[00:00:02] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. [1. CALL TO ORDER-6:30 pm] THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. I'LL TAKE THE ROLL CALL, DIRECTOR GERARD? [2. ROLL CALL-6:31 pm (ALL TIMES ARE ESTIMATED)] >> PRESENT. >> DIRECTOR SMITH WILL BE JOINING US ON ZOOM AT ABOUT 7:30. DIRECTOR KRAMER IS UNABLE TO BE HERE. DIRECTOR CHASE. >> HERE. >> I'M DIRECTOR CATOM, SO WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK DR. MINOR TO DO THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR. [3. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-6:32 pm] >> THANK YOU, DR. CATOMS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THIS PLACE, THE SADOVIS PEOPLE, AND THEIR SUCCESSORS, THE TULE LP TRIBES, WHO, SINCE TIME AND MEMORIAL, HAVE TAKEN CARE OF, HUNTED, FISH, AND GATHERED ON THESE LANDS. WE RESPECT THEIR SOVEREIGNTY, THEIR RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION, AND WE HONOR THEIR SACRED SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH THE LAND AND WATER. BY ACKNOWLEDGING THESE HOMELANDS, WE COMMIT TO WORKING WITH TRIBAL NATIONS TO FURTHER THE EDUCATION AIMS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOLS. >> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR CLOSING THE DOOR. WE DON'T LIKE OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OR OUR FLAG SALUTE TO BE INTERRUPTED. AT THAT, IF EVERYBODY WOULD STAND AND JOIN ME IN THE FLAG SALUTE. [4. FLAG SALUTE-6:33 pm] NEXT IS APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA. [5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA-6:34 pm] DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE OUR AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MOVE TO APPROVE. >> I SECOND. >> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS. THEN TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. NEXT, WE HAVE CELEBRATIONS, [6. CELEBRATION- 6:35pm] WHICH WE LOVE, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR MINOR. >> I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY INVITING GREG SCHWAB FORWARD. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL EVENT, O OPEN DOORS GRADUATION. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR. SCHWAB. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. TONIGHT, WE'RE HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIPLOMA RECIPIENTS FROM THE GRADUATION OF LIONS OF EDMONDS, OUR OPEN DOORS PROGRAM. THESE STUDENTS CHOSE A DIFFERENT PATH, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS EASIER, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT ONE FOR THEM. OUR OPEN DOORS PROGRAM SERVES STUDENTS WHO FACE REAL LIFE CHALLENGES, LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES, DISRUPTIONS, SETBACKS, YOU NAME IT. AND INSTEAD OF STEPPING AWAY FROM SCHOOL, THEY LEANED BACK IN. THEY SHOWED PERSISTENCE, RESILIENCE, AND A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO FINISHING WHAT THEY STARTED. GRADUATION ALLIANCE EDMONDS PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY, SUPPORT, AND STRONG RELATIONSHIPS, AND OUR STAFF WORK ALONGSIDE STUDENTS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. THIS PARTNERSHIP MAKES A DIFFERENCE, AS YOU CAN SEE FOR THE DIPLOMAS THAT ARE TO BE PRESENTED HERE TONIGHT. TO THE GRADUATES, WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU. YOU'VE EARNED THIS, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU. A LIST. I THINK I HAVE A LIST HERE, AND I THINK WE HAVE ONE STUDENT THAT WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT. WE DO HAVE, I AM GOING TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED THIS MONTH. NOT HERE TONIGHT. THEY'VE ALREADY PICKED UP THEIR DIPLOMA AS JORDAN FERNANDEZ DE LA CRUZ. JANELLE APRESA VILI SENOR, JESSICA ENGLISH, ISAIAH ODOM, DIZZY HILL, MOUSSA AND BAI, SERA VASIKI, CHRISTOPHER DIA SANCHEZ, ROSALYN CONNELL AND IKA DENSA ALL PICK UP THEIR DIPLOMAS ALREADY. TONIGHT WE HAVE ISABELLE CORDOVA, WHO IS HERE, I BELIEVE, TO PICK UP TO RECEIVE HER DIPLOMA TO YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. >> CAREFUL OF VIOLET, CAREFUL OF MY CORES. FOR OUR NEXT CELEBRATION THIS EVENING, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME FORWARD ANGIE MCGUIRE FOR OUR FALL SPORTS RECOGNITIONS. [APPLAUSE] [00:05:05] >> ALL OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES CAN MAKE THEIR WAY UP HERE. I FIRST WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THESE STUDENT ATHLETES. THEY START COMPETING OUR FOOTBALL PLAYERS. WHAT WAS THAT AUGUST 17TH? LAST YEAR, EVERYONE ELSE AROUND THE 20TH, 25TH. THEY WENT FOR A LONG TIME. IT TAKES A LOT OF ENERGY TO GET THROUGH A FALL SPORTS SEASON. I JUST WANTED TO FIRST RECOGNIZE THANKS TO ANY COACHES, TEACHERS HERE IN THE ROOM, ANY SUPPORT STAFF THAT HELP WITH ATHLETICS, RAISE YOUR HAND. LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW COACHES HERE TONIGHT. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK ALL OF OUR FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN JUST MAGICALLY THAT STUDENT ATHLETES GET TO EVERY PRACTICE, HAVE THE RIGHT SOCKS, THEIR UNIFORMS ARE CLEAN, ALL OF IT. IT CERTAINLY TAKES A VILLAGE. THANK YOU, ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT ARE HERE AND ALL THE SUPPORTERS. ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT STAFF REALLY IS WHAT IT IS. STUDENT ATHLETES, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE YOU STEP FORWARD, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL HAND YOU YOUR CERTIFICATE. I'M GOING TO SAY A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOU. THEN WE'LL GET A PICTURE AT THE END. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH MADADALE HIGH SCHOOL FOR MADODALE HIGH SCHOOL, LANDON SMITH, MATADALE, CROSS COUNTRY. [APPLAUSE] LANDON, YOU CAN STAY OUT FOR JUST A MINUTE. LANDON IS A FOUR YEAR LETTER WINNER FOR THE MAVERICKS. HE'S A TEAM CAPTAIN, BOTH HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR SEASON. HE'S A THREE TIME STATE PARTICIPANT, WHICH IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE AND HE QUALIFIED AND COMPETED THIS FALL AT THE STATE CROSS COUNTRY MET. HE EARNED ALL WESCO RECOGNITION DURING HIS JUNIOR AND SENIOR SEASONS. AN IMPORTANT STAT OF LANDON'S, HIS PR, HIS PERSONAL RECORD AT THE LINDALE PARK COURSE, WHICH IS A 4K COURSE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR PR IS? 13 MINUTES AND 15 SECONDS FOR A 4K. WHAT THIS MEANS, BESIDES THE FACT THAT IT'S A SCHOOL RECORD, HE HOLDS THE COURSE RECORD AND A SCHOOL RECORD. THAT'S ABOUT A FIVE MINUTE, 22ND PACE IN CROSS COUNTRY, WHICH IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. CONGRATULATIONS, LANDON ON A GREAT CAREER AND A GREAT SEASON. [APPLAUSE] AND UP NEXT FOR MEDODALE GIRLS SOCCER, VICTORIA FAAME. [APPLAUSE] TORY SCORED 10 GOALS ON THE SEASON FOR THE MAVERICKS AND ALSO LED HER TEAM AND ASSISTS. SHE IS OFTEN NOT ANY SURPRISE ANYONE THE FOCUS OF OPPOSING TEAMS DEFENSES, THEIR DEFENSIVE STRATEGIES. SHE PLAYED ALMOST EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY GAME FOR THE MAVS, AND SHE EARNED FIRST TEAM ALL WESCO RECOGNITION LAST YEAR AS A FRESHMAN, AND THEN AGAIN, THIS YEAR AS A SOPHOMORE. ALTHOUGH AN UNDER CLASSMEN, HER COACH SAYS SHE IS A TEAM LEADER WHO GUIDES, SUPPORTS, AND MOTIVATES HER TEAMMATES. CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT SEASON TOO. [APPLAUSE] THEN UP NEXT FROM MOUNT LIKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL, SADIE RENI. [APPLAUSE] SADIE IS A JUNIOR ON THE CROSS COUNTRY TEAM AND AS A TEAM CAPTAIN FOR THE HAWKS. SHE FINISHED IN THE FIRST OR SECOND FOR THE TERRACE CROSS COUNTRY TEAM IN ALMOST EVERY RACE THIS SEASON. SHE'S QUALIFIED FOR THE STATE CROSS COUNTRY MET TWO TIMES AND PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN HELPING THE GIRLS TEAM QUALIFY AND REACH THE STATE MEET THIS PAST FALL. IN ADDITION TO CROSS COUNTRY, SHE'S ALSO ON THE CHEER TEAM, CHEER SQUAD AT MOUNT LAKE TERRACE. HER COACH SAYS THAT SHE ELEVATES THE PROGRAM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY IN CREATING FUN. SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, AND A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE HER TEAMMATES CAN GROW AND THRIVE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK, SADIE, CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR FOUR EDMONDS WOOD WAY GIRLS SOCCER PLAYERS. GO AHEAD AND STEP OUT. FIRST, MINA WATERS, YOU'LL HAVE TO WAVE SO SHE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE, MINA. LILY FRANK, ABBY PETERSON, AND JANIE HANSON. [APPLAUSE] THESE FOUR SENIORS, WE COULD NOT RECOGNIZE ONE WITHOUT RECOGNIZE ALL OF THEM, BUT I'LL SAY A FEW THINGS INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT THEM. MINA, CAN YOU STEP FORWARD FOR JUST A SECOND? [00:10:01] MINA IS A FIERCE COMPETITOR. SHE'S A DEFENDER, BUT SHE SCORED SEVEN GOALS FOR THE WARRIORS THIS SEASON. AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE ABOUT MINA IS THAT SHE MISSED HER ENTIRE JUNIOR SEASON BECAUSE OF AN ACL TEAR AND FOUGHT HER WAY BACK TO NOT ONLY COMPETE AS A SENIOR. BUT TO EARN FIRST TEAM ALL WEST CO HONORS AS A DEFENDER IS A LONG ROAD. IN ADDITION TO FIRST TEAM ALL WEST CO HONORS, SHE WAS NAMED THE WEST COST SOUTH DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR. CONGRATULATIONS, MINA. [APPLAUSE] AND THE WEST CO SOUTH IS A VERY DIFFICULT CONFERENCE TO PLAY IN. UP NEXT, LILY FRANK. LILY IS A CAPTAIN, A DEFENDER FOR THE WARRIORS. SHE PLAYED ACCORDING TO HER COACH, LOCKDOWN DEFENSE, ALL SEASON. SHE SCORED THREE GOALS FOR THE TEAM AND SUPPLIED THE HEART AND HUSTLE THAT FUELED THEIR RUN. LILLY EARNED FIRST TEAM ALL WESTCOT RECOGNITION AS A DEFENDER. CONGRATULATIONS, LILY. [APPLAUSE] ABBY PETERSON, ANOTHER SENIOR CAPTAIN FOR THE WARRIORS. SHE IS A FOUR YEAR LETTER WINNER FOR EDMONDS WOOD WAY. HER COACH SAID SHE WAS THE INSPIRATION AT THE MIDFIELD, WHICH IS A REALLY SOLID MIDFIELD TO BE A PART OF. SHE SCORED EIGHT GOALS THIS SEASON AND ALSO RECEIVED FIRST TEAM ALL WESCO HONORS AS A MIDFIELDER. CONGRATULATIONS. JANIE HANSON, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ALSO A TEAM CAPTAIN, FOUR YEAR LETTER WINNER FOR THE WARRIORS. SHE LED THE TEAM IN SCORING AS A JUNIOR, AND THEN TIED WITH ABBY WITH EIGHT GOALS THIS YEAR AS A SENIOR. SHE LED HER TEAM AND ASSIST, PLAYED ALMOST EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY GAME, AND SHE RECEIVED FIRST TEAM ALL WESTCO HONORS LAST YEAR AS A JUNIOR. AGAIN, THIS YEAR AS A SENIOR. IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS GROUP, COLLECTIVELY, K, JAMIE HANSON, RAN OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] ONE LAST THING AND I HAD THIS DOWN ABOUT JANIS, SHE HAS A MOTOR THAT JUST DOES NOT STOP. IF YOU'VE WATCHED HER PLAY SOCCER, JUST KEEPS GOING. THIS TEAM COLLECTIVELY OR THIS GROUP TOGETHER IN A WINNER TO STATE, LOSER OUT GAME IN THE DISTRICT TOURNAMENT. THESE FOUR SENIORS PULLED TOGETHER AND WERE KEY IN DEFEATING SHORE CREST, 2-1 WINNER TO STATE GAME, EVERYTHING ON THE LINE, HELPING LEAD EDMONDS WOOD WAY BACK TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVEN YEARS. CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES. THEN MOVING ON TO LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. I'M GOING TO START WITH JOSIA BROOKS. JOSIA GO AHEAD AND STEP OUT. [APPLAUSE] JASSIR IS A SENIOR ON THE LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM AND APPROACHED EVERY DAY WITH A RELENTLESS WORK ETHIC AND DEDICATION. HIS ON THE FIELD IMPACT WAS OUTSTANDING. AS A WIDE RECEIVER, HE CONTRIBUTED 658 ALL PURPOSE YARDS, SEVEN TOUCHDOWNS ON OFFENSE. HE PLAYED BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL, SO HE WAS ALSO A STARTING DEFENSIVE BACK, WHICH MEANS HE WAS ON THE FIELD THE ENTIRE GAME. AS A DEFENSIVE BACK, HE HAD 46 TACKLES, THREE INTERCEPTIONS, AND FOUR PASSES DEFENDED. IF YOU ATTENDED ANY GAME AT THE EDMOND STADIUM, YOU HEARD HIS NAME ANNOUNCED QUITE A BIT. HE RECEIVED FIRST TEAM ALL WESCO HONORS AS A DEFENSIVE BACK. HIS COACH SAID THAT JASSIR HAS A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AND HAS SET A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE THAT WILL RESONATE AT LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL LONG AFTER HIS GRADUATION. CONGRATULATIONS, JASSIR. [APPLAUSE] END UP NEXT FROM LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, DONOVAN GOLDSTON. [APPLAUSE] DONOVAN WAS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE TEAM PLAYING BOTH ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE AND DEFENSIVE LINE, WHICH IS NO EASY TASK TO BE ON THE FIELD THE ENTIRE GAME ON THE LINE. AM I RIGHT? [LAUGHTER] YES. ON THE SEASON, HE HAD 60 TACKLES, 15. HE HAD 60 TACKLES, 15 TACKLES FOR LOSS, THREE SACKS, THREE PASSES DEFENDED, FORCED FUMBLE AND A FUMBLE RECOVERY. HIS COACH SAID THAT THESE STATS ONLY TELL PART OF THE STORY AND THAT DONOVAN'S LEGACY OF UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND TOUGHNESS IS THE STANDARD HE LEAVES BEHIND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF LINWOOD ATHLETES. THAT'S AWESOME. DONOVAN RECEIVED FIRST TEAM ALL WESCO RECOGNITION AS A DEFENSIVE LINEMAN FOR LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT SEASON DONOVAN. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THEY FINISHED THEIR SEASON WITH [00:15:01] A HUGE WIN UP AT MARYVILLE GETCHELL, WHICH ALSO WAS JUST OUTSTANDING AND SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU GUYS AND YOUR HARD WORK. OUR LAST STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE EVENING, VIVIAN FAN LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, SWIMMING. >> VIVIAN, I KNOW YOU'RE WRESTLING RIGHT NOW, TOO, AND WHEN I DIDN'T SEE YOU, I THOUGHT, OH, NO, SHE'S NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH THIS GROUP. VIVIAN IS A FOUR YEAR MEMBER OF THE LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL SWIM TEAM. SHE ATTENDED THE DISTRICT TOURNAMENT AND COMPETED THREE OUT OF THOSE FOUR YEARS. THIS SEASON, SHE PLACED FIRST AT THE DISTRICT 1 SWIM MEET, WHICH IS ALL THE WAY FROM SHORE LINE, ALL THE WAY UP TO BLAINE DISTRICT 1. SHE PLACED FIRST AT THE DISTRICT 1 SWIM MEET IN THE ADAPTIVE 50 FREE, AND SHE ALSO PLACED FIRST IN THE ADAPTIVE 50 BACKSTROKE. THIS PAST NOVEMBER, SHE COMPETED AT THE STATE SWIM MEET IN FEDERAL WAY IN TWO EVENTS, PLACING SECOND IN STATE IN THE ADAPTIVE 50 BACKSTROKE. THEN IN HER SECOND EVENT, THE ADAPTIVE 50 FREESTYLE, SHE WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP [APPLAUSE] WAS THAT A LOT OF FUN? I BET IT WAS FUN. IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT WE GET TO RECOGNIZE A STATE CHAMPION. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND FOR DOING SUCH AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF REPRESENTING LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT DOWN AT THE STATE SWIM MEET. WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, VIVIAN [APPLAUSE] IF WE COULD JUST GIVE IT TAKES THE DEMANDS ON THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, WHAT THEIR DEMANDS IN THE CLASSROOM, AND MANY OF THEM PLAY MULTIPLE SPORTS. I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU, I'M PROUD OF ALL OF YOU AND FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. I KNOW IT'S REALLY COOL. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM HERE TONIGHT. IF WE COULD HAVE ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR FALL STUDENT ATHLETES, THAT'D BE GREAT [APPLAUSE] YOU GUYS ARE GOOD. YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, BUT YOU CAN. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, UNLESS YOU WANT TO. >> THANK YOU, EMILY. >> THANK YOU, ANGIE. >> NEXT, I'LL TURN IT OVER FOR OUR SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS. [7. SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS- 6:55 pm] >> IT'S A GREAT NIGHT WHEN WE GET TO CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM STUDENTS. THIS EVENING, I AM GOING TO WELCOME FORWARD DAN FALK, INTERIM PRINCIPAL AT SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL FOR HIS SIT PRESENTATION, AND THEN HE WILL TURN IT OVER TO SOME OF OUR SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. >> DR. ADAMS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. MINOR, MEMBERS OF THE CABINET. I'M DAN FALK, THE INTERIM PRINCIPAL OF SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I AM STOKED TO SHARE OUR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WITH YOU THIS EVENING. WHEN MOST STUDENTS ENTER SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL, HAVING FALLEN BEHIND IN CREDITS AND ACADEMIC SKILLS, WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT INTERVENTIONS, THEIR CHANCES OF GRADUATING ON TIME IS QUITE LOW. LESS THAN 20% OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE CLASS OF 2025 WERE ON TRACK TO GRADUATE ON TIME WHEN THEY ENTERED OUR SCHOOL. BUT AT SCRIBER, WE CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF STUDENTS' LIVES. THIS IS OUR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. I DO IT HERE. THANK YOU. OUR GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO INCREASE A GRADUATION RATE FROM 51.9-65%. WE CHOSE THIS GOAL BECAUSE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IS THE FUNDAMENTAL MEASURE OF STUDENT SUCCESS. I RECENTLY LOOKED UP SOME STATISTICS, AND A PERSON WITHOUT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. THE MEDIUM INCOME IS $27,000 A YEAR. WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, THEIR MEDIUM INCOME IS $37,000 A YEAR. THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. OUR THEORY OF ACTION IS THAT IF WE PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SUPPORT, [00:20:04] ALONG WITH CAREFUL PROGRESS MONITORING AND INTERVENTIONS, AN INCREASED PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WILL GRADUATE ON TIME, BECAUSE PROGRESS TOWARDS GRADUATION WILL BE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL, AND STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED, AS WELL AS CREDIT EARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO GRADUATE ON TIME. I WAS TOLD TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT PRESENTING TOO MUCH DATA, BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT. THERE WERE 56 STUDENTS IN THE CLASS OF 2025. THE SECOND COLUMN DOWN SHOWS HOW MANY STUDENTS ENTERED FOR EACH CLASS. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WERE 11 STUDENTS IN THE CLASS OF 2025 WHO ENTERED AS 12TH GRADERS. IN THE THIRD COLUMN OVER, YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF CREDITS THAT THEY EARNED THEY HAD EARNED PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL. IT'S NOTABLE THAT IN THE FOURTH COLUMN, WE SHOW THE AVERAGE CREDITS EARNED PER YEAR BEFORE SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL, THEN IN THE FOURTH COLUMN, WE SHOW THE AVERAGE CREDITS EARNED AT SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL. FOR EXAMPLE, AN ENTERING 10TH GRADER, PRIOR TO ENTERING SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY WERE EARNING 3.8 CREDITS A YEAR. AT SCRIBER, THEY WERE EARNING 6.4 CREDITS A YEAR. IF YOU GO DOWN THE COLUMN, YOU'LL SEE THAT STUDENTS EARN ALMOST TWO TIMES THE CREDITS PER YEAR AT SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL AS THEY DID AT THEIR PREVIOUS SCHOOLS. THAT IMPACTS GRADUATION RATES. THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS THAT SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES 52% OF THE STUDENTS WHO COME TO OUR SCHOOL. BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT ONLY 20% OF THE STUDENTS WHO WENT TO OUR SCHOOL ARE ON TRACK TO GRADUATE WHEN THEY ARRIVE THERE. THE FINAL COLUMN SHOWS THE GRADUATION RATE BY CLASS. I'M ALSO PROUD TO NOTE THAT THE SENIORS WHO ENTERED OUR SCHOOL WHILE 45% OF THEM GRADUATED ON TIME, ALL THE STUDENTS WHO ENTERED OUR SCHOOL AS 12TH GRADERS CONTINUED WORKING TOWARDS OUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS THIS FALL. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT GRADUATION RATE, SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL HAS WRAP AROUND SUPPORT, AND THAT INCLUDES AN ENTRY CLASS, WEEKLY STUDENT ASSISTANT TEAMS MEETINGS, AN ATTENDANCE TEAM AND MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY TO OUR STUDENTS. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT ENTRY CLASS FOR JUST A MOMENT. ENTRY CLASS IS FOR EVERY STUDENT WHEN THEY FIRST ENTER SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL, BECAUSE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS NEED TO RE ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AS LEARNERS IN THE SCHOOL. THEY LEARNED ABOUT HOW TO NAVIGATE SCRIBER, HOW TO GET ALONG IN A SCHOOL WHERE EVERYONE'S CALLED BY THEIR FIRST NAME, INCLUDING THE PRINCIPAL, WHICH TOOK A MOMENT FOR ME TO GET USED TO. THEY DO RELATED HANDS ON PROJECTS IN WRITING THAT SUPPORT THEIR PERSONAL GROWTH. THEY ALSO ESTABLISH A COHORT WITH THE STUDENTS THAT THEY ENTER THE SCHOOL WITH, AND THEY ALSO ESTABLISH THEIR FIRST RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEACHERS BECAUSE AT SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL, RELATIONSHIPS ARE REALLY THE KEY TO STUDENT GROWTH. WRAP AROUND SUPPORT ALSO INCLUDES A WEEKLY STUDENT ASSISTANT TEAM MEETING. THIS MEETS ON EVERY WEDNESDAY. WE PUT AN HOUR INTO THIS. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE EDUCATION SUPPORTS TO OUR KIDS ARE THERE, AND WE DEVELOP INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS AND MONITOR PROGRESS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE FALLING BEHIND. BECAUSE MANY OF THE STUDENTS WHO WENT TO OUR SCHOOL ARE TRAUMA IMPACTED, WE OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO THERAPISTS ON OUR STAFF. WE HAVE AN AMAZING STUDENT AND FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATE. WE HAVE A FULL TIME DRUG AND ALCOHOL INTERVENTIONIST ON OUR STAFF. IT'S NOTABLE, AND I'VE SEEN THIS WITH MY OWN EYES NOW THAT I'VE BEEN THERE FOR A MOMENT THAT ALL THE STAFF ARE TRAINED AND VERSED AND WELL VERSED IN TRAUMA INFORMED TEACHING PRACTICES. WE ALSO DO REGULAR PERSONALIZED STUDENT MONITORING. I'M GOING TO FOCUS HERE ON STUDENT LED CONFERENCES. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE THING. EVERY SEMESTER, TWO TIMES A YEAR, EACH STUDENT MEETS WITH THEIR FAMILY TEACHER AND A FAMILY MEMBER TO TRACK THEIR PROGRESS AT SCHOOL, TO MAKE GOALS, TO SET GOALS FOR NEXT STEPS, AND TO TALK THROUGH HOW THEY'RE DOING WITH THEIR FAMILIES ABOUT HOW THEY'RE PROGRESSING AT OUR SCHOOL. WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL CREDIT EARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS AT SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL. TYPICAL COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL OFFERS ABOUT SIX CREDITS PER YEAR. AT SCRIBER, A STUDENT WHO ATTENDS FULL TIME CAN EARN SEVEN CREDITS PER YEAR. [00:25:04] WE HAVE A ROBUST COMPETENCY BASED LEARNING PROGRAM WHERE STUDENTS WORK INDEPENDENTLY ON CONTRACTS, AND IN MANY SUBJECTS IN ORDER TO CATCH UP ON CREDIT. WE ALSO OFFER MANY COURSES, WHICH IS INTENSIVE WEEK LONG CLASSES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH RICH HANDS ON EXPERIENCES. THIS YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO BE AMONGST THE PROJECTS, THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN HOW TO BUILD. SOME STUDENTS WILL BE BUILDING A GUITAR IN ONE WEEK. SOME STUDENTS WILL BE BUILDING TINY HOUSES IN THE WEEK THAT THEY'RE THERE. A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON PROGRESS. THIS IS THE GRADES DISTRIBUTION BY PROGRAM FOR FIRST QUARTER THIS YEAR. IT'S NOT A HUGE CHANGE. IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025, 23% OF OUR STUDENTS WERE NOT PASSING CLASSES, 23% OF THE GRADES ISSUED WERE FAILING GRADES. THIS YEAR, THERE'S BEEN A SMALL IMPROVEMENT, ONLY 17% OF THOSE CLASSES ARE FAILING GRADES. THIS IS A MORE IMPORTANT DATA POINT. IN THE FALL OF 2024, 31% OF OUR SENIORS ARE ON TRACK TO GRADUATE AFTER THE FIRST QUARTER. PRESENTLY, 42% OF OUR SENIORS ARE ON TRACK TO GRADUATE. IN SUMMARY, WE'VE ESTABLISHED A SUCCESSFUL MODEL FOR IMPROVING GRADUATION RATES. WE HAVE HIGH IMPACT SUPPORT FOR OUR KIDS. WE DO CAREFUL AND FREQUENT PROGRESS MONITORING. WE HAVE INNOVATIVE WAYS FOR STUDENTS TO EARN CREDITS, AND WE'RE MAKING MEASURABLE PROGRESS IN IMPROVING THE GRADUATION RATE. THE DATA SHOWS THAT WE DON'T JUST TEACH STUDENTS. WE TRANSFORM THEIR TRAJECTORY. AT SCRIBER, WE OFFER HOPE. IN A FEW MINUTES, QUENTIN AND WILLIAM ARE GOING TO SHARE HOW SCRIBER OFFERED THEM HOPE, AS WELL AS HELP THEM CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I THINK THAT THIS IS AN EXCELLENT REPORT, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> I THINK YOU WERE VERY WISE TO GO BEFORE THE STUDENTS. >> I WATCH CROSBY CARPENTER'S PRESENTATION. I LEARNED FROM THAT. THANK YOU. >> THIS SEEMS LIKE AS YOU'RE MONITORING PROGRESS, AND LOOKING AT THE FUTURE YEARS COMING FORWARD, HOW DO YOU SEE THAT'S GOING TO THE LOOK AND FEEL? THIS LOOKS LIKE A VERY ROBUST PLAN AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN. I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT, AS THINGS CHANGE OVER THE YEARS, HOW YOU THINK THE FEEL AND LOOK WILL OF THIS STUDENT IMPROVEMENT PLAN. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WILL CHANGE. >> I THINK WE OFFER THE RIGHT SUPPORT SERVICES AT THE SCHOOL. I THINK THE STUDENT LED CONFERENCES ARE VERY STRONG. I DON'T KNOW THAT IN TERMS OF THIS ASPECT OF THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE MUCH CHANGE. THERE ARE CHANGES FOR THE SCHOOL THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT, BUT I'M THE INTERIM PRINCIPAL. I'M JUST GETTING STARTED, AND WE'RE JUST AT THE FIRST LAYER OF THE UNION. IT'S A WONDERFUL SCHOOL. BUT I DON'T PERCEIVE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE BIG CHANGES IN PROGRESS MONITORING, A BIG CHANGE IN THE COURSE OFFERINGS, THE CREDIT EARNING OPPORTUNITIES. I THINK SCRIBER HAS THAT DOWN RIGHT NOW AND I THINK WE JUST KEEP WORKING THAT SAME PLAN TO CHIP AWAY. >> THAT'S GREAT. THANKS. >> THANK YOU. >> THE SENIORS WHO DIDN'T GRADUATE, BUT YOU SAID THEY'RE STILL ENGAGED, ARE THEY GOING TO OPEN DOORS OR DO THEY STILL GET TO GO TO SCRIBER, OR WHERE ARE THEY? >> THERE'S SOME STUDENTS THAT ARE STILL IN SCHOOL PURSUING THEIR DIPLOMA, SOME STUDENTS THAT ARE IN OPEN DOORS, AND THEN THERE'S OTHER DIPLOMA OFFERINGS AROUND THAT THEY'RE IN. WHAT I KNOW IS THAT THEY'RE ALL ENGAGED. THAT'S THE QUESTION I ASKED OUR REGISTRAR, THAT'S THE QUESTION I ASKED OUR COUNSELOR. >> GREAT. WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SENIORS, THE CONFERENCES THAT THEY HAD, YOU SAID WITH COUNSELOR AND FAMILY TEACHER. CAN YOU EXPLAIN A FAMILY TEACHER? >> IT'S NOT A COUNSELOR AND THE FAMILY TEACHER. IT'S THEIR FAMILY TEACHER, AND I SHOULD HAVE GONE INTO SOME DETAIL ABOUT THAT. FROM THEIR ENTRY INTO SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH GRADUATION, THEY'RE IN THE SAME FAMILY CLASS WITH THE SAME TEACHER, AND THEY FORM A COHORT. THAT TEACHER ACTS AS THEIR ADVISOR AND MENTOR DURING THE TIME THAT THEY'RE SUBSCRIBER. WHEN THEY HAVE THE STUDENT LED CONFERENCES, THE STUDENT AND THE FAMILY TEACHER AND THAT STUDENTS FAMILY PARENTS OR PARENT OR GUARDIANS GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THAT STUDENT'S PROGRESS AT SCHOOL. >> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. [00:30:01] >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> I HAD A FOLLOW QUESTION ON THAT. HOW DO YOU GUYS GRAPPLE WITH STUDENTS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A SUPER STRONG FAMILY UNIT THAT CAN BE AVAILABLE TO COME? >> WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO COME WITH FRIENDS, MENTORS. THIS, IN FACT, EVEN IF A STUDENT HAS A FAMILY MEMBER, A STUDENT MAY CHOOSE NOT TO. THEY CHOOSE THE FAMILY THAT THEY COME WITH. GOOD QUESTION. >> THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED. YES, I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, AS AN EDMONDS HIGH STUDENT, WE SHARE A CAMPUS, AND I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF ANYTHING THAT GOES ON A SCRIBER, SO IT'S NICE TO HEAR ABOUT IT BECAUSE CAMPUSES ARE CONNECTED, BUT OUR PROGRAMS ARE VERY DIFFERENT, SO IT'S NICE TO HEAR ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> DAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE DATA. YOU CAN'T GIVE ME TOO MUCH DATA, BUT YOU DID JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT AND IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. I ALSO THINK, FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE SCRIBER LIKE I LOVE THE KIDS. EVERY TIME I VISIT THERE, JUST TALKING WITH THEM, IT'S A VERY SPECIAL PLACE. I THINK YOU'RE A REALLY GOOD, KNOWING YOU FOR MANY YEARS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I THINK IT'S A VERY POSITIVE THING. YOU HAVE WONDERFUL EXPECTATIONS FOR BRINGING SUCCESS TO ALL THE KIDS, BUT IN A VERY CARING AND APPROPRIATE WAY FOR THEIR NEEDS IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. IT OFFERS HOPE, I THINK IT IS THE PERFECT PIECE. I ALSO AGREE THAT IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE THE STUDENTS FOLLOW YOU INSTEAD OF GO FIRST. [LAUGHTER] IT MAY BE SOMETHING THE REST OF THE PRINCIPALS WILL CHOOSE TO DO. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. GAMES. THANK YOU. QUENTIN WILL. [APPLAUSE] >> THANKS, FANTASTIC. YOU GUYS WILL BE ON THE CLICKER. THIS IS THE THING THAT YOU WANT TO DO FOR YOU? >> ALL RIGHT, WE READY? HI EVERYONE. MY NAME IS QUENTIN MONSOLO, AND THIS IS A FRIEND OF MINE. >> MY NAME IS WILLIAM TANGO. >> WE ARE HERE TO BE TALKING ABOUT HOW SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL AND HOW IT GAVE US HOPE AND SUPPORT THROUGH OUR HIGH SCHOOL JOURNEY WITH BOTH SCHOOL AND LIFE. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH PHYSICAL HEALTH. I CAME HERE LAST YEAR IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF MY JUNIOR YEAR, AND I'M A VERY TALKATIVE PERSON. I JUST LIKE GET TO KNOW EVERYONE, 'CAUSE THAT'S JUST WHO I AM. I WAS TALKING TO THE SECURITY GUARD, GARY, AT THE TIME. HE NO LONGER WORKS THERE. I REALLY WANTED TO GET IN THE BOXING. IT'S A PASSION OF MINE. ME COMING TO THE PLACE. I LIVE AT A HOMELESS SHELTER. I HAVE NO SOURCES OF INCOME, I HAVE NO MONEY, NO ONE THAT'D BE WILLING TO SUPPORT ME TO HELP ME DO THAT. HE WAS SAYING THAT I KNOW A GUY'S NAME IS MIKE KIRKMAN, AND THAT HE WOULD GIVE HIM A CALL AND SEE IF HE WOULD. IF I'M BEING HONEST, I THINK I THOUGHT HE WAS JUST LYING TO ME, JUST TRYING TO GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE. BUT HE SAID THAT HE GAVE HIM A CALL. HE DIDN'T ANSWER, BUT HE LEFT THE TEXT, AND HE LET ME KNOW WHEN HE RESPONDED. EVERY DAY I'D COME UP TO HIM, I'D ASK HIM IF HE SAID ANYTHING. EVERY DAY I'D ASK HIM AND HE SAID, NO, NOT YET. THAT HOPE STARTED GOING AWAY AND THEN ONE DAY I CAME AND HE SAID GUESS WHO TEXTED ME. IT WAS MIKE KIRKMAN. HE SAID, YOU CAN GIVE HIM A CALL, AND I GAVE HIM A CALL. I GAVE HIM A CALL, AND HE SAID I CAN COME IN. I CAME IN FOR THE FIRST TIME TO THE BOXING GYM IN NOVEMBER 24 TO LAST YEAR. NOW I GO THERE FIVE TIMES A WEEK, AND I'M PURSUING A CAREER IN BOXING, AND I HAVE NOW FIVE FIGHTS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY HELPED ME TO HELP ME CONTROL MY EMOTIONS AND GET ME A REALLY GOOD WORKOUT BECAUSE I'M A VERY, HOW DO I SAY THIS ENERGETIC HUMAN BEING? I GO CRAZY, I'LL START BOUNCING AROUND SOMETIMES, AND IT REALLY GIVES ME AN OUTLET TO HELP ME CONTROL MYSELF. TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND HAVE A PHENOMENAL WORKOUT. >> [APPLAUSE] SIMILAR TO THE QUENTIN STORY. I WAS TALKING WITH ONE OF MY TEACHERS. DURING THE TIME, I WAS NOT IN GREAT SHAPE. I'M NOT GOING TO LIE. I WAS VERY, REALLY CHUBBY. I WON'T LIE. DURING THE TIME, I REALLY WANTED TO GET BACK INTO FOOTBALL. I'VE BEEN PLAYING IT FOR YEARS UNTIL I RETIRED BECAUSE MY BODY'S, [00:35:04] LIKE, IT'S REALLY OLD FOR MY AGE, AND IT'S REALLY BATTERED. BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET BACK INTO FOOTBALL TALKING TO ONE OF MY TEACHERS, MELISSA. SHE'S MY PE TEACHER. SHE HAS, CONNECTIONS TO [INAUDIBLE] HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE WAS ABLE TO GET ME BACK INTO FOOTBALL FOR FREE. I WAS ABLE TO LET OUT ALL MY AGGRESSION ON THE FIELD. I GOT A LOT OF PANCAKES, SO I'M NOT I LIKE A STREAK OF PANCAKES. IT WAS ALSO A GREAT STRESS RELIEF. IT REALLY HELPED ME DURING THE TIME. ALSO, I GOT BACK INTO SHAPE. THERE'S ALSO THE GYM AT THE SCHOOL. SEE, LAST YEAR, I WAS HESITANT ON GOING TO THE GYM 'CAUSE, IT LOOKED INTIMIDATING. BUT AFTER I GOT TO KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO LIFTED THERE. THEY'RE REALLY LIKE QUENTIN, I WAS INTIMIDATED BY THIS DUDE. >> YEAH, NO, HE'S GO TO BE INTIMIDATED BY HIM. >> I WAS INTIMIDATED BY HIM UNTIL I MET HIM. I ACTUALLY GOT TO KNOW HIM. HE'S REALLY COOL, DUDE, REALLY ENERGETIC. HE'S ONE OF THE COOLEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET. >> THANK YOU. HE'S A LOT. >> HE'S ALSO PRETTY COOL TO LIFT WITH. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL CAUSE I WAS ABLE TO BUILD SOME OF THE OLD MUSCLE 'CAUSE I USED TO LIFT, BUT I STOPPED LIFTING, AND I GOT A FAT DAD BUILD. I'M JUST REALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT. >> TAKE OFF. >> MENTAL HEALTH, DURING, NINTH GRADE, MY DAD PASSED AWAY. IT WAS REALLY JUST IMPACTFUL ON MY LIFE. I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY REALLY HELPED ME. MY MOM, SHE JUST LEFT ONE DAY, AND I WAS SO CONFUSED. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE SCHOOL REALLY HELPED ME WITH MENTAL HEALTH. THEY ENCOURAGED ME, EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT. I REALLY THOUGHT AS MENTAL HEALTH, LIKE, A SOFT THING THAT'S NOT A MAN THING TO DO. BUT THE WHOLE SCHOOL IN GENERAL, THEY REALLY JUST CHANGED MY VIEW ON LIFE AND MY MENTAL HEALTH, AND I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. THEY HELPED ME, PROCESS MY DAD'S DEATH, OBVIOUSLY. I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT. >> WE LOVE YOU, BRO. WE LOVE YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I LIVE AT A HOMELESS SHELTER. I'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH HOMELESSLY SINCE I WAS 15-YEARS-OLD. LAST SUMMER, I WAS LIVING WITH A FRIEND OF MINE'S DAD. HIS NAME WAS NICK, AND HE SAID THAT I COULD STAY FOR THE SUMMER, AND THEN I HAD TO FIND A NEW PLACE TO GO. I STAYED THERE FOR THE SUMMER, WENT BY EXTREMELY QUICK. NEXT THING I KNEW, I HAD TO FIND A PLACE TO GO, HAD NO IDEA HOW TO DO THAT, HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO GO. OUR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER, KAREN SAVIER WAS MUCH OBLIGED TO DEDICATE A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A PLACE TO GO, MAKING CALL AFTER A CALL, JUST TRYING TO FIND SOMEWHERE FOR ME TO GO. SHE DID. SHE TOLD ME THERE'S A SHELTER CALLED YOUTH CARE AND YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM A CALL TODAY. THERE'S A BED FOR YOU, BUT IT MIGHT BE TAKEN AWAY. IF IT WASN'T FOR HER, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE A A PLACE TO STAY, AND I'D PROBABLY BE SLEEPING OUTSIDE. I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL WANT SOMEWHERE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT. [APPLAUSE] >> A YEAR AGO, I WAS EVICTED. ME AND MY FAMILY WE WERE EVICTED FROM OUR HOUSE. KARIS CONTACTED WAKITS. THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THE CROWD, KIM GORNEY RIGHT THERE. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET US A HOTEL VOUCHER TO STAY IN A HOTEL TO, 3-4 WEEKS, AND THEY REALLY HELPED US TO, GET BACK ON OUR FEET. IT WAS JUST REALLY HELPFUL. I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR A PLACE TO SLEEP. I DON'T WANT TO SLEEP ON THE STREETS. I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR WAKITS TO SCHOOL. THEY'VE JUST REALLY CHANGED MY LIFE. JUST THANK YOU. [00:40:08] >> I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GIVE OFFICE SHOUT OUT TO WAKITS FOR ALL THE SUPPORTS AND DONATIONS THEY CAN GIVE OUT TO PEOPLE FOR NOT ONLY PEOPLE LIKE US THAT STRUGGLE WITH HOMELESSNESS, BUT JUST PEOPLE. THEY HAVE STUFF LIKE GIFT CARDS, HYGIENE PRODUCTS. THEY CAN HELP YOU PAY FOR A CELL PHONE BILL. THEY COULD EVEN PROVIDE THE CLOTHES, LIKE, WHAT I'M WEARING RIGHT NOW, THIS IS FROM WAKITS. THEY PROVIDED THIS, WHICH IT'S REALLY NICE OF THEM. THEY CAN EVEN DO STUFF THAT'S NOT EVEN REALLY, IMPORTANT. I GUESS TO ME, IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S NOT A NECESSITY IN LIFE. THEY COULD PAY FOR A GYM MEMBERSHIP IF YOU NEEDED. THEY CAN MAKE AMAZING THINGS HAPPEN IF YOU'RE JUST WILLING TO ASK. >> AS YOU CAN SEE HERE. THIS IS ACTUALLY ME RIGHT HERE. LIKE THE HAIR I HAD ALL THAT HAIR, LIKE, RIGHT THERE. THAT'S ME. IT'S VERY OBVIOUS. YOU CAN SEE I HAD LIKE A LIKE FAT DAD BUILT, AS YOU CAN SEE. >> NOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A FAT DAD. YOU'RE NOT FAT. >> NOT NOW, LIKE IT'S WAY BETTER NOW. >> WAKITS, THEY'VE HELPED ME GET AIRLINE TICKETS TO GO VISIT MY GRANDMA'S GRAVE 'CAUSE SHE RECENTLY PASSED. I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY DECORATE HER GRAVE AND I ACTUALLY SLEPT RIGHT NEXT TO HER GRAVE, AND I WOKE UP, AND, LIKE, A DOG WAS LIKE LICKING ME 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF STRAIGHT DOGS IN THONG. ALSO, I HAVE DIABETES. I'VE TYPE 2. I DIDN'T HAVE A CELL PHONE AT THE TIME, AND MY PHONE BROKE. KARIS RIGHT HERE. YOU JUST FOUND ME. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET ME A PHONE BECAUSE I NEEDED DEXCOM TO READ MY NUMBERS. ALSO, FOOTBALL. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ME, LIKE, SPORTS EQUIPMENT. MELISSA, SHE TALKED WITH KARIS, AND THEY CONTACTED WAKITS, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET A PAIR OF SHIRTS. I WAS SURPRISED I GOT SHIRTS, 'CAUSE I WAS JUST GOING TO WEAR SOME REALLY BAGGY SHIRTS, BUT THE SHIRTS THEY GOT WERE REALLY FANCY. I WAS LIKE, WHAT THE HECK? WHAT'S IT CALLED? TOM. TOM RIGHT HERE. THIS ALL KENNER HERE. DURING SCHOOL, HE RAN INTO THE SCHOOL, AND HE GAVE ME A MOUTH GUARD BECAUSE I WASN'T ABLE TO HIT IN ANY DRILLS. MY COACH WAS REALLY MAD ABOUT THAT. I WAS ABOUT TO RUN LAPS. THAT'S HOW BAD IT WAS. ALSO, THE HYGIENE. I USED TO HAVE ACNE INFECTED FACE, BUT AT THE SCHOOL, THERE'S A LITTLE SECTION WHERE THERE'S JUST A BUNCH OF HYGIENE PRODUCTS. THERE'S THE OWNER, CONDITIONER, SHAMPOO, SOAP, THE BASIC NECESSITIES. I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. ALSO, THE GIFT CARDS WITH KARIS. SHE'S GIVEN ME AND MY SISTER. SHE'S MY CURRENT GUARDIAN RIGHT NOW, SO SHE'S MY PARENT. SHE WAS ABLE TO GIVE HER GAS, GIFT CARDS 'CAUSE, GAS IS HIGH RIGHT NOW. WE DIDN'T TRIED TO PAY FOR THAT. I HAVE NO WORDS. I'M JUST REALLY SPEECHLESS. NO OTHER SCHOOL HAS REALLY BENEFITED ME THIS MUCH. I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL. >> BACK TO ME LIVING AT A HOMELESS SHELTER. I KNOW IT'S GETTING A LITTLE OLD NOW. I LIVE AT THE COCOON HOUSE NOW, AND THEY SERVE ONE MEAL A NIGHT. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR ALL OF OUR OTHER FOOD. I HAVE EBT, WHICH I GET PAID A LITTLE BIT UNDER $300 A MONTH. I'M SURE, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THAT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY TO PAY FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH'S FOOD OF THREE MEALS A DAY, ESPECIALLY FOR A PERSON LIKE ME THAT LIKES TO EAT A LOT OF FOOD. SCRIBER HAS A VERY EASY ACCESS FOOD PANTRY WITH ALL DIFFERENT FOODS THAT HAS ALLOWED ME TO BE ABLE TO PUT FOOD ON MY TABLE, AND EVEN TO HELP PUT FOOD ON MY GIRLFRIEND'S ENTIRE FAMILY'S TABLE. THEY HAVE ALL THINGS, THEY GOT MEAT, THEY GOT VEGETABLES, THEY GOT FRUITS, THEY GOT COOKIES. [00:45:02] THEY GOT ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD REALLY THINK OF. IT JUST HELPS TO ADD EXTRA INSURANCE THAT WAY. I KNOW I WON'T GO HUNGRY. ESPECIALLY IN EVENTS LIKE WE HAD A RECENT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, WHICH I'M SURE YOU ALL HEARD ABOUT, AND EBT WAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, AND I WOULD HAVE HAD ZERO FOOD IF IT WASN'T FOR THE FOOD PANTRY, SO IT'S A BIG LIFESAVER. STEVEN GAVE US OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE NEW RECIPES AND JUST TO EXPLORE A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO I LIKE TO EAT FOOD. I LIKE MAKING NEW FOOD, AND I JUST LIKE TO COOK. I'VE MADE TOMATO SOUP. THIS REALLY BIG STEW THAT WAS REALLY GOOD. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. >> DURING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THIS, THE FOOD BANKS, THEY WERE REALLY PACKED, AND WE WERE WAITING, ALMOST HOURS JUST TO GET TWO BAGS OF FOOD. THE FOOD PANTRY, IT JUST REALLY HELPED A LOT. IT'S, LIKE, A WAY BETTER FOOD BANK. THE PROCESS IS NOT EVEN THAT HARD. YOU JUST SIGN UP, AND THAT'S IT. OBVIOUSLY, APPLE PIE. I'M MORE OF A BAKER THAN HE'S A COOKER. WAS IT LIKE A FOOD BATTLE? I DON'T KNOW I'M NOT REALLY COOK. I COOK, BUT, I'M MORE OF A BAKER. >> TERRIBLE AT BAKING. TERRIBLE. I DON'T KNOW WHY. IT'S LIKE A CURSE. >> THERE'S PROOF OF THIS, QUENTIN, HE COOKS HIS OWN FOOD. HE BRINGS IT. I ASKED HIM SOMETIMES, WHAT HE GOT TO EAT DURING LUNCH? HE'S JUST MUNCHING ON IT. ONE DAY, HE JUST BROUGHT, A BIG BOWL OF SOUP, AND I WAS LIKE, WHAT THE HECK? IT'S JUST A REALLY GREAT RESOURCE, AND I THINK IT IS VERY BENEFICIAL FOR THE STUDENTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH GETTING FOOD AND EVERYTHING. >> I DON'T REALLY GOT TO SAY MUCH YEAR. IF YOU CAN SEE THIS. THIS IS MY GPA FROM NINTH GRADE, MY FIRST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, UNTIL NOW. I LITERALLY DIDN'T HAVE A GPA OF ONE DURING MY NINTH GRADE YEAR. AS SOON AS MY FIRST YEAR AT SCRIBER, MY JUNIOR YEAR, IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO 3.6. YES, THAT IS FROM MY EFFORTS, BUT ALSO FROM THE SUPPORT AND MOTIVATION OF THE STAFF MEMBERS AND MY FELLOW PEERS. I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE IN THIS POSITION IF I WAS AT ANY OTHER HIGH SCHOOL. ANOTHER COOL THING IS THERE'S NO HOMEWORK HERE, TOO, WHICH I ABSOLUTELY LOVE. I HATE HOMEWORK WITH THE PASSION, I ALWAYS HAVE. BUT IT'S JUST A REALLY COOL THING ABOUT SCRIBER. >> OBVIOUSLY, YOU REALLY DON'T GOT TO LOOK AT IT, TOO. YOU CAN SEE HOW IT WENT UP. DURING EIGHTH GRADE, THAT'S WHEN MY MOM LEFT, AND I WAS JUST STUCK TAKING CARE OF MY DAD BECAUSE HE WAS SICK. I JUST DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL. I RARELY SHOWED UP TO SCHOOL, AND THAT'S WHEN I FAILED. IN NINTH GRADE, THAT WAS MY REDEMPTION, BUT THEN HE PASSED AWAY. I JUST HAD A DOWNFALL, BUT THE STAFF, THE STUDENTS IN 10TH GRADE, IT MADE ME PROCESS EVERYTHING, AND I WAS ABLE TO RISE FROM THE DEPTHS. THAT'S A FANCY WORD. I DON'T KNOW. [LAUGHTER] I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW. IT'S STILL CRAZY FOR ME TO THINK. I WAS DEBATING OFF THIS LAST NIGHT, HOW DID I GET HERE? THEN OBVIOUSLY IT'S FROM THE SUPPORT FROM THE STAFF, THE COMMUNITY. WHAT ELSE? I JUST FORGOT. SORRY. I JUST HAD A BRAIN FOG. >> IT'S ALL GOOD. YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO SAY THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCRIBER'S TEACHERS? >> MANY COURSES. IT'S A REALLY COOL THING ABOUT THE SCHOOL, WHICH I'M PRETTY SURE YOU CAN'T FIND AT ANY OTHER SCHOOL. MANY COURSES ARE, WHICH I'M SURE MOST OF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. IT'S A SCHOOL WEEK, SO FIVE DAYS WHERE YOU GET TO CHOOSE A MINI CLASS THAT YOU GET TO FOCUS ON THAT ENTIRE WEEK OF YOUR CHOICE, THAT YOU CAN EARN UP TO 0.25 CREDITS IN A SPAN OF FIVE DAYS, WHICH IS A LOT OF CREDITS IN A SPAN OF FIVE DAYS. THEY GOT REALLY COOL THINGS. LAST YEAR, THEY HAD THIS ROBOTICS ONE, WHERE YOU BUILT ROBOTS TO FIGHT EACH OTHER. THEY HAD ONE WHERE YOU GOT TO BUILD A GUITAR AND KEEP THE GUITAR, IF I'M MISTAKEN. [00:50:01] THERE WAS A GARDENING ONE, WHICH BOTH ME AND WILLIAM DID. IT WAS REALLY FUN. WE BUILT THE GARDEN BEDS FROM SCRATCH. WE PUT THE DIRT INTO THE GARDEN BEDS, AND WE PLANTED EVERYTHING THAT THERE WAS THERE. IT WAS REALLY COOL. I GOT TO RALLY A MASSIVE ARMY OF PEOPLE TO COME HELP US BECAUSE NO WAS DOING ANYTHING. [LAUGHTER] SORRY, CAN GO BACK. I WANT TO ADD ON. I WAS JUST SHOVELING DIRT. THEN HE JUST COMES WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE HOLDING SHOVELS. I'M LIKE, WHAT'S HAPPENING? HE'S LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO GET THE JOB DONE. OR SOMETHING. OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN SEE THAT'S ME WITH THE BUSH ON MY HEAD, AND THAT'S QUENTIN OVER THERE. THAT'S JUST A FEW OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME, WHO HE BROUGHT. THERE WAS MORE PEOPLE. THERE WAS A WHOLE GROUP. IT WAS JUST REALLY PACKED, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS THE GARDENER NOW. IT IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. WE ALSO HAVE SUNFLOWERS. IT'S NOT IN THE PHOTO, BUT. >> LET THERE BE KNOWN, THERE'S SUNFLOWERS. [LAUGHTER] STAFF RELATIONSHIPS. IT JUST FEELS LIKE MORE OF A GENUINE RELATIONSHIP THAN WHAT IT FELT LIKE AT OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS. I THINK A BIG PART OF THAT IS ONE, I DON'T GOT TO CALL YOU MR. OR MS., WHICH IT JUST SEEMS MORE GENUINE, AND YET, TO GET MORE FAMILIAR WITH THEM BY CALLING THEIR FIRST NAME. IT WAS INTERESTING AT FIRST BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL THAT I'VE EVER GONE TO, YOU GOT TO CALL THEM MR. AND MS. BUT OVER AT SCRIBER, YOU CALLED THEM BY THEIR FIRST NAME. THEY DON'T JUST TRY TO KEEP IT ABOUT SCHOOL, THEY'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT JUST STUFF ABOUT LIFE. THEY'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT REALLY ANYTHING, ANYTHING THAT YOU BRING UP, THEY'RE REALLY COOL PEOPLE. THEY TALK TO YOU ABOUT OR THEY DON'T TALK TO YOU LIKE YOU'RE A STUDENT. THEY TALK TO YOU LIKE YOU'RE ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. IT JUST SEEMS REALLY GENUINE. ALMOST LIKE A FAMILY COMMUNITY. THEY'LL COME AND DO STUFF THAT YOU'RE DOING EXAMPLE, DAN, OUR PRINCIPAL OVER THERE. A VERY WONDERFUL PRINCIPAL, BY THE WAY. HE'S ONE OF THE COOLEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET. HE'LL COME TO THE GYM, AND HE'LL JUST START WHIPPING OUT PULL UPS. I'M LIKE, WHAT THE HELL? YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A GRAY BEARD, AND YOU'RE DOING MORE PULL UPS THAN I CAN DO. HE'LL START SHOWING PEOPLE HOW THEY'RE PROPERLY LIFT. HE EVEN PLAYED A GAME WITH FOOTBALL WITH ME. I INDEED LOST, [LAUGHTER] BUT IT WAS STILL PRETTY FUN. CONTINUING THAT. I REMEMBER I WAS WORKING. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT'S BEEN A MINUTE SINCE I'VE DEADLIFTED AND STUFF. DAN, SOMETHING LIKE TELEPORTS. HE CAME UP BEHIND ME, AND HE WAS LIKE, YOUR FORM IS WRONG. THEN HE TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING I KNOW. AT FIRST, DEADLIFTING WAS REALLY HARD. NOW THAT I KNOW THE FORM, IT'S JUST REALLY EASY. I DON'T WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT. THAT'S TOO MUCH OF DETAIL. BUT ONE DAY, DAN JUST CAME UP BEHIND ME. HE JUST STARTED DOING PULL UPS. I THINK HE WAS FLEXING ON ME. I DON'T KNOW. [LAUGHTER] CAUSE I CAN'T DO A SINGLE PULL UP. THE GYM AT OUR SCHOOL IT'S VERY RANDOM, BUT IN A GOOD WAY. SCRIBER IS A SMALL, BUT VERY DIVERSE ZOOTOPIA, OF ABOUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT YOU CAN THINK OF, THERE. IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING BECAUSE, ACTUALLY, EVERY OTHER SCHOOL THAT I'VE GONE TO, THERE'S BEEF. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEF SOMEWHERE. THERE'S GOT TO BE DRAMA, BUT AT SCRIBER, VERY RARE WHERE YOU SEE ANY PROBLEM HAPPEN. EVERYONE JUST GETS ALONG, DOES THEIR OWN THING. EVERYONE MIGHT NOT TALK TO EACH OTHER, BUT WHEN THEY DO TALK, IT'S ALWAYS FRIENDLY. IT JUST SEEMS JUST LIKE A REALLY CHILL AND KIND COMMUNITY ALMOST ALL THE TIME. I'M SURE IF YOU WERE TO GO THERE, YOU'LL FEEL THE VIBE IMMEDIATELY. YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE A GOOD TIME. >> CONTINUE ON WHAT QUENTIN WAS TALKING ABOUT. THERE'S LIKE THERE'S GREAT TONALITY. I'M THE TYPE OF PERSON TO SAY GOOD MORNING. IS ALISON HERE? WELL, THE STAFF, LIKE YOU SEE OVER HERE, THEY GO TO OUR SCHOOL. I ALWAYS SAY GOOD MORNING TO THEM. I THINK THAT GOOD TONALITY IS A REALLY GOOD THING, AND IT BRIGHTENS OTHER PEOPLE'S DAY. I'M ALL ABOUT MAKING PEOPLE'S DAYS. SCRIBER A COMMUNITY TO ME, LIKE WHAT QUENTIN SAID, IT'S LIKE A ZOOTOPIA. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S REFERRING TO THE MOVIE, BUT. [LAUGHTER] THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE JUST REALLY EASY TO GET ALONG WITH. THEY'RE PEOPLE WHO I DIDN'T THINK I'D EVER TALK TO, [00:55:03] BUT THEN I'D BE LIKE IN THE CORNER, JUST RANTING AND STUFF. THERE'S ALSO NO HOMEWORK. OUR FIRST RECORDING, I ALREADY SAID THAT. BUT THAT ALLOWS ME TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO AFTER SCHOOL, LIKE PRACTICE. I DON'T WANT TO WORRY ABOUT HOMEWORK AFTER I'M DONE CONDITION. THERE'S ONE DAY WHERE OUR COACH GOT MAD AT US, AND HE MADE US RUN FIELD AND BACK, FIELD AND BACK, AND I WAS JUST VIGOROUS CONDITIONING. I'M JUST GRATEFUL I DIDN'T HAVE HOMEWORK ON MY MIND. [LAUGHTER]. >> WHEN I FIRST CAME TO SCRIBER, IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF MY JUNIOR YEAR, I HAD A WHOPPING 4.25 CREDITS, WHICH IS FAR BELOW WHAT A JUNIOR NEEDS IN ORDER TO BE ON TRACK TO GRADUATE, WHICH IS DOING THE SCHOOL WORK, THEY'RE JUST DOING THEIR REGULAR CLASSES. HONESTLY, I DIDN'T THINK I HAD ANY CHANCE AT ALL OF GRADUATING. I WAS JUST THERE BECAUSE I HAD NOTHING BETTER TO DO, WASTING TIME. I WAS THINKING I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO JUST LEAVE THERE EVENTUALLY AND SETTLE FOR MY GD, BECAUSE ESPECIALLY FOR ME AT THE SHELTER I LIVE AT. I'M OUT WHEN I'M 18, AND THEN AT THAT POINT, I JUST HAVE TO FIND MONEY AND JUST TRY TO FEND FOR MYSELF. BUT WITH THE MOTIVATION AND SUPPORT OF NOT ONLY STAFF, BUT PEERS, THEY JUST MOTIVATE ME TO KEEP TRYING, AND SLOWLY MY CREDIT STARTED GOING UP. THEY WERE GOING UP PRETTY QUICK. I WAS DOING ALL MY CLASSWORK, AND I WAS ALSO DOING SOME EXTRA CBLS, WHICH IS BASICALLY A LITTLE MINI CLASS THAT YOU DO ENTIRELY ON YOUR OWN. PRETTY QUICK, I SAW THAT I COULD ACTUALLY GRADUATE. NEXT THING YOU KNOW, I'M ON TRACK TO GRADUATE ON TIME IN MY SENIOR YEAR AT THE IN JUNE OF 2026, AND I WILL BE GOING TO UW TO BECOME A PHYSICAL THERAPIST. [APPLAUSE] >> MY FIRST INTERACTION WITH SCRIBER, I FIRST TALKED TO LYNN, THEY'RE IN THE CROWD. I WAS CONFUSED 'CAUSE IT WAS LIKE AN INTERVIEW PROCESS. I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE GETTING A JOB. THE QUESTIONS WERE REALLY DEEP. SHE ASKED ME ABOUT WHAT WERE MY HOPES FOR THE FUTURE. HONESTLY, I'VE NEVER GOTTEN ASKED THAT AT ANY SCHOOL. I WAS JUST CONFUSED. AT FIRST, I WANTED TO BE A WRITER. BUT THEN I WAS LIKE, NO, THIS IS TOO MUCH. WELL, THIS IS LATER ON, BUT I'LL GET INTO THAT. I WAS OBVIOUSLY FAILING. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE UNTIL I CAME TO THE SCHOOL. I REALLY DIDN'T THINK I'D BE ABLE TO PURSUE MY DREAM. I THOUGHT I WAS JUST GOING TO GET MY GED, AND THEN I JUST MOVE BACK TO MY COUNTRY WITH MY UNCLE JUST TO BE A FARMER. THAT'S MY NAME. MY NAME IS WILLIAM TONGA, OBVIOUSLY. I SAID AT THE START. MY LAST NAME IS TONGA. THE ISLANDS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN THE PACIFIC. I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL NOW BECAUSE NOW I'M GOING TO UW, LIKE QUENTIN, BECAUSE I'M ON TRACK NOW. I'M GOING TO BE DOING VOLLEYBALL. SEE, I THOUGHT VOLLEYBALL WOULD BE EASY. I SAW IT. YOU KNOW WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING, AND YOU'RE LIKE, OH, THAT'S EASY. THEN, WHEN I STARTED TO PLAY, I WAS LIKE, WHAT AM I DOING? I REALLY LIKE BEING COMPETITIVE. I REALLY SEE THAT AS MY DREAM NOW. I REALLY AM JUST GRATEFUL FOR SCRIBER. IN DAN'S SLIDE SHOW, SCRIBER IS HOPE. I JUST WANTED TO LET THAT BE KNOWN. [APPLAUSE] >> I GUESS, ALL WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO SAY IS SCRIBER IS AN AMAZING SCHOOL WITH AMAZING PEOPLE. I BELIEVE THAT OUR OPPORTUNITIES HERE, YOU CAN'T GET AT OTHER SCHOOLS. SCRIBER HAS GIVEN US BOTH THE CHANCE TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCOMPLISH OUR DREAMS. WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS IF IT WASN'T FOR SCRIBER. [APPLAUSE] ANY QUESTIONS? >> WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR COURAGE TO COME FORWARD. [01:00:06] I'M SORRY, 'CAUSE I'M A CRIER, AND YOU'VE BROUGHT IT ON. YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL, THANK YOU, TO TELL US YOUR STORIES BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO'VE HAD FAR LESS STRESSFUL BUT TRAUMATIC STORIES. AT MY AGE, I WOULDN'T COME FORWARD AND HAVE THE STRENGTH OF CHARACTER TO TELL MY STORY TO A GROUP LIKE THIS AND TO THE PUBLIC. I KNOW SCRIBER AND THE STAFF ARE SO SPECIAL. THE PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON, KIDS IN TRANSITION, ALL OF THE GROUPS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED YOU, BUT THE STRENGTH HAS COME FROM YOU, AND THE INTELLIGENCE HAS COME FROM YOU, AND THE WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT THAT SUPPORT HAS COME FROM YOU. I'M SURE OTHERS HERE WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT I COULDN'T KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT. [LAUGHTER] >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THAT MEANS A LOT. >> QUENTIN, WILLIAM, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING YOUR STORY. I READ IT ON THE POWERPOINT BEFOREHAND, BUT YOUR PRESENTATION BREATHES LIFE INTO IT, AND IT'S SO POWERFUL. I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HAVING THE COURAGE TO SHARE IT, AND ALSO FOR SHOUTING OUT THE STAFF AND WA KIDS AND ALL THE SUPPORT YOU'VE GOTTEN IN DIFFERENT PLACES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED YOU. IT'S REALLY POWERFUL. >> I HAD TO DO IT. [LAUGHTER] >> HI. AS A STUDENT, FIRSTLY, I FOUND THAT SO INCREDIBLY INSPIRING. JUST YOUR GRATITUDE FOR WHAT YOU HAVE IN SCRIBER, AND ALSO YOUR DEDICATION TO YOURSELVES AND YOUR DEDICATION TO BE HERE AND REPRESENT YOUR PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN OR DIDN'T EVEN OCCUR TO ME, REALLY. AS A STUDENT, I GUESS IN OUR SCHOOL, WE DON'T NECESSARILY TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS VERY MUCH, AND IT'S JUST LIKE TO HEAR YOUR HONESTY IS SO INSPIRING. TODAY, I'M IN A PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASS AT RUNNING START, AND I HEARD, LIKE, 15, 20 OTHER SPEECHES THIS MORNING. IT'S MY FINAL, AND NOTHING EVEN CAME CLOSE OR COMPARED TO THE HONESTY THAT YOU GUYS SHOWED TODAY, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR YOUR EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING UP HERE AND SHARING YOUR STORY. MOST OF THE WORDS HAVE BEEN TAKEN, BUT IT'S VERY INSPIRING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY FILLS ME WITH HOPE TO HEAR ABOUT HOW YOU TWO WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH. HONESTLY, I THINK YOUR PRESENTATION WAS REALLY GOOD, AND IT WAS HUMANE, BECAUSE YOU TWO ARE REALLY FUNNY. I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD DO A COMEDY SHOW. [LAUGHTER] >> WE'RE JUST BEING US. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> ANY TIME, MAN. [APPLAUSE] >> I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE STRENGTH IN YOU SHARING YOUR STORIES AND VULNERABILITY IS VERY POWERFUL. YOU'VE HEARD THAT FROM EVERYONE, BUT I REALLY WANT YOU TO REALLY TAKE THAT INTO YOURSELVES AND APPRECIATE THAT. ALSO, YOU DID HAVE A PICTURE OF YOUR SUNFLOWERS. WITH THE PUMPKIN. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THOSE ARE SOME PRETTY IMPRESSIVE SUNFLOWERS. >> HOW DO WE MISS THE SUNFLOWERS? WHAT? WE NEED TO GO BACK. [LAUGHTER]. >> I DO MY GLASSES. THAT'S THE PROBLEM. >> I DON'T NEED GLASSES. THAT'S THE REAL PROBLEM. >> WELL, THEY'RE VERY IMPRESSIVE SUNFLOWERS, SO ADD GARDENING TO THE RESUME. >> WHERE'S THE SUNFLOWERS? >> SECOND TO LAST PICTURE. >> THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. THANK YOU. >> I'M BLIND, SO. I DON'T KNOW. >> MAYBE WE SHOULD GET GLASSES. GO AHEAD. ANYTHING ELSE? >> I JUST WANTED TO ADD, AS A STUDENT, I KNOW EVERYONE'S ALREADY SAID THIS, BUT YOUR GUYS' STORIES ARE VERY INSPIRING. I JUST THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD BE REALLY PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. MANY STUDENTS HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND HOW YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO BRING YOUR SELVES BACK UP AND TO REALLY JUST GROW AND PURSUE YOUR GOALS. I THINK IT'S A VERY INSPIRING THING TO DO. >> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> I LIKE YOUR DOG COSTUME. [LAUGHTER]. >> ALSO, I LOVE YOUR TIE. I'LL JUST SAY YOU GUYS ARE REALLY DRIPPED OUT RIGHT NOW. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT. >> I SEEN YOU OUT THERE EARLIER PROTESTS AND WHAT'S THE PROTEST ABOUT? [01:05:02] >> WHY DON'T WE NOT GET INTO. [OVERLAPPING]. >> DON'T BRING THAT UP? OKAY. >> WE STAY FOCUSED ON OUR TOPIC, AND YOU DID A GREAT JOB ON YOUR TOPIC. THANK YOU SO. >> THANK YOU GUYS. HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WELL, NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS MY REPORT, [8. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT-7:15 pm] AND IN A TRUE MARK OF MY RESPECT FOR THEIR PRESENTATION, AS WELL AS A NOD TO DAN'S WISDOM IN NOT FOLLOWING THE STUDENTS. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PASS ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT TONIGHT [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANY WAY I COULD TO THAT AMAZING PRESENTATION BY QUENTIN WILLIAMS. >> THANKS A FOR LEAVING ME TO DO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES NEXT. IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE THESE INSPIRING STORIES AT OUR SCHOOLS. >> BEFORE YOU GO ON, CAN WE JUST CHECK AND SEE IF DIRECTOR SMITH IS ON? >> AS PART OF ROLL CALL, DIRECTOR SMITH, ARE YOU HERE? >> I AM PRESENT. >> THAT'S GREAT. BECAUSE WE HAVE LOTS OF VOTES STILL COMING UP THAT YOU'RE HERE FOR, SO IT'S WONDERFUL. THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT. NEXT, LIKE I SAID, [9. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-7:20 pm] OUR APPROVAL OF MINUTES. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES TO APPROVE TONIGHT. THEY'RE BOTH FROM NOVEMBER 18TH, ONE FROM THE NOVEMBER 18TH, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING, WHICH WHEN WE DID OUR STUDY SESSION ON OUR SPRING DATA, AND THE OTHER ONE IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 18, 2025 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND? >> I MOVED TO APPROVE, BOTH SETS OF MINUTES. >> SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NONE, BOTH SETS OF MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 18, 2025, THE SPECIAL MEETING STUDY SESSION ON SPRING DATA AND THE REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING ARE APPROVED. NEXT, WE HAVE THE BOARD DIRECTOR OATH OF OFFICE. [10. BOARD DIRECTOR OATH OF OFFICE- 7:30 pm] >> THIS EVENING, WE WILL JUST SWEAR IN DIRECTOR GARRARD, WE'LL WAIT FOR DIRECTOR SMITH UNTIL HE'S HERE IN PERSON SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT IN PERSON PHOTO OPPORTUNITY. DIRECTOR GARRARD, IF YOU WILL JOIN ME. THERE WE GO. PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME. I, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. >> I, THOMAS GARRARD. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. >> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. >> THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. >> THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. >> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY. >> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY. >> PERFORM AND DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. >> PERFORM AND DISCHARGE THE DUTIES. >> OF THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL DIRECTOR OF EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 15. >> OF THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL DIRECTOR OF EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 15. >> ACCORDING TO LAW, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. >> ACCORDING TO LAW TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. CONGRATULATIONS, DIRECTOR GARRARD. [APPLAUSE]. >> CONGRATULATIONS, DIRECTOR GARRARD. HAPPY TO HAVE YOU. NOW, WE WILL CONDUCT OUR ANNUAL ORGANIZATION MEETING FOR THE BOARD. [11. ANNUAL ORGANIZATION MEETING- 7:40 pm] IT IS THE POLICY OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THE BOARD WILL ELECT FROM ITS MEMBERS, A PRESIDENT, A VICE PRESIDENT, AND A LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE ANNUALLY. WE WILL BEGIN BY TAKING A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT TO SERVE FOR THE ENSUING YEAR. DO I HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT? >> YES, MADAM PRESIDENT. I NOMINATE DR. NANCY KATIMS. >> DR. NANCY KATIMS IS NOMINATED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE. I WILL NOW CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE TO CONFIRM NANCY KATIMS AS BOARD PRESIDENT. >> DIRECTOR GARRARD? >> YES. >> DIRECTOR SMITH? [01:10:04] >> I HEARD A DING. >> YES. >> DIRECTOR CHASE? >> YES. DIRECTOR KATIMS. >> YES. I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TRUST, CONFIDENCE, AND MOSTLY YOUR COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT 'CAUSE WE'RE A TEAM, AND WE WORK WELL TOGETHER, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I WILL NOW CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT. ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT? >> I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE CARIN CHASE FOR VICE PRESIDENT. >> I WILL SECOND THAT. AM I ALLOWED TO SECOND? I WILL SECOND THAT. ARE THERE OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT? HEARING NONE, WE'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE. >> DIRECTOR GARRARD? >> YES. >> DIRECTOR SMITH? >> AYE. >> DIRECTOR CHASE? >> YES. DIRECTOR KATIMS. >> AYE. CONGRATULATIONS, VICE PRESIDENT CHASE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONFIDENCE. >> NOW I WILL CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, I RISE TO ENTHUSIASTICALLY NOMINATE DIRECTOR THOMAS GARRARD LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE. >> I'VE HEARD NOMINATION FOR DIRECTOR GARRARD FOR LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE. >> I DON'T GET IT. WE DIDN'T HAVE A SECOND YET. >> I SAID IT IN THE BACKGROUND, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS HEARD. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I'VE I'VE HEARD A MOTION IN A SECOND. I THINK WE'RE READY FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE. THANK YOU. >> DIRECTOR GARRARD? >> YES. >> DIRECTOR SMITH? >> AYE. >> DIRECTOR CHASE? >> YES. >> DIRECTOR KATIMS. YES. CONGRATULATIONS THEN TO DIRECTOR GARRARD AS OUR NEW LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY. >> THANK YOU. IT IS A BIG JOB, AND APPRECIATE DIRECTOR CHASE'S WORK ON THIS OVER THE PAST YEAR, PLUS. >> WELL, SHE'S BEEN GREAT, AND I'M SURE SHE WILL ALSO MENTOR YOU. >> I AM SO THRILLED, AND YOU WILL BE GREAT. >> NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. [12. PUBLIC COMMENTS-7:50 pm] I'D LIKE PEOPLE TO LISTEN CAREFULLY BECAUSE WE HAVE ADDED AND CLARIFIED SOME OF OUR GUIDELINES FOR OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. 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. IN ADDITION, AS DOCUMENTED BY BOARD POLICY, THE BOARD IS NOT OBLIGATED TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR CHALLENGES MADE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AND THE BOARD'S SILENCE WILL NOT SIGNAL AGREEMENT, DISAGREEMENT, OR ENDORSEMENT OF THE SPEAKER'S REMARKS. PEOPLE MAY SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR A BOARD MEETING, EITHER BY READING YOUR COMMENT ALLOWED IN PERSON, OR BY SUBMITTING YOUR COMMENT IN WRITING. THE BOARD READS ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS WHICH ARE LATER ATTACHED TO THE MEETING AGENDA AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE BOARD DOCS WEBSITE. THERE WERE NO WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR TONIGHT. IF YOU ARE PRESENTING YOUR COMMENT IN PERSON, PLEASE BEGIN YOUR COMMENT BY STATING YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE, YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISTRICT, AND THE AGENDA ITEM OR SCHOOL DISTRICT TOPIC THAT YOU WILL BE ADDRESSING. WE REQUESTED IF YOUR COMMENT CONSISTS WHOLLY OR PARTLY OF TEXT VERBATIM FROM AN ARTICLE, AN ONLINE POST, AN EXCERPT FROM A BOOK, ETC, THAT YOU SIMPLY SEND US A LINK TO THE TEXT, AND THEN SPEND YOUR COMMENT TIME TELLING US HOW THIS INFORMATION RELATES DIRECTLY TO DISTRICT WORK. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. A TIMER WILL BE RUNNING SO THAT YOU CAN MONITOR YOUR TIME AT THE THREE MINUTE MARK OF THE TIMER, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY MUTED. PLEASE MAKE YOUR STATEMENT IN A CIVIL MANNER WITHOUT DISPARAGING, NAME CALLING OR OTHERWISE TARGETING ANYONE PERSON OR GROUP IN THE DISTRICT. IF ANY PERSON MAKES AN UNCIVIL COMMENT, THE BOARD PRESIDENT OR BOARD MEMBER CONDUCTING THE MEETING WILL DIRECT THE MICROPHONE TO BE MUTED, AND YOUR COMMENTS WILL BE ENDED REGARDLESS OF THE TIME LEFT ON THE TIMER. OUR SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 1,400 DEFINES AN CIVIL COMMENT AS ONE THAT IS LIBELOUS OR SLANDEROUS UNDER A LEGAL STANDARD. [01:15:04] IS AN UNWARRANTED INVASION OF PRIVACY, IS OBSCENE OR INDECENT PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS ACT OR ANY RULE OR REGULATION OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, VIOLATES SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY OR PROCEDURE RELATED TO HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, BULLYING, OR DISCRIMINATION, INCITES AN UNLAWFUL ACT ON SCHOOL PREMISES OR VIOLATES A LAWFUL SCHOOL REGULATION OR CREATES A MATERIAL AND SUBSTANTIAL DISRUPTION OF THE ORDERLY OPERATIONS OF THE BOARD MEETING. THE RULES REGARDING PUBLIC COMMENTS APPLY TO BOTH ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMENTS. ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD DURING THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING ARE NOT TYPICALLY ACTED UPON BY THE BOARD AT THIS TIME, BUT MAY BE FOLLOWED UP BY THE BOARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND OUR STAFF AT A LATER TIME. THE BOARD ALSO ACCEPTS COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME THROUGH EMAIL. WE READ EACH EACH EMAIL WE RECEIVE, AND WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT IT TAKES FOR THOSE WHO WRITE THEM. COMMENTS NOW WILL BE MADE FROM THE PODIUM OVER HERE ON THE LEFT. TONIGHT'S COMMENTS START WITH MARY JOE GREEN. >> HI. MY NAME IS MARY JOE GREEN. I LIVE IN EDMONDS. I AM A TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT, A COMMUNITY MEMBER, AND I HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS IN THE SCHOOLS, AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE OFFICE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, MY OFFICE MANAGER THOUGHT SHE WOULD LOSE HER POSITION AT OUR SCHOOL DUE TO BUDGET CUTS. SHE REACHED OUT TO ME ASKING IF I WOULD WRITE A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT HER POSITION DIDN'T GET CUT, BUT I WAS HAPPY TO WRITE A LETTER ON HER BEHALF. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT PROGRESS OR LACK THEREOF AT THE BARGAINING TABLE, I PULLED UP THAT LETTER TO SEE WHAT I WROTE. I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ONE OF THE PARAGRAPHS FROM THAT LETTER. SOME OF THE WORDS HAVE BEEN TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT TO KEEP FROM USING HER NAME, BUT I'M VERY AWARE THAT THE SENTIMENT FROM THESE WORDS COULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN BY ANYBODY AT ANY ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS. THIS IS THE PARAGRAPH. I OFTEN THINK AS I WALK THROUGH OUR FRONT OFFICE THAT I COULD NEVER WORK IN THAT ENVIRONMENT. ON ANY GIVEN DAY, TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF ARE MOVING THROUGH THE OFFICE BASE. FAMILIES ARE GATHERING TO CONNECT. STUDENTS WIND UP IN THE OFFICE TO VISIT OUR NURSE OR CONNECT WITH OUR SINK. THE FRONT OFFICE IS A HUB IN OUR BUILDING, AND SHE HANDLES THE NOISE, THE CHAOS, AND THE ACTIVITY WITH KINDNESS AND GRACE. ADDITIONALLY, AS A DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL, THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT LANGUAGES BEING SPOKEN, AND SHE IS ABLE TO CONNECT FAMILIES WITH THE RIGHT PERSON TO INTERPRET FOR THEM AND HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO SHOWS UP. SHE'S RESPONSIVE TO OTHERS' NEEDS IN A TIMELY AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER TO EVERY IMAGINABLE SITUATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT, BUT SHE DOES, AND SHE DOES IT WELL. THAT PARAGRAPH DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO TOUCH ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF OUR OFFICE STAFF. I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A BIT OF WHAT THEY DO. THEY ARE THE HANDLERS OF OUR STUDENT RECORDS. THEY ENROLL AND TRANSFER OUR KIDS, THEY MAINTAIN STUDENT RECORDS, ASSIGN OUR STUDENT CLASSES, AND SCHEDULES, AND THEY MONITOR STUDENT ATTENDANCE. THEY ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE OUR COMMUNITIES SEE WHEN THEY STEP FOOT IN OUR SCHOOLS. THEY HELP FAMILIES WHO SHOW UP TO SIGN OUT THEIR KIDS FOR APPOINTMENTS, THEY RECEIVE PACKAGES, DELIVERIES AND MAIL. THEY WELCOME DISTRICT STAFF AND OTHER VISITORS TO OUR BUILDING AND HELP GET THEM SETTLED WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE. THEY HANDLE ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF OF OUR SCHOOLS, INDIVIDUAL SCHEDULES, MASTER SCHEDULES, ALL THE BEHIND SCENES, PAPERWORK THAT GOES A FIELD TRIPS, ALL THE THINGS, BUT PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY WORK WITH OUR PRINCIPAL TO MANAGE SCHOOL BUDGETS. I KNOW WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE ONGOING FIGHTS TO FULLY FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION. IMAGINE DOING ALL OF THOSE THINGS PLUS SO MUCH MORE IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT I DISCUSSED A SECOND AGO, WITH PEOPLE COMING AND GOING THROUGH THEIR WORKSPACES ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, WITH SO MANY INTERRUPTIONS. [APPLAUSE]. >> NEXT STEP IS STEVE KELLER. [01:20:10] >> MY NAME IS STEVEN KEELER. I'M A RESIDENT OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON. I'M A TAXPAYER, NO CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS. I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ON MATH. THE 2024/25 DISTRICT YEAR WAS REMARKABLE. IN THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE EIGHT YEARS THAT I HAVE ATTENDED BOARD MEETINGS, MATH WAS THE SUBJECT OF A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. HOWEVER, THERE ARE TWO ITEMS I WAIT TO WITNESS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THESE TWO EVENTS HAVE NEVER OCCURRED. FIRST, IS A CELEBRATION AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING FOR DISTRICT STUDENTS WHO EXCEL AT MATH. NEVER HEARD THAT. SECOND, IS A REPORT BY A STUDENT ADVISOR SERVING ON THE BOARD REGARDING MATH ACTIVITIES AT THEIR SCHOOL. NEVER HEARD THAT EITHER. I HAVE YET TO OBSERVE EITHER SUCH EVENT OR A COMMENT. I REMAIN HOPEFUL. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MR. SMITH ON HIS ELECTION TO THE BOARD AND FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. I THANK HIM. IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO WISH ALL OF YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS VIVIAN GULLIAN. YOU CAN CORRECT ME. >> HI. I'M VIVIAN GULLIAN. I GRADUATED FROM A HARRIS HIGH SCHOOL LAST YEAR, AND I USED TO BE A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE TONIGHT AND SHOUT OUT ALL OF OUR STUDENT ADVISORS. I HAVEN'T GOT TO MEET A NUMBER OF YOU. YOU'RE NEW THIS YEAR. BUT I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU GUYS ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE THE BRAVERY AND COURAGE TO COME UP HERE IN FRONT OF OUR AUDIENCE AND THE PUBLIC AND ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS IN YOUR SCHOOL AND USE YOUR VOICES, WHICH ARE SO IMPORTANT. I REALLY HOPE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE AND THAT WHEN PEOPLE LIKE TATIANA GRADUATE, THAT WE STILL HAVE THIS COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS. I JUST WANT TO SHOUT YOU GUYS OUT, AND YOU'RE ALL DOING SO GREAT. [APPLAUSE] >> THANKS, VIVIAN. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. NEXT IS SARAH HEDGES. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SARAH HEDGES. I AM A TEACHER AT HAZELWOOD, ELEMENTARY. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH GREW UP AND ATTENDED SCHOOLS IN THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT. I LIVE IN BOTHELL, WASHINGTON, FORGOT THAT PART. MY SONS ATTENDED HAZELWOOD, AMS, AND LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE ONGOING CONTRACT ISSUE REGARDING OUR OFFICE STAFF. I THINK HAVING THESE TWO GENTLEMEN WHO CAME FROM [INAUDIBLE] TODAY WAS REALLY IMPACTFUL, AND I THINK THAT EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM HERE AGREES THAT THEY ARE DOING AMAZING WORK THERE. I THINK THAT THERE'S AMAZING WORK HAPPENING IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. PART OF THAT WORK IS RUN BEHIND THE SCENES BY PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE WHO ARE OFTEN UNDERAPPRECIATED, UNDER NOTICED, UNDER EVERYTHING. I JUST WANT TO TELL A LITTLE STORY. I TEACH KINDERGARTEN THIS YEAR, AND I HAVE A LITTLE FRIEND WHO STRUGGLES, AND ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, HAS LOPED FROM MY ROOM, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ON THE PARKING LOT, RIGHT ON 204TH. I CARRY A WALKIE TALKIE. I HAVE MORE THAN ONCE SAID, BOBBY HAS ELOPED FROM MY CLASSROOM, AND HE'S BLAH BLAH BLAH. THE FIRST PERSON OUT THE DOOR BESIDES ME IS MY OFFICE MANAGER. THAT IS NOT HER JOB. BUT 100% OF THE TIME, IF I GET ON THAT WALKIE TALKIE, AND I SAY THAT THIS CHILD HAS LOPED INTO THE PARKING LOT. SHE IS THE FIRST PERSON OUT THE DOOR. SHE DROPS EVERYTHING SHE'S DOING. ONE TIME SHE WAS WEARING ONE SHOE. I'M NOT JOKING. SHE LITERALLY GETS UP AND RUNS OUT THE DOOR TO HELP ME KEEP THAT CHILD SAFE. THERE ARE PEOPLE, I'M SURE IN OUR OFFICES ACROSS THE DISTRICT WHO WOULD NOT DO THAT. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE WHO WOULD NOT DO THAT, AND I DON'T BLAME THEM BECAUSE I'VE RUN DOWN 204TH, AND IT IS SCARY AS ALL GET OUT WHEN YOU'RE CHASING A 5-YEAR-OLD, [01:25:01] WHICH I TRY NOT TO DO, BUT SOMETIMES. ANOTHER STORY FROM WHEN I WAS A STUDENT HERE, AND I WENT TO MADRONA BACK IN THE DAY, THE OLD BUILDING, AND I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE WERE RUNNING CROSS COUNTRY. WHY? I DON'T KNOW. I HATE RUNNING. I DON'T KNOW WHY I JOINED CROSS COUNTRY, BUT I DID. MY FRIEND AND I WERE SLOW, AND WE GOT LOST BECAUSE WE FELL BEHIND THE PACK. SOMEHOW, WE ENDED UP AT ANOTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEARBY MADRONA. DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO MADE SURE WE MADE IT BACK SAFELY? THE OFFICE MANAGER. FOUND THE TWO OF US LOST AND SCARED. OUR TEACHER WORRIED OUT OF HER MIND THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE RUNNING AROUND THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN EDMONDS. IT WAS THE OFFICE MANAGER AT THAT OTHER SCHOOL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. WHO MADE SURE WE GOT BACK SAFELY? THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE WE CAN FUNCTION WITHOUT. IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. WE'RE GOING ON SEVEN MONTHS, AND THEY ARE STILL WORKING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M NOT SURE I WOULD BE. I'M NOT SURE I WOULD BE CHASING MY FRIEND DOWN 204TH WITHOUT A CONTRACT. PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR PEOPLE TO COME TO THE TABLE AND GET THIS RESOLVED. [NOISE] [APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS JASON MOORE. >> I FEEL MORE IMPORTANT STANDING OVER HERE NOW. JASON MOORE, LINWOOD. FIRST, LET ME REMIND THIS BOARD AS A SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE. I RECEIVED OVER 12,500 VOTES. YES, PRESIDENT ATOMS, I DO SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT. MAYBE NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT A GOOD AMOUNT OF THEM. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AT MODALE ELEMENTARY. WE'RE HERE TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND WE NEED AN EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION TO FIND OUT WHO KNEW WHAT AND WHO DID NOTHING. FAILURE TO NOTIFY PARENTS OF A TEACHER TOUCHING THEIR CHILDREN INAPPROPRIATELY, AND THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION IS WHAT WE HAVE. TO THE BOARD, WHY DID YOU KEEP SILENT ABOUT THE TOUCHING OF CHILDREN WHEN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DISTRICT HAVE KNOWN FOR FOUR YEARS? THIS TEACHER WAS HIRED FOR THE 2022/2023 SCHOOL YEAR. HE WAS ONLY PLACED ON LEAVE IN THE SUMMER OF 2024. LAST SUMMER, HE WAS GIVEN A NEW POSITION AT MODALE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE WOULD HAVE CONTACT WITH THE CHILDREN HE MOLESTED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIS BOARD WOULD RATHER VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION, OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT, AND UNLAWFULLY REMOVE A CITIZEN FROM A MEETING TO PROTECT AN ALLEGED RAPIST GROOMER PEDOPHILE. THIS DISTRICT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, WHY DID YOU NOT REPORT HIM? YOU ARE ALL MANDATED REPORTERS. WHY DID YOU NOT CONTACT CPS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT? ONLY AFTER THE SECOND INVESTIGATION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU AGAIN PUT THIS TEACHER ON PAID LEAVE AND HAD THE EXPENSE OF HIRING ANOTHER SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER TO TAKE HIS PLACE WHILE HE'S INVESTIGATED BY SNOHOMISH COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. YOU ALL STAYED SILENT WHILE CHILDREN WERE BEING MOLESTED AND ALLOWED THIS TO GO ON FOR TWO YEARS. THIS DISTRICT PROMISES TO KEEP THESE CHILDREN SAFE. PARENTS TRUST THEIR CHILDREN TO THIS DISTRICT TO LOOK AFTER THEM, AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED. YOU SHOULD ALL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THE BACK OF THIS ROOM, AS WELL AS THE FRONT. WELL, I'M GLAD THAT THERE WAS AN OATH OF OFFICE HERE BECAUSE THOSE OATHS ARE GOING TO BE TESTED. [NOISE] [APPLAUSE]. >> NEXT UP IS LAURIE VELASQUEZ. [01:30:03] >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. LAURIE VELASQUEZ, LINWOOD WASHINGTON MANAGER AT BEVERLY ELEMENTARY. I COME BEFORE YOU AGAIN TODAY TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE A SPEEDY RESOLUTION TO OUR MEDIATION. AS YOU KNOW, THE OFFICE PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN BARGAINING WITH THE DISTRICT SINCE APRIL. WE KNOW THAT SOME MISINFORMATION IS FLOATING AROUND OUT THERE, AND SOME OF THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH YOU ALSO. WE DO HOPE AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND REALLY FIND OUT ABOUT THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THIS SITUATION. JUST TO CLARIFY, OUR BARGAINING TEAM IS LOOKING WORKING TO SUPPORT OUR UNIT MEMBERS AND PROVIDE EVERYONE WITH A NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, ONE THAT WE WILL HAPPILY RATIFY. WE DO NOT WANT TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF BARGAINING AND THEN MEDIATION ONLY TO HAVE THE AGREEMENT NOT BE SOMETHING OUR MEMBERSHIP WILL VOTE POSITIVELY TO SUPPORT. ONE ANALOGY I LIKE TO USE ABOUT TO DESCRIBE MY JOB IS THAT OF A CIRCUS RING MASTER. TRYING TO KEEP EVERYTHING RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND ALL THE DIFFERENT RINGS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE CLOWNS DON'T GET HURT, CRAMMED INTO THE CAR, TRYING TO ASSURE THAT THE JUGGLERS CAN KEEP ALL THE BALLS IN THE AIR, TRYING TO MAKE SURE NOBODY IS TRAMPLED BY ELEPHANTS, AND TRYING TO OVERSEE THE TRAPEZE ARTISTS THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND A SAFETY NET. ALL THE WHILE, KEEPING THE CROWD ENTERTAINED AND ENGAGED. BEHIND THE SCENES, THAT'S TAKING CARE OF EVERYONE, ORDERING FOOD FOR THE ANIMALS, PAYING THE BILLS, DEALING WITH SCHEDULING AND LOGISTICS AND ADVERTISING, HOW GREAT YOUR CIRCUS IS. LISTEN, I LOVE MY SCHOOL, AND I LOVE THE PEOPLE IN IT. I LOVE THE WORK I DO. BUT MUCH LIKE THE CIRCUS, THERE ARE NUMEROUS THINGS THAT TO KEEP TRACK OF EVERY DAY IN A SCHOOL OFFICE, AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THE DETAILED WORK BEHIND THE SCENES. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEND SOME TIME IN SCHOOL OFFICES, ESPECIALLY POST COVID. IN REALITY, OUR POSITIONS ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS ON PAPER. OUR MEMBERS CONTINUE TO GIVE AND GIVE TO THEIR SCHOOLS. WE DO THAT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN OUR STUDENTS AND WE BELIEVE IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS. WHAT WE DON'T BELIEVE IN IS BEING TREATED AS SECOND CLASS CITIZENS WHO AREN'T VALUABLE ENOUGH TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I ALWAYS FIND IT INTERESTING THAT WE'RE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES. WE JUST HEARD ABOUT THAT TODAY, BUT WE AREN'T COMPENSATED AS SUCH. I KNOW THE PEOPLE I INTERACT WITH DAILY APPRECIATE THE WORK I DO. IT JUST SADDENS MY HEART THAT THE LEVEL OF APPRECIATION IS NOT ECHOED BY THE LEADERSHIP OVER HERE. GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN YOU USED TO HEAR MUCH, WE WERE VALUED AND APPRECIATED. WHILE THOSE WORDS ARE ALL WELL AND GOOD, THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS MONEY IN OUR POCKET. I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS WHAT WE WANT AN AGREEMENT THAT SHOWS THAT YOU'RE CONCERN FOR OUR SAFETY, THAT YOU VALUE THE WORK THAT WE DO AND THAT YOU WANT US TO BENEFIT FROM THE SAME FINANCIAL ADVANCES AFFORDED OTHER DISTRICT EMPLOYEES? BECAUSE HONESTLY, THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU. WE WANT THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS. DO YOU BELIEVE OUR POSITIONS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS DISTRICT? KEEP IT RUNNING SMOOTHLY? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SECURING FUNDS TO GET US AN AGREEMENT THAT WE CAN RATIFY? [NOISE] [APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU, NEXT IS CINDY BARTLETT. >> HI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CINDY BARTLETT. I LIVE IN LINWOOD. I'M A TAXPAYER. I'M STARTING MY 18TH YEAR AT EDMONDS ELEMENTARY, 25 WITH THE DISTRICT. I WAS GOING TO READ THIS WHOLE LONG SPEECH, AND TONIGHT HAS BEEN REALLY OVERWHELMING. I HAD AN OVERWHELMING DAY AT SCHOOL, AND CONTINUING TO BE MY BEST AND DO MY BEST IS DIFFICULT SOMEDAYS. TODAY, I THINK I MET MY MARKS. I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE OUR LEADERS TO ENCOURAGE THE TEAM THAT WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH TO PLEASE HELP US END THIS SO WE CAN GET ON WITH OUR WORK AND NOT HAVE THE STRESS OF DOING THIS. NEGOTIATIONS, MEDIATION, ALL OF IT IS VERY STRESSFUL TO US AND TO OUR JOB. I APPRECIATE ALL MY FELLOW OFFICE MANAGERS, OFFICE PERSONNEL. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO EVERY DAY. TO OUR DISTRICT LEADERS AND THE SCHOOL BOARD. WE ASK THAT YOU TRULY SEE THE WORK WE DO, RECOGNIZE ITS IMPORTANCE, AND ENSURE WE HAVE THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES, AND THE RESPECT WE NEED TO CONTINUE DOING IT WELL. WHEN OFFICE PERSONNEL ARE VALUED, THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM BECOMES STRONGER. [01:35:01] BECAUSE THE WORK WE DO ISN'T JUST WORK. AS WE SAW TONIGHT, IT'S PEOPLE WORK. IT'S WHAT HELPS THIS DISTRICT GROW. IT'S ESSENTIAL WORK. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS SANDRA WHITMORE. >> HI, I'M SANDRA WHITMORE. I LIVE IN BOTHA, WASHINGTON AND I'M HERE WEARING TWO HATS TONIGHT. I'M HERE TO WEAR THE HAT TO SUPPORT OUR OFFICE PERSONNEL. I AM AN OFFICE PERSONNEL. I'M THE OFFICE MANAGER AT SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF SCRIBER LAKE HIGH SCHOOL. THE TWO ARE INTERTWINED, AND I HOPE I CAN SEGUE AND DO THEM BOTH IN THREE MINUTES. I'D LIKE TO DESCRIBE TO YOU MY FIRST CALL TO EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT, BECAUSE WE WERE MAKING A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION TO MOVE OUR YOUNGEST FROM NORTH SHORE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HIS DAD'S CLASSROOM TO EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OUR LOCAL SCHOOL. I CALLED OUR LOCAL SCHOOL, AND SOMEONE WHO'S INFAMOUS IN EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT, PAT ELDRIDGE. MANY OF US KNOW HER, THEY HAPPENED TO PICK UP THE PHONE, AND I SAID, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. HOW DO I ENROLL MY STUDENT IN EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SHE SAID, YOU JUST WALK IN THE DOOR. WELL, HOW SOON WOULD HE START? COUPLE OF DAYS. IT'S LIKE, IT'S THAT EASY? SURE, IT IS. OF COURSE, NOW, PAT AND I ARE STILL FRIENDS. SHE STILL WORKS AS SUBS IN THE DISTRICT, TO SECURITY AT THE STADIUM. WE ALL LOVE PAT. BUT THAT FIRST CONTACT, I STILL REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION. I IMPRINTED ON PAT EVEN OVER THE PHONE. I STILL REMEMBER THAT. I HAVE STUDENTS AT SCRIBER THAT HAVE BEEN PRINTED OVER THE PHONE WITH ME. THAT IT MATTERS, WHAT OUR OFFICE PERSONNEL DOES MATTERS, EVEN THAT FIRST PHONE CALL, THAT FIRST CONTACT WALKING IN THE DOOR. AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE BEFORE, PLEASE SUPPORT AND SEND THAT MESSAGE OF SUPPORT THROUGH ALL OF YOUR PEERS AND ALL OF OUR CABINET AND ALL OF OUR HR FOLKS ON THE NEGOTIATING TEAM TO SUPPORT A RAPID RESOLUTION TO OUR OFFICE PERSONNEL CONTRACT. AS WE KNOW, PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS MATTER IN SCHOOLS. THESE TWO STUDENTS THAT WERE SPEAKING THIS EVENING, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU HOW SOME OF THE RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOPED WITH THEM. Q, AS WE LIKE TO CALL QUENTIN. WHEN HE FIRST STARTED AT THE SCHOOL, HE WOULD BE LINED TO MIKE PIPER'S OFFICE. HE WOULDN'T SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE IN THE OFFICE. WE DIDN'T EXIST. ALLISON DIDN'T EXIST. I DIDN'T EXIST. HE WOULD JUST STRAIGHT TO PIPER. AS HE STARTED DOING HIS BOXING WORK, HE STARTED TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BOXING. WELL, I'VE TAKEN SOME SHADOW BOXING CLASSES SO I STARTED SHOWING HIM MY SKILLS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I EXISTED, I STILL HAVE THE NOTE ON MY DESK THAT HE WROTE ME, GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL. TONGA, WILLIAM [NOISE]. >> THANK YOU NEXT IS CHERYL PASSAGE. >> GOOD EVENING, FOLKS. MY NAME IS CHERYL PASSAGE. I LIVE IN EDMONDS AND I WORK FOR EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A PARENT EDUCATOR. I WASN'T GOING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT BUT I WAS SO INSPIRED BY THOSE PEOPLE. I NEED TO SAY OUT LOUD WHAT I'M THINKING, WHICH IS THAT AS WE KNOW, AND AS WE HEARD TONIGHT, SCHOOLS ARE THE ANCHOR OF THE COMMUNITY AND OFFICE PERSONNEL ARE THE ANCHOR OF OUR SCHOOLS SO I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THAT THEIR CONTRACT IS RATIFIED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME AND SHARED YOUR VIEWS WITH US. [13. CONSENT AGENDA-8:20 pm] NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA. THIS IS THE GROUP OF REGULARLY ROUTINE ITEMS THAT WE CAN VOTE ON TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY DISCUSS TOGETHER OR SEPARATELY. [01:40:03] TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF FOUR ITEMS. THREE HAVE TO DO WITH PERSONNEL AND STAFF AGREEMENTS, AND ONE IS A FIELD TRIP. DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> I SECOND. >> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? >> JUST GLAD TO SEE THAT COACHES HAVE A CONTRACT FOR THREE YEARS, AND THAT THE MUSIC TEACHER SITUATION WAS ABLE TO BE ADJUSTED. GOOD LUCK TO MONT LAKE TERRACE WRESTLERS. >> ANYTHING ELSE? I'VE HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION. EVERYBODY IN FAVOR OF APPROVING TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY OBJECTIONS. TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED. [14. UNFINISHED BUSINESS- 8:30 pm] NEXT, WE HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS. DID YOU WANT TO GIVE BACKGROUND DR. MINOR? >> WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE THINGS. I'M SORRY. NO, WE DO NOT. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. THE FIRST IS THE SECOND READING AND REVISED BOARD POLICY 3241 STUDENT DISCIPLINE. A FEW TYPES WERE CORRECTED BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READING, BUT NO ADDITIONAL CHANGES WERE MADE. >> DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 3241 ON STUDENT DISCIPLINE? >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> I SECOND. >> IN TERMS OF DISCUSSION, I'D LIKE TO BRING COMMENT FROM DIRECTOR KRAMER, WHO WASN'T ABLE TO BE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT ASKED THAT I PRESENT A CONCERN THAT HE HAS. HE THINKS THAT THE WORDING OF THIS STATEMENT THAT SAYS, IMPLEMENTING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE DISCRETIONARY AND NON DISCRETIONARY DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS DOESN'T REALLY EXPLAIN WELL WHAT THE PURPOSE IS AND IS INTERESTED IN OUR CONSIDERING A REWORDING THAT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTING DISCRETIONARY AND NON DISCRETIONARY DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE IN A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT. DO YOU WANT ME TO REPEAT THAT? >> YEAH. IT WAS THE ONLY CHANGE IN? >> THE ONLY CHANGE IS TO CHANGE THE WORDING THAT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS TO CHANGING IT TO PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE IN A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. >> IT'S ITEM NUMBER 3 UNDER THE PURPOSES OF THIS POLICY AND ACCOMPANYING PROCEDURE INCLUDE. >> SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE POINTED THAT OUT. >> PRESIDENT KETOMS, WOULD YOU READ IT AGAIN, PLEASE? >> YES. SO HE'D LIKE TO CHANGE JUST THE WORDING THAT SAYS THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE IN A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. >> SINCE THAT'S IN NUMBER 1, IT SEEMS REDUNDANT AND UNNECESSARY TO MAKE THAT CHANGE TO ME. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS ACTUALLY. DID DIRECTOR KRAMER HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS BECAUSE THE BULLET NUMBER 1 SAYS, PROVIDE A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS. >> SUPERINTENDENT MINOR, DID HE ADD ANYTHING TO YOU? >> NO. >> NO. I'M SHARING DIRECTLY FROM HIS MESSAGE. >> THE OTHER THING I WOULD POSSIBLY ADD ABOUT NUMBER 3 IS THAT IT'S SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE STUDENTS AND THEIR PERSONAL ACADEMIC SUCCESS, NOT THE STUDENTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEY'RE LEARNING, WHICH AS YOU POINT OUT IS COVERED BY NUMBER 1. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD DR. SCHWAB? [01:45:01] >> YOU CAN RETIRE. WE'LL MAKE YOUR DRAW. >> THAT'S HIS FEEDBACK. IT'S NOT NECESSARY TO MAKE A MOTION OR SOMEONE CAN MAKE A MOTION TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. >> I'M NEUTRAL ON IT MYSELF. I THINK EITHER ONE CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH CHANGING IT, BUT I'M NOT NECESSARILY AN ADVOCATE FOR IT EITHER. >> MAY I SEE IT? WE LISTEN TO DIRECTOR SMITH? >> I WAS GOING TO SAY I'M GOING TO THROW YOU ALL A CURVE BALL. I MOVED TO TABLE THE POLICY UNTIL HE RETURNS IN OUR NEXT MEETING. >> DIRECTOR SCHWAB, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT NOT HAVING A REQUIRED POLICY IMPLEMENTED UNTIL THEN? THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE WE COULD APPROVE THE POLICY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND IF ANYBODY FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT IT, THEN WE COULD BRING IT BACK FOR CONSIDERATION AND REVISION AND TAKE IT THROUGH TWO POLICIES. >> WE'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER THE EMERGENCY RULES ANYWAY SO IF WE HAD TO TABLE IT AND WAIT A MEETING, IT WOULD BE FINE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE WE'VE ALREADY HAD TO IMPLEMENT THESE CHANGES IN STUDENT DISCIPLINE ALREADY ANYWAY SINCE THE EMERGENCY RULES WERE PASSED SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO OPERATE UNDER THOSE RULES. >> IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS REFLECTING WHAT WE'RE DOING ALREADY. IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? >> YES. >> MY CONCERN ON THIS IS WE'RE ELIMINATING TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL ACADEMIC AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS, IS WHAT WE'RE ELIMINATING. I'M NOT SURE THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THIS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT DIRECTOR KRAMER IS SAYING HE THINKS THAT THIS MAKES IT CLEARER, BUT I'M NOT SURE I AGREE WITH THAT SO I'M LEANING TOWARDS ADOPTING THIS SO THAT WE HAVE IT ADOPTED BECAUSE WE ARE ON THE SECOND READING, AND THEN WE CAN ALWAYS BRING IT BACK FOR REVISION. BUT THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M LANDING RIGHT NOW. >> I AGREE WITH DIRECTOR CHASE HERE. >> DIRECTOR SCHWAB. >> I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A NO HARM SITUATION, AS DR. SCHWAB WAS SAYING TO WAIT AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE NOTICE THIS EARLIER, BUT WHEN IT WAS READ OUT LOUD TO ME, IT REALLY DID FEEL LIKE A WORD SALAD. >> IT FEEL LIKE LIKE WHAT? I COULDN'T QUITE GET YOU. >> I'M SORRY, A WORD SALAD. IT WAS LIKE WE JUST GRABBED THE WORDS AND THREW THEM IN THERE. I DO AGREE WITH DIRECTOR KRAMER THAT IT COULD BE MADE CLEARER AND FOR A POLICY OF IMPORT. MAYBE YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND SINCE HE'S NOT HERE TO REALLY, WE HAVE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR HIM SINCE HE'S NOT HERE TO DISCUSS IT AND I THINK IT WOULD BE FAIR TO WAIT ONE MORE MEETING, BUT THAT'S JUST MY FEEL ON IT. >> SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, THE WAY I'M LOOKING AT, I'M HEARING MY COLLEAGUES. BUT I WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT THIS A MINUTE. BECAUSE THE POINT OF NUMBER 3 IS THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE DISCRETIONARY AND NON DISCRETIONARY DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. THAT'S THE POINT, BECAUSE THEN WE SAY THAT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AS NUMBER 1 SAYS. IF WE DELAY THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING, THERE'S NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. >> NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. >> DIRECTOR GERARD, WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> I LIKE IT THE WAY IT IS. I THINK THE POINT HE'S MAKING IS ALREADY COVERED IN NUMBER 1, AND I WOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND ADOPT IT AS PRESENTED AND IF HE FEELS REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT IT, WE COULD BRING BACK A AMENDMENT TO IT LATER. >> FROM A POINT AND ORDER STANDPOINT, SOMEONE SHOULD MAKE A MOTION, AND IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SECOND IT, AND THEN WE TAKE A VOTE, IF WE DON'T GET THE VOTES, THEN WE CAN A MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO. >> THERE WAS A MOTION TO TABLE, BUT NO SECOND, I BELIEVE. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A MOTION. >> I DON'T THINK THAT HE MADE A MOTION. >> THERE'S A MOTION THAT'S BEEN MADE. >> I THOUGHT DIRECTOR SMITH MADE. >> DIRECTOR SMITH INDICATED HE WOULD LIKE TO, AM I RIGHT? IN WHICH CASE? [01:50:01] >> EXCUSE ME. IF YOU GUYS WANT TO DO THE VOTE ON IT AS IS PRIOR TO THAT THE MOTION TO TABLE, I WITHDRAW MY MOTION IF THERE EVER WAS A MOTION THERE SO WE CAN PROCEED THROUGH THE CORRECT PROCEDURE. >> WELL, BUT FOR US TO TABLE IT, WE NEED A MOTION NOW WITHIN THIS DISCUSSION PIECE? >> WELL, THEN YES, I MOVED TO TABLE THE MOTION. >> IS THERE A SECOND TO TABLE THE MOTION? I WILL SECOND IT IF NOBODY ELSE DOES. LET'S VOTE ON THIS MOTION TO TABLE REVISED POLICY, 3241 ON STUDENT DISCIPLINE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. WE'VE ALREADY DONE THE DISCUSSION ON THAT. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENT ABOUT THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO MAKE BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO TABLE THIS FOR THE NEXT MEETING. HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS. >> DIRECTOR GERARD? >> NO. >> DIRECTOR SMITH? >> AYE. >> DIRECTOR CHASE? >> NO. >> DIRECTOR KEADEMS? >> AYE. WHAT DO WE DO NOW? >> I NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK OUR BOARD POLICIES. I'VE NOT HAD A TIE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE SO LET ME SEE IF WE HAVE A TIE BREAKER IN OUR BOARD POLICIES. >> I BELIEVE THE DEFAULT IS THE MOTION FAILS. >> CORRECT. ARE YOU READING THAT, KEITH? >> NO. IT'S FROM MY REMEMBRANCE OF ROBERT'S RULES. >> EXCEPT IF WE HAVE SOMETHING IN OUR BOARD POLICY ABOUT A DIFFERENT TIEBREAKER THAN ROBERT'S RULES OF ORS SUPERSEDED BY THAT. I AM JUST MAKING SURE THAT I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THERE. I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE EVER SEEN ANYTHING, >> A RELATIVELY QUICK SEARCH DID NOT YIELD ANYTHING ON TIES. HEARING NOTHING, THEN IT WOULD REVERT TO ROBERT'S RULES, WHICH WOULD BE THAT MOTION. >> WHICH WOULD BE THEN THAT MOTION FAILS. >> CORRECT. >> WE WILL COME BACK TO THE PROBLEM MAY BE THOUGH, THAT WE END UP WITH A TIE ON THIS. >> I THINK WE SHOULD STILL DO IT. >> I MOVED TO APPROVE THE APPROVED REVISED BOARD POLICY 3241 STUDENT DISCIPLINE. >> I SECOND. >> THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN ON THE TABLE, SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING BACK TO THAT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT NOW THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 3241 ON STUDENT DISCIPLINE AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN? >> AT THE FIRST READING, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, AND I WAS POINTED TO THE FACT THAT WITH 3241, THERE IS PROCEDURES THAT FIT UNDER THIS AS WELL, ARE CONNECTED TO IT. THEY HAVE THE SAME NUMBER, BUT IT'S PROCEDURES. THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE 3241, I FORGET WHAT IT'S CALLED. ANYWAY, THERE'S ADDITIONAL DETAIL THAT'S PART OF OUR DISCIPLINE POLICY. AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT STAFF I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY FOR STAFF BEING REMOVED FROM THIS, BUT IT ACTUALLY APPEARS ELSEWHERE IN THE POLICIES SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM. I THINK THIS IS SATISFACTORY VERSION OF IT AND MY CONCERNS WERE ALLAYED SINCE THEN. >> I REALLY LIKE THE WAY THAT WE HAVE UPDATED THIS PROCESS, AND THAT IT DOES REFLECT WHAT WE AS A DISTRICT ARE DOING. I THINK THAT GOES TO THE STRENGTH AND THE FORWARD THINKING WAY THAT WE ARE APPROACHING EDUCATION IN THIS DISTRICT. I FEEL THAT I'VE REVIEWED THIS QUITE A BIT, AND I'M PREPARED TO VOTE ON IT. >> I WOULD SAY THAT EVEN THOUGH I VOTED TO TABLE IT AND I WAS DOING THAT TO HONOR DIRECTOR KRAMER'S INTEREST AND NOT BEING ABLE TO BE HERE. I REALLY WANT TO SAY, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE WORDING. IT IS THE PROCEDURES THAT WE DO THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I DON'T THINK THAT THE WORDING IN EITHER CASE IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS [01:55:05] OF ACTUALLY THE WAY WE IMPLEMENT THE INTENT BEHIND THIS. I'M JUST SAYING I DON'T FEEL STRONGLY ENOUGH ABOUT THE WORDING PROBABLY TO NOT ACCEPT THIS IN ITS CURRENT WORDING. DIRECTOR SMITH, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? >> I THINK I'M HEARING WHAT MY BOARD COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING, SO I WILL VOTE ACCORDINGLY BASED UPON THAT. THAT'S THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY. BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO IT. >> HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALTHOUGH I'M CURIOUS IF THE STUDENTS, THIS HAS TO DO WITH STUDENT DISCIPLINE. THEY CAN MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS. IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THE WORDING, THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED. >> I DO HAVE THOUGHTS, SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ASKED AND I WOULD ALSO BE CURIOUS TO HEAR MY FELLOW STUDENT BOARD REPS. I THINK THAT IT MAKES SIGNIFICANTLY MORE SENSE ACTUALLY WITHOUT THE CHANGE BECAUSE TALKING ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENT, IN ADDITION TO ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE MISSED IN IT. I THINK ADDING WHAT DIRECTOR KRAMER SAID WOULD MAKE SENSE, BUT I DON'T THINK IN PLACE OF WHAT WE HAVE MAKES SENSE. >> ISMAIL. >> I THINK THAT THE WORDING AS IS OR WITH THE REVISEMENTS WON'T MATTER TOO MUCH, BECAUSE THE WORDING WE ALREADY HAVE SEEMS CLEAR ENOUGH TO THE POINT THAT ANY CHANGES AREN'T REALLY NECESSARY. >> BUT TONYA, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? >> YES. I THINK THE ORIGINAL WORDING IS GOOD BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT THE DISTRICT WANTS TO HAVE A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. AS TATIANA SAID, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL ACADEMIC GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENTS. >> THANK YOU. >> I'M LEANING MORE TOWARDS BEING NEUTRAL ABOUT THE WORDING. YOU'RE COMPLETELY RIGHT THAT IT DEPENDS MORE ON HOW WE ENFORCE IT. >> THAT WAS REALLY HOPEFUL. THIS IS WHY YOU'RE HERE. BECAUSE YOU GUYS JUST BROUGHT A VERY STRONG VOICE IN TERMS OF THIS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT SINCE I WAS LEANING, ANYWAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO APPROVE REVISED BOARD POLICY 3241 ON STUDENT DISCIPLINE. >> DIRECTOR GARRARD. >> AYE. >> DIRECTOR SMITH. >> ABSTAIN. >> DIRECTOR CHASE? >> AYE. >> DIRECTOR KATIMS. >> AYE. THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 3241 ON STUDENT DISCIPLINE IS APPROVED. >> THE NEXT ONE IS 14.2, A SECOND READING TO APPROVE NEW BOARD POLICY 1515 ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR SCHOOL DIRECTORS. ONE TYPO WAS CORRECTED BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READING, BUT NO OTHER CHANGES WERE MADE. >> I THINK IT'S BOARD POLICY 1815. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID. >> INDEED, IT IS. >> DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE NEW BOARD POLICY 1815 ON THE ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR SCHOOL DIRECTORS? >> I MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE. >> DIRECTOR GARRARD. >> AYE. >> DIRECTOR SMITH. >> AYE. >> DIRECTOR CHASE? >> AYE. >> DIRECTOR KATIMS. >> AYE. THE NEW BOARD POLICY 1815 ON ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR SCHOOL DIRECTORS IS APPROVED. FINAL ITEM OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS THIS EVENING IS ITEM 14.3 A SECOND READING TO APPROVE NEW BOARD POLICY 1825 ADDRESSING SCHOOL DIRECTOR VIOLATIONS, AND THERE WERE NO CHANGES MADE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READING. >> DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE NEW BOARD POLICY 1825 ON ADDRESSING SCHOOL DIRECTOR VIOLATIONS? >> I MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE. >> DIRECTOR GARRARD. >> AYE. >> DIRECTOR SMITH. >> AYE. >> DIRECTOR CHASE. >> AYE. >> DIRECTOR KATIMS. >> AYE. THE NEW BOARD POLICY 1825, ADDRESSING SCHOOL DIRECTOR VIOLATIONS IS APPROVED. [15. NEW BUSINESS- 8:40 pm] >> THERE ARE TWO ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS THIS EVENING. THE FIRST IS FEW WORDS THAT REPRESENT A HERCULEAN LIFT AMONG MANY IN OUR DISTRICT. THAT IS ITEM 15.1, A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2523 INTENT TO CONSTRUCT WESTGATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. >> I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2523, [02:00:05] INTENT TO CONSTRUCT WESTGATE ELEMENTARY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? >> I'M SURE YOU WERE GOING TO THANK THE VOTERS FOR APPROVING THE 2024 BOND. >> THIS IS A 2024 BOND. I WANT THE VOTERS TO SEE ALL THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE SUPPORTED US IN DOING AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO REDO WESTGATE, WHICH HAS BEEN UNSAFE IN A NUMBER OF WAYS IN TERMS OF ITS LOCATION AND TRAFFIC AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING BEING VERY OLD. IT'S A VERY EXCITING THING. >> I AGREE. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING RESOLUTION 2523, THE INTENT TO CONSTRUCT WESTGATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? RESOLUTION 2523, INTENT TO CONSTRUCT WESTGATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS APPROVED. >> FINAL ITEM OF NEW BUSINESS THIS EVENING IS A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2525, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH COMPLETED PUBLIC WORKS FOR HAZELWOOD ELEMENTARY. >> IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 2525? >> I MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THIS, AGAIN, IS SUPPORTED BY THE 2024 BOND, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR HAVING GIVEN US THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT, BUT PARTICULARLY FOR HAZELWOOD ELEMENTARY, IN THIS CASE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? >> HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE A MAGNET AND DRAW THAT KINDERGARTNER AWAY FROM THE ROAD. >> I WONDERED ABOUT THAT. THERE ARE A FEW SCHOOLS WHERE IT'S STILL POSSIBLE, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. YES, THAT WAS A CRINGWORTHY. HEARING NO MORE DISCUSSION, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2525 FOR ACCEPTANCE OF COMPLETED PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT NUMBER Q24-10CP FOR HAZELWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY? ANY ABSTENTIONS? RESOLUTION NUMBER 2525 IS APPROVED. >> THAT TRANSITIONS US TO OUR FINAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, [16. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES] AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING BY DIRECTOR CHASE. >> WAIT, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAND IT TO DIRECTOR GARRARD. I'LL GET TO DO MY LAST ONE. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY, WE HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, GIVEN ALL OUR LEGISLATIVE REPS, OUR PRIORITIES FOR 2026, AND SCHEDULED ZOOM MEETINGS WITH ALL OF THEM. TO DATE, I BELIEVE, LET'S SEE, WE HAVE MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES ORTIZ, KLOBA, DUERR, PETERSON, RYU, AND SENATOR LIIAS, AND THERE ARE ADDITIONAL ONES SCHEDULED COMING UP THIS COMING WEEK. THEY ALL HAVE, OF COURSE, BEEN LETTING US KNOW THAT ONE THING WE'RE DOING IS AWAITING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE SHOULD BE COMING OUT IN DECEMBER. WE SHALL SEE. THAT WILL HELP DEFINE SOME OF THE STRATEGIES MOVING FORWARD. AS FAR AS THE ANTICIPATED LEGISLATIVE ACTION SCHEDULE, WE'RE ON THE MONITORING THE WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE THROUGHOUT THE SHORT SESSION. THE SHORT SESSION WILL BE STARTING NEXT MONTH, AND WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF MORE INFORMATION AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, AND WHEN THAT STARTS, LETTING YOU KNOW WHERE YOU CAN VIEW THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION, ALSO. THE WSSDA LEGISLATIVE SCHOOL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, CHANGE THEIR MEETING FROM TODAY TILL NEXT TUESDAY. WE'LL GET THE FINAL UPDATE FROM WSSDA ON THE PRIORITIES AND ADVOCACY THERE. YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE AFTER THAT. AGAIN, I THINK YOU GO ONE TOO FAR PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS. I WANT TO DIRECT EVERYONE TO THE SLIDE, WHICH IS ON OUR WEBSITE FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS, COMMENTING, TESTIFYING, SUBMITTING WRITTEN TESTIMONY, AND CONTACTING LEGISLATORS. WE HAVE INFORMATION HOW YOU CAN DO THAT ADVOCACY WORK IN SOME LINKS. THE NEXT SLIDE HAS OUR LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES REPRESENTING THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT IN CASE YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT LIM DIRECTLY WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT FINDER LINK ALSO. I WILL SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN THE DISTRICT'S LEGISLATIVE REP FOR AT LEAST TWO TERMS NOW, LET'S SEE, FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. [02:05:03] I WANT TO SAY FOUR, EIGHT, NINE. I THINK WE'RE UP THERE. I AM SO THRILLED THAT DIRECTOR GARRARD WILL BE STEPPING INTO THIS ROLE. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO REALLY ENJOY THE COLLABORATION AND THE ABILITY TO NETWORK WITH THE WSSDA DIRECTORS, AS WELL AS OURS AND WORKING WITH OUR PRESIDENT ON THE ADVOCACY FOR THE DISTRICT, AND I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE, EITHER. >> YOU BETTER NOT BE. >> DIRECTOR KATIMS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD FROM THOSE MEETINGS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE. >> I DO, BUT FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU. YOU'VE BEEN A WONDERFUL LEGISLATIVE REP. YOU'VE CREATED A MODEL FOR THOSE TO FOLLOW. YOU'VE SERVED US SO WELL IN BEING CONNECTED, UNDERSTANDING SO MANY PARTS OF THE DYNAMICS OF THIS SITUATION, WAYS TO THINK ABOUT IT CAREFULLY. YOU DO A GREAT JOB OF REMINDING ALL OF US OF THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE REMINDED OF, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE IN THAT ROLE AMONG OTHER THINGS, BUT YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. I KNOW GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS SOMETHING THAT DR. GARRARD IS GOING TO JUST LOVE TAKING OVER DEPENDING ON THE YEAR. BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LONG TERM RESPONSIBILITY. YOU'VE TAKEN ON VERY WELL. >> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE. I HAVE FOUND RECENTLY UPON REFLECTION, SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, SERVICE TO THE STUDENTS AND SERVICE TO THIS BOARD ARE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT DRIVE ME IN THE WORK THAT I DO. THANK YOU FOR THE CONFIDENCE IN THIS BOARD AND ALLOWING ME TO SERVE IN THAT WAY. I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING AS YOUR VICE PRESIDENT IN THIS NEXT COMING TERM. >> I LOVE THAT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SUMMARIZE. >> YES. >> AS YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR CHASE AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LYDIA SELLIE, SUPERINTENDENT MINOR AND I HAVE MET ON ZOOM WITH SIX OF OUR LEGISLATORS, AND WE HAVE TWO MORE SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY. JUST TO GIVE THE PUBLIC, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE BOARD, A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. WE HAVE THANKED THEM FOR WHAT THEY DID FOR US LAST YEAR. WE POINTED OUT THAT IN SPECIAL ED, THEY GAVE US ABOUT $1.8 MILLION INCREASE, BUT WE'RE STILL FACING A SHORTFALL OF ABOUT $11.1 MILLION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING. IN MSOC, WHICH IS THE MATERIAL SUPPLIES AND OTHER STUFF. THAT'S NOT QUITE IT, BUT YOU GET IT. THEY GAVE US ABOUT A $650,000 INCREASE, AND THAT'S COMPLETELY UP BY THE INCREASE IN INSURANCE COSTS ALONE. WE'RE STILL FACING ABOUT AN $8.1 MILLION SHORTFALL IN OUR OVERALL MSOC. WE LET THEM KNOW, AND REALLY THANK THEM THAT THE RAISING OF THE LEVY LID IS WHAT TRULY KEPT US AFLOAT THIS YEAR SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO CUT ANYMORE. WHILE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO START REPLACING ANY OF THE PREVIOUS CUTS, WE WANTED TO LET THEM KNOW WE HOPE THAT CONTINUES. WE DON'T WANT THAT TO GO AWAY. WE ALSO WERE LOOKING FOR SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT, WHICH, IN THIS PARTICULAR SHORT LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH VERY LARGE BUDGET DIFFICULTIES AT THE STATE LEVEL. WE WERE LOOKING FOR LOW HANGING FRUIT TO ASK FOR. THERE WAS A BILL THAT WAS PASSED AT THE VERY END OF LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT'S 5814. PEOPLE MAY HAVE READ ABOUT THIS. IT IS ONE THAT PUTS A SALES TAX ON SERVICES. THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS EXEMPTED, BUT WE'RE NOT EXEMPTED IN THE BILL, WHICH WOULD COST US A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS THAT IS NOT BUDGETED OR EXPECTED. IT'S MOSTLY SERVICES ON SPECIAL EDUCATION, WHICH MEANS THAT THE AREA THAT WE HAVE THIS HUGE DEFICIT IN, WE'D HAVE TO BE GIVING MORE MONEY TO BE HIRING THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED, AND THEN HAVE THAT MUCH LESS FOR SERVING SPECIAL ED AND ASKING FOR THE STATE FOR THAT MUCH MORE. THEIR RESPONSE TO THAT IS THEY'RE MOSTLY AWARE OF IT. THEY BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON IT. THEY THINK THAT SOMETHING WILL BE DONE TO SOLVE IT. I HOPE THAT'S TRUE. ANOTHER LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT WE ASKED THEM IS THAT THE STATE ONLY TELLS US IN FEBRUARY OF EVERY YEAR WHAT THE ALLOCATION FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE WHILE WE'RE BUDGETING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR OR WAY BEFORE THAT. WE ASKED THEM TO PLEASE LOOK INTO AT LEAST GIVING US AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THE APPORTIONMENT IS GOING TO BE FOR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING SO WE CAN [02:10:01] DO GOOD BUDGETING, DECISION MAKING. THEN SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE IS SINCE THE LION'S SHARE OF MSOC IS OUR INSURANCE AND UTILITIES, AND BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE, THAT THERE ARE SOME LEGISLATORS WHO BELIEVE THAT IF THEY GIVE US MONEY FOR THAT, WE MAY NOT SPEND IT ON MSOC. >> WHAT WE ARE SUGGESTING AND HOPE THAT THEY FOLLOW UP ON, AND A FEW HAVE ACTED LIKE THAT THEY WILL FOLLOW UP ON IT. WE'D LIKE TO JUST SEND OUR INSURANCE AND UTILITY BILLS TO OSPIS AND SAY, PAY THEM. THEY'RE YOURS. THAT'S FINE. THAT WAY, THEY WOULD KNOW ALL THE MONEY'S GOING TO INSURANCE AND UTILITIES. THEY WOULD ACTUALLY KNOW HOW MUCH IS BEING USED FOR INSURANCE AND UTILITIES ACROSS THE STATE. WE DON'T HAVE TO DO DOCUMENTATION AND REPORTING, AND WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE? ANYWAY, IN GENERAL, IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT THEY TOLD US, WE