[1. CALL TO ORDER-6:30 pm]
[00:00:02]
[2. ROLL CALL-6:31 pm (ALL TIMES ARE ESTIMATED)]
AND I'LL DO A ROLL CALL. SO DIRECTOR CRAMER IS UNABLE TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING.DIRECTOR SMITH. PRESENT. DIRECTOR GERRARD. PRESENT.
DIRECTOR CHASE. HERE. AND I'M DIRECTOR KATIMS. SO WE DEFINITELY HAVE A QUORUM. NEXT, I'LL ASK DOCTOR MINER TO DO THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR US.
[3. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT-6:31 pm]
THANK YOU, DOCTOR KATIMS. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THIS PLACE, THE SDOHOBSH PEOPLE AND THEIR SUCCESSORS, THE TULALIP TRIBES, WHO SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL HAVE TAKEN CARE OF, HUNTED, FISHED AND GATHERED ON THESE LANDS.THANK YOU. AND NOW, IF EVERYBODY WILL RISE AND JOIN ME FOR THE FLAG SALUTE.
[4. FLAG SALUTE-6:32 pm]
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.1 NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA-6:32 pm]
NEXT IS APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA. DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE OUR AGENDA AS PRESENTED? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE.AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING? NONE. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
NEXT, WE HAVE A VERY EXCITING THING. SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
[6. STUDENT ADVISOR OATH OF OFFICE - 6:32 PM]
WE CERTAINLY DO. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR STUDENT ADVISOR OATH OF OFFICE. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR STUDENTS RETURNING. SO IF THEY'LL JOIN ME RIGHT UP HERE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE. AND THEN IF WE CAN GET A PICTURE.AND THEY'RE INTRODUCING THEMSELVES NOW BECAUSE WE ASKED THEM ALL TO COME IN AND BE SWORN IN TODAY.
BUT THEY CAN'T ALL STAY FOR THE ENTIRE MEETING. SO GO AHEAD.
HI, MY NAME IS ISHMAEL BERRY. I'M A SENIOR AT LYNNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS EXPERIENCE. MY NAME IS KARAS.
AND WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF RECRUITING SOME OTHER STUDENTS, HOPEFULLY TO JOIN US FROM SOME OF OUR OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE WILL GET THESE STUDENTS UNDERWAY WITH THEIR EXPERIENCE AS BEING STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES TO THE BOARD.
SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR OATH. IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. I STATE YOUR NAME.
I. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. SOLEMNLY SWEAR. THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. AND WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES.
AND WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES. OF STUDENT ADVISOR TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
STUDENT ADVISOR TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. OF THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT.
[APPLAUSE] AND MAYBE WE COULD GET THE BOARD TO.AND WE CAN GET 1 MORE PHOTO THEN.WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] THE BEST PART OF OUR MEETINGS IS HAVING YOU GUYS HERE.
JUST SAYING. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
[7. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT-6:34 pm]
WELL, IT'S SORT OF MY ANNUAL TRADITION THAT AS WE COME BACK TO SCHOOL, A PICTURE OR A VIDEO IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.[00:05:03]
SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH A VIDEO THAT OUR FRIENDS, NOT OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.GOODNESS, THEY DID A GREAT JOB AT THE STUDY SESSION.
THIS IS A VIDEO THAT OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT PUT TOGETHER FOR US.
LOTS OF SMILES, LOTS OF HAPPY FOLKS TO BE BACK.
WE DIDN'T SEE WE WERE SOMEWHAT CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY BE AN IMPACT TO STARTING BEFORE LABOR DAY, BUT ACTUALLY WE DIDN'T SEE THAT. WE SAW THAT OUR4TH DAY COUNT CAME IN JUST FINE, THAT PEOPLE WERE, YOU KNOW, COMING IN AS EXPECTED. AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE UNDERWAY WITH OUR STUDENTS.
THAT WAS LOVELY. AND THANKS TO THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT FOR A REALLY GOOD JOB ON THAT.
SEEMED TO CATCH LOTS OF GRADE LEVELS AND SCHOOLS.
[8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES-6:35 pm]
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES. WE HAVE ONLY 1 SET TO APPROVE TONIGHT.IT'S THE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE. HEARING NONE. IS THERE ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NONE. THE MINUTES FROM THE SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026 REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING ARE APPROVED.
[9. PUBLIC COMMENTS- 6:45 pm]
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR AUDIENCE COMMENTS. THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE AGENDA IS[00:10:02]
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, AND ALSO THE BOARD IS NOT OBLIGATED TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR CHALLENGES MADE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. AND THE BOARD'S SILENCE DOESN'T SIGNAL AGREEMENT, DISAGREEMENT, OR ENDORSEMENT OF THE SPEAKER'S REMARKS.
WE. READ ALL THE WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT COME IN THAT WAY, AND THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE MEETING AGENDA AND POSTED ON BOARD DOCS ON THE WEBSITE FOR THAT MEETING FOR THE MINUTES. TONIGHT WE HAD 15 WRITTEN COMMENTS.
2 HAD TO DO WITH THE MEADOWDALE ELEMENTARY INVESTIGATION REPORT.
ONE HAD TO DO WITH TECHNOLOGY AND LOWER GRADES, AND 12 HAD TO DO WITH START TIMES.
WE READ THEM ALL AND WE APPRECIATE THEM VERY MUCH.
WHEN YOU PRESENT YOUR COMMENT IN PERSON, 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'RE ADDRESSING TONIGHT.
PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO 3 MINUTES. A TIMER WILL BE RUNNING SO THAT YOU CAN MONITOR YOUR TIME, AND AT THE 3 MINUTE MARK, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED.
IF ANY PERSON MAKES AN UNCIVIL COMMENT, I WILL DIRECT THE MEETING TO MUTE THE MICROPHONE AND YOUR COMMENT WILL BE ENDED REGARDLESS OF THE TIME THAT'S LEFT ON THE TIMER.
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 A LATER TIME.
