[00:00:03]
[1. CALL TO ORDER-6:30 pm]
THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.[2. ROLL CALL-6:31 pm (ALL TIMES ARE ESTIMATED)]
AND I'LL DO A ROLL CALL.AND I'M DIRECTOR KATIMS. WE'RE ALL HERE, WHICH IS LOVELY.
[3. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-6:32 pm]
TO DO THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.THANK YOU, DR. KATIMS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THIS PLACE, THE SUDOBISH PEOPLE.
WHO SINCE TIME AND THEIR SUCCESSORS THE TULALIP TRIBES WHO SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL HAVE TAKEN CARE OF HUNTED FISHED AND GATHERED ON THESE LANDS.
WE RESPECT THEIR SOVEREIGNTY, THEIR RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND WE HONOR THEIR SACRED SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH THE LAND AND WATER.
BY ACKNOWLEDGING THESE HOMELANDS WE COMMIT TO WORKING WITH TRIBAL NATIONS TO FURTHER THE EDUCATION AIMS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOLS.
NOW IF EVERYBODY WILL RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE FLAG SALUTE.
[4. FLAG SALUTE-6:33 pm]
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. NEXT[5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA-6:34 pm]
ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS IT'S PRESENTED.DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS PRESENTED? MOVE TO APPROVE.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[6. CELEBRATION- 6:35 pm]
EVENING.I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME BRIANNE KING, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CBSO.
TO COME FORWARD AND SHARE THE PRESENTATION FOR LYDIA SELLE BEING NAMED SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR.
THANK YOU BOARD, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS EVENING.
TONIGHT I HAVE THE HONOR OF RECOGNIZING LYDIA SELLE AS THE 2026 WASBO SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR.
THIS AWARD IS PRESENTED TO A LEADER WHO EXEMPLIFIES EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, INNOVATION IN SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.
SOMEONE WHOSE WORK NOT ONLY STRENGTHENS THEIR OWN DISTRICT BUT ELEVATES THE PROFESSION ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE.
LYDIA WAS SELECTED BECAUSE SHE REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST OF WHAT THIS AWARD STANDS FOR.
IN HER ROLE AS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE FOR EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
LEADS SOME OF THE MOST COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING WORK IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
SHE DOES SO WITH CLARITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS.
HER LEADERSHIP ENSURES THAT FINANCIAL DECISIONS ARE THOUGHTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, AND ALWAYS CENTERED ON SUPPORTING LEARNING AND LONG-TERM STABILITY.
BUT WHAT TRULY DISTINGUISHES LYDIA IS HER IMPACT BEYOND HER DISTRICT.
ACROSS THE STATE, SHE HAS BEEN A TRUSTED LEADER, COLLABORATOR, AND ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION WHETHER ENGAGING IN LEGISLATIVE WORK PARTNERING WITH COLLEAGUES ARE HELPING SHAPE THE FUTURE OF SCHOOL FINANCE. LYDIA'S VOICE CARRIES BOTH EXPERTISE AND CREDIBILITY SHE HAS STRENGTHENED THE PROFESSION BY SHARING HER KNOWLEDGE OPENLY AND LIFTING OTHERS ALONGSIDE HER. LYDIA IS ALSO A DEDICATED MENTOR SHE HAS GUIDED AND ENCOURAGED COUNTLESS SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS MANY WHO HAVE GROWN INTO LEADERSHIP ROLES BECAUSE SHE TOOK THE TIME TO INVEST IN THEM.
WHEN I STARTED, LYDIA WAS MY PERSON I LOOKED UP TO.
HER INFLUENCE CAN BE SEEN NOT JUST IN WHAT SHE HAS ACCOMPLISHED, BUT IN THE PEOPLE SHE HAS HELPED.
SHE'S ALSO AN INNOVATOR THROUGH TOOLS LIKE BALANCING ACT BUDGET SIMULATION.
SHE HAS HELPED BRING TRANSPARENCY AND UNDERSTANDING TO COMPLEX FINANCIAL DECISIONS, NOT JUST IN HER OWN COMMUNITY BUT DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.
LYDIA'S PROFESSIONALISM, GENEROSITY, AND COMMITMENT TO SERVICE HAVE MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN WASHINGTON AND SHE SETS THE STANDARD FOR THAT THAT INSPIRES ALL OF US.
AS PART OF THIS RECOGNITION LYDIA WILL ALSO RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP TO ASBO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE THIS OCTOBER IN PITTSBURGH.
THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL CONNECT HER WITH SCHOOL BUSINESS LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY CREATING SPACE TO SHARE IDEAS, BRING IT BACK.
BRING BACK INNOVATIVE PRACTICES AND CONTINUE STRENGTHENING THE WORK HAPPENING HERE IN WASHINGTON STATE.
ON BEHALF OF WASBO AND YOUR COLLEAGUES STATEWIDE, LYDIA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING NAMED THE 2026 WASBO SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR.
[00:05:18]
WELL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS, AND THANK YOU TO MY BOSS FOR HER LOVELY COMMENTS AS WELL TOWARDS THIS, AND THIS WAS VERY EXCITING, AND I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN IT HAPPENED, SO THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.LYDIA, WE COULD NOT AGREE MORE.
YOU ARE AMAZING IN ALL THE WORK YOU DO, AND AS THE BOARD, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING.
YOU TEACH US ABOUT THE BUDGET.
YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND, SO WE'RE BETTER ADVOCATES FOR FUNDING.
WE BETTER UNDERSTAND WHEN WE MAKE DECISIONS ON THE BUDGET.
YOU ARE INCREDIBLY PATIENT WITH, I KNOW, MY QUESTIONS AND I'M SURE WITH EVERYBODY'S QUESTIONS AND WE SO APPRECIATE YOU AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.
YOU DEFINITELY DESERVE THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
NEXT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
WELL, THAT WAS NICE AND QUICK.
[8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-6:55 pm]
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES.TONIGHT WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES THAT WE CAN VOTE ON AT THE SAME TIME.
ONE IS APPROVING THE MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 31, 2026 SPECIAL MEETING, WHICH WAS OUR DATA REVIEW STUDY SESSION.
AND THE SECOND SET OF MINUTES IS FROM THE APRIL 14, 2026 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THESE TWO SETS OF MINUTES? I MOVE TO APPROVE THEM BOTH.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? THE MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 31, 2026 SPECIAL MEETING OF OUR DATA REVIEW STUDY SESSION AND THE APRIL 14, 2026 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING ARE APPROVED.
NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[9. PUBLIC COMMENTS-7:00 pm]
THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION OF THE AGENDA IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO YOU 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 IN COMMUNICATING 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 OR DISAGREEMENT OR ENDORSEMENT OF THE SPEAKER'S REMARKS.
PLEASE BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS BY STATING YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE, YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISTRICT, AND THE AGENDA ITEM OR SCHOOL DISTRICT TOPIC THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
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 ANY ONE PERSON OR GROUP IN THE DISTRICT.
IF ANY PERSON MAKES AN UNCIVIL COMMENT, THE BOARD PRESIDENT WILL BE DIRECTING THE MIC, THAT WILL BE.
WE'LL DIRECT THE MICROPHONE TO BE MUTED AND YOUR COMMENTS WILL BE ENDED REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME LEFT ON THE TIMER.
OUR SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 1400 DEFINES AN UNCIVIL COMMENT AS ONE THAT IS LIBELOUS OR SLANDEROUS UNDER A LEGAL STATEMENT, IS AN UNWARRANTED INVASION OF PRIVACY.
IS OBSCENE OR INDECENT PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS ACT OR ANY RULE OR REGULATIONS 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 OPERATION OF THE BOARD MEETING.
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
[00:10:02]
SUPERINTENDENT, AND OR STAFF AT A LATER TIME.THE BOARD ALSO ACCEPTS COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME THROUGH EMAIL.
