADERS WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK WITH US.

YOU ALL ARE SO ADMIRABLE.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE ADVOCACY AND MORE LEADERSHIP AND GET YOUR FRIENDS TO COME OUT.

I'M VERY IMPRESSED.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU TAKING THIS VOTE FOR THE YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT, THE SIXTH TIME I'VE TAKEN THIS VOTE? WELL, NO, WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS HAD RIFS, BUT A FEW OF THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WE HAVE, AND IT'S A REALLY HARD VOTE TO TAKE.

AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, WHEN I'M SITTING THERE, MY HEAD IS I, I THINK I COULD JUST VOTE NO, I COULD JUST VOTE NO. AND I THOUGHT THAT TONIGHT AND BUT IT WOULD BE A COWARDLY THING TO DO.

YOU KNOW, AS EVERYONE ELSE HAS POINTED OUT, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS.

THE DOLLARS SIMPLY AREN'T THERE.

AND WE HAVE TO GO FORWARD.

MY HOPE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TIME, IS THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET SOME MORE CHURN, THAT PEOPLE WILL RETIRE, THAT MAYBE OUR ENROLLMENTS WILL LOOK BETTER AND THAT IT WON'T WE WON'T BE SAYING GOODBYE TO THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AS WE'VE AUTHORIZED.

SO I'LL KEEP THINKING ABOUT THAT AND KEEP I KNOW THAT WE'RE ALSO TALKING TO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP.

WHETHER ANYTHING HAPPENS BETWEEN NOW AND AND WHEN WE HAVE TO KIND OF DROP THE GATE.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S A WAIT AND SEE, BUT I KNOW THAT EVERYONE STAFF BOARD ARE VERY ACTIVE, ACTIVELY SHAKING THE BUSHES. TONIGHT'S THE SECOND NIGHT OF PASSOVER.

AND I GOT TO SAY, I'D RATHER BE WITH MY FAMILY EATING THAN.

BUT I'M HERE WITH MY SECOND FAMILY DOING THE PEOPLE'S WORK.

BUT IT IT'S NOT AN EASY.

USUALLY, IT'S A REALLY PRETTY JOYOUS CELEBRATION.

IT'S ONE OF OUR MORE IMPORTANT ONES.

AND IT'S A VERY FAMILY ORIENTED.

[01:50:04]

AND I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, I THINK, BECAUSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS WENT THROUGH THIS DISTRICT AND THE NUMBER OF JEWISH STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT IS VANISHINGLY SMALL.

WHEN ONE OF MY KIDS WAS EXPERIENCING SOME DISCRIMINATION AT HIS SCHOOL, AND THIS WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

AND I WILL JUST ADD THAT THE STAFF WAS VERY RESPONSIVE.

SO BUT I REACHED OUT TO MY JEWISH FRIEND WHO ALSO HAD KIDS IN THE SCHOOL, AND I SAID, SO HOW MANY, HOW MANY KIDS, HOW MANY JEWISH KIDS ARE AT LYNNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL? SHE SAID, WELL, THERE'S YOUR TWO BOYS WHO THE TWO WHO WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL AT THE TIME, AND THERE'S MY SON. AND HIS GIRLFRIEND.

AND THAT'S IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE KNEW ALL THE.

I JUST ASSUMED SHE MIGHT KNOW SOME MORE, BUT SO I GUESS THE POINT OF SAYING ALL THIS IS THAT I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE.

THERE ARE. IT IS A SMALL GROUP, BUT IT IS A GROUP.

THERE ARE JEWISH STUDENTS IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY, AND IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT TIME, SNOHOMISH COUNTY, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY NAMES, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS.

IT'S NOT AN EASY PLACE TO BE JEWISH ALL THE TIME.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO REACH OUT TO OUR JEWISH STUDENTS WHO I'M SURE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO, IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH IT TO ASK TO TALK TO A TEACHER OR AN ADMINISTRATOR.