THE BOARD ALSO ACCEPTS COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS VIA EMAIL AT ANY TIME.
COMMENTS ARE MADE FROM THE PODIUM. THAT'S OVER ON THE SIDE THERE.
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE FACT OF PATHFINDERS. PATHFINDERS? I'VE BEEN IN THE DISTRICT FOR 9 YEARS, AND WE HAVE SENT STUDENTS TO PATHFINDERS ALL OF THOSE YEARS EXCEPT FOR 2020.
PATHFINDERS IS A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO SNO-ISLE AND.
BUT STUDENTS GET PAID FOR IT. I HAVE WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT I DON'T THINK I'LL HAVE TIME TO GET THROUGH TONIGHT FOR YOU, BUT TO GO THROUGH IT. THIS YEAR WE HAD 5 STUDENTS WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO PARTICIPATE 6.
BUT 1 OPTED TO GO FOR NEXT YEAR. AND THESE ARE AND THESE ARE 5 STUDENTS WHO ARE SIMPLY IT'S NOT A LOST ELECTIVE THAT THEY DON'T GET TO GO. SO PATHFINDERS WAS CANCELED THIS YEAR.
AND I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHY PATHFINDERS IS SO IMPORTANT.
IT BEGINS WITH THE 6 TO 8 WEEK AND INSTRUCTION HAVE INCLUSIVE OF INTENSIVE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.
MUCH LIKE MUCH LIKE IF WE WERE TO GO WORK ON THE PRODUCTION FLOOR FOR BOEING AFTER THIS, THE STUDENTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR, WORKING ALONGSIDE SKILLED EMPLOYEES ON THE PRODUCTION FLOOR.
THEY WORK 3 HOUR SESSIONS EACH DAY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. LEARNING TO OPERATE TOOLS, EQUIPMENT IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF MANUFACTURING. AND IMPORTANTLY, THEY EARN A MINIMUM WAGE WHILE ALSO EARNING CREDIT TOWARDS GRADUATION.
THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A JOB. THIS IS NOT SIMPLY AN ELECTIVE.
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE ATTENDING THE REGULAR CLASSES, THEY MUST REMAIN DRUG FREE, ALCOHOL FREE. WHILE PW ARTICIPATING. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES PROFESSIONALLY.
THEY ARE REAL EXPECTATIONS AND REAL ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND THERE ARE REAL REWARDS THAT MATTERS TO MY STUDENTS.
2 OF MY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN MAKING DIFFERENT CHOICES BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURE AND ACCOUNTABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING ITS DRUG TESTING REQUIREMENT THAT GAVE THEM THE ADDITIONAL REASON TO STAY ON TRACK. LOSING ACCESS TO THIS PROGRAM MEANS LOSING THE SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WAS MEANING TO THEM. ANOTHER STUDENT HAD PATHFINDERS BUILT INTO HIS TRANSITION PLAN.
[00:15:02]
ANOTHER STUDENT, WHOSE ATTENDANCE WAS LESS THAN 40% IN THE PAST DUE TO FAMILY OBLIGATIONS, WAS GOING TO BE ATTENDING EVERY DAY BECAUSE HE WAS GOING TO BE PAID FOR HIS PARTICIPATION.WITHOUT PATHFINDERS, HE IS NOW MISSING SCHOOL SO HE CAN WORK AND PROVIDE CHILD CARE FOR HIS FAMILY.
THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT. WE HAD A PROGRAM THAT GAVE THE STUDENT, AND I DO GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT, GAVE THE STUDENT REASON TO COME TO SCHOOL TO ALLOW HIM TO EARN MONEY, PROVIDE CARE TRAINING AND GAVE HIM THE GRADUATION CREDIT THAT HE NEEDED. NOW THE OPPORTUNITY IS GONE. ANOTHER STUDENT WAS COUNTING ON PATHFINDERS FOR CTE PATHWAY.
THESE STUDENTS ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A WAY AROUND SCHOOL.
AND NOW THEY ARE BEING ASKED [APPLAUSE] AFTER KAREN, IT'LL BE VALERIE. RAHILL.
KAREN. MOSSMAN. FOR KIDS THAT GRADUATED FROM MOUNTLAKE TERRACE HIGH SCHOOL, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR OPENING THE DOOR TO HOST THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR THE READING OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
SEPTEMBER 17TH. THE ANNUAL CONSTITUTION DAY INFORMATION FOR CONSTITUTIONAL DAY IS THIS.
IT IS AN AMERICAN FEDERAL OBSERVATION DEDICATED TO COMMEMORATING THE SIGNING OF THE US CONSTITUTION ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, 1787, OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED BY CONGRESS, THE DAY SERVES TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND THEIR RIGHTS AND CIVIL RESPONSIBILITIES,, MORE BACKGROUND ON THIS DAY.
BY FEDERAL LAW, ANY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION THAT RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING, INCLUDING PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES, MUST HOST AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM REGARDING THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION ON OR AROUND SEPTEMBER 17TH. THIS MANDATE, INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ROBERT BYRD IN 2004, AIMS TO ENSURE THAT KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATIONAL OF THE NATION'S FOUNDATIONAL LEGAL DOCUMENT IS ACTIVELY PASSED DOWN TO YOUNGER GENERATIONS.
SCHOOLS FULFILL THIS THROUGH A VARIETY OF LESSON OPTIONS.
2 EXAMPLES ARE INTERACTIVE HISTORY LESSONS OR ASSEMBLIES ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, CLASSROOM READINGS OF THE PREAMBLE OR SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS. ON AN ADDITIONAL NOTE.
REMEMBER THAT WASHINGTON STATE HAS AN ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3RD.
IF YOU'RE A REGISTERED VOTER, PLEASE VOTE. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
AFTER. VALERIE WILL BE JEREMY DWYER. MY NAME IS VALERIE RAYHILL. I LIVE IN LYNNWOOD. I'M A SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST WITH 41 YEARS OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING 20 YEARS WITH THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IN THIS ROLE, I PROVIDED SPEECH LANGUAGE SERVICES TO THE STUDENTS ON MY CASELOAD AND WORKED ON THE SPECIAL EDUCATION T2EAM ALONGSIDE THE LEARNING SUPPORT TEACHER, WHO HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND PREDATORY BEHAVIOR IN OUR SCHOOL.
MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD THE OUTRAGE, READ THE 800 PLUS PAGES OF POLICE AND NEWSPAPER REPORTS, AND KNOW THAT THERE WAS INCREDIBLE STRESS IN THAT BUILDING DUE TO THIS INDIVIDUAL.
IT IS UNCOMMON FOR ONE STAFF MEMBER TO REPORT ON ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER IN THIS WAY, BUT IN THIS SITUATION, BECAUSE OF MANDATED REPORTING RULES AND CONCERNS FOR THE STUDENTS AT SCHOOL, BRAVE TEACHERS AND STAFF DID THE RIGHT THING AND REPORTED THEIR CONCERNS FROM DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE ADMINISTRATION. THE STAFF WAS TOLD THAT THEIR CONCERNS WERE BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION OR THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ABUSE.
EMAILS WENT UNANSWERED OR POSSIBLY IGNORED, AND THE IMPACT ON THE STAFF WAS SIGNIFICANT.
THE RESULT WAS THAT STUDENTS WERE SEXUALLY GROOMED OR ABUSED.
SOME STAFF LEFT THE DISTRICT, SOME MOVED TO OTHER SCHOOLS, AND IN MY CASE, I RETIRED A YEAR EARLY BECAUSE I COULDN'T CONTINUE ON WITH THE INCREDIBLE STRESS AND MY LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AS MANDATED REPORTERS, WE DID WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO DO REPORT, ONLY TO BE IGNORED. WE FOLLOWED THE LAW.
[00:20:06]
LOOK UP MANDATED REPORTING. THERE ARE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS FOR SCHOOL STAFF FOR FAILURE TO REPORT WHEN ABUSE IS SUSPECTED.ALL OF THIS LEADS ME TO ASK QUESTIONS. HOW CAN STAFF TRUST THE ADMINISTRATION TO DO THE RIGHT THING TO PROTECT EVERY STUDENT IN OUR SCHOOLS? THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF AT MEADOWDALE.
IT'S A PROBLEM FOR EVERY SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT.
WHAT ABOUT THE TARGETED STUDENTS WHO WERE TRAUMATIZED? WHAT ABOUT THE STAFF WHO WERE TRAUMATIZED? HAS ANYONE GOTTEN HELP WITH THIS? HAS THIS INDIVIDUAL GONE TO ANOTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT TO DO THE SAME THING TO THEIR STUDENTS? ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN LEFT UNANSWERED, AND I AM ASKING FOR THOSE QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE ADMINISTRATION, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT. STOP SWEEPING THIS UNDER THE RUG AND BE ACCOUNTABLE.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AFTER JEREMY WILL BE ELENA MOUL.
I AM JEREMY DWYER. I HAVE A MIDDLE SCHOOLER IN THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE MEADOWDALE SITUATION.
DOCTOR MINER. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR AGREEING TO DISCUSS WITH THE SPECIAL ED, PARENTS BOARD THE SITUATION AND I'D LIKE TO CALL ON THE BOARD FOR ACTION. WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
WE KNOW IT WAS A DISASTER. THERE WERE 2 FOUNDED ALLEGATIONS FROM A REPORT FROM AN INVESTIGATIVE FIRM HIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH MEANS THEIR JOB IS TO COVER THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FROM LIABILITY.
AND YET WE'VE HEARD NOTHING. I'D LIKE THE BOARD TO MAKE A STATEMENT.
I KNOW, NOT NOW. BUT A WRITTEN STATEMENT ON YOUR WEBSITE.
AND THEN WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO FOR THE FUTURE? CRYSTAL INVESTIGATIONS INVESTIGATED THE PAST.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW THAT THE PAST HAS OCCURRED IS PREVENT FUTURE ABUSE.
WE. WELL, I AND I THINK OTHERS WOULD LIKE YOU TO SHOW WITH YOUR ACTIONS THAT THE DISREGARD THAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SPOKE ABOUT IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN THE DISTRICT, NOT JUST SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.
WAIT FOR IT TO BLOW OVER AND THEN REINSTATE PEOPLE IN THEIR POSITIONS.
I DID EMAIL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ABOUT THIS, AND I GOT THE RESPONSE THAT THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN IMPROVING OUR PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES. I COULD HAVE ASKED THEM TO TURN UP THE LIGHTS DURING LUNCH AND I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME ANSWER.
I KNOW THIS IS A COMPLEX, SENSITIVE SUBJECT. I KNOW THERE ARE LAWSUITS.
I KNOW THE LAWYERS HAVE PROBABLY TOLD YOU TO SAY NOTHING.
BUT TO SOME IN THE COMMUNITY, YOUR SILENCE IS TAKEN AS DISMISSAL.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PUT A STATEMENT ON YOUR WEBSITE, RUN IT BY YOUR LAWYERS, SAY WHAT YOU CAN AND EXPLAIN WHAT ACTIONS YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
[APPLAUISE] THANK YOU. AFTER. ELENA IS WENDY MASTERSON. HELLO, ELENA.
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE. I'M A TEACHER AT MARTHA LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
OUR CURRENT CLASS SIZES ARE CREATING DAILY SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES FOR STUDENTS.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE CLASS SIZES OF 31 AND 32 IN ALL OF OUR 5TH GRADE AND 6TH GRADE CLASSES.
IN A RECENT EMAIL FROM AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, I SHARED THIS CONCERN AND GOT THE RESPONSE OF.
AFTER REVIEWING THE REQUEST ALONGSIDE CURRENT DISTRICT WIDE ENROLLMENTS, STAFFING ALLOCATIONS, BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, AND COMPETING NEEDS, WE ARE UNABLE TO APPROVE AN ADDITIONAL 1.0 FTE FOR MARTHA LAKE ELEMENTARY AT THIS TIME.
THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT SIMPLY INCONVENIENCE AND RECOGNIZABLE.
[00:25:04]
HERE ARE SOME STATEMENTS MADE FROM THOSE TEACHERS.WE CAN USE RECORDERS, BUT WE CAN'T USE MUSIC STANDS.
NOR CAN WE ALL SIT IN A CHAIR BECAUSE IT TAKES UP TOO MUCH SPACE.
THE AMOUNT OF FURNITURE RESTRICTS MOVEMENT, SO KIDS ARE STUCK AT THEIR DESKS ALL DAY.
I WORRY ABOUT KEEPING UP WITH THE CLASS SIZE AND FAMILY COMMUNICATION.
MY SMALL GROUPS AREN'T SMALL ANYMORE WITH 6 OR MORE KIDS IN THEM.
THIS GOES AGAINST ALL THE TRAINING I'VE HAD AND RESEARCH BASED DATA.
THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, IN RECENT YEARS IN MARTHA LAKE ELEMENTARY.
IN 2024, 2 6TH GRADE CLASSROOMS STARTED THE YEAR WITH 31 STUDENTS EACH.
THERE WAS A STATEMENT. HERE'S A STATEMENT MADE BY ONE OF THOSE TEACHERS.
ALL THE WHILE WITH THE DISTRICT TELLING US WE DIDN'T NEED ANOTHER TEACHER.
IT WASN'T UNTIL WE WERE HITTING 35 AND 36 STUDENTS IN EACH ROOM THAT WE FINALLY GOT THE RELIEF, AND IT MADE A DIFFERENCE. CLASS SIZE MATTERS.
DO WE HAVE TO WAIT TO CHANGE THE LIVES OF THESE STUDENTS THIS YEAR, OR CAN YOU BE THERE FOR THEM NOW? I URGE HR AND CABINET TO RESTRICT TO REDIRECT THE BUDGET TO ADD ADDITIONAL INTERMEDIATE TEACHERS AT MARTHA LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BECAUSE LOWER CLASS SIZES SHOULD TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER ANY OTHER DISTRICT, PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AFTER WENDY WILL BE STEVE KEELER.
HI, MY NAME IS WENDY MASTERSON. I LIVE IN LYNNWOOD, WASHINGTON.
I AM A RECENT RETIREE OF THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT.
TONIGHT, I'M TALKING ABOUT STUDENT SAFETY. I'M REACHING OUT TO THE PARENTS OF MEADOWDALE ELEMENTARY, MEADOWDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MEADOWDALE HIGH SCHOOL TO INFORM YOU OF A HIGHLY SENSITIVE AND SERIOUS MATTER REGARDING A FORMER MALE LEARNING SUPPORT TEACHER AT MEADOWDALE ELEMENTARY. RECENTLY, MULTIPLE CREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD REGARDING THIS TEACHER'S CONDUCT.
THESE ALLEGATIONS INVOLVE A PATTERN OF INAPPROPRIATE INTERACTIONS WITH BOTH STAFF AND STUDENTS, INCLUDING REPORTS OF CONCERNING CONVERSATIONS AND INAPPROPRIATE PHYSICAL CONTACT.
I AM SPEAKING TO YOU SPECIFICALLY IF YOUR CHILD RECEIVED LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES BY EITHER OF THE LEARNING SUPPORT TEACHERS AT MEADOWDALE ELEMENTARY DURING THE YEARS 2022 TO 2023 AND OR 2023 TO 2024. DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS THE MALE LEARNING SUPPORT TEACHER SERVED LEARNING SUPPORT MINUTES FOR 1ST THROUGH 6TH GRADE.
YOUR CHILD MAY HAVE BEEN IN SMALL GROUPS 1 ON 1 OR UNSUPERVISED SETTINGS WITH HIS TEACHER.
FURTHERMORE, OTHER STUDENTS HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED DISCOMFORT REGARDING HIS BEHAVIOR.
MY PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS A SAFETY, WELL-BEING, AND MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR STUDENTS.
RECOGNIZING THAT UNREPORTED TRAUMA CAN HAVE LONG TERM IMPACTS AND CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THE STUDENT'S LIVES, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU AS PARENTS TO HAVE A SUPPORTIVE CONVERSATION WITH YOUR CHILD TO ENSURE THEY WERE NOT SUBJECTED TO ANY INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT. MY HOPE IS THAT ANYONE AFFECTED BY THIS SITUATION RECEIVES THE PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THEY NEED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.
I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING. I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, AND I REALIZED SEVERAL YEARS AGO THIS DISTRICT HAD TO INFORM PARENTS OF THEIR KIDS WERE EXPOSED TO COVID. AND THEN YEARS BEFORE THAT, THEY WERE NOTIFIED IF THEIR KIDS WERE EXPOSED TO HEAD LICE.
AND THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN ONGOING. IT'S BEEN 4 YEARS.
AND THIS DISTRICT HAS NOT NOTIFIED THEM WHO ARE VICTIMS OF THIS TEACHER.
AND THAT HAS TO BE DONE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
[00:30:06]
AFTER. MR. KEELER IS NATHANIEL GARZA.GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEVEN KEELER. I'M A RESIDENT OF EDMONDS AND A TAXPAYER IN THE DISTRICT.
THE MEDIA HAS BEEN REPORTING RECENTLY THAT NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE ENACTED SWEEPING TECHNOLOGY POLICY FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR UNDER THE TITLE OF NEW SCREEN TIME AND TECH RULES.
PRE-K THROUGH SECOND GRADE SCREEN TIME ON INDIVIDUAL DEVICES IS RECOMMENDED TO BE LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES A DAY. MIDDLE SCHOOLS. GRADES 6 AND 8. DAILY INDIVIDUAL SCREEN TIME IS RECOMMENDED TO BE CAPPED AT 45 MINUTES. GENERATIVE AI BAN. STUDENT FACING AI TOOLS ARE BANNED FOR PRESCHOOL THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE, WITH LIMITED EXPERIMENTAL USE ALLOWED IN HIGH SCHOOL.