WE READ EACH EMAIL THAT WE RECEIVE, AND WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT IT TAKES FOR THOSE WHO WRITE THEM.
COMMENTS WILL BE MADE FROM THE PODIUM OVER THERE.
TONIGHT OUR FIRST, LET'S SEE, I HAD IT.
OUR FIRST COMMENT WILL BE MADE BY LATASHA DUXWORTH.
HELLO, MY NAME IS LATASHA DUXWORTH.
I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN EVERETT, WASHINGTON.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY.
I'M HERE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED A FEW WEEKS AGO, SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE HERE NEEDS TO KNOW AND BE AWARE OF.
I WILL NOT MINIMIZE OR SOFTEN WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CHILD, WHO IS A KINDERGARTNER.
SHE WAS RAPED, GROOMED, AND VICTIMIZED ON A SCHOOL BUS.
AND POSSIBLY EVEN WORSE BY A 12-YEAR-OLD.
I SHOULD BE HERE FOR A REWARD FOR MY DAUGHTER AND NOT HERE FOR THIS MATTER.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M A LITTLE SHAKY AND UPSET BECAUSE I'M HERE FOR THE WRONG REASONS.
HELLO INSTEAD OF GOOD AFTERNOON.
I RESIDE IN EVERETT, WASHINGTON, AND I'M A GRANDMOTHER IN THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND MY TOPIC IS ALSO SCHOOL SAFETY.
THIS NEEDS TO BE SERIOUSLY HANDLED AND SWIFTLY.
WE ALSO NEED FOR PARENTS TO BE AWARE THAT THEY NEED TO SPEAK UP FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND TALK TO THEM AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS RIGHT.
THE ONE SAFE PLACE OTHER THAN HOME SHOULD BE SCHOOL AND ON THE BUS.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY WE CAN GET LEAFLETS ABOUT...
LEAFLETS, ABOUT LICE, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT NOTHING ABOUT TALKING TO YOUR CHILD AND BEING AWARE THAT THIS KIND OF STUFF IS HAPPENING.
OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED, AND THIS HAS CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF MY GRANDCHILD.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE OTHER CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO THEM.
SO WHAT SAY YOU, SCHOOL BOARD? WHAT IS YOUR MOVE FOR YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT? TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY AS WELL.
THE CITY I RESIDE IN IS EVERETT.
THE RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISTRICT IS MY DAUGHTER.
OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TOPIC IS THAT I'M ADDRESSING SCHOOL SAFETY.
I'M TROUBLED THAT CEDAR WAY ELEMENTARY KNEW ABOUT THE SITUATION FOR TWO WEEKS BEFORE SAYING ANYTHING TO US.
WE FINALLY DECIDED TO SPEAK UP AND PROTEST FOR MY CHILD.
THE SCHOOL CHOSE THAT VERY SAME DAY TO RELEASE A STATEMENT DESPITE HAVING BEEN AWARE OF THE SITUATION FOR OVER TWO WEEKS.
EVEN MORE CONCERNING, WHEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEGAN ASKING QUESTIONS AND SEEKING ACCOUNTABILITY, THESE COMMENTS WERE DELETED OFF OF A FACEBOOK POST.
OR NEWSLETTER THAT THE SCHOOL APP SENT OUT.
THIS RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND WHETHER THE SCHOOL IS TRULY COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE OPENLY AND HONESTLY.
FIRSTLY, I'M SORRY I HAD TO HEAR THAT.
I HOPE SCHOOL AND EVERYWHERE OUR KIDS GO IS A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT MINER.
MY NAME IS NATASHA SURENDRA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF BOTEL CITY AND I'M A PARENT AT HILLTOP ELEMENTARY.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP OF PARENTS FROM HILLTOP ELEMENTARY, REPRESENTING A COALITION OF OVER 150 HOUSEHOLDS THAT REMAIN
[00:15:01]
UNITED AND DEEPLY ENGAGED IN THE BOUNDARY REVIEW PROCESS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.TONIGHT, THE FOCUS IS ON WHAT COMES NEXT.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS REMAINED IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE DISTRICT AND THE BOUNDARY REVIEW COMMITTEE.
WHILE THE ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED, THERE HAS BEEN LIMITED CLARITY ON NEXT STEPS.
WE WOULD APPRECIATE GUIDANCE ON WHETHER UPDATES ARE EXPECTED PRIOR TO THE MAY 18 OPEN HOUSE OR IF THAT IS THE NEXT KEY MILESTONE.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE FEEDBACK SHARED BY OUR COMMUNITY.
WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THAT BALANCING DISTRICT CAPACITY IS COMPLEX, WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT THESE GOALS CAN BE PURSUED IN A WAY THAT AVOIDS DISRUPTION TO OUR ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE FOLLOWING THIS PROCESS CLOSELY AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE UPDATED SCENARIO AT THE OPEN HOUSE ON MAY 18TH AND TO SEEING A PLAN THAT KEEPS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFELY ASSIGNED TO HILLTOP ELEMENTARY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR CONTINUOUS DEDICATION TO THIS DISTRICT, AND FOR LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IS THERE ANY MORE RULES YOU GUYS WANT TO ADD ON? I THINK YOU GUYS GOT MORE RULES EVERY TIME I COME HERE.
COULD USE A COUPLE MORE, I THINK.
WASHINGTON STATE LAW, RCW 2644 SAYS...
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL PERSONNEL ARE MANDATED REPORTERS REQUIRED TO REPORT SUSPECTED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR.
THAT MEANS THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
THAT MEANS THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THAT MEANS ALL THE EXECUTIVES IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
ALL OF THEM ARE MANDATED REPORTERS, AND THEY MUST REPORT THE ABUSE OR EVEN SUSPECTED ABUSE OF A CHILD TO PROPER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
OR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES, DCYF.
WHAT DID EVERY BOARD MEMBER AND EXECUTIVE DO WHEN WE FOUND OUT OF THE LATEST ASSAULT BACK IN NOVEMBER WHEN WE FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS? CONDUCT A COVER-UP OPERATION BY NOT NOTIFYING PARENTS OF THE VICTIMS, PRESSURING STAFF.
TO BRUSH IT OFF OR FORGET WHAT THEY SAW HAPPENING TO STUDENTS AT MEADOWDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THE TEACHER WHO FILED THE INITIAL COMPLAINT WITH THE LINWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS WRONGLY TERMINATED BY THE DISTRICT FOR WHAT? FOLLOWING THE LAW AND DOING THE PROPER REPORT.
WE CAN NOW REPORT THAT THAT TEACHER JUST SETTLED HER LAWSUIT OUT OF COURT.
THAT'S GOING TO COST ALL THE TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY.
FOR THE ADMINS, BAD DECISIONS, AND COVER-UP OPERATIONS.
WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE TO SHARE THIS REPORT, YOU VIOLATED MY FIRST AMENDMENT AND REMOVED ME FROM THE BOARD MEETING.
THESE ARE THE REAL CRIMES THAT NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED.
THIS TEACHER COMMITTED HORRIFIC CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN IN THIS DISTRICT.
THAT THIS BOARD SWORE AN OATH TO PROTECT, BUT THE CRIMES ALL OF YOU HAVE COMMITTED ARE FAR WORSE BECAUSE YOU NOT ONLY CHOSE TO COVER THIS UP, BUT WHO KNOWS HOW MANY OTHER TIMES THAT YOU'VE MADE THE SAME DECISION.
WHAT IS YOUR PENALTY? KNOWINGLY FAILING TO MAKE A REPORT IS A GROSS MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 364 DAYS IN JAIL.
AND IF YOU ASK ME, THAT'S NOT NEARLY HARSH ENOUGH.
[10. CONSENT AGENDA-7:30 pm]
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.THIS IS OUR GROUP OF MOSTLY ROUTINE ITEMS THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT TOGETHER OR SEPARATE, VOTE ON TOGETHER OR SEPARATE.
