[00:00:03]
[1. CALL TO ORDER-6:30 pm]
THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.[2. ROLL CALL-6:31 pm (ALL TIMES ARE ESTIMATED)]
DIRECTOR GARRARD.>> I'M DIRECTOR KATIMS, AND WE'RE ALL HERE.
NEXT IS OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
[3. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-6:32 pm]
>> THANK YOU, DR. KATIMS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THIS PLACE, THE SNOHOMISH PEOPLE, AND THEIR SUCCESSORS, THE TULALIP TRIBES, WHO SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL HAVE TAKEN CARE OF, HUNTED, FISHED, AND GATHERED ON THESE LANDS.
WE RESPECT THEIR SOVEREIGNTY, THEIR RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION, AND WE HONOR THEIR SACRED SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH THE LAND AND WATER.
BY ACKNOWLEDGING THESE HOMELANDS, WE COMMIT TO WORKING WITH TRIBAL NATIONS TO FURTHER THE EDUCATION AIMS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOLS.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'LL HAVE THE FLAG SALUTE,
[4. FLAG SALUTE-6:33 pm]
IF EVERYBODY WILL RISE AND JOIN ME.I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA.
[5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA-6:34 pm]
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS PRESENTED.>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
EVERYBODY IN FAVOR OF APPROVING TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS PRESENTED? PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
>> ALL OPPOSED SAY NAY? ANY ABSTENTIONS.
TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
[6. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT-6:35 pm]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. KATIMS. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE A PHOTO TONIGHT BECAUSE WE WEREN'T ALL ABLE TO BE HERE IN PERSON, BUT JANUARY IS BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH.
I THINK IT ALWAYS BEARS REPEATING IS WE HAVE A CARD FOR EACH OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS SIGNED BY ALL OF OUR LEADERS IN THE DISTRICT, AND VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
THE BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, MANAGE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FUNDS, HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVER 1 MILLION STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR POLICIES AND THE PRACTICES THEY PUT INTO PLACE.
GRATEFUL TO BE WORKING WITH A BOARD WHO HAS THEIR EYE ON THE FOCUS OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND EQUITY AND SUPPORT FOR ALL STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT, AND SO I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THAT.
I LOOK FORWARD NEXT WEEK TO WHERE LIKE TO HAND OUT YOUR CERTIFICATES FOR BEING SELECTED AS A BOARD OF DISTINCTION THIS YEAR AND GET A GROUP PHOTO ONCE YOU'RE ALL HERE.
BUT APPRECIATION TO ALL OF YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS A VERY KIND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-6:45 pm]
AND WE'LL DO BOTH OF THESE AT THE SAME TIME.DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 10TH, 2024 SPECIAL MEETING AND THE DECEMBER 10TH, 2024 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 10TH SPECIAL MEETING AND THE DECEMBER 10TH REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.
PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 10TH, 2024 SPECIAL MEETING AND THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 10TH, 2024 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING ARE APPROVED.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS-6:50 pm]
THE GUIDELINES REGARDING PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE ON EACH BOARD MEETING AGENDA, AND THERE'S A COPY ON THE TABLE WHERE YOU SIGN IN TO MAKE A COMMENT.WE ASK THAT YOU LIMIT YOUR COMMENT TO THREE MINUTES.
A TIMER WILL BE RUNNING SO THAT YOU CAN MONITOR YOUR TIME.
PLEASE BE SURE TO TELL US YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENTS, YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISTRICT, AND THE AGENDA ITEM OR SCHOOL DISTRICT TOPIC THAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING TONIGHT.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE MADE FROM THIS FRONT PODIUM UP HERE.
TONIGHT, WE WILL START WITH STEVEN KEELER.
[00:05:15]
I'M A RESIDENT OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON.
I HAVE NO CHILDREN IN EDMONDS SCHOOLS.
I'M SPEAKING ON SCRIBER PLACE THIS EVENING.
ON JANUARY 9TH OF 2024, REPRESENTATIVES FROM HOUSING HOPE OF EVERETT SPOKE TO THE BOARD REGARDING THE SCRIBER PLACE PROJECT.
THEY DID NOT STAY UNTIL THE MEETING ENDED, SO AS TO ANSWER AUDIENCE QUESTIONS.
THEY DID, HOWEVER, LEAVE SOME FLYERS FOR THE AUDIENCE.
FROM THE AUDIO OF THE BOARD MEETING VIDEO ON THAT NIGHT AS ARCHIVED, I WISH TO QUOTE ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES.
AT 10 MINUTES, 28 SECONDS FROM THE VIDEO START, THE REPRESENTATIVES STATED.
IN 2017, THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE TOOK ACTION TO CONFIRM THAT IT WAS NOT A GIFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO LEASE SURPLUS SCHOOL DISTRICT LANDS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS LONG AS THAT HOUSING IS RESERVED FOR STUDENTS OF THE DISTRICT.
I SUPPORT HOUSING FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS.
I DO NOT SUPPORT THE AIMS AND MANNER OF THE IMPLEMENTATION BY HOUSING HOPE AS LAID OUT IN THE INFORMATION FLYER THEY PROVIDED.
SPECIFICALLY, ALLOWING STUDENTS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS TO APPLY, RESERVING SIX OF THE UNITS FOR INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES WITH A KNOWN DRUG USE HISTORY.
FINALLY, ADMITTING THAT HOUSING HOPE HAS NO MEANS TO REQUIRE OCCUPANTS TO VACATE ONCE THE STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
ADDITIONALLY, I MUST ASK, WILL HOUSING HOPE STAFF SCRIBER PLACE WITH A ONSITE 24/7 MANAGER? WHAT I SEE FROM HOUSING HOPE OF EVERETT IS SUICIDAL EMPATHY AND A DISTURBING LACK OF RATIONAL LOGIC, COMMON SENSE, IF YOU WILL, REGARDING THE PLAN THEY HAVE LAID OUT FOR SCRIBER PLACE.
IF SCRIBER PLACE FAILS, EACH OF YOU WILL BE A PARTIAL OWNER OF THE LOSS.
>> I AM RETIRED ELEMENTARY TEACHER.
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS GRANDCHILDREN HERE. I LIVE IN BOTHELL.
I'VE LEARNED FROM THAT FRIEND RECENTLY THAT THERE'S POSTERS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT UP WITH SCAN SQUARES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT UP AT THE SCHOOL, WHICH ENCOURAGE REPORTING OF ANTI-HATE.
I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS.
ONE IS WHAT IS THE ORIGINAL SOURCE OF THIS PROGRAM AND THIS SIGNAGE, WHO IS AUTHORIZING, PERHAPS MANDATING THESE POSTERS BEING DISPLAYED IN THE SCHOOLS.
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF ANTI-HATE AND WHO DETERMINES THAT DEFINITION? I'M WONDERING WHERE DO THESE REPORTS GO? WHO'S OVERSEEING THAT? IS IT MERELY A COINCIDENCE THAT THESE POSTERS COINCIDE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S VERY RECENT MEETINGS BOTH IN NOVEMBER AND LAST WEEK, ORGANIZING A STATEWIDE ANTI-HATE TASK FORCE.
THEN THIS LEADS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION.
ARE THE SCHOOLS BEING USED BY THE GOVERNOR AND HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE TO COLLECT DATA? DATA FOR MINORS, IMPRESSIONABLE AS IT CAN BE DATA THAT IS PERHAPS UNINVESTIGATED, POTENTIALLY FALSE, AND POTENTIALLY UNRELIABLE? WILL THIS DATA THEN BE USED TO JUSTIFY THE NEED FOR AN ANTI-HATE TASK FORCE STATE AND WHY IN ALL THE SCHOOLS? HAS THIS BOARD CONSIDERED THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY TOOL, A SCAN SQUARE USED IN THIS ANTI-HATE PROGRAM IS ANALOGOUS TO FIRE, WHICH CAN WARM AND COMFORT OR BURN AND DESTROY? HAS THIS BOARD CONSIDERED THAT IT'S A POWER TOOL GIVEN TO MINORS? SOME WHO MAY NOT YET BE MATURE ENOUGH TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS?
[00:10:01]
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THE FACT THAT WHAT ONE GIVES FOCUS TO EXPANDS? FOCUS ON HATE.WILL IT ENGENDER REPORTING BY STUDENTS WHO MAY EVEN GO LOOKING OR MAYBE EVEN PERPETRATE SOME FORM OF HATE? FINALLY, ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WILLING AND ABLE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE POTENTIAL HARM THIS ANTI-HATE PROGRAM SIGNAGE CAN DO TO YOUR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY? WHAT IF THIS BOARD WOULD IMPLEMENT A KINDNESS PROGRAM, MAKING A POSTER WITH A SCAN SQUARE FOR THAT.
I PROJECT THAT SUCH A PROGRAM WOULD MAKE THE NEWS GOOD NEWS FOR THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT? WOULD IT HELP ENROLLMENT? FINAL QUESTION, WILL THIS ANTI HATE PROGRAM EVER BRING OR GENERATE GOOD NEWS? THESE ARE NOT RHETORICAL QUESTIONS.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR THOUGHTFUL ANSWERS.
I KNOW BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS, I HAVE TRIED TO SUMMARIZE, DO I GIVE THIS TO YOU? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS STEVE MOSSMAN.
>> GOOD EVENING. STEVE MOSSMAN, RESIDENT MALIK TERRACE, VICE CHAIR OF THE 32ND LD, SNOHOMISH COUNTY REPUBLICANS.
I HAVE A RHETORICAL QUESTION YOU TO START WITH.
WHEN DOES IT BECOME ACCEPTABLE TO LIE TO OUR CHILDREN? I WANT TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT YOU'VE TAKEN AN OATH WHEN YOU FIRST TOOK YOUR OFFICE, AND EVERY TIME YOU RE-UP FOR YOUR OFFICE, YOU TAKE THAT OATH AGAIN.
THAT OATH REQUIRES YOU TO PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE CONSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.
I'LL REMIND YOU WITH SAY, NOT ENTIRELY, BUT JUST IN THIS APPROPRIATE POSITION.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 SAYS, CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THERE UP, OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR OF THE PRESS OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ASSEMBLE OR TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
ARTICLE 1 SECTION 5 OF THE WASHINGTON STATE CONSTITUTION READS VERY SUCCINCTLY, PROBABLY MORE SUCCINCTLY HERE.
EVERY PERSON MAY FREELY SPEAK, WRITE, OR PUBLISH ON ALL SUBJECTS BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABUSE OF THAT RIGHT.
LIKE NANCY, BEFORE ME, MY CONCERN IS THIS POSTER THAT'S GOING UP AROUND YOUR SCHOOLS, WHICH STATES, HATE SPEECH IS NOT PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT CASE LAW THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS UNITED STATES, HAS STATED THAT ALL SPEECH IS PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION, THE UNITED STATES AND ALSO PROTECTED BY THE ARTICLE 1 SECTION 5 OF THE WASHINGTON STATE CONSTITUTION.