PERHAPS THERE IS MERIT FOR THIS DISTRICT TO CONSIDER SUCH POSSIBLE ACTIONS IN THE FUTURE.
IN CLOSING TONIGHT, MADAM SUPERINTENDENT AND MADAM PRESIDENT, I HAVE 2 COPIES TITLED THE DIGITAL DELUSION. THE AUTHOR IS JARED COONEY HORVATH.
I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE THESE TO ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD OR ANY ADMINISTRATOR SITTING IN THE BACK, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A COPY, IF THEY WISH TO HAVE A COPY.
I ONLY HAVE 2 BUT THEY'RE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AFTER NATHANIEL WILL BE KRISTIN GARZA. HELLO, MY NAME IS NATHANIEL GARZA.
I'M A STUDENT AT MENLO TERRACE, AND I WANT TO CONCEIVE MY TIME TO [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOL.
THANK YOU. TO CONTINUE ON WITH MY SPEECH. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE STUDENTS.
I WAS ALSO WANT TO SHARE WHY I KNOW THIS PROGRAM CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BEYOND GRADUATION.
MY OWN SON PARTICIPATED IN PATHFINDERS LAST YEAR.
IT WAS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR HIM AND LITERALLY SAVED HIS LIFE IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
BECAUSE OF THAT EXPERIENCE, HE NOW KNOWS WHAT FIELD HE WANTS TO GO INTO TO WORK.
HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING THERE WHILE APPLYING FOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. THIS IS WHAT THIS PROGRAM CAN DO. IT CAN TAKE STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, AND GIVE THEM REAL EXPERIENCES IN THE WORKPLACE. MY SON IS NOT THE ONLY EXAMPLE.
I'VE HAD MANY STUDENTS GO THERE. MANY STUDENTS GET JOBS DIRECTLY INTO BOEING.
MANY OTHER STUDENTS JOIN OTHER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. I HAD A STUDENT BECOME A REPAIR PERSON FOR ELEVATORS BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM DIRECTLY FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
THESE ARE REAL OUTCOMES. THESE ARE STUDENTS NOT JUST EARNING CREDIT OR CHECKING A BOX.
THEY ARE GAINING WORK EXPERIENCE, DEVELOPING SKILLS, DISCOVERING CAREER INTEREST, AND BUILDING PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS. THAT'S WHY THIS PROGRAM MATTERS SO MUCH TO ME. IT'S NOT JUST A TEACHER, BUT AS A PARENT WHO WATCHED MY SON, MY OWN CHILD, BENEFIT FROM IT. I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE.
I HAVE BEEN RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR FOR PATHFINDER SINCE APRIL.
MY ORIGINAL TRANSPORTATION WAS MADE IN APRIL, MONTHS BEFORE THE PROGRAM WAS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN, AND I FOLLOWED UP IN AUGUST AND AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER. THE TRANSPORTATION WAS. IF TRANSPORTATION WAS GOING TO BE ISSUES, AN ISSUE, WE HAD MONTHS TO PREPARE FOR IT.
THIS WAS PREVENTABLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE COMPLICATED PROCESSES, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONTRACTS AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDING AND INTER-DISTRICT AGREEMENTS TAKE TIME. BUT WHEN STAFF MEMBERS RAISE ISSUES OF CONCERNS IN APRIL AND FOR OUR PROGRAM, STUDENTS DEPENDED UPON THE CONCERN SHOULD NOT JUST DISAPPEAR IN RED TAPE AND BUREAUCRACY.
THERE IS A LARGER ISSUE HERE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, AS WE KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT IN THE 9 YEARS HAS HAD MANY DIFFERENT STAFF MEMBERS IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND IN MANY OTHER ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS.
[00:35:01]
I WORKED IN THE DISTRICT NINE YEARS, AND I KNOW THAT PATHFINDERS IS MEANT TO. OUR STUDENTS, AND I KNOW THAT HOW CONSISTENT WE HAVE USED THIS PROGRAM THOSE NINE YEARS, I DID NOT HAVE. IN 2020, I ONLY HAD ONE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.THE LACK OF THAT PARTICIPATION THEN BECAME PART OF THE PROBLEM.
I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR. A LACK OF PARTICIPATION SHOULD NOT BE MISTAKEN FOR A LACK OF STUDENT NEED.
WE HAVE STUDENTS ALL OVER IN ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS WHO ARE HIGHLY. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AFTER KRISTEN WILL BE JOEL GALVAN.
HI, MY NAME IS KRISTEN GARZA. I AM A MOM OF A SENIOR AT MTHS.
HE WAS ALSO SUPPOSED TO BE A PART OF THE PATHFINDERS PROGRAM.
UNFORTUNATELY, WITH NUMBER 5 COMING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, HE KIND OF LOST HIS WAY.
BEING A COVID KID, DOING A LOT OF SCHOOL ONLINE AND WAS NOT HEADED IN THE RIGHT PATH.
HE ATTENDED ONLY 39% OF SCHOOL LAST YEAR UNTIL HE GOT ACCEPTED INTO THIS PATHFINDERS PROGRAM, WHERE HE. HIS ATTENDANCE HAS ALMOST BEEN PERFECT.
HE ATTENDED SUMMER SCHOOL ALL SUMMER, COMPLETED 3 CREDITS IN SUMMER SCHOOL IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS PROGRAM, BECAUSE THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HE HAD TO LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
HE WAS EXCITED. WE'RE GETTING READY TO START PATHFINDERS.
HE HAD TOLD ALL HIS FRIENDS. WE'VE TOLD ALL OF OUR FAMILY.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE HAD TO LOOK FORWARD TO. SO TO GET TOLD 3 DAYS INTO A PROGRAM THAT HE'S ALREADY ATTENDED, 2 DAYS OF THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD TO FIND TRANSPORTATION TO GET HIM THERE.
