[1. CALL TO ORDER-6:30 pm]
[00:00:03]
THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.I'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL. DIRECTOR GERARD.
[2. ROLL CALL-6:31 pm (ALL TIMES ARE ESTIMATED)]
>> I'M DIRECTOR KATIMS, SO WE ARE ALL HERE.
NEXT, I'LL ASK DIRECTOR MINER TO DO THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
[3. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-6:32 pm]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIRECTOR KATIMS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THIS PLACE, THE SADOBES PEOPLE, AND THEIR SUCCESSORS, THE [INAUDIBLE] 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. NOW IF EVERYBODY ALL RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE FLAG SALUTE.
[4. FLAG SALUTE-6:33 pm]
>> NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
[5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA-6:34 pm]
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED?>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NONE. THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
[6. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT-6:35 pm]
>> I LIKE TO SHARE WAYS THAT WE MAKE OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT SOMETHING BEYOND JUST SOMETHING WE READ, SO I WANT TO SHARE A BRIEF BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT A PROGRAM WE HAVE THAT'S STARTING IN THE DISTRICT I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THIS WEEKEND.
IT'S CALLED THE YOUNG ELDERS RISING, AND IT IS AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS.
THEY RECEIVE TUTORING, AS WELL AS CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES EVERY OTHER WEEK, HOLDING THAT HERE AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AND FOR PART OF IT THIS SATURDAY.
BUT IT'S A VERY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HAZEL MILLER FOUNDATION AND A GRANT THEY PROVIDED US.
SO I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT A WAY THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR NATIVE STUDENTS HERE IN THE DISTRICT AT THIS TIME.
>> THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.
NEXT, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-6:45 pm]
TONIGHT, WE HAVE THREE SETS OF MINUTES TO APPROVE.ONE OF THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 21 SPECIAL STUDY SESSION, WHICH WE DID ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
ONE IS FROM THE OCTOBER 28 SPECIAL MEETING, WHICH WAS A STUDY SESSION ON OUR WADA SELF ASSESSMENT, AND THE THIRD SET OF MINUTES IS FROM THE OCTOBER 28, REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THESE THREE SETS OF MINUTES?
>> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE THREE SETS OF MINUTES.
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NONE, THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 21, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING, THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 28, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING AND THE MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 28, REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING ARE ALL APPROVED.
NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS-6:50 pm]
USUALLY EVERY WEEK FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, I HAVE GIVEN YOU A SHORTENED VERSION OF THE GUIDELINES THAT WE USE FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.BUT I'VE SEEN THAT WE'VE STRAYED IN SOME WAYS IN THE PAST, INCLUDING MYSELF FROM KEEPING UP WITH THEM.
TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE FULL SET, WHICH I SAY EVERY WEEK OR EVERY MEETING, ARE ON THE TABLE WHERE YOU SIGN IN, THEY ARE ON THE BOARD AGENDA, AND THEY ARE ON THE WEBSITE.
BUT TONIGHT, I'M JUST GOING TO REMIND US OF THEM.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AGENDA IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD.
SINCE THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC COMMENTS IS FOR THOSE INTERESTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ABOUT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR SPECIFIC WORK WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR THE AUDIENCE TO ADDRESS EACH OTHER.
PEOPLE MAY SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR A BOARD MEETING, EITHER BY READING OR GIVING US YOUR COMMENT ALLOWED HERE IN PERSON,
[00:05:01]
OR BY GIVING A COMMENT IN WRITING.WE GOT NO COMMENTS IN WRITING TONIGHT.
THE BOARD READS ALL THE WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT WE DO GET, AND THEY ARE POSTED WHEN WE DO GET THEM.
WHEN YOU ARE PRESENTING YOUR COMMENT IN PERSON AT THE PODIUM HERE, 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 ARE ADDRESSING.
WE REQUEST THAT IF YOUR COMMENT CONSISTS WHOLLY OR PARTLY OF TEXT THAT'S VERBATIM FROM AN ARTICLE, A POST, FROM ONLINE, FROM X, FROM A BOOK, THAT YOU SIMPLY GIVE US THE LINK THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THE TEXT, AND THAT YOU SPEND YOUR TIME FOR THE COMMENT TELLING US HOW THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF INFORMATION RELATES TO SCHOOL DISTRICT WORK.
PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
IF A COMMENT BECOMES TOO LENGTHY, I WILL INTERRUPT IN ORDER TO ALLOW EACH PERSON EQUAL TIME, AND I'LL GIVE YOU IF YOU GO OVER A FEW SECONDS AND I'LL ASK YOU TO DO A SUMMARY STATEMENT, AND THEN I WILL CLOSE THAT UP.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR STATEMENT IN A CIVIL MANNER, WITHOUT DISPARAGING, NAME CALLING, OR OTHERWISE TARGETING ANYONE PERSON OR GROUP IN THE DISTRICT.
SIMILARLY, WE ASK EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE TO SHOW RESPECT BY LISTENING QUIETLY, WITHOUT TALKING OR WHISPERING TO EACH OTHER SO THAT EVERYONE CAN HEAR EACH COMMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY AND REITERATE THAT WE DO NOT CALL OUT ANY NAMES OF STAFF IN THE DISTRICT.
IF SOMEONE HAS A COMPLAINT ABOUT A DISTRICT STAFF PERSON, THERE'S A PROCESS ONLINE THAT GOES THROUGH.
IF SOMEBODY AND I SEE ONE COMMENT THAT ALREADY HAS GIVEN A STAFF PERSON'S NAME, THAT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.
THAT GOES THROUGH A PROCESS WHEN THERE'S A COMPLAINT AGAINST A SPECIFIC STAFF PERSON IN THE DISTRICT.
ITEMS BROUGHT FORTH DURING THIS PERIOD OF THE MEETING ARE NOT TYPICALLY RESPONDED TO, OR ACTED UPON AT THE BOARD AT THIS TIME, BUT THEY MAY BE FOLLOWED UP BY THE BOARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND OUR STAFF AT A LATER TIME.
THE BOARD, ALSO, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, ALSO ACCEPTS COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME THROUGH EMAIL.
WE READ EACH EMAIL WE RECEIVE AND WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT IT TAKES FOR THOSE WHO WRITE THEM.
FIRST TONIGHT IS STEVE KEELER.
I'M A RESIDENT OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON 98020.
I'D HOPE TO SPEAK ON TWO TOPICS TONIGHT.
MY VOICE MAY GIVE OUT, BUT I WILL TRY, AND I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I REFER YOU TO THE VIDEO RECORDING OF THE OCTOBER 28 BOARD MEETING, SPECIFICALLY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
YOU AGGRESSIVELY CUT ONE PERSON OFF AT THREE MINUTES.
LATER DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS, YOU ALLOWED ANOTHER SPEAKER TO RUN 45 SECONDS OVER THREE MINUTES.
I SIMPLY ASK YOU, IS THIS EQUITY OR AGENDA? MADAM SUPERINTENDENT, TONIGHT, I URGE YOU TO WORK WITH THE POLITICIANS THAT REPRESENT THE COMMUNITIES FOR THE DISTRICT TO MAKE SUFFICIENT CHANGES TO THE RECORDED CODE OF WASHINGTON STATE, SECTIONS REGARDING THE ELECTION OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUCH THAT IN THE FUTURE, VOTERS IN THE DISTRICT MAY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE TERM LIMITS ON SCHOOL BOARD POSITIONS.
FINALLY, MR. GERARD, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ELECTION.
YOU WILL TAKE AN OATH. I HOPE YOU REMEMBER THAT OATH EVERY DAY, EVERY NIGHT. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS JESS GRANT.
[00:10:10]
>> YES, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN GOOD ABOUT RESPONDING TO MY EMAILS, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
YOU'VE BEEN VERY COMMUNICATIVE, AND I APPRECIATE IT.
I'M JESS GRANT FROM PAR DEVELOPMENT TAXPAYER.
I'M GOING TO STRAY FROM MY USUAL TOPIC.
I ALSO STRAY FROM THE USUAL FORMAT, WHICH I'VE ALWAYS JUST GIVEN A TALK AND YOU'VE BEEN VERY NICE AND LISTENED TO ME.
I MIGHT ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS TONIGHT AND YOU'RE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO ANSWER, BUT YOUR NON ANSWER WILL ALSO BE RECORDED.
FIRST, I HAVE A QUESTION ON YOUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTORY WHEN A TEACHER IS LISTED AS CERTIFICATED ELECTION STATUS PROVISIONAL.
WHAT IS THAT EXACTLY? DO YOU KNOW, ANYONE? I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT KNOW, DIRECTOR MINER.
DOES THAT MEAN THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING, RETIRED ON LEAVE DO YOU HAVE?
>> MR. GRANT, WE DON'T RESPOND QUESTION EMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND IT'S A PERFECT WAY FOR US TO RESPOND [OVERLAPPING].
>> I'M RESTRICTING YOU ASKING QUESTIONS [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO DO THAT?
>> YES, AND IT'S FINE IF YOU DON'T ANSWER.
SO I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE THAT THE WYNWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING A TEACHER FROM MEADOWDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ACTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT?
>> I RESPONDED TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO.
THEN I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS A NO.
YOU'RE UNAWARE THAT FOR NEARLY A YEAR THE WYNWOOD POLICE DETECTIVES HAVE INTERVIEWED 18 WITNESSES AND THREE VICTIMS, AND IN APRIL THIS YEAR ARRESTED THAT TEACHER AT SCHOOL AND SEIZED COMPUTERS FILES OFF HIS WORK COMPUTER.
ARE YOU UNAWARE OF THIS? YOU SEEM UNAWARE? I NEVER CROSSED YOUR RADAR THAT THE PRINCIPAL OF MEADOWDALE ELEMENTARY HAD DONE AN INVESTIGATION AND CLEARED THIS TEACHER OF ALL ALLEGATIONS.
THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF THING THAT SCHOOL BOARDS ARE PRIVATE TO? ARE YOU AWARE THAT YOUR INACTION ON THIS ISSUE SUGGESTS THE UNCOMFORTABLE IDEA THAT YOU SAT ON THIS INFORMATION FOR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY? I WOULD HATE TO FIND OUT LATER THAT YOU COVERED THIS UP TO AFFECT THE RECENT BOARD ELECTION RESULTS OR PROTECT YOUR REPUTATION IN THE RUN TO THE SCHOOL LEVY LATER THIS YEAR.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS, DOES THIS TEACHER STILL HAVE CONTACT WITH CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT? OKAY. NO RESPONSE.
THIS REALLY WOULD BE A GREAT MOMENT FOR TRANSPARENCY ON THE PART OF THE BOARD.
TATANO, ARE YOU AWARE THAT THE WYNWOOD POLICE HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING THE TEACHER FOR OVER A YEAR? NO RESPONSE. SINCE YOU DON'T SEEM TO KNOW ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT THIS, CASE, I'LL JUST READ YOU A FEW EXCERPTS FROM THE WYNWOOD POLICE REPORTS HERE.
SHE REPORTED THE BEHAVIOR TO THE PRINCIPAL IN HUMAN RESOURCES. HOW ABOUT HERE? THIS PERSON ALSO CONTACTED H&R, YOUR HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALKED TO THE DIRECTOR.
SO I'M HONESTLY SURPRISED THAT YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THIS OR THAT IT DIDN'T CROSS, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT MAN NO LONGER IS AROUND CHILDREN.
>> MR. GRANT, I RESPONDED TO THE CITIZENS FOR ACTION EMAIL, WHICH I BELIEVE PROBABLY YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, AND I TOLD YOU THIS IS A LEGAL ISSUE AND HOW TO FOLLOW UP TO GET ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
AGAIN, I WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE THAT WE GAVE YOU BECAUSE WE DON'T RESPOND PUBLICLY WHEN SOMETHING IS GOING THROUGH A LEGAL PROCEDURE FOR THE DISTRICT.
>> BEFORE YOU START TIMING ME, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE STUDENTS WOULD BE EXCUSED BECAUSE THIS IS AN ADULT CONVERSATION.
>> OKAY. I'M HERE TO GET SOME ANSWERS [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT I DO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT WE DO THINGS IN A CIVIL MANNER HERE AND WE DON'T USE PROFANITY [OVERLAPPING]
I'M HERE TO GET SOME ANSWERS FROM THIS BOARD.