WE DON'T GET TO DECIDE WHICH SPEECH MAY BE A PROBLEM FOR SOMEBODY ELSE BECAUSE YOU CAN GET 100 PEOPLE IN A ROOM.
ONE, 5, 10, 20, 80, THOSE PEOPLE MIGHT BE OFFENDED BY WHAT YOU SAY.
BUT OVERSLEY, THE OTHERS ARE NOT.
I MAY SAY SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH FIVE PEOPLE, AND AT THE SAME TIME, THOSE SAME WORDS ARE GOING TO BE DISAGREEABLE TO FIVE OTHERS.
WHO'S GOING TO SAY WHAT DOES IS? THIS TYPE OF STUFF IS TEACHING CHILDREN THAT ANYTHING THEY MAY SAY IS NOT GOING TO BE PROTECTED.
WE SHOULD BE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THAT THEY NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL IN THEIR WORDS, BUT ALSO THAT THEY NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR WORDS.
BUT TO SAY THAT THEY CANNOT SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE IT MIGHT OFFEND SOMEBODY IS GOING TO LIMIT THEIR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
THIS TYPE OF THING IS BOLD FACE LIE, AND THEY NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE SCHOOL WALLS OF OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU.
>> DIRECTOR KATIMS, I'M GETTING SOME TEXTS THAT THE AUDIENCE AT HOME, CAN'T HEAR.
IF WE COULD TURN SOMETHING ABOUT TURNING VOLUME UP OR SOMETHING.
>> CAN THEY HEAR US OR JUST NOT THAT MIC?
>> MAKE SURE WILL JUST DIRECTLY SPEAK INTO IT.
[00:15:01]
THERE'LL BE A TRANSCRIPT ON THE LIVE STREAM.IF ANYBODY WATCHES ON A LIVE STREAM, IT COMES UP.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CINDY WHITMAN.
MY TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IS REGARDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
I'VE BEEN COMING TO THESE BOARD MEETINGS FOR A FEW YEARS BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THE ACADEMICS AND THE TRUTH THAT THE CHILDREN ARE LEARNING IN OUR SCHOOLS.
TRUTH AND HONESTY ARE VIRTUES THAT I AM SURE WE CAN ALL AGREE SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO THE CHILDREN.
WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY DEFINES VIRTUES AS MORAL EXCELLENCE OR GOODNESS.
RECENTLY, I WAS IN ONE OF OUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS AND I SAW THESE TWO POSTERS, WHICH I WILL PASS OUT IN A MINUTE, IN THE HALLWAY, AND IT TROUBLED ME BECAUSE THE TITLE ISN'T TRUE.
THE POSTER HAS SOME HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR KIDS.
HOWEVER, THE TITLE WAS NOT HONEST OR TRUTHFUL.
THE TITLE SAYS, HATE SPEECH IS NOT PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT, SO I'LL GIVE THESE TO AARON, WOULD YOU PASS THEM? OF COURSE, I AGREE THAT HATE SPEECH DOES NOT SHOW MORAL EXCELLENCE OR GOODNESS AND IS WRONG AND HURTFUL.
BUT THE PART OF THIS TITLE THAT IS UNTRUE IS THE PART ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
ACCORDING TO THE PARAPHRASE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT FROM THE CORNELL LAW SCHOOL, IT SAYS, "THE FIRST AMENDMENT GUARANTEES FREEDOMS CONCERNING RELIGION, EXPRESSION, ASSEMBLY, AND THE RIGHT TO PETITION.
IT FORBIDS CONGRESS FROM BOTH PROMOTING ONE RELIGION OVER OTHERS AND ALSO RESTRICTING AN INDIVIDUAL'S RELIGIOUS PRACTICES.
IT GUARANTEES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION BY PROHIBITING CONGRESS FROM RESTRICTING THE PRESS OR THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS TO SPEAK FREELY.
IT ALSO GUARANTEES THE RIGHT OF CITIZENS TO ASSEMBLE PEACEFULLY AND TO PETITION THEIR GOVERNMENT." THERE IS NOTHING IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT THAT EXPLAINS WHAT KIND OF SPEECH IS PROHIBITED? FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS PROTECTED.
AS THIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS KNOWS ABOUT PERSONALLY, MANY TEACHERS, STUDENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AND CITIZENS HAVE COME BEFORE THIS BOARD WITH OPINIONS THAT OPPOSE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND MAYBE HAVE OPPOSED YOU.
DOES THIS CONSTITUTE HATE SPEECH? WHO DETERMINES WHAT IS HATE SPEECH? WHATEVER OFFENDS YOUR FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, OR BEHAVIOR, IS THAT HATE SPEECH? OF COURSE, HATE ACTIONS IS WRONG, BUT SPEECH IS NOT.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS PROTECTED, UNLIKE WHAT THIS TITLE AND THIS POSTER SAYS.
IF THIS POSTER'S TITLE IS INACCURATE AND NOT TRUTHFUL, PLEASE REMOVE IT FROM OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS ELIZABETH LUNSFORD.
>> HELLO. ELIZABETH LUNSFORD, 98037.
I CAME TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND SAFETY, BUT I AM JUST SO CONCERNED OF WHAT I HEARD TODAY.
I LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND OUR DEMOCRACY, AND BEING FAIR IS RIGHT.
ANTI-HATE, WHERE IS THE PRO-HATE SIGNS? IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT ANTI-HATE, WE BETTER PUT PRO-HATE SIGNS, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT FAIR.
THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA HAVE A RIGHT TO HATE, AND THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA HAVE A RIGHT TO BE AGAINST HATE.
I CAME TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.
OLYMPIA STARTED, AND I HATE THAT OUR STATE LEGISLATION IS WORKING TO FEED OUR CHILDREN.
OH MY GOD. HOW DARE THOSE CHILDREN BE DESERVED TO BE FED? WHAT I HATE THAT THE STATE REGULATIONS IS TRYING TO GIVE EDUCATION TO EVERY CHILD.
THERE ARE SOME CHILDREN IN THIS PLANET THAT DO NOT DESERVE AN EDUCATION OR TO BE FED.
[00:20:02]
I HOPE EVERYONE AGREES THAT EVERY CHILD DESERVES A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.I HAPPEN TO LOVE THIS COUNTRY IN MY RIGHT TO RELIGION, AND I AM A PROUD CHRISTIAN.
MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, DO YOU KNOW HOW HE ENTERED THIS WORLD? WHEN MARY DELIVERED HIM, WAS BEING TURNED AWAY BY PEOPLE SAID, "OH, YOU'RE NOT PART OF EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU CAN'T STAY HERE.
YOU GOT TO STAY OUT IN THE COLD AND FREEZE." PULL YOURSELF UP BY THE BOOTSTRAPS. YOU KNOW WHAT, MARY? WHEN YOU'RE IN LABOR, YOU CAN HAVE JESUS WHERE THE DONKEYS DUMP.
HOW DARE YOU PUT ANTI-HATE? I'M A VETERAN.
IF I WANT TO STAND UP HERE AND SPEAK AND TALK ABOUT HATE, LET THE STUDENTS HATE, LET THEM.
I RATHER THAN VERBALLY ASSAULT EACH OTHER THAN DEAL WITH THE GUN VIOLENCE.
BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE HERE IS ADULTS WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE KIDS IN THE STUDENT, FEELING IMPORTANT, AND TAKING AWAY TIME FROM LEGISLATION TO GET ACTUAL REAL BUSINESS DONE, RATHER THAN GIVING THEM RICH EDUCATION EXPERIENCES, PUSHING THEIR OWN MORAL HIGH GROUND.
OUR BABIES ARE BEING SHOT BECAUSE OF INCOMPETENT LEADERSHIP AND INCOMPETENT PEOPLE THAT ARE MY NEIGHBORS, AND I'M CHRISTIAN.
IT'S MY JOB TO LOVE AND ACCEPT THEM ALL. LET THEM HATE.
GO FOR IT. BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THAT ANTI-HATE, PUT THE PRO-HATE AMERICA.
>> NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA-7:20 pm]
TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF FIVE ITEMS, THESE ARE ROUTINE ITEMS THAT WE CAN SPEAK OF AND VOTE ON AS A GROUP OR SEPARATE IF WE CHOOSE.TO HAVE TO DO WITH PERSONNEL, ONE HAS TO DO WITH SURPLUSING OF COPIERS.
ONE IS IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT REGARDING STATE TESTING, AND ONE IS A FIELD TRIP.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED?
>> 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 TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY ABSTENTIONS? TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[10. REPORTS-7:55 pm]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE JUST HAVE ONE REPORT THIS EVENING, OUR BUSINESS AND FINANCE REPORT FOR OCTOBER.
THANK YOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SALLY.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR PULLING IT UP.
WE ARE ON OCTOBER, EVEN THOUGH IT'S JANUARY.
JUST A REMINDER THAT THE FIRST ACTIVITY AND EXPENDITURES IN THE DEBT SERVICE FUND HAPPENS IN DECEMBER WHEN WE MAKE OUR PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENT TWO TIMES A YEAR.
EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS LIKE I WOULD EXPECT IT TO.
ALSO I DIDN'T PUT IT ON THE SLIDE, BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS TODAY THAT DO REMEMBER THAT THE STATE IS FUNDING US BASED ON THE BUDGET THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST.
AS OF JANUARY 31ST, THEY WILL START FUNDING US ON ACTUAL, SO ACTUAL ENROLLMENT AND SO FORTH.
OUR FUND BALANCE INCREASE, PART OF IT IS THE PREVIOUS YEAR, WE HAD SOME DELAYS IN CLAIMING ESA, ESA IS ALL CLAIMED UP.
WE HAVE GOTTEN CAUGHT UP ON THIS YEAR'S GRANTS IN OCTOBER OVER SEPTEMBER, AS WELL AS THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS, FUND TRANSFERS WHEN WE PAY EMPLOYEES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND REIMBURSE THROUGH THE CAPITAL FUND, WHICH CAUSES THAT STRANGE LITTLE NEGATIVE THAT DIRECTOR KATIMS LOOKS AT.
THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TO JUST LOOK AT THE DATA A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
IN NOVEMBER, I'M GOING TO PRODUCE THE SAME BOTTOM GRAPHS, BUT IN A LARGER FORMAT, SO A LITTLE BIT MORE VISUALLY EASIER TO SEE FROM HERE.
AGAIN, EVERYTHING IS LOOKING REALLY GOOD AS EXPECTED.
[00:25:01]
THERE'S NOTHING UNUSUAL TO REPORT IN OCTOBER.AGAIN, IT'S ALL LOOKING REALLY CONSISTENT WITH BUDGET PROJECTIONS.
IF YOU TAKE OUR HIGHER THAN PROJECTED STARTING FUND BALANCE AND ADD BUDGETED REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, ENDING FUND BALANCE IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT HIGHER FUND BALANCE.
WE BUDGETED ABOUT 28 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENTS BELOW WHERE WE WERE IN '23, '24.
RIGHT NOW, AS OF OCTOBER, WE'RE ABOUT 24.