TONIGHT WE HAVE SIX ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THREE HAVE TO DO WITH PERSONNEL AND STAFF AGREEMENTS.
ONE IS OUR MONTHLY BILLS AND VOUCHERS WHICH KAREN AND I ARE NOW THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
[00:20:02]
THROUGH THEM TOGETHER AND TWO OF THEM ARE FIELD TRIPS.DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? MOVE TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? OKAY, TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[11. REPORTS-7:45 pm]
AND WE HAVE ONE REPORT THIS EVENING, BUSINESS AND FINANCE REPORT, BROUGHT TO US BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LYDIA SELLE.A VERY CUMBERSOME PROCESS CALLED S-275, WHICH DOCUMENTS EVERYONE'S YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AS WELL AS THEIR, NOT ONLY THEIR DEGREE, THEIR EDUCATION, BUT THEIR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS THAT THEY'VE EARNED ALONG THE WAY.
THAT'S A REQUIRED STATE REPORT.
IT'S VERY COMPLICATED, AND THERE ARE USUALLY SOME CORRECTIONS.
WHEN WE FIRST RAN THE REPORT, IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE WE WERE MEETING K3 COMPLIANCE.
WHICH IS AN AVERAGE CLASS SIZE WITH ALL SPECIALISTS INVOLVED OF 17 TO 1.
AND AFTER THE LAST ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE, WE MET K-3 COMPLIANCE AT 16.96.
SO THAT INCREASES OUR FUNDING STARTING NEXT MONTH, BUT I'VE FACTORED THAT INTO THE FEBRUARY REPORT.
OBVIOUSLY, THE BAD NEWS IS FUEL COSTS ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO AFFECT US, PARTICULARLY IN TRANSPORTATION.
VERY DIFFICULT TO PROJECT AND HOW LONG FUEL PRICES ARE GOING TO STAY UP.
ONE THING WITH THE WAY THAT OSPI FUNDS US IS IT'S A LOOK BACK OF A YEAR.
SO IF WE GO OVER BUDGET THIS YEAR, IT WON'T BE ACCOMMODATED UNTIL 26-27.
THERE'S NO BACK PAY FOR THINGS LIKE FUEL.
AND JUST A REMINDER THAT TRANSPORTATION, THE OPERATIONS OF DRIVING A BUS EVERY DAY, GETTING KIDS TO AND FROM SCHOOL, IS A GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE FUND, THAT IS ONLY FOR THE PURCHASE OF BUSES OR MAJOR REPAIR BUSES.
AGAIN, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, WE ARE TRACKING VERY CLOSELY FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
AND AGAIN, OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT FUND BALANCE POSITION WILL IMPROVE BASED ON THIS TREND LINE.
WE STILL HAVE THAT EXPECTATION.
OKAY, I REREAD THIS TODAY, AND IT EVEN CONFUSED ME JUST A LITTLE BIT.
SO BECAUSE SALARIES AND WAGES GO UP, YOU WOULD EXPECT PAYROLL TAXES TO GO UP PROPORTIONATELY.
AND PAYROLL TAXES ARE VERY, VERY FLAT.
THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, THERE'S REALLY NO GROWTH.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE REDUCED RETIREMENT RATES GOING INTO 26-27, THE EMPLOYER SHARE OF RETIREMENT, AND THEY HELD THOSE RATES CONSTANT IN 26-27.
SO THAT IS VERY HELPFUL TO US.
THE SLIGHT DECREASE IN RETIREMENT EMPLOYER SHARE OFFSET ANY OTHER INCREASES IN L&I.
SO FUND BALANCE IS TRENDING ABOUT THE SAME AS IT WAS A MONTH AGO.
AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY CONSISTENT WHERE WE HAVE BEEN THIS YEAR.
AND THEN UNFORTUNATELY WE DID SEE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UNUSUAL DROP FROM JANUARY TO FEBRUARY.
SO DIRECTOR KATIMS ASKED SUPERINTENDENT MINER AND I TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE THOSE CHANGES WERE OCCURRING.
SO I LOOKED FROM JANUARY TO FEBRUARY AT EVERY SCHOOL AND EVERY GRADE, AND IT RANGES FROM I THINK THE WORST DECREASE IN ELEMENTARY IS NINE.
BUT WE DO HAVE SOME POSITIVE INCREASES IN ELEMENTARY.
SO IT'S AT EVERY GRADE, EVERY SCHOOL.
THE HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE THE HIGHEST DECREASE, BUT MAYBE NOT QUITE OUT
[00:25:02]
OF THE ORDINARY.WE DID ASK SOME OF THE SCHOOLS WITH THE LARGEST CHANGES TO DO A DEEP, YOU KNOW, DRILL DOWN ON THOSE REPORTS AND SAY, WELL, WHAT ARE KIDS DOING? AND SOME KIDS...
DID GO TO OTHER SCHOOLS IN OUR DISTRICT WHICH, YOU KNOW, IN'S AND OUT'S.
OTHER DISTRICTS NEARBY, OTHER STATES, OTHER COUNTRIES, THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY DISCERNIBLE PATTERN TO WHY THEY, THERE WASN'T ANY DISCERNIBLE PATTERN.
IT WAS REALLY QUITE MIXED AS TO THE REASONS WHY THEY'RE LEAVING.
OUR ALE DID INCREASE, SO E-HEIGHTS WENT UP ABOUT 7, E-LEARNING WENT UP 20.
WE DID SEE THAT WHEN BRIAR TERRACE RESPONDED TO US AND SAID THAT SOME KIDS HAD SOME ANXIETY CONCERNS AND DID GO TO E-LEARNING AS A RESULT.
SO THE NET DECREASE BETWEEN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY WAS ULTIMATELY 89 DOWN.
AND WE'RE NOT SEEING TOO MUCH OF A DECREASE FROM FEBRUARY TO MARCH, SO I'LL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND SEE HOW THAT COMPARES TO LAST YEAR.
I MEAN, IT TELLS US WE DON'T KNOW, THAT THERE'S NOT ONE REASON.
THERE'S NOT ONE GROUP, THERE'S NOT ONE REASON, THERE'S NOT ONE DEMOGRAPHIC.
IT'S JUST STUFF GOING ON ACROSS THE BOARD.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I DON'T EXPECT A SUPER DETAILED ANSWER, BECAUSE I DIDN'T GIVE YOU A HEADS UP THAT I WOULD ASK THIS, BUT I AM JUST CURIOUS.
I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE WE TALKED ABOUT ELECTRIFYING BUSES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WAS SORT OF A COST-PROBATIVE ISSUE.
WITH FUEL BEING THE WAY IT IS, HAVE WE STARTED LOOKING AT THAT AGAIN AND SORT OF RERUNNING THE NUMBERS? SO WHAT IS VERY INTERESTING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR LEGISLATIVE WORK LATER THIS MEETING, SO ONE OF THE BUDGET REDUCTIONS THAT THE STATE MADE IS SO THEY POST THEY FUND AN ALLOCATION FOR BUS REPLACEMENT OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS THEY CALL IT DEPRECIATION IT'S NOT REALLY DEPRECIATION BUT THAT'S THEIR FUNDING MODEL SO THEY DID THREE COUPLE THINGS THEY INCREASE THE LENGTH OF TIME BEFORE THEY WILL ULTIMATELY PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT COST.
THEY USED TO PAY US OVER 13 YEARS.
SMALL BUSES, THEY CHANGE FROM 8 TO 10.
AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THEY CUT IT TO A THIRD.
A LARGE ELECTRIC VEHICLE COSTS OVER $350,000 TO $400,000, AND NOW THEY'RE SAYING FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO REALLY FUND IT.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT KIND OF WENT SIDEWAYS.
WE ARE NOT IN A REGION THAT TYPICALLY SEES THAT WE'LL GET THE GRANT.
THEY LOOK AT A COUPLE FACTORS.
NOT JUST OUR DEMOGRAPHICS BUT THE AREA, AN AREA ANALYSIS.