THE FIRST ONE IS, I'LL CALL HIM AND THE BOARD WHO KNOWS EXACTLY WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT.
IS HE IN A JAIL CELL WITH BIG BUBBA WHERE HE BELONGS, OR IS HE STILL TEACHING IN MEADOWDALE ELEMENTARY,
[00:15:01]
OR ONE OF OUR OTHER SCHOOLS? WHO IS HE YOU MIGHT ASK? WELL, I HOPE YOU ACTUALLY READ THE 900 PAGE WYNWOOD POLICE REPORT THAT I SENT TO YOU VIA EMAIL.FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT DO YOUR HOMEWORK, I'LL FILL YOU IN.
AT LEAST 11 STAFF MEMBERS ASSISTED THE DETECTIVES ON A YEAR AND A HALF INVESTIGATION AFTER A SIC REPORTED HIM FOR ASSAULT ON MAY 2024.
THE INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HOW THIS TEACHER HUGGED SMALL GIRLS BY SHOVING THEIR FACE INTO HIS GROIN, MADE THEM SIT IN HIS CLASSROOM WITH THE LIGHTS OFF AND THE DOORS LOCKED, AND GAVE THEM CANDY TO HELP KEEP HIS SECRETS.
THE REPORT ALSO DOCUMENTS THE CONSTANT COMPLAINTS BY STAFF TO MEADOWDALE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL AND DISTRICT HR, WHO AFTER AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION IN DECEMBER 2023, CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO WRONGDOING BY THIS TEACHER.
EVENTUALLY, THIS AUGUST, A SUICIDAL GIRL CAME FORWARD TO EXPOSE WHAT THIS TEACHER HAD DONE TO HER TWO YEARS PRIOR.
SHE TOLD POLICE THAT HE LOCKED HER IN HIS CLASSROOM WITH THE LIGHTS OFF, SHADES DRAWN, PULLED HER PANTS AND UNDERWEAR DOWN TO HER ANKLES, THEN SLID ONE OF HIS FINGERS INTO HER VAGINA.
HER EYES WERE CLOSED, BUT SHE HEARD HIM SAY, SMILE FOR THE CAMERA.
SHE KEPT HER EYES CLOSED WHEN HE FINISHED.
>> JASON, [OVERLAPPING] THIS IS UNNECESSARY.
>> HE TOLD HER NOT TO TELL ANYONE OR HE WOULD KILL HER.
I EMAILED THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ASKED IF THIS TEACHER STILL WORKS FOR THE DISTRICT, AND I WAS TOLD TO DO A RECORDS REQUEST.
I NOW STAND BEFORE YOU ALL DEMANDING A REDRESS OF OUR GRIEVANCES, INCLUDING ALL THE STAFF AND STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM MEADOWDALE ELEMENTARY.
I SPEAK FOR THEM. AND WE DEMAND ANSWERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
DOES [OVERLAPPING] HOW MANY OTHER VICTIMS ARE OUT THERE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP. I SPEAK FOR THEM.
>> I APOLOGIZE TO THE PUBLIC FOR THIS DISRUPTIVE MOMENT.
>> AS SECRETARY TO THE BOARD, I WOULD REMIND EVERYONE WE DO NOT USE STAFF, MEMBER, STUDENT OR PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION IN PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, YOU MAY CERTAINLY FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME ABOUT OUR PROCEDURES AS SECRETARY TO THE BOARD. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.
>> LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS. THIS IS GOOD? SUPERINTENDENT, MY NAME IS CELESTE VALE.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I AM HERE.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS EMPLOYEES OF WASHINGTON, SCIU, LOCAL 1948.
REPRESENTING THE OFFICE PERSONNEL MEMBERS OF EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I'LL KEEP IT SIMPLE THIS TIME.
MAKING SURE THAT I WON'T GO OVER.
WE'VE BEEN BARGAINING FOR SEVEN MONTHS NOW, AND WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR A FINISHED CONTRACT, AND TO BE HONEST, THE WAIT IS TAKING A TOLL.
OUR OFFICE STAFF SHOW UP EVERY DAY RUNNING SCHOOLS.
WE'RE CARRYING A HUGE WORKLOAD, AND ALL WE WANT IS A TIMELY RESOLUTION SO PEOPLE CAN FEEL STABLE AND SUPPORTED.
I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT EQUITY BECAUSE WE SAY EDMONDS IS AN EQUITABLE DISTRICT, AND WHAT I SEE IN OUR SCHOOLS DOESN'T REALLY MATCH THAT.
A LOT OF US FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING TREATED EQUALLY AND NOT EQUITABLY, AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE NOT THE SAME THING.
MY SCHOOL IS A DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM.
IT'S A TITLE I SCHOOL AS WELL.
[00:20:04]
IT'S A SCHOOL WITH NON STOP ENROLLMENTS AND WITHDRAWALS EVERY MONTH.IT'S CONSTANTLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
IT'S ALSO A SCHOOL THAT HAS A HIGH VOLUME OF MULTILINGUAL FAMILIES AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
THEY RELY ON US OFFICE PERSONNEL FOR SUPPORT EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND OUR WORKLOAD IS NOT THE SAME AS A SCHOOL THAT HAS THE SAME NUMBER OF STUDENTS.
YET WE STILL GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF SUPPORT.
THAT'S NOT EQUITY, THAT'S SAMENESS, AND SAMENESS DOESN'T WORK WHEN SCHOOLS ARE DIFFERENT.
SEVEN MONTHS IS A LONG TIME TO WAIT, AND WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR A CONTRACT TO BE COMPLETED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND FOCUS ON OUR WORK AND FEEL THE STABILITY EVERY PROFESSIONAL DESERVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> NEXT STEP IS CINDY BARTLETT.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CINDY BARTLETT.
I LIVE IN LYNNWOOD, AND I'VE WORKED FOR THE DISTRICT FOR 25 YEARS.
I'M THE OFFICE MANAGER AT EDMONDS ELEMENTARY.
THE OFFICE PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE DISTRICT FOR IT'S NOW EIGHT MONTHS.
EIGHT MONTHS OF WAITING, HOPING, AND SHOWING UP, EVEN WHEN THE DISTRICT WASN'T READY, WE WERE.
THEN AFTER ALL THE TIME, WHEN WE FINALLY REACHED MEDIATION, IT TOOK 4.5 HOURS JUST TO RECEIVE THE DISTRICT'S FIRST PROPOSAL.
A MESSAGE THAT SAYS, OUR TIME, OUR WORK, AND OUR DEDICATION DOESN'T MATTER.
OFFICE PERSONNEL ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF THIS DISTRICT.
WE'RE IN EVERY SCHOOL, EVERY OFFICE, INCLUDING THE DISTRICT OFFICE, MAKING SURE THE WORK GETS DONE.
WE'RE THE FIRST VOICES FAMILIES HERE WHEN THEY CALL FOR HELP.
WE HANDLE PAYROLL, ATTENDANCE, STUDENT RECORDS, BUDGETS, AND SO MUCH MORE.
WE KEEP THIS DISTRICT MOVING EVEN WHEN IT FEELS LIKE NO ONE NOTICES.
WE'VE GIVEN OUR TIME, OUR ENERGY, AND OUR HEARTS TO THIS DISTRICT.
WE'VE DONE IT THROUGH BUDGET CUTS, SHORT STAFFING, AND ENDLESS DEMANDS.
THE WORKLOAD IS HEAVY THIS YEAR.
BUT THROUGH IT ALL, WE'VE STAYED DEDICATED BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE STUDENTS, THE STAFF, AND THE MISSION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE'VE GIVEN OUR TIME, OUR ENERGY, AND OUR HEARTS TO THIS DISTRICT.
WE ARE ASKING FROM YOU TODAY FOR RESPECT AND TO BE VALUED.
IT SHOULDN'T TAKE EIGHT MONTHS OF NEGOTIATIONS AND 4.5 HOURS OF MEDIATION.
WE SAT IN THAT ROOM FOR 4.5 HOURS WAITING.
WE COULD HAVE BEEN AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT WORK.
THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE HAS SAID THEY HAVE A PROPOSAL.
THEY'VE SAID THEY'VE HAD IT SINCE MARCH.
IF THAT'S TRUE, WHY ARE THEY WASTING ALL THIS TIME? IT'S TIME TO SETTLE.
TIME TO BE DONE, TIME TO LET US GO BACK TO OUR JOBS, OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE NOT INVISIBLE, WE'RE NOT OPTIONAL.
WE ARE THE FOUNDATION THAT HELPS THIS DISTRICT STAND AND IT'S TIME WE'RE TREATED THAT WAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> NEXT STEP IS LORI VELASQUEZ.
LORI VELASQUEZ, LYNNWOOD, WASHINGTON.
I'M AN OFFICE MANAGER IN THE DISTRICT, AND HAVE BEEN AN EMPLOYEE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
WE'RE BACK AGAIN BACK TO REMIND YOU THAT WE LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, PAY TAXES IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND VOTE IN THIS COMMUNITY. YOU'RE WELCOME.
YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVES FOR OVER SEVEN MONTHS, BUT WE'RE BACK TO SHARE OUR PERSPECTIVE OF THIS PROCESS.
WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE HOW YOU SEE UCS OR WHAT OPINIONS MAY ALREADY HAVE BEEN FORMED ABOUT US BASED ON WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD FROM SOMEONE ELSE, HOW THEY THINK WE ACT AND REACT, WHAT THEY PRESUME WE WILL OR WILL NOT DO, HOW THEY ASSUME WE MIGHT BEHAVE.
POSSIBLY, THEIR OPINIONS HAVE COLORED THEIR POSITION.
THEN AGAIN, MY EXPERIENCE IN PERCEPTION HAS COLORED MY PERSONAL ACTIONS AND REACTIONS LEADING UP TO TONIGHT.
I SHARE THIS, SO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY.
THAT BEING SAID, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT WHEN YOU HEAR US AND SEE ALL OF US? ARE YOU APPROACHING THIS WITH PRECONCEIVED IDEAS OR IMPLICIT BIAS ABOUT SECRETARIAL WORK? DO YOU TRULY THINK THAT OUR WORK IS KEY TO THE FUNCTION OF THIS DISTRICT?
[00:25:02]
OR DO YOU JUST ASSUME THAT BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF US ARE WOMEN, THAT OUR WORK DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME VALUE THAT OTHER JOBS ENTAIL? DO YOU ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN'T BE TRUSTED AND ARE MERELY HERE TO CHEAT THE SYSTEM? DO YOU THINK OUR MEMBERS SHOULD BE THREATENED FOR EXPECTING TO BE PAID CORRECTLY FOR THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE? DO YOU SEE US AS A SUBSERVIENT ROLES THAT SOME PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT PROJECT US INTO, OR DO YOU TRUST THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THE VITAL WORK THAT WE WERE HIRED TO PERFORM? LET ME ASSURE YOU, WE ALSO UNDERSTAND BUDGETS.WE MANAGE THEM IN EVERY ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS.
WE ALSO UNDERSTAND INVESTMENT, INVESTMENT IN PEOPLE, INVESTMENT IN THEIR SKILL SET, AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.
WE KNOW THIS DISTRICT HAS MONEY AVAILABLE, AND WE'RE HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT THESE FUNDS SHOULD BE SHARED WITH EMPLOYEES OTHER THAN CABINET AND TEACHERS.
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR YOU TO TAKE AWAY FROM THEM, BUT SIMPLY THAT YOU SHOW US THE RESPECT TO US MONETARILY THAT WE DESERVE.
WE KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU CONSIDER DOING WHAT'S RIGHT BY INVESTING IN OUR POSITIONS AS WELL.
NOT ONLY FOR RECRUITMENT PURPOSES, BUT ALSO FOR RETENTION PURPOSES.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOUR EMPLOYER DID NOT APPEAR TO CARE ABOUT MAKING YOUR WORK LIFE BETTER, BUT ONLY IN PAVING THE WAY FOR YOUR REPLACEMENT? THERE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE TURNOVER IN OUR POSITIONS THESE PAST FEW YEARS, AND I THINK THAT REFLECTS THE WEIGHT AND STRESS ON THE JOB.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO REACHING AN AGREEMENT WITH THIS DISTRICT, BUT WE WILL ONLY DO SO IF THAT AGREEMENT IS BENEFICIAL TO OUR MEMBERS AND ONE THAT THEY WILL RATIFY.