RUNNING START IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN BUDGET, SO THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE STUDENTS CHOOSING TO TAKE RUNNING START THAN WE PROJECTED.
WE WILL CONSIDER THAT WHEN WE DO THE '25, '26 STUDENT ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS, WHICH YOU WILL TAKE A FIRST BLUSH AT NEXT WEEK.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUING TO KEEP US INFORMED IN A WAY THAT HELPS US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND, AND YOU KNOW WHERE OUR QUESTIONS COME, AND TO CONTINUALLY THINK ABOUT THE GRAPHIC FORMATTING.
IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES OF OUR BUDGET, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING US ON AN EVEN KEEL NOW THAT WE'RE INTO THE MIDST OF IT.
THANKS. NEXT WE HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS- 8:00 pm]
>> WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS THIS EVENING.
THE FIRST IS A SECOND READING TO APPROVE REVISED POLICY 3115, STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, ENROLLMENT RIGHTS AND SERVICES.
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READING, LANGUAGE WAS CLARIFIED TO ENSURE THAT ALL REFERENCES TO HOMELESS STUDENTS WAS CHANGED TO STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
REFERENCES TO HOMELESS LIAISON WAS CHANGED TO MCKINNEY-VENTO LIAISON.
>> THANK YOU. DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 3115 ON STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, ENROLLMENT RIGHTS AND SERVICES.
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE CHANGES MADE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READINGS SO THAT OUR LANGUAGE IS CONSISTENT.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR GARRARD.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 3115, STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ENROLLMENT RIGHTS AND SERVICES IS APPROVED.
>> ITEM 11.2 IS A SECOND READING TO APPROVE REVISED BOARD POLICY 5050, CONTRACTS.
THERE WERE NO CHANGES BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READING.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVING THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 5050 ON CONTRACTS?
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> AYE. REVISED BOARD POLICY 5050 ON CONTRACTS IS APPROVED.
>> THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS IS 11.3, A SECOND READING WITH A RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF REVISED BOARD POLICY 5612, TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATORS.
THERE WERE NO CHANGES MADE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READING.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE REVISED BOARD POLICY 5612 ON TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATORS?
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> REVISED BOARD POLICY 5612 ON TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATORS IS APPROVED.
>> ITEM 11.4 IS THE SECOND READING TO APPROVE REVISED BOARD POLICY 2410, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.
NO CHANGES WERE MADE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READING.
[00:30:04]
>> I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 2410 ON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ONE THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS I FOLLOWED UP ON THE DELETION OF THE RCW REGARDING CIVICS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REASON WHY THAT WAS DELETED IS BECAUSE THAT RCW IS NO LONGER ACTIVE, BUT WE DO HAVE IN OUR GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS THAT AS PART OF THE THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS OF SOCIAL STUDIES, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR HALF A CREDIT FOR CIVICS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT'S A PIECE OF WHAT WE HAVE.
>> WELL, I'LL JUST ALSO ADD THAT PART OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS IS CIVICS THAT'S EMBEDDED IN ALL THE SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES STARTING IN KINDERGARTEN ALL THROUGH 12TH GRADE.
>> THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> AND REVISED BOARD POLICY 2410 ON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS IS APPROVED.
>> WE HAVE EIGHT ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS THIS EVENING.
[12. NEW BUSINESS- 8:10 pm]
THE FIRST IS A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-01, ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE BRIER TERRACE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK RESURFACING PROJECT.>> DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-01, ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE BRIER TERRACE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK RESURFACING PROJECT?
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
>> I WILL COMMENT ON THIS AND 12.4 AT THE SAME TIME.
BOTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS ARE SCHOOLS THAT I ATTENDED.
I'M ALWAYS REALLY HAPPY WHEN I SEE THAT WE ARE DOING WORK ON THOSE TWO SCHOOLS.
IT FILLS ME WITH A LITTLE BIT OF JOY.
ALSO, I'VE BEEN OUT TO BTMS AT MTHS IN THE LAST YEAR, AND THOSE FIELDS ARE A LITTLE ROUGH, SO I'M ALSO HAPPY TO SEE THAT THEY ARE GETTING THE ATTENTION THEY NEED.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> RESOLUTION 25-01, ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE BRIER TERRACE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK RESURFACING PROJECT IS APPROVED.
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 12.2, A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-02, ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE MEADOWDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK RESURFACING PROJECT.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-02?
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> RESOLUTION 25-02, ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE MEADOWDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK RESURFACING PROJECT IS APPROVED.
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 12.3, A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-03, ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE FORMER ALDERWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL SEISMIC UPGRADES PROJECT.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-03?
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
>> JUST GOING TO GIVE MY STANDARD DISCLAIMER ON THIS ONE.
MY PARENTS SHARE A PROPERTY BORDER WITH THE FORMER ALDERWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THEREFORE, I DO NOT TAKE PART IN ANY THING THAT MAY CHANGE THE PROPERTY VALUES AROUND THERE, INCLUDING THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> RESOLUTION 25-03, ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE FORMER ALDERWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL SEISMIC UPGRADES PROJECT IS APPROVED.
>> OUR FINAL ACTION ITEM THIS EVENING IS A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-05, ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL FIELD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
[00:35:03]
JUST TO NOTE THAT WE DID HAVE ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL ATTENTION.WE PULLED 25-04 OFF OF THE AGENDA.
IT WILL BE COMING TO YOU AT A LATER TIME.
RATHER THAN RENUMBER THEM ALL AND CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF A HEADACHE FOR EVERYONE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO STAY THE COURSE WITH THIS ONE BEING 25-05.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-05?
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'VE REFEREED ON THAT FIELD AND APPRECIATED IT, AND I ENJOY THE QUARK INFILL THAT WAS USED.
>> EXCELLENT. OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> RESOLUTION 25-05, ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL FIELD IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT IS APPROVED.
>> THE NEXT FOUR ITEMS ARE ALL FIRST READING, SO NO ACTION REQUESTED, BUT THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS OR YOUR COMMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION AS WE CONSIDER PRESENTING THEM TO YOU FOR A SECOND READING AND POTENTIAL APPROVAL.
JUST AS A REMINDER TO EVERYONE, WE DO UPDATE OUR POLICIES CONSTANTLY.
I KNOW THAT YOU DID A VERY LARGE POLICY REVISION UPDATE A FEW YEARS AGO.
WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU SMALLER NUMBERS OF THEM SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO A HUGE REVISION UPDATE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS TO COME.
YOU'LL SEE THIS SPRING QUITE A FEW POLICY UPDATES THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN THE HOPPER FOR YOU.
THE FIRST ONE OF THOSE IS 12.6, A FIRST READING REVISED BOARD POLICY 3140, RELEASE OF RESIDENT STUDENTS.
TRANSFERS, 12.5. REVIEW REVISED BOARD POLICY 3131.
WE FOUND IN ENGAGING WITH FAMILIES WITH TRANSFERS THAT OUR LANGUAGE WAS NOT IN ALL CASES CLEAR.
THERE'S SOME CLARIFYING LANGUAGE.
WE HAVE REPLACED A TERM PARENT WITH FAMILY AND PROVIDED CLEAR DEFINITIONS OF THE APPROVAL PROCESS REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS.
>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 3131 ON TRANSFERS? I WANT TO SAY, I APPRECIATED FOR THIS AND THE NEXT TWO AS WELL, THE CLARIFICATION OF THE LANGUAGE.
I KNOW OVER THE YEARS THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW DO I TRANSFER MY STUDENT, ALL OF THE VARIOUS THINGS ABOUT A STUDENT WHO'S NOT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL AND HOW THEY CAN CHANGE THAT.
I FOUND THIS TO BE VERY HELPFUL.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> I APPRECIATE YOU SPREADING THEM OUT.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT ONE IS 12.6, FIRST READING, NO ACTION, REVIEW REVISED BOARD POLICY 3140, RELEASE OF RESIDENT STUDENTS.
SIMILARLY, LANGUAGE REVISIONS TO PROVIDE GREATER CLARITY AND UPDATE THE TERM PARENT WITH FAMILY.
>> ANY DISCUSSION ON REVISED BOARD POLICY 3140 ON THE RELEASE OF RESIDENT STUDENTS?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. CAN WE EXPLAIN WHY PART B IS STRICKEN IN THE REVISION?
>> FOR CLARIFICATION FOR THOSE LISTENING, B IS ATTENDANCE AT THE SCHOOL IN THE NON-RESIDENT DISTRICT IS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PARENTS, FAMILIES PLACE OF WORK OR THE LOCATION OF CHILDCARE.
THAT IS JUST NOT AN ACCOMMODATION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE DUE TO FULLNESS OF SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS, ETC.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GO AHEAD.
>> ISN'T THIS POLICY ABOUT RELEASING OUR STUDENTS TO OTHER DISTRICTS?
>> I'M SORRY. YOU'RE CORRECT. HELEN, CAN YOU CLARIFY WHY WE'VE DROPPED THAT ONE? APPARENTLY, OTHER DISTRICTS DON'T MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS OR REQUESTS FOR THAT. IS THAT CORRECT? I'M SORRY. I GOT CONFUSED.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT ON THEIR FORM.
THEY'RE NOT CHECKING THAT IT'S DUE TO LOCATION OF THEIR CHILDCARE.
THAT WOULD NOT ENTER INTO OUR RELEASE OF THEM.
[00:40:05]
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR GARRARD, FOR ASKING FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE. WE'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
>> THE NEXT ONE IS 12.7, NO ACTION, REVIEW REVISED BOARD POLICY 3141, NON-RESIDENT STUDENTS.
AGAIN, THIS INCLUDES THE STANDARDS FOR ACCEPTING AND REJECTING APPLICATIONS, AS WELL AS NOTICE OF THE APPEAL PROCESS.
WE ARE CLARIFYING LANGUAGE REVISIONS.
>> ANY DISCUSSION ON THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 3141 ON NON-RESIDENT STUDENTS? HEARING NONE. WE CAN GO ON.
>> THE FINAL ONE IS 12.8, FIRST READING, NO ACTION, REVIEW NEW BOARD POLICY 2416, PERFORMANCE-BASED PATHWAY FOR GRADUATION.
THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS CREATED A NEW PERFORMANCE-BASED PATHWAY OPTION TO HELP STUDENTS MEET GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, AND THIS POLICY WOULD ALLOW US TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
WE DO NOT HAVE AN EXISTING POLICY.
>> ANY DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS, OR COMMENTS ON THIS?
>> WHEN I LOOKED THIS OVER, I ACTUALLY THINK IT'S A REALLY COOL IDEA.
IT LOOKS LIKE A REALLY INTERESTING WAY FOR STUDENTS TO SHOW THAT THEY HAVE MASTERED A CLASS, AND THAT'S THE POINT, IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE NEEDING TO LEARN.
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY COOL WAY.
I AM A PROJECT TYPE PERSON, SO I THINK THAT STUFF LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN BENEFICIAL FOR ME IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT I'M NOT 100% SURE HOW I WOULD HAVE USED IT.
