[1. CALL TO ORDER-6:30 pm] [00:00:06] THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER, AND I WILL DO THE ROLL CALL. [2. ROLL CALL-6:31 pm (ALL TIMES ARE ESTIMATED)] DIRECTOR KRAMER? PRESENT. DIRECTOR SMITH? PRESENT. DIRECTOR GERRARD? PRESENT. DIRECTOR CHASE? HERE. AND I'M DIRECTOR KADAMS, SO WE HAVE A FULL GROUP TONIGHT. NEXT, I'LL ASK DR. MINOR TO DO THE LAND [3. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-6:32 pm] ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. THANK YOU, DR. KADAMS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THIS PLACE, THE SADOVISH PEOPLE AND THEIR SUCCESSORS. THE TULALIP TRIBES, WHO SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL HAVE TAKEN CARE OF, HUNTED, FISHED, AND GATHERED ON THESE LANDS. WE RESPECT THEIR SOVEREIGNTY, THEIR RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION, AND WE HONOR THEIR SACRED SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH THE LAND AND WATER. BY ACKNOWLEDGING THESE HOMELANDS, WE COMMIT TO WORKING WITH TRIBAL NATIONS TO FURTHER THE EDUCATION AIMS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. NOW, IF EVERYBODY WILL RISE [4. FLAG SALUTE-6:33 pm] AND JOIN ME IN THE FLAG SALUTE. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. NEXT IS APPROVAL [5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA-6:34 pm] OF OUR AGENDA. DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE OUR AGENDA AS PRESENTED? MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA. I WOULD LIKE TO, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES HERE WISHING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND OUR PUBLIC COMMENT TO AN HOUR. SO IS THERE A MOTION? THAT'S A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY. SO THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO EXTEND THE AMOUNT OF TIME OF PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NONE, NOW AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA. SECOND. THANK YOU. I'VE HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NONE, WE WILL PROCEED AND THE AMENDED AGENDA IS APPROVED. NEXT, WE'LL HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORT. NOTHING THIS EVENING. OKAY, SO NEXT IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES. [7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-6:40 pm] TONIGHT WE HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES TO APPROVE FROM THE JUNE 9, 2026 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING. DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES? I MOVE TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES. I SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NONE, THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 9, 2026 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING ARE APPROVED. NEXT WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF [8. PUBLIC COMMENTS-6:45 pm] THE AGENDA IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO ADDRESS 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 ISN'T A TIME FOR THE AUDIENCE TO ADDRESS EACH OTHER. ALSO, 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 THE BOARD'S SILENCE DOES NOT SIGNAL AGREEMENT, DISAGREEMENT, OR ENDORSEMENT OF THE SPEAKER'S REMARKS. PEOPLE MAY SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS EITHER BY READING YOUR COMMENTS ALOUD IN PERSON OR BY SUBMITTING YOUR COMMENT IN WRITING, AND WE DID GET SOME COMMENTS IN WRITING TONIGHT. THE BOARD READS ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS, AND THEY ARE ALSO ATTACHED TO THE MEETING AGENDA AND POSTED ON THE BOARD DOCS WEBSITE FOR THE PUBLIC. FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING. I THINK FOUR OF THE COMMENTS WERE ABOUT THE START AND END TIME AND ONE WAS ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE. FRA ALLOCATION. OH YES, THANK YOU FOR THE FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATES. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SHARE YOUR THINKING WITH US THROUGH THE WRITTEN COMMENTS. WHEN YOU PRESENT YOUR COMMENT IN PERSON, YOU'RE GOING TO BEGIN PLEASE BY STATING YOUR NAME. YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE, YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISTRICT, AND THE AGENDA ITEM OR SCHOOL DISTRICT TOPIC THAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING TONIGHT. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. A TIMER WILL BE RUNNING SO THAT YOU CAN MONITOR YOUR TIME. AT THE THREE-MINUTE MARK, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED. PLEASE MAKE YOUR STATEMENT IN A CIVIL MANNER WITHOUT DISPARAGING, [00:05:01] NAME-CALLING, OR OTHERWISE TARGETING ANY ONE PERSON OR GROUP IN THE DISTRICT. IF ANY PERSON MAKES AN UNCIVIL COMMENT, I WILL DIRECT THE MICROPHONE TO BE MUTED AND YOUR COMMENT WILL BE ENDED REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME ON THE TIMER. THE DESCRIPTION OF AN UNCIVIL COMMENT IS STATED IN OUR SCHOOL BOARD POLICY 1400 AND IS INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION ON THE TABLE WHERE YOU SIGNED IN. SO PLEASE USE GOOD JUDGMENT IN THE PHRASING AND CONTENT OF YOUR COMMENT. RELEVANT ITEMS MENTIONED IN COMMENTS ARE TYPICALLY NOT ACTED UPON THE BOARD AT THIS TIME BUT MAY BE FOLLOWED UP BY THE BOARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND OR STAFF AT ANOTHER TIME. PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING A COMMENT TONIGHT, LIKE YOU'VE HEARD, WE EXPANDED THE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. TO ALLOW FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP. IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE YOUR COMMENT TONIGHT FOR ANY REASON, THERE'S ANOTHER BOARD MEETING IN JULY, JULY 7TH, I BELIEVE. AND OF COURSE, PEOPLE CAN SEND US COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME VIA EMAIL. FOR THOSE WHO ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN SPEAKING ABOUT THE PROPOSED START AND END TIME SCHEDULE, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A VERY LONG RUNWAY. BEFORE ANY ACTIONS WILL BE TAKEN TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL INPUT THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT THE THOUSANDS OF RESPONSES THAT WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED THROUGH SURVEYS AND OTHER FORMS. COMMENTS ARE MADE FROM THE PODIUM THAT IS TO THE SIDE OF THE BOARDROOM. SO WHAT I WILL DO IS I WILL CALL SOMEONE'S NAME, AND THEN I'LL ALSO SAY WHO WILL BE COMING UP NEXT SO YOU CAN SORT OF QUEUE UP. AND I WILL THEN EACH TIME LET YOU KNOW WHO CAN BE QUEUED UP SO THAT YOU CAN KIND OF BE READY FOR WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN. OKAY, LET ME FIND THIS. SO THE FIRST PERSON TONIGHT IS LAUREN JOHNSON, AND THE PERSON WHO WILL BE FOLLOWING LAUREN IS CHRISTOPHER BOTMAN. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS LAUREN JOHNSON. I'M A READING TEACHER AT CEDAR VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND THESE ARE ALSO FAMILY MEMBERS FROM CEDAR VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL. OUR STUDENTS AT CEDAR VALLEY DESPERATELY NEED A FULL-TIME FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATE, YET FOR THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR OUR SUPPORT IS BEING CUT FROM FIVE DAYS A WEEK DOWN TO THREE. AS THE HIGHEST POVERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT CEDAR VALLEY STUDENTS CANNOT LEARN UNTIL THEIR BASIC SURVIVAL NEEDS ARE MET. OUR FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATE, ANGELA, PROVIDES THAT FOUNDATION. HER IMPACT IS CLEAR. THIS PAST YEAR, OUR READING SCORES IMPROVED BY 23%, RANKING US NUMBER NINE OUT OF THE 22 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT. THE BARRIERS OUR STUDENTS FACE ARE AN EVERYDAY REALITY IN MY CLASSROOM. HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF MY CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR STUDENTS. MS. JOHNSON, I DON'T WANT TO GET ON THE BUS AND LEAVE SCHOOL BECAUSE I'M LIVING IN MY CAR. I'M HUNGRY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE FOOD AT HOME. MY BACKPACK BROKE AND MY FAMILY CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ONE. MY RESPONSE IS ALWAYS, LET'S VISIT ANGELA. SHE WILL HELP. DURING CONFERENCES WHEN A FAMILY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT ATTEND OUR SCHOOL'S READING NIGHT BECAUSE THEY LACKED TRANSPORTATION AND FELT UNSAFE WALKING IN THE DARK, ANGELA STEPPED IN AND SECURED A RIDE FOR THEM. IN MULTIPLE OTHER CONFERENCES, WHEN FAMILIES FACED SEVERE ATTENDANCE BARRIERS, ANGELA WAS THE BRIDGE THAT BROUGHT THOSE CHILDREN BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM. WHEN I WALK MY STUDENTS TO AND FROM THE READING LESSONS, I SEE ANGELA MEETING WITH FAMILIES BACK TO BACK. THE DEMAND FOR HER TIME ALREADY OUTPACES A FIVE-DAY WORK WEEK. CUTTING HER TO THREE DAYS WILL BE DEVASTATING TO OUR STUDENTS. ANGELA IS A TRUSTED ADVOCATE AT CEDAR VALLEY. SHE IS AN IMMIGRANT FROM CHILE BORN [00:10:01] UNDER A DICTATORSHIP. THERE IS A SENSE OF SAFETY WHEN A FAMILY CAN CONNECT WITH SOMEONE WHO TRULY UNDERSTANDS THEIR JOURNEY AND CAN HELP THEM NAVIGATE RESOURCES TO COMBAT POVERTY. IF WE REDUCE THIS POSITION, WE WILL SEE A DECLINE IN ATTENDANCE AND IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS LACK A FULL-TIME FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATE. MY REQUEST TONIGHT. IS TO ASK THAT THE DISTRICT PARTNER WITH US TO PROBLEM SOLVE. WE MUST FIND A WAY TO SECURE A FULL-TIME FAMILY ADVOCATE FOR THE STUDENTS OF CEDAR VALLEY. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LAUREN. AFTER CHRISTOPHER WILL BE BRIAN REED. HELLO BOARD. FORGIVE MY SHAKINESS WHILE THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING IN FRONT OF THE CROWD. STILL GETTING A GRIP ON THE FEELING. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER BOTMAN. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN THE WITHIN THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND NOW FIND MYSELF AS AN EMPLOYEE OF IT. I HAVE BEEN A PARAEDUCATOR NOW FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. FIRST HALF I WAS SPENT AS A SUBSTITUTE BUT NOW I HAVE FOUND MYSELF A HOME AT ALDERWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL. HOWEVER, I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT MYSELF TOO MUCH TONIGHT. INSTEAD, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT MY FELLOW PARAEDUCATORS AND OUR CURRENT FIGHT FOR A LIVABLE WAGE. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR THAT, I NEED TO MAKE A QUICK HISTORY LESSON. A PARAPROFESSIONAL BECAME A WORKABLE POSITION IN THE 1950S AS A TEACHER'S AIDE, MOSTLY WORKING AS CLERICAL WORK AFTER THE BABY BOOM. HOWEVER, IN THE 1960S, WHEN LYNDON B. JOHNSON ENACTED HIS WAR ON POVERTY, SCHOOLS WERE FLOODED WITH RESOURCES AND, AS SUCH, WERE ABLE TO HIRE MORE PARAPROFESSIONALS FOR MORE ROLES THAN JUST CLERICAL WORK. NOW, ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, BY 1971, 93% OF PARAEDUCATORS WERE WOMEN, AND AT THE TIME, 80% WERE MOTHERS. AT THE TIME, THE ROLES WERE FILLED BY WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED ACTIVIST MOTHERS. IN THE LATE 70S, A LIVABLE WAGE FOR A SINGLE ADULT WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND $7,000 TO $10,000 A YEAR. THE TOP END SALARY OF A PARAEDUCATOR AT THE TIME? $7,000. I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK AND EMPHASIZE THAT THE LIVABLE WAGE OF A SINGLE ADULT AT THE TIME WAS $7,000 TO $10,000, MEANING A MOTHER AT THE TIME WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT A CHILD ON THIS INCOME. THE SALARY OF A PARAEDUCATOR WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SUPPLEMENTARY INCOME TO A HUSBAND'S PRIMARY INCOME. BY THIS POINT, I SHOULD BE ABOUT TWO MINUTES, SO I'LL CUT TO THE POINT. TODAY, THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION LISTS 92% OF PARAEDUCATORS AS WOMEN, OFTEN HIRED TO SCHOOLS DIRECTED BY THE ADVERTISEMENT SAYING, WORK THE SAME SCHEDULE AS YOUR CHILD. MY MOTHER HAS BEEN A PARAEDUCATOR FOR WELL OVER A DECADE IN THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHILE I WON'T GO INTO DETAILS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY FATHER DIED THIS YEAR. AFTER HIS BUSINESS WENT UNDER A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND HIS EVENTUAL PASSING, IT WAS UP TO MY MOTHER AND HER SALARY AS A PARAEDUCATOR TO PAY THE BILLS OF THE MORTGAGE, PROPERTY TAX, AND MAINTAIN THE HOME. LUCKILY, I MOVED BACK FROM COLLEGE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP WITH THE BILLS WHERE I CAN. MEANWHILE, ALSO TRYING TO PAY OFF MY STUDENT LOANS, CAR INSURANCE, PHONE BILLS, ETC. HOWEVER, THAT WASN'T ENOUGH. SO MY SISTER MOVED IN. SHE WORKS AS A PART-TIME TEACHER IN ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT. WITH OUR SALARIES COMBINED, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THE HOUSE THAT WE GREW UP IN, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO, TOO, FOR QUITE SOME TIME. HOWEVER, MY SISTER AND I CAN'T BE HOME FOREVER. OH, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO HELP ON MY BEHALF, BUT ON THE BEHALF OF MOTHER'S... THANK YOU, CHRISTOPHER. NEXT, AFTER BRIAN, WILL BE DONNA MORIN. HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BRIAN REED. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN EDMONDS. I'M A PROUD FATHER OF WESTGATE ELEMENTARY, AND I'M JUST HERE TO PUT THE BOARD TO RECONSIDER THE ADJUSTED SCHOOL START TIMES. SPECIFICALLY, I'M HERE JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AS IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE SEEKING AND TAKING FOR ACTION. I'M AN ACTIVE DUTY MEMBER OF THE MILITARY AND MY FAMILY IS [00:15:01] ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY FAMILY. SO, EXCUSE ME, AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, I RECEIVED ACTIVE DUTY ORDERS. TO A BASE IN SEATTLE LAST SPRING. WE LOVE THE AREA. WE LOVE SEEING SUCH A STRONG COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER FOR ACTION. BUT WE JUST WANT TO GIVE, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INPUT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A COMPONENT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY HEARD IN THIS DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. I WAS NEVER... PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS BECAUSE I WAS AT A DIFFERENT DUTY STATION, SO I WASN'T ABLE TO COME TO THESE MEETINGS OR ANSWER SURVEYS. MY DAUGHTER IS SEVEN RIGHT NOW. MY WIFE IS A FULL-TIME WORKING SPOUSE. MILITARY MEMBERS FACE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE CONSTANT MOVES. THIS WAS OUR SIXTH MOVE IN THE LAST 13 YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY TIME. SO THIS PROPOSED NEW START TIME IS REALLY GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR FAMILY WITH SUCH A LITTLE ONE. I UNDERSTAND THE RESEARCH THAT HIGH SCHOOLERS, NO STUDENT SHOULD WAKE UP AND HAVE TO BE AT SCHOOL AT 720. I THINK WE ALL AGREE ON THAT. BUT THIS IS A VERY RISKY DECISION THAT YOU'RE MAKING TO HAVE SEVEN-YEAR-OLDS HAVE TO WAKE UP AT SIX O'CLOCK WHEN DAD'S GETTING READY TO PUT ON A UNIFORM AND SERVE THE COUNTRY. IT'S A VERY RISKY DECISION AND FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THERE'S A LACK OF RESEARCH TO SUPPORT THIS DECISION. I UNDERSTAND THE RESEARCH IS THERE FOR YOU KNOW HIGH SCHOOLERS AND EVERYTHING AND I BELIEVE THE DECISION WAS MADE IN GOOD FAITH BUT I JUST I THINK THAT THE BOARD SHOULD JUST RECONSIDER AND LISTEN TO THE STRONG COMMUNITY MOVEMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND I HOPE IT JUST HELPS INFORM YOUR DECISION MOVING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. SORRY, THE SYSTEM JUST SIGNED ME OUT. THANK YOU, BRIAN. NEXT IS DONNA, AND AFTER THAT WILL BE JOE BOWEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DONNA MORIN AND I'M CURRENTLY A PARAEDUCATOR AT ALDERWOOD EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER. ALL THREE OF MY CHILDREN HAVE ATTENDED EDMONDS SCHOOLS AND WE'VE LIVED HERE FOR 37 YEARS. I KNOW THAT BUDGET CONCERNS ARE NEVER-ENDING. HOWEVER, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW MUCH TRAINING AND EDUCATION PARAEDUCATORS HAVE IN ADDITION TO THEIR DEGREES AND HOW THEY ARE A VITAL PART OF OUR STUDENT SUCCESS HERE IN EDMONDS. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THE DISTRICT HAS TO FIND A WAY TO INCREASE WAGES AND PROVIDE A LIVING WAGE FOR PARAEDUCATORS. IT'S A REFLECTION OF THE VALUE WE PLACE ON OUR STUDENTS AND THE ADULTS WHO INTERACT WITH THEM EVERY DAY. I HAVE OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION AS A FORMER SPECIAL EDUCATION PARA, TEACHER, AND COVID HEALTH SCREENER IN THIS DISTRICT. AND LET ME TELL YOU, I NEED THAT BACKGROUND EVERY DAY WORKING MY THIRD YEAR AS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD PARAEDUCATOR. AT ALDERWOOD EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER, WE HAVE 18 CLASSROOMS THERE. WE HAVE FOUR OFF-SITE CLASSROOMS FOR A TOTAL OF SEVEN ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS. AND IN PRESCHOOL ALONE, THERE ARE 53 PARAEDUCATORS. EACH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CLASSROOM HAS A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, WHETHER ON IEPS. MOST AECC PARAS HAVE STATE TRAINING TO BE IN COMPLIANCE. WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THE ECAP PROGRAM, GUIDELINES. MOST PARAS WORKING AT PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 42 CREDIT HOURS INVESTED IN THEIR GENERAL CERTIFICATES, AND MANY HAVE THEIR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER OR SPECIAL ED ENDORSEMENTS OR THEIR ADVANCED CERTIFICATE AS WELL. IT TAKES YEARS TO EARN THESE, AND THIS IS AFTER OUR INITIAL 28 CREDIT HOURS OUR FIRST YEAR OF HIRE. ALL PARAS WORKING WITH MEDICALLY FRAGILE STUDENTS AND OR THOSE WHO HAVE INTENSIVE SUPPORT NEEDS MUST HAVE ADDITIONAL HOURS OF TRAINING. LIKE TEACHERS, PARA EDUCATORS ARE CONTINUOUSLY ATTENDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CLASSES, CPR AND OTHER SAFETY TRAININGS, OR USING SOME OF THEIR ENHANCEMENT HOURS TO EARN AN ENDORSEMENT. I MYSELF HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL CREDITS THIS YEAR THROUGH THE UW HARRINGTON CENTER TRAININGS. PARAS DO THIS TO IMPROVE AND LEARN BEST PRACTICES SO THEY CAN BETTER SERVE STUDENTS. BUT, WHILE MANY PARAS EARNED A SMALL STIPEND FROM GETTING AN ENDORSEMENT. [00:20:02] I KNOW SEVERAL CO-WORKERS WHO HAVE HAD TO HAVE PART-TIME JOBS BOTH DURING THE SUMMER AND DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR TO MAKE ENDS MEET. AT AECC, WE ONLY WORK FOUR DAYS A WEEK, AND SEVERAL CO-WORKERS AND I ROUTINELY SUBSTITUTE ON FRIDAYS TO HELP BE ABLE TO PAY THE BILLS. AND AT TIMES, A TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED PARA GETS A JOB IN A NEIGHBORING DISTRICT BECAUSE MOST OF THEM PAY BETTER. I'D LIKE THE BOARD TO PLEASE CONSIDER WORKING WITH HUMAN RESOURCES. TO OFFER A LIVING WAGE FOR FULL-TIME EXPERIENCED PARENTS AND ADMINS WERE PROVEN EFFECTIVE AND EDUCATED RESOURCE THAT HELP SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING YEAR-ROUND THANK YOU DONNA AFTER JOE IS BEN CHAN HELLO I'M JOE BOWEN AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T REALLY I'M AFRAID IT'S REALLY GOING TO BITE ME. I HAVE A FIRST GRADER AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE 7.20 A.M. START TIME. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS CHANGE WAS MADE TO ACCOMMODATE THE HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO WERE STARTING AT 7.20, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I DESIGNED DIGITAL EXPERIENCES AS MY WORK, AND IF MY BOSS HAD COME TO ME AND SAID, THIS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING A BAD EXPERIENCE ON SOME PLATFORM THAT I DESIGNED, AND I CAME BACK TO THEM AND SAID, I FIXED IT FOR THEM, BUT NOW THIS SECTION OVER HERE IS GOING TO HAVE THAT SAME BAD EXPERIENCE. I WOULD BE SHOWN THE DOOR. THIS CAN'T BE A ZERO-SUM GAME. WE CAN'T JUST DECIDE, WELL, SOMEONE HAS TO SHOULDER THIS 720 BURDEN. WE TYPICALLY PICK UP OUR DAUGHTER AT ABOUT 5 P.M. WE'RE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A GREAT AFTERCARE PROGRAM THAT SHE LOVES GOING TO, AND SHE SPENDS ABOUT TWO HOURS IN THAT PROGRAM. THIS POINT. IF THE 7.20 A.M. START TIME TAKES EFFECT, SHE'S GETTING OUT OVER AN HOUR EARLIER, SO SHE'S SPENDING ABOUT THREE HOURS IN AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM BECAUSE WE CAN'T ADJUST IT. WE'RE NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ADJUST OUR WORK SCHEDULES. THIS WOULD MEAN WE'RE GETTING HER HOME AFTER 5 P.M., AND SHE'D BE IN BED RIGHT NOW. SHE WOULD HAVE GONE TO BED IDEALLY LIKE 20 MINUTES AGO IF WE WANTED HER TO GET THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF SLEEP FOR A KID HER AGE, AND YOU CAN CITE STUDIES THAT SHOW MAYBE ADOLESCENTS NEED MORE. SLEEP THAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN A SINGLE SLEEP STUDY THAT SAYS, YES, THIS GROUP IS GETTING JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SLEEP. EVERY SLEEP STUDY SAYS EVERY GROUP COULD USE MORE SLEEP. AND THAT'S WHERE I RAN OUT OF STUFF. BUT PLEASE RECONSIDER. THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TODAY, AND I WILL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOE. AFTER BEN IS BREON BERGEN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BEN CHEN. I LIVE IN BOTHELL. MY TWO SONS ARE GOING TO TERRACE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE 720 START TIME. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, FELLOW PARENTS, BUT WHEN I LEARNED MY SONS COULD LOSE MORE THAN SLEEP EVERY DAY STARTING IN 2027, I LOST SLEEP MYSELF. FOR THE CURRENT 8.45 START TIME, I WAKE UP AT 6 EVERY MORNING. I MAKE BREAKFAST. I PREPARE LUNCHES. I CHECK THEIR SCHOOL BAGS. I DO ALL OF THIS FOR ONE REASON. SO MY KIDS CAN SLEEP AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. SO IN A SENSE, I WAKE UP AT 08, AT 6, SO MY SONS DON'T HAVE TO. BUT WITH A 7.20 START TIME, THAT CHANGED COMPLETELY. NO MATTER HOW ORGANIZED I AM, NO MATTER HOW EARLY I WAKE UP, MY KIDS WILL STILL NEED TO BE UP AROUND 6 IN THE MORNING. JUST TO GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME. IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD INTENTIONALLY DESIGN A SCHEDULE THAT REQUIRES YOUNGER KIDS, SOME ARE EVEN FIVE YEARS OLD, TO BEGIN THEIR DAY SO EARLY. SO I DID SOME RESEARCH ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL START TIME IN OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. HERE'S WHAT I FOUND. IN CANADA, MOST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS START BETWEEN 8.30 AND 9. IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND FINLAND, 8.45 TO 9. IN JAPAN... 815 TO 845. IN SOUTH KOREA, 830 AND 9. IN FRANCE, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BEGAN BETWEEN 820 AND 840. THE LONE EXCEPTION WAS GERMANY. 8 TO 9 MILLION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS STARTED THEIR DAYS AS EARLY AS 7 TO 730 FROM 1939 TO 1945. SO ACROSS THE DEVELOPMENT [00:25:01] WORLD, THE OVERWHELMING PATTERN IS CLEAR. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS USUALLY BEGIN THEIR DAY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 8 AND 9 IN THE MORNING. A 7.20 START TIME WOULD PLACE OUR DISTRICT FAR OUTSIDE THAT NORM. SO, I HAVE A SIMPLE QUESTION FOR THE BOARD. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK THAT 05,641 STUDENTS GET A LITTLE MORE SLEEP, A LITTLE MORE TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY IN THE MORNING, AND A SCHEDULE THAT REFLECTS WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT CHILD DEVELOPMENT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BEN. AFTER BRIANNE IS ANNETTE TEMPE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BRIANNE BERGEN. I LIVE IN LINWOOD. I AM A SEVENTH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER AT ALDERWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'VE TAUGHT AT EDMONDS-WOODWAY HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AND HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO WILL BE ATTENDING BRIAR ELEMENTARY THIS SEPTEMBER. WE ARE VERY MUCH INVESTED IN THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT. MR. GIRARD, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR SOCIAL STUDIES AND ENGLISH RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTATIONS IN THE AMS LIBRARY IN MAY. IT MEANT A LOT TO HAVE THAT MONTHS-LONG COLLABORATION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ACKNOWLEDGED WITH YOUR PRESENCE IN THE BUILDING. FOR THESE PRESENTATIONS, STUDENTS VISUALIZE THEIR RESEARCH ESSAYS ON THEIR LAPTOPS TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM IN WASHINGTON STATE AND TO PROPOSE A SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM. THIS RESEARCH PAPER TOOK MY STUDENTS A GOOD WEEK AND A HALF TO WRITE WITH ALL OF THAT TIME DEDICATED IN THE CLASSROOM TO STRUCTURING THEIR INTRODUCTION, THEIR CLAIM, THEIR EVIDENCE AND REASONING INTO ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE PARAGRAPHS. THIS WORK WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT MY PARAEDUCATOR, CHERYL PASSAGE. HER PATIENT AND JOYFUL PRESENCE WITH MY THIRD PERIOD STUDENTS WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT AND INDEED THIS ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR. WHETHER SHE IS SCRIBING FOR A STUDENT WHOSE PRIMARY LANGUAGE IS MANDINKA. OOH, LOST MY SPOT. WHETHER SHE'S SCRIBING FOR A STUDENT WHOSE PRIMARY LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH, IS NOT ENGLISH, TEASING OUT A VERBAL RESPONSE FROM A RELUCTANT READER, OR SUPPLYING PLAY-DOH TO THOSE THREE KIDS WHO JUST CANNOT SIT STILL. CHERYL IS THERE FOR THEM AND FOR ME. SHE IS THE EYES AND EARS OF WHAT HAPPENS IN ALDERWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL. SHE SEES THE KID WHO IS BULLYING WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES DURING LUNCH AND PASSING PERIOD. SHE NOTICES THE PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR IN THE KIDS WHO ARE HUNGRY AND GOING WITHOUT AT HOME. SHE KNOWS WHO'S IN THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM AND WHICH KIDS ARE ABSENT AND WHY. PARA-EDUCATORS AREN'T MERELY TEACHING ASSISTANTS. THEY ARE OUR EQUALS AND OUR PARTNERS IN EDUCATING COHORTS OF CHILDREN WITH HIGH NEEDS AND DIVERSE NEEDS. I CANNOT DO THIS WORK WITHOUT CHERYL. OUR TEACHING STAFF CANNOT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN EVERY STUDENT'S LIFE WITHOUT PARA-EDUCATORS. SO I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO ASK THAT WE HONOR THIS CRUCIAL WORK WITH FAIR PAY, WITH A LIVABLE WAGE FOR PARA-EDUCATORS IN OUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BRIANNE. AFTER ANNETTE IS ALEX CHAN. HELLO, THIS IS ANNETTE. I'M THE PARENT OF A SOPHOMORE AND A SECOND GRADER IN THE DISTRICT. I'M HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES A SCHOOL START AND END TIME DECISION MADE WITH THE FULL PICTURE, AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE THAT YET. I SUPPORT LATE START TIMES FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS. THE SLEEP RESEARCH IS REAL, AND OUR TEENAGERS DESERVE BETTER. BUT THE WAY THIS CHANGE HAS BEEN STRUCTURED RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ANSWERED. I KEEP HEARING THE SAME ARGUMENT THAT SOMEONE HAS TO START EARLY, AND THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE. I LOOKED AT THE NORTH SHORE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THEY'RE RIGHT NEXT DOOR. THEY'RE LARGER THAN US IN EVERY WAY. THEY HAVE MORE STUDENTS, MORE SCHOOLS, AND 40% MORE GEOGRAPHIC AREA TO COVER FOR BUSES. AND EVERY NORTH SHORE HIGH SCHOOLER STARTS NO LATER THAN 820 AND GETS OUT AT 320. WE HAVE TIME FOR SPORTS AND AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS START AT 8 A.M. AND NOT ONE OTHER ELEMENTARY STUDENT STARTS BEFORE 9. THAT'S THREE TIERS, A BIGGER DISTRICT, BETTER OUTCOMES FOR EVERYONE. AND RESEARCH SHOWS THAT A THREE TIER MODEL CAN ACTUALLY BE MORE COST EFFICIENT THAN FOUR. OUR DISTRICT HAS FOUR TIERS AND SOMEHOW OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN ENDED UP IN THE EARLIEST SLOT. I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THAT DECISION WAS MADE BECAUSE WHEN I WENT TO THE DISTRICT'S TASK FORCE PAGE I FOUND THE PUBLISHED RATIONALE ARGUING AGAINST A TWO-TIER MODEL CITING UP TO $40 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS, 120 NEW BUSES AT $20 MILLION, AND CONCERNS ABOUT CUTTING DRIVER HOURS IN HALF. AND I UNDERSTAND THOSE CONSTRAINTS, BUT NOWHERE IN THAT ANALYSIS IS A THREE-TIER MODEL DISCUSSED. A THREE-TIER MODEL DOESN'T REQUIRE BUSES, AND IT DOESN'T REQUIRE DOUBLING DRIVERS, AND IT'S EXACTLY WHAT NORTH SHORE IS DOING RIGHT NOW. I ALSO COULDN'T FIND THE NAMES OF ANYONE ON THE COMMITTEE, AND I COULDN'T FIND A SINGLE STUDY ON THE EFFECTS [00:30:01] OF EARLY START TIMES FOR ELEMENTARY-AGE CHILDREN. ONLY RESEARCH SUPPORTING LATER START FOR ADOLESCENTS. AND