ASKED THEM ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS. THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF PROGRESSIVE REVENUE STRATEGIES AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT THEY BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO BE FAVORING JUST AN ALL CUTS BUDGET. DEPENDING ON THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET THAT IS TO COME OUT IN ABOUT A WEEK OR SO, THAT MAY BE A DIRECTION AT WHICH WE MIGHT CONSIDER DOING DIRECT ADVOCACY. WE NEED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT SCHOOLS ARE MORE THAN JUST EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS. WE PROVIDE A WRAPAROUND HOLISTIC WAY FOR PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT FOR PARENTS, FOR FAMILIES, FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE'RE THERE IN TERMS OF DISASTER PROTECTION. WE'RE THERE FOR FOOD. WE'RE THERE FOR HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESOURCES. WE HEARD FROM OUR SCRIBER LAKE STUDENT, WHAT RESOURCES WERE PROVIDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS AND THAT WERE SO MUCH MORE IN TERMS OF I MEAN, IF THERE WERE EVACUATIONS THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN, WHERE DO THEY COME? DO THEY COME TO THE SCHOOLS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR LEGISLATORS UNDERSTAND, AND OUR COMMUNITY, I THINK, UNDERSTANDS THAT. THE LEGISLATORS HAVE SAID PRETTY CONSISTENTLY, THEY BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONCERTED ADVOCACY EFFORT FROM ALL OF THE STATE LEVEL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS WADA, WAS, WASBO, WEA, ET CETERA, WHICH WE CERTAINLY AGREE WITH AND WOULD LIKE TO HELP AND THAT THEY SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD FOCUS OUR DIRECT ADVOCACY, NOT JUST ON OUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS, BUT ALSO ON MEMBERS SPECIFICALLY OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON BOTH THE HOUSE SIDE AND THE SENATE SIDE, AND THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON BOTH THE HOUSE SIDE AND THE SENATE SIDE. WE MADE IT QUITE CLEAR AND THEY KNOW US THAT WE ARE THERE FOR THEM TO CALL AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, THAT THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT OF A CERTAIN BILL MIGHT BE. IN TERMS OF OUR DISTRICT, WHAT ARE OTHER IMPACTS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN UNANTICIPATED? WHAT ARE BILLS THAT MIGHT BE BRINGING UNFUNDED MANDATES TO US THAT THEY HADN'T CONSIDERED? WE'RE HOPING THAT JUST OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM WILL KEEP THAT ALL OPEN IN TERMS OF OUR DISCUSSION. THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMMARIZES SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN TERMS OF OUR CONVERSATIONS. BUT THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE, THEY'D LIKE TO HELP, BUT THERE TO BE HONEST. THERE IS A FEELING OF DESPAIR IN TERMS OF STATE MONEY THAT'S NEEDED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES AS WELL AS EDUCATION. >> EXCELLENT SUMMARY. >> ANYTHING ELSE? NOW IT'S TIME FOR BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS, [17. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS] AND WE'LL START WITH THE STUDENTS. TATIANA, YOU WANT TO START OVER THERE. >> HI, EVERYONE. I'M TATIANA LOBERG FROM EDMONDS HEIGHTS. RECENTLY, ME AND SCARLETT HAD THE HONOR OF GETTING TO GO TO THE WASA CONFERENCE. SCARLETT ISN'T HERE TONIGHT, BUT SHE ASKED TO EXTEND HER GRATITUDE, WHICH I SHARE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF REPRESENTING OUR DISTRICT AND GETTING TO MEET OTHER INVOLVED STUDENTS IN BOARD REPS WHERE WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT FUNDING AND LIKE DIVERSITY AND HOW TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BOARD AND HOW TO MAKE YOUR DISTRICT BETTER. IT WAS REALLY, REALLY INFORMATIVE AND REALLY, REALLY FUN. ADDITIONALLY, THIS LAST WEEKEND, ON SUNDAY, MY SCHOOLS TEAMS WERE BOTH IN THE WINNING ALLIANCE AT THE PASTOR LEAGUE TOURNAMENT, WHICH IS, LIKE, FIRST PLACE. THAT'S REALLY EXCITING. MY TEAM 9880 ALSO WON SECOND PLACE INSPIRE AWARD, [02:15:02] WHICH IS A BIG DEAL FOR US. AS MY LAST YEAR ON THE TEAM, THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING FOR US TO WIN SECOND PLACE INSPIRE. ADDITIONALLY, MY SCHOOLS, LIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE THEATER LEVEL IS PERFORMING BEATLES JUST THIS WEEKEND, SO PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT THAT. WE ALSO HAD A THEATER SHOWCASE LAST WEEK THAT I PARTICIPATED IN, WHICH IS SHOWCASING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AT THESPIS, WHICH IS, LIKE, A REGIONAL THEATER COMPETITION WHERE WE SING AND DANCE AND DO STUFF. THE SHOWCASE ACTED AS A WAY FOR US TO PRACTICE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. IT WAS REALLY EXCITING. IN JANUARY, WE OPENED THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, WHICH IS OUR ADVANCED LEVEL MUSICAL THEATER SHOW, AND I'M PLAYING THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, SO PLEASE COME SEE IT AND ALSO SEE MY PEERS, WHO ARE REALLY AMAZING AND TALENTED AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> YES, MILE. >> FOR NEWS ABOUT MY SCHOOL, RECENTLY, WE HAD OUR PPP WEEK, WHICH IS IT STANDS FOR PURSUIT OF THE POWER PLUNGER, BUT BASICALLY, IT IS A FOOD DRIVE COMPETITION BETWEEN LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND MOUNTLAKE TERRACE. WE TRY TO DONATE CANS, AND WE REACHED OUR GOAL THIS YEAR OF ABOUT 20,000 CANS DONATED FOR A FOOD DRIVE. IT WAS ORGANIZED MOSTLY BY OUR TRIM CLUB, WHICH IS A MUSIC SLASH COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUB. RECENTLY, WINTER SPORTS HAVE BEGAN, AND WE HAD OUR FIRST BASKETBALL GAME, I THINK LAST WEEKEND, WHICH WAS VERY EXCITING TO WATCH. WE DIDN'T WIN, BUT WE GOT VERY CLOSE, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE SEASON IS GOING TO BE VERY FUN TO WATCH. YEAH. >> THANK YOU, BETANA. >> CURRENTLY AT MY SCHOOL, WE ARE HOLDING SEVERAL FUNDRAISERS. WE HAVE AN ASP FUNDRAISER, WHERE WE ARE SELLING HOT CHOCOLATE IN THE MORNINGS, AND IT'S REALLY GOTTEN STUDENTS INTO THE WINTER SPIRIT, AS WELL AS MYSELF. AND THEN DECCA AND FCCLA ARE ALSO HOLDING THE WINTER GRAHAM'S FUNDRAISER. THAT'S WHERE WE GET TO SEND NOTES WITH CANDY CANES OVER TO OUR FRIENDS. IT COULD BE ANONYMOUS, OR YOU COULD WRITE YOUR NAME ON IT AS WELL, BUT IT'S JUST A FUN SURPRISE FOR OUR PEERS. THEN WE ALSO HAVE WINTER SPORTS STARTING, AND LAST WEEK, I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO GO SEE A GAME THAT MIKE COUSIN PLAYED IN. IT WAS LINWOOD AGAINST MOUNTLAKE TERRACE. I REALLY ENJOYED SEEING THE GAME THERE AS WELL. WE ALSO HAVE 12 DAYS OF FINANCIAL AID MYTHS IN OUR CAREER CENTER. THE CAREER CENTER HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL WITH ADVISING STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY SENIORS THROUGHOUT THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. THAT'S REALLY GREAT. THEN WE ALSO HAVE WINTER SPIRIT WEEKS COMING UP. SO WE HAVE PJ DAY AND THEN, LIKE LUMBERJACK DAY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. >> THANK YOU. SAM. >> I'D LIKE TO THANK THE OFFICE PERSONNELS THAT SPOKE UP TODAY. I MOVED HERE JUST THIS YEAR, ACTUALLY, FROM A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT COUNTRY WITH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE ONES WHO HELPED ME NAVIGATE ALL OF THIS WERE THE SCHOOL STAFF. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THEM, AND I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THEY GET THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY DESERVE. IN REGARDS TO THAT ONE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT MAT, A MAT CLUB IS ACTUALLY BEING FORMED IN MOUNTLAKE TERRACE RIGHT NOW. IT'S BEING FOUNDED BY THE ONLY GIRL IN OUR SCHOOL WHO'S TAKING THE AP CALCULUS BC TEST THIS YEAR. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SHARE A QUICK PERSONAL UPDATE. AS MY RUNNING START QUARTER COMES TO AN END THIS WEEK, I RECENTLY COMPLETED AND PASSED A RESEARCH PAPER FOCUSED ON TECHNOLOGY GOVERNANCE IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING OUR OWN DISTRICT. I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE DISTRICT'S TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE THROUGHOUT MY RESEARCH AND FOR MS. AARON FOR REFERRING ME TO THEM. THANK YOU. >> THAT'S GREAT. GOOD FOR YOU. THANK YOU. >> IT GOT THE 47 PAGES. OH, MY GOSH. DIRECTOR GERARD. >> WE GOT TO HAVE TO READ THAT. THE WASA CONFERENCE WAS HELD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I REALLY APPRECIATED THE CHANCE TO GO TO MY FIRST ONE AND COMPLETE SOME OF THE TRAININGS THAT WERE OFFERED IN EQUITY. I WANT TO THANK MY BOARD COLLEAGUES FOR VOTING ME TO BE THE LEGISLATIVE REP AND APPRECIATE THE MENTORSHIP OF DIRECTOR CHASE. THIS MONTH OF DECEMBER IN OUR DISTRICT IS LI SHIP MONTH, SO THIS MEANS SHOWING EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING TO OTHERS. THERE ARE A LOT OF CHRISTMAS TYPE THINGS HAPPENING AROUND SCHOOLS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE JEWISH, AND SO THEY HAVE A WINTER HOLIDAY COMING UP, WHICH IS HANUKKAH, AND SO I WORE MY TIE IN HONOR OF THAT OF THEM TODAY. [02:20:05] I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION A BOOK THAT I RECENTLY READ. IT'S CALLED DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRUIT. IT'S ACTUALLY WRITTEN BY A GRADUATE OF EDMONDS WOODWAY, HIGH SCHOOL. ALSO, WHO ATTENDED MAPLEWOOD COOP, WHICH I JUST LEARNED FROM THE AUTHOR NOTES IN THIS. HE SAID IT IN A SCHOOL THAT SEEMS TO SOMEWHAT MAYBE RESEMBLE MAPLEWOOD A LITTLE BIT, OR OR BE A MODIFICATION FICTIONALIZATION OF IT. KYLE LUKOFF, WHO'S A STONEWALL AWARD WINNING AUTHOR WROTE THIS BOOK EXPLORING GENDER IDENTITY, DISCOVERY AND QUESTIONING AMONG AMONG YOUTH AMONG STUDENTS. REALLY ENJOYED THAT, AND I THINK THAT FITS WELL INTO THE LI SHIP THEME. THAT'S ALL I GOT. >> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR SMITH. >> THANKS. I'LL BE FAIRLY BRIEF TONIGHT. I WANTED TO SAY, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU TO THE TECH PEOPLE WHO ALLOW ME TO APPEAR REMOTELY HERE. I HAD A SCHEDULING CONFLICT. I DO SOME WORK WITH GUARDIANSHIP STUFF AND THERE WAS A KID OUT ON THE PENINSULA WHO NEEDED SOMEBODY TO COME OUT. LEARN ABOUT THEM SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE A GUARDIANSHIP HERE A LITTLE BIT. WHEN HE TURNS 18, HE'S TAKEN CARE OF. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT I GET OUT HERE TONIGHT. IT'S MY FAULT FOR DOUBLE BOOKING, BUT I THANKFULLY WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK WITH THE HEALTH OF OUR TECH DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. THEN THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, I WAS TALKING TO DOCTOR MINER LAST WEEK. GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL IS A WIA SPORT NOW, AND WE DON'T HAVE IT. THERE WASN'T ENOUGH INTEREST. BUT I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS. THE REASON I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN I WENT TO TERRACE, SO FOREVER AGO, WE HAD GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL. IT WAS JUST IN THE DISTRICT. THE FOUR SCHOOLS WOULD JUST PLAY EACH OTHER IN THE SPRING. THREE GAMES, THAT WAS IT. BUT WE HAD IT FIRST. IT BREAKS MY HEART NOW THAT WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE THEY'RE LIKE, OH, YEAH, TACOMA, THEY WERE THE FIRST DISTRICT THAT HAVE THIS GOING ON AND BLAH. I'M LIKE, WELL, THEY'RE JUST THE ONES THAT WERE AROUND WHEN THE WIA MADE IT A SPORT. I SAY, BRING IT BACK. I HOPE THAT THERE ARE GIRLS OUT THERE THAT WANT TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DISTRICT. IF THERE'S ENOUGH INTEREST, I'M SURE WE'LL DO THAT, BUT IT JUST REQUIRES NUMBERS TO GET OUT THERE AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR ME. DO IT FOR ME. ANYWAY, THANKS SO MUCH, GUYS, AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYBODY. ENJOY YOUR TIME OFF, AND I WILL SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR. >> THANK YOU, DR. SMITH. DIRECTOR SMITH. DIRECTOR CHASE. >> THANK YOU, DR. ATOMS. I FIRST REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE THE CONFIDENCE AND THE IN MY COLLEAGUES ARE SHOWING ME TO SERVE AS YOUR VICE PRESIDENT. I HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY. IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE FOR ME TO SHARE WITH OUR PRESIDENT, FEEL FREE TO COME TALK TO ME. I REALLY WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY HAPPY HOLIDAYS. A QUICK SHOUT OUT ALSO TO OUR TECH AND SECURITY AND DEPARTMENT ON THE CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BOARD IN HOW THEY'RE DOING THEIR FISHING TRAINING AND HELPING US ALL BE BETTER EDUCATED AND KEEPING THE ENTIRE DISTRICT SAFE BY BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY SCAMS. IT IS IT'S AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT JOB. I'M ABLE TO MUCH MORE QUICKLY IDENTIFY PHISHING SCAMS, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WAY THAT IT'S DOING IT. I'M ACTUALLY AT THE TOP OF THE LEADER BOARD NOW, BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT STUFF. A SHOUT OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT RUNNING THIS, IT'S EXCELLENT. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. I JUST WISH EVERYONE SOME HAPPY HOLIDAYS. >> THANK YOU. YEAH, I LOVE FINDING THE PHISHING SCAMS. I FEEL SO SUCCESSFUL. IN FACT, I THINK I'VE SAID A FEW THAT WEREN'T FISHING, BUT YOU CAN'T TRUST ANYBODY THESE DAYS. I REALLY DO WANT TO THANK MY BOARD COLLEAGUES FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE AND TRUST, OR MAYBE NOBODY ELSE WANTS THIS JOB. I'M JUST NOT QUITE SURE WHAT IT IS. BUT IN ANY CASE, I'M HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE BOARD IN THIS ROLE BECAUSE WE WORK SO WELL TOGETHER, THE COLLABORATION, THE SUPPORT IS SO IMPORTANT. THE DISCUSSIONS, WHETHER OR NOT WE AGREE OR NOT, ARE ALWAYS CIVIL. I THINK THAT WE ARE ALL WORKING WITH A COMMON VISION AND COMMON GOALS ALONG WITH SUPERINTENDENT MINOR, WHO WE REALLY APPRECIATE TO SAY NOTHING ABOUT MS. AARON, WHO WE COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT. ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM. [02:25:03] ALL I WANT TO SAY TO EVERYBODY IS WISHING YOU A WARM, SAFE, AND JOYOUS HOLIDAY, NO MATTER HOW YOU CELEBRATE. DR. MINOR. >> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. KATAMS, AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S HERE TONIGHT, AS WELL AS DIRECTOR SMITH AT HOME. IT'S A BUSY SEASON, SO MANY CELEBRATIONS GOING ON AT OUR SCHOOLS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO DRAW PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO HOW MANY EVENTS I'VE BEEN SEEING AT SCHOOLS, WHETHER THEY'RE SOCK DRIVES OR WHETHER THEY ARE FOOD DRIVES, AS YOU POINTED OUT, I MEAN, 20,000 CANS OF FOOD, OUR STUDENTS VOLUNTEERING AND REACHING OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY. DR. KATAMS, YOU REFERENCED THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE THE CENTERS OF COMMUNITY. BUT THROUGH THAT, OUR STUDENTS LEARN TO BE THE CENTERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, TOO, AND THEY'RE DOING PHENOMENAL WORK, WHETHER THAT'S WITHIN THEIR OWN SCHOOL TO GRANT THEIR CLASSMATES WISHES, SMALL GIFTS AND SMALL CELEBRATIONS, OR WHETHER THEY'RE DOING THAT. I JUST TALKED TO A FIRST GRADER TODAY IN A CLASSROOM WHO HAD AN IDEA, WHO WROTE A GRANT. WHO WAS ABLE TO GET A SMALL PRESENT FOR EVERY TEACHER IN HER SCHOOL. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE THAT THAT CHILD REALLY ADVOCATED FOR THAT. SHE TOLD ME ABOUT HER WHOLE PROCESS, AND IT REALLY TOUCHED ME. AS I HAVE LOVED TO DO SINCE I REMEMBER A TEACHER SAYING THIS ONCE, PROBABLY WHEN I WAS IN KINDERGARTEN OR FIRST GRADE, AND SHE SAID, SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. THAT JUST RESONATED WITH ME.NOW I LOVE TO SAY IT. WHEN I'M NOT GOING TO SEE PEOPLE FOR A LITTLE WELL, I SEE MY STUDENTS THIS WEEK, STILL, BUT WHEN I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOMEBODY FOR A LITTLE WHILE, I LOVE TO SAY SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL BREAK. TAKE A BREAK, AND I WILL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. >> THANK YOU. I WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW AT OUR VISIT TO BRIAR ELEMENTARY. WITH THAT, THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.