BUT STILL, I THINK I WOULD HAVE DONE A LITTLE BIT BETTER WITH THAT.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THAT THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD WANT SINCE IT'S NEW AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING EVIDENCE-BASED THAT MAKES ME THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA OTHER THAN JUST THINKING IT'S A GOOD IDEA IS IF WE CAN, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO PUT IN THE POLICY OR NOT, BUT SOMETHING THAT WE'LL REPORT BACK OUT TO US JUST HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE USING IT, THE SUCCESS RATE.
GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ON HOW IT'S WORKING IN OUR DISTRICT.
THAT WOULD BE THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IN THIS AND WHETHER IT GOES IN THE POLICY OR IF IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE DO AS A MATTER OF COURSE.
IT'S NOT A BIG THING TO ME, BUT DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE INFORMATION TO KNOW THAT IT'S WORKING.
>> THE POLICY DOES REQUIRE THAT ANNUALLY WE'LL EXAMINE DATA ON STUDENT GROUPS PARTICIPATING IN AND COMPLETING EACH GRADUATION PATHWAY OPTION.
WE CAN CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT WE PRESENT THAT TO THE BOARD.
>> I HAD JUST A QUESTION UNDER THE VERY FIRST BULLET POINT WHERE IT SAYS PROPOSALS CREATED BY THE STUDENT OR LEARNING CONTRACT FOR A PERFORMANCE-BASED PATHWAY OPPORTUNITY DEVELOPED BY A SCHOOL OR THE DISTRICT.
ARE THERE ANY SCHOOLS OR DOES THE DISTRICT HAVE PLANS TO DEVELOP PERFORMANCE-BASED PATHWAYS AT THIS MOMENT?
>> GREG, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP SO THAT YOU'RE MIKED SO THAT YOU CAN SHARE THAT?
>> THE REASON WHY I ASK IS THAT FOR A STUDENT THAT'S STRUGGLING TO FIND A PATHWAY TO GRADUATION, IT WOULD BE PRETTY BURDENSOME TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL AND INTIMIDATING AND ALL THAT.
>> OUR PLAN IS THAT ONCE THE BOARD HAS ADOPTED THE POLICY, WE'LL DEVELOP A SET OF PROCEDURES THAT WILL ACCOMPANY IT, AND WE HAVE A DRAFT OF PROCEDURES ALREADY.
SEVERAL DISTRICTS ARE WORKING ON THIS RIGHT NOW AT THE SAME TIME, SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROCEDURES OUT THERE.
OUR GOAL, IF WE CAN GET THIS GOING, IS TO IMPLEMENT IT THIS SPRING AND PILOT IT AT E-LEARNING AND HAVE STUDENTS TAKE AN E-LEARNING CLASS THAT THEY CAN DO TO WORK ON A PERFORMANCE-BASED PATHWAY IN EITHER ENGLISH OR MATH.
>> THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT.
FIRST OF ALL, I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.
YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, VERY STRONG PROPONENT OF IT.
BUT I HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
SOME OF THIS MIGHT END UP IN THE PROCEDURE AND NOT THE POLICY.
I WOULD ACTUALLY LOVE TO SEE THE DRAFT PROCEDURE BEFORE WE HAVE THE SECOND READ OF THIS.
BUT SOME OF MY INTERESTS ARE, ONE, IF A STUDENT CREATES THAT PROPOSAL, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE THAN ONE TEACHER, A COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING, A PANEL, WHO REALLY OVERLOOKS THAT PROPOSAL TO MAKE SURE IT HAS THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RIGOR TO BE MEETING THE STANDARDS THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MEETING FOR THAT PATHWAY.
THIS SOUNDS A LOT LIKE THE SENIOR PROJECT.
[00:45:01]
YOU GUYS ARE TOO YOUNG TO KNOW, BUT THERE WAS FOR A WHILE A DISTRICT REQUIREMENT AND THERE WAS A STATE REQUIREMENT FOR A SENIOR PROJECT.THIS SEEMS TO ME TO NEED THE SAME LEVEL OF RIGOR AT LEAST AS THE SENIOR PROJECT IN TERMS OF FROM BEGINNING TO END.
THE PROPOSAL, IF IT'S CREATED BY THE STUDENT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE BEFORE A STUDENT STARTS WORKING ON IT.
SECONDLY, UNDER THE FOURTH BULLET, IT SAYS HERE INVOLVING AT LEAST ONE TEACHER.
THERE HAS TO BE MORE THAN ONE TEACHER WHO WOULD EVALUATE IT.
I WOULD SAY, LIKE A SENIOR PROJECT, THERE WAS A COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING AUTHENTIC PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT, BUT AT A MINIMUM, AT LEAST TWO TEACHERS FROM THAT AREA WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT IT.
>> THE APPROVING OF THE STUDENT PROPOSAL, ALL OF THAT, THERE NEEDS TO BE STRONG RUBRICS AND CLEAR CRITERIA FOR WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE, AND THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS.
I THINK, AND AGAIN, THIS MAY BE PART OF THE PROCEDURE NOT JUST NOT THE POLICY BUT IN THE SECOND SET OF BULLETS, THERE NEEDS TO BE PROVIDING GUIDANCE ALONG THE WAY.
JUST LIKE WITH THE STUDENT, I KEEP THINKING OF THE SENIOR PROJECT AS A MODEL OR EXEMPLAR OF A SIMILAR THING.
THEY WERE MEETING A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT FOR A WHILE IT WAS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.
SO I THINK ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS AND SAFEGUARDS ALONG THE WAY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING THE STUDENT.
TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT DOING WORK THAT'S GOING TO END UP BEING TOLD THIS DOESN'T DO IT OR LETTING ANYTHING GO BECAUSE IT'S A GRADUATION PATHWAY AND IT NEEDS TO HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF RIGOR AS THE OTHERS.
I THINK THAT'S ALL MY COMMENTS. OKAY.
>> I WILL SAY AGREED AND MUCH OF THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE PROCEDURE AND WE'LL HAVE IT.
WE ARE PRETTY CLOSE, JASON, TO HAVING A DRAFT OF PROCEDURES.
I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON THAT WITH STUDENT LEARNING, SO WE SHOULD HAVE THAT SHORTLY.
>> THEN THE LAST THING, I'LL SAY, 100% AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SUPPORTING STUDENTS THROUGH THIS, WHICH IS WHY WE WANT TO TIE IT TO A CLASS.
WE THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IT PROVIDE GUIDES FOR STUDENTS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS.
>> PERFECT. THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
>> OKAY. IF WE DON'T HAVE THE PROCEDURE IN TIME, WE'LL HOLD THIS POLICY BACK NOT THE SECOND MEETING IN JANUARY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SEE THE PROCEDURE PRIOR TO GETTING THIS POLICY APPROVED.
WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE US CONFIDENCE.
>> YEAH. I JUST WANT TO SAY, I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHY WE DON'T DO SENIOR PROJECTS ANYMORE.
IF THAT WAS LIKE A DISTRICT REQUIREMENT, IF THAT'S A STATE REQUIREMENT.
I THINK IT'S LIKE THE CAPSTONE THING.
I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO MY TEACHERS ABOUT THAT BEING A THING THAT DATED IN HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHY WE DON'T, AS SENIORS, REQUIRE THAT ANYMORE?
>> WELL, I CAN'T SPEAK TO EDMONDS BUT I CAN SPEAK TO ANOTHER DISTRICT.
IT'S A MASSIVE WORKLOAD ISSUE.
THE AMOUNT OF STAFF TIME IT TAKES TO REVIEW SENIOR PROJECTS SO THAT IT DOESN'T BECOME, AS DIRECTOR KATIMS INDICATED, JUST A DE FACTO, YOU DID SOMETHING YOU GET TO CREDIT YOU GET CREDIT FOR THIS.
ALSO, I THINK THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT IF A STUDENT PASSED ALL OF THEIR CLASSES AND THEN DIDN'T TURN IN A SUFFICIENT SENIOR PROJECT.
THEY'VE MET STANDARDS IN OTHER AREAS WHERE WE REALLY GOT AGAIN, ANOTHER DISTRICT, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THIS ONE PROBABLY SOMEONE ELSE COULD.
BUT WERE WE REALLY GOING TO HOLD THEM BACK FROM RECEIVING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IF THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ALL OF THEIR CLASSES DONE AND HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED TO A COLLEGE, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T JUMP THROUGH SOME HOOPS WE ESTABLISHED FOR THEM FOR A SENIOR PROJECT.
SO THOSE WERE SOME OF THE ISSUES AND THE STATE ELIMINATED IT AS A STATE REQUIREMENT.
YOU COULD STILL HAVE IT AS A LOCAL REQUIREMENT, BUT GIVEN THAT, IT BECAME A CHALLENGING TO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT.
>> I THINK IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING IDEA.
AGAIN, BEFORE MY TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I LIKE THAT THAT'S NOW AN OPTION OR LIKE THE IDEA OF IMPLEMENTING IT AS AN OPTION FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS TO COMPLETE.
I LIKE HOW MANY PATHWAYS WE DO HAVE IN THIS DISTRICT.
WHETHER IT'S CT, WHETHER IT'S GRADUATION, WHETHER IT'S DOING CERTAIN CLASSES, AND WAVING CERTAIN CLASSES TO TAKE CLASSES THAT YOU REALLY DO CARE ABOUT.
I THINK IT'S REALLY COOL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER AS MANY PATHWAYS AS WE DO AS A DISTRICT AND IN A STATE AS WELL WITH OTHER SCHOOLS.
[00:50:02]
SO YEAH, I THINK IT'S A REAL REALLY COOL IDEA AND CONCEPT AND I HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO EXECUTE IT PROPERLY.>> SANTIAGO, YOU ASK AN INTERESTING QUESTION AS TO WHY WE DON'T DO IT ANYMORE.
IN EDMONDS, THERE'S A VERY INTERESTING HISTORY BECAUSE I STARTED WORKING HERE IN 1999 AND WORKED FOR 17 YEARS.
AT THAT TIME, MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL ON THEIR OWN, IN THEIR INNOVATIVE WAY, HAD A SENIOR PROJECT AND IT WAS REALLY WELL DONE.
IT WAS EMBEDDED IN THE CULTURE OF THE SCHOOL.
I GOT TO GO JUDGE SOME OF THE AND THEY ALWAYS HAD PEOPLE WHO WERE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL.
MANY WOULD BE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO WERE WORKING IN THE FIELD THAT THAT STUDENT WAS DOING A PROJECT IN.
VERY AUTHENTIC, IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL.
THEN IT BECAME THE STATE REQUIREMENT, THE DISTRICT REQUIREMENT.
THEN THERE WERE LIKE WHEN A COMMITTEE DOES THINGS AND THEN YOU START AND IT'S LIKE ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENED.
I SAW MY OLDER SON WHO WAS IN THAT PIECE WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE LITERALLY PLAY HIS SAXOPHONE AS HIS SENIOR PROJECT AND TALK ABOUT IT AND THAT WAS OKAY.