SO IT IS NEVER OFF OUR RADAR, BUT THE STATE JUST KIND OF KICKED UP A NEW PROBLEM, WHICH IS, OH, GOSH, THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO PROVIDE AN ALLOCATION THROUGH DEPRECIATION, SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO SLOW THAT DOWN FOR TWO YEARS BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME BUDGET DIFFICULTIES OF OUR OWN.
ANYTHING ELSE? IT'S DEPRESSING TO ENVIRONMENTALISTS, I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
ISMAIL? I DID WANT TO ASK, SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE LIKE, DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN OPTION TO PURCHASE ELECTRIC BUSES, I DO KNOW IT'S CHEAPER TO CONVERT A BUS FROM GAS TO ELECTRIC.
CAN'T WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR IS THE GRANT ALSO REDUCED ON THAT TOO? WE'RE LOOKING AT GRANTS BECAUSE WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE FUNDS TO PURCHASE A LOT OF BUSES.
AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR THE ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
FOR INSTANCE, WE DON'T HAVE CHARGING STATIONS.
WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO OUR UTILITY DISTRICT AND MAKE SURE THEY COULD ACTUALLY GIVE US ENOUGH POWER TO CHARGE BUSES.
[00:30:01]
IN WASHINGTON STATE CURRENTLY TAKE ABOUT 13 HOURS TO FULLY CHARGE SO THEY AREN'T VERY EFFICIENT IN BETWEEN RUNS THE BUSES HAVE TWO BATTERIES BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT ON THE ROAD THEY NEED THREE UM SO IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF WE'LL DO IT, IT JUST COMES DOWN TO A MATTER OF WHEN.SO WE ABSOLUTELY ARE KEEPING OUR EYE ON THINGS, AND I THINK SOMEDAY IT'LL BE LIKE, REMEMBER WHEN A 70-INCH TV WAS COMPLETELY A RIDICULOUS $15,000 PRICE TAG? WELL, YOU PROBABLY DON'T REMEMBER THAT, BUT NOW PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GET THOSE THINGS.
AS TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES AND STRUCTURES IMPROVE THAT WE'LL GET THERE.
JUST QUICKLY I WANTED TO KIND OF ASK BUT ALSO LIKE IT'S FINE IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE EXACT STATISTIC BUT WHEN ALSO LIKE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE DIP BETWEEN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY BECAUSE THERE WAS A LIKE AN INCREASE IN ALE WHICH IS LIKE OBVIOUSLY LIKE MY SCHOOL IS AN ALE I GUESS MY CURIOSITY AROUND THAT WOULD BE, LIKE, IF YOU HAVE STUDENTS GOING OUT OF DISTRICT PER SE, LIKE JUST A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THEM ARE GOING OUT OF DISTRICT, DOES THAT AT ALL CORRELATE WITH THE NUMBER OF OUT-OF-DISTRICT STUDENTS THAT MY SCHOOL OCCASIONALLY PULLS, SOMETIMES PULLS IN? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT MINE IS, LIKE, CORRELATED WITH, LIKE, WHEN ENROLLMENT IS DOWN, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE OUT-OF-DISTRICT STUDENTS, BUT THEN WHEN ENROLLMENT IS UP, IT'S DIFFERENT RULES.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING, LIKE, IF...
LIKE THERE IS A PATTERN WITH THAT AND DOES IT EVEN OUT AND IS LIKE THERE A WAY TO SEE IF IT I GUESS KIND OF EVENS OUT? BECAUSE, YEAH.
SO THAT'S BOTH THE SCHOOL YOU GO TO AS WELL AS E-LEARNING.
SO WE DO, IF WE HAD SEEN, YOU KNOW, 20 DOWN BUT ALE HAD 20 UP, WE'D SAY, OH, OKAY, WE'RE FLAT.
THEY'RE JUST SHIFTING AMONG OUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
A STUDENT COMING FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT WHO HAS JOINED EVANS HEIGHTS OR ANOTHER PROGRAM IS ALSO BEING NETTED.
ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND, AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING THE BEST.
[12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS- 8:00 pm]
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS.WE HAVE TWO ITEMS OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
THE FIRST IS THE SECOND READING TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2603, THE 2026-27 REDUCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.
WE HAVEN'T MADE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TOTAL NUMBER, WHICH WE ARE PROPOSING AGAIN.
WE DON'T USE THIS UNLESS WE HAVE TO.
WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY FULL.
STAFF MEMBERS BEING REDUCED, THIS WOULD BE PARTIAL FTE REDUCTIONS IF NEEDED AS SCHEDULES ARE COMPLETED.
AND ALSO JUST FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER, I KNOW THAT LAST, AT THE LAST MEETING, ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ASKED FOR LAST YEAR.
BECAUSE I THINK WE HAD A SIMILAR NUMBER IN FOR OUR ORIGINAL.
AND MORE LAST YEAR IN THE ORIGINAL, I BELIEVE.
AND THE FINAL WAS? 0.2 THAT WERE REDUCED AND NOT RECALLED.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2603, WHICH IS THE 2026-27 REDUCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM? SO MOVED.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'M ALWAYS SORRY TO SEE US HAVE TO REDUCE THE PROGRAM.
I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SOME OTHER DISTRICTS RECENTLY WHERE THE REDUCTIONS ARE LIKE IN THE HUNDREDS.
SO I AM JUST REALLY PLEASED THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THE REDUCTIONS THIS SMALL IS GREAT.
AND I THINK THAT THE FLEXIBILITY IS NEEDED.
[00:35:04]
TO REDUCE ANYTHING.ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I'LL JUST MAKE A QUICK PIGGYBACK ON THAT, AND IT'S JUST SORT OF A REFLECTION ON MY TIME HERE.
I KNOW THAT THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS I WAS HERE, WE HAD A LOT BIGGER REDUCTIONS IN FORCE.
I SUSPECT THAT IF YOU LOOKED AT SOME OTHER DISTRICTS, THEY DIDN'T.
I THINK THAT WE'VE EVENED IT OUT.
I THINK WE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE IT VERY FAIR AND PROJECT OUT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES WHAT'S GOING TO BE EVEN.
AND IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN EASY, BUT THAT'S PREVENTED US FROM BEING IN THE SORTS OF SITUATIONS LIKE DIRECTOR GARRARD IS TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE COULD BE HERE CUTTING HUNDREDS OF JOBS.
SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY, I THINK THAT IT DOES SPEAK TO THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR DISTRICT THAT WE ARE.
PRETTY GOOD ABOUT STAYING PRETTY MUCH WHERE WE NEED TO BE AND TRYING TO KEEP THINGS EVEN FOR OUR STAFF.
YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED RIGHT-SIZED.
AND WE TOOK A LOT OF SERIOUS CUTS AT THE ADMINISTRATION, ACROSS THE BOARD IN A LOT OF PLACES WHEN WE HAD TO DO IT.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE RIGHT-SIZED NOW, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE SO FEW, I AGREE, I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY, AND I'M HOPING THAT AT THE END WE'LL BE MORE LIKE LAST YEAR, WHICH IS PRACTICALLY NONE, IF NONE.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, IT IS DEFINITELY TO THE CREDIT OF DR. MINER AND ALL OF OUR STAFF AND LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN OURSELVES TO A PLACE WHERE WE AT LEAST ARE STABLE, EVEN THOUGH WE COULD REALLY DO WITH A GREAT DEAL MORE FUNDING TO GET BACK TO THE CLASS SIZES.
THAT ARE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR STUDENTS.
THAT BEING SAID, BEING ABLE TO KEEP A STABLE TEACHING FORCE AND STAFF FORCE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO FOR THIS, I'LL CALL FOR A ROLL CALL VOTE IN TERMS OF...
THE RESOLUTION 2603, THE 2026-27 REDUCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.
AND RESOLUTION 2603, THE 2026-27 REDUCED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IS APPROVED.