THE 1ST 2 DAYS, BECAUSE OF NO TRANSPORTATION, SHOWED UP THE 3D DAY TO BE TOLD ONCE HE ALREADY GOT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SCHOOL DAY, THAT THERE WAS NO PROGRAM ANYMORE FOR HIM, HE CAME HOME AND I, IN TURN, HAVE SENT SEVERAL EMAILS TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AT MY HIGH SCHOOL WITH NO RESPONSE FROM ANYBODY FROM M.
BEING A SENIOR, HE CAN'T AFFORD TO NOT HAVE THE CTE CREDIT.
SO WE HAD TO SCRAMBLE AGAIN 3 OR 4 WEEKS INTO SCHOOL, TRYING TO GET HIM INTO THE CLASSES IN ORDER FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO GRADUATE ON TIME AFTER WORKING SO HARD ALL SUMMER AND FOR THE END OF LAST YEAR IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GRADUATE.
I HAVE SEEN 4 OTHER OF MY CHILDREN GO THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AND WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE WELL, BUT HE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY STRUGGLED. AND THIS WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WAS PUSHING HIM TO DO.
ANY, THERE WAS NOTHING. THE TEACHERS, THEY WERE LOST.
THIS WAS IT. THIS IS WHAT HE HAD, AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO NOTHING.
HE HAD TO START INTO A DIFFERENT PROGRAM AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.
FOUR WEEKS INTO THE PROGRAM, WE HAD TO FIND TRANSPORTATION FOR THAT AS WELL.
SO THAT MAKES THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT. ALSO I WOULD HOPE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD LOOKS AT THIS AND FIGURES OUT WHERE THE, WHERE THE, WHERE THE CROSS LINE IS HERE, WHERE, WHERE DO WE DROP THE BALL? WHERE, WHERE ARE WE? NOT A PROGRAM THAT'S LOOKING FORWARD TO KIDS, LOW INCOME FAMILIES AS WE ARE.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AFTER JOEL.
EXCUSE ME, IS MEGAN GALVIN. HI, I'M JOEL GALVIN, I'M A SENIOR AT MT.
TERRACE, AND I CAN SEE MY TIME TO [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOL.
THANK YOU. JOEL. JOEL IS ONE OF THE STUDENTS THAT WAS ALSO AFFECTED.
I WOULD LIKE THE DISTRICT TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER THE EXISTING CONTRACT OR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT LANGUAGE USED BY NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, INCLUDING MONROE, SULTAN, GRANITE FALLS, EVERETT, MUKILTEO COULD BE USED AS A MODEL TO EXPEDITE EXPEDITE THE AGREEMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY CAN'T WE USE THE EXISTING AGREEMENT THAT THEY HAVE AS A STARTING POINT INSTEAD OF STARTING FROM SCRATCH? IN OTHER DISTRICTS, THEY ALREADY HAVE NAVIGATED THIS PROCESS. WHY CAN'T WE LOOK AT THAT LANGUAGE THEY ARE USING TO DETERMINE WHAT WE REQUIRE TO MOVE OUR STUDENTS BACK INTO THAT
[00:40:05]
PROGRAM THIS YEAR? TINA FROM PATHFINDERS IS STILL WILLING AND HOLDING THEIR SPOT FOR THEM, HOPING THAT OUR DISTRICT CAN PULL THROUGH FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THE LINK.A STUDENT WHO IS MOTIVATED TO ATTEND SCHOOL BECAUSE OF AN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY SHOULD NOT LOSE THAT OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE ADULTS COULD NOT RESOLVE THE TRANSPORTATION OR PAPERWORK IN TIME, AND STUDENTS WHO BENEFIT FROM THE STRUCTURE AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO BE DRUG FREE AND ALCOHOL FREE SHOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AGAIN. I'M FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED DIFFERENTLY.
AND I RAISED THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE IN APRIL, WHICH BROUGHT THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE NO LONGER HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM, AND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IN APRIL. AND WE HAD WOULD HAVE PLENTY OF TIME FOR THESE STUDENTS TO BE ATTENDING THAT PROGRAM THIS YEAR. I KEPT ASKING, AND DESPITE THOSE EFFORTS, WE ENDED UP HERE. THE DIFFICULT PART IS THE CONSEQUENCES ARE BEING FELT BY STUDENTS WHO HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PAPERWORK, THE CONTRACTS, TRANSPORTATION, OR THE DISTRICT'S INTERNAL PROCESSES.
STUDENTS ARE BEING PUNISHED FOR THE DISTRICT DROPPING THE BALL. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME, AND I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINDING A SOLUTION, NOT JUST FOR THESE 5 STUDENTS, BUT FOR THE STUDENTS WHO WILL NEED THE PROGRAM, LIKE PATHFINDERS IN THE FUTURE.
OUR STUDENTS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT THEIR SCHOOL LIVES TO BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY DESERVE MEANINGFUL TRANSITIONAL EXPERIENCES.
THEY DESERVE MEANINGFUL, HANDS ON CAREER PREPARATION.
THEY DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN THE CREDIT WHILE GAINING REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AFTER MEGAN WILL BE GIDEON VASQUEZ.
HELLO. I AM MEGAN GALVAN, AND I AM A TEACHER IN THE DISTRICT, BUT ALSO A PARENT OF A SENIOR, JOEL GALVAN, WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO THE PATHFINDERS PROGRAM THIS YEAR.
HIS FABULOUS TEACHER, MR. COLE, HAD TOLD THEM ABOUT IT LAST YEAR.
IT MADE HIM VERY EXCITED. SCHOOL HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE.
BEING HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE PATHFINDERS PROGRAM TO GET HANDS ON EXPERIENCE WAS VERY EXCITING FOR JOEL, AND WE WERE EXCITED AS A FAMILY THAT THAT OPPORTUNITY WAS AVAILABLE TO HIM.