WHICH WAS DELIGHTFUL FOR ME TO HEAR WHEN I WENT TO LISTEN BUT NOWHERE NEAR THE LEVEL OF RIGOR AND COMPLEXITY THAT THE ORIGINAL MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL.
I THINK DOCTOR SCHWAB YOU WERE PROBABLY PART OF TERRACE.
IT WAS EXEMPLARY, THE WAY THEY DID IT.
BUT IF IT STARTED TO BE NOT A PART OF THE FABRIC OF EACH SCHOOL BUT LIKE A MANDATE IT DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME I DON'T KNOW, IMPACT AND EFFECTIVENESS WHICH IS REALLY UNFORTUNATE, IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE.
BUT THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU THIS IS NOW BRINGING BACK THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO DO A PASSION PROJECT.
THAT'S WHAT THE KIDS WERE DOING, THEY WERE PASSION.
THAT'S WHAT ALL SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY GETS YOU EXCITED AND IS PART OF WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AND MAKE A PART OF YOUR FUTURE. TOTALLY.
>> I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING DIRECTOR KATIMS JUST SAID.
I THINK THAT I AM THE ONLY PERSON ON THE BOARD WHO HAD TO DO A SENIOR PROJECT.
SO I WILL TELL YOU THAT AS A PERSON WHO DID THAT BOTH IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY DID A CAPSTONE IN COLLEGE, THE EXPERIENCES WERE WILDLY DIFFERENT.
IN HIGH SCHOOL, YEAH, PART OF IT WAS A BANDWIDTH ISSUE, I THINK, 500 STUDENTS TRYING TO ALTERNATE A PROJECT AND WE ALL WAITED TILL THE LAST QUARTER TO TURN IT IN.
YOU HAD A LOT OF THAT GOING ON.
THE WAY THEY DID IT WAS ONE QUARTER THAT WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO BE PLANNING AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF STUFF IN THERE THAT I DIDN'T END UP USING.
THEN YOU HAD A QUARTER THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING ON IT.
IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS STRUCTURED IN A WAY THAT WAS SUPER HELPFUL VERSUS WHEN I GOT TO COLLEGE AND I HAD A ONE ON ONE PROFESSOR THAT I WORKED WITH ON A CAPSTONE PROJECT AND WE WALKED THROUGH IT.
AND SO THAT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY CONCERNS WITH THIS IS THAT IF TOO MANY PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BANDWIDTH ISSUE AND IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE WHAT SOME OF THE SENIOR PROJECTS LOOK LIKE.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THOUGH THAT THIS ISN'T A GREAT WAY TO LEARN AND THIS ISN'T A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER STUDENTS, I THINK IT IS.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S WHY ON A LARGE SCALE, THE SENIOR PROJECT WENT AWAY.
I THINK THE VALUE JUST WASN'T THERE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY AS A FULL IB STUDENT, WE HAVE THE CAST PROJECT, WHICH SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SENIOR PROJECT, EXCEPT IT SPANS OVER JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR.
SO IT'S NOT A LOT OF PRESSURE PUT ONTO SENIOR YEAR AND THERE'S A MINIMUM HOUR REQUIREMENT, OR, I GUESS, A MAXIMUM, WHERE YOU HAVE TO HIT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF HOURS TO GRADUATE AND THAT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF OUR GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.
IT'S ALSO DONE WITH AT LEAST ONE OTHER FULL IB STUDENT.
SO THE PROJECT IT'S WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT MAKES IT EASIER.
WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE SENIOR PROJECT.
OBVIOUSLY, I DIDN'T EXPERIENCE IT BUT THERE IS ALSO A TEACHER SUPERVISOR.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN INTERESTING IDEA THAT GETS EVERYBODY INVOLVED BECAUSE IN SOME WAYS, I THINK IT WOULD BE A MUCH STRONGER GRADUATION PATHWAY THAN SOME OF THE OTHER ONES THAT ARE ACCEPTED BY THE STATE.
HEARING NO MORE DISCUSSION, WE CAN GO ON.
SO NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
[13. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES]
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR CHASE.[00:55:02]
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR KATIMS. WELL, WHAT AN EXCITING TIME.
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION GAVELED IN YESTERDAY.
IT WAS THE FIRST DAY AND ON THE SECOND DAY, WE ALREADY HAVE EIGHT PAGES OF BILLS RELATED TO EDUCATION ABOUT 80 BILLS THAT WE'RE TRACKING.
AND SO IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY EXCITING, WE'LL GO THROUGH SOME OF THE KEY ONES RIGHT NOW.
BUT WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING IS THE LEGISLATIVE TEAM IN THE DISTRICT HAS PUT TOGETHER THIS PRESENTATION FOR INFORMATION FOR US TO COLLABORATE AND PROVIDE INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE CAN PARTNER IN LEARNING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OLYMPIA AND HELP MAYBE IMPACTING US IN THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS SHARING OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES IN A WAY THAT WE, AS BOARD DIRECTORS, AND STUDENT ADVISORS CAN ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS.
AND SO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO ALSO EMBED IN A SPOT ON THE WEBSITE SO THAT WE CAN ACCESS IT MORE EASILY.
AS WE HAVE SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THE 80 BILLS THAT WE'RE TRACKING AND SOME KEY BILLS AND STUFF LIKE THAT TO FACILITATE A BIT.
AND SO THANK YOU, DOCTOR MINER, AND EVERYONE THAT WAS WORKING ON THIS.
SO WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THE ADVOCACY FOR OUR DISTRICT IS A YEAR ROUND PROCESS.
WE ARE NOW, IF YOU TAKE AT THE UPPER RIGHT, INTERACTIONS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AND WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GO INTO THE NEXT ONE.
ON THE LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW, THERE'S SOME IMPORTANT DATES THAT HAPPEN DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, OF COURSE, OPENING DAY.
THEN WE HAVE POINTS WHERE BILLS HAVE TO MEET A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, WHETHER THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD IN THE PROCESS OR NOT.
SOME OF THOSE WE'VE GOT LISTED RIGHT HERE, SUCH AS THE POLICY COMMITTEE CUTOFF DATE AND THE HOUSE OF ORIGIN CUTOFF.
THESE ARE TIMES WHERE THAT BILLS WILL EITHER MAKE IT OR BREAK IT AND MOVE FORWARD IN THE PROCESS OR NOT.
AS WE CONTINUE ON IN THE SESSION, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT BILLS WERE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT ALIGN WITH THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THAT WE AS A DISTRICT HAVE.
APRIL 27TH IS THE LAST DAY UNLESS WE GO INTO SPECIAL SESSION, SO THIS IS CONSIDERED A LONG SESSION.
AS I'D MENTIONED, IN UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE PLACE WHERE WE'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE KEY BILLS.
RIGHT NOW I'LL MENTION SOME OF THOSE JUST A MOMENT.
LIKE THIS WEEK, WE'VE HAD KEY BILLS ON OPERATING APPROPRIATIONS THAT WERE BEING HEARD THIS WEEK IN TESTIMONY ON SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS, CONCERNING THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO MORE ON THE BUDGET TOMORROW.
THEN THERE'S SOME REALLY OF INTEREST CONCERNING SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS AND GETTING A 55% AMENDED THE CONSTITUTION TO AUTHORIZE BONDS AT A 55% PASSAGE RATHER THAN 60%.
AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP THIS WEEK, THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER ON SOME SCHOOL SECURITY GRANTS THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST.
SO AS THESE BILLS COME UP, ON THE WEBSITE WE'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING THOSE SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AND PARTICIPATE IN THOSE THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR CONCERNS OR THOSE OF OUR DISTRICT PRIORITIES.
IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, WE HAVE OUR PRIORITIES.
CAN WE CLICK ON THAT LINK ON THIS PRESENTATION JUST TO REMIND FOLKS THE PRIORITIES THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON IN EDMONDS.
>> NO. OKAY. WELL, IT'S ON THE WEBSITE.
YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK THREE KEY AREAS THAT WE AS THE EDMONDS SCHOOL BOARD AND FOCUSING ON THIS HERE IS PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR AMPLE, EQUITABLE AND STABLE EDUCATION.
THE OTHER IS MEETING REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIAL ED AND STUDENTS HEALTH SAFETY AND WELL BEING.
THOSE ARE THREE BROAD CATEGORIES, AND WE'VE GOT MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE ON THAT.
LET'S SEE WHAT WAS THE NEXT PAGE ON THIS? NOW, FOR ALL THIS INFORMATION NEXT SLIDE IS HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.
HERE WE'VE GOT HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE ON COMMENTING ON A BILL, TESTIFYING, PROVIDING WRITTEN TESTIMONY OR CONTACTING YOUR LEGISLATORS.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS A NEW WEBSITE AND I REALLY LIKE THE WAY THAT THEY'VE STREAMLINED HOW YOU CAN ENGAGE, MADE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO TESTIFY AND TO DO A LOT OF REMOTE TESTIMONY.
I THINK IN THIS DAY AND AGE, EVERYBODY'S EMBRACING THAT REMOTE TESTIMONY IS VALUABLE AND THEY'RE MAKING SOME ACCOMMODATIONS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND NOT IN ALL CASES BUT IN MANY OF THEM.
>> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION.
[01:00:01]
THIS LINK DOES TAKE YOU STRAIGHT TO THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE WEB PAGE, AND THEIR PAGE ON HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.SO YOU'RE GOING OUTSIDE OF OUR DISTRICT RIGHT TO THEIRS WITH A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ON HOW TO ENGAGE IN THAT.
>> THE LINKS ARE ALL LIVE ON THE BOARD.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU GUYS BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY NICE UPDATE THAT THEY'VE JUST LAUNCHED THIS YEAR.
AS A REMINDER, ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THESE ARE THE LEGISLATORS REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS THAT REPRESENT A PORTION OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE HAVE THREE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE NINE REPRESENTATIVES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO US GEOGRAPHICALLY.
IF YOU FIND YOUR LEGISLATURE, WHICH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT YOU'RE IN, YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
THIS WILL BE THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FINDER.
AGAIN, THIS IS LINKED TO YOU'LL BE GOING OUTSIDE THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT WEBSITE TO ACCESS, EXCUSE ME, THAT.
NOW, THIS WILL HAVE ITS OWN HOME ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT YOU CAN HELP EDUCATE YOURSELF, FOLLOW SOME OF THE BILLS, TRACK THEM, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.
>> AND THAT WILL BE OUTSIDE JUST FOR CLARITY'S SAKE SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO OUR BOARD AGENDAS, ETC.
THIS PARTICULAR THING, WE'LL HAVE A LIST OF THESE ON A SEPARATE PAGE NEAR OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, ETC, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN JUST GO STRAIGHT THERE AND LOOK AT THIS.
>> WHERE ON THE WEBSITE WILL THEY BE ABLE TO FIND THAT?
