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[1. CALL TO ORDER-6:30 pm]
THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.[2. ROLL CALL-6:31 pm (ALL TIMES ARE ESTIMATED)]
DIRECTOR CRAMER? PRESENT.I WAS THINKING AHEAD THAT I KNOW DIRECTOR GARRARD IS GOING TO BE ON HERE.
GETTING ON HIS COMPUTER RIGHT NOW.
TOM, CAN YOU HEAR US? HE'S NOT HEARING US.
AND I'M DIRECTOR KATIMS, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM, AND DIRECTOR GARRARD WILL BE HERE.
I WILL NOW ASK DR. MINOR TO DO THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
THANK YOU, DR. KATIMS. 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.
[4. FLAG SALUTE-6:33 pm]
JOIN WITH ME ON THE FLAG SALUTE.I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA-6:34 pm]
NEXT WE HAVE APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA.IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED? MOVE TO APPROVE.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'D LIKE TO JUST MAKE A COMMENT FOR THE AUDIENCE THAT TONIGHT WE'RE RETURNING TO OUR USUAL AGENDA WITH UP TO 30 MINUTES FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I SEE THAT THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS THAN WE WILL HAVE TIME FOR IN THE 30 MINUTES. UNLESS PEOPLE GO VERY QUICKLY, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SPEAK TONIGHT ON THE AGENDA AND YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK ON ANY TOPIC THAT'S RELEVANT, YOU MAY EMAIL US OR YOU MAY SUBMIT A WRITTEN COMMENT ON A LATER BOARD MEETING AGENDA, WHICH WOULD THEN BE ATTACHED TO THE BOARD MINUTES FOR THAT PARTICULAR MEETING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO EVERYBODY.
FOR THE LAST TWO MEETINGS, WE HAD EXTENDED THEM, BUT WE'RE GOING BACK TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA.
SO ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVING TONIGHT'S AGENDAS PRESENTED? HEARING NONE, TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[6. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT-6:35 pm]
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.I'M GOING TO CEDE MY TIME THIS EVENING TO DR. KATIMS TO SHARE AN UPDATE.
OKAY, SO I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING ELSE WITH OUR PUBLIC.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE AN UPDATE TO THE TOPIC OF START AND END TIME, SINCE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THAT.
THE BOARD MET LAST WEEK IN A STUDY SESSION TO REVIEW ALL THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY THE COMMITTEE AND DISTRICT STAFF, AS WELL AS TO DISCUSS ALL THE INPUT WE'VE RECEIVED IN THE VARIOUS WAYS WE'VE RECEIVED IT.
WE DO NOT MAKE FORMAL DECISIONS IN A STUDY SESSION, SINCE SUCH DECISIONS ARE LEGISLATED TO OCCUR IN A REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.
BUT WE HAD AN EXCELLENT DISCUSSION OF THE PROS AND CONS OF VARIOUS APPROACHES TO THE TOPIC.
IN SHORT, THERE ARE NO SIMPLE ANSWERS.
WE WILL BE HAVING ANOTHER STUDY SESSION IN THE FALL TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THROUGH EMAILS, THROUGH WRITTEN COMMENTS, THROUGH DISTRICT SURVEYS, AND PUBLIC COMMENTS MADE AT OUR BOARD MEETINGS, AS WELL AS THE DETAILED INFORMATION THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM DISTRICT STAFF ON THIS TOPIC.
WE LOVE HAVING A COMMUNITY WHO IS DEEPLY INVESTED IN OUR STUDENTS.
THANK YOU, DR. KATIMS. I JUST WANT TO DO A SOUND CHECK.
DIRECTOR GARRARD, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, I CAN.
SO DIRECTOR GARRARD IS NOW IN THE MEETING AS WELL.
BEFORE WE GO ON, I DID ALSO JUST WANT TO ADD THAT THE SLIDE DECK FOR THAT STUDY SESSION IS AVAILABLE UNDER STUDY SESSIONS ON OUR WEBSITE, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT.
[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-6:40 pm]
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NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES, AND WE HAVE TWO SETS OF MINUTES.ONE IS THE SET OF MINUTES FROM JUNE 23, 2026 SPECIAL MEETING, WHICH WAS THE STUDY SESSION ON BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, AND THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 23, 2026 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.
DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THOSE TWO SETS OF MINUTES? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE BOTH SETS OF MINUTES.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SO THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 23RD, 2026 SPECIAL MEETING STUDY SESSION ON BUDGET DEVELOPMENT AND THE JUNE 23RD, 2026 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING ARE APPROVED.
[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS-7:10 pm]
COMMENTS.THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION OF THE AGENDA IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC COMMENTS IS FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN COMMUNICATING WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ABOUT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA OR SPECIFIC TOPICS THAT ARE PARTICULARLY 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 1400, THE BOARD IS NOT OBLIGATED TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR CHALLENGES MADE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND THE BOARD'S SILENCE WILL NOT SIGNAL AGREEMENT, DISAGREEMENT OR ENDORSEMENT OF THE SPEAKER'S REMARKS.
PEOPLE MAY SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS EITHER BY READING YOUR COMMENTS ALOUD IN PERSON OR BY SUBMITTING YOUR COMMENT IN WRITING.
WE READ ALL WRITTEN COMMENTS AND THEY ARE ALSO ATTACHED TO THE MEETING AGENDA AND POSTED ON THE MINUTES AND POSTED ON THE BOARD DOCS WEBSITE.
FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING, WE HAVE RECEIVED 45 WRITTEN COMMENTS.
THIRTY-NINE HAVE TO DO WITH START AND END TIMES.
THREE HAVE TO DO WITH BOUNDARY CHANGES, TWO HAVE TO DO WITH THE PAY FOR PARAEDUCATORS, AND ONE WAS CALLED FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ALSO REFERRED TO START AND END TIMES.
WE THANK YOU ALL WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SHARE THEIR THINKING WITH US THROUGH THE WRITTEN COMMENTS.
WHEN YOU PRESENT YOUR COMMENT IN PERSON TONIGHT, PLEASE BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME, YOUR CITY OF RESIDENCE, YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE DISTRICT, AND THE AGENDA ITEM OR SCHOOL DISTRICT TOPIC THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
A TIMER WILL BE RUNNING SO THAT YOU CAN MONITOR YOUR TIME.
AT THE THREE MINUTE MARKER THE MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED AND TONIGHT SINCE THERE ARE MORE WHO ARE SIGNED UP THAN WE MAY HAVE TIME FOR, IF YOU CAN KEEP TO LESS THAN THREE MINUTES THAT GIVES SOMEBODY ELSE THE OPPORTUNITY.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR STATEMENT IN A CIVIL MANNER WITHOUT DISPARAGING, NAME-CALLING OR OTHERWISE TARGETING ANY ONE PERSON OR GROUP IN THE DISTRICT.
IF ANY PERSON MAKES AN UNCIVIL COMMENT, I WILL DIRECT THE MICROPHONE TO BE MUTED AND YOUR COMMENT WILL BE ENDED, REGARDLESS OF TIME LEFT 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.
PLEASE USE GOOD JUDGMENT IN THE PHRASING AND CONTENT OF YOUR COMMENT.
RELEVANT ITEMS MENTIONED IN COMMENTS ARE TYPICALLY NOT ACTED UPON BY THE BOARD AT THIS TIME, BUT THEY MAY BE FOLLOWED UP BY THE BOARD, BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND OR STAFF AT A LATER TIME.