IMAGINE HOW DISAPPOINTED HE AND HIS CLASSMATES FELT TO FIND OUT AFTER THE YEAR HAD ALREADY BEGUN, THAT IT WAS CANCELED ABRUPTLY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE CAN RESOLVE THIS, TO BRING THIS PARTNERSHIP BACK BETWEEN BOEING AND THE EDMOND SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AND GIDEON WILL BE OUR LAST SPEAKER.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT CLASS SIZES AT MARTHA LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BECAUSE, AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR STARTED AROUND THE SAME TIME.
WE STARTED WITH 31 STUDENTS, AND BY OCTOBER WE HAD 3233.
BY THE END OF OCTOBER, WE BOTH HAD 33. BY THE END OF NOVEMBER, WE BOTH HAD 34.
GOING INTO WINTER BREAK, ONE CLASS HAD 35, ONE HAD 34.
AND THROUGH WINTER BREAK WE WOULD BOTH HAVE 35.
COMING BACK IN JANUARY, WE GOT WORD THAT WE MIGHT GET ANOTHER STUDENT.
AND IN FEBRUARY THAT BECAME A REALITY. SO WE WERE AT 35-36 RIGHT NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE OCTOBER NUMBERS AND YOU SEE, THERE'S ONLY 62 KIDS IN THAT 6TH GRADE CLASS.
IT'S GOING TO BE FINE. IT WON'T BE FINE BECAUSE THE BET THAT YOU'RE MAKING THERE IS THAT PEOPLE WON'T WANT TO COME RAISE THEIR KIDS IN LYNNWOOD, WHICH IS A TERRIBLE BET TO TAKE. LYNNWOOD IS A GREAT PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY.
PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE IN. THERE'S NEW DEVELOPMENT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
THERE'S A RAISING CANE'S NOW. PEOPLE WANT TO BE HERE.
[00:45:03]
THEY REALLY DO. AND THOSE KIDS DESERVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A TEACHER WHO CAN LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IN THE EYE AND SAY, ARE YOU GET IT? YOU NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME. I'M GOING TO TALK TO YOU LATER.AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH 35 KIDS. IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO THAT WITH 30.
I KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING THE BEST THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN WITH WHATEVER RESOURCES.
THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, YOU CAN HAVE JUST THIS MUCH.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE. BUT.
THIS PRIORITY MEANS SOMETHING SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE DISTRICT WON'T HAPPEN.
I'M ASKING YOU TO MAKE THAT CHOICE. BECAUSE IF YOU MAKE IT NOW OR IN OCTOBER, YOU HAVE OPTIONS.
YOU CAN DO IT. THAT MINIMALLY IMPACTS THE STUDENT.
YOU KNOW, STUDENT RATIOS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET, THE SCHOOL STRUCTURE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO THE STUDENTS BECAUSE IT WAS HORRIFICALLY DISRUPTIVE TO DO IT IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY AND SAY, HEY, YOU 13 KIDS, YOU GOT TO GO.
WE JUST KIND OF GET WHAT WE NEED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THE SERVICE YOU DO.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND SPOKE.
WE APPRECIATE HEARING EVERYBODY'S CONCERNS. NEXT IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[10. CONSENT AGENDA- 7:15 pm]
ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT, WE HAVE 7 ITEMS FOR OUR PERSONNEL AND STAFF AGREEMENTS.1 IS APPROVING OUR SCHOOL BOARD LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND 2 OUR FIELD TRIPS.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. I MOVE TO APPROVE.
SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE. AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NO OBJECTIONS. TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[11. REPORTS-7:20 pm]
I HAVE A COUPLE EXTRA PROMPTS HERE. SO THIS IS THE LAST MONTH BEFORE WE CLOSE THE FISCAL YEAR AUGUST 31ST, 2026, WHICH I KNOW HAS ALREADY PASSED BY IN THE REAL WORLD.BUT OF COURSE SEPTEMBER STARTS THE WORK OF THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT TO START BALANCING GRANTS AND PAYING BILLS AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL PAYROLL WENT THROUGH AND ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY CLOSE THE BOOKS LATE IN OCTOBER AND REPORT BACK TO YOU IN NOVEMBER. SO 1ST SLIDE, JUST WANT TO SAY THAT GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE STILL OUTPACING EXPENDITURES BY A SLIGHT PERCENTAGE.
WE TALK ABOUT THE ASB FUND AND IT HAS A LOT OF COMPONENTS.
AND JUST KNOW THAT THERE'S A LITTLE SLIGHT DECLINE IN FUND BALANCE.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S MADE UP OF SO MANY CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES AND ATHLETICS AND MULTIPLE SCHOOLS.
AND SO IT'S A CONGLOMERATION OF ALL THOSE LINE ITEMS. THEN I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE CURRENT NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE IS 3.5 MILLION.
WE ARE TRACKING HIGHER THAN THAT. MOST OF IT IS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION SAFETY NET.
THAT GRANT IS VERY CHALLENGING. SO WE AS A DISTRICT ARE REQUIRED TO FUND THE FIRST ROUGHLY $38,000 OF EVERY STUDENT WHO EITHER HAS A 1 TO 1 PARAEDUCATOR HAS EXTRA SERVICES OR IS AN OUT OF DISTRICT PLACEMENT. AND THEN WE APPLY FOR THE AMOUNT OVER 38,000 FOR EACH STUDENT, BUT WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL APPROXIMATELY JUNE. SO WE PAY ALL YEAR AND THEN FIND OUT AT THE TAIL END OF THE YEAR IF WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE ANY
[00:50:03]
REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE COSTS. SO WE HAD BUDGETED 4 MILLION IN SAFETY NET REVENUES AND WE ACTUALLY GOT 8.8.SO PART OF THAT WAS WE LOOKED AT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND ASSIGNED SOME MORE STAFF TO THE SAFETY NET PROCESS BECAUSE AGAIN, IT IS PROBABLY A VALUABLE INVESTMENT TO PUT TIME TO THAT GRANT.
INTEREST INCOME IS STILL COMING IN STRONG. SO FAR.
AND THEN AS YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T QUITE MAKE OUR K.3 RATIO.