THE NEXT BUSINESS ITEM, I'M SORRY, THE NEXT UNFINISHED BUSINESS ITEM IS A SECOND READING TO APPROVE REVISED BOARD POLICY 2108 LEARNING ASSISTANCE PLAN.
THIS IS SIMPLY THE REMOVAL OF SOME LANGUAGE WHICH IS NO LONGER NEEDED.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? VERY HAPPY TO MOVE THIS ONE.
BECAUSE IT'S NICE TO GET RID OF THAT COVID LANGUAGE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING REVISED BOARD POLICY 2108 ON LEARNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE REVISED BOARD POLICY 2108 ON THE LEARNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS APPROVED.
[13. NEW BUSINESS- 8:10 pm]
OF NEW BUSINESS.13.1 IS A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE A BID AWARD FOR SINGLE OCCUPANCY RESTROOMS AT ALDERWOOD MIDDLE AND MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE BID AWARD BY PEAK DRYWALL SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED, THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER MEETING BIDDING CRITERIA FOR THE SINGLE OCCUPANCY RESTROOMS AT ALDERWOOD MIDDLE AND MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE BID AWARD TO PEAK DRYWALL SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED, THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER MEETING BIDDING CRITERIA FOR THE SINGLE OCCUPANCY RESTROOMS AT ALDERWOOD MIDDLE AND MOUNT LAKE TERRACE HIGH, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE BID AWARD...
TO PEAK DRYWALL SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED IS APPROVED.
ITEM 13.2 IS A SINGLE READING TO APPROVAL OF CONTRACT AWARD FOR THE LED LIGHTING AT MEADOWDALE MIDDLE.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT AWARD TO NORTH COAST ELECTRIC FOR THE SECONDARY LED LIGHTING PROJECT AT MEADOWDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL? I MOVE TO APPROVE.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
[00:40:01]
I'M SURE YOU'LL THANK THE VOTERS FOR APPROVING THE 2024 LEVY, WHICH FUNDS THIS WORK, OR BOND, WHICH FUNDS THIS WORK.AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO SEE THE LIGHTING BE UPGRADED TO SOMETHING ENERGY EFFICIENT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONTRACT AWARD TO NORTH COAST ELECTRIC FOR THE SECONDARY LED LIGHTING PROJECT AT MEADOWDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE CONTRACT AWARD TO NORTH COAST ELECTRIC IS APPROVED.
THE NEXT ITEM IS A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2604, ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLIC WORK FOR THE MOUNT LAKE TERRACE HVAC UPGRADES.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2604, ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL HVAC UPGRADES PROJECT, GMP2? MOVE TO APPROVE.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING.
RESOLUTION 2604, ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE MOUNT LAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL HVAC UPGRADES PROJECT, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND RESOLUTION 2604, ACCEPTANCE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT FOR THE MOUNT LAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL HVAC UPGRADES PROJECT IS APPROVED.
ITEM 13.4 IS A SINGLE READING TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2606 REGARDING RENTAL EARNINGS.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2606, REDIRECTION OF SELECTED LEASE AND RENTAL EARNINGS TO THE GENERAL FUND? MOVE TO APPROVE.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I DON'T HAVE, LIKE, A REAL QUESTION ON THIS OTHER THAN IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING I SHOULD UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN I DO UNDERSTAND IT.
COULD I JUST GET A QUICK OVERVIEW ON HOW THIS WORKS? IT WAS JUST A LITTLE CONFUSING WHEN I READ THE RESOLUTION.
IT SEEMS PRETTY PRO FORMA, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW.
LYDIA, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP AND EXPLAIN THE REDIRECTION OF THE FUNDS FOR THIS? SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE CELL TOWER LEASES.
LANE ERDMAN IS LOOKING AT A THIRD, A LIKELY THIRD, POSSIBLY FOURTH.
LONG-TERM LEASES ARE SUPPOSED TO GO INTO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, WHICH WE DO.
AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE IN, CERTAIN LEASES CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO THE GENERAL FUND TO HELP WITH THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT THOSE FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR, PARTICULARLY MAINTENANCE AND SOMETIMES CURRICULUM.
WHICH SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE TWO COMPLETELY AT ODDS.
SO WE USE THOSE LONG-TERM LEASES AS FAR AS CELL TOWERS TO HELP OUT IN THE GENERAL FUND THAT WAY.
ANYTHING ELSE? SO I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING RESOLUTION 26-06? WHICH IS THE REDIRECTION OF SELECTED LEASE AND RENTAL EARNINGS TO THE GENERAL FUND.
PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND RESOLUTION 2606, REDIRECTION OF SELECTED LEASE AND RENTAL EARNINGS TO THE GENERAL FUND, IS APPROVED.
FINAL ITEM OF NEW BUSINESS THIS EVENING IS A POTENTIAL VOTE ON RECOMMENDED PLATFORM CHANGES FOR WASDA, AND I'LL LET DIRECTOR GARRARD TAKE IT AWAY.
SO THIS IS THE TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BOARDS TO SUBMIT A POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS, ADDITIONS, OR CHANGES TO THE WASDA LIST OF POSITIONS, WHICH CONSISTS OF BOTH PERMANENT POSITIONS AND LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND SO WHEN WE TOOK A LOOK AT THAT, SOME OF THE, DIRECTOR CRAMER AND I CAME UP WITH SOME ALTERNATIVE LANGUAGE THAT WE THOUGHT BETTER EXPRESSED OUR THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW THE LEGISLATION RELATED TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
[00:45:09]
TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS SHOULD BE FRAMED AND THAT THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, WE WANT TO ENSURE STUDENTS DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING, READING, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS.WE WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE SYSTEMS ARE NOT ELIMINATING, REDUCING, OR REPLACING THE STUDENT-FACING WORK OF EDUCATION PERFORMED BY HUMANS.
WE WANT TO PROTECT STUDENT DATA PRIVACY AND MINIMIZE NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES.
THOSE ARE THE CHANGES THAT WE CAME UP WITH.
SO I GUESS WE HAVE TO PASS THIS AS A BOARD SO THAT WE CAN SEND IT TO WASDA FOR POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION.
IT WOULD BE PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE IN SEPTEMBER.
I'M GOING TO CALL FOR A MOTION IN A SECOND.
SO I WAS GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT THE EDMONDS SCHOOL BOARD ADOPT THIS PROPOSAL CHANGE FOR THE WASDA MEMBER ADOPTED POSITIONS ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WHICH IS IN THE POSITIONS CATALOG UNDER LEARNING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY, AND THAT WE SUBMIT THIS BY THE APRIL 30TH DEADLINE.
DO I HEAR A SECOND? I'D LIKE TO SECOND THAT.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO DIRECTOR GARRARD AND DIRECTOR CRAMER FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
IS THERE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THIS? I'LL JUST MAKE SORT OF A MORE GENERAL COMMENT BECAUSE I AM GOOD WITH THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN.
AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AI IS PRETTY NEW.
OVERALL, AND WHEN THIS STUFF FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, I TOOK A VERY LAISSEZ-FAIRE VIEW OF THIS.
AND AS WE LEARN MORE AND MORE STUFF COMES OUT IN THE WAY IT'S IMPACTING PEOPLE AND THE SORT OF THIS IS MORE OF A SOCIAL THING, BUT JUST THE MORE POWER WE'RE GIVING TO THIS PARTICULAR TECHNOLOGY, JUST THE MORE CONCERNING IT IS TO ME.
AND SO I DO BELIEVE THAT IT'S GOOD FOR US TO MAKE PRETTY CLEAR TO WASDA I THINK WASDA WAS GOING TO SAY, LIKE, LET'S PUT UP GUARDRAILS, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR US TO SAY AND THESE ARE AREAS WE'RE JUST NOT COMFORTABLE HAVING IN OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL.
SO DO SUPPORT THIS AND I REALLY DO HOPE WE GET SOME GOOD LEGISLATION ON THIS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I JUST WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR GARRARD FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE CHANGES THAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER.