COMMENTS ARE MADE FROM THE PODIUM OVER THERE THAT IS ON THE SIDE OF THE BOARD ROOM, AND WHAT I WILL DO IS I WILL CALL THEM IN THE ORDER THAT WE RECEIVED THEM, AND I WILL ALSO LET YOU ALL KNOW SO YOU CAN BE IN QUEUE, WHICH MAY HELP.
SO THE FIRST PERSON SIGNED UP IS MARIE MCCOY, AND AFTER MARIE WILL BE KAMALA GOMEZ-MOHINI.
AND I'LL START A 30-MINUTE TIMER AS SOON AS OUR FIRST SPEAKER BEGINS.
GOOD EVENING, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT, DISTRICT LEADERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I'VE LIVED IN THE MEADOWDALE NEIGHBORHOOD OF LINWOOD SINCE 2013, AND I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I'M ALSO A CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER SPECIALIZING IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER.
TONIGHT I'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE SRO PROGRAM.
THE INCREASE IN YOUTH-RELATED VIOLENCE, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE MEADOWDALE HIGH SCHOOL AND MEADOWDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL, HAS MY NEIGHBORHOOD ON HIGH ALERT, WITH MANY FAMILIES FEELING UNSAFE WITH THEIR CHILDREN BEING ON OR NEAR SCHOOL PROPERTY.
SINCE THE MARCH 2026 SHOOTING IN MEADOWDALE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, WALLY WEBSTER AND I HAVE MET WITH NUMEROUS COMMUNITY LEADERS, PARENTS, EDUCATORS, FAITH LEADERS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESS LEADERS, AND CONCERNED RESIDENTS REGARDING THIS MATTER.
WE ALL WANT SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT ONLY WELCOMING AND
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SUPPORTIVE, BUT ALSO PREPARED.PROTECTED AND RESPONSIVE WHEN SAFETY CONCERNS ARISE.
SCHOOL SAFETY AND STUDENT SUPPORT MUST GO HAND IN HAND.
WE ARE RESPECTFULLY AND URGENTLY REQUESTING THAT THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS VOTE TO REINSTATE A REIMAGINED SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM AS AN IMMEDIATE PART OF A BROADER SCHOOL SAFETY STRATEGY.
WE'RE NOT ASKING THE BOARD TO RETURN TO THE PAST WITHOUT REFLECTION, SAFEGUARDS OR ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE'RE ASKING THAT THE BOARD ACTS NOW TO ESTABLISH A MODERN, PREVENTION-FOCUSED, CAREFULLY STRUCTURED SRO PROGRAM THAT PROTECTS STUDENTS AND STAFF, BUILDS TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING, SUPPORTS PREVENTION AND DE-ESCALATION, AND OPERATES UNDER CLEAR STANDARDS AND OVERSIGHT.
THIS REQUEST IS NOT BASED ON A MOTION ALONE.
WE FULLY RECOGNIZE THAT SROS ARE NOT A CURE-ALL.
NO SINGLE ANSWER CAN SOLVE EVERY ISSUE RELATED TO STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH, YOUTH VIOLENCE, WEAPONS, THREATS, OR CONFLICT.
BUT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT REMOVING SROS DID NOT REMOVE THE SAFETY CHALLENGES FACING OUR SCHOOLS.
THE ABSENCE OF A WELL-DESIGNED SRO PROGRAM HAS LEFT A GAP IN THE DISTRICT'S SAFETY FRAMEWORK AT A TIME WHEN STUDENTS, FAMILIES, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY.
WE ARE NOT ASKING THE DISTRICT TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SAFETY AND STUDENT WELL-BEING.
WE'RE ASKING THE DISTRICT TO STRENGTHEN BOTH.
A NEW SRO PROGRAM SHOULD BE PART OF A BROADER STRATEGY THAT INVOLVES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, PREVENTION, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, AND A STRONG SCHOOL-COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.
THIS IS NOT A CALL TO GO BACKWARDS.
THIS IS A CALL TO MOVE FORWARD RESPONSIBLY, URGENTLY, AND WISELY.
AFTER CAMILLA WILL BE SAGE PURCELL.
HI, MY NAME IS CAMILLA GOMEZ-MOINI.
I RESIDE IN WOODINVILLE, WASHINGTON, AND HAVE WORKED WITH NUMEROUS STUDENTS WITHIN THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS THEMSELVES AND OUTSIDE THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS THROUGH VARIOUS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
THE INCREASE IN YOUTH VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES IS SHOWING A TROUBLING PATTERN.
ACROSS THE THREE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS IN LINWOOD, THAT WERE REVIEWED, CASE REPORTS FROM THE LINWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT ROSE FROM 49 TO 91.
CALLS FOR SERVICE ROSE FROM 373 TO 437, AND ARRESTS DOUBLED FROM 7 TO 14 IN THE YEARS AFTER THE SRO PROGRAM ENDED.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOCUS NOT ONLY ON ONE NUMBER, BUT ON THE PATTERN ACROSS MULTIPLE CATEGORIES.
WHEN CASE REPORTS, CALLS FOR SERVICE, AND ARRESTS ALL RISE DURING THE SAME FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, THAT DESERVES SERIOUS ATTENTION.
WE UNDERSTAND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DID NOT HAVE SROS IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS WHEN THE SRO PROGRAM WAS ACTIVE, BUT THE CASE REPORT INCREASES WERE ESPECIALLY CONCERNING AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
AT MEADOWDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL ALONE, CASE REPORTS ROSE FROM 6 TO 23.
CALLS FOR SERVICE ROSE FROM 45 TO 98.
AND ARRESTS ROSE FROM TWO TO SIX.
THESE MIDDLE SCHOOL INCREASES ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY SUGGEST THAT THESE CONCERNS ARE REACHING STUDENTS AT AN EVEN YOUNGER AGE, NOT JUST IN THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.
THAT SHOULD RAISE THE LEVEL OF URGENCY FOR EVERYONE RESPONSIBLE FOR SCHOOL SAFETY.
THIS DATA DOES NOT PROVE THAT ENDING THE SRO PROGRAM CAUSED EVERY INCREASE, BUT IT DOES SHOW THAT IN THESE THREE SCHOOLS, THE FIVE YEARS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER LEVELS OF SCHOOL-RELATED POLICE ACTIVITY.
THAT PATTERN SHOULD CONCERN EVERY BOARD MEMBER, EVERY PARENT, EVERY EDUCATOR, AND EVERY MEMBER OF THIS VERY COMMUNITY.
IT SHOULD ALSO LEAD TO A PRACTICAL QUESTION.
IF THE CURRENT APPROACH IS NOT REDUCING THESE PROBLEMS, WHAT ADDITIONAL SAFETY TOOLS SHOULD THE DISTRICT BE WILLING TO CONSIDER? WE BELIEVE THAT A CAREFULLY DESIGNED SRO PROGRAM SHOULD BE ONE OF THEM.
THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT REMOVING SROS DID NOT REMOVE THE SAFETY CHALLENGES FACING OUR SCHOOLS.
INSTEAD, THOSE CHALLENGES REMAINED, AND IN KEY AREAS, THEY EVEN GREW WORSE.
THIS IS WHY MY COMMUNITY IS NOT ASKING FOR SYMBOLISM.
WE'RE ASKING FOR ACTION GROUNDED IN REAL CONDITIONS AND REAL PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.
AFTER SAGE WILL BE SIERRA BRUNDAGE.
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I AM A LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND I LIVE IN BOTHELL, WASHINGTON.MY SOPHOMORE YEAR, JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, WE HAD A LOCKDOWN.