WE DEMAND TO HAVE A WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE AND AN AGREEMENT THAT IS RESPECTFUL OF THE CRITICAL WORK WE CONTINUE TO DO.
WE EXPECT TO BE VALUED FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS WE PROVIDE. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, DEAR MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AND DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT.
>> YOU CAN TAKE THE MICROPHONE OFF OF THAT.
>> THERE YOU GO. MY NAME IS CHERYL.
I AM A PROUD PARA EDUCATOR IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE CLASSIFIED SUPPORT STAFF OF EDMONDS, WHICH IS PART OF PSEWA, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES OF WASHINGTON, ALSO THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR OUR DEDICATED OFFICE PROFESSIONALS.
I'M JUST HERE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEM.
I'VE NEVER RIDDEN A UNICORN BEFORE.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE BEING AN OFFICE PROFESSIONAL COMING TO WORK EVERY DAY WITHOUT A CONTRACT PROBABLY FEELS DEFLATING, LIKE A LITTLE BIT LIKE THIS POOR UNICORN.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND FOLKS WHAT ONE OF THE SIGNS FROM TWO WEEKS AGO SAID, WHICH IS THAT OFFICE PERSONNEL ARE THE GLUE THAT HOLD OUR SCHOOLS TOGETHER.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[9. CONSENT AGENDA-7:20 pm]
THIS IS THE GROUP OF RELATIVELY ROUTINE ITEMS THAT WE CAN VOTE ON AND DISCUSS TOGETHER OR SEPARATE AS WE CHOOSE.THERE ARE 17 ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA.
EIGHT HAVE TO DO WITH PERSONNEL AND STAFF AGREEMENTS, ONE HAS TO DO WITH A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE SCHOOL LUNCH PRICES BASED ON FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TWO ARE OUR MONTHLY BILLS AND VOUCHERS, AND SIX ARE FIELD TRIPS WITH FOUR OF THEM BEING FOR MUSIC.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED?
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA AS APPROVED, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY ABSTENTIONS, AND TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED?
>> I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE CHANGE THE ORDER OF OPERATIONS TO MOVE TO UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN ORDER TO ALLOW DIRECTOR CELLY TO COMPLETE SOMETHING THAT SHE NEEDED TO GET DONE, BUT SHE'LL BE REJOINING US AND ABLE TO GO THROUGH HER PRESENTATION.
>> NEXT, WE WILL BE DOING UNFINISHED BUSINESS WITH ITEM 11.2,
[11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS- 7:55 pm]
WHICH IS A SECOND READING TO APPROVE REVISED BOARD POLICY 6,700 ON NUTRITION.[00:30:03]
>> I'M SORRY. I THINK YOU SAID 11.2.
>> SAYING BUT MAYBE THE WRONG NUMBER.
DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE REVISED BOARD POLICY 6,700 ON NUTRITION?
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT DISCUSSED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING WITH THE FIRST READING.
THERE HAD BEEN NO CHANGES, IS THAT CORRECT? OTHER THAN SMALL IT'S A SMALL CORRECTION, LIKE A SPELLING OR SOMETHING? THERE WERE NO CHANGES ON THIS ONE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND.
>> HEARING NO DISCUSSION. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 6,700 ON NUTRITION, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
>> AS OPPOSED A NAY ABSTENTIONS.
THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 6,700 ON NUTRITION IS APPROVED.
ITEM 11.2 IS THE NEW BOARD POLICY ON RECESS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
THERE WAS ONE CHANGE ON THIS ONE, WHICH WAS THE NICE CATCH BY DIRECTOR GERARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TITLE MATCHED THE DESCRIPTION IN.
>> THANK YOU. DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE NEW BOARD POLICY 6701 ON RECESS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY?
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE NEW BOARD POLICY 6701 ON RECESS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY? ANY ABSTENTIONS.
THE NEW BOARD POLICY 6701 ON RECESS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS APPROVED.
>> THE THIRD THIS EVENING IS NEW BOARD POLICY 6702.
NO CHANGES BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READING.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE NEW BOARD POLICY 6702 ON WELLNESS?
>> OFFERED A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? AGAIN, THERE WERE NO CHANGES, AND THIS IS ALL PART OF WHAT HAD BEEN A PREVIOUS POLICY THAT'S JUST BEEN TAKEN APART INTO THREE PARTS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE NEW BOARD POLICY 6702 ON WELLNESS, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
THE NEW BOARD POLICY 6702 ON WELLNESS IS APPROVED.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND INVITE
[10. REPORTS-7:35 pm]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LYDIER SELF TO SHARE OUR BUSINESS AND FINANCE REPORTS FOR AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER.SINCE I HAVE TWO MONTHS TO REPORT ON, A LITTLE WORDIER THAN NORMAL, BUT BEAR WITH ME.
IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY EXCITING TIME FOR ME WHEN THE PREVIOUS YEAR IS FINALLY ALL UP, AND I CAN ACTUALLY GET INTO 25/26, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ALREADY NOVEMBER.
ON THE NEXT SLIDE, IN A SECOND, I'M GOING TO GO OVER SOME OF THE DETAILS OF WHAT CHANGED IN 24/5.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT ON FRIDAY, I HEARD THAT OSBI SUPERINTENDENT CHRIS RICHTAL IS PROPOSING A MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM FUND BALANCE.
HE MAY INTRODUCE THIS WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
I CERTAINLY CAN'T SPEAK FOR HIM.
BUT HEARING FROM HIS STAFF, HE IS SUGGESTING THAT LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD MAINTAIN A TOTAL FUND BALANCE OF BETWEEN 8.5 AND 17 WITH PERHAPS A STAIRSTEP APPROACH FOR SOME OF THE DISTRICTS TO ACHIEVE THAT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE ARE JUST SLIGHTLY OVER THAT 8.5 IN TOTAL SITTING AT 8.61.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, HE'S NOT SAYING 8.5 UNRESTRICTED.
>> YES. IT MEETS AGAIN, IT'S A POSSIBLE PROPOSAL THAT MAY COME OUT OF OSPI.
I JUST FOUND THE NUMBERS INTERESTING BECAUSE WE MEET
[00:35:02]
YOUR FUND BALANCE TARGET AND POSSIBLY A PROPOSED FUND BALANCE MINIMUM.>> I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED THE YEAR BEFORE SINCE IT'S ALREADY NOVEMBER.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED AN ADDITIONAL $50 PER STUDENT FOR MSOCS, AND THAT IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL TO HAVE THOSE KINDS OF CHANGES.
UP UNTIL THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE WERE ADJUSTING OUR LABOR AND INDUSTRIES RATE AND CONSISTENTLY EXPENDING MORE FOR L&I CLAIMS THAN WE WERE BRINGING IN THROUGH THE PAYROLL PROCESS.
SO WE KEPT ADJUSTING THE PAYROLL PROCESS.
WE GOT IT ALL WHERE WE WANT IT, AND SO AS A RESULT, OUR SET-ASIDE IN FUND BALANCE WAS SLIGHTLY REDUCED BECAUSE WE FINALLY GOT THE PAYROLL TAX CONSISTENT WITH THE CLAIMS GOING OUT.
THAT RECTIFIED THAT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO LOWER OUR SET ASIDE AND THE FUND BALANCE A LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN THAT DIFFERENCE GOES BACK INTO UNASSIGNED.
SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS WERE UNDERSPENT.
I CAN RUN A REPORT FOR SUPPLY BUDGETS, DOWNLOAD IT, AND EXCEL COUNTS THE NUMBER OF LINES FOR YOU.
SO I REALIZE WE HAD 1,494 DIFFERENT SUPPLY BUDGETS.
SO THAT'S JUST HARD, AS A BUDGET MANAGER, TO IDENTIFY WHAT YOU THINK ALL THOSE KEEPERS OF THOSE BUDGETS ARE GOING TO DO BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
STATE FOOD SERVICE REIMBURSEMENTS.
I BELIEVE YOU'RE AWARE THAT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROGRAM, WHICH MEANS ALL STUDENTS IN THAT SCHOOL RECEIVE FREE AND REDUCED MEALS, WHICH IS FABULOUS.
AND I ALREADY TALKED IN AN EARLIER MONTH HOW OUR STATE SPECIAL ED SAFETY NET CAME IN HIGHER AS WELL AS OUR CATEGORICAL STATE FUNDING CAME IN HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED.
THE NICE THING IS, IF I GO BACK TO THIS SLIDE, YOU WILL SEE $100, APPROXIMATELY THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE OFF TO THE RIGHT, OR EXCUSE ME, $1 MILLION, A LITTLE TIRED, THAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR TWO CURRICULUM ADOPTIONS IN '26, '27, EARTH, SPACE, AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND SOCIAL STUDIES IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
SO THAT IS REALLY NICE THAT THE TEAM, KNOWING THAT THAT MONEY IS SET ASIDE, CAN START MAKING THOSE ORDERS BECAUSE USUALLY THERE'S A VERY LONG LEAD TIME FOR CURRICULUM.
I'VE PRINTED A PATTERN OF OUR UNASSIGNED TO MINIMUM FUND BALANCE THROUGH A SERIES OF YEARS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT FOUR YEARS OUT OF NINE, WE MET OUR 4% TARGET, AND OUR GOAL REALLY IS TO HAVE THAT FUND BALANCE STAY STABLE.
ONE OF THE REASONS I PUT THIS BEFORE YOU IS TO SHOW HOW QUICKLY IT CAN CHANGE.
YOU CAN SEE IN '21-'22, WE WERE OVER 5%.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE WERE HALF THAT.
SO WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING BACK UP OUR FISCAL HEALTH.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE OFF EVERYBODY'S LIST OF WHO MIGHT BE IN BINDING CONDITIONS THIS YEAR.
AND AGAIN, THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE VARIABILITY IN FUND BALANCE.
>> SORRY. JUST A QUICK REQUEST FOR YOU.
COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN WHAT BINDING CONDITIONS MEAN FOR EVERYBODY?
>> IF A DISTRICT IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A BALANCED BUDGET THE FOLLOWING YEAR, IF IT'S ZERO, YOU DRAW DOWN FUND BALANCE ZERO OR BELOW OR YOUR ACTUAL RESULTS ARE ZERO OR BELOW, THEN YOU HAVE WHAT'S CALLED BINDING CONDITIONS AS THE FIRST STEP, SO YOU HAVE TO START WORKING WITH BOTH YOUR EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICT AND OSPI TO DETERMINE HOW YOU ARE GOING TO FIX KIND OF YOUR FINANCIAL SHORTFALLS.
[00:40:07]
AND THEN IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO DO SO, YOU GO INTO ENHANCED FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY STRICTER.IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO RESOLVE YOUR FINANCIAL TROUBLES, THEN THE STATE COULD CHOOSE TO DISSOLVE THE DISTRICT, WHICH IS BASICALLY A DISTRICT WOULD GO BANKRUPT.
SO EIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICTS RIGHT NOW ARE ON EITHER BINDING CONDITIONS OR ENHANCED FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT.
NOW THAT LAST YEAR HAS CLOSED, THEY'RE EXPECTING TWO MORE TO BE IN THAT CATEGORY.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. LAST YEAR'S ENROLLMENT.
THIS WAS THE GRAND FINALE TOTAL AFTER ANY SUMMER ADJUSTMENTS.
K-12 ENROLLMENT, WE WERE ONLY 37 BELOW BUDGET, WHICH IS REALLY BASICALLY SPOT ON, AS WELL AS ALE.
RUNNING START AND OPEN DOORS WERE CONSIDERABLY OVER BUDGET.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE PRETTY MUCH A FLOW-THROUGH.
THE STATE FUNDS US FOR THOSE EXTRA STUDENTS, AND THEN WE PAY THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE SPONSORING THE EDUCATION FOR THOSE STUDENTS, SO IT'S RATHER A FLOW-THROUGH.
BUT WE DID INCREASE OUR BUDGET FOR '25-'26 TO RECOGNIZE THE GROWTH IN THOSE TWO PROGRAMS. FEDERAL REVENUES HAVE ALMOST BEEN ALWAYS 4% IN MY ENTIRE CAREER, EXCEPT FOR COVID, AND BACK IN 2010, WE HAD WHAT'S CALLED RO FUNDING.
SO FEDERAL REVENUES ARE BACK TO PRE-COVID LEVELS.