AS DIRECTOR GARRARD SAID, SMITH JUST SAID IT'S TOO NEW TO KNOW JUST HOW DANGEROUS IT IS FOR OUR KIDS, AND I THINK AS A SCHOOL BOARD WE NEED TO BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS ABOUT ITS USE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
I WONDER, DO THE STUDENTS HAVE ANY INPUT YOU WANT TO GIVE US ON THIS? YEAH, I THINK AS A STUDENT, OBVIOUSLY, WE ALL HAVE AUTONOMY AND WE CAN DECIDE.
ULTIMATELY, LIKE, IF WE WANT TO PAY ATTENTION, IF WE WANT TO LEARN, IF WE WANT TO USE AI, YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK THAT NOT ALL OF US ARE READY TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
AND IT'S A HUGE THING GOING ON.
AND IT'S TERRIFYING, HONESTLY, LIKE HOW MUCH POWER IT DOES HAVE.
AND ALSO HOW MUCH IT'S USED AND HOW LITTLE LIKE, IT ALLOWS US TO THINK AND UTILIZE OUR OWN THOUGHTS WHEN WE'RE USING IT.
SO YEAH, ULTIMATELY, LIKE FROM AN EDUCATION STANDPOINT, LIKE AS MUCH AS YEAH, STUDENTS CAN AVOID USING IT.
I THINK WE LEARN CONSIDERABLY MORE.
AND I THINK ALSO JUST ENCOURAGING MORE, LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, I TUTOR AT EDMONDS COLLEGE, AND TO AVOID MORE AI USAGE IN THE CLASSROOMS, THEY STARTED PUTTING US TUTORS IN THE ACTUAL CLASSES RATHER THAN JUST ENCOURAGING US TO COME TO THE TUTORING CENTER, LIKE, ACTUALLY INSERTING US IN THE COLLEGE CLASSES AND SAYING, HEY, LIKE, INSTEAD OF USING AI IN CLASS, WE HAVE, LIKE, THREE TUTORS HERE THAT CAN JUST COME TO YOUR DESK AND HELP YOU.
AND THAT REALLY HELPED IN THOSE PARTICULAR LOWER LEVEL ENGLISH CLASSES WHERE STUDENTS MIGHT NOT BE SPEAKING ENGLISH AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE AND MIGHT FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO USE AI TO KEEP UP.
AND SO I THINK THAT, YEAH, AS MUCH AS WE CAN DO TO ALSO MAKE IT EASIER FOR STUDENTS TO NOT USE AI, I AGREE WITH THIS.
YEAH, YOU'RE NOT DOING IT YOURSELF.
THERE'S ALSO THE CONCERNS OF PRIVACY.
[00:50:02]
ALSO CAUGHT UP WITH AI AS WELL, AND I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD JUST REALLY THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE WE IMPLEMENT IT ON ANYTHING.I THINK YOUR SUGGESTED CHANGES ARE EXCELLENT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO DO THIS.
I HOPE THAT THEY FOLLOW UP AND THAT THIS IS HOW IT'S WORDED IN THE WASDA POSITION BECAUSE I THINK IT DEFINITELY STRENGTHENS IT AND MAKES IT MUCH BETTER ARTICULATED IN TERMS OF WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE PLATFORM POSITION CHANGES TO WASDA ON THE AI POLICY AS PRESENTED HERE, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE RECOMMENDED PLATFORM POSITION CHANGES TO THIS WASDA AI POLICY ARE APPROVED.
[14. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES]
NEXT, WE ACTUALLY GO BACK TO DIRECTOR GARRARD FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.SO AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN LEGISLATORS ARE NOT IN SESSION.
SO THERE IS STILL ACTION GOING ON AROUND LEGISLATORS AND HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND OUR ISSUES, OUR NEED FOR IMPROVED FUNDING, AND SO ON.
SO A WEEK AGO YESTERDAY, THE WASDA REGIONAL MEETING WAS HELD.
WASDA HAS ABOUT 12 REGIONS, I THINK, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ABOUT 12 REGIONS.
SO OUR REGIONAL MEETING WAS HELD IN ARLINGTON, SO I ATTENDED THAT.
THEY WERE HELPING PROMOTE AS PART OF THE PROGRAM A TOOLKIT FOR LEGISLATIVE IMPACT, CHAMPIONING PUBLIC EDUCATION IT'S CALLED, WHICH CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM WASDA, WASDA.ORG SLASH PUBLICATIONS.
THEY TALKED A LOT ABOUT WAYS OF ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY, HOLDING PUBLIC FORUMS AND TOWN HALL MEETINGS WAS ONE OF THE STRATEGIES.
AND THEN ALSO LIKE HOW TO BUILD AND GROW THE LEGISLATIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
AND THEN UNDERSTANDING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, BECAUSE SOME THINGS, IDEAS, IT TAKES A WHILE FOR AN IDEA TO GET THROUGH THAT.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT WAS STUFF WE'VE ALREADY, THINGS WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT HERE, BUT THAT WAS THE GIST OF THE MEETING.
AND THINKING ABOUT THAT, I REALIZED THAT, I THINK THEY MENTIONED THIS, THAT THERE'S A VERY GOOD WEBSITE WHICH EXPLAINS THE FUNDING ISSUES, AND IT'S CALLED WASCHOOLFUNDING.ORG.
SO HERE WE HAVE IT ON THE SCREEN BEHIND US.
SO IT'LL SHOW YOU, SHOWS THE CORE ISSUES, SHOWS HOW, YOU KNOW, EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS IMPACTS DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, WHERE IT FALLS SHORT, WHICH IS PARTICULARLY MENTIONS THE SPECIAL ED FUNDING, THE MATERIAL SUPPLIES AND OPERATING COSTS, AND THE TRANSPORTATION, I THINK, IS THE THIRD ONE.
AND JUST HOW IT'S CHANGED OVER TIME.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SHARE OF FUNDING GOING TO K-12 FROM THE STATE BUDGET HAS SHRUNK.
SO WASCHOOLFUNDING.ORG, IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH ANY OF THE LEGISLATORS, THIS WOULD BE GOOD PREP WORK TO KNOW SOME OF THAT INFORMATION.
AS I TRY AND MEET WITH SOME OF THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE RUNNING IN OUR THREE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS, I'LL BE MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS WEBSITE AND SO THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXPECT THEM TO DO
[00:55:02]
FOR US.SO I THINK I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT AND FOR YOUR...
REPRESENTING US AT THE REGIONAL MEETING AND BRINGING THAT TO US.
I REALLY WANT TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT LINK AND YOU KNOW WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, WASHINGTON WAS 11TH IN THE NATION.
[15. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
ABOUT THAT.NEXT, WE HAVE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
SAM, YOU WANT TO START? SO, UPDATE ON MOUNTLAKE TERRACE.
LAST FRIDAY, STUDENTS ENJOYED OUR SPRING FLING, WHICH WAS A GREAT WAY TO UNWIND AS WE HEAD TO OUR FINAL STRETCH OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
FOR SENIORS, GRADUATION IS STARTING.
TO FEEL VERY REAL, WE RECENTLY RECEIVED OUR CAPS AND GOWNS AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE HOW CLOSE THE END OF OUR SCHOOL YEAR IS.
IT'S KIND OF, I DON'T KNOW, IT'S SCARY.
AT THE SAME TIME, MANY STUDENTS ARE FOCUSED ON PREPARING FOR UPCOMING AP EXAMS. LOTS OF US HAVE BEEN STAYING AFTER SCHOOL TO STUDY, INCLUDING SOME TEACHERS THAT ARE STAYING TO HELP AS WELL.
IN ADDITION, STUDENTS IN OUR PERSONAL FINANCE AND BUSINESS MATH CLASSES PARTICIPATED IN A REALITY FAIR LAST WEEK.