THE LOCKDOWN WAS SO LONG THAT WE GOT THROUGH A 55-MINUTE CLASS PERIOD AND GOT THROUGH PART OF A MOVIE.
EACH LOCKDOWN THAT OCCURS, MOST STUDENTS HAVE THE SAME THOUGHT THAT GOES THROUGH THEIR HEAD.
WHAT IF IT'S A GUN? AS OF MARCH 2026, IN 2025, ACCORDING TO THE K-12 SCHOOL SHOOTING DATABASE, 233 SCHOOL SHOOTINGS OCCURRED.
UNESCO STATES THAT ONE OF THREE LEARNERS GETS BULLIED EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
ACCORDING TO THE SANDY HOOK PROMISE, FOUR IN FIVE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, AT LEAST ONE PERSON KNEW ABOUT THE ATTACKER'S PLAN BUT FAILED TO REPORT IT.
VIOLENCE IS OFTEN STARTED FROM A SMALL CONFLICT THAT GREW AND GREW AND GREW.
AND AS A PEER MEDIATOR, I'VE SEEN THAT ON FIRST HAND.
SITES THAT WILL GET PICKED IF SOMEONE LOOKED AT SOMEONE THE WRONG WAY OR SAID SOMETHING IN A TONE THAT SOUNDED MEAN OR OFF.
IF WE HAD A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM THAT WAS THERE FOR STUDENTS IN OPEN AND POSITIVE WAYS, WE CAN STOP VIOLENCE BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
SO I URGE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO REINSTATE A REIMAGINED SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM.
AFTER SIERRA WILL BE HARSHILA VISHNAM.
I GIVE MY TIME TO THE NEXT PERSON.
AFTER HARSHILA WILL BE ARSEMA ESAYAS.
I'LL ALSO GIVE MY TIME TO THE NEXT PERSON.
AFTER ARSEMA COMES CAMERON CLARK.
I'M ARSEMA ISAIAS, AN UPCOMING JUNIOR AT MOUNT LAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL.
A REIMAGINED SRO PROGRAM NEEDS IMPACTFUL STUDENT INVOLVEMENT.
WE NEED TO INCLUDE STUDENT INPUT BASED ON REDESIGNING...
SRO SYSTEMS THAT BEST BENEFIT THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
THIS INCLUDES INPUT ON REQUIRED TRAINING, DEVELOPING PROTOCOLS, AND BUILDING TRUST WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY THROUGH ACTIVITIES.
STUDENT SAFETY SHOULD BE THE UTMOST PRIORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF SCHOOLS AND SROS.
HOWEVER, THERE MAY BE A TIME WHERE AN SRO IS HARMING THE SAFETY AND COMFORT OF STUDENTS.
WE NEEDED TO FIND A SET OF RULES LISTING BEHAVIORS AND ACTIONS THAT CAN RESULT IN OFFICERS BEING REMOVED FROM THE PROGRAM.
INCENTIVIZE BUILDING TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS AND PUT ACCOUNTABILITY FIRST.
THE DEFINITION OF SURVEILLANCE IS SYSTEMATIC AND CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF A SUBJECT.
SO WHEN A RELATIONSHIP IS BUILT ON TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY, SURVEILLANCE FRACTURES THE BOND BY BRINGING ASSUMPTIONS OF DISTRUSTFULNESS AND EVEN FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY FOR STUDENTS.
WE NEED TO LIMIT AN AUTHORITATIVE AND UNTRUSTING ENVIRONMENT BY LIMITING USE ON VIDEO RECORDING USAGE FOR SROS.
EXCEPTIONS INCLUDE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, BUT NOT FOR INFORMAL DISCIPLINE.
DISCIPLINARY PURPOSES OR FOR MONITORING.
NEXT IS CAMERON CLARK, AND AFTER CAMERON WILL BE DULCE MENDEZ JIMENEZ.
I GIVE MY TIME TO THE NEXT PERSON.
AFTER DULCE WILL BE SHANNON SESSIONS.
I GIVE MY TIME TO THE NEXT PERSON.
AFTER SHANNON WILL BE TABITHA.
FOUR DAYS AGO WAS THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MY 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, JADA JOHNSON.
SHE WAS KILLED BY A STRAY BULLET INSIDE THE ALDERWOOD MALL.
TO BE HONEST, WHEN I WAS FIRST ASKED TO SPEAK AT TODAY'S EVENT, I WAS HESITANT.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I ALSO KNOW THAT OUR KIDS ARE IN TROUBLE.
KIDS ARE CARRYING GUNS AND BRINGING THEM INTO PLACES WHERE OUR CHILDREN ARE EVERY DAY.
IT CAN BE A MALL, A SCHOOL, A PARK.
OR SOMEWHERE ELSE WE THINK IS SAFE.
WE LIKE TO TELL OURSELVES THAT CAN NEVER HAPPEN TO MY CHILD,
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BUT IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY FAMILY.I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER, MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, IF AN OFFICER HAD BEEN STATIONED AT THE MALL THAT DAY, MY DAUGHTER WOULD STILL BE ALIVE.
MAYBE THE TEEN WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER THAT DAY WOULD HAVE SEEN AN OFFICER PRESENT AND THOUGHT TWICE BEFORE MAKING A DECISION THAT CHANGED SO MANY LIVES FOREVER.
AND IF HAVING OFFICERS IN SCHOOLS OR IN PLACES WHERE KIDS GATHER CAN PREVENT ONE FAMILY FROM GOING THROUGH WHAT MY FAMILY HAS GONE THROUGH, THEN I BELIEVE IT'S WORTH CONSIDERING.
DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK THIS EVENING? POINT OF ORDER, DO YOU WANT TO LET PEOPLE GO OUT OF ORDER OR JUST...
EITHER GO NOW OR SKIP IT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO RUN AN ORGANIZED SITUATION HERE, PLEASE.
I'M AN EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT ALUM AND A PARENT OF FIVE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT GRADUATES.
FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, I'VE SERVED ALONGSIDE INDIVIDUALS...
FAMILIES AND FIRST RESPONDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY RESPONDING TO PEOPLE DURING SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT MOMENTS OF THEIR LIVES.
THAT EXPERIENCE COMBINED WITH MY LIFELONG CONNECTION TO THIS DISTRICT HAS GIVEN ME A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON SCHOOL SAFETY, PREVENTION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF STRONG PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT BRINGING SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS BACK TO OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND ALLOWING THEM TO SUPPORT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AS WELL.
ALMOST SIX YEARS AGO TO THIS DATE, I SPOKE BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD WHEN IT WAS SHORT-SIGHTEDLY DECIDED TO REMOVE SROS AFTER PRESSURE FROM A SMALL BUT VOCAL GROUP WHO BELIEVED STUDENTS WERE BEING UNFAIRLY TARGETED.
AT THAT TIME, MANY FAMILIES FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS STILL SUPPORTED KEEPING THESE OFFICERS BECAUSE OF THE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND THE SAFETY THEY PROVIDED.
NOW, YEARS LATER, AS PREDICTED, THE PENDULUM HAS SWUNG TOO FAR.
WE ARE SEEING INCREASE IN GANG ACTIVITY, YOUTH VIOLENCE, THREATS, AND SAFETY CONCERNS IN AND AROUND OUR SCHOOLS AND IN OUR COMMUNITY AT LEVELS AND STARTING IN YOUNGER AGES THAN EVER, THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.
WITH THE WORK I DO, I RESPOND TO THESE DEVASTATED GRIEVING FAMILIES MOMENTS AFTER THE INCIDENT OCCURS.