>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE CREATED THAT PAGE YET, BUT IT'LL BE UNDER THE BOARD DOCUMENTS, UNDER WHERE YOU CLICK ON "SCHOOL BOARD", AND THEN THERE WILL BE A SUBTEXT ON LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY, I BELIEVE.
>> GREAT. WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, WHEN IT'S LIVE ON THE WEBSITE, TO TAKE A LOOK.
WE'RE DOING THIS TO HELP FURTHER COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION OF THE DISTRICT IN THE PROCESS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE TEAMWORK THAT WENT INTO MAKING THIS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD PROVIDE AS A RESOURCE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS LOVELY.
THIS IS WONDERFUL, AND IT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE KNOW 1,200 PEOPLE ATTENDED OUR FUNDING CRISIS TOWN HALL, THAT THERE IS STRONG INTEREST AMONG OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FAMILIES, OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF TO [NOISE] ADVOCATE.
I'VE APPRECIATED IT THAT IN THE LAST TWO DAYS, THERE HAVE BEEN ARTICLES IN THE SEATTLE TIMES.
>> EDITORIALS AND ARTICLES ABOUT FUNDING AND THE SITUATION.
THE MORE WE CAN DO TO HELP SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, TO HELP TELL THE LEGISLATORS WHAT YOUR OPINIONS ARE IN TERMS OF THE BILLS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD, THE MORE WE CAN HELP PEOPLE DO THAT AND MAKE IT EASIER, THE BETTER.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S EFFORT IN DOING THIS.
>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD FIRST TWO DAYS.
>> WELL, OKAY, [LAUGHTER] AND IT'S A GOOD START.
YOU CAN'T ASK FOR MORE THAN THAT IN THE FIRST TWO DAYS, [LAUGHTER] OTHER THAN THEM ALREADY PASSING.
>> IT WOULD BE NICE. WE'LL BE DOING A LOT OF ADVOCACY DOWN THERE.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THE LEGISLATIVE PIECE? WE'LL GO TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
[14. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
SCARLET, YOU WANT TO START?>> THIRTEEN DAYS LATE, BUT HAPPY NEW YEAR, GUYS.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE YOU ALL, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR AND LEARNING AND GROWING WITH YOU GUYS.
MY UPDATES ARE SCATTERED, BUT STARTING WITH THE EDMONDS-WOODWAY BOYS BASKETBALL, WE ARE RANKED SECOND IN THE STATE, WHICH IS EXCITING.
OFF OF THAT, THE RUBBER CHICKEN EVENT IS COMING UP WHERE WE WILL BEAT MEADOWDALE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE 15TH YEAR IN A ROW OR SOMETHING.
[LAUGHTER] THAT SAME DAY, IT'S THE DISTRICT SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FOR MUSIC COMPETITION AT LYNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS EXCITING.
THEN WE HAVE OUR WINTER BALL, WHICH IS THE 24TH.
I BELIEVE THAT'S A FRIDAY, AND THAT'S ALSO THE LAST DAY OF FIRST SEMESTER, WHICH I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO.
I BELIEVE ALSO 38 DECA TEAMS PLACE TO GO TO STATE FOR EDMONDS-WOODWAY, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING.
IT'S A LOT, AND THIS IS MORE FOR ME PERSONALLY BECAUSE I THINK I'M THE ONLY IB STUDENT HERE, BUT TOK THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE STARTS ON THE 31ST.
NOW LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT BECAUSE IT'S AT 6:20, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS, AND THE NEXT STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE NETWORK MEETING IS THE 27TH, WHERE THEY WILL PROBABLY BE DISCUSSING THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION THAT WE JUST HAD. THANK YOU.
[01:05:01]
>> THANK YOU, AND I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT MY YOUNGER SON WHO DID WAS AN IB STUDENT, SAID THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE WAS THE MOST IMPACTFUL COURSE HE TOOK, AND SO PREPARED HIM FOR COLLEGE.
DON'T BE INTIMIDATED BY IT, EMBRACE IT.
[LAUGHTER] AMINA, YOU WANT TO GO NEXT?
>> FIRST OF ALL, [LAUGHTER] COME DOWN SCOTLAND.
[LAUGHTER] WHY ARE YOU COMING AT ME LIKE THIS, BUT I GUESS I'LL STAY HUMBLE.
ANYWAY, SO OUR DECA, THREE OF OUR STUDENTS WENT TO STATE, TWO STUDENTS COMPETED IN BUSINESS AND LAW ETHICS, AND THEY PLACED FIRST PLACE, AND ONE OF THE OTHER STUDENTS PLACED FIFTH PLACE IN RETAIL AND MERCHANDISING, WHICH IS AWESOME.
THERE WAS AN AUTO CHAMPIONSHIP THAT HAPPENED, AND TWO OF OUR STUDENTS PLACED FIRST AND SECOND PLACE, SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.
THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS IS THE HATE SPEECH AND ANTI, WHAT WAS IT? SORRY, I BLANKED OUT.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I THINK I QUALIFIED TO TALK ABOUT THIS SINCE I MOVED TO THE UNITED STATES THROUGH FROM FIFTH GRADE TILL THE END OF MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH IS UNTIL I CAME TO THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT, I WAS BULLIED EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
I HAVE BEEN TO THREE OTHER DISTRICTS BEFORE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE DISTRICT THAT I HAVE MOST LIKED, MOST EMBRACED, MOST FELT LOVED IN.
I WAS BULLIED SOLELY BECAUSE OF THE REASON THAT I COULD NOT SPEAK ENGLISH.
I DID NOT EVEN KNOW THE ALPHABET WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, AND I WAS BULLIED BECAUSE OF THAT, AND ALSO BECAUSE I WAS ASIAN, AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY CALLED ME NAMES.
[LAUGHTER] TO GO THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE NOW, I DO NOT WISH THAT UPON MY WORST ENEMY.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL AFFECT ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
I HAVE HEALED FROM IT, MOSTLY, BUT IT'S STILL IN THE BACK OF MY MIND SOMETIMES, AND BECAUSE I WAS ALSO PHYSICALLY BULLIED, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY EMOTIONAL BULLYING, WORDS CAN HURT A LOT MORE.
OF COURSE, I'M NOT BEING HIT EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT WORDS ARE THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE, AND IT HURT ME A LOT.
IN THE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT I HAVE BEEN, I HAVE NOT SEEN A LOT OF ANTI BULLYING OR THEY DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF CLUBS, ASP, OTHER STUFF LIKE THAT, AND WHEN I FIRST COME TO THIS DISTRICT, TO SEE THAT THERE WERE CLUBS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, THERE WAS HONORS CLASSES, I WAS VERY IMPRESSED TO SEE THERE WERE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WAS NOT THERE FOR ME BEFORE.
TO SEE THAT THERE ARE TEACHERS WHO CARE ABOUT ME HERE THAN OTHER TEACHERS WHO HAVE NEGLECTED ME IN THE PAST AT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I WAS AMAZED WITH THIS DISTRICT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT IS DOING THEIR BEST.
OF COURSE, WE DO NOT LIVE IN A PERFECT WORLD.
WE WILL NEVER HAVE NO PROBLEMS, AND THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT I HAVE SEEN THE LESS PROBLEMS. I'VE SEEN STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF WORKING TOWARDS STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
TO SEE THESE POSTERS HANGED UP TO STAND UP FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I AM VERY APPRECIATIVE, AND I'M ALSO STILL PART OF THAT.
I DO WORK TOWARDS THAT AS WELL, SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT, AND NOBODY DESERVES TO GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND IT HURTS A LOT.
AND I AM HAPPY TO SEE THESE POSTERS AROUND BECAUSE IT LETS THE STUDENT KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SOMEONE BESIDES THEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DISTRICT, AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE.
[01:10:06]
>> THANK YOU, AMINA. THAT WAS VERY COURAGEOUS OF YOU TO SHARE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH.
IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE, IT'S VERY APPRECIATED, AND I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO SHARE THAT PUBLICLY.
KUDOS TO YOU, AND WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU FEEL SUPPORTED HERE.
>> I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF UPDATES FOR MIKE TERRACE RIGHT NOW.
IT'S GETTING TOWARDS THE END OF THE SEMESTER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY A THANK YOU TO THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AMINA JUST SAID A LOT OF THAT, BUT ESPECIALLY WITH CURRENT EVENTS AND THE UPCOMING TIMES.
I KNOW THE DISTRICT WILL BE GOOD AT SUPPORTING STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT DURING THIS TIME, AND I HOPE THAT WHATEVER STUFF IS BEING SAID OUTSIDE IN THE MEDIA BY OTHER PEOPLE ISN'T GOING TO STOP US FROM DOING THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SANTIAGO.
>> HI. I DO HAVE LOOK A LITTLE BIT OF SCHOOL UPDATES, BUT I ALSO WANT TO ADD ON TO THE HATE SPEECH THING AND SAY THAT, AGAIN, AS SOMEONE WHO WAS BULLIED RELENTLESSLY THROUGH FIFTH GRADE ALL THE WAY THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ALSO IN A LITTLE BIT OF HIGH SCHOOL, THE HATE SPEECH THINGS REALLY DO MAKE AN IMPACT WITHIN THE SCHOOL.
IT MAKES ME HAPPY TO SEE BECAUSE, AGAIN, AS SOMEBODY WHO WENT THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE AT A VERY YOUNG AGE AND HAS CARRIED THAT THROUGHOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LIKE THAT.
SPECIFICALLY, OUR DISTRICT IS MAKING A VERY BIG IMPACT ON, IT'S MAKING A VERY BIG FOCUS ON.
AGAIN, TO WHAT VIVIAN SAID, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE NOT LETTING OTHER THINGS MOVE OUR FOCUS, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO FOCUS VERY STRONGLY ON THIS AS A DISTRICT.
I'M GLAD THAT WE PRIORITIZE THIS.
I MIGHT WANT TO SAY THAT I HEARD A PUBLIC COMMENT EARLIER ASKING FOR MORE KINDNESS-BASED INITIATIVES, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF KINDNESS-BASED INITIATIVES IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WITHIN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, I'VE SEEN MY SCHOOL PUT UP PLENTY OF POSTERS ABOUT JUST BEING KIND AND BEING BETTER, AND THROUGHOUT MY TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL, THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN PUSHED ONTO THE STUDENTS A LOT, WHICH IS JUST BE KIND AND BE RESPECTFUL, AND BE NICE AND BE A GOOD PERSON, IF YOU WILL.
I'VE SEEN THAT IN THIS DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY STARTING RIGHT AFTER COVID, IT WAS A VERY BIG THING COMING OUT OF COVID, JUST NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON AND HAVING TO GO THROUGH COVID IS JUST A VERY DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE.
THE KINDNESS INITIATIVES AND THE WILLINGNESS TO BE BETTER THAT OUR DISTRICT HAS PUSHED ALL OUR STUDENTS OBSERVED, THEY HELPED US LEARN.