IT WAS AN INTERACTIVE BUDGETING SIMULATION THAT GAVE US LIKE FIRST-HAND LOOK AT MANAGING FINANCES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT CAME WITH REAL-WORLD FINANCIAL DECISIONS.
MY TEACHER, MR. SOOD, HOSTED IT.
HIM AND THE TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS THAT ORGANIZED IT DID A GREAT JOB AND I LEARNED A LOT.
REGARDING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON SCHOOL SAFETY, I...
I PUSH FOR THE I PUSH FOR THIS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE BOARD AND I HOPE THAT THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES GET THE CLOSURE THAT THEY DESERVE.
THANK YOU TATIANA. HI EVERYONE.
I'M TATIANA AND I'M FROM EDMONDS HEIGHTS FIRSTLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT UM MY SCHOOLS LIKE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN LIKE NON-ADVANCED LIKE LEVEL OF HIGH SCHOOL THEATER IS PERFORMING WE WON'T ROCK YOU AND THEY OPEN THIS WEEKEND WHICH SHOULD BE REALLY FUN.
MY LITTLE SISTER IS IN IT, SO I WILL BE THERE TO WATCH IT AND SUPPORT IT.
ADDITIONALLY, A SMALL GROUP OF US STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN FESTIVAL IN JUNE, JUST A SMALL GROUP OF US, DID A CAR WASH FUNDRAISER AND WE RAISED OVER $600.
SO IT WAS REALLY FUN, AND WE, YEAH, WE WASHED A LOT OF CARS.
I DID NOT ATTEND IT, BUT MY SISTER WENT AND SHE SAID THAT IT WENT WELL.
AND IT WAS, YEAH, A LOT OF THE KIDS DO MULTIPLE THINGS.
THERE'S A LOT OF SINGING BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF SINGING SHOWCASES HAPPEN AT OUR SCHOOL.
SO, YEAH, I'VE HEARD IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.
THIS IS ALSO LIKE COLLEGE DECISION WEEK FOR A LOT OF US DECIDING ON COLLEGES.
SO SENIORS DEFINITELY ARE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE RIGHT NOW.
AND IT'S, YEAH, A FUN AND SCARY SEASON.
ADDITIONALLY, ON THE AI THING, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT I THINK SOMETHING THAT COULD REALLY HELP WOULD BE LIKE MORE PAPER ASSIGNMENTS.
LIKE WHEN I'M IN CLASSES, PAPER ASSIGNMENTS DEFINITELY FORCE ME TO HAVE MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT'S A LOT HARDER TO GOOGLE SOMETHING AND THEN BY HAND COPY AND PASTE IT.
THAT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND I THINK YOU'RE RETAINING THE INFORMATION AT THAT POINT HONESTLY PRETTY WELL IF YOU'RE HANDWRITING ALL OF IT.
SO I THINK, YEAH, BRINGING BACK MORE JUST PAPER ASSIGNMENTS WOULD DEFINITELY HELP WITH ALL OF THE JUST CONSTANT COPY, PASTING, AND GOOGLING THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT'S TEMPTING IF YOU'RE SITTING IN A TAB THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO A GOOGLE TAB.
AND THEN ALSO MY SCHOOL IS GETTING READY FOR COMMENCEMENT.
I'LL BE DOING A SPEECH AT MY SCHOOL'S COMMENCEMENT, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING, AS WELL AS SINGING WITH MY SCHOOL'S THEATER PROGRAM.
AND LASTLY, I WON'T BE AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING BECAUSE I'LL BE IN TECH WEEK FOR MY SPRING SHOW, WHICH IS THE PAJAMA GAME, AND I'M PLAYING THE LEAD ROLE AND ASSISTANT CHOREOGRAPHING THE SHOW.
I'M PLAYING THE ROLE BABE, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
IT'S ABOUT LIKE KIND OF WAGE...
DISPARITY IN THE 1950S, 1957 TO BE EXACT, AND IT'S REALLY INFORMATIVE AND ALSO FUNNY, AND I'M SUPER EXCITED TO GET TO DO THAT.
OUR PERFORMANCE SPANNED FROM MAY 15TH THROUGH 24TH, AND I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO SUPPORT IT.
ISMAEL? SO, A BUNCH OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED AT LINWOOD LATELY.
FIRST OF ALL, WE RECENTLY SENT OUR TSA.
WE WON FIRST AND THIRD PLACE IN DRAGSTER AND HONESTLY I'M NOT IN TSA SO THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES I HEARD ABOUT.
[01:00:01]
BECAUSE I DID HEAR IT WENT REALLY WELL.ON THE TOPIC OF CLUBS GOING TO COMPETE, WE RECENTLY SENT OUR COMPETITORS TO DECA INTERNATIONALS.
WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM BY THE END OF THIS WEEK WHEN THEY RETURN FROM ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
WE ALSO RECENTLY HAD A TALENT SHOW.
WE HAD ABOUT NINE ACTS, ABOUT AN HOUR LONG, VERY FUN, AND WELL...
I WANT TO ALSO COMMENT ABOUT THE AI THING.
PAPER, I THINK, IS VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
BUT ALSO, I MEAN, THE PROBLEM WITH AI IN SCHOOLS IS THAT IT'S ALSO DIFFICULT TO MONITOR HOW AI IS BEING USED.
BECAUSE YES, EVEN THOUGH WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT PEOPLE'S TAB HISTORIES AND SEARCH HISTORIES, WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE STAFF IS USING AI IN THE EXACT SAME WAY THE STUDENTS ARE? WHICH DOES SUCK.
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL FIX ITSELF SOON.
THE CREDIT UNION AT OUR SCHOOL THAT HAD OPENED, OUR MANAGER HAD TO, WELL, OUR STUDENT MANAGER HAD TO STEP DOWN SUDDENLY.
SO NOW WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING ANOTHER STUDENT ON SHORT TERMS. I APPLIED.
AND, YEAH, THAT'S IT FOR LEONARD HIGH SCHOOL.
I SIT HERE AS A FATHER OF FOUR DAUGHTERS.
MY LAST DAUGHTER IS NOW GOING THROUGH.
THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT, MY PREVIOUS THREE ALL WENT THROUGH THE DISTRICT.
I SIT HERE AS A CURRENT TEACHER AND A FORMER PRINCIPAL.
WHEN ISSUES OF SCHOOL SAFETY COME UP, FOR ME THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR SCHOOLS.
AND ANY TIME ANY EVENT HAPPENS AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, YES, WE CAN'T CONTROL EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS CONTROL HOW WE RESPOND TO THEM.
AND MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WE WILL THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE EVERYTHING, THAT WE WILL RESPOND TO PARENTS IN A TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE MANNER, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT MAKING JUDGMENTS, SUMMARY JUDGMENTS, BEFORE WE HAVE THE FACTS.
AND THOSE INVESTIGATIONS, BY NATURE OF THE INVESTIGATIONS, HAVE TO BE PRIVATE.
NOT EVERYONE IN THE PUBLIC IS PRIVY TO THOSE, AND NOR SHOULD THEY BE.
THE ALLEGATION THAT THIS IS A COVER-UP IS JUST FRANKLY INSULTING.
TURNING MY ATTENTION TO THE FAMILY THAT WAS HERE BEFORE, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS DEALT WITH MANY SITUATIONS LIKE THIS AS A FORMER PRINCIPAL, AND SOMEONE WHO'S EXPERIENCED THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF THIS AS A STUDENT IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT TIME FOR THIS FAMILY.
AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM.
AND MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WE WILL, AS A DISTRICT, WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THEM AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THIS YOUNG CHILD RECOVER.
WHILE ALSO MAKING SURE WE HOLD ACCOUNTABLE.