TOO OFTEN WITH OUR LOCAL YOUTH, INCIDENTS SUCH AS DEATH BY SUICIDE, GUN VIOLENCE, DRUG OVERDOSE, AND RECKLESS VEHICLE COLLISIONS, AND THEIR LIVES ARE SHATTERED AND CHANGED FOREVER.
SOME OF THESE INCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.
WITH MORE INTEL, ATTENTION, RESOURCES, AND EDUCATION, AN SRO WOULD PROVIDE THIS DURING SCHOOL HOURS.
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE NOT JUST POLICE OFFICERS.
THEY ARE TRAINED RELATIONSHIP BUILDERS, MENTORS, TRUSTED ADULTS WHO HELP PREVENT DANGEROUS SITUATIONS BEFORE THEY EVER MAKE THE NEWS.
THE ONLY SPACE WHERE SOME OF THESE STUDENTS HAVE A POSITIVE FELLOWSHIP WITH OFFICERS.
WHILE BRINGING SROS BACK MAY COME WITH SOME ADDED COSTS, IT IS A WORTHWHILE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT, ESPECIALLY SINCE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHARE THIS EXPENSE WITH THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS.
IT IS ABOUT STUDENT SAFETY, PREVENTION, MENTORSHIP, AND RESTORING POSITIVE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN YOUTH AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OUR COMMUNITY DESERVE EVERY AVAILABLE TOOL AND SUPPORT SYSTEM TO HELP KEEP OUR SCHOOL SAFE.
TALK ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE YOUTH VIOLENCE THAT HAS COME TO MY FAMILY.
I BELIEVE THE SROS SHOULD BE BROUGHT BACK FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON.
SAFETY FOR OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.
SAFETY FOR OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL PARKS.
MALLS OR JUST WALKING TO THE CORNER MART AND OUR OVERALL
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COMMUNITY SHOULD BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUS.IF THERE WAS, IF THERE WERE, IF THEY WERE STILL, IF THE SROS WERE STILL IN THE SCHOOLS, THERE'S A HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT MANY OF OUR CHILDREN WOULD STILL BE HERE.
22 GANG VIOLENCE HE WAS AN AMAZING PERSON IF THERE WAS AN SRO IN THE SCHOOL HELPED IDENTIFY THAT MY SON SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AROUND SUCH POOR INFLUENCES AND THE KIDS THAT WERE UNDER THE POOR INFLUENCES POSSIBLY COULD HAVE HAD A CHANCE AT STRAIGHTENING THEIR LIFE UP ALSO THEY COULD HAVE HELPED MULTIPLE KIDS.
HAVING THE SROS WILL ALSO HELP OUR KIDS BOND, TRUST, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH POLICE OFFICERS SO THEY KNOW THEY CAN GO TO THEM FOR SAFETY.
SINCE REMOVING THE SROS, THE RISE IN VIOLENCE HAS GONE UP 87% JUST IN THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WHAT ARE WE DOING IF WE'RE NOT KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE? WHAT ARE WE DOING IF WE'RE NOT SETTING THEM UP FOR SUCCESS? MY YOUNGEST SON TURNS 15 IN A COUPLE WEEKS, AND I WAS TERRIFIED TO PUT HIM INTO PUBLIC SCHOOL.
IF YOU LOVE OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY, PLEASE...
BRING BACK THE SROS IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
IT'S GOTTEN SO BAD THAT NOW IT'S AFFECTING THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
WALLY WEBSTER, LIVE IN LINWOOD.
IT'S 1978, HAVE SEVERAL, MY TWO DAUGHTERS HAVE GONE THROUGH TO EDMONDS SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE BELIEVE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN AND SHOULD IMPLEMENT AN SRO PROGRAM THAT REFLECTS WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED IN RESPONSE TO TODAY'S NEED.
THAT MEANS A PROGRAM THAT HELPS PROTECT STUDENTS AND STAFF IN TIMES OF THREATS, CRISIS, EMERGENCIES, IT MEANS A PROGRAM THAT BUILDS CONSTRUCTIVE AND TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IT MEANS A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS PREVENTIVE AND EARLY INTERVENTION AND DE-ESCALATION NOT ONLY AMONG THE STUDENTS BUT ALSO THE COUNSELORS AND ADMINISTRATORS.
AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS AND THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT CLEAR LIMITS, ROUTINE SCHOOL DISCIPLINE, SHOULD REMAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SCHOOL STAFF AND NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
A REIMAGINED PROGRAM SHOULD REQUIRE TRAINING OF ADOLESCENTS' DEVELOPMENT, TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES, CULTURAL RESPONSIBILITIES, AND CONFLICTS DE-ESCALATION.
MOST HEARTBREAKING, SEVERAL YOUNG LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST DUE TO VIOLENCE, ESPECIALLY GUN VIOLENCE.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO DO NOTHING AND SIMPLY HOPE THE VIOLENCE WILL STOP.
WE MUST ACT WITH URGENCY AND COMPASSION AND COMMON SENSE.
A REIMAGINED SRO PROGRAM SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT...
CRIMINALIZING STUDENTS, BUT IT SHOULD BE ABOUT BUILDING TRUST, POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS, PROVIDING A SAFE AND APPROACHABLE ADULT STUDENTS CAN TURN TO IN TIMES OF NEED.
SUPPORTING PREVENTIVE AND EARLY INTERVENTIONS BEFORE BEHAVIORS ESCALATE.
STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SCHOOLS, FAMILIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT,
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AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.WE ASK YOU TO STRONGLY CONSIDER REINSTATING THE STUDENT-STUDENT RESOURCE OFFER.
WE KNOW YOU CARE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS.
BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE, AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO MORE.
OF NEGLIGENCE OR ANYTHING ELSE.
IT'S AN ASK OF BEING PROACTIVE AND SOLVING THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE FACING US TODAY.
HELLO, MY NAME IS SADIE THIEL.
I AM A PARENT AT CEDAR WAY ELEMENTARY AND A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND A MEMBER OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT PARENTS UNITED GROUP.
I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE START AND END TIMES OF THE PROPOSED PLAN.
I AM RIGHT NOW PRESENTING TO, WITH MY COLLEAGUE HERE, EACH OF THE REPORTS THAT THE GROUP HAS COME UP WITH.
AND I WAS GOING TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SLEEP ISSUE OF HOW IT'S IMPACTING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, BOTH ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL.
HEARING THE ISSUE WITH THE SRO, THOUGH, I WANT TO TAKE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TONE.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN OUR YOUTH IN GENERAL.
KNOWING THAT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM NEED TO BE ABUNDANT, AND ONE OF THOSE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE AROUND THE RECOGNITION OF THE RESOURCES AT HOME AND IN THE FAMILY SYSTEMS. SLEEP IS SUCH AN ASPECT AND A FOUNDATIONAL PIECE, AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE HIGH SCHOOLERS.
A BIG PART OF WHAT OUR GROUP IS ADVOCATING FOR IS THAT NO SCHOOLS START BEFORE 8 A.M.
IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT RATHER...
WE RECOGNIZE THAT ALL STUDENTS AT EVERY AGE, AND ESPECIALLY YOUNGEST, HAVE THE DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS ARE NEEDING THE SLEEP AND SUPPORT BECAUSE DEMONSTRATION WITH RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT OUR SLEEP HAS SUCH AN IMPACT ON EMOTION REGULATION SKILLS, ON IMPULSE CONTROL, ATTENTION, LEARNING, MEMORY, AND OUR ABILITY TO HAVE THAT BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT ASPECT.