'25-'26, WE DON'T EXPECT ANY REDUCTIONS OR CHANGES, BUT '26-'27, WE ARE ANTICIPATING QUITE A FEW REDUCTIONS IN PROBABLY TITLE II, TITLE III AND TITLE IV, WITH TITLE I UNKNOWN.
SO I'LL DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT BETTER WHAT THOSE ARE, PERHAPS IN A LATER MEETING WHEN I GET SOME MORE INFORMATION, I HOPE, ABOUT '26-'27.
AS A RESULT OF FEDERAL REVENUES BEING LESS SHARE OF THE PIE, STATE CATEGORICAL FUNDS DID INCREASE AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE PIE, AND THE TWO MAIN CATEGORIES, AGAIN, WERE SPECIAL ED, AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR OPERATIONS.
SALARIES AND BENEFITS WERE 87.3% A YEAR BEFORE AND ARE AT 87.11%, SO WE ARE RELATIVELY STAYING IN WITHIN THAT RANGE.
PEOPLE ASK ABOUT PURCHASE SERVICES AND PERHAPS WHY WE CAN'T REDUCE PURCHASE SERVICES IN BUDGET REDUCTION YEARS.
KEEP IN MIND THEY INCLUDE UTILITIES, INSURANCE, WHICH CONTINUES TO GO UP, PAYMENTS TO COLLEGES.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S REALLY A FLOW-THROUGH, BUT IT SHOWS UP AS AN EXPENSE IN PURCHASE SERVICES WHEN WE PAY EDMONDS COLLEGE OR ANYBODY ELSE.
SOME OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS NEED MORE SERVICES.
THEY HAVE OUT-OF-DISTRICT PLACEMENTS.
THE OPEN DOORS PROGRAM IS SIMILAR TO RUNNING START, WHEN WE PAY ANOTHER PROVIDER.
AND THEN THE BIG THING IS OUR TECHNOLOGY AND CAPITAL LEVY, ANY OF THOSE TECH KNOWLEDGE EXPENDITURES HAVE TO BE PUT THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND AND THEN REIMBURSED BY CAPITAL.
SO THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE HITTING THE GENERAL FUND, BUT THEY REALLY ARE OFFSET BY CORRESPONDING REVENUES.
LAST YEAR, TEACHING AND TEACHING SUPPORT CATEGORIES WERE 77%.
PART OF THAT IS SOME REDUCTIONS IN SOME OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES THAT WE FACED OVER A TWO-YEAR CYCLE.
CAPITAL PROJECTS IS STILL USING FUNDS FROM OUR FIRST BOND SALE OF 200 MILLION THE SUMMER BEFORE LAST.
AND THEN WE ARE ANTICIPATING ANOTHER $200 MILLION SALE IN THE FALL, A YEAR FROM NOW, AND OUR TOTAL BOND AUTHORIZATION WAS $594 MILLION.
SO AGAIN, WE ANTICIPATE SELLING THOSE BONDS IN THREE CHUNKS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD.
WE REALLY DO WANT TO REPLACE SOME OF OUR SMALLER BUSES WITH
[00:45:02]
MORE FUEL EFFICIENT BUSES BECAUSE THEY HAVE GONE OFF DEPRECIATION, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE MAKERS ARE STILL FOCUSING ON THOSE LARGE BUSES, WHICH WE ARE STILL GETTING STATE FUNDING FOR, SO WE DON'T WANT TO SCRAP THOSE LARGE BUSES UNTIL WE'RE NO LONGER RECEIVING FUNDING, BUT WE'RE KEEPING OUR EYES OPEN FOR THOSE SMALLER BUS OPTIONS.LOCAL SUPPORT AND NON-TAX, THE BUDGET ALWAYS EXCEEDS THE ACTUAL BECAUSE IT HAS GRANT CONTINGENCY, AND THE ACTUAL GRANT REVENUES, IF RECEIVED, ARE DEPOSITED INTO THE CATEGORY THAT THEY COME WITH.
SO WE JUST PUT A PLACEHOLDER IN ONE SPOT, AND IF IT'S, SAY, A LOCAL GRANT, IT WOULD WIND UP IN ANOTHER REVENUE CATEGORY.
FEDERAL GENERAL PURPOSE FOR LAST YEAR.
IT'S FEDERAL FOR US, SO IT WAS 10,000 BELOW BUDGET, BUT SO THE PERCENTAGE LOOKS POOR, BUT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS ABOUT $10,000.
CAPITAL OUTLAY IN THIS CATEGORY.
WE HAVE THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD REQUIRES US TO BOOK THE FUTURE VALUE OF CERTAIN LEASES AND THEN BOOK THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT AND REVENUES.
SO THAT'S WHAT I CALL, THIS IS NOT ACCOUNTING SPEAK, THAT'S WHAT I CALL NOT A REAL EXPENDITURE.
IT'S JUST A ACCOUNTING MECHANISM TO RECORD A LEASE WITHIN THE OPERATING STATEMENT.
BUT THAT'S JUST WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
ON THIS SLIDE, REVENUES ARE THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, AND THEN WE JUST CATEGORIZE THE EXPENDITURES DIFFERENTLY.
FINALLY, ON OUR MONTH-END BALANCES EACH MONTH.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANGE IN THE JULY TO AUGUST TREND.
NOT CONCERNING, BUT I ANTICIPATE THAT THIS YEAR WILL BE MORE LIKE THE PREVIOUS THREE YEARS.
THEN ONCE A YEAR, YOU SEE THE FUND BALANCE FOR THE ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY IN TOTAL EVERY MONTH IN THE BUDGET STATUS, LIKE I SAID, ONCE A YEAR, WE JUST BREAK IT DOWN BY SCHOOL AND LOCATION SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE ASB BALANCES ARE IN TOTAL.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL FINISH AUGUST UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.AND THEN I WON'T GO THROUGH THE WHOLE FINANCIAL REPORT.
IT'S OVER 100 PAGES, WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE SENT TO THE STATE.
BUT IF YOU WANT A LITTLE LIGHT READING, NO PICTURES, NO FONT CHANGES, IT'S RATHER BORING.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND YOU DO PEEK THROUGH THERE, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO DR. MINOR AND MAKE SURE I GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
ALL RIGHT. SEPTEMBER. SEPTEMBER WILL GO MUCH QUICKER, I PROMISE.
SO I DID POINT OUT THAT WE'VE EARNED SLIGHTLY LESS INTEREST IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND BECAUSE THE BALANCE IS SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN WHERE IT WAS A YEAR AGO.
AND I SAID, BONDS ARE SUBJECT TO ARBITRAGE REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE I WANTED TO TELL YOU WHAT ARBITRAGE WAS.SO WHEN WE ISSUE BONDS, IN A NUTSHELL, WE CAN'T MAKE MORE MONEY IN INTEREST ON OUR BOND BALANCE THAN WHAT WE PAY OUT TO BOND OWNERS FOR INTEREST.
SO IF THE BOND OWNER BUYS A BOND AND GETS 3.5% INTEREST ON THAT BOND, AND YET SITTING IN THE BANK, OUR BOND PROCEEDS ARE MAKING 5%, ULTIMATELY, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE TO REFUND THE DIFFERENCE TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
IT'S NOT A BAD THING TO HAVE TO PAY ARBITRAGE.
IT'S JUST A FUNCTION OF TRUING UP TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T EXCEED IN INTEREST WHAT YOU HAVE TO PAY YOUR BONDHOLDERS.
AND THAT MAKES SURE THAT THOSE BONDS ARE TAX-EXEMPT TO THE BONDHOLDER.
[00:50:05]
I FOUND SOMETHING NEW TO TALK ABOUT.I WAS VERY EXCITED. [LAUGHTER] OKAY, THIS NOTE, I HAD TO AMEND A LITTLE BIT.
NORMALLY, YOU SEE A LARGE DEFICIT IN SEPTEMBER AND THE FEDERAL GRANTS, AND I SAID, OH, WE'RE ALL CAUGHT UP.
THERE WAS ONE GRANT STRAGGLER, SO YOU WILL SEE A NEGATIVE IN OCTOBER, AND THEN BY NOVEMBER, HOPEFULLY, IT WILL ALL BE SORTED OUT.
SO KEEP SPENDING ON '24-'25 ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF WEEKS IN OCTOBER THAT WE SAY THIS IS LAST YEAR'S AND THIS IS THIS YEAR'S, AND THEN WE ASK FOR A REIMBURSEMENT ON THOSE GRANTS FROM OSPI.
SO SOMETIMES IT'S NOT UNTIL OCTOBER THAT IT ALL STARTS GETTING TRUED UP BETWEEN THE TWO FISCAL YEARS.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE ABOVE WHERE WE WERE AT IN THE PRIOR YEAR.
SOME FOLKS DECIDED TO RECLASSIFY A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY SUBSCRIPTIONS TO ONE LOCATION.
WE ACTUALLY NEED TO GO BACK THROUGH, LOOK AT THOSE SUBSCRIPTIONS, SEE WHAT'S INSTRUCTIONAL, SEE WHAT'S NOT INSTRUCTIONAL, LIKE A PAYROLL FUNCTION, AND THEN SPLIT THEM BACK UP.
SO WE'RE DOING A SLIGHT EXPENDITURE CORRECTION TO THOSE ACCOUNTS.
YES. SINCE IT'S SO EARLY IN THE YEAR, I JUST POINTED OUT THAT LAST YEAR'S TOTAL FUND BALANCE WAS 8.61% IN SEPTEMBER, WE'RE ESTIMATING 8.7, 8.8.
WE DID, AS YOU RECALL, BUDGET AN INCREASE TO FUND BALANCE OF $2 MILLION IN '25-'26.
THIS IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THAT $2 MILLION.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE TWO THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE COMPLETE INFORMATION ON, WHICH IS NEW SALES TAXES FOR SERVICES.
THAT WAS NOT BUDGETED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT KNOWN IN TIME.
AND THEN THERE IS A LARGE INCREASE IN THE EMPLOYER'S SHARE OF PAID FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE.
SO CURRENTLY, WE PAY 0.82% FOR THAT COST.
SO A BIT OF AN UNFUNDED MANDATE.
>> THEN UNFORTUNATELY, THIS YEAR'S ENROLLMENT IS THAT PURPLE LINE.
IT'S FURTHER DOWN THE PAGE THAN I LIKE.
I HAVE LOOKED AT OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATELY, I GUESS IT COULD BE WORSE, BUT IT IS TRACKING EXACTLY ALONG THAT TREND LINE, WHICH IS MORE THAN 300 BELOW WHERE WE WERE AT THIS YEAR.
I GUESS WE CAN SAY AS LONG AS IT KEEPS TRACKING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE DON'T UNFORTUNATELY GO LOWER THAN THAT VARIANCE, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY BELOW WHERE I WAS HOPING WE WOULD BE.
WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT. THAT'S JUST SHOWING YOU WHERE THOSE FLUCTUATIONS ARE ALL THE WAY FROM PRE-COVID TO TODAY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IN K-12, WE HAVE DECREASED OVER 1,000 STUDENTS, ALE AWFULLY CLOSE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OPEN DOORS GROWTH.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT'S REALLY THE LAST TWO YEARS.
TRANSITIONAL BILINGUAL, ALMOST 1,000 MORE STUDENTS THAN WE WERE SIX YEARS AGO.
THEN SPECIAL EDUCATION IS PRETTY FLAT.
YOU CAN SEE THE VERY LARGE GROWTH IN STUDENTS NEEDING ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND TRANSITIONAL BILINGUAL.
I KNOW THAT WAS LONG. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S A LOT OF WORK AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO KEEP UP WITH THE MONTHS AND THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT AND ALL THE EXTRA INFORMATION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
[00:55:01]
>> I JUST HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU LYDIA.
IT'S ONLY TANGENTIALLY RELATED TO THIS.
BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS, SEEING HOW THE STATE IS COLLECTING LESS REVENUE THAN EXPECTED AND WHATNOT.
DO WE HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT OUR LEVEE? OUR ABILITY TO COLLECT LEVIES? ARE WE ENOUGH OVER THE LEVY AMOUNT? I KNOW WE CAN ONLY COLLECT UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT.
ARE WE ENOUGH OVER THAT IT WOULD REPLACE AND BE OKAY IF PROPERTY VALUES WERE TO GO DOWN? IS THERE ANY CONCERN OR THOUGHTS AROUND THAT?
>> THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS LEVIES $1 AMOUNT, WHICH IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THAN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES SUCH AS A CITY.
A CITY MIGHT ISSUE A LEVY THAT'S $2 PER ASSESSED VALUATION, AND WHEN ASSESSED VALUATION GOES DOWN, THEY COLLECT LESS.
WE LEVY $1 AMOUNT, AND IF ASSESSED VALUATION GOES DOWN, WE'RE STILL COLLECTING THAT SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WAS LEVIED.
THAT HAS ITS PROS AND ITS CONS, BUT IN A DECLINING ECONOMY, THAT CERTAINLY KEEPS US AT THE RATE THAT WE'RE EXPECTING.
>> ON THE PREVIOUS SET OF SLIDES WE HAD 5.41% AS ENDING FUND BALANCE.
IT'S GOING TO HIT ABOUT 3.8 MILLION.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF THE ENDING FUNDING AMOUNT.
3.8 OF THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE USED TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOW ENROLLMENT.
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S ALREADY BEEN FACTORED INTO SEPTEMBER.
DESPITE THE ENROLLMENT DECREASE, THERE'S OTHER AREAS WHERE WE'RE UNDERSPENDING, SO FAR, WE'RE STILL ON TARGET.
THE PLUSES AND THE MINUSES ARE KEEPING US SOLID TO WHAT WE WERE PLANNING, EVEN THOUGH THE COMPONENTS OF THEM ARE DIFFERENT.
YES. I WORRY ABOUT ENROLLMENT FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE.
IF IT CONTINUES TO DECLINE OVER THE YEARS, IT MAKES IT HARDER TO SUPPORT THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.
BUT WE WERE ABLE SO FAR TO GET THROUGH THAT ONE-YEAR ENROLLMENT DECLINE.
AGAIN, ANOTHER REASON TO HAVE A FUND BALANCE AS TO WHETHER THOSE STORMS.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? LYDIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US STAY ON TOP OF THIS.
VERY IMPORTANT. WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY AND MOVING THINGS AROUND.
[12. NEW BUSINESS- 8:10 pm]
WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS, AND WE HAVE SEVEN ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS.THE FIRST IS A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE THE 2025, 26 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE 2025, 2026 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS?
>> SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
>> THESE ARE BASICALLY THE SAME PLANS AS LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT'S A THREE-YEAR PLAN.
EXCEPT WE'VE CHANGED THE ONE YEAR GOALS OR HAVE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S CORRECT. YES. THE THREE-YEAR PLAN.
THE ONE-YEAR INDIVIDUAL GOALS MAKE CHANGES, BUT THE YEAR ULTIMATE TARGET STAYS THE SAME.
>> THIS IS FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE THREE YEARS.
>> HELEN, WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO AHEAD AND COME ON UP SO YOU CAN ADDRESS THESE QUESTIONS?
>> SO I WAS DID THE RESULTS OF HOW CLOSE THE ONE-YEAR TARGETS CAME LAST YEAR FOR LAST YEAR, THE FIRST OF THE THREE YEARS? DOES THAT CHANGE THE PLAN IN ANY WAY, OR IS IT JUST CARRY ON AND [OVERLAPPING].
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT GREAT QUESTION.
THE THREE-YEAR GOAL REMAINS THE SAME.
[01:00:01]
HOWEVER, LIKE YOU JUST DISCUSSED, THE ONE-YEAR GOAL SHIFTS AND THE STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT THE GOALS MAY SHIFT ON A YEARLY BASIS.SOME SCHOOLS HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON, AND THEY'RE GOING TO STICK TO THE SAME STRATEGIES BECAUSE IT'S WORKING, OR THEY NEED MORE DATA TO DO ANY PIVOT TO SOMETHING ELSE.
MANY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN MORE SPECIFIC IN CALLING OUT THE STRATEGIES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO USE THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR.
THE STRATEGIES AND WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE IN ACTION IN CLASSROOMS, THAT DESCRIPTION WILL CHANGE ON A YEARLY BASIS.
BUT THE THREE-YEAR GOAL REMAINS THE SAME.
>> THEY COULD CHOOSE ANY FOCUS.
BECAUSE I NOTICE SOME OF THEM USE 1ST-6TH GRADE MATH SCORES ON IRD ARE GOING TO GO UP FROM THIS TO THIS.
SOME OF THEM WERE LIKE, THIRD GRADE IS GOING TO GO UP FROM THIS TO THIS OR THE SPECIAL ED, AND MULTILANGUAGE LEARNERS ARE GOING TO GO UP FROM THIS TO THIS.
YOU ARE CORRECT BECAUSE AS LONG AS THEY WERE DOING ONE THAT HAD TO DO WITH MATH, ONE THAT HAD TO DO WITH READING.
>> THEY COULD MAKE IT APPROPRIATE TO THEIR SCHOOL TO THEIR SITUATION.
>> TO GIVE SCHOOLS THE AUTONOMY AND THE COLLABORATIVE CONVERSATIONS THAT PRINCIPALS HAVE WITH STAFF IN DETERMINING WHERE IS OUR ENTRY POINT? IS IT FIRST SIXTH GRADE? SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS CHOSE ONE GRADE LEVEL, THINKING, IF WE FOCUS ON OUR THIRD GRADERS, WE WILL GET GAINS EVERYWHERE ELSE, NOT TO SAY THAT OTHER STAFF MEMBERS IN DIFFERENT GRADE LEVELS WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE IMPROVEMENT PROCESS, BUT THEY'RE HIGHLIGHTING A PARTICULAR GRADE LEVEL IN THEIR SI PLAN.
I ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS TO ACTUALLY DO THAT, RATHER THAN DOING A BROAD STROKE OF GRADES 1-6, B SPECIFIC, FOCUS ON FOURTH GRADE OR 45 OR FIVE, SIX, OR TWO, THREE FOR BOTH READING AND MATH.
BUT WE PREFER TO GIVE THAT AUTONOMY TO OUR SCHOOL LEADERS TO DISCUSS WITH STAFF MEMBERS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR CHUNG, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ALSO TO DOCTOR SCHWAB, AS YOU WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS ON THIS.
AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE DATA ANALYSIS THAT YOU DO WITH THE SCHOOLS TO HELP THEM FIGURE OUT WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE AND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE FOCUSING THEIR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN GOALS.
HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE 2025, 26 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS.
PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
THE 2025, 26 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS ARE APPROVED.
THE NEXT ITEM IS 12.2 A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE THE HIGHLY CAPABLE PROGRAM PLAN AND ALLOTMENT.
THE STRANGE ATTACHMENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS, WE USED TO DO SOMETHING IN THE GRANT SYSTEM, WHICH WAS A SYSTEMIC NOT THE DISTRICT THE STATE USED FOR A LONG TIME FOR DISTRICTS TO FILL THINGS OUT.
THEY'VE MOVED AWAY FROM THE I GRANTS PROGRAMMING.
NOW YOU'LL SEE IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT LOOK.
IT'S ACTUALLY JUST A GOOGLE FORM, SO IT LOOKS A LITTLE STRANGE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, BUT THAT IS THE PLAN WHICH WE COMPLETE WITH THE STATE.
>> DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE HIGHLY CAPABLE PROGRAM PLAN AND ALLOTMENT?
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IT APPEARS THAT WE'RE PRETTY MUCH CONTINUING WITH THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. WITH SOME ADDITIONAL EXPLORATION THIS YEAR, WITH SOME WAYS THAT WE MAY MOVE FORWARD OR DO SOME PILOTING IN THE FUTURE.
>> THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR OF THAT GOING ON.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE HIGHLY CAPABLE PROGRAM PLAN AND ALLOTMENT, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS.
THE HIGHLY CAPABLE PROGRAM PLAN AND ALLOTMENT IS APPROVED.
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS THE BOARD TO SELECT A PRO-CON COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO SELECT THE PRO-CON COMMITTEE MEMBERS?
>> PROCEDURALLY, WE SECOND, AND THEN WE CAN DO AN AMENDMENT, IF NECESSARY.
>> YES, I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS AND TO MAKE SURE MAKING A MOTION IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS.
[01:05:01]
I MOVE TO CONSIDER THE PRECON-COMMITTEE APPLICANTS.>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> ON TAKING A LOOK AT THE APPLICANT ATTACHMENT.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE SOME GREAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE STEPPED UP FOR THE PRO-COMMITTEE.
THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PERSON WHO HAS DONE PUBLIC COMMENT, IT IS A ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE WHO'S DONE THE CON-COMMITTEE.
I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD EXTEND THE APPLICATION TIME FOR THE CON-COMMITTEE AND JUST BRING THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
>> YES. LOOK AT MY CALENDAR, SO BEAR WITH ME IF YOU MINUTE.
IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO REOPEN THE CON COMMITTEE.
WE COULD REOPEN EITHER OR BOTH, BUT IF YOU WANTED TO APPROVE PRO TONIGHT, YOU COULD DO THAT SINCE YOU DID HAVE AN APPLICANT.
WE COULD REOPEN THE C COMMITTEE.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE CLOSE THAT BY LET'S SAY OUR BOARD MEETING WOULD BE THE 9TH.
WE WOULD NEED TO CLOSE THAT ON THE THIRD PROBABLY AT NOON IN ORDER TO GET THAT TO YOU BY FRIDAY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN YOUR BOARD PACKET.
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO EXTEND WHAT HE SAID ABOUT 13 DAYS FROM NOW IF THAT WAS OF INTEREST TO THE BOARD.
>> HELP US UNDERSTAND, IF THERE IS STILL NO APPLICANT FOR THE CON-COMMITTEE, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
>> THE REASON WE NEED TO APPROVE BY THE 9TH.
LET ME GO BEFORE I ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
WE NEED TO TURN THE NAMES INTO THE COUNTY BY THE 12TH.
I BELIEVE IT'S THE DATE THAT LYDIA TOLD ME THAT'S CORRECT.
WE NEED TO TURN THE NAMES IN BY THE 12TH.
THAT WOULD BE THE LAST BOARD MEETING THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER THAT.
IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SECURE ANYONE FOR THE CON-COMMITTEE, THE COUNTY TAKES OVER TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE THEY ADVERTISE FOR THAT AND THEY TAKE OVER TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE FOR THE CON-COMMITTEE.
WITHIN THE DISTRICT? YES. OKAY. DOGOR CHASE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT HERE TO THE MOTION?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE THE CON-COMMITTEE, [OVERLAPPING].
>> MAYBE POST SPECIAL. I WOULD LIKE TO.
LET'S SEE HOW WE WANT TO PHRASE THIS.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, WHAT I THINK IS WE'RE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW, IS WE HAVE A FINE CANDIDATE WHO'S SOMEONE WHO'S EXPRESSED INTEREST IN PRO.
I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THAT APPLICANT AND THEN EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR THE CON-COMMITTEE APPLICANTS TO THE DEADLINE THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
>> I'D LIKE TO SECOND THAT AMENDMENT.
>> WE'VE HAD NOW AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS?
>> JUST A PROCEDURAL THING, AND DR. MINOR WILL KNOW, PROBABLY.
CAN WE AMEND IT IN ONE THING, OR SHOULD WE HAVE ONE THAT SAYS WE APPROVE THIS AND ONE THAT SAYS THAT WE EXTEND IT, LIKE, TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS?
>> I THINK YOU'RE ABLE TO DO BOTH IN ONE MOTION.
>> MY ONLY QUESTION IS, WE HAVE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR THE PRO-COMMITTEE, BUT WE COULD HAVE UP TO THREE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF OUR APPLICANT WOULD FEEL, WAS BE HELPFUL TO HAVE MORE THAN ONE PERSON TO WORK WITH TO WRITE THIS STATEMENT.
>> I BELIEVE IN HER STATEMENT, SHE SAID SHE WOULD BE COLLABORATING WITH OTHERS WHO SHE WORKS WITH.
IT SOUNDED LIKE WHILE IT'S HER NAME, THAT SHE HAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH HER ON THAT SHE'S COLLABORATING WITH ON THIS.
DID YOU READ THE STATEMENT IN THAT SAME WAY?
>> WELL, SHE SAID A COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT.
WHAT I'M WONDERING IS, CAN WE APPROVE HER APPLICATION AND REOPEN BOTH?