THAT'S NOT A COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS. THAT'S HALF AN ANALYSIS. A 720 START MEANS A 6 A.M. WAKE-UP FOR OUR YOUNGEST ONES. IF THE TASK FORCE REVIEWED RESEARCH ON WHAT EARLY SCHOOL START DOES TO YOUNG CHILDREN, IT WASN'T SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY. AND IF THEY DIDN'T REVIEW IT, THEN THAT'S A GAP THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE THIS MOVES FORWARD. SO TONIGHT I'M ASKING THE BOARD FOR TWO THINGS. ONE, TO MODEL A THREE-TIER SCHEDULE AND PUBLISH THE ANALYSIS. THE DISTRICT ALREADY RUNS TIERED ROUTES. THIS ISN'T AN ASK TO BUILD A NEW SYSTEM. IT'S JUST MODEL THREE TIERS INSTEAD OF FOUR AND PUBLISH THE RESULTS. IF IT DOESN'T WORK THEN TELL US WHY. AND SECOND, DO NOT MOVE FORWARD UNTIL THAT ANALYSIS HAS BEEN DONE OPENLY WITH COMMUNITY INPUT AND WITH A FULL PICTURE ON THE TABLE. BECAUSE THE DECISION THAT IMPACTS THIS COMMUNITY SO SIGNIFICANTLY DESERVES A FULL TRANSPARENT ANALYSIS WITH REAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ANNETTE. AFTER ALEX IS LISA LIU. HELLO, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ALEX. YOU HEAR THAT WHEN I'M IN 5TH GRADE, INSTEAD OF A STARTING TIME OF 8.45, I WILL HAVE TO START SCHOOL AT 7.20. I HAVE THREE REASONS WHY THE STARTING TIME OF 7.20 IS WRONG. NUMBER ONE, KIDS NEED SLEEP. DON'T YOU THINK YOUR CHILD NEEDS SLEEP? YOUR CHILD NEEDS SLEEP TO GET ENERGY. HAS YOUR CHILD EVER SAID TO YOU WHEN YOU WAKE THEM UP, GIVE ME ONE MORE MINUTE, OR I DON'T WANT TO GET UP. THAT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY NEED AND WANT MORE ENERGY FROM THEIR SLEEP. AND WHEN KIDS HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY, THEY WOULD DO BETTER IN SCHOOL. BUT PICTURE THIS. IF A CHILD WAKES UP WITH NO ENERGY, THEN HE OR SHE WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY FOR SCHOOL. SO WHEN KIDS SLEEP LONGER, THEY GAIN MORE ENERGY AND BRING THAT ENERGY TO SCHOOL. WELL, THEY MIGHT HAVE USED SOME OF THEIR BREAKFAST DOING DRAMA. NUMBER TWO. YOUR PARENTS NEED SLEEP TOO. YOU KNOW HOW YOUR PARENTS MOSTLY WAKE YOU UP, MAKE YOU KIDS UP IN THE MORNING, COOK BREAKFAST, AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, STUFF, MY DAD USUALLY WAKES UP AROUND 6.30, HE DOES ALL THE STUFF HE NEEDS TO DO, THEN IT'S 7.10-ISH. SO HE COOKS US BREAKFAST AND WAKES US UP. BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE HAS TO WAKE UP AT 5.05? AND I THINK YOUR PARENTS HAVE THE QUIETLY SAME SCHEDULE. AND 5.05 IS A VERY EARLY TIME, AND I WANT YOUR FAMILIES TO HAVE GOOD SLEEP. NUMBER THREE, TEACHERS AND STAFF ALSO NEED SLEEP. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW EARLY YOUR TEACHERS WILL COME TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING? THE ANSWER IS PRETTY EARLY. BUT THINK ABOUT IT. TEACHERS HAVE KIDS. SOME DO NOT. BUT THE ONES WITH KIDS FACE A PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TO WAKE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING TO GO TO SCHOOL, BUT THEN WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS? IT'S NOT LIKE THEY CAN GO TO BREAKFAST AND DRIVE TO SCHOOL BY THEMSELVES. SO THEY NEED TO STAY HOME TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS, BUT THEY MISS SCHOOL. AS A SUMMARY, I DON'T AGREE WITH ALL THE SCHOOLS IN THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT STARTING AT 720. I SINCERELY WANT THE CURRENT STARTING TIME TO STAY. THE SAME AND I HOPE YOU CAN TELL FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT ARE IN AND OUT OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT TO COME HERE AND EXPRESS THEIR OPINION. THANK YOU, ALEX. AFTER LISA WILL BE HENRY CHEN. THANK YOU, BARD. MY NAME IS ELISA LIU. AS YOU SEE, THIS IS MY FAMILY. I'M THE MOM OF TWO BOYS, ALI AND HENRY. I FEEL THE BOARD AND EVERYBODY HAVE HEARD ENOUGH VOICE FROM OUR FAMILY TODAY. I WAS NOT PLANNING TO SAY SOMETHING. I DECIDED TO DO SO BECAUSE I NEED TO CHECK THE PARTICIPATION MARK TODAY. I WANTED TO KIND OF WRAP UP OUR FAMILY'S OPINION AND HIGHLIGHT, I THINK, TWO THINGS. I WORK IN AN IT COMPANY. THERE IS ENCOURAGEMENT USING AI. I DIDN'T BURN TOO MUCH TOKEN TO GET SOME, YOU KNOW. ANSWERS ABOUT IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP. AS A MOM, THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT ANYTHING IN THE WORLD. WHEN I ASKED AI THAT WHAT IS THIS WHAT DOES SLEEP DEPRIVATION DO TO THE KIDS, THEY SAID THERE'S PRETTY ALARMING I THINK A FEW WORDS LEARNING. MEMORY LOSS AND GRADES BECAUSE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SHOWS THAT INSUFFICIENT SLEEP IS LINKED TO POOR ATTENTION, SLOW PROCESSING SPEED, WEAKER MEMORY AND THE LOWER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE FOR A LONGER TERM. THOSE ARE ALARMING CONCERNING TO EVERY PARENT I THINK IN THIS ROOM. AND THE MORE CONCERNING, IRRITABILITY, EMOTIONAL MELTDOWN AND ALSO INCREASED [00:35:02] ACCIDENT AND INJURIES BECAUSE THOSE KIDS WORRY AND SLOWER WILL GET DISTRACTED EASIER. I THINK WE ALL HAVE THOSE DAYS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE, WE ACTUALLY ARE MORE PRONE TO SOME ERRORS AND ALSO ACCIDENTS. THINK ABOUT THIS LONG-TERM IMPACT ON OUR KIDS. AND EVEN HORMONE DESTRUCTIONS. THAT'S ACTUALLY ALSO I THINK IS VERY REAL BECAUSE WE KNOW KIDS HAVE THOSE HORMONES THAT HAVE TO SLEEP. SHORTEN THE SLEEP TIME WILL ALSO IMPACT THEIR OVERALL BONE STRUCTURE AND GROWTH IN THE LONGER TERM. I THINK THOSE ARE REAL. IT'S NOT AN INCONVENIENCE. WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT A CHANGE OF START TIME. IT'S NOT ABOUT IT'S CAUSING INCONVENIENCE TO EVERY FAMILY. IT'S GOING TO CAUSE LONG-TERM DAMAGE TO THESE KIDS WHO HAVE ONLY CHILDHOOD FOR ONE TIME. WE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT DAMAGE. SECOND PART, I ALSO WANTED TO CALL OUT THERE'S A BIGGER PIECE. I HAVE A FRIEND, A FEW FRIENDS, WHO ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT MOVING TO THIS AREA BECAUSE I'VE BEEN REALLY TALKING ABOUT HOW NICE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. A LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES ARE PULLING THEIR OFFERS AND DECIDING NOT TO MOVE THIS DISTRICT. I ALSO HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE DECIDING TO PULL THEIR SCHOOLS OUT OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WELL. YES, BECAUSE THIS IS IN THE LONGER TERM. IT'S GOING TO CAUSE THE PROPERTY PRICE TO GO DOWN. AND IN THE LONGER TERM, ALSO HURT OUR TAX PAYMENT TO THE CITY, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY HURT THE LONGER TERM. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IS ASKING FOR SOME, I THINK I HEARD SOME VOICES ABOUT MORE FUNDING FOR A LOT OF GOOD STUFF. THE MONEY COMES FROM THE... THANK YOU LISA. AFTER HENRY IS JACKIE MILNER. WELL, GRADE AND SIX YEARS OLD, THE SCHOOL TIME IS ANY PLACE'S TIME. JACKIE IS JESSICA VILLA. GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS JACKIE MILNER AND WHILE I LIVE IN BURLINGTON, I WORK AS A PARAEDUCATOR IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES OF WASHINGTON AND I'M CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PARAEDUCATORS CHAPTER. I JUST REALLY WANTED TO TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES TODAY TO TALK ABOUT PARAEDUCATORS, WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO, AND WHY WE MATTER. PARAEDUCATORS ARE ASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND CLASSIFICATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT, BUT THE CLASSIFICATION TELLS YOU WHERE WE WORK. IT DOESN'T TELL YOU WHAT WE DO. IT DOESN'T TELL YOU ABOUT THE PARAEDUCATORS. HELPING STUDENTS COMMUNICATE USING AN AAC DEVICE. SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH FEEDING, MOBILITY, OR PERSONAL CARE NEEDS. IT DOESN'T TELL YOU ABOUT THE PARAEDUCATORS DEVELOPING MATERIALS, ADAPTING ACTIVITIES, AND DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION SO STUDENTS CAN ACCESS LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE SUCCESS. IT DOESN'T TELL YOU ABOUT THE PARAEDUCATORS SUPPORTING READING AND MATH INTERVENTIONS, ASSISTING MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS, SUPERVISING LUNCH AND RECESS, OR HELPING STUDENTS BUILD CONFIDENCE, FRIENDSHIPS, AND INDEPENDENCE. AND HONESTLY, I'M JUST BARELY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF WHAT PARAEDUCATORS DO. IN FACT, I'M BARELY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF WHAT MY OWN EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN WITHIN THIS DISTRICT, WHICH CANNOT COME CLOSE TO CAPTURING EVERYTHING WE DO THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DISTRICT. EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT'S MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE FOR EACH AND EVERY STUDENT. AS PARAEDUCATORS, WE ARE OFTEN THE ADULTS WHO SPEND THE MOST DIRECT TIME WITH STUDENTS, SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, THE MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS, THE STUDENTS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL ACADEMIC SUPPORT. AND THOSE WHO JUST NEED A LITTLE EXTRA HELP GETTING THROUGH THE DAY. ON PAPER, WE'RE CLASSIFICATIONS. IN REALITY, WE ARE THE PEOPLE HELPING MAKE THE DISTRICT'S MISSION POSSIBLE. WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS. WE CREATE BELONGING. WE PROVIDE ACCESS. WE MAKE INCLUSION POSSIBLE. THE IMPACT OF OUR WORK CAN BE SEEN FAR AND WIDE. IT CAN BE SEEN IN A STUDENT WHO LEARNS [00:40:01] TO COMMUNICATE, A STUDENT WHO LEARNS TO READ, A STUDENT WHO MAKES A FRIEND, OR A STUDENT WHO FINALLY BELIEVES THEY'RE CAPABLE OF AMAZING THINGS. THOSE MOMENTS MATTER. EVERY STUDENT DESERVES THAT KIND OF SUPPORT. AND THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE IT, THEY MATTER TOO. BECAUSE PARAEDUCATORS DO MATTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JACKIE. AFTER JESSICA WILL BE EMILY DIPERNA. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JESSICA VILLA AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE WHY CEDAR VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL NEEDS A FULL-TIME RESOURCE ADVOCATE. AS THE OWNER OF VILLA INSURANCE GROUP FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS I'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH CEDAR VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL THROUGH VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, LITERACY INITIATIVES, FAMILY SUPPORT EFFORTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. OVER THE NINE YEARS I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THAT CEDAR VALLEY SERVES MANY FAMILIES FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. INCLUDING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, HOUSING INSTABILITY, FOOD INSECURITY, AND LANGUAGE BARRIERS. FOR MANY STUDENTS, SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM DEPENDS ON HAVING THE SUPPORT SYSTEM IN PLACE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. THAT IS WHY ANGELA GARRIDO'S SPECIFIC ROLE FOR CEDAR VALLEY AS RESOURCE ADVOCATE, AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER, I WITNESSED THE POSITIVE IMPACT SHE HAS MADE ON STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF. SHE HAS HELPED. FAMILIES ACCESS RESOURCES, SHE CONNECTS PARENTS WITH SUPPORT SERVICES, AND WORKS ALONGSIDE TEACHERS TO ENSURE STUDENTS' NEEDS ARE BEING MET. SHE HAS BUILT TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT DEPENDS ON HER. I AM PARTICULARLY INVOLVED THROUGH THE READ AND WRITE LITERACY PROGRAM, WHICH HAS ENCOURAGED HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS AT CEDAR VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL TO READ OVER THE YEARS. ANGELA HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US CONNECT WITH FAMILIES, STUDENTS, ENSURING THESE OPPORTUNITIES REACH THOSE CHILDREN WHO NEED THEM MOST. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, REDUCING ANGELA'S TIME AT CEDAR VALLEY DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE SCHOOL'S NEEDS AND THE SCHOOL'S NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE CHALLENGES FACING FAMILIES HAVE NOT DECREASED. IF ANYTHING, THE NEED FOR SUPPORT HAS GROWN. INVESTING IN A FAMILY'S RESOURCE SERVICES IS INVESTING IN STUDENT SUCCESS. WHEN FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED, STUDENTS ARE BETTER ABLE TO LEARN, TEACHERS ARE BETTER ABLE TO TEACH. AND THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY BENEFITS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO RECONSIDER THIS DECISION AND RESTORE ANGELA'S FULL-TIME POSITION AT CEDAR VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL. THE STUDENTS, FAMILIES, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO I WORK WITH KNOW THE VALUE SHE BRINGS EVERY DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, JESSICA. AFTER EMILY IS MELISSA DEWITT. HELLO AGAIN. MY NAME IS EMILY DIPERNA, HERE REPRESENTING OAK HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY AND THE 720 START TIMES. THANK YOU, BOARD, FOR LISTENING TO US AT THE LAST MEETING AND FOR RESPONDING TO THE NEWSLETTER AND FAQS PAGE. WHILE I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT MUCH OF THE RESPONSE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY THIS DECISION AND DID NOT REFLECT AN OPENNESS TO CHANGE, I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE DIALOGUE. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT RESPONSE WAS THE RELEASE OF THE SURVEY RESULTS, WHICH NOW ALLOWS ME TODAY TO REFLECT ON WHAT I FELT AT THE TIME AND STILL FEEL TO BE A WOEFULLY INADEQUATE SURVEY. I MAY NOT BE A DOCTOR LIKE SOME IN THIS ROOM, BUT AT ONE POINT IN TIME, I DID PASS BOTH STATISTICS 101 AND PSYCHOLOGY 101, AND I CAN TELL THAT THE EXECUTION AND RESULTS FROM THIS COMMUNITY SURVEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A BIG, FAT F. TODAY, I WILL ADDRESS MY CONCERNS. QUICK REREADING REMINDED ME OF HOW CONFUSING THE QUESTIONS WERE. IF YOU HAD SIMPLY ASKED ONE QUESTION AND ALLOWED ONE SINGLE RESPONSE, YOUR DATA WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE ACCURATE. ASKING ONE QUESTION, DO YOU SUPPORT HELPING TEENAGERS HAVE A LATER START TIME, PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SEEN OVERWHELMING SUPPORT. ASKING A SECOND QUESTION, DO YOU SUPPORT 720 START TIMES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WOULD HAVE REVEALED THAT THERE IS NO SUPPORT FOR THIS. IF FOR WHATEVER REASON YOU COULD NOT HAVE INCLUDED MORE QUESTIONS ON THE SURVEY, EVEN REPHRASING TO ASK IF PARENTS SUPPORTED ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS STARTING AT 720 INSTEAD OF JUST SOME COULD HAVE YIELDED MORE ACCURATE DATA. THE FACT THAT THE LANGUAGE WAS INTENTIONALLY AMBIGUOUS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD DESIRED TO HIDE THE TRUE CHANGES THAT WOULD OCCUR IF THIS PROPOSAL MOVED FORWARD. MY QUESTION IS, WOULD YOU SUBMIT TO A NEW SURVEY WITH MORE CLEAR LANGUAGE AND MORE DIRECT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OUTCOMES OF THIS DECISION? ALSO, THE DATA POOL WAS INHERENTLY FLAWED AND FAVORS THOSE THAT THE CHANGE WOULD BENEFIT. THE SURVEY WAS SENT TO PARENTS ALREADY ENROLLED IN EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT. A THIRD GRADER WHOSE PARENTS RESPONDED TO THIS MOST RECENT SURVEY WILL SUFFER THROUGH ONE HORRIBLE YEAR OF 720 START TIMES AND SAIL ON TO A CUSHY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL CAREER. FOLLOWING THAT LOGIC, YOU HAVE POTENTIALLY 10 GRADE LEVELS WORTH OF PARENTS. WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE LIKELY TO RESPOND TO THE PROPOSAL IN A POSITIVE WAY. THAT LEAVES JUST THREE GRADES WORTH OF PARENTS [00:45:01] TO TRY AND OPPOSE IT, IF THEY EVEN KNEW HOW, BASED ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE SURVEY. THEIR VOICES WERE DROWNED OUT BY VIRTUE OF THE FLAWED METHODOLOGY. SO MY QUESTION IS, HOW DID YOU, OR HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO, GAIN THE FEEDBACK OF THE PARENTS FOR CHILDREN WHO WILL BEGIN KINDERGARTEN IN 2027? THOSE LITTLE ONES ARE ONLY THREE YEARS OLD, AND THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN EDMONDS DISTRICT. OR THE STUDENTS WHO WILL START IN 2028. WHO TODAY ARE ONLY TWO. THOSE ARE THE STUDENTS WHO WILL HAVE THEIR ENTIRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAREERS COMPLETELY TORPEDOED BY THIS DECISION, AND WHOSE VOICES HAVE BEEN MORE THAN DROWNED OUT. THEY'VE BEEN SILENCED. FINALLY, I FELT THE BOARD'S RESPONSE TO OUR CONCERNS TO BE A GLITTERING LIST OF ALL THE REASONS WHY NOT IN RESPONSE TO OUR SUGGESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS. MY ASK OF YOU, TELL US WHAT YOU NEED FROM US TO CHANGE THIS DECISION. IS IT MORE DATA? IS IT MORE FEEDBACK ABOUT PERSONAL HARDSHIPS? IS IT CONTACTING SOMEONE AT THE STATE LEVEL ABOUT THE BUSES? THOSE WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT AND AT THE LAST MEETING ARE JUST REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR WIDER COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU, EMILY. THIS WILL BE BRYN. HI, I'M MELISSA DEUTZ. I'M A PARA EDUCATOR AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR A LIVING WAGE. THIS SCHOOL YEAR APPROXIMATELY 600 PARAS WORK TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND STAFF. OUR UNION REPRESENTATIVES ARE CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR A NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. WHEN TALKING TO OTHERS ABOUT A LIVING WAGE, I'VE HEARD EMPLOYEES AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE SAY THAT MANY PARAS ARE PARENTS WITH STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT WHO REALLY JUST WANT PART-TIME WORK THAT FITS THEIR STUDENT'S SCHOOL DAY. THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TRUE IN THE PAST, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE ANY LONGER. IN MY EXPERIENCE, MY SCHOOL HAS 12 PARA-EDUCATORS. THREE OF THOSE HAVE ADULT CHILDREN WHO ARE GROWN AND GONE. ONLY ONE HAS SCHOOL-AID CHILDREN. THE OTHER EIGHT DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN AT ALL. AND EIGHT OF THE 12 ARE FROM SINGLE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. BELL TO BELL, THE SCHOOL IS 6.5 HOURS. MOST PARAS ONLY GET PAID SIX HOURS OR LESS BECAUSE OUR LUNCH IS UNPAID. IN 2025-26, A YEAR ONE, LEVEL ONE PARA EARNS $28.75 AN HOUR. WE'RE PAID FOR 194 DAYS. THIS INCLUDES 180 SCHOOL DAYS WITH STUDENTS, TWO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS, 11 PAID HOLIDAYS. IT SHOULD BE 12 SINCE LABOR DAY IS NOW PART OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. AND ONE NON-STUDENT DAY. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY BEFORE THE STUDENTS START WHERE PARENTS PREPARE FOR WORKING WITH STUDENTS BY REVIEWING ALL HEALTH PLANS, ALL IEPS, ALL BIPS, BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION PLANS, SO WE KNOW HOW TO BE PREPARED FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO, $28.75 TIMES 6 HOURS TIMES 194 DAYS IS $33,465. DIVIDE THAT BY 12, YOU'RE TO $2,788. BUT THIS IS GROSS PAY. NOW TAKE OUT THE DEDUCTIONS, WHICH IS ABOUT 25%. SO NOW, YEAR ONE, LEVEL ONE PARA IS EARNING ABOUT $2,090 A MONTH. CAN YOU LIVE AND WORK IN EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT ON $2,090 A MONTH? WHEN I SHOWED MY CHECK STATEMENT TO A FRIEND, THEY INITIALLY ASSUMED THAT I GET PAID EVERY TWO WEEKS. AND THEY WERE TRULY SHOCKED WHEN THEY REALIZED THAT WAS MY MONTHLY INCOME. WHEN I GOOGLED LIVING WAGES FOR SNOHOMISH COUNTY, A WAGE CALCULATOR FROM MIT SAID THAT IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY, A SINGLE ADULT WITH NO CHILDREN NEEDS TO EARN ROUGHLY $61,000 ANNUALLY BEFORE TAXES TO MEET A BASIC LIVING STANDARD. BASED ON MY WORK HOURS, I'M CONSIDERED AN 81.25% EMPLOYED BY THE DISTRICT. SO 81.25% OF $61,000 IS OVER $50,000. I MAKE NOWHERE NEAR THAT. MY GROSS ANNUAL PAY IS ABOUT 70% OF THAT. MY LAST DAY OF SCHOOL... INCLUDED BEING HIT BY A KID IN THE FACE TWICE AND THEN BEING CHASED AROUND THE CLASSROOM WHILE THEY TRIED TO HARM ME. I WONDER HOW MANY OF YOUR AVERAGE WORK DAYS INCLUDE POTENTIAL FOR PHYSICAL HARM OR PERMANENT DISABILITY, ALL WHILE NOT MAKING A LIVING WAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MELISSA. AFTER BRYNN WILL BE SARAH GORDON. HELLO. HELLO, BOARD. I'D LIKE TO ASK THE DISTRICT TO RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION TO SWITCH TO SCHOOL START TIMES. I LIVE AT EDMUNDS GATE ELEMENTARY. I'M A FIFTH GRADER. SO EVEN THOUGH THIS TIME SWITCH WILL NOT AFFECT ME, IT WILL AFFECT MY FIRST GRADE SIBLING, WHO GETS UP AT 7.30, WHICH I THINK IS A REASONABLE TIME FOR KIDS TO GET UP FOR SCHOOL. I THINK IT IS ILL-ADVISED TO ASK KIDS TO GET UP [00:50:01] BEFORE 6.30. MY BROTHER MIGHT HAVE TO GET UP AT 5.45 IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TO SCHOOL ON TIME. THAT MEANS FOR HIM TO GET HIS FULL AMOUNT OF NEEDED SLEEP, HE WOULD NEED TO GO TO BED AT 6 P.M. THAT'S WHEN MY FAMILY EATS DINNER. SOME KIDS' PARENTS GET HOME AT THAT TIME OR LATER. SO A LOT OF KIDS COULDN'T GET THEIR MUCH-NEEDED 10 TO 12 HOURS OF SLEEP. A LOT OF KIDS ALSO COULDN'T DO AFTER-SCHOOL SPORTS BECAUSE A LOT OF SPORTS PRACTICES START ANY TIME BETWEEN 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M. KIDS COULDN'T DO ANY SPORTS IF THEY WANTED TO GET THEIR FULL AMOUNT OF SLEEP. IT'S NOT FAIR TO MAKE KIDS CHOOSE BETWEEN SPORTS OR SLEEP. I HAVE A SPORT ON MONDAYS WHERE I GO TO BED AT 10. AND IF I HAD TO GET UP AT 06, I WOULD ONLY GET 8 HOURS OF SLEEP. I COULD NOT GO TO SCHOOL AND FOCUS WITH THAT AMOUNT OF SLEEP. AND IMAGINE A KINDERGARTNER TRYING TO DO THAT. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT AS MANY HIGH SCHOOLERS MIGHT CHOOSE TO... YOU MIGHT CHOOSE TO USE EXTRA 45 MINUTES, ABOUT EXTRA 45 MINUTES TO SLEEP. I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE PROBLEM IS HIGH SCHOOLERS SCROLLING ON TIKTOK, YOUTUBE, AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AT NIGHTTIME. I THINK THAT BEFORE WE CHANGE THE SCHOOL START TIMES AND GIVE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, MAKE THEM WAKE UP AT 545 TO 06, FIRST, WE SHOULD BE DOING SURVEYS AND... RESEARCH ON HOW LATE HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE UP SCROLLING ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU BRYNN. AFTER SARAH WILL BE CHERYL PASSAGE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SARAH GORDON. I USE SHE, HER PRONOUNS. I HAVE TWO KIDS AT TERRACE PARK ELEMENTARY AND I'M IN MOUNT LAKE TERRACE. I'M HERE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE CHANGES TO START AND RELEASE TIME. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THIS DECISION. I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER. THIS PROPOSAL RAISES CLEAR AND SIGNIFICANT EQUITY CONCERNS. TITLE I IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS. FROM WHAT I'VE GLEANED FROM THE MATERIALS YOU'VE PROVIDED, 10 OF 12 SCHOOLS WITH THE EARLIEST START TIMES FALL IN THIS CATEGORY. THIS MEANS A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF LOWER INCOME AND WORKING FAMILIES ARE BEING ASKED TO ABSORB EARLIER SCHEDULES, INCREASED CHILD CARE EXPENSES, AND GREATER EMPLOYMENT STRAIN. THIS ASK DURING A WORLDWIDE ECONOMIC RECESSION AND TUMULTUOUS POLITICAL CLIMATE IS THE OPPOSITE OF A DECISION THAT REFLECTS EQUITY. MEANING, IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG WHEN I'M NAVIGATING THIS CHANGE, FINDING A JOB IS MORE COMPETITIVE THAN EVER. I HAVE TO PAY A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CHILD CARE THAT MY EMPLOYER IS NOT PUTTING BACK ON MY PAYCHECK, AND I'M INCREDIBLY LUCKY NOT TO BE WORRIED ABOUT SHOWING PAPERS DURING THIS PROCESS WITH THE THREAT OF ICE LOOMING. MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS DECISION RISKS WIDENING THE EQUITY GAPS THAT WE SAY WE ARE COMMITTED TO CLOSING. CHANGES LIKE THIS SHOULD BE... SHOULD FUNCTION LIKE ADDING CURB RAMPS TO SIDEWALKS. WE'RE EXPANDING ACCESS AND PROVIDING BENEFICIAL FEATURES, INTRODUCING MORE INCLUSION IN OUR COMMUNITIES AT THE DETRIMENT TO NO ONE. THE IMPACT OF THIS DECISION IS NOT JUST A LOGICAL TRADE-OFF. THIS VALUE DIS- HOLD ON. IT IS A VALUES DECISION. AND RIGHT NOW, THE PLAN REFLECTS A DEFINITION OF EQUITY THAT ALLOWS HARM TO ONE GROUP TO BENEFIT ANOTHER. I'M ASKING YOU TO PAUSE. TAKE TIME TO MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE THE FULL RANGE OF FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY THE MOST IMPACTED. RE-EXAMINE THIS PLAN THROUGH TRUE EQUITY LENS, ONE THAT ENSURES NO GROUP IS ASKED TO CARRY THE COST OF THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE ALONE. BECAUSE EQUITY IS NOT JUST ABOUT GOOD INTENTIONS OR FOLLOWING A PROCESS, IT IS ABOUT OUTCOMES AND WHO BEARS THE BURDEN WHEN DECISIONS ARE MADE. RIGHT NOW, THAT BURDEN FALLS WITH A QUESTIONABLE WAY. WE CAN SUPPORT ADOLESCENT WELL-BEING WITHOUT DOING SO AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITH LEAST ACCESS TO RESOURCES I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN OUR DISTRICT. THANK YOU, SARAH. AFTER CHERYL WILL BE THOMAS HATCH. [00:55:06] HELLO, MY NAME IS CHERYL PASSAGE. I LIVE IN EDMONDS, AND I WORK FOR THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT. ON THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, WE HAD AN ASSEMBLY. EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT OLIVER GAVE THE SPEECH. AND IN HIS SPEECH, HE INCLUDED A QUOTE BY TEDDY ROOSEVELT. FAR AND AWAY, THE BEST PRIZE THAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER IS THE CHANCE TO WORK HARD AT WORK WORTH DOING. FOR EVERY PROGRAM, EVERY SCHOOL, EVERY AGE, EVERY GRADE, EVERY NEED, EVERY STUDENT POPULATION, THERE IS A PARAEDUCATOR. EVERY STUDENT IN THIS DISTRICT IS IN PROXIMITY TO OR INTERACTS WITH A PARAEDUCATOR EVERY SINGLE DAY. THIS DISTRICT HAS BUILT A SYSTEM THAT RELIES ON PARAEDUCATORS. WE RELY ON THE POSITION TO EXIST, AND WE RELY ON THAT POSITION TO BE FILLED. PARAEDUCATORS HELP STUDENTS COMMUNICATE, LEARN, BELONG, SUCCEED. IT IS LIKELY THAT EVERY PERSON SITTING ON THIS DAIS VALUES PARAEDUCATORS AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VALUING PARAEDUCATORS, WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT VALUING STUDENTS. BECAUSE PARAEDUCATORS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF STUDENT SUCCESS, THERE IS A DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN HOW WE VALUE STUDENTS AND HOW WE COMPENSATE PARAEDUCATORS. IF WE BELIEVE EVERY STUDENT DESERVES SUPPORT, THEN WE MUST ALSO ASK WHETHER WE ARE DOING ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE IT. NO PARAEDUCATOR IS ASKING TO GET RICH. REMEMBER, WE DON'T NEED SCRABBLE BOARDS WITH LETTER PIECES MADE OF GOLD. WE ARE SIMPLY ASKING WHETHER SOMEONE WHO PERFORMS THE WORK THAT THE DISTRICT CONSIDERS ESSENTIAL SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS AND REMAIN IN THE PROFESSION THAT THEY LOVE. THIS IS NOT JUST A QUESTION ABOUT COMPENSATION. IT'S A QUESTION ABOUT RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, SCHOOL STABILITY, AND ULTIMATELY OUR ABILITY TO CONSIDER, CONTINUE SERVING OUR STUDENTS WELL. YES, THIS IS A QUESTION ABOUT WAGES. IT IS ALSO A QUESTION ABOUT VALUES. BECAUSE WE VALUE OUR STUDENTS, WE MUST PAY OUR PARAEDUCATORS A LIVING WAGE. SO WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN HERE? FIVE SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTORS MUST SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO OUR DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT THAT WE HONOR THE DIGNITY OF EVERY STUDENT. AND THEREFORE WE WILL ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS CAN AFFORD TO CONTINUE DOING THAT WORK. THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT CAN THEN CARRY THIS MESSAGE FORWARD THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION. PARAEDUCATORS ARE NOT SEPARATE FROM STUDENT SUCCESS. THEY ARE INTEGRAL TO IT. WE HAVE BUILT A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT DEPENDS ON PARAEDUCATORS. THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE VALUE THIS WORK ENOUGH TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE. THANK YOU CHERYL. AFTER TOM WILL BE MATHIAS RICKEN. GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS THOMAS HATCH. I LIVE IN MOUNT LAKE TERRACE AND I'M HERE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE SCHOOL START TIME. I HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS. MY OLDEST ONE ATTENDS CEDAR WAY AND MY YOUNGER TWO ARE VERY EXCITED TO JOIN HER. THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A LOT TO IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A HARD DECISION AND THERE IS NO EASY ANSWER BECAUSE HIGH SCHOOLERS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE SLEEP AND THIS IS HARM REDUCTION IS WHAT THIS POLICY THIS NEW START TIME IS ABOUT THAT SAID OF THE SIX OPTIONS CONSIDERED ALL OF THEM INCLUDED A 720 START TIME SO WHAT I WOULD URGE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER IS AN ALTERNATIVE OPTION PUSHING ALL START TIMES BACK EQUALLY. I UNDERSTAND THIS WOULD BE CHALLENGING FOR SOME FAMILIES, BUT AS I SAID EARLIER, THIS IS ABOUT HARM REDUCTION, AND LOST SLEEP IS A GREATER HARM THAN EXTRACURRICULAR DISRUPTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THOMAS. AFTER MATTHIAS, WILL BE JUDY LAMB. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MATTHIAS RICKEN, AND I'M THE PARENT OF A RISING SECOND GRADER AT MOUNTLAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE SCHOOL START TIMES AS WELL. I SUPPORT THE GOAL OF GETTING HIGH SCHOOLERS MORE SLEEP. THE EVIDENCE FOR THAT IS STRONG. BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT... THE PROPOSED SOLUTION PLACES A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN [01:00:01] ON OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS AND ON THEIR FAMILIES WITHOUT THERE BEING COMPARABLE EVIDENCE THAT A 7-20 START TIME FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IS APPROPRIATE. MY 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER CURRENTLY GETS ABOUT 11 HOURS OF SLEEP, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO WAKE HER UP EVERY MORNING. IF WE LET HER SLEEP LONGER, SHE DOES. EVEN WITH THAT AMOUNT OF SLEEP, SHE IS... GROGGY, GRUMPY AND QUIET AT BREAKFAST. SHE'S JUST NOT READY TO PARTICIPATE IN DISCOURSE. UNDER THE NEW PROPOSED SCHEDULE, SHE WOULD NEED TO WAKE UP SIGNIFICANTLY EARLIER. AND THAT MEANS THAT TO PRESERVE HER SLEEP, SHE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO BED RIGHT AROUND THE TIME THAT I COME BACK FROM WORK. OR, IF SHE STAYS UP LONGER, THEN SHE WOULD LOSE SLEEP. SO IT'S A CHOICE BETWEEN MISSING OUT ON FAMILY TIME AND GETTING THE SLEEP THAT SHE OBVIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE IN SCHOOL. I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT CHILDCARE. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE PRETTY INDEPENDENT BUT ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ARE NOT. THEY REQUIRE SUPERVISION BEFORE SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL AND RELEASING ELEMENTARY STUDENTS EARLIER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORKDAY HAS IMPACT ON CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENTS, WORK SCHEDULES, TRANSPORTATION, AND THE DAILY ROUTINES, AS I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED. AND THAT'S USUALLY NOT AS MUCH THE CASE WITH HIGH SCHOOLERS. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS WHERE CHILDREN BUILD THE FOUNDATION FOR THEIR FUTURE LIFE. IT'S WHERE THEY LEARN READING, WRITING, MATH, ATTENTION, AND SELF-REGULATION. BEFORE ASKING THOUSANDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN, JUST... TO START SCHOOL AT 7.20 IN THE MORNING, I BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY DESERVES CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS TRULY THE BEST OPTION AVAILABLE. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD THREE QUESTIONS. FIRST, WHAT ALTERNATIVES HAVE YOU CONSIDERED THAT DON'T JUST REARRANGE SCHOOLS INTO THE DIFFERENT TIERS FOR DIFFERENT TIMES? AND WHY WERE THOSE ALTERNATIVES REJECTED? SECOND, WHAT RESEARCH ACTUALLY SUPPORTS... A 7.20 A.M. START TIME FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS? AND THIRD, WHAT ANALYSIS HAS THE DISTRICT CONDUCTED ON THE IMPACT OF CHILD CARE AND FAMILY RELATIONS AS A RESULT OF THIS PROPOSAL? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MATTHIAS. AFTER JUDY WILL BE ADDIE CHANTELLURI. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JUDY LAM AND I LIVE IN EDMONDS. MY DAUGHTER CURRENTLY ATTENDS WESTGATE SCHOOL AND MY SON WILL BE JOINING HER WITH THE 2027-2028 SCHOOL YEAR. I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE A 7.20 A.M. START TIME FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS IS NOT JUST INCONVENIENT, IT'S HARMFUL. I UNDERSTAND WHY THIS CHANGE IS BEING CONSIDERED AND I RESPECT THAT THIS BOARD IS TRYING TO RESPOND TO A REAL NEED. BUT THE SAME SLEEP SCIENCE BEING USED TO JUSTIFY LATER HIGH SCHOOL START TIMES ALSO TELLS US THAT 7.20 A.M. IS HARMFUL FOR ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN. RATHER THAN REPEAT WHAT OTHERS HAVE ALREADY SHARED TONIGHT, I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY DAUGHTER. SHE ATTENDS WEST... ...SCHOOL WITH AN IEP BECAUSE SHE NEEDS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THRIVE. SLEEP IS NOT A LUXURY FOR HER, IT IS MEDICINE. WHEN SHE DOESN'T GET ENOUGH SLEEP, THE DYSREGULATION SHE ALREADY MANAGES DOESN'T GET WORSE. IT BECOMES UNMANAGEABLE. MELTDOWNS INCREASE, HER ABILITY TO ACCESS LEARNING DISAPPEARS. THE PROGRESS HER TEACHERS AND SUPPORT TEAM HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD CAN UNRAVEL IN A SINGLE EXHAUSTED MORNING. HERE'S WHAT THE SCHEDULE WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR OUR FAMILY. MY WORKDAY ENDS AT 5 P.M. FOR MY DAUGHTER TO GET THE MINIMUM NINE HOURS OF SLEEP SHE NEEDS, SHE MUST BE IN BED BY 7 TO 8 P.M. THIS GIVES US TWO HOURS FOR DINNER, HOMEWORK, DECOMPRESSION, THE SPEECH AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE CLINICALLY NECESSARY UNDER HER IEP. THESE ARE NOT OPTIONAL. THESE ARE SERVICES THAT ALLOW HER TO FUNCTION IN YOUR CLASSROOMS. THIS PROPOSAL WOULD FORCE FAMILIES LIKE MINE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN OUR CHILDREN'S SLEEP AND THEIR MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE. THIS IS AN IMPOSSIBLE AND UNACCEPTABLE CHOICE. I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SEND MY CHILD, ALREADY FIGHTING SO HARD EVERY DAY, INTO A SCHOOL BUILDING AT 7.20 A.M. AND EXPECT HER TO SUCCEED. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY PARENT IN THIS ROOM WITH A CHILD WHO HAS AN IEP, SENSORY NEEDS, ANXIETY, OR OTHER CHALLENGES THAT MAKE SLEEP ABSOLUTELY NON-NEGOTIABLE. I ALSO WANT TO RAISE A LEGAL CONCERN THAT THIS BOARD SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. UNDER THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITY EDUCATION ACT, IDEA, EVERY CHILD WITH A DISABILITY IS ENTITLED TO A FREE AND APPROPRIATE [01:05:02] PUBLIC EDUCATION, KNOWN AS FAPE. THE WORD APPROPRIATE MATTERS ENORMOUSLY HERE. AN EDUCATION CANNOT BE CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE IF THE CONDITIONS SURROUNDING IT ARE SCIENTIFICALLY DOCUMENTED TO UNDERMINE A CHILD'S ABILITY TO LEARN, REGULATE, AND ACCESS THE SUPPORTS OUTLINED IN THEIR IEP. WHEN YOU KNOWINGLY IMPLEMENT A SCHEDULE THAT SLEEP RESEARCH CONFIRMS IS HARMFUL TO YOUNG CHILDREN AND THAT DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH THE THERAPEUTIC AND MEDICAL ROUTINES BUILT INTO A CHILD'S IEP, YOU ARE PUTTING THIS DISTRICT'S COMPLIANCE WITH FAPE AT RISK. I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO CONSULT WITH YOUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR AND LEGAL COUNSEL BEFORE ADOPTING THIS PROPOSAL. AS A PARENT, MY FIRST OBLIGATION IS TO MY CHILD'S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. IT JUST... DISTRICT MOVES FORWARD WITH THE 720 AM. I'LL BE LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVES, WHETHER THAT MEANS PRIVATE SCHOOL, HOMESCHOOLING, OR RELOCATE TO A DISTRICT THAT PUTS CHILDREN FIRST. THANK YOU, JUDY. AFTER ADDY WILL BE ZIDANE FAKI. HELLO, BOARD, AND THE AMAZING SETUP. OF PEOPLE HERE. I AM A PARENT OF HILLTOP ELEMENTARY FROM PLANNING AREA 47 AND THIS IS WITH REGARDS TO THE BOUNDARY REVIEW COMMITTEE. I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THE OPEN HOUSE TOUR IS ALSO FRANKLY DISAPPOINTING FOR THE FAMILIES THAT I REPRESENT AND WE SHARED THIS FEEDBACK CLEARLY IN THE OPEN HOUSE TOUR SURVEY. WE CAME IN WITH ONE MODEST REQUEST TO KEEP PA 47 AT HILLTOP SO OUR CHILDREN STAY WITH THE CLASSMATES, NEIGHBORS AND SIBLINGS THEY HAVE GROWN UP WITH. THAT SAME REQUEST HAD ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED IN THE WRITTEN PETITION IN OPEN HOUSE ONE SURVEY FEEDBACK AND RAISED IN PRIOR DISTRICT MEETINGS RIGHT HERE. YET IT WAS SIDELINED IN CONSENSUS SCENARIO TWO. THE COMMITTEE'S OWN GUIDING PRINCIPLES SPEAK TO NEIGHBORHOOD CONTINUITY AND MINIMIZING DISRUPTION. WE FEEL THOSE PRINCIPLES WERE NOT APPLIED IN THIS CASE. WE GENUINELY APPRECIATE THE WORK THE COMMITTEE AND FLOW ANALYTICS HAVE DONE BUT BASED ON THE DATA THE COMMITTEE THEMSELVES HAVE PUBLISHED. CONSENSUS SCENARIO TWO APPEARS TO BE THE MOST DISRUPTIVE OPTION ON THE TABLE AND FALLS SHORT OF THE COMMITTEE'S OWN CRITERIA. IT DISPLACES AN ESTIMATED 110 STUDENTS DISTRICT-WIDE, THE HIGHEST COUNT OF ANY SCENARIO CONSIDERED. IT ADDS AN ESTIMATED 183 STUDENT MILES PER DAY OF NEW COMMUTE, THE HIGHEST MILEAGE ADD. AND CRITICALLY, THE HILLTOP SWAP ISN'T ACTUALLY A CAPACITY FIX. DISPLACES 62 STUDENTS AND REPLACING THAT WITH 39 OTHER FROM A DIFFERENT PA. AND EVEN WITH THIS, HILLTOP'S PROJECTED CAPACITY IS NOT ACTUALLY ADDRESSED. SO PA 47 IS BASICALLY PAYING A HEAVY DISRUPTION COST FOR NO MEASURABLE CAPACITY BENEFIT. TAKING THE COMMITTEE'S INVITATION TO BRING ALTERNATIVES, WE MODELED THREE USING THE COMMITTEE'S OWN NUMBERS AND SUBMITTED THEM IN WRITING. ALTERNATIVE A MOVES. 48 STUDENTS AND ADDS ONLY 22 MILES PER DAY, AN 88% REDUCTION COMPARED TO OPEN HOUSE 2 FINDINGS. ALTERNATIVE C REDUCES MILEAGE BY APPROXIMATELY 41%, AND ALTERNATIVE B ADDRESSES THE MARTHA LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAPACITY AND ALSO CUTS MILEAGE BY 26%. THE COMMITTEE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIVING THESE MODELS, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. BUT TO BE HONEST, EVERY CHANNEL OF FEEDBACK SO FAR HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BUT NEVER SUBSTANTIVELY ANSWERED. WITH NO PUBLIC, WITH NO FURTHER PUBLIC FORUMS BEFORE FINAL ADOPTION, WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD MEMBERS AND THE COMMITTEE FOR ENGAGEMENT ON THIS DATA SO WE DON'T END UP WITH ANOTHER OPEN HOUSE TWO STYLE SCENARIO WHERE A CLEARLY STATED COMMUNITY REQUEST IS EITHER MISINTERPRETED OR JUST DISAPPEARS FROM THE FINAL DRAFT. THE DATA SUGGESTS THAT THE COMMITTEE'S OWN GOAL, GOALS TO REBALANCE K5, K6 TRANSITION AND ALSO MAINTAIN SCHOOL CAPACITY ARE ACHIEVABLE WITH. THANK YOU, ADDIE. AFTER ZIDANE IS DERICA ESCAMILLA. HI, MY NAME IS ZIDANE, FIRST GRADE. I'M A STUDENT OF HILLTOP ELEMENTARY. I'M GOING TO SECOND GRADE IN SEPTEMBER. I LOVE MY SCHOOL AND TEACHERS. AND MY PRINCIPAL AND FRIENDS, PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME LEAVE MY [01:10:01] SCHOOL. IT WILL MAKE ME SAD TO LOSE MY FRIENDS AND IMPACT MY GROWTH AND LEARNING. I REQUEST YOU NOT TO MOVE ME FROM HILLTOP. THANK YOU, ZIDANE. AFTER DERRICKA IS SHELLY HANRAHAN. GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD. I STAND IN FRONT OF YOU AGAIN WITH MY PUBLIC COMMENT GONE OUT THE WINDOW. THIS MORNING, I SAT FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS IN A SENTENCING HEARING FOR THE KILLER OF ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. AND WHAT TRANSPIRED IN THOSE TWO HOURS, I CRIED. I CRIED AND CRIED. NOT JUST TO HEAR THE MOTHER AND THE LETTER FROM THE LITTLE BROTHER. ALSO, EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID ON THE KILLER'S PART. AND THE ONLY THING, 10 YEARS AGO, I WAS HERE ADVOCATING FOR THE FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATES. 10 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS ALREADY UP TO 10 GANG MEMBERS IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE REASON YOU DON'T SEE BIPOC MEMBERS HERE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL START TIMES IS BECAUSE THEY'RE SURVIVING. THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THAT YET. THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR ONE BRIDGE STAYS. YOU SEE CEDAR VALLEY HERE ADVOCATING, BUT THIS IS THE PLEA OF ALL THE FAMILIES AND THE TITLE I SCHOOLS. CEDAR VALLEY, WHEN NO ONE ELSE HAD ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN, THEY DID. THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A NEED. YOU GUYS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THESE KIDS NEVER EVEN HAD GRASS TO PLAY ON UNTIL I ADVOCATED HERE TEN YEARS AGO. THEY HAD ONE TOY FOR KINDER THROUGH SIXTH GRADE. THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A FIELD. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GUTTING THE BRIDGES TO OUR COMMUNITY. NOT ONLY WITH OUR SUPPORT STAFF, OUR PARAS, I HEARD ABOUT OFFICE MANAGERS. YOU ALL HAVE A HARD JOB AND I UNDERSTAND THIS. AND DECISIONS GET MADE BACK THERE THAT THEN YOU GUYS HAVE TO DECIDE ON. WHAT I ASK FOR YOU GUYS THIS YEAR IS TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS. I DON'T HAVE SOLUTIONS. BUT I CAN'T BE FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE AND ADVOCATING TO BUILD THIRD PLACES IF WE AREN'T FIXING THE FOUNDATION OF OUR KIDS HERE. OUR PARENTS, OUR FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATES, OUR SINKS, THE START TIME, IT'S ALL RELATED. THIS IS THE FOUNDATION TO ALL OF OUR FUTURES, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOUR POLITICAL STANCE IS AND YOUR COLOR OF SKIN. THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR US WITHOUT THESE KIDS. AND A LOT OF THESE PARENTS DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND THE DECISIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE. ALL THEY KNOW IS WHAT THEY HAVE IS NOT ENOUGH, AND YOU'RE TAKING MORE. BY TAKING THESE RESOURCE ADVOCATES, YOU'RE TEARING DOWN A BRIDGE THAT HAS TAKEN SO LONG TO BUILD. IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND YOU GUYS, I DON'T ENVY YOU. WHAT JOB OUT THERE DO YOU MAKE DECISIONS FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN? I DON'T ENVY IT AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT THINGS TO FIGURE OUT DURING THE BUDGET, BUT IF SOCIAL MENTAL HEALTH ISN'T AT THE ROOT OF WHAT YOU'RE FUNDING, THEN WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DERICA. AFTER SHELLEY IS CHELSEA ADAMS. GOOD EVENING, BOARD. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW THAT. I'VE GOT A CHANGE OF TOPIC FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE... VERY ACTIVE COMMUNITY TONIGHT AND I WANT TO EXPRESS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE ETHNIC STUDIES CURRICULUM THAT WAS RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION AT THE LAST MEETING. I HAVE SOME CONCERNS BASED ON WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT PART OF THE ADOPTION THAT'S HARD TO FIND ON THE WEBSITE WOULD INCLUDE GUARDRAILS. THAT WOULD BE PUT IN PLACE FOR WHAT LATITUDE INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS COULD CHOOSE TO INCLUDE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS, AND THAT THERE BE CONSEQUENCES IF THOSE GUARDRAILS ARE BREACHED. IT SEEMS THAT PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY HAVE ARISEN WHEN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, GROUPS, AND TEACHERS WERE GIVEN POWER TO DO WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO, AND EXTREME ACTIVISTS BROUGHT IN ALL SORTS OF... NON-SANCTIONED MATERIALS. IT LED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS BEING SUED AND THOSE LAWSUITS ARE STILL BEING ADJUDICATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. SO IN ADOPTING ETHNIC STUDIES PROGRAMS, WHICH HAS GREAT [01:15:01] VALIDITY, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT ALL THOSE POSSIBILITIES AND PUT GUARDRAILS IN PLACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, SHELLY. AFTER CHELSEA WILL BE TOM HANRAHAN. OKAY, HERE WE GO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHELSEA ADAMS. I LIVE IN MOUNT LAKE TERRACE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE 7.20 A.M. START TIME. I AM A FOURTH-GENERATION EDUCATOR, AND IN FACT, MUCH OF WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ACADEMIC EQUITY WAS LEARNED UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE SHORELINE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT MINOR. TODAY I'M HERE REPRESENTING MY OWN CHILDREN WHO ATTEND MOUNT LAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY AND ALSO TO HONOR THE VALUES INSTILLED IN ME BY GENERATIONS OF HARDWORKING TEACHERS. AS A YOUNG GIRL, I VISITED MY GRANDFATHER'S CLASSROOM SHORTLY BEFORE HE RETIRED AND NOTICED A HANDWRITTEN SIGN ON HIS PODIUM, MUCH LIKE THIS. HE READ IT TO ME. HE SAID, NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL INFERIOR WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT. THOSE WORDS TOOK ROOT AS I MATURED INTO ADULTHOOD AND THEY GUIDE MY MORAL COMPASS. AND TONIGHT I HOPE TO BE A MIRROR FOR YOU TO REFLECT. UPON WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT IN YOUR HEART. ENFORCING TIER 1 FAMILIES TO A 7.20 A.M. START TIME, YOU HAVE TARGETED A VERY RESILIENT GROUP. WE ARE THE QUEER, THE IMMIGRANT, THE BLUE-COLLAR AND TRANS FOLKS WHO HAVE ALWAYS SCRAPPED FOR WHAT WE HAVE IN LIFE. WE ARE YOUR TEACHERS AND YOUR MECHANICS, YOUR LANDSCAPERS AND YOUR CHILDREN'S NANNIES. WE ARE YOUR ELDERLY CAREGIVERS AND YOUR GROCERY STORE CLERKS, YOUR HAIRDRESSERS, YOUR COUNSELORS. YOUR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS. WE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF YOU AND PROTECT YOU AND WE ARE ASKING FOR THAT SAME LEVEL OF CARE IN RETURN. WE ARE EXACTLY THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM THE EQUITABLE DECISION-MAKING TOOL WAS DESIGNED. ASK YOURSELVES, HAVE YOU REFLECTED ON HOW YOUR OWN POWER AND PRIVILEGE WILL AFFECT THIS DECISION-MAKING PROCESS? WHO WILL BENEFIT AND WHO WILL BE BURDENED? WE IN THE TIER 1 COMMUNITY DON'T HAVE THE HIGHEST SALARIES, BUT WHAT WE HAVE IS ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES AND YOURS. WE BUDGET OUR MONTHLY, WE SIT AT OUR KITCHEN TABLES AND MAKE OUR MONTHLY BUDGETS WORK, AND I AM ASKING YOU TO DO THE SAME. BECAUSE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE DISTRICT IS NOT IN A CRISIS, AND WITH TRANSPARENT CONVERSATIONS, WE CAN FIND A WAY THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. SO, WHO IN YOUR LIFE TAUGHT YOU THE VALUE OF DOING WHAT'S RIGHT VERSUS DOING WHAT'S EASY? WAS IT A TEACHER, A COACH, A FAMILY MEMBER? PLEASE THINK OF THEM. THINK OF THEIR BRAVERY AND THE WORDS OF WISDOM THEY WOULD OFFER AS YOU MULL OVER THIS DECISION. THINK OF THEM AND OUR CHILDREN AS YOU FIGHT FOR AN EQUITABLE SOLUTION. WE WELCOME YOU AT OUR KITCHEN TABLES TO PROBLEM SOLVE, BUT WE WILL RESPECTFULLY REMIND YOU THAT YOU WILL NOT LET US, WE WILL NOT LET YOU MAKE US FEEL INFERIOR WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT. LET YOUR LEGACY BE LARGER AND BRIGHTER THAN YOU COULD HAVE IMAGINED. MAKE YOUR MENTORS PROUD AND SHINE YOUR LIGHT ON TIER 1 FAMILIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHELSEA. AFTER TOM WILL BE NIKKI BANWAY. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TOM HANRAHAN. I AM A RESIDENT OF EDMONDS, AND I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDREN WHO ATTEND EDMONDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I'M ALSO HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED INCLUSION OF ETHNIC STUDIES AS A REQUIREMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL. I UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THE NEED FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES TO HAVE A VOICE, TO BE CENTERED, AND TO HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO SPEAK. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY MANY OF THESE CLASSES HAVE DEVOLVED INTO NOT RESPECTING AND NOT OFFERING DIGNITY TO EVERYBODY IN THE CLASS. I'M NOT JEWISH. HOWEVER, I AM THE HUSBAND AND THE FATHER AND THE GRANDFATHER OF A JEWISH FAMILY, AND I WOULD NOT BE WORTHY OF THOSE TITLES IF I DID NOT ADVOCATE FOR MY FAMILY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE... THIS ETHNIC STUDIES CLASS, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, BE MADE AN ELECTIVE. I LEARNED SOMETHING TONIGHT ATTENDING THIS, A QUOTE FROM TEDDY ROOSEVELT THAT I'D LIKE TO REPEAT, AND I WANT TO THANK THE PERSON WHO GAVE IT TO US. FAR AND AWAY THE BEST PRIZE THAT LIFE OFFERS IS THE CHANCE TO WORK HARD AT WORK WORTH DOING. OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THEIR OWN PASSIONS, TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT WORK. IS WORTH DOING. GIVE THEM THE OPTION OF HAVING AN ELECTIVE TO PURSUE SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT. AND IF THAT'S ETHNIC STUDIES, THAT'S WONDERFUL. THEY SHOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT OTHER [01:20:02] STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AS WELL. SO MY REQUEST IS THAT THE ETHNIC STUDIES CLASS BE MADE AN ELECTIVE AND NOT A REQUIREMENT. LET'S GO GRADUATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TOM. AFTER NIKKI WILL BE MEGAN HUSBY. MY NAME IS NIKKI VANWAAYT. I GO TO MOUNT LAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY, AND I DON'T THINK STARTING SCHOOL AT 720 IS GOOD FOR ELEMENTARY KIDS. KIDS NEED GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP. WE DESERVE TO COME TO SCHOOL RESTED. HAPPY AND READY TO LEARN. WAKING UP SO EARLY WOULD MAKE IT HARDER FOR KIDS LIKE ME TO FEEL READY FOR THE DAY. PLEASE THINK ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS LIKE ME. WE DESERVE A SCHEDULE THAT HELPS US SUCCEED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, NIKKI. MEGAN WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER TONIGHT. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MEGAN HUSBY. I AM A PARENT FROM MONTLAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER THE PROPOSED 720 START TIME. I UNDERSTAND AND SUPPORT THE GOAL OF LATER START TIMES FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. HOWEVER, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SOLUTION SHOULD COME AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN. MY CONCERN IS NOT ABOUT CONVENIENCE. TONIGHT MY TOPIC WILL BE REGARDING SAFETY. I LIVE OFF OF 66TH AVENUE WEST, AN AREA I'M CERTAIN YOU ALL KNOW WELL DUE TO THE CONSTANT REQUEST TO CONTROL TRAFFIC AND SPEEDING, THE UPCOMING ADDITIONAL SHIFT TO COLLEGE PLACE MIDDLE, AND MOST RECENTLY THE REZONING FOR MIXED-USE HUBS. CARS REGULARLY TRAVEL WELL ABOVE THE POSTED LIMIT, AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE BUS STOPS USED BY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS ALONG THAT ROUTE. UNDER THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE, MANY CHILDREN... YOUNG AS FIVE YEARS OLD WOULD BE WAITING FOR BUSES BEFORE SUNRISE DURING MUCH OF THE SCHOOL YEAR INCLUDING MINE IN 2027 AS WELL AS MY WHAT WILL BE THIRD GRADER IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FROM LATE SEPTEMBER THROUGH LATE MARCH THE SUN RISES AFTER 7 A.M. THAT MEANS MANY STUDENTS WILL BE WALKING TO BUS STOPS AND STANDING NEAR TRAFFIC IN DARKNESS RAIN AND LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS FOR MONTHS YOUNG CHILDREN ARE HARD FOR DRIVERS TO SEE LESS KNOWLEDGEABLE FOR TRAFFIC FLOW AND DRIVERS HAVE LESS TIME TO REACT WHEN VISIBILITY IS REDUCED THESE ARE NOT THEORETICAL CONCERNS. THE PARENTS WHO SPOKE DURING THE JUNE 9TH MEETING RAISED SIMILAR ISSUES, DESCRIBING KINDERGARTNERS WAITING AT BUSES AS EARLY AS 6.30 A.M. ON DARK WINTER MORNINGS, OFTEN IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LIMITED SIDEWALKS AND STREET LIGHTING. MANY FAMILIES HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS WOULD PLACE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN CONDITIONS THAT WOULD INCREASE SAFETY RISKS BEFORE THEY EVEN GET TO SCHOOL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO QUESTION WHETHER ALL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED BEFORE ASKING ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. TO BEAR THE BURDEN OF SUCH AN EARLY SCHEDULE CHANGE AND THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON YOUNGER STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO RE-EVALUATE THIS PROPOSAL THROUGH THE LENS OF CHILD SAFETY. WE ASK YOU CONDUCT A THOROUGH SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF WALKING ROUTES, BUS STOPS, LIGHTING CONDITIONS, AND TRAFFIC PATTERNS. A TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGE SHOULD NOT RESULT IN A FIVE-YEAR-OLD STANDING BESIDE BUSY ROADS IN THE DARK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, MEGAN, AND TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK TO US TONIGHT. [9. CONSENT AGENDA-7:15 pm] WE APPRECIATE HEARING FROM ALL OF YOU. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA. TONIGHT WE HAVE 18 ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, 12 ARE PERSONNEL AND STAFF AGREEMENTS, TWO ARE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS, AND FOUR ARE FIELD TRIPS. DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA IS [10. REPORT-7:20 pm] APPROVED AS PRESENTED. WE HAVE ONE REPORT THIS EVENING. WELCOMING FORWARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LYDIA SELLE TO SHARE WITH US INFORMATION ABOUT THE 26-27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU BOARD. SO TONIGHT IS THE FIRST READING OF OUR 26-27 BUDGET [01:25:02] AND SO WE WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. JUST AS A REMINDER A BUDGET IS A PLAN AT A SNAPSHOT IN TIME. SO WE HAVE A LONG TIME BEFORE 26-27 CONCLUDES. THIS IS OUR BEST ESTIMATE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. YOUR TASK IS TO AUTHORIZE OUR SPENDING AUTHORITY FOR EACH OF OUR FIVE FUNDS. AND AGAIN, WE DO FILE IT IN THE PRESCRIBED FORMAT FROM OSPI, BUT PUT THESE SLIDES TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE USER-FRIENDLY. WE HAVE THE ADOPTED BUDGET, WHICH WE HOPE IS ADOPTED IN JULY. THAT SERVES AS OUR BASELINE FOR OUR CURRENT BUDGET. AGAIN, THINGS CHANGE AS TIME GOES ON. YOUR BUDGET AUTHORITY SAYS WE CAN'T SPEND PAST A CERTAIN AMOUNT, BUT CERTAINLY LINE ITEMS CHANGE AMONG CATEGORIES. OUR BUDGETED REVENUES FOR NEXT YEAR, JUST OVER $470 MILLION, COMPRISED OF LOCAL TAXES, ALSO KNOWN AS OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS LEVY. LOCAL NON-TAX SUPPORT, WHICH ARE THINGS LIKE INTEREST, MEAL SALES. STATE, OF COURSE, IS THE LARGEST CATEGORY OF FUNDING, WHICH IS BOTH STATE GENERAL APPORTIONMENT AS WELL AS SPECIAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS LEARNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. FEDERAL, WHICH STAYS AT ABOUT 4% EACH YEAR. OTHER AND THEN TRANSFERS IN FROM CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND IS SIMPLY A MATTER OF WE CAN'T CHARGE EXPENDITURES DIRECTLY TO THE TECH LEVY. WE HAVE TO CHARGE THEM TO THE GENERAL FUND AND TRANSFER THE COMMENSURATE AMOUNT BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND. SO IT'S A MECHANICAL PROCESS. EXPENDITURE BUDGETS FOR OUR FIVE FUNDS. GENERAL FUND SPENDING IS JUST SLIGHTLY UNDER PROJECTED REVENUES AND THEN I WALK THROUGH THOSE OTHER FIVE FUNDS DURING OUR STUDY SESSION BUT AGAIN THIS IS THE BUDGET AUTHORITY THAT WE WILL BE ASKING FOR BY RESOLUTION. BUDGETED EXPENDITURES YOU CAN SEE THAT THE LION'S SHARE IS FOR BASIC EDUCATION, SPECIAL EDUCATION OSPI STILL USES A SLIGHTLY OUTDATED TITLE OF VOCATIONAL, THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW AS CTE. COMPENSATORY EDUCATION ARE THINGS LIKE TITLE I AND LEARNING ASSISTANCE AND HIGHLY CAPABLE. OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL IS THE EARLY CHILDHOOD ECAP PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOL, AS WELL AS PROGRAMS THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE LEVY, BASIC ED PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE LEVY. A NEGLIGIBLE AMOUNT FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE, WHICH IS PREDOMINANTLY OUR RENTALS OF OUR FACILITIES. SUPPORT SERVICES IS COMPRISED OF THE BOARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, THE BUSINESS OFFICE, HUMAN RESOURCES, COMMUNICATIONS, ALL OF MAINTENANCE, GROUNDS, CUSTODIAL, SECURITY, INSURANCE, TECHNOLOGY, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD SERVICES, AND A COUPLE SMALL LITTLE THINGS THAT I PROBABLY MISSED. SOME NOTABLE CHANGES AGAIN THE 2026 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS LEVY RENEWED OUR 2022 LEVY. WE WENT BACK TO FUNDING STUDENT INTERVENTION COORDINATORS FOR ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHICH IS THE SWITCH FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. AGAIN WE STILL EXPECT AN ENROLLMENT DECLINE OF 233 NEXT YEAR. NEXT YEAR AND ARE HOPING TO FLATTEN OUT THE FOLLOWING YEARS. WE ARE INCREASING THE BUDGET FOR OUR SAFETY NET AWARD, WHICH IS SPECIAL EDUCATION, BASED ON OUR PRIOR YEARS AND CURRENT YEAR'S GRANT REQUEST. WE DO HAVE A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND OUR ONE-TO-ONE EDUCATORS. FINDING THAT OUR LOWER GRADES HAVE PERHAPS MORE INTENSIVE NEEDS THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST. SO AGAIN, ENROLLMENTS DROP. THE COMPOSITION OF THAT ENROLLMENT IS CHANGING. [01:30:01] OUR INSURANCE, WHICH IS OUR RISK POOL PREMIUM, INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY, AND THAT IS AFFECTING DISTRICTS STATEWIDE. IN TRANSPORTATION, WE'VE BEEN TAKING OAK HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TO FORMER ALDERWOOD MIDDLE. THEY WILL RETURN TO THEIR NEW SCHOOL, AND COLLEGE PLACE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO WOODWAY CAMPUS. IMPLICIT PRICE DEFLATOR, WHICH IS A ROUTINE THESE DAYS, AT LEAST FOR LIKE THE LAST 20 YEARS. THERE IS AN INCREASE, AND AGAIN, FOR EVERY PERCENT. THAT THE STATE REQUIRES US TO PASS THROUGH THE IMPLICIT PRICE DEFLATOR. IT COSTS OUR DISTRICT ABOUT $1.1 MILLION OUT OF POCKET, SO JUST LESS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER THINGS. SOME NEW REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FROM OSPI, AND THEN THE ONE POSITIVE OF INFLATION IS WE ARE SEEING A SMALL INCREASE IN WHAT WE'RE RECEIVING IN INVESTMENT EARNINGS. OUT $450,000, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT REMEMBER THAT'S ON A $470 MILLION BUDGET. THAT IS IT FOR THE PRESENTATION, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. GO AHEAD. LYDIA, I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR GOING OVER THIS VERY THOROUGHLY IN OUR STUDY SESSION RIGHT BEFORE THIS, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO IN THIS. OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WELL I'D LIKE TO ECHO WHAT KAREN SAID AND WHILE I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS I'D LIKE IT TO BE SAID PUBLICLY. WHAT ARE OUR RRIF NUMBERS THAT WE HAD TO HANDLE THIS YEAR AND THAT'S REDUCTION IN FORCE? SO WE HAD NO TEACHER REDUCTIONS IN FORCE BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET. WE DID HAVE TWO 0.2 FTE REDUCTIONS BECAUSE OF STUDENT ENROLLMENT. THERE WASN'T AS MUCH ENROLLMENT IN THOSE COURSES, SO WE COULDN'T OFFER THOSE COURSES. SO 2.2S FOR A TOTAL OF 0.4 REDUCTION IN FOURTH. SO TWO TEACHERS HAD TO TAKE A 0.2 REDUCTION. CORRECT. AND THEY'RE STILL TEACHING IN THE DISTRICT. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. SO THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE REALLY... I WANT TO THANK OUR VOTERS FOR SUPPORTING OUR EP&O LEVY, WHICH IF THEY HADN'T, WE WOULD BE IN DEEP TROUBLE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPERINTENDENT MINER'S LEADERSHIP, WE STILL ARE $25 MILLION BASICALLY BEHIND FROM THREE YEARS AGO AND TWO YEARS AGO BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO ADVOCATE TO THE EXTENT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADVOCATE TO AT LEAST BE EVEN. RIGHT? BUT I WOULDN'T SAY, I WOULD SAY RIGHT NOW, WE FEEL STABLE, THANKS TO THE GREAT BUDGETING, THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE FOR US. BUT THAT WE CAN'T BE COMPLACENT. BECAUSE IF WITH THE HUGE INCREASES GOING ON IN INSURANCE AND UTILITIES, AND THE MSOX AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR ADVOCACY GOING AT THE STATE LEVEL. THEY HAVEN'T FIXED THE FLAWS. WE'VE JUST . AND I KNOW A LOT OF OTHER DISTRICTS ARE NOT IN AS GOOD A SHAPE AS WE ARE, BUT AGAIN I WANT TO ECHO THANKING YOU, BUT I WANT TO SORT OF PUT IN PERSPECTIVE THAT WHILE WE'RE GOOD RIGHT NOW, IF THERE AREN'T CHANGES MADE AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE WILL START HAVING MORE DIFFICULTIES AND WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IS RECOUPING ALL OF WHAT WE LOST IN THE LAST FEW YEARS FROM THE LACK OF APPROPRIATE STATE FUNDING. SO I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO, WE'RE GOOD AT THE MOMENT, BUT WE'RE, AM I RIGHT? SORT OF, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP HERE THAT YOU'VE DONE TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE. I HAVE TO COUNT IF THIS IS MY 29TH OR 30TH SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET, BUT I'VE ONLY HAD THREE THAT. NONE OF THEM ARE EASY, BUT THIS WAS CONSIDERABLY LESS STRESSFUL THAN THE OTHER 27 YEARS. AND LET'S HOPE WE CAN KEEP IT THAT WAY BY CONTINUING TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE STATE [01:35:02] TO MEET THEIR DUTY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY. [11. PUBLIC HEARING - 7:35 pm] SO NEXT WE HAVE ACTUALLY A PUBLIC HEARING. OFFICIALLY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON THE BUDGET IF YOU WANT TO. SO WE WILL NOW OFFICIALLY RECESS OUR REGULAR MEETING AND OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING TO ACCEPT TESTIMONY REGARDING THE 26-27 BUDGET. PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THIS HEARING IS LIMITED TO COMMENTS FOR OR AGAINST ANY PART OF THE BUDGET. IT IS NOT FOR OTHER TOPICS. AM I CORRECT THAT THERE'S NOBODY WHO SIGNED UP? THERE'S ONE PERSON, CHERYL PASSAGE. OKAY, CHERYL. SPEAK TWICE TONIGHT. AND I THINK I'LL JUST TALK ABOUT THREE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IN PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND I APOLOGIZE, LYDIA, SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST READING. I HAVEN'T LOOKED VERY THOROUGHLY YET. BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THREE THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT THAT I BELIEVE ARE CRITICALLY ESSENTIAL TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. ONE IS, OF COURSE. COMPENSATING PARAEDUCATORS, BUT THE SECOND IS FULLY FUNDING FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATES. I KNOW THAT IN MY SCHOOL THE FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATE BEING THERE FULL-TIME IS SO CRITICAL. SO I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AGAIN. AND THE THIRD THING I'M THINKING ABOUT IS THE SCHOOL START AND STOP TIMES. AND I'VE HEARD A FEW PEOPLE MENTION THE IDEA. SO REMEMBER, THIS IS ONLY ABOUT THE BUDGET. THE IDEA ABOUT BUSES. I'M RECALLING IN PANDEMIC SHUTDOWN TIME WHEN ALL SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS WERE CHOPPED. AND DR. MINOR, YOU WERE NOT HERE THEN. THREE SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTORS, YOU WERE NOT HERE THEN, BUT YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT. PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE IT WAS A BAD DECISION THEN, AND I THINK WE'RE STILL FEELING THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THAT DECISION. SO IF WE CAN HIRE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS AND BUY SCHOOL BUSES, THEN MAYBE THAT WILL IMPACT THIS START AND STOP TIME DECISION. DR. KADAMS, I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE STATE NOT FULFILLING ITS PARAMOUNT DUTY, ARTICLE 9, SECTION 1. AND, OF COURSE, IN THE BACK OF OUR HEADS, I'M SURE WE'RE ALL THINKING ABOUT THE FEDS AND WHAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT DO. SO, LIKE DARIKA SAID, OR DARIKA, I ALSO DO NOT ENVY YOU AND YOUR JOBS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. NOW, IT'S POSSIBLE IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE BUDGET, LET ME KNOW. JUST RAISE YOUR HAND, AND WE'LL LET YOU DO THAT AS WELL. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF SETUP THAN OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE BUDGET? GO AHEAD. YEAH, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISTRICT, ETC. MELISSA DEUTZ, I'M A PARAEDUCATOR AND I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION SLASH COMMENT AND I KNOW YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS, BUT I DID SEE ONE OF THE BUDGET ITEMS PRESENTED WAS INCREASED FUNDING FOR SPECIAL ED AND PARAEDUCATORS. AND IN THE PAST WHEN I'VE SEEN THAT BEFORE AND I'VE ASKED, IT IS NOT REFLECTED IN OUR WAGES. IT JUST SIMPLY MEANS LIKE THE BUDGET PERSON EXPRESSED THAT THERE'S HIGHER NEED IN THE LOWER GRADES. SO IT MEANS THEY'RE GOING TO TRY AND HIRE MORE PEOPLE AT AN UNLIVABLE WAGE. AND THAT'S WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING. IF I'M INCORRECT THIS TIME AND IT MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, I HOPE I'LL BE ABLE TO READ ABOUT THAT SOMEWHERE. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS A COMMENT REGARDING THE BUDGET? I GIVE A LOT OF WAIT TIME. OKAY. HEARING NONE, SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO FURTHER MEMBERS [01:40:01] OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO TESTIFY CONCERNING THIS MATTER, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW FORMALLY CLOSED, [12. NEW BUSINESS- 8:05 pm] AND WE GO BACK TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS THIS EVENING. THE FIRST IS... 12.1, A FIRST READING, NO ACTION OF RESOLUTION 2614, ADOPTION OF THE 26-27 ANNUAL BUDGET. SO ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY COMMENT, EVEN THOUGH WE JUST, AND ALSO WE HAD A VERY DETAILED STUDY SESSION BEFORE THIS AS THE BOARD, SO WE GOT MORE IN-DEPTH INFORMATION AS WELL. JUST I THINK IT'S WORTH POINTING OUT HERE THE FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATES. LIKE THIS IS NOT A DECISION THAT WE MADE IN THE BUDGET. IT WAS A MATTER OF GRANT FUNDING, A REDUCTION OF GRANT FUNDING, WHICH WAS WHAT, HOW THESE POSITIONS WERE FULLY FUNDED, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. SOME GRANTORS MAKE DIFFERENT DECISIONS SOMETIMES ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO FUND OR WHAT PRIORITIES THEIR ORGANIZATION MAY MAKE. SO THESE CUTS... REFLECT WHAT OUR GRANTORS HAVE DECIDED THAT THEY HOW THEY WANT TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE RESTORED THOSE BECAUSE WE AS YOU SAW FROM THAT PRESENTATION ARE VERY CLOSE TO A ZERO WE DID RESTORE SINKS THIS YEAR SO WE DID INCREASE SCHOOL INTERVENTION COORDINATORS THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT FOR US TO HAVE RESTORED FRAS WOULD HAVE MEANT WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO CUT IN OTHER AREAS BECAUSE WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO A NEUTRAL BUDGET AND IS IT TRUE ALSO THAT WE'VE PURSUED OTHER... WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE ADDITIONAL GRANTS, REACH OUT TO DIFFERENT GRANTORS, AND TRY TO SECURE FUNDS TO ADD TO THOSE POSITIONS. SO THERE MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY STILL OF RESTORING SOME OF THOSE... RIGHT, AND THAT COULD HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF OUR BUDGET SCHEDULE. YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET GRANT FUNDS. THERE'S ENOUGH CAPACITY BUILT INTO OUR BUDGET. INTO THE REVENUE SIDE THAT IF WE DID GET GRANTS FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THOSE FUNDS. ALTERNATIVELY IF WE WERE TO GET MASSIVE GRANTS WE COULD ALWAYS DO A BUDGET EXTENSION TO EXTEND OUR CAPACITY TO ACCEPT FUNDS. BUT WE CONTINUE TO MEET WITH AND SEEK OUT GRANTORS WHO MIGHT BE WILLING TO SUPPORT THOSE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. SO IF ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY KNOWS A VERY RICH BENEFACTOR WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP OUT IN THIS AREA? GOOD QUESTION, TOM. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? WE'LL BRING THAT BUDGET BACK TO YOU THEN IN JULY FOR POTENTIAL APPROVAL. A FINAL VOTE. SORRY? THEY DON'T VOTE ON THE FIRST READING OF THE YEP. SECTION 12.2, SINGLE READING AUTHORIZATION FOR A CONTRACT AWARD. THIS IS PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD. SO DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AUTHORIZATION FOR CONTRACT AWARD TO PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD TEAM FOR THE DISTRICT-WIDE BOILER UPGRADES PROJECT TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AUTHORIZATION AND DELEGATE CONTRACTING AUTHORITY? I MOVE TO APPROVE. I'LL SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT HAVING VISITED SOME OF THE BOILERS IN THIS DISTRICT, IT IS A DARN GOOD THING THAT WE ARE UPGRADING THEM AND SEEING THE BOILERS IN THE NEW SCHOOL LIKE AT OAK HEIGHTS VERY CLEVERLY DONE IN A WAY THAT IF PART OF IT GOES OUT, NOT THE WHOLE SCHOOL GOES OUT. THERE ARE JUST SO MANY NEW, INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT WE WILL BE GETTING ACROSS THE DISTRICT. THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO DO IS THANK OUR COMMUNITY AGAIN AND OUR VOTERS BECAUSE FUNDING FOR THIS COMES FROM THE 2024 BOMB, THE 2021 LEVY, AND THE 2024 LEVY. SO THEY'RE THE GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING IN TERMS OF DOING SOME VERY IMPORTANT WORK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T SEE BUT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE DISTRICT. HEARING NO OTHER DISCUSSION, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CONTRACT AWARD TO PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD TEAM FOR THE DISTRICT-WIDE BOILER UPGRADES PROJECT, APPROVE BUDGET AUTHORIZATION AND DELEGATE CONTRACTING AUTHORITY, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CONTRACT AWARD TO THE PROGRESSIVE DESIGN BUILD TEAM FOR THE [13. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - 8:15 pm] DISTRICT-WIDE BOILER UPGRADES PROJECT IS APPROVED. ONE ITEM OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS THIS EVENING IS ITEM 13.1, A SECOND READING OF RESOLUTION 26-10. [01:45:01] THIS IS TO FUND BONDS, WHICH THE BOARD HEARD A PRESENTATION ABOUT AT LAST MEETING AND HAD A FIRST READING. SO DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 26-10, WHICH IS THE UNLIMITED TAX... GENERAL OBLIGATION AND REFUNDING BONDS 2026. I MOVE TO APPROVE. I'LL SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT THE REFUNDING OF THE BOND, THE REFUNDING IS BASICALLY REFINANCING, AND IT'S BECAUSE THE INTEREST RATES ARE LOWER, WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY, SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING. YEAH, AND I THINK IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, $1.SOMETHING MILLION THAT WE'RE SAVING OUR TAXPAYERS. AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THE CONSULTANT WHO CAME AND HELPED TO HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW THEY MAKE THE DECISIONS AND WHEN TO MAKE THE DECISIONS TO MAXIMIZE THE USE OF THE MONEY FOR THAT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING RESOLUTION 26-10, UNLIMITED TAX GENERAL OBLIGATION AND REFUNDING BONDS 2026, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND RESOLUTION 26-10 IS [14. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES - 8:20 pm] APPROVED. TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR GIRARD, OUR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE FOR THE BOARD. WE DON'T HAVE A POWERPOINT THIS EVENING, BUT JUST CONTINUING THIS SUMMER TO SHARE WHAT'S GOING ON. YEAH, LATE BREAKING NEWS. SO TODAY THERE WAS THE WASDA ACTION ADVOCACY NETWORK HELD A MEETING ONLINE. THE MAIN TOPIC OF DISCUSSION WAS CELL PHONE POLICIES. WE KNOW RECENTLY THAT THE GOVERNOR DECIDED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY FOR HIM. THERE IS 75% OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE DO ALREADY HAVE A CELL PHONE POLICY, BUT SOME OF THOSE ARE BELL TO BELL AND SOME OF THEM ARE LIKE NOT IN CLASS, BUT LIKE ALLOWED DURING LUNCHES. I THINK IT WAS JUST... SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE. SO WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THEY EXPECT TO RECEIVE A DRAFT OF THE BILL THAT OSPI WILL BRING FORWARD ON THIS. THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER OTHER STATES AND WHETHER THEY EITHER JUST REQUIRE DISTRICTS TO HAVE A POLICY OR INCENTIVIZE DISTRICTS TO HAVE A POLICY OR WHETHER THEY TRIED TO DICTATE WHAT THE POLICY WAS. SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF THIS, THAT PROCESS. THEY DIDN'T, THERE WERE PRESENTERS FROM STANFORD CHILDREN AND ALSO FROM WASA TALKING ABOUT CELL PHONE POLICIES. THEY HAD A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT WHERE THEY THOUGHT IT SHOULD GO, BUT THEY DID HAVE, THEY DID SHOW SOME STUDY ABOUT THAT AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IF THE PHONE IS IN THE ROOM LIKE IT'S OFF SCREENS OFF BUT IT'S IN THE ROOM COMPARED TO IF IT'S OUT OF THE ROOM AT SCHOOL AND HOW MUCH THAT HELPS KIDS TO BE NOT BE DISTRACTED AND THEY ALSO DID HAPPEN TO MENTION SLEEP FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS LIKE IF THE PHONE IS OUT OF THE ROOM THEY GET AN AVERAGE OF ONE SO THERE'S SOMETHING FOR PARENTS TO, FOR A TAKEAWAY. THE OTHER THING THAT THEY MENTIONED COMING UP IS SEPTEMBER IS THE LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE WHERE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, OUR PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE AI POLICY WILL BE CONSIDERED. THERE ARE 70 POSITION PROPOSALS THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE RELEASED ON JULY 1ST. SO YOU'LL ALL HAVE A CHANCE THEN TO LOOK THEM OVER AND KIND OF GIVE ME YOUR INPUT ON HOW YOU THINK WE SHOULD VOTE ON THOSE. THERE IS AN AMENDMENT. SO THERE IS A, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S ONLY A WEEK, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO CORRESPOND TO ANY TIME THAT WE'RE TOGETHER. BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE 70 PROPOSALS THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION OR IT'S A NEW PROPOSAL BUT IT SHOULD BE CHANGED, WE CAN PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO IT. RELATED TO CELL PHONES, THERE ARE TWO, SEE. REGARDING CELL PHONES. BE CONCENTRATED. OUT OF THE 70 PROPOSALS [01:50:02] THERE, THREE HAVE SOME BEARING ON CELL PHONES. SO THAT IS, OH AND OTHER THAN THAT, JUST EVERY TIME I'M SEEING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW RUNNING FOR ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATURE, I'M REMINDING THEM ABOUT THEIR PARAMOUNT REPRESENTATIVE RYU WAS I ACCOMPANIED HER TO BEVERLY ELK TREE. SCIENCE CENTER'S VAN PROGRAM WAS PRESENTING THEIR STARS. IT WAS SORT OF MORE ABOUT THE SCIENCE CENTER THAN IT WAS ABOUT OUR DISTRICT, BUT STILL ANY CHANCE TO HAVE HER IN OUR SCHOOLS TO GET OUR LEGISLATORS IN THERE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIRECTOR GERARD. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR HIM? IS YOUR CELL PHONE OFF? IT'S OFF. THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL. THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING. ALWAYS SOMETHING HAPPENING THROUGH THE YEAR, EVEN WHEN [15. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS - 8:30 pm] THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT IN SESSION. SO NEXT WE HAVE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. UNFORTUNATELY OUR STUDENTS HAVE GRADUATED AND MOVED ON SO WE DON'T HAVE THEM SO WE'LL START WITH DIRECTOR KRAMER. AND OUR STUDENTS ARE ALWAYS SO MUCH BETTER AT THIS THAN THE REST OF US. I JUST QUICKLY HAVE WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE DEEP APPRECIATION FOR EVERYONE THAT SHOWED UP TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ISSUES. ALL OF THEM ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. AND I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION EARLIER WITH MY WIFE IN THAT IT'S A REALLY GOOD THING TO CHANGE YOUR MIND. CHANGING YOUR MIND SHOWS THAT YOU'RE GROWING, THAT YOU'RE LEARNING, THAT YOU'RE MOVING FORWARD. AND MANY OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT HAVE ME CHANGING MY MIND. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE THAT CAME FORWARD TONIGHT. APPRECIATE YOU. DIRECTOR SMITH. THANK YOU. SO I JUST HAVE A SHORT COMMENT HERE, AND I DON'T TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT MYSELF OR WHAT GOT ME INTO THIS WORK, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THESE MEETINGS ARE REALLY ABOUT ME. BUT I DID HEAR SOMETHING EARLIER TONIGHT THAT SOMEONE SAID AS THEY WERE SPEAKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHOSE VOICES WE DON'T HEAR BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MAKE IT TO THESE MEETINGS. AND I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS. I THINK THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THAT ACTUALLY QUALIFIES ME TO BE HERE, IF I'M BEING TOTALLY HONEST. I WASN'T AT THE TOP OF MY CLASS, DIDN'T DO, LIKE, THERE'S NO REAL REASON I SHOULD BE HERE. THE ONE THING I BRING TO THE TABLE THAT I THINK, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES HERE ABOUT WHAT THEIR LIFE'S EXPERIENCES WERE, BUT THE ONE THING THAT ACTUALLY QUALIFIES ME TO BE HERE IS I CAME FROM THAT BACKGROUND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE ARE SAYING WE DON'T HEAR FROM. SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD, LATCHKEY KID, FIRST TO GO TO COLLEGE. FIRST PERSON, MY MOM MAY HAVE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, NOT 100% CERTAIN ON THAT. NO, SHE HAS A GED. WORKING CLASS FAMILY, YOU KNOW, YOU NAME A LIFE EXPERIENCE, FAMILY ON TANF, EXTENDED PERIOD. FINALLY GOT OFF OF TANF OUT OF EMBARRASSMENT, NOT BECAUSE OF NO NEED. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I BRING TO THESE CONVERSATIONS, AND THEY'RE THINGS THAT ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF MY MIND. AND I WANT TO EXPRESS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT NO MATTER WHAT, THERE'S AT LEAST ONE VOICE IN THAT ROOM THAT HAS THAT BACKGROUND. SO WHEN I HEARD TITLE I SCHOOLS WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY EFFECTIVE, THAT DID JUMP OUT AT ME. I AM ACTUALLY VERY INTERESTED AS TO HOW THE DISTRICT GOT THERE WITH THAT, AND IT'S A QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND. WE HAVEN'T HAD A MEETING ABOUT IT YET, SO I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO ASK IT, BUT I'M CONCERNED. THAT IS MY FAMILY RIGHT THERE THAT WOULD HAVE HAD THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY FALL ON THEM. KID OF THE 80S AND 90S AND STUFF PROBABLY ALREADY DISPROPORTIONATELY FELL ON ME WITHOUT ME EVEN REALIZING IT BECAUSE PEOPLE WEREN'T WORRIED ABOUT IT. SO REALLY MY PURPOSE HERE OF THIS COMMENT IS TO LET THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS KNOW WHO CAME OUT HERE TONIGHT WHO SAID WE DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S ANY REPRESENTATION ON THIS STUFF. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT IT'S JUST ONE PERSON, ONE VOICE, BUT THERE IS ONE PERSON IN THAT ROOM THAT IS THINKING ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR GIRARD. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED OR IS HERE BEING HEARD, AND WE'LL SEE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, I GUESS. [01:55:03] SINCE THE LAST TIME WE HAD A MEETING, THERE'S BEEN SOME GREAT THINGS. SO, TO CELEBRATE IT, I WAS HAPPY TO... BE ABLE TO ATTEND LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, MONTLAKE TERRACE, AND MEADOWDALE HIGH SCHOOL'S GRADUATIONS. AND THEN I WENT TO HILLTOP ELEMENTARY FOR THEIR GRAD WALK WHERE THE GRADUATES WHO ATTENDED HILLTOP COME BACK AND GET TO SEE THEIR TEACHERS. AND THE KIDS GET TO SEE, THE CURRENT ELEMENTARY STUDENTS GET TO SEE THE OLDER KIDS WHO HAVE GRADUATED WALKING AROUND IN THEIR ROW. HILLTOP'S ATTENDANCE. SPLITS BETWEEN SEVERAL SCHOOLS. THERE WAS DIFFERENT COLOR ROADS. VERY FUN TO SEE THEM ALL GET TOGETHER AND VISIT WITH THE TEACHERS. I ALSO WENT TO THE TITLE VI, WHICH IS THE INDIAN EDUCATION CEREMONY THAT THEY HAD OR PROGRAM THAT THEY HAD AT NORTH SEATTLE COLLEGE. THAT'S WHERE IT WAS HELD. IT'S SPONSORED BY THE URBAN EDUCATION. URBAN INDIAN EDUCATION ALLIANCE OR ASSOCIATION, I FORGET WHAT IT'S CALLED EXACTLY, BUT THEY WERE HONORING STUDENTS WHO, FOR THE NEXT GRADE, NOT JUST, NOT ONLY EXCLUSIVELY THE HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL. SO THAT WAS A VERY EXPERIENCE, AND THEY HAD... WE HAD, IT WAS DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, NOT JUST EDMONDS, BUT THERE WERE DEFINITELY A GROUP OF EDMONDS STUDENTS THERE. SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM. ACTUALLY, ONE OF THEM SPOKE, AND HE WAS VERY ELOQUENT. HE HAD A THEATER BACKGROUND, APPARENTLY, AT SOME POINT. HE JUST, HE WAS VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT MICROPHONE. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR CHASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I WILL SAY I REALLY DO MISS OUR STUDENTS UP HERE. I HADN'T REALLY REALIZED JUST OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, WHICH, WHILE THOUGHTFUL AND ALSO REFLECTING HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT'S COMING AND WRITING, I DON'T KNOW, I'M SURE MISSING THE DEPTH AND THE BREADTH AND THE INTROSPECTION OF OUR STUDENTS WHO SHOW US HOW OUR DECISIONS ARE IMPACTING FOLKS IN THE CLASSROOM. GRADUATIONS ARE ALSO MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR. I WAS SO HAPPY TO ATTEND THEM AND THE GROUNDBREAKINGS OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WE'RE BUILDING THIS LAST WEEK. IT'S OKAY, TOM, YOU GOT THE REST IN THERE. I WILL SAY IT'S VERY FUN WHEN THE KIDS ARE DOING THE... YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO BREAK GROUND. AND SO WE HAD DONE SOME PHOTOS AND THEN FORGOT TO ACTUALLY BREAK GROUND. GATHERED AGAIN AND THE KIDS PUT THE SHOVELS AND SOME OF THEM WERE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC WITH THE DIRT FOR SOME VERY COMICAL RESULTS AND I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE. TOM DID GET IN THE WAY OF SOME OF THOSE ENTHUSIASTIC STUDENTS WITH THEIR DIRT. BUT THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING TONIGHT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR ESTEEMED LEADER. THANK YOU. AND WITH REGARD TO DIRECTOR GERARD, WHO TOOK MY POSITION IN LINE AT THE GROUNDBREAKING, SO I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, BUT IT REALLY GOES ON FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS BECAUSE, AND UNFORTUNATELY HIS HAT HAD HOLES IN IT, SO IT WAS A STRAW HAT. IT WAS, YOU TOOK IT FOR THE TEAM. IT WAS GREAT. I REALLY, I ENJOY IT VERY MUCH. IT'S FUNNY NOW. I ENJOYED THE BREAKING. I MOVED HERE 27 YEARS AGO AND I WAS INTERVIEWING TO WORK IN THE DISTRICT, WHICH I THEN DID FOR 17 YEARS. I HAD DURING MY, BECAUSE I WAS MOVING ACROSS COUNTRY, I WANTED TO VISIT SOME SCHOOLS AND ONE OF THE SCHOOLS I VISITED WAS COLLEGE PLACE MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND AT THAT TIME, QUITE HONESTLY, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, THIS PLACE IS A DUMP. BECAUSE EVEN THEN, AND THE ONE GOAL EVER FROM BEING HERE IS THAT NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. AND SO I'M JUST PERSONALLY. SO EXCITED TO SEE AND THE DESIGN IS AMAZING OF WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO TO SHARE SPACE BETWEEN COLLEGE PLACE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE BUT ALSO KEEP THEM AS SEPARATE SCHOOLS. IT'S GOING TO BE AND USING THE LAND IN A COMMUNITY AND ATTENDED AND REALLY ENJOYED THE SCRIBER LAKE GRADUATION. IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL. I'D LIKE TO [02:00:03] WISH EVERYBODY A WONDERFUL SUMMER. I KNOW DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS ARE GOING TO BE WORKING VERY HARD BECAUSE THEY DO, HAVING BEEN ONE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, TO PLAN FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. WE WILL ALSO NOT GET A SUMMER VERY MUCH AS SCHOOL DIRECTORS BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVERAL MEETINGS AND STUDY SESSIONS AND A RETREAT THROUGH THE SUMMER AS WE ALSO THINK THROUGH ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE SURE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE ARE THE VERY BEST. DECISIONS FOR STUDENTS. SO WE TAKE EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID VERY SERIOUSLY. WE APPRECIATE THAT, BUT WE DO WISH EVERYBODY A RELAXING AND GOOD SUMMER TO DO WHATEVER IT IS YOU GUYS LIKE TO DO. AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR. MINER. WELL YOU KICKED ME OFF WELL DR. KADAMS. WE DO OUR ADMINISTRATIVE RETREAT ON THURSDAY AS OTHER PEOPLE ARE GEARING TOWARD TAKING TIME OFF. OUR ADMINISTRATORS ARE TAKING TIME ON TO PREPARE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. SO WE'LL DO ONE DAY THIS IN JUNE SO THAT THEY CAN KIND OF GET THEMSELVES INTO THE RIGHT SPACE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL DAYS IN AUGUST. I'LL BE TRAVELING TO SPOKANE FOR THE GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT TRAINING THIS WEEKEND. GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT TRAINING IS A TRAINING ON HOW TO WORK WITH OUR 29 RECOGNIZED TRIBES IN WASHINGTON STATE AND TO BUILD THE VERY BEST RELATIONSHIPS WE CAN WITH OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS. SO I HAVE THE ABILITY TO ATTEND THAT, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. AND THEN... NEXT WEEK, WE BEGIN SUMMER SCHOOL. SO THIS WAS THE BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME WHEN YOU WOULDN'T SEE OUR STUDENTS OUT AND ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL, BUT WE BEGIN SUMMER SCHOOL ON MONDAY, HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THAT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD, I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS GREAT TIME TO GET OUT AND SEE THEM AS WELL. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING OUT AND HAVING THE CHANCE TO DO THAT. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. AND THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS NOW ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.