AND I THINK IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS BIGGER HOLISTIC VIEW, OF RECOGNIZING HOW EACH OF THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE INTERCONNECTED, THEN WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SET OUR STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS IN ANY STAGE OF THEIR SCHOOLING SYSTEM.
ANOTHER ASPECT I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH ADHD SPECIFICALLY HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME WITH SLEEP ALREADY, AND THAT HOUSEHOLDS WITH NEURODIVERGENCE OFTENTIMES ARE BATTLING THIS BIDIRECTIONAL OF ADHD SYMPTOMS MAKING SLEEP HARDER.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION MAKING ADHD SYMPTOMS INCREASE AND THEREFORE HAVING THIS IMPACT THEM IN A MUCH LARGER WAY AND THAT ALREADY OUR STUDENTS ARE ALREADY SHOWING THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE ARE NOT MEETING THE REQUIRED OR RECOMMENDED TIME.
14% OF CHILDREN CURRENTLY ARE MEETING IT IN OUR COUNTRY AND SO WE'RE ALREADY NOT MEETING WHAT WE NEEDING AND SO IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE TRYING TO HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE GIVING A DISSERVICE TO FAMILIES.
THANK YOU SADIE AND YITZHU YOU'RE NEXT.
I'M A PARENT IN MALIK TERRACE AND THE FOUNDER OF THE START TIME PETITION.
SO AS CINDY SHARED, THE SCIENCE IS VERY CLEAR THAT EARLY START TIME CAUSES LASTING HARM TO OUR CHILDREN.
AND BEYOND THE SCIENCE, I'D LIKE TO JUST SHARE WHAT OUR PARENT GROUP HAS COLLECTIVELY RAISED.
ADDITIONAL THOSE ADDITIONAL CONCERNS THAT DEMAND ATTENTION FROM THE BOARD FIRST I THINK THE PROCESS FAILED THE COMMUNITY WE TALKED ABOUT SAFETY ASSESSMENTS FOR CHILDREN WALKING IN COMPLETE DARKNESS BECAUSE THERE'S NO SIDEWALKS OR THERE'S
[00:35:01]
NO STREET LIGHTING SO THIS IS A REALLY REAL SAFETY CONCERN BUT THERE WAS NO SAFETY ASSESSMENT AROUND THAT.AND THERE WAS ALSO NO EQUITY ASSESSMENT FOR ASSIGNING 10 TITLE I SCHOOLS TO THE EARLIEST START HERE.
WE ALSO FIND OUT THAT SURVEY THAT COMBINED TWO SEPARATE QUESTIONS INTO ONE AND IT NEVER NAMED THE AFFECTED SCHOOLS.
SO THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT THE DISTRICT CLAIMED TO RECEIVE A MAJORITY OF THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITIES BUT NEVER THE CASE.
AND ALSO WE FIND THE COMMITTEE'S BOUNDARIES ONLY INCLUDED FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, NEVER CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING IN THOSE BOUNDARIES WHEN THEY EXPLORE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
AND THIS CHANGE IS PROPOSED ONE YEAR RIGHT BEFORE THE DISTRICT'S OWN REZONING, RESTRUCTURES EVERY ELEMENTARY ROUTE ANYWAYS.
SO THESE ARE TWO DISRUPTIONS FOR THE FAMILIES, ONE WOULD DO.
SO THE SECOND CONCERN IS AROUND THE FAMILY REALITIES.
SO A CHILD NEEDING ADEQUATE SLEEP MUST BE IN BED BY 8 P.M.
THAT MEANS NO SPORTS, NO AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, AND EVEN NO SUFFICIENT FAMILY TIMES FOR WORKING PARENTS.
SO THESE ACTIVITIES AND THE FAMILY TIMES BECOME EXTREMELY IMPOSSIBLE.
CHILD CARE GAP THAT FALLS HARDEST ON FAMILIES LEAST ABLE TO ABSORB.
LAST BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE NEVER SEEN A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE MODEL BY DISTRICTS.
OUR COMMITTEE WAS ABLE TO DO ANALYSIS BASED ON THE PUBLIC INFORMATION ONLINE AND OUR ANALYSIS LEVERAGED TWO THINGS.
ONE, CONSOLIDATE THE UNDERUTILIZED ROUTES AND TWO, PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY TRANSIT.
BY DOING THESE TWO THINGS, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT ALL SCHOOL START TIMES BETWEEN 8 AND 9 WITHOUT ADDING A SINGLE BUS.
AND IT ONLY COST $90,000 AGAINST A $1.2 MILLION EXISTING SURPLUS.
SO WE'RE HERE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER AN ALTERNATIVE.
WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE, AND THAT'S JOHN JACOBSON.
I'M AN EDMONDS RESIDENT, AND I'M HERE TO TALK TO THE PROPOSED REDUCTIONS FOR THE FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATES.
I WORK WITH THE KIWANIS CLUB OF EDMONDS, AND I JUST WANTED TO LEND MY SUPPORT FOR THESE, YOU KNOW.
HIGH PERFORMERS WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, SPECIFICALLY FOR US AT CEDAR VALLEY, CHASE LAKE, AND WITH COLLEGE PLACE.
EDMUNDS KIWANIS RUNS A COUPLE OF EFFORTS WITH THE EDMUNDS SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE A DICTIONARY PRESENTATION THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR FOR THIRD GRADERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT, AND WE ALSO DISTRIBUTE BIKE AND SKATE HELMETS TO LOWER-INCOME SCHOOLS.
THE FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATES ARE OUR PRIMARY AND SOMETIMES ONLY RELIABLE POINTS OF CONTACT WITHIN THE SCHOOL AND WE WON'T BE NEARLY AS EFFECTIVE IF WE DON'T HAVE THEM AVAILABLE.
THIS IS JUST ONE SMALL PART OF THEIR JOB BUT IT'S REALLY CRITICAL TO WHAT WE DO.
WE NEED THEM TO CHASE DOWN ACCURATE CLASSROOM COUNTS, COORDINATE CLASSROOMS FOR THE DICTIONARY DISTRIBUTIONS AND BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT MEASUREMENTS WHEN WE HAVE THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE HELMETS.
WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT, OUR COORDINATION EFFORTS BECOME WAY MORE SCATTERSHOT AND LESS EFFECTIVE AND FRANKLY IN THE PAST WHEN WE HAVEN'T HAD THEM AVAILABLE, WE'VE SOMETIMES NOT EVEN HAD CONTACT WITH SCHOOLS.
THEM ESPECIALLY WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITH OUR DICTIONARY PRESENTATIONS.
USUALLY THESE SITUATIONS ARE WHEN THE RESPONSIBILITY IS THROWN AT TEACHERS INSTEAD OF THE FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATES.
SOMETIMES IT'S THE PRINCIPALS BUT THEY ALREADY HAVE A LOT TO WORK WITH AND I KNOW THAT THE FAMILY RESOURCE ADVOCATES ARE HIGHLY TAXED RIGHT NOW BUT WE REALLY CAN'T STAND A REDUCTION WITH THEM BECAUSE THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BECOME EVEN LESS AVAILABLE TO OUTSIDE PROVIDERS LIKE US AND THE FAMILIES THAT THEY NEED TO SUPPORT.
I'D ASK THAT YOU BE MINDFUL WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING THESE STAFFING CHANGES.
REDUCTIONS IN THESE ROLES WILL HAVE A LARGER IMPACT THAN YOU CAN REALIZE.
AND FROM WHAT I'VE OBSERVED WITH THESE STAFF, THEY'RE HIGHLY ENGAGED, AND THEY'RE THERE TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY.