>> NO. ONCE WE APPROVE ONE, THAT'S IT.
I HEAR THE CONCERNS I'M WANTING TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME SUPPORT, BUT GIVEN THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM VANITA AND HER EXPERTISE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT APPOINTING HER WOULD BE SUFFICIENT.
>> I AGREE. VANITA HAS BEEN VERY ENGAGED IN MUCH OF SCHOOL DISTRICT WORK IN SUPPORTING PARENTS, SUPPORTING KIDS, SUPPORTING STAFF.
I THINK SHE UNDERSTANDS THE LEVY,
[01:10:02]
I THINK SHE UNDERSTANDS THE BUDGET.SHE USUALLY ATTENDS ALMOST EVERY MEETING.
I THINK SHE'D BE A VERY APPROPRIATE CANDIDATE TO LEAD THE PRO-COMMITTEE.
>> NOTHING WOULD BE STOPPING HER FROM HAVING SOMEONE ELSE WORK WITH HER EITHER.
IT'S JUST WHETHER OR NOT WE SAY THAT THAT'S THE PERSON WHO'S WRITING IT.
I DON'T THINK I THINK IF THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE THAT INTERESTED IN IT THAT THEY CAN COME HERE AND GET HER ATTENTION OR REACH OUT TO HER, I'M SURE THAT THEY WILL FIND A WAY TO GET INVOLVED.
>> OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
FIRST, WE WILL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CANDIDATE FOR THE PRO-COMMITTEE AND FOR DELAYING THE DECISION ON THE CON-COMMITTEE UNTIL [OVERLAPPING].
>> DECEMBER 9TH BOARD MEETING.
>> THE DECEMBER 9TH BOARD MEETING.
PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
WE WILL BE APPROVING THE PRO-COMMITTEE AS THE APPLICANT PRESENTED, AND WE WILL BE POSTPONING THE SELECTION OF THE CON COMMITTEE UNTIL OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING.
>> I'LL ASK OUR COMMUNICATION TEAM.
ANYBODY WATCHING AT HOME? WE CAN ASSUME THAT WILL BE ROLLED BACK LIVE, MAYBE BY NOON TOMORROW.
I GOT THE THUMBS UP. LOOK FOR THE CON-COMMITTEE-ONLY APPLICATION UP BY NOON TOMORROW ON OUR WEBSITE.
>> POINT OF ORDER, DID WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT AND THEN THE MAIN MOTION?
>> BECAUSE I THINK YOU ROLLED IT INTO ONE.
>> BASICALLY, BUT ONCE WE'VE AMENDED IT, WE VOTED FOR IT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T THINK WE VOTED ON THE AMENDMENT.
>> I THOUGHT WE JUST VOTED ON THE AMENDMENT.
>> THEN YOU NEED TO VOTE ON THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME THING.
NOW WE'VE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE YET. A MOTION IN A SECOND TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHAT WE DID ON THE AMENDMENT, WHICH MEANS NOW THE MOTION IS AMENDED.
[OVERLAPPING] WHAT WE HAVE TO DO NOW IS, AS WELL AS HAVING VOTED ON THE AMENDMENT, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED IT.
THE QUESTION IS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AMENDED MOTION TO ACCEPT THE PRO COMMITTEE AS THE APPLICANT PRESENTED AND TO POSTPONE THE CON-COMMITTEE SELECTION UNTIL THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
THE AMENDED MOTION IS APPROVED.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT ONE WE HAVE THIS EVENING IS 12-4 SINGLE READING FOR RESOLUTION 2514.
>> DO I HEAR MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2524, WHICH IS ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE COVERED PLAY STRUCTURES PROJECT.
>> I'VE HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I WAS TRYING TO FIND WHAT WAS THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THESE TWO PLAY STRUCTURE PROJECTS.
DO WE KNOW THAT? HERE COMES THE EXPERT.
>> MY APOLOGIES, IT'S NOT IN THERE.
IT WOULD BE OUT OF THE CAPITAL LEVY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANT TO, AS USUAL, THANK THE VOTERS FOR THE 2024 CAPITAL LEVY, WHICH ALLOWED THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT TO BE COMPLETED.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING RESOLUTION 2524, ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE COVERED PLAY STRUCTURES PROJECT, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
>> ALL THOSE SUPPOSED SAY NAY.
[01:15:05]
>> THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE IS 12.5 OF FIRST READING.
NO ACTION REQUESTED THIS EVENING OF REVISED BOARD POLICY 3241 STUDENT DISCIPLINE.
WE HAVE LISTED THE CHANGES TO THE WASA RECOMMENDED POLICY, WHICH ARE ALSO BASED ON THE NEW STATE LAWS GOVERNING STUDENT DISCIPLINE.
>> I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF NUMBER 12, AND THE ORIGINAL OR EXISTING ONE IS LINED OUT, AND IT'S MOSTLY BECOME NUMBER 1, WHICH IS GREAT.
THAT'S OUR MAIN PURPOSE, BUT DISTRICT EMPLOYEES SAFETY IS NO LONGER A PURPOSE THEN.
I'M WONDERING WHY THAT WOULD BE.
>> I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT AGAIN.
WE MOSTLY ACCEPTED THE WALTER RECOMMENDATIONS, SO I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK SPECIFICALLY WHY THAT WAS CHANGED.
I DON'T ANSWER THAT FOR YOU TONIGHT.
>> THEN CAN YOU REMIND ME THE CURRENT, IF WE HAVE TO TOP OF THE UPDATES TO STUDENT DISCIPLINE POLICIES THAT WERE MADE INTO LAW THAT WE HAD TO ALIGN WITH?
>> THE FIRST ONES WERE IN 2019. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
>> THANK YOU. DID THE ONE MAKE SENSE ABOUT HOW THE ENDING OF THE SENTENCE? GREAT. THANK YOU.
JUST FOR YOU TO KNOW THE REST OF THE BOARD, THERE WERE TWO TYPOS, AND ON NUMBER 1 ON THE TOP OF PAGE 2, UNDER STUDENTS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS.
THAT SENTENCE DIDN'T QUITE MAKE SENSE BECAUSE IT READ THAT SAID IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT UNLAWFULLY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST A STUDENT AND ENDS WITH IS PROHIBITED, WHICH WAS REDUNDANT.
>> AS A RECOVERING ENGLISH TEACHER, I'M HUMBLED BY THAT SO. [LAUGHTER]
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> IN DISCUSSION WITH OTHER DISTRICTS THAT ARE ALSO UPDATING THEIR POLICY, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD DISCIPLINE POLICY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE CENTERING OF FAIRNESS AND EQUITY IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THESE DISCRETIONARY PROCEDURES.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT AT THIS TIME, I THINK THAT WOULD REALLY SUPPORT THIS.
>> DO THE STUDENTS HAVE ANY INPUT ON THIS?
>> I WAS JUST WONDERING IF I GUESS YOU COULD CLARIFY MORE, LIKE THE SPECIFIC CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING, NOT THE ONES THAT WERE SUGGESTED IN 2019, BUT LIKE THE MORE RECENT STUFF, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
>> I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES HAVE BEEN REALLY A SHIFT AND FOCUS ON PROVIDING OTHER BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS BEFORE A STUDENT IS REMOVED FROM SCHOOL.
THERE'S REALLY A STRONG EMPHASIS ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING LOWER-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO A SUSPENSION OR AN EXCLUSION FROM SCHOOL.
THEN I THINK PROBABLY OTHER PIECES ARE THE EXPECTATION THAT AND WE DO THIS ALREADY, BUT I THINK NOW I APPRECIATE THAT IT'S IN POLICY IS TO REVIEW OUR DISCIPLINE DATA YEARLY.
WELL YEARLY REVIEW THEIR DISCIPLINE DATA LOOKING FOR, ARE THERE ANY DISPROPORTIONALITIES WITH SPECIFIC STUDENT GROUPS? AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THAT THAT'S NOW REFLECTED IN POLICY BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE DONE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU.
IS THE STAFFING IN SCHOOLS SUFFICIENT TO IMPLEMENT THESE STRATEGIES? IN OTHER WORDS, WE'VE DECREASED SYNCS, I KNOW BEHAVIOR IS ESCALATED IN CLASSROOMS, OR DON'T KNOW IF TEACHERS ARE EQUIPPED OR HAVE THE TRAINING TO DEAL WITH MAYBE SOME OF THE MORE EXTREME BEHAVIORS THAT HAPPEN IN THE CLASSROOM? A GENERAL QUESTION OF, ARE WE EQUIPPED FOR THIS?
[01:20:02]
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT DOING SO THAT IT CAN BE SUCCESSFUL?>> NO SOFTBALL QUESTION FROM YOU, ROGER DOG? NO, I THINK YOU'VE ASKED A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK THERE ARE THINGS TO DO SOME OF THIS AND DO IT WELL, I THINK IT REQUIRES, PEOPLE THAT ARE DEDICATED TO DO THINGS LIKE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, AND THOSE THINGS REQUIRE TRAINING, AND WE'VE DONE SOME WORK ON RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, BUT I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON IMPLEMENTING THIS IN THE WAYS THAT IS MEANT TO BE IMPLEMENTED IS THAT, OUR PRINCIPALS, I THINK DO THE VERY BEST THEY CAN TO USE RESTORED PRACTICE APPROACHES WHEN THEY'RE WORKING WITH STUDENTS IN DISCIPLINE ISSUES.
AGAIN, I THINK WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT, BUT I THINK, TO DO IT WELL, I THINK WE WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM HAVING PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAINED AND KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
IN THIS ONE, WE HAD FULL-TIME SINKS IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, THAT CERTAINLY WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE WITH.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE CAN'T BE NOW, BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE ARE CERTAINLY MORE CHALLENGED WITH REDUCED NUMBERS OF STAFF.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE'LL BE REVISITING THAT AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
>> THE NEXT ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS FIRST READING, NO ACTION, NEW BOARD POLICY 1815 ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR SCHOOL DIRECTORS.
WE HAVE CURRENTLY OUR ATTACHED PROPOSED VERSION CLOSELY ALIGNS WITH THE WAZDA MODEL POLICY.
>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> I THINK IT MAKES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SENSE TO HAVE A POLICY THAT OUTLINES ETHICAL BEHAVIOR FOR BOARD MEMBERS.
I THINK IT'S CRITICAL FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO.
>> I'M JUST HAPPY TO SEE THIS POLICY COME FORWARD. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
>> I HAD ONE LITTLE GRAMMATICAL CHANGE BEING ON THE GRAMMAR POLICE, THAT WHAT I THINK IN THE VERY LAST SENTENCE SHOULD SAY, AND OR FORFEITURE OF OFFICE, INSTEAD OF AND, I THINK IS THE INTENT, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WE CAN MAKE THAT CHANGE, ABSOLUTELY.
ITEM 12.7 IS A COMPANION TO THAT, WHICH IS A BOARD POLICY, A PROPOSED NEW BOARD POLICY ADDRESSING SCHOOL DIRECTOR VIOLATIONS.
>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE NEW BOARD POLICY 1825 ADDRESSING SCHOOL DIRECTOR VIOLATIONS?
>> I JUST THINK WITHOUT IT, THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY. IT NEEDS TO BE THERE.
>> DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE OUR BOARD NORMS, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR US BREAKING NORMS, OR IN THIS CASE, REALLY GOING WAY BEYOND.
>> WE NEED TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION, BUT ALSO BEING DECENT HUMAN BEINGS IN AND OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE DO, THAT'S THE STANDARD THAT WE SHOULD BE HELD TO.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> WELL, IT'S GOOD TO PUT OUR PRACTICE INTO POLICY.
>> WELL SAID. WE WILL BE REVISITING THAT AS WELL.
NEXT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR CHASE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
[13. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES]
>> WELL, IT'S AN EXCITING TIME RIGHT NOW, GETTING READY FOR THE JANUARY SESSION.
WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, IF I DON'T THINK I HAVE THE CLICKER THIS TIME. THERE WE GO.
WE IN PREPARATION FOR JANUARY.
I KNOW THAT STAFF, I BELIEVE IT WAS AARON, REACHED OUT TO ALL THE STATE LEGISLATORS AND SCHEDULING ZOOMS, AND NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF EITHER HAVING MEETINGS, RESCHEDULING MEETINGS, OR PLANNING FOR MEETINGS.