ALL THOSE WHO WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE, IRONICALLY, WE HAD A STUDY SESSION ABOUT SAFETY EARLIER, AND EVEN THOUGH THE TIMING OF THIS FALLS AT A STRANGE TIME BASED ON ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP TODAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STUCK WITH ME ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION IS THAT ONE OF THE COMMENTS MADE BY ONE OF THE PRESENTERS SAID THAT WHEN THEY WERE IN COOPERATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF EDMONDS, THE CITY OF EDMONDS COMMENTED THAT WE ARE JUST FAR BETTER PREPARED THAN THE CITY OF EDMONDS IS IN TERMS OF RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC.
SAFETY IN CRISES AND THINGS LIKE THIS.
AND IT'S A TRUE TESTAMENT TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SCHOOL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MULTIPLE LAYERS OF PREVENTION, PROTECTION, AND RESPONSE WORKING IN CONCERT TO DO OUR BEST TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE.
WE CAN'T ALWAYS KEEP EVERY KID SAFE, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE WHAT WE DO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIRECTOR SMITH.
JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK ONES FOR ME.
THE FIRST ONE IS SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAVE THESE LIKE NON-CONTROVERSIAL THINGS, I DON'T THINK IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
SO I DID HAVE A COMMENT ON 13.1 THAT WE DID BY THE TIME I REALIZED I HAD A COMMENT,
[01:05:02]
WE WERE KIND OF PAST IT.SO I'M JUST GOING TO CIRCLE BACK TO THAT REAL QUICK, AND THAT WAS OUR SINGLE-OCCUPANCY RESTROOMS. IN THE ABSTRACT, THOSE SEEM LIKE SORT OF WHATEVER TYPE OF THING.
LIKE IT DOESN'T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING BUT I WILL TELL YOU UM I HAVE RECENTLY GONE INTO A LOT OF PUBLIC PLACES WHERE THEY ARE STARTING TO DO THIS THIS IS STARTING TO BECOME MORE OF A NORM UM AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ACTUALLY UM YOU KNOW WITHOUT GETTING INTO DETAILS GOING TO THE BATHROOM IT'S A VULNERABLE TIME AND SO BEING ABLE TO BE IN A ROOM THAT IS LIKE SEALED OFF WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR PRIVACY IS VERY NICE AND A SITUATION WHERE I THINK MOST PEOPLE AREN'T VERY COMFORTABLE.
SO I'M GLAD WE'RE DOING THAT IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS A THING IN MORE OF OUR SCHOOLS, BRING THAT INTO IT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S JUST A GOOD OVERALL SOCIAL POLICY.
SO I DID WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT, AND WE HAD SKIPPED PAST IT, SO GET THAT IN THERE.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO COMMENT ON WAS I LEARNED RECENTLY, AND I SPOKE TO DIRECTOR KATIMS ABOUT THIS ACTUALLY BEFORE THE MEETING, BUT APPARENTLY THE STATE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES, HAS A LARGE FUNDING CRISIS GOING ON, WHICH I'M SURE WE ALL KNOW, OR AT LEAST WE COULD IMAGINE, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT LEGISLATORS REALLY WANT TO FUND VERY WELL.
IT'S NOT A HIGH PRIORITY TO FUND THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED.
BUT EVERYONE HAS A SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY, AND SO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER IS PLANNING A MCCLEARY-LIKE LAWSUIT.
AGAINST THE STATE, SAYING THEY HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO FULLY FUND PUBLIC DEFENSE, WHICH MAKES TOTAL SENSE.
AND THE REASON I BRING IT UP IN THIS AREA IS THAT I GUESS WHEN THE MILLIONAIRE'S TAX WAS BEING DEBATED, THE COMPETING PRIORITIES THERE IN THAT BILL WERE EDUCATION AND PUBLIC DEFENSE, WHICH IS JUST A I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE IS SITTING ON THEIR LAURELS, BUT IT JUST SHOWS THERE ARE OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATES THAT THE STATE IS PITTING AGAINST EACH OTHER REALLY WHEN THEY HAVE TO WHEN THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH SO IT IS NOT A TIME FOR US EVEN THOUGH WE HAD AN OKAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION THEY COULD HAVE DONE MORE BUT IT WAS OKAY IT'S NOT A TIME TO GET COMPLACENT OR COMFORTABLE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE AND THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDING STUFF GOING ON SO YOU KNOW AS WE SPEAK AS THE LEGISLATORS ARE BACK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS THEY'RE OUT HERE JUST KEEP ON THEM ABOUT FUNDING WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO HOW YOU GONNA FUND OUR SCHOOLS AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE GOT TO DO.
WELL, I GOT TO SEE MONTLAKE TERRACE SOCCER TEAM PLAY AGAIN.
THEY'RE GOING TO WANT ME EVERY GAME BECAUSE THEY CAME FROM BEHIND, TIED THE SCORE TWO TO TWO RIGHT BEFORE THE END, WHICH IS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED LAST TIME I REFEREED THEM.
AND THEN THEY WON IN OVERTIME.
SO I'M LIKE THEIR LUCKY CHARM, I THINK NOW.
SO MAY IS THE JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, AND IT'S ALSO THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER AND NATIVE HAWAIIAN MONTH.
AND THERE'S AN EVENT AT TERRACE PARK ON SATURDAY FROM 11 TO 2, CELEBRATING CULTURES ACROSS THE PACIFIC.
IT'S A SECOND ANNUAL EVENT THERE.
I'M NOT SURE I CAN MAKE IT, BUT IF I CAN, I'LL MAKE AN APPEARANCE.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE SITUATED RIGHT HERE IN THE SPEAKING BECAUSE I THINK MY WONDERFUL COLLEAGUES HAVE COVERED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING, EXCEPT I WAS ALSO GOING TO MENTION THAT APRIL, WE ARE JUST CLOSING OUT ARAB AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH TO GO INTO JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
I WANT TO WELCOME MEGAN AND SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING OUR TEAM AND BEING OUR SUPPORT.
WE ALREADY SEE WHAT A GREAT HELP YOU'RE GOING TO BE TO THE BOARD AND TO DR. MINER.
SO I JUST WANTED TO OFFICIALLY WELCOME YOU TO THE DAY I WAS HERE.
WELL, I WANTED TO BUILD ON WHAT SAM SAID ABOUT THE FINANCIAL LITERACY EVENT WE HAD.
IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS JUST A TERRIFIC EVENT.
STUDENTS MOVE AROUND THE ROOM BALANCING WANTS AND NEEDS AGAINST THE ESSENTIALS, AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF FUN.
AND BY CONSENSUS, THE FAVORITE QUOTE HEARD BY A STUDENT WAS, WAIT, I HAVE TO CHOOSE TO EAT OR BUY A CAT? AND SO...
AS THEY THINK ABOUT THE ESSENTIALS VERSUS
[01:10:02]
LIKE MAYBE WANTING A PET AND THE VETERINARY CARE AND ALL OF THAT. SO IT'S A VERY THOROUGH SIMULATION, AND I HEARD LOTS OF GREAT THINGS ABOUT IT. I LOOK FORWARD TO MAYBE BEING ABLE TO ATTEND IT NEXT YEAR. THE OTHER THING IS I WANTED TO WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF POSITIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HIRING FOR. THIS IS A VERY BUSY SEASON FOR THAT. WE HAVE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AT THREE SCHOOLS WHO OUR CABINET MEMBERS HAVE BEEN DOING THE INITIAL NOT SCREENING THE INITIAL INTERVIEWS WITH THE SCHOOL TEAMS, INCLUDING STUDENTS, AND THEN THOSE WILL BE COMING TO ME NEXT. BUT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT POSITIONS, VERY DEEP POOLS, GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO'S SHOWING AN INTEREST IN OUR DISTRICT AND APPLYING.IT'S A VERY... IT'S A HUGE ENDEAVOR TO APPLY, GO THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS, THE INTERVIEW PROCESSES. OFTEN WE WISH WE HAD ROOM FOR MORE THAN ONE PERSON, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO'S SHOWING AN INTEREST, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING THOSE WHO ARE BEING SELECTED. GREAT. THANK YOU.
AND THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.