AFTER COVID, I THINK IT HAS BEEN VERY VERY IMPACTFUL NOT ONLY FOR ME, BUT FOR MANY STUDENTS AND MY COMMUNITY AND MY DISTRICT, ETC.
YES, I JUST WANTED TO ADD ON TO THAT.
FOR MORE SCHOOL UPDATES BASED STUFF, WE DID HAVE OUR DECA AREA COMPETITION, AND WE HAVE AROUND 25, 30 KIDS THAT QUALIFIED AND ARE GOING TO STATE.
I FORGOT COMPLETELY ABOUT SOLO AND ENSEMBLE BECAUSE I REALLY PRACTICED MY PIECE TODAY AND FORGOT THAT I'M COMPETING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT YEAH.
THEN MORE OF A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, I HAVE EMAILED MY LEGISLATOR REPRESENTATIVE OTIS F DAVIS AND MRS. CLOBA AS WELL.
NOW I'M REALLY EXCITED TO ACTUALLY GO TALK TO THESE LEGISLATORS ABOUT ADVOCACY.
NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE COUNTLESS STUDENTS ACROSS WASHINGTON WHO CARE ABOUT CTE AND CTSO ADVOCACY, SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GO TALK TO THEM.
IT'S NOT JUST ME FROM THE DISTRICT.
AGAIN, WE HAVE ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE.
TWO OTHERS FROM LYNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, ONE REPRESENTING STEM AND TSA, AND OTHER ONE REPRESENTING BUSINESS AND DECA, AND ANOTHER TSA STEM ONE FROM EDMONDS-WOODWAY AS WELL.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS FROM OUR DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE BACK IN 2015, THERE WAS ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, BUT BESIDES THAT, THERE HASN'T BEEN AS MUCH STATE LEVEL RECOGNITION FROM STUDENTS WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ADVOCATE FOR CT AND CTSOS, AND NOW, AFTER BEING THE FIRST EVER STATE OFFICER FROM MY SCHOOL, SEEING THAT PUSH, NOT ONLY IN MY SCHOOL, BUT NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS AND SEEING OTHER SCHOOLS LIKE MEADOWDALE, TERRACE, AND WOODWAY, ACTUALLY CARE A LOT MORE AND PUSH STUDENTS TO BECOME LEADERS WITHIN THESE CATEGORIES AND GO, ADVOCATE FOR WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.
I'M GLAD THAT CT AND CTSOS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VERY STRONG THING THAT WE'VE CARED ABOUT AND PUSHED INITIATIVE ON, AND I'M GLAD THAT I'M ABLE TO BE WHERE I AM TODAY AND I'M ABLE TO GO IN TWO WEEKS AND GO ADVOCATE WITH LEGISLATORS AND TALK ABOUT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, AND AGAIN, NOT ONLY ME, BUT ME AND THREE OTHER STUDENTS FROM OUR DISTRICT, AND ACROSS THE STATE AT ROUGHLY 60 STUDENTS WHO CARE JUST AS MUCH AS I DO.
I'M REALLY REALLY EXCITED FOR THAT.
>> HI, EVERYONE. FIRSTLY, I WANTED TO SAY, AMINA, WHAT YOU SAID LITERALLY TOUCHED MY HEART, AND I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN BRAVE ENOUGH TO SAY ALL OF THAT,
[01:15:04]
AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY AMAZING THAT YOU SAID THAT, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH PROBABLY NOT THE SAME KIND OF BULLYING, I HAVE ALSO SUFFERED A LOT OF BULLYING AT MY SCHOOL.IT'S OBVIOUS. I THINK THAT WE'RE NERDS.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S ALWAYS NOT THE MOST POPULAR THING TO BE, AND SO I CAN DEFINITELY RELATE TO NOT ALWAYS FEELING WELCOME AT SCHOOL, AND I THINK THAT HAVING THESE POSTERS ON THE WALLS, I WROTE DOWN WHEN SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WERE HAPPENING THAT WHEN PEOPLE GET REALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS THING, IT PERSONALLY JUST MAKES ME WONDER WHERE PEOPLE'S VALUES ARE, I GUESS, BECAUSE EVEN IF A POSTER IS SAYING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY COMPLETELY AGREEABLE TO EVERYONE, I THINK THAT THE IMPACT IS WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO ME AND THE EFFECT ON THE STUDENTS.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE MESSAGE OF THIS WAS FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
I THINK THAT THE MESSAGE WAS FOR STUDENTS TO NOT DO HATE SPEECH AGAINST EACH OTHER, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S MUCH MORE VALUABLE TO ME.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE UPSET SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHERE REALLY THEIR MORALITY LIES WITH THIS AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT STUDENTS' FEELINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO ME PERSONALLY.
THEN ON A LIGHTER NOTE, HERE'S SOME UPDATES FROM MY SCHOOL.
>> LAST WEEKEND, WE STARTED MY SCHOOL'S ADVANCED MUSICAL THEATER PROGRAM, OPEN SHREK THE MUSICAL, WHICH IS PRETTY COOL.
THIS COMING WEEKEND, WE HAVE MORE PERFORMANCES.
I BELIEVE THAT WE MIGHT BE SOLD OUT FRIDAY AND SUNDAY, BUT SATURDAY, WE DEFINITELY HAVE MORE SHOWS OPEN.
FEEL FREE TO COME AND INVITE YOUR FRIENDS THIS SATURDAY.
ADDITIONALLY, ON SUNDAY, MY SCHOOL'S ROBOTICS TEAMS, AFTERSHOCK 9880 AND 3805 ATOMIC ROBOTICS, WENT TO SEMI-FINALS, AND THE TEAM THAT I'M ON, AFTERSHOCK 9880, WILL BE ADVANCING TO STATE, WHICH I'M VERY EXCITED FOR.
WE WON THE CONNECT AWARD FOR CONNECTING WITH STEM PROFESSIONALS AND ALSO SPREADING STEM TO STUDENTS, WHICH I FELT WAS A REALLY ACCURATE AWARD FOR MY TEAM TO GET.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT OUR WORK HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED.
THE OTHER TEAM AT MY SCHOOL, 3805, WON A SPECIALTY AWARD FROM THE JUDGES.
EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT ADVANCING TO STATE, THEY DID WIN A REALLY AMAZING AWARD, AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE GOT TO CELEBRATE BOTH TEAMS. LASTLY, MY SCHOOL HELD A K6 DANCE TODAY, AND I WASN'T THERE BECAUSE I'M NOT A SIXTH GRADER.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I'M SURE THAT IT WENT REALLY WELL.
I SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE SETTING UP FOR IT, AND A LOT OF THE OLDER KIDS AND ASB HELPING TO CREATE THIS FOR THE YOUNGER STUDENTS.
THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT MY SCHOOL IS THAT THE OLDER STUDENTS DO A LOT FOR THE YOUNGER STUDENTS AND VICE VERSA, HONESTLY.
I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY AMAZING. YEAH, THANK YOU.
MINER GO FIRST BEFORE THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING BOTH FROM OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS FROM OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR HATE SPEECH POSTERS, SO THE BOARD WOULD HAVE THAT CLARITY IN ADVANCE OF YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT.
I DO WANT TO THANK OUR PUBLIC COMMENTERS, AS WELL AS OUR STUDENTS WHO SPOKE ON THE TOPIC OF THE HATE SPEECH POSTERS, AND STUDENTS WHO SPOKE COURAGEOUSLY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.
IT IS CORRECT THAT SOME HATE SPEECH IS PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT, AND THEREFORE, THE BLANKET STATEMENT AT THE TOP OF THE POSTERS IS INCORRECT.
WE'RE ALREADY PRIOR TO THIS MEETING IN THE PROCESS OF REVISING THOSE POSTERS WITH NEW POSTERS TO BE POSTED IN OUR BUILDINGS SO THAT OUR MESSAGE WILL NOT BE DILUTED BY THAT INACCURACY.
OUR NEW POSTERS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CLARITY FOCUSED ON OUR DISTRICT PROCEDURES, AND OUR POLICIES ON THIS TOPIC, WHICH ARE ALIGNED WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS, WHICH CONTINUE TO PREVENT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF FROM BEING SUBJECTED TO HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, BULLYING, AND DISCRIMINATION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE OUR VALUES OF INCLUSION, EQUITY, AND SUPPORT FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND STAFF IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND OUR WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
[01:20:01]
AS WELL AS OUR STUDENTS, SOME VERY POWERFUL TESTIMONY THAT YOU ALL GAVE.THE ONE THING SCHOOL CONNECTED I GOT TO DO BETWEEN MEETINGS WAS, I WAS AT THE EDMONDS LIBRARY WHERE THE MELLO-AIRES FOR WHOM WE APPROVED A FIELD TRIP TONIGHT, PERFORMED SOME HOLIDAY SONGS.
THAT WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE BREAK STARTED.
THAT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL MUSIC.
NOW, FROM MY COVID QUARANTINE.
SORRY I WASN'T THERE TONIGHT, AND I'M SORRY THAT I MISSED A FEW SCHOOL VISITS THAT I HAD PLANNED BECAUSE OF THIS.
I HOPE TO BE BACK IN ACTION AGAIN SOON.
PAXLOVID HAS BEEN REALLY A BIG HELP, THOUGH IT DOES LEAVE A TERRIBLE TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH, SO THERE YOU GO.
>> THANK YOU, AND I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER AND TEST NEGATIVE SOON.
THE ONLY TIME THAT GETTING NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS IS WHAT WE LIKE.
>> CAN WE JUST ALL ACKNOWLEDGE HOW INCREDIBLE OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE.
[APPLAUSE] AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WE GET TO LOOK AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM 50,000 FEET, BUT AS A SCHOOL TEACHER, THAT'S WHAT I HOPE MY KIDS BECOME.
I TEACH SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE, AND FOR THEM TO HAVE MODELS LIKE YOU GUYS, IS EXTRAORDINARY.
THANK YOU FOR RAISING YOUR COURAGEOUS VOICES.
THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT REALLY.
IT'S NOT EVEN MINE TO BE PROUD OF. IT'S YOU GUYS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR COMING FORWARD.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT SIDE THE ISSUE YOU'RE COMING FROM, THIS IS HOW WE WORK AS A COMMUNITY.
WE HIGHLIGHT ISSUES THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, WE RAISE THEM, WE BRING THEM FORWARD WITH PASSION, AND IT HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, BECAUSE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING FROM OUR VANTAGE POINT.
I'M ACTUALLY HEARTENED BY THE PASSION IN THE ROOM.
I THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING US WITH THE JOB OF LISTENING AND RESPONDING AS BEST WE CAN. THANK YOU.
>> WELL SAID, DIRECTOR CRAMER, THANK YOU. DIRECTOR SMITH.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF WONKY THINGS HERE.
I WISH I HAD SOMETHING NICE AND FUN TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I'M GOING TO BE A WONK THIS EVENING.
BEFORE I GET INTO THAT, THOUGH, I DO WANT TO SAY, I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT DR.