WE DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH LILY ORTIZ SELF FROM THE 21ST LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT.
I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK, WAS IT? WE'VE STARTED OUR MEETINGS ROLLING, AND WE'VE GOT THEM COMING RIGHT UP.
LET'S SEE. THE END OF OCTOBER, WE HAVE CHECKING HOW OUR PROGRESS IS.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE GREEN CHECK MARKS, THE ZOOM MEETINGS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED, AND THE PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN SENT TO ALL OF OUR LEGISLATORS SO THAT THEY'LL HAVE AMPLE TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEM AS WE DISCUSS THEM.
ALWAYS, FOR THE PUBLIC'S INFORMATION AND EVERYBODY HERE, PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS, WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS BY WHICH LAWS ARE MADE, AND YOU COMMENTING ON A BILL, TESTIFYING IN PERSON,
[01:25:02]
SUBMITTING TESTIMONY, CONTACTING THE LEGISLATORS, WE HAVE A LINK ON THE WEBSITE.AGAIN, IF YOU'RE UNCERTAIN OF WHICH WHO YOUR LEGISLATORS ARE, JUST WANT THEIR CONTACT INFO, WE ALSO LIST THAT FOR YOU AS WE HAVE THREE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS THAT OUR DISTRICT ENCOMPASSES, AND THOSE NINE LEGISLATORS CAN IMPACT THE POLICIES THAT IMPACT OUR STUDENTS.
DISTRICT FINDER IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.
WE HAVE A EXCUSE. IT IS A LONG DAY.
IN CASE YOU'RE UNCERTAIN OF WHICH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN AND WHO REPRESENTS YOU, WE HAVE A DISTRICT FINDER ON THE WEBSITE ALSO.
IT'S GOING TO BE JANUARY THE SESSION.
THE LEGISLATORS ARE BUSY THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PROPOSING.
THE CAUCUSES ARE ALL MEETING DEFINING PRIORITIES.
I DO KNOW THAT IN OUR DISCUSSIONS, WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY FUNDED, AND PLEASE DO NO HARM. IS ONE OF THEM.
>> I THOUGHT I MIGHT SHARE SOME NOTES FROM THE MEETING. [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK NANCY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO DIRECTOR AT [OVERLAPPING].
>> WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ SELF, BOTH FOR THE REST OF THE BOARD.
>> KAREN AND I DOCTOR MINOR AND MISS SELLE WERE ALL PART OF IT.
BECAUSE IT'S VERY INTERESTING AND MY GUESS IS WE WILL ASK SIMILAR QUESTIONS.
IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT WE GET IN TERMS OF THEIR RESPONSE.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT HASN'T BEEN AS HIGH, BUT DOESN'T COST THE STATE ANYTHING, BUT WOULD HELP THE DISTRICT IS, WE REALIZE THAT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING IS A LONG-TERM GOAL.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT OUR TRANSPORTATION ALLOCATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING WE DON'T FIND OUT TIL FEBRUARY, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, WHEN WE HAVE PLANNED THE BUDGET FOR THAT YEAR MONTHS BEFORE THAT.
WE ASKED, COULD THEY JUST CHANGE WHEN THEY TELL US THAT, SO WE CAN MAKE BETTER FISCAL DECISIONS.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT, AND SHE ASKED US SPECIFICALLY WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IN TERMS OF WHEN SHOULD WE GET THAT INFORMATION.
THAT SHOWED DEFINITE INTEREST IN HELPING US IN SOMETHING THAT REALLY DOESN'T COST THEM ANYTHING OTHER THAN MOVING UP THEIR TIMELINE ON WHAT THEY DO.
WE ALSO BROUGHT OUT, AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT LYDIA MENTIONED IN HER BUDGET MEETING, WE ASKED ABOUT ESSB, THE BILL 5814, WHICH WAS AT THE END OF THE LAST SESSION, LIKE WIKI WIKI, GETTING THIS THING PASSED.
THAT IS PUTTING A SALES TAX ON SERVICES, BUT DID NOT EXEMPT SCHOOLS.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE, AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
SHE THOUGHT IT DID EXEMPT SCHOOLS.
THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION, AND WE WILL MAKE SURE WE IT GETS OUT TO ALL THE OTHER LEGISLATORS.
AGAIN, THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE WOULD HAVE TO BE GIVING THE MONEY THAT THEY WOULD BE GIVING US BACK. THAT'S ABSURD.
THAT WAS VERY HOPEFUL BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT AWARE.
SHE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS PART OF THE LEGISLATION THAT THEY HAD PASSED.
WE ASKED ABOUT NEW REVENUE FROM THE STATE.
SHE SAID IT'S UNDER DISCUSSION AND THAT SHE COULDN'T TELL US ANYMORE ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT IT'S UNDER DISCUSSION.
SHE WAS REALISTIC IN SAYING, THERE PROBABLY WON'T BE NEW MONEY.
>> BEST HOPE IS THAT THEY DON'T CUT US AND THAT SHE WILL BE WORKING HARD TO PROTECT THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR K-12 WILL NOT BE CUT.
SHE'S A VERY STRONG ADVOCATE THAT SHE THINKS MONEY SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN FROM US.
WE ASKED HOW WE CAN HELP SUPPORT HER AND THE LEGISLATORS.
AND SHE SAID THE FACT THAT WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE IS SOMETHING THAT SHE REALLY APPRECIATES.
IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE IF SHE NEEDS TO HAVE A DISTRICT PERSPECTIVE ON SOMETHING, SHE KNOWS THAT WE'RE AVAILABLE TO HER.
AND WHEN SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF K-12 EDUCATION.
SHE SAID ONE OF THE WAYS THAT SHE HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THIS IS TO TALK ABOUT HOW PUBLIC EDUCATION IS A HUGE RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT IT'S MEETING BASIC NEEDS FOR EVERYBODY.
WHEN THERE'S A CRISIS OR SOMETHING, THE SCHOOLS ARE OPEN, THE BUILDINGS ARE OPEN.
WE HELP SUPPORT, WE HELP PRESERVE A RESOURCE FOR PARENTS, WHERE THE PLACE PEOPLE COME TO.
[01:30:01]
KEEPING THE BIGGER PICTURE IN MIND AS TO NOT ONLY ARE WE IMPORTANT FOR OBVIOUSLY THE BASIC EDUCATION WE'RE GIVING THE KIDS AND HELPING KIDS TO HELP BE PREPARED FOR SUCCESS BECAUSE WE ARE RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE PARENTS.I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING AND INTERESTING.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE AS WE CONTINUE TO MEET WITH ALL.
I THINK, ERIN, AM I RIGHT THAT WE HAVE NOW SCHEDULED ALL OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES? THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR WORK.
I KNOW THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT OR OTHER LEGISLATIVE THINGS? WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TALKING TO LEGISLATORS.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OR AS WE MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS,
[14. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
I WOULD LIKE AS WE REITERATED OUR REMINDERS TO OUR PUBLIC THIS EVENING ABOUT WHAT CAN GO INTO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.I'D JUST LIKE TO GO OVER WHAT'S IN OUR BOARD NORMS FOR BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AT THE END OF MEETINGS.
INDULGE ME, PLEASE, WHILE I JUST GO AHEAD AND READ THESE FOR EVERYONE.
NUMBER EIGHT, THIS IS PAGE FIVE OF OUR BOARD NORMS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
NUMBER EIGHT. EACH BOARD MEMBER MAY MAKE A COMMENT AT THE END OF EACH REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.
BOARD MEMBERS WILL STRIVE TO BE SUCCINCT IN THEIR COMMENTS WITH THE GOAL OF LESS THAN 2 MINUTES.
FOCUSED ON THE MOST PRESSING ITEM AT THAT TIME, AVOID REPEATING WHAT HAS BEEN SAID PREVIOUSLY IN THE MEETING, AND THEY MAY CHOOSE TO PASS.
BOARD COMMENTS, LET SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS CONNECT, APPRECIATE AND REFLECT IN PUBLIC TO SHOW THEIR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMITMENTS TO STUDENTS.
EXAMPLES OF APPROPRIATE BOARD COMMENTS INCLUDE ACKNOWLEDGING AND APPRECIATING STAFF, STUDENTS OR COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR THEIR WORK AND CONTRIBUTIONS, AND OR RECOGNIZING ACHIEVEMENTS, EVENTS, OR MILESTONES IN THE DISTRICT.
PROVIDING UPDATES ON SCHOOL VISITS, EVENTS, OR KEY MEETINGS ATTENDED AS A BOARD MEMBER, SHARING INSIGHTS AND PERSPECTIVE ON ISSUES BEFORE THE BOARD AND MAKING CONNECTIONS TO THE DISTRICT MISSION AND GOALS, BUILDING A SENSE OF TRUST, ACCESSIBILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY WITH A COMMUNITY WHICH COULD INCLUDE SHARING INFORMATION THAT EDUCATES, CELEBRATES, AND OR ADDRESSES OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES, OR CONCERNS.
EXAMPLES OF INAPPROPRIATE BOARD COMMENTS ARE.
THEY ARE NOT A PLACE FOR DEBATE OR DECISION MAKING, THAT HAPPENS ON AGENDA ITEMS. THEY ARE NOT FOR GIVING STAFF NEW DIRECTION OUTSIDE OF BOARD APPROVED PROCESSES, AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE LONG SPEECHES OR POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING.
SO, ISHMAEL, YOU WANT TO START?
>> I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY NEWS TO BEGIN WITH TODAY.
>> HI. FOR EDMONDS-WOODWAY HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE COMING UP IS THE PLAY PRO, AND THE PLAY IS THE MOUSE THAT ROARED, AND IT IS OPENING THURSDAY NIGHT.
THEN WINTER SPORTS ALSO STARTED UP.
WE HAVE OUR SPIRIT WEEK, WHICH IS THE WEEK RIGHT BEFORE WINTER BREAK.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR TRADITION OF WINTER WISHES, WHICH IS A WEEK LONG SCHOOL WIDE CELEBRATION BEFORE WINTER BREAK.
IT'S WHERE STUDENTS CAN SUBMIT A REQUEST THEY WANT TO THE SCHOOL.
FOR EXAMPLE, HOT CHOCOLATE BEING SENT TO DURING ADVISORY.
AND THE ASB MAY WISH TO FULFILL IT OR NOT, BUT IT COULD BE FULFILLED DURING ADVISORY, THE WINTER WISHES ASSEMBLY OR MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE A FOOD DRIVE THAT IS STARTING ON DECEMBER 3RD.
AS A STUDENT ADVISOR, I WANT TO QUICKLY REITERATE WHAT DOCTOR ADAM SAID IN THE BEGINNING OF THE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS, WHICH IS THAT BOARD MEMBERS NEED TO BE IN A CIVIL MANNER, AND AS A STUDENT, I ALSO WANT TO GENTLY REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT OUR ROLES AS STUDENT ADVISORS IS TO REPRESENT AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS AT OUR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS.
AND I THINK IT'S WRONG TO POINT OUT ANY STUDENT ADVISOR DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS TO PROMOTE PERSONAL AGENDA. THANK YOU.
FIRSTLY, I'LL START WITH MY SCHOOL DATE.
SO AT LEAGUE MEET ONE, WHICH IS FOR ROBOTICS, WHICH WAS ALSO HOSTED AT MY SCHOOL.
MY TEAM PLACED IN THIRD, AND THERE WERE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TEAMS IN OUR LEAGUE.
SO WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND MY SCHOOL SISTER TEAM, 3805 PLACED IN FIRST.
SO WE ARE BOTH IN THE TOP THREE AND EXCITED FOR LM2, WHICH IS COMING UP IN FIVE DAYS, WHICH IS ALSO HOSTED AT OUR SCHOOL, AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO COME AND WATCH US COMPETE WITH OUR ROBOTS.
TO PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT ROBOTICS, IT'S ESSENTIALLY LIKE WATCHING A SPORT, AND I ALSO EMCEE THESE PARTICULAR EVENTS AT MY SCHOOL.
YOU WATCH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FIELD LIKE YOU WOULD IN A SPORTS GAME,
[01:35:02]
EXCEPT ROBOTS ARE THROWING THE BALLS ON THE FIELD AND SCORING THEM IN THE GOALS.ADDITIONALLY, MY SCHOOL BECAUSE IT IS A K-12, HAS K-12 THEATER, AND THEY'RE OPENING FROZEN JUNIOR THIS WEEKEND.