[00:40:02]
THANK YOU.[9. CONSENT AGENDA-7:40 pm]
NEXT ITEM IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.I'M GOING TO ASK MR. MOORE, PLEASE LEAVE.
MR. MOORE, PLEASE LEAVE OR YOU WILL BE ESCORTED OUT.
TONIGHT OUR CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF TEN ITEMS. SIX ARE PERSONNEL AND STAFF AGREEMENTS.
ONE IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR SPECIAL ED SERVICES.
ONE IS OUR MONTHLY BILLS AND VOUCHERS AND TWO ARE FIELD TRIPS.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? MOVE TO APPROVE.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE, IT LOOKS LIKE, MOUNT LAKE TERRACE IS SEEING THEIR JOURNALISM PROGRAM OUT ON A FIELD TRIP, WHICH AS AN ALUM OF THAT, I'M ALWAYS EXCITED TO SEE THEM GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND LEARN SOME NEW SKILLS AND JUST LOVE THAT FOR THEM.
ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PILOT OF THE GRADING SCALE THAT MEADOWDALE MIDDLE IS GOING TO ADOPT FOR THIS YEAR.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT INFORMATION FOR US MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO MEADOWDALE MIDDLE.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM FOR DOING THIS.
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT STEP AND, LIKE YOU SAY, GREAT INFORMATION.
DIRECTOR CHASE? OH, I WAS JUST GOING TO.
SAY THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT DATA.
DIRECTOR GARRARD, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY AT THIS POINT? NOTHING TO ADD.
THOSE WERE ALL GREAT COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
SO I'VE HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND AND SOME POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO APPROVING IT AS PRESENTED? HEARING NONE, TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED AS
[10. REPORTS-7:50 pm]
PRESENTED.WE HAVE ONE REPORT THIS EVENING WELCOMING FORWARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LYDIA SELLE TO PRESENT THE BUSINESS AND FINANCE REPORT FOR MAY 2026.
JUST GO AHEAD AND JUMP RIGHT IN.
PREVIOUSLY AT OUR BUDGET STUDY SESSION WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY.
JUST A REMINDER THAT ASB IS MANAGED BY STUDENTS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THEIR ADVISORS AND JUST TO NOTE THAT WE ARE PROPORTIONATELY THE SAME IN REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES AS LAST YEAR BUT WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN BOTH REVENUES AND SPENDING AS WELL SO THOSE FUND BALANCES SHOULD TICK DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
ON THIS SLIDE I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THERE'S THAT UNRULY NEGATIVE EXPENDITURE AND THAT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIMING AND IT WILL BE CORRECTED BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR AFTER AUGUST 31, 2026.
WHEN YOU SEE A NEGATIVE IN EXPENDITURES, IT'S JUST DUE TO TIMING.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IN BOTH REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, WE'RE TRENDING NEARLY IDENTICAL TO WHERE WE WERE AT LAST YEAR.
BOTH OUR FUNDING SOURCES AND OUR EXPENDITURES STAY RELATIVELY STABLE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
I WILL SKIP PAST THIS ONE AND...
JUST INDICATE THAT OUR ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE, I HAVE INCREASED IT OVER THE PREVIOUS MONTH BECAUSE WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION SAFETY NET AWARD FOR 2526.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION HIGH-NEED STUDENTS BEFORE HAVING ANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE ANY FUNDING FOR THOSE COSTS.
THE DISTRICT IS REQUIRED TO ABSORB APPROXIMATELY $30,000 FOR EVERY STUDENT, AND THEN WE WAIT UNTIL SUMMER TO FIND OUT IF WE GET ANY FUNDING FROM OSPI.
THIS YEAR, THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM DID VERY, VERY WELL, AND THE SAFETY NET AWARD IS $8.875 MILLION.
[00:45:02]
YOU'LL REMEMBER LAST SESSION THAT WE INCREASED THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR TO $7.RECOGNIZING THAT OUR SAFETY NET AWARD CONTINUES TO GO UP BECAUSE OF MANY, MANY MORE PLACEMENTS, AS WELL AS A LOT OF HARD WORK BY THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM.
AND THEN I DIDN'T NOTE ANYTHING THIS MONTH.
DR. MINER AND I WILL TALK ABOUT DISPLAYING THE GRAPH A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY NEXT YEAR.
AND THAT IS IT FOR MAY, UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, LYDIA, FOR KEEPING US WELL UPDATED AND INFORMED ON ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR DISTRICT FINANCIALLY.
BELL FOR ALL THE WORK THAT HE DID WITH ALL OF THE SPECIAL ED STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THE MOST IN OUR SAFETY NET THAT WE COULD.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT WITH THE LIMITED FUNDING THAT WE HAVE.
SO I HAVE JUST A QUESTION, IF I MAY.
REGARDING THE ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE SLIDE, YOU SAID IT INCREASED DUE TO NOTIFICATION OF THE SPECIAL ED SAFETY NET AWARD.
SO OUR FUND BALANCE IS GREATER THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN.
HOWEVER, IT SEEMS PRUDENT THAT WE RETAIN THOSE FUNDS BECAUSE NEXT YEAR WE HAVE TO EXPEND THEM WITHOUT FOR NEXT YEAR.
WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT OUR AWARD WILL BE.
IT'S A CHALLENGING PROBLEM BOTH IN THAT SOURCE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING AS WELL AS BUS DRIVERS AND FUEL.
WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL FEBRUARY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THIS SOURCE NOT UNTIL SUMMER.
AND ALSO WE ARE OKAY FOR 26-27.
EVIDENCE BY THE BUDGET THAT I HOPE YOU WILL APPROVE THIS EVENING, BUT THE FOLLOWING YEARS, AGAIN, COSTS ARE EXCEEDING NEW REVENUES, SO WILL NEED TO BE MITIGATED.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS, FOR YOUR EXCELLENT REPORTING.
[11. NEW BUSINESS- 8:10 pm]
NEXT, WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS.WE HAVE ONE ITEM OF NEW BUSINESS THIS EVENING, A SINGLE READING OF THE ADOPTION OF THE 2026 THROUGH 2031 CAPITAL FACILITIES PLAN.
SO, DOC, DO I HEAR A MOTION IN A SECOND TO ADOPT THE 2026 TO 2031 CAPITAL FACILITIES PLAN? I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO ADOPT OUR PLAN MOVING FORWARD WITH CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE IN A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'D LIKE TO SAY IT WAS INCREDIBLY COMPREHENSIVE AS IT IS EVERY YEAR.
I FIND IT TO BE VERY INTERESTING.
A LOT OF THINGS I DON'T KNOW ABOUT FACILITIES, BUT THE FULL PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND THE WHOLE HISTORY, IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED IN OUR FACILITIES, I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT IT.
IT LOOKS LIKE A LONG REPORT, BUT IT READS VERY WELL.
AND IT TELLS US LIKE SO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS THAT OUR STAFF HAS TO WORK WITH WHEN THEY MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE ABOUT ENROLLMENT AND BOUNDARIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO I JUST, I WANT TO THANK TANE AND THE STAFF OF CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO BECAUSE IT'S A VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND USEFUL REPORT.
ANYTHING ELSE? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THE 2026-2031 CAPITAL FACILITIES PLAN PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE 2026 TO 2031 CAPITAL FACILITIES PLAN IS APPROVED.
[12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - 8:20 pm]
WE HAVE ONE ITEM OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS THIS EVENING.IT'S A SECOND READING OF RESOLUTION 2614, ADOPTION OF THE 2627 ANNUAL BUDGET.