MINER SAID THAT WE'RE WORKING ON FIXING THE POSTER, NOTWITHSTANDING THE ISSUE THAT YES, THE IMPACT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND THAT WAS WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP, I IMMEDIATELY HAD THIS SENSE OF DREAD, BECAUSE ONCE YOU PUT IT OUT THERE, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT BACK WITHOUT RENOUNCING WHAT IT IS, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.
I THINK THAT ESPECIALLY THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT OUT THERE.
I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME WHERE IT'S LIKE, MY NEIGHBOR DOESN'T WANT ME TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT I HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.
I'M LIKE, NOT AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOU DON'T, THAT'S THE GOVERNMENT THAT YOU HAVE THAT AGAINST.
SPECIFICALLY WITH THE FIRST AMENDMENT, I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ACCURATE WITH THINGS.
I'M VERY GLAD THAT WE ARE FIXING THAT WHILE KEEPING THE MESSAGE OUT THERE THAT YES, IN OUR SCHOOLS, WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO FEEL SAFE.
NO, THIS IS NOT OKAY FOR HATE SPEECH TO BE IN OUR SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY DIRECTED TO OTHER STUDENTS, AS WAS EVIDENCED BY OUR STUDENTS THAT WERE SPEAKING, IT STICKS WITH YOU.
IT'S AN ARGUMENT THAT I MAKE A LOT OF TIMES TO PEOPLE THAT IT'S THE EMOTIONAL HURTS THAT ARE THE WORST.
BROKEN BONES AND WHATNOT, THOSE WILL HEAL,
[01:25:01]
BUT THE EMOTIONAL STUFF WILL STICK WITH YOU.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES, AND JUST BECAUSE WE ARE EDITING THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE WANT TO REDUCE THE IMPACT.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACCURATE WITH IT.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY FOR BRINGING IT UP, AND THANK YOU FOR OUR STUDENTS FOR ADVOCATING FOR THESE TO CONTINUE TO STAY UP.
A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO HIT ON, WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT BUDGET THESE DAYS BECAUSE THINGS ARE A LITTLE ROUGH.
SPECIFICALLY IN WASHINGTON STATE, WE GET PAID BY THE STUDENT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW OTHER STATES DO THEIR SCHOOL FUNDING, BUT HERE WE GET MONEY BY THE STUDENT.
LAST WEEKEND, AND I THINK IT WAS MPR HAD A STORY ON THEIR WEBSITE, AND IT LINKED TO A STUDY ABOUT COLLEGE ENROLLMENT BEING DOWN.
YOU HAVE TO DIG THROUGH AND MAKE A COUPLE OF EDUCATED GUESSES, BUT ESSENTIALLY, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THAT DEMOGRAPHICALLY IN THE UNITED STATES, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOWN ABOUT 15% OF STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS BY THE YEAR 2041.
THERE WILL BE 15% FEWER STUDENTS WORKING THROUGH OUR SCHOOLS, WHICH IF WE HAD A 15% REDUCTION IN OUR BUDGET HERE, THAT WOULD BE PRETTY CATASTROPHIC.
WITHOUT A LARGE INFLUX OF IMMIGRATION, WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO MAKE THOSE STUDENTS UP.
WE ARE AT THIS CROSSROADS RIGHT NOW, IN MY OPINION, AT BUDGETARY CROSSROADS.
I REALLY HOPE THE STATE LEGISLATURE STEPS UP AND FUNDS DIFFERENTLY, BECAUSE THE BY-THE-STUDENT MODELS ARE GOING TO WORK LONG-TERM, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT THEY DON'T, WE STILL HAVE SOME REALLY TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, AND ESPECIALLY IF THIS DEMOGRAPHICS SLIDE REALLY IS THERE AND CONTINUES.
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE, ACCORDING TO THIS REPORT, THE PEAK YEAR FOR THE MOST STUDENTS IN THE SYSTEM, AND IT JUST DECLINES FROM HERE.
HOPEFULLY, THAT IS NOT THE CASE, BUT WE WILL SEE.
THEN THE LAST THING, AND I'M VERY SORRY, STEVEN, YOU ARE AT ALL THESE MEETINGS, AND I DO NOT REMEMBER YOUR LAST NAME.
OTHERWISE, I WOULD CALL YOU MR. WHATEVER YOUR LAST NAME IS. I'M VERY SORRY.
>> KEELER? MR. KEELER, THANK YOU.
I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE HOUSING SITUATION HERE.
ACTUALLY, I ALMOST MISSED PART OF OUR LAST MEETING OVER THERE BECAUSE I WAS IN A MEETING WITH HUD.
THAT IS MY JOB IS TO DO STUFF WITH HUD.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS JUST FROM A REGULATORY STANDPOINT AND STUFF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THAT'S NOT THE DISTRICT.
I DIDN'T HEAR SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, SO I READ BETWEEN THE LINES A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU BROUGHT UP WAS IT SEEMS LIKE A CONCERN FOR FAMILY STAYING AFTER THEIR KIDS GRADUATE.
ONE OF THE PROTECTED CLASSES IN FEDERAL LAW IS FAMILIAL STATUS, WHICH MEANS FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.
IF WE STARTED EVICTING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE CHILDREN, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE ILLEGAL, WHICH IS SOMETHING PEOPLE WOULDN'T THINK ABOUT.
I WOULD SAY, 90% OF THE CASES I GET MY OFFICE ARE GOOD LANDLORDS WHO JUST DON'T REALIZE WHAT THEY DO RUNS AFOUL OF SOMETHING.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WITH.
I SUPPORT THIS. I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR WE HAVE LAND IN THE DISTRICT THAT WE USE FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
WE MIGHT GET A LITTLE BIT OF REVENUE OUT OF IT, AND IT DEFINITELY IS ADDRESSING A NEED, BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF OPINIONS ON IT, WHO JUST, HONESTLY, AREN'T AS FAMILIAR WITH THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AND MAYBE WHY SOME OF THE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE THAT ARE BEING MADE.
I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE AS A LITTLE BIT OF A CAUTIONARY THING THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS WHY THINGS ARE DONE THE WAY THEY ARE, BUT USUALLY THERE IS A GOOD REASON FOR IT, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR KATIMS. I WANT TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES IN SHARING MY APPRECIATION OF SERVING ON A BOARD WITH OUR STUDENT ADVISORS.
I ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR SHARING STORIES ON WHAT WE DO AS A DISTRICT IS IMPACTING YOU.
THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT, SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IMPACT.
I'M ALSO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE COLLABORATING YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN OLYMPIA, ADVOCATING FOR ALL OF YOU.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING HOW THAT GOES.
QUICKLY, A NEW RESOURCE ALSO, I FORGOT TO MENTION.
FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, WASDA HAS ALSO UPDATED THEIR WEBSITE AND THEY HAVE A GUIDE FOR EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SOME LEADERSHIP INFORMATION.
THE STUDENT NETWORK SOMETIMES HAS SOME OF THIS, BUT SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
MAYBE I'M GOING TO SEND THIS TO YOU BECAUSE THAT'S SOME USEFUL INFORMATION.
I THINK THAT OUR BOARD IS QUITE EFFECTIVE.
WE ARE HIGH FUNCTIONING, AND IT'S REFLECTED AS I GO THROUGH HIS GUIDE FOR EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND BOARDS, THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE DOING ALL OF THESE PRACTICES.
[01:30:01]
I THINK IT'D BE INTERESTING FOR Y'ALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT. THANKS.I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE STUDENTS.
POINT OUT THAT WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE WE ACHIEVING IN OUR DISTRICT, THINK ABOUT THE THINKING THAT YOU GUYS JUST EXHIBITED AND HOW ARTICULATE YOU ARE AND YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE ISSUES AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN THE WORLD, AND THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD GOING ON AROUND HERE, AND IT'S IN YOU.
IT'S WONDERFUL. SINCE THE LAST BOARD MEETING, I ATTENDED COLLEGE PLACE ELEMENTARY AND VISITED CLASSROOMS WITH DR.
MINER. I VISITED MEADOWDALE HIGH SCHOOL AND I HAVE A FUNNY RUBBER CHICKEN JOKE.
WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE DISTRICT TO INTERVIEW, AND MEADOWDALE HIGH WAS GOING TO BE THE SCHOOL WHERE MY OLDER STUDENT WAS GOING TO BE GOING TO, I SAW RUBBER CHICKEN EVERYWHERE.
I WENT HOME AND SAID, HONEY, I THINK THE SCHOOL YOU'RE GOING TO, I THINK THEIR MASCOT IS THE RUBBER CHICKEN.
[LAUGHTER] HE WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED, HE WAS LIKE, MOM, IT'S NOT.
ANYWAY, I ENJOYED IT CAUSE THE RUBBER CHICKEN WAS BACK AND AROUND THERE.
I ALSO WENT TO HILLTOP FACULTY MEETING WITH DR.
MINER, WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT ADHD, AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE WHILE WE THINK ABOUT ADHD IS SOMETHING LIKE 10% OF THE POPULATION HA.
THE STRATEGIES THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT WOULD HELP ALL STUDENTS, AND SO I THOUGHT, A VERY HELPFUL WORKSHOP THAT THE TEACHERS WERE PARTICIPATING IN.
DIRECTOR GARRARD, THEY ASKED ABOUT YOU.
THE LAST ACTIVITY I WANTED TO MENTION IS DR.
MINER AND I MET WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE VERDANT HEALTH COMMISSION AND THEIR BOARD PRESIDENT.
VERDANT HEALTH COMMISSION IS A VERY STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.
THEY REALLY GIVE US A GREAT DEAL OF FUNDING FOR A NUMBER OF OUR PROGRAMS, AND WHAT THEY WANTED TO KNOW, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATED, WAS A DISCUSSION OF THE INTERSECTION OF OUR PRIORITIES AND THEIR INTERESTS.
HOW CAN THEY REALLY HELP SUPPORT US? I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY WORTHWHILE DISCUSSION WITH A VERY SUPPORTIVE FUNDER, WHO WE REALLY APPRECIATE AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO THE VERDANT HEALTH COMMISSION FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO AND FOR CARING ABOUT WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE.
DR. MINER, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD?
>> I JUST HAVE ONE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT.
WE DO HAVE A COMMUNITY TOUR COMING UP THIS WEEK.
THIS IS TO ALL OF OUR FOLKS OUT THERE WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING OR THOSE WHO ARE HERE.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SIGN UP, BUT WE REALLY DO NEED TO GET OUR LUNCH COUNT.
IF WE COULD GET YOUR SIGN-UP JUST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, HOPEFULLY BY TOMORROW AT NOON, THAT WOULD GIVE US TIME TO GET YOUR LUNCH COUNT.
THERE WILL BE LOTS OF FUN AND THEN WE WILL TAKE A BUS OVER TO MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL.
STUDENT TOURS AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR CTE PROGRAM IS THE FOCUS THIS TIME.
I THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 20 COMMUNITY MEMBERS SIGNED UP SO FAR, AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE A FEW MORE JOIN US ON THE LITERAL BUS IN THIS CASE.
>> GREAT AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS NOW ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.