THIS YEAR WE DID. SO WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE ALL OF OUR APPORTIONMENT FUNDS DUE AND DIDN'T HAVE THAT SLIGHT PENALTY FOR NOT MAKING THOSE CLASS SIZES. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION. I'M CURIOUS, ARE WE ABLE TO USE SAFETY NET MONEY THAT WE GET ANYWHERE, OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES HAS TO BE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.
YOU BET. AND ESSENTIALLY, IT'S WHEN WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, WHICH WITH EACH STUDENT APPLICATION WE STILL HAVE TO FUND THE FIRST 38,000 OF THOSE EXTRA ADDITIONAL COSTS.
AND SO IT'S SORT OF A REIMBURSEMENT, BUT NOT QUITE REIMBURSEMENT.
BROUGHT THIS UP LAST MONTH, BUT JUST REALLY QUICKLY, YOU CAN SEE HOW CONSISTENTLY BOTH REVENUES AND OUR EXPENDITURES ARE TRENDING FROM YEAR TO YEAR. SO THAT'S JUST ALWAYS INDICATIVE OF HOW WE'RE DOING.
HAD A GREAT QUESTION ON REVENUES. SO DIRECTOR GARRARD ASKED A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
HE SAID, OKAY, IF LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ARE ALL TRENDING SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF WHERE THEY SHOULD BE IN JULY, HOW COME TOTAL REVENUES ARE TRENDING SLIGHTLY BELOW? SO WE FOR OUR TECHNOLOGY LEVY, WE HAVE TO MAKE THE TECHNOLOGY LEVY EXPENDITURES IN THE GENERAL FUND, EVEN THOUGH THEIR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. AND THEN THE TECH LEVY, WHICH RESIDES IN THE CAPITAL FUND, REIMBURSES US. THE ONLY WAY THAT REIMBURSEMENT CAN BE TRACKED IN THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM IS TO TREAT IT AS A REVENUE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A NOT A REAL REVENUE, IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT.
SO THOSE 3 PIES, LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL DON'T INCLUDE THAT TRANSFER.
SO THAT IS WHY TOTAL REVENUES AREN'T QUITE TRACKING FOR THOSE 3 SOURCES ARE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I WAS SURE YOU HAD A LOGICAL EXPLANATION.
I JUST COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. I ADMIRE THE QUESTION BECAUSE I HADN'T ACTUALLY SPOTTED THAT MYSELF.
SO THANK YOU FOR SPOTTING IT. OUR PROJECTED YEAR END FUND BALANCE, THE TOTAL IS TRACKING AT JUST OVER 10%, WHICH WOULD PUT UNASSIGNED PROBABLY AT LEAST 7.5%.
THERE'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE IN AS THE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS MORE SCHOOLS ELIGIBLE FOR THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROGRAM, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN PROVIDE FREE MEALS TO ALL AT A AT A SCHOOL SITE.
OUR STATE REVENUES HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY.
SO INSTEAD OF RELYING ON CHILDREN TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, THE STATE IS FUNDING THOSE MEALS.
PARTICIPATION GOES UP AND THE AMOUNT FOR FOOD SERVICE.
THAT HAS TO BE CARRIED OVER AND KEPT IN FOOD SERVICES IS EXPECTED TO GO UP AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
[00:55:06]
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S PUT IN FUND BALANCE. IS THAT CONSIDERED PART OF ENCUMBERED FUND BALANCE OR UNENCUMBERED FUND BALANCE? BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF ENCUMBERED BECAUSE IT'S REQUIRED TO BE USED IN SPECIAL ED.IT WILL BE UNENCUMBERED BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE ALREADY BEEN USED IN SPECIAL ED.
SO WHAT THE STATE AND THE AUDITORS LOOK AT IS HOW MUCH DID YOU RECEIVE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION REVENUES? HOW MUCH DID YOU RECEIVE IN EXCUSE ME, HOW MUCH DID YOU RECEIVE? HOW MUCH DID YOU SPEND? WE WILL OUTSPEND OUR REVENUES IF WE.
SO OUR EXPENSES IN SPECIAL EDUCATION WILL STILL BE HIGHER THAN OUR REVENUES.
EVEN WITH THE SAFETY NET REIMBURSEMENT. IF OUR EXPENDITURES WERE LOWER THAN WHAT WE HAD RECEIVED FROM THE STATE IN THE YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE TO SET IT ASIDE IN FUND BALANCE BECAUSE IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT AND BECAUSE WE'RE STILL SPENDING MORE THAN WE'RE GETTING.
IT GOES BACK INTO UNASSIGNED. SO IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DELAY.
YES. WE SPEND IT, THEN WE GET IT. YES. THEN WE HAVE TO SAVE IT TO SPEND IT.
WE ONLY HAVE TO SAVE IT. IF WE HADN'T SPENT IT DURING THE YEAR.
BUT SINCE WE'RE NOT REIMBURSED TILL LATER, WE SORT OF HAVE TO SPEND IT BEFORE THE REIMBURSEMENT.
YES. GOT IT. YES. THANK YOU. YOU BET.
SO THAT MOSTLY TALKS ABOUT WHERE WE THINK ENDING FUND BALANCE AGAIN.
OVER 10% WITH AT LEAST 7.5% ANTICIPATED TO BE UNASSIGNED.
AND I AM HAPPY TO REPORT FOR JULY THAT, YOU KNOW, ENROLLMENT COUNTING ENDED IN JUNE.
AND WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF TURNED TO 26-27TH SEPTEMBER.
EVEN THOUGH YOU WON'T SEE THAT REPORT UNTIL A FEW MORE MONTHS.
AND THAT IS IT FOR JULY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? STUDENT ADVISORS. AT ANY TIME YOU'RE ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS OR MAKE COMMENTS.
IT'S ALL OKAY. OKAY. WE HAVE 2 ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS.
[12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - 7:40 pm]
THERE WERE NO CHANGES BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READING OF THIS POLICY.THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT IF COACHES OR OTHERS WANT TO USE THIS TECHNOLOGY.
THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH THEY CAN SEEK OUT APPROVAL THROUGH OUR