WE TEND TO KEEP OUR HEADS DOWN, AND BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR JEWISH STUDENTS TO REACH OUT TO ME IF IF YOU ARE HAVING ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HANDLE SO OR HAVE HANDLED OR AT LEAST JUST TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S JUST THE NUMBERS, I GUESS.

BUT NONETHELESS MY HOPE IS THAT NEXT YEAR WILL BE A BETTER YEAR FOR ALL OF US.

SO. THANK YOU.

SO THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR AS A SCHOOL BOARD PERSON, BUT I WORKED FOR THE DISTRICT FOR 17 YEARS BEFORE I RAN FOR THE BOARD WHEN I RETIRED.

AND THROUGHOUT THOSE YEARS, I'VE SEEN THE BUDGET GO UP AND DOWN AND UP AND DOWN.

I'VE BEEN ON THE SIDE OF BEING IN A STAFF ASSOCIATION, WHERE WE GAVE AWAY FURLOUGH DAYS A COUPLE OF TIMES TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE PROBLEMS. IT'S NEVER EASY.

THE DISCUSSION OF WHAT TO CUT.

WHAT WE MAY LOSE.

WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE ARE NEVER EASY.

IT'S WAY HARDER SITTING UP HERE.

WE'VE OBVIOUSLY TRIED VERY HARD IN TERMS OF OUR ADVOCACY.

I DO WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON DIRECTOR SMITH'S COMMENT.

WE HAVE GIVEN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS.

WE WERE VERY SPECIFIC IN THE LETTER THAT WE HAD 20 DISTRICTS JOIN WITH US ON, WHICH REPRESENTED OVER 30% OF THE KIDS IN WASHINGTON STATE. WE ASKED FOR TWO ASKS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ASKED FOR, WHICH WHAT WE ASKED FOR WERE TWO THINGS A LONG TERM SOLUTION, WHICH IS THEY NEED TO HAVE A TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT THE FUNDING FORMULAS WE USE AND NOT JUST TWEAK THE PROTOTYPICAL SCHOOLS MODEL, BUT COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING IT. THERE WAS A 2022 STUDY FROM THE EDUCATION LAW CENTER THAT GRADED STATES ON THEIR FUNDING FORMULAS, AND WE HAD A C, A, D, AND AN F IN WASHINGTON STATE.

WHAT ARE OTHER STATES DOING? VERY SPECIFIC.

GO FIND.

SOME STATES HAVE FIGURED IT OUT.

THERE ARE ANSWERS OUT THERE.

THE SECOND THING WE ASKED FOR WAS EVERY TIME THEY HAVE A SURPLUS AND IT'S PREDICTED AGAIN THIS YEAR THEY HAD OVER 1.2 BILLION AS A SURPLUS.

GIVE US AT LEAST THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF THAT SURPLUS AS THEY HAVE IN THE BUDGET, WHICH HAS THE STATE BUDGET, WHICH HAS GONE DOWN FROM 50% OF THE STATE BUDGET.

THEN LAST YEAR WAS 44%.

AND IT'S GONE DOWN NOW BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GIVE US ANYWHERE NEAR 44% OF THAT SURPLUS.

SO THE PERCENT OF WHAT THE STATE IS GIVING US KEEPS GOING DOWN.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND AT THE STATE GOVERNING LEVEL WHO WILL SAY, WE'VE GIVEN LOTS OF MONEY TO EDUCATION

[01:55:07]

THEY JUST WANT TO CHECK IT OFF THEIR LIST.

AND WE HAVE TO REMIND THEM OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR OUR KIDS, FOR THE FUTURE.

RIGHT. FOR, I MEAN OUR KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE.

THERE TO KEEP OUR DEMOCRACY ALIVE, THERE TO HELP PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE OUR EARTH IN THE LONG RUN.

I MEAN, IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

IT'S TO MAKE US STRONG AS A COUNTRY.

AND WE HAVE TO REMIND THEM AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT IS TO DO THAT WITHOUT FUNDING, WITHOUT RESOURCES AND EVERYTHING.