PLEASE COME SEE IT BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE PUT IN A LOT OF WORK.
I CAN HEAR THEM SINGING AND THEIR REHEARSALS DURING THE DAY, WHICH IS REALLY NICE.
ADDITIONALLY, I WANTED TO ADD THAT BEING AT THESE MEETINGS HAS HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE BECOME SEGREGATED, AND THE PEOPLE WILL COME HERE AND NOT ONLY SAY THINGS THAT ARE DISRESPECTFUL TO THE BOARD, BUT ALSO DISRESPECTFUL TO THE PUBLIC AROUND THEM.
I WANTED TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND HERE TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS NOT TO DISRESPECT THEM.
WHICH IS A STRONG FEELING I HAD REGARDING TODAY'S MEETING.
ADDITIONALLY, I WANTED TO STAND WITH OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF AND SAY THAT I STRONGLY APPRECIATE THE CLASSIFIED STAFF AT MY SCHOOL AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS PROBABLY VERY FRUSTRATING FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE THEIR CONTRACT UPDATED AND REVISED FOR THIS YEAR. THANK YOU.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS MY PRAYER OR NOT. DIRECTOR ARAR.
>> I JUST WANTED TO REALLY APPRECIATE THE YOUNG ELDERS RISING PROGRAM AND HOW APPROPRIATE THAT IT GOT STARTED IN INDIGENOUS AND NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
I WORE THE SALMON IN TIE WITH NATIVE AMERICAN DESIGN TODAY.
I WANTED TO APPRECIATE THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US AS THE BOARD, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S STUDY SESSION.
I KNOW A LOT OF THE STAFF WORKED HARD TO HELP US REVIEW THE SPRING DATA AND AND LEAD THAT DISCUSSION.
I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT AND A LOT OF THEM ARE STILL HERE.
NOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONFERENCE OF THE SCHOOL DIRECTORS, STATE SCHOOL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION THIS COMING END OF THIS WEEK.
FINALLY, JUST I WANT TO THANK VOTERS FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THE JOB OF PROTECTING PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS.
I'LL DO MY BEST FOR YOU. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. FIRST. I WANT TO BE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE PUBLICLY, DIRECTOR GERARD.
CONGRATULATIONS. GLAD YOU'RE JOINING US.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A SCHOOL EVENT THAT OCCURRED RECENTLY.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE GOTTEN TOGETHER.
THERE WAS A VETERANS DAY ASSEMBLY AT ALDERWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT WAS ENTIRELY RUN BY THE STUDENTS.
IT WAS ATTENDED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE REPORT FROM MY DAUGHTER WAS THAT SHE HAD NEVER SEEN A LARGER COMMUNITY OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS BEING EXTRAORDINARILY RESPECTFUL OF THE EVENT.
THEY UNDERSTOOD HOW CRITICAL, HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF OUR VETERANS.
IT ALSO HELPS TO PAINT A DIFFERENT PICTURE THAT WE OFTEN MIGHT HAVE IN OUR HEADS OF THE WAY MIDDLE SCHOOLS ARE, BECAUSE YOU HEAR ABOUT SOME TERRIBLE THINGS THAT HAPPEN.
THESE KIDS ARE INCREDIBLE, AND THEY ARE RESPECTFUL AND THEY'RE KIND, AND THEY'RE INCREDIBLY SAFE.
WHEN MY DAUGHTER FIRST WENT TO ALDERWOOD, SHE HEARD RUMORS THAT THERE WAS FIGHTS ALL THE TIME, EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME, AND SHE GOES DOWN THE HALLWAY AND KIDS ARE LAUGHING.
THEY'RE SAYING HELLO TO EACH OTHER.
THEY'RE BEING KIND TO ONE ANOTHER.
IN THE LUNCH ROOMS, THEY'RE INVITING EACH OTHER OVER TO SIT AT THEIR TABLES.
IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PICTURE.
I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE PARTICULARLY ALDERWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL TENDS TO HAVE A REPUTATION THAT IT'S MAYBE A LITTLE BIT ON THE DANGER SIDE, BUT IT'S A VIBRANT, INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.
SO I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE STUDENTS AT ALDERWOOD AS WELL AS THE STAFF THERE BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.
FINALLY, HUGE APPRECIATION AS ALWAYS FOR THE STAFF, PARTICULARLY DISTRICT STAFF TODAY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY PUT INTO THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT, THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS, ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE TO TRY TO IMPROVE WHAT WE KNOW NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED MORE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THAT'S IT FOR ME.
>> DIRECTOR KRAMER, THANK YOU DEPICTION OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS GAVE ME GOOSE BUMPS.
WHICH ISN'T EASY TO DO. DIRECTOR SMITH.
[01:40:04]
>> JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON OUR STUDY SESSION THAT WE HAD EARLIER TONIGHT.
IT WAS ABOUT JUST GENERALLY HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING, HOW WE'RE MEETING OUR GOALS, GETTING STUDENTS ON TRACK FOR GRADUATION.
TO TAKE A STEP BACK, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR FOUR YEARS AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT MY FRIENDS OR FAMILY WOULD COME TO ME WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHOOLS, BUT THEY REALLY HAVEN'T UNTIL THE LAST SIX WEEKS.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, SOMETHING MUST HAVE HAPPENED IN THE MEDIA BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL VERY CONCERNED WITH THE STATE OF PUBLIC ED.
BUT IT HAS CAUSED ME TO DO A LOT OF READING AND LISTENING RECENTLY ON BEST PRACTICES FOR STUDENTS AND WHATNOT, MORE SO THAN I NORMALLY DO.
AND WHAT I FOUND GREAT ABOUT OUR STUDY SESSION WAS AT THE END OF ALL OF THE LITTLE SECTIONS, THEY HAVE NEXT STEPS, AND THEY ALL ALIGN WITH THE BEST PRACTICES THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT OUR DISTRICT IS DOING THAT.
THESE HAVE BEEN THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND TO SEE THAT WE HAVE VERY GOOD ADMINISTRATORS WHO CAN SEE THE TRENDS AND MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE IN THE ETHER AND MAKE THEM COME TO FRUITION.
IS FANTASTIC. I DON'T WANT TO LOOK BACKWARDS TO WHERE OUR DISTRICT HAS BEEN.
I WANT TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND THE PATH THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IS A FANTASTIC ONE.
OTHER THAN THAT, JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND SPOKE TO US TONIGHT, AND THAT'S IT FOR ME.
>> IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING SITTING HERE AS I HAVE MY TOPICS.
I'M GOING TO BRING UP, AND THEY, THAT'S COVERED.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO BE THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE BOTH DIRECTOR GERARD AND DIRECTOR SMITH ON THEIR RACE A ELECTION.
[LAUGHTER] ALSO A SHOUT OUT TO HOW FUN ROBOTICS COMPETITIONS, CHILL OUT RULES, ALUMNI HERE.
THE ROBOTICS, I THINK YOU DESCRIBED IT, VERY APPLETS THEY'RE VERY FUN TO GO TO.
ENCOURAGING ANYONE IF THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO ATTEND A ROBOTICS TOURNAMENT.
WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT WAS MENTIONED AND THE THEME IS PURPOSE.
FOR 2025 THIS IS A GATHERING OF THE SCHOOL DIRECTORS, ADMINISTRATOR, EVERYBODY IN EDUCATION.
PURPOSE IS OUR THEME FOR 2025.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT LEADING WITH PURPOSE, MEANS GUIDING AND INSPIRING OTHERS WITH A CLEAR VISION AND MEANINGFUL INTENT.
THAT ALIGNS VERY WELL WITH WHAT WE JUST DID WITH OUR STUDY SESSION BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT A REALLY CLEAR INTENT AND IT'S ACTUALLY VERY INSPIRING TO BE IN ENGAGED WITH PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE ALL SITTING BACK AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM THERE TO DO TO GIVE US THE CONTENT AND THE ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM BY WHICH THEY'RE ADDRESSING THEIR WORK.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT GOES INTO MAKING THOSE PRESENTATIONS FOR US.
IT'S HELPFUL FOR OUR OWN EDUCATION AS BOARD MEMBERS.
THE OTHER THING I REALLY APPRECIATE IS OUR STUDENT VOICE ON THIS.
I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT YOUR VOICE REALLY MATTERS, AND WE ARE ONE OF THE DISTRICTS THAT WAS THE FIRST TO REALLY, AUTHENTICALLY, INTENTIONALLY ENGAGE STUDENT VOICE MORE.
IT'S ALWAYS A TOPIC AT THESE CONFERENCES.
HOW DO YOU DO IT? WHAT DO YOU DO? WHAT DO YOU DO AT EDMONDS? I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE MAKING AN IMPACT.
I LOOK BOTH WAYS. WITH THAT, I'LL PASS.
>> JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ON MY LIST GOT CHECKED OFF.
BUT I'M GOING TO ADD A COUPLE OF DETAILS.
ONE THING I REALLY LIKED ABOUT THE STUDY SESSION THAT WE DID TONIGHT IS IT WAS A CONTINUUM.
WE LOOKED AT KINDERGARTEN READINESS.
WE LOOKED AT GRADES, PRETTY MUCH K THROUGH, TEN, 12, READING AND MATH, BEING ON LEVEL, AND WE LOOKED AT GRADUATION RATES.
MONITORING THAT IS KEY SO I JUST AGAIN, SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF THE DISTRICT STAFF.
IN TERMS OF THE CONFERENCE COMING UP, SEVERAL OF US ARE GOING, BUT ALSO TWO OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE SENIORS NOW ARE GOING, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE WITH US AS WELL AT THE SCHOOL DIRECTORS CONFERENCE.
I'M GOING TO ADD SOMETHING THAT NO ONE HAS ADDED, AND I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING.
WE HAVE A LOT TO GIVE THANKS FOR.
I KNOW SOMETIMES THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES BUT THERE ARE WONDERFUL THINGS GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WE LIVE IN A WONDERFUL PLACE, AND I DEFINITELY GIVE THANKS FOR MY FAMILY AND MY COMMUNITY, AND YOU ARE PART OF MY COMMUNITY, AND I GIVE THANKS FOR YOU ALL. DOCTOR MINOR.
>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO THINGS TONIGHT.
AS A PERSON WHO'S BEEN A SUPERINTENDENT FOR A WHILE NOW, SOMETIMES I DON'T GO TO UNIQUE AND NEW ACTIVITIES TO ME.
BUT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO ESPORTS, WHICH, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE A MEMBER, DIRECTOR KILGORE, HER SON WAS VERY INVOLVED IN E SPORTS AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE.
ONE OF THE STUDENTS INVITED ME,
[01:45:02]
AND I HAD THE MARVELOUS OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH MR. OWENS, WHO IS A TEACHER AT THE SCHOOL, AS WELL AS THE STUDENTS AND JUST WATCH THEM IN THEIR TRUE COMMUNITY PLAYING ESPORTS.UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR MATCH THAT DAY GOT CANCELED.
BUT THE OTHER TEAM DID NOT SHOW, BUT JUST WATCHING THEM FIND COMMUNITY, MAKE FRIENDS, LEARN ALL KINDS OF VALUABLE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, WORK TOGETHER.
IT WAS MARVELOUS AND I'M SO GLAD I HAD THAT NEW OPPORTUNITY.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE FOLKS TO ON SATURDAY, WE HAVE OUR INTRO TO POWWOW DANCE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE EDMOND CENTER FOR THE ARTS AT THE ECA AND THE DISTRICT'S NATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM.
THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN 10:30 AND NOON AT THE ECA.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION IS STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR A COMMUNITY GATHERING, CELEBRATING CULTURE, LEARNING AND CONNECTION.
THE MORNING OFFERS WORKSHOPS AND AN INTRODUCTION TO POWWOW, TEACHINGS, AND MOVEMENT IN A WELCOMING INTER-GENERATIONAL SPACE.
THERE WILL ALSO BE COMPLIMENTARY TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS CATERING BY CHEF JASON BICKERS, AND SO YOU HAVE TO REGISTER FOR THAT, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR FAMILIES OR STUDENTS TO GO AHEAD AND REGISTER AND ATTEND.
>> I MISSED THE DAY, WHICH DAY WAS THAT SATURDAY?
>> THANK YOU. AND THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.