BEFORE THE BOARD CONSIDERS THIS, I'D JUST LIKE TO RECOGNIZE STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED ON THAT, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SELLE AS WELL AS CHRIS CULLISON, WHO'S HERE WITH US TONIGHT.
THE BUDGETS ARE INCREDIBLY TIME-CONSUMING, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, INCREDIBLY COMPLEX.
A SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BUDGET REPRESENTS THE CULMINATION OF ALL OF ITS BARGAINING AGREEMENTS, ITS PHILOSOPHIES, WHERE IT CHOOSES TO INVEST THE MONEY WHICH WE ARE GIVEN TO SUPPORT STUDENTS.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THE TWO
[00:50:01]
OF YOU, AS WELL AS THE WHOLE TEAM, FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON THIS.DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND? TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 26-14, THE ADOPTION OF THE 2026-27 ANNUAL BUDGET.
IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING WORK BY OUR TEAM, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RECOMMEND THAT WE APPROVE THIS MOTION.
I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET ALL YEAR LONG.
THIS IS JUST A CULMINATION BECAUSE WE START OUR BUDGETING...
AS SOON AS THE NEW YEAR STARTS AND WE DO IT, WE HAVE BUDGET STUDY SESSIONS WITH DR.
MINER'S GUIDANCE, WITH EXECUTIVE DR.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY, AS YOU SEE, LOOKING AT THE BUDGET.
AND WHILE THIS LOOKS LIKE A MOMENTOUS CULMINATION, IT'S A CULMINATION, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY HAPPY WE WERE ABLE TO BALANCE IT WITHOUT MAKING RISKS OR VERY TINY RISKS THAT WE DIDN'T LOSE ANY STAFF.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO ELIMINATE ANY PROGRAMS. WE STILL HAVEN'T MADE UP THE 25 MILLION WE LOST THREE YEARS AGO THROUGH LACK OF STATE FUNDING, BUT WE'RE STAYING EVEN EVEN THOUGH WE WOULD LIKE TO DO A LOT MORE IN TERMS OF ADDING PROGRAMS, LOWERING CLASS SIZE, AND ALL THE OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS.
NEVERTHELESS, I THINK IT'S A SOUND BUDGET THAT IS STABLE AND GIVES US WHAT WE NEED FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
AND THIS IS MAYBE MY OPPORTUNITY FOR ONCE TO THANK THE VOTERS BECAUSE HAD WE NOT PASSED OUR EP&O LEVY WHICH WAS JUST THIS FEBRUARY ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT LONGER AGO THAN THAT IF WE HAD NOT PASSED THAT WE WOULD BE HAVING VERY VERY DIFFICULT AND DIFFERENT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET SO THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL VOTERS WHO APPROVED A LOCAL LEVY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT.
ABSOLUTELY THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.
DIRECTOR GARRARD, YOU OKAY? ANY COMMENTS? I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE KNOW THAT THIS BUDGET IS THE BEST WE CAN DO NOW.
IT DOESN'T DO EVERYTHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DO FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THAT GOES BACK TO THE STATE NOT MEETING ITS PARAMOUNT DUTY.
SO THAT WILL BE A PROJECT, AN ONGOING PROJECT FOR OUR BOARD AS WELL, SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY BUILD AWAY FROM THE FURTHER AWAY FROM DEFICITS, RATHER THAN HAVING TO CUT MORE PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN RESTORE THINGS THAT THAT WERE HAVE HAD TO BE DISAPPEARED OR THINGS THAT WE WISH BUDGET.
BILL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN DO, AND I APPRECIATE THE STAFF'S WORK ON THAT, AND I GUESS THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, AND I'LL JUST ADD TO THAT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HEAVILY ADVOCATE WITH THE STATE, AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING, IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER DISTRICTS AND WITH OTHER IMPORTANT EDUCATORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, TALKING TO OUR LEGISLATORS, WRITING LETTERS.
WRITING OP-EDS, DOING WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO BRING IN THE LEVEL OF FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO MEET EVERYBODY'S NEEDS ON ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, WE'RE OKAY, AND THAT'S GOOD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THE 2026-27 ANNUAL BUDGET, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE 2026-27 ANNUAL BUDGET IS ADOPTED.
[13. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
NEXT WE HAVE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.YEAH, JUST A BIG THANK YOU AND TREMENDOUS GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP TODAY TO LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON ALL THE ISSUES THAT OUR KIDS FACE EVERY DAY, AND IT DOESN'T GO UNHEARD.
PARTICULARLY SHOUT OUT TO OUR STUDENTS THAT SHOWED UP TODAY TO ADVOCATE, AND I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT.
THE WORK THAT SAGE HAS DONE AT LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AS A PEER MEDIATOR IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE MANY PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED OVER THE PAST YEARS TO TRY TO CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AT OUR SCHOOLS, DEVELOP MORE
[00:55:01]
FRIENDSHIPS, DEVELOP MORE PLACES WE CAN GO OR STUDENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE TO GO TO TALK TO SOMEBODY TO HELP RESOLVE ISSUES, CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK.AS A REMINDER, MY YOUNGEST, ALL MY THREE OLDEST GIRLS WENT THROUGH WOMEN'S SCHOOLS, ALL WENT THROUGH LINWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
MY YOUNGEST STARTS HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR.
AND JUST THANKFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.
OH, I'M SORRY, I HAD ONE MORE COMMENT I FORGOT.
MY WIFE AND I ATTENDED THE MONTLAKE TERRACE FIREWORKS DISPLAY AT BALLINGER LAKE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT.
MY WIFE AND I ARE A LITTLE TEARY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, SPEAKING DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, PLAYING TOGETHER, KIDS RUNNING AROUND.
IT'S JUST CAME BY THEMSELVES, COUPLES WHO JUST CAME, JUST THE TWO OF THEM.
IT WAS JUST HEARTENING WHEN...
SOMETIMES THE NEWS, IF YOU READ IT EVERY DAY, IT FEELS LIKE THE WORLD'S ON FIRE.
THAT NIGHT, THE WORLD LOOKED VERY MUCH RIGHT.
PEOPLE WANT TO BE A PART OF A COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE A GREAT ONE.
I'M GOING TO GO A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT DIRECTION TONIGHT THAN SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, SOMETHING THAT CROSSED MY RADAR THAT WILL AT LEAST INDIRECTLY IMPACT US IN THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS, AND THAT IS, AS SOME OF YOU, PROBABLY MOST OF YOU HAVE HEARD, THERE WAS A RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION REGARDING TRANS ATHLETES AND ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS.
I FEAR THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT IS COMING OUT BETWEEN NOW AND THE START OF OUR SCHOOL YEAR ABOUT WHAT THAT RULING IS, WHAT IT SAYS, WHAT IT DOES, EVERYTHING ELSE.
THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR.
FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE CASE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING A DISTRICT WAS DOING.
IT WAS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A STATE CAN PASS A LAW.
SO IF YOU WANT TO USE THIS AS PART, IF YOU'RE A PERSON THAT BELIEVES THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE TRANS ATHLETES IN ATHLETICS, THIS RULING WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD TAKE TO OLYMPIA.
IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT DISTRICTS DO.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW IT RELATES TO US IS THAT STARTING IN SEPTEMBER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG ATHLETES GO OUT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE THEIR SAFE PLACE.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THEY GET AWAY FROM THE BULLYING, WHERE THEY GET AWAY FROM PEERS WHO MAKE THEM FEEL UNEQUAL, WHERE THEY GET AWAY FROM ALL THESE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT, WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FEEL SCARED, WHERE IT'S JUST ABOUT GOING OUT AND COMPETING.
AND MY CONCERN, AS WE HAVEN'T SEEN AS MUCH IN THIS DISTRICT, BUT DEFINITELY OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE SEEN IT, ADULTS SHOWING UP TO HARASS THESE CHILDREN.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY BAND AGAINST THOSE THINGS.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVEN THOUGH THE SUPREME COURT MADE THIS DECISION, WHICH IS GOING TO EMBOLDEN SOME, AND THAT IS THEIR RIGHT TO HOLD THAT VIEW, AND I RESPECT THAT THEY HAVE THAT VIEW.
I MAY NOT AGREE WITH IT, BUT I RESPECT THAT THEY HAVE IT.
THEY STILL DON'T GET A RIGHT TO GO OUT AND ABUSE OUR CHILDREN.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL REALIZE THAT.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL DON'T LET THEM HIDE BEHIND THIS AND THAT WE DON'T LET THE MISINFORMATION GET OUT THERE THAT SOMEHOW THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO BULLY OUR STUDENTS.
ASIDE FROM THAT, THAT WAS MY DEEP THING.
I JUST WANT TO SAY A HAPPY SUMMER TO EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR SUMMER TO COME WITH US.
WE'RE GOING TO GO ON A LITTLE BIT OF A HIATUS, SO I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU GET A CHANCE TO GET OUT, ENJOY THE SUMMER, HAVE THIS TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY, AND WE'LL ALL BE BACK TO SEE YOU GUYS IN AUGUST.
I LOOK FORWARD TO A LOT OF CHANCE TO READ THIS SUMMER.
I HOPE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE SAME.
THE HIGH SCHOOL LIST OF BOOKS THAT I, FROM THE BATTLE OF THE BOOKS FOR NEXT YEAR, I ACTUALLY HAPPEN TO HAVE ONE ALREADY ON.
AND I'VE STARTED READING THE LEGENDARY FRY BREAD.
IT'S A COLLECTION OF INTERTRIBAL STORIES THAT'S VERY CLEVERLY WRITTEN SO THAT EVEN THOUGH IT AUTHORED THE DIFFERENT SHORT STORIES, THE CHARACTERS ARE SOMETIMES APPEARING IN THE PERSON'S STORY.
AND I'M REALLY, I HOPE THERE'S A LOT OF READING.
IN EVERYONE'S SUMMER AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN AUGUST.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT ON VACATION RIGHT NOW BUT YOU'RE WORKING HARD IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION,
[01:00:02]
LEGISLATIVE PIECES, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.THANK YOU DR. KATIMS. I REALLY WANT TO SAY IT'S REALLY VERY REWARDING TO ADOPT THE BUDGET AS WE KNOW THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT IN BY THOSE SITTING AT THE BACK AND THIS BOARD TO GET TO THIS POINT.
IT'S A YEAR-LONG PROCESS AND IT'S VERY VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT CULMINATED TONIGHT.
AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME TODAY.
I KNOW THIS CONVERSATION COMES FROM A DEEP SENSE OF CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND MY HEART REALLY DOES GO OUT TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY VIOLENCE OR EXPERIENCED UNCERTAINTY THAT CAN COME WITH GUN VIOLENCE.
I CARRY THOSE STORIES WITH ME AS WELL.
I HOPE THAT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO SHOW UP AND ENGAGE.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL WANT THE SAME THINGS, COMMUNITIES WHERE EVERYONE FEELS SAFE AND HAS A GREAT SENSE OF BELONGING.
AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL SUMMER.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ASK DIRECTOR GARRARD FOR BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS, AS HE IS A LIBRARIAN AND HAS EXCELLENT TASTE IN BOOKS.
I JUST WANT TO, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT, PEOPLE WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, PEOPLE WHO GAVE US INFORMATION.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO APOLOGIZE IF YOU CAME TO SPEAK AND YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO.
BUT WE HAVE MANY, MANY WAYS FOR YOU TO COMMUNICATE WITH US, AND MANY PEOPLE USED THAT.
AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE US YOUR INPUT AND PERSPECTIVE IN MULTIPLE WAYS BECAUSE THESE ARE ALL IMPORTANT TOPICS.
THAT ARE UNDER DISCUSSION AND THINGS THAT WE CARE A GREAT DEAL ABOUT BECAUSE WE CARE A GREAT DEAL ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND WANTING TO DO WHAT IS THE VERY BEST FOR THEM THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO.
SO WE DO NOT THINK OF OURSELVES IN ANY WAY AS ADVERSARIAL TO ANYBODY OR ANY TOPIC, BUT WE DO WANT TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO ALL THE INPUT AND PERSPECTIVES, LISTEN TO WHAT ARE ACCURATE RESEARCH AND DATA AND EVIDENCE ABOUT ALL OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND IDEAS, LISTEN TO OUR DISTRICT STAFF WHO DO A GREAT DEAL, A GREAT DEAL OF WORK WITH COMMITTEES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVE.
WE TRY TO ALWAYS GET INPUT FROM ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, WHICH IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
I'M JUST LOOKING AROUND TONIGHT, AND USUALLY WE DON'T GET ENOUGH PEOPLE AT OUR BOARD MEETINGS.
SO THIS IS VERY WONDERFUL THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT WANTING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR KIDS.
SO I JUST, I THANK OUR COMMUNITY.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR, GOSH, NOW 27 YEARS, I THINK.
I WORKED FOR THE DISTRICT FOR 17 YEARS BEFORE BEING A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
I'VE GIVEN 25 YEARS TO THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE I LOVE THIS DISTRICT AND I WANT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR IT.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WISH EVERYBODY A WONDERFUL SUMMER.
DO WHAT IT IS YOU ENJOY THE MOST.
BE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO YOU LOVE.
AND WE WILL BE WORKING HARD THIS SUMMER AS WELL TO PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR, AS I KNOW DISTRICT STAFF WILL BE.
SO I WISH EVERYBODY A GOOD, RESTFUL, AND REJUVENATING TIME.
DR. MINER? JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK UPDATES THIS EVENING.
I HAD THE CHANCE TO GO TO SUMMER ARTS CAMP TODAY.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST TURNOUT OF STUDENTS THAT WE'VE HAD.
THIS YEAR IT ALSO INCLUDES VISUAL ARTS IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING ARTS AND THERE IS A PERFORMANCE ON THURSDAY EVENING AT 7 AT MEADOWDALE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT LIKE TO GO OUT AND TAKE A LITTLE MUSICAL INTERLUDE. WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING REGULAR ACADEMIC SUMMER SCHOOL THIS YEAR AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO SEE THE STUDENTS AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE ACCOMPLISHING OVER THE SUMMER. ALSO, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE, DO OFFER DISTRICT FOOD AND COMMUNITY SITES FOR LUNCH AND ACTIVITIES AS WELL, AND BREAKFAST. THOSE ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT QUICKLY, THERE ARE ALDERWOOD MIDDLE, LINWOOD ELEMENTARY, MOUNTLAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY, ALDERWOOD BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, AND THEN A VARIETY OF APARTMENT BUILDINGS AROUND THE DISTRICT. YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THOSE ON OUR WEBSITE. NOT EVERYTHING HAS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, AND THERE'S DIFFERENT TIMES.
SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. ALL ARE WELCOME.
THANK YOU. THAT WAS GREAT INFORMATION. AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY. THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY BOARD COLLEAGUES WHO ARE WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH. AND THIS REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.