EVERYBODY SAID TONIGHT IS RIGHT.

THE LOSS OF MUSIC AT ANY LEVEL IS DIFFICULT.

I HAVE A CHILD WHO'S WHOLE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL CAREER WAS THE ONLY THING THAT CONNECTED HIM, WAS PLAYING IN THE BAND AND THE ORCHESTRA. I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE FROM A PARENT'S PERSPECTIVE.

I ACTUALLY ASKED HIM.

I SAW HIM LAST WEEKEND AND I SAID, IF YOU HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE BAND AND ORCHESTRA IN FIFTH GRADE, WOULD YOU HAVE STILL WANTED TO TAKE IT IN SIXTH GRADE? IT WAS IN THIS DISTRICT.

SO IT WAS IN THIS. AND HE SAID, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I SAID, WHY? AND HE SAID, BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE IN THE BAND AND THE ORCHESTRA.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT WAS IT'S INTERESTING AND MUSIC ISN'T I MEAN, MUSIC ISN'T MORE OF HIS LIFE NOW THAN IT THAN THE REST OF US, WHERE WE LOVE TO LISTEN TO MUSIC OR GO TO CONCERTS OR WHATEVER.

HIS BABY, JUST FOR THE FIRST TIME, HEARD HIM PLAY HIS SAXOPHONE, WHICH HAD BEEN SORT OF STORED AWAY FOR SOME TIME.

HIS WIFE HEARD HIM PLAY IT, WHICH I WAS LIKE, YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT.

BUT IT WAS A HUGE PART OF HIS LIFE.

THESE ARE VERY HARD DECISIONS AND WE UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING YOU ALL ARE SAYING.

WE ALSO KNOW WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS AND WE HAVE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO TRY TO BRING IN MORE RESOURCES FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I DO WANT TO CLARIFY, AND I THINK DOCTOR MINER DID THIS EARLIER, BUT I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE.

CUTTING PROGRAMS. FOR EXAMPLE, CUTTING THE FIFTH GRADE BAND ORCHESTRA THAT'S CUTTING A PROGRAM.

WE ARE NOT CUTTING CLASSES AT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT IS A FUNCTION OF STUDENT CHOICE.

IF ENOUGH STUDENTS DON'T SIGN UP FOR A CLASS, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT A FULL FTE TEACHER IN A CLASS WITH A SMALL NUMBER OF STUDENTS, AND THEN HAVE ANOTHER CLASS SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT HAS A HUGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS.

WE JUST CAN'T DO THAT.

WE HAVE TO THINK K12, THOSE CUTS AT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, THAT MAY BE HAPPENING AS A FUNCTION OF STAFFING AND STUDENT CHOICE AS TO WHAT THEY WANT.

WHAT THEY SIGN UP FOR IS NOT IN OUR CONTROL.

THAT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THAT'S IN STUDENTS CONTROL.

IT IS OBVIOUSLY IMPACTED BY LESS MONEY.

BUT IT IS SIMPLY A FUNCTION OF YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THE CLASSES FOR WHAT THE MOST KIDS WANT.

THIS IS NOT A HAPPY EVENING.

BUT WE APPRECIATE OUR COMMUNITY AND THE PASSION AND DEDICATION THAT PEOPLE BRING.

I THINK I'VE SPOKEN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BUDGET CHALLENGES AND IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, AND I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT, AND I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL WE'VE HAD MORE INPUT THIS YEAR THAN WE'VE EVER HAD BEFORE ON THE BUDGET, AND I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO INTERACTED WITH THE BALANCING ACT TOOL OR PROVIDED US FEEDBACK IN ANY WAY.

SHIFTING GEARS SLIGHTLY, OH, THIS IS GOING TO TURN OUT TO BE A PUN ON TODAY IS BUS DRIVER APPRECIATION.

AND I WOULD BE REMISS.

I KNOW IT'S A SOMBER EVENING, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE AMAZING PEOPLE WHO DRIVE OUR STUDENTS TO AND FROM HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE BUS BARN TODAY.

OUR PTA SPONSORED AN ICE CREAM FEED AT ABOUT 930 IN THE MORNING, WHICH MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW EARLY OUR BUS DRIVERS START THEIR DAY.

THEY'RE FULLY READY FOR ICE CREAM BY 930 IN THE MORNING.

THEY. IT WAS SO FUN TO JUST GET TO SEE THEM AND TO CELEBRATE THEM A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S I HEARD SOMEONE TALKING ABOUT WHEN PARENTS GIVE THEM A NOTE OR WHEN A TEACHER DROPS SOMETHING BY, IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

THEY APPRECIATE GRATITUDE ANY TIME.

SO IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE, THOSE OF YOU LISTENING AT HOME OR THOSE OF YOU HERE TONIGHT WHEN YOU'RE GETTING ON YOUR BUS OR WHEN YOU'RE DROPPING YOUR KIDS OFF, IF YOU CAN EXPRESS SOME

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I KNOW THEY GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

THEY'RE AMAZING PEOPLE WHO DO JUST INCREDIBLE WORK.

I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY WE'RE ALWAYS HIRING BUS DRIVERS, SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO EXPRESS YOUR APPRECIATION TO A BUS DRIVER, RECRUIT YOUR FRIENDS.

IT'S YOU CAN DO PART TIME WORK.

THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE BUS DRIVING WORLD.

TOMORROW IS OUR EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE.

AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE PROBABLY NOT FUNDING THAT THROUGH DISTRICT FUNDS.

THIS YEAR WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR SOME DONORS, ETC.

BUT IT IS AN AMAZING EVENT.

ABOUT 300 STUDENTS ATTENDING THIS YEAR.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'RE ADDING MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, SO WE'LL HAVE SOME MIDDLE SCHOOLERS THERE.

IT'S AT THE EDMONDS CENTER FOR THE ARTS, AND IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE TO WATCH THE STUDENTS ENGAGE IN THEIR LEADERSHIP, DEVELOP ADVOCACY SKILLS, MEET PEOPLE, AND REALLY HAVE A DEEP AND MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING THAT TOMORROW.

THANK YOU AND I'M SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE BUS DRIVERS.

I'M GOING TO SHARE A PERSONAL STORY.

MY YOUNGER SON, WHEN HE WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, LOVED HIS BUS DRIVERS.

SHE'S NO LONGER DRIVING THE BUS, BUT BECAUSE HE'S IN HIS 30S.

BUT HE CAME HOME ONE DAY.

HER NAME WAS MISS DANNY AND HE SAID, MOM, MISS DANNY TOLD ME I SHOULD GO TO THE IB PROGRAM.

AND I SAID, AND I WAS A STAFF PERSON.

I SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

THIS IS VERY EMBARRASSING.

AND SO I SAID, LET'S GO ONLINE AND LOOK.

SO WE LOOKED ONLINE AND I SAID, YEAH, THAT SOUNDS LIKE YOU.

AND HE WENT TO THE IB PROGRAM, CHANGED HIS LIFE.

IT WAS MAGNIFICENT FOR HIM.

WE CREDIT MISS DANNY, HIS MIDDLE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER, FOR CHANGING HIS LIFE.

SO THE IMPACT THAT THEY CAN HAVE.

ALSO, SHE PLAYED GAMES WITH THEM ALL IN TRIVIA AND WHATEVER EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND HE LOOKED FORWARD TO THAT INTERACTION WITH HIS BUS DRIVER.

BUT I'M SO GLAD YOU SAID THAT, BECAUSE I'LL NEVER FORGET MISS DANNY.

SHE WAS GREAT.

THE LAST IS, DO WE HAVE ANY ITEMS FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF AT OTHER MEETINGS? OTHER TOPICS? GRADUATION RATE.

WE'LL KEEP THAT ONE IN MIND.

FOCUS. ATTENDANCE.

OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

GOALS. WE WILL STAY FOCUSED.

OKAY. THANKS, GUYS.

SO WITH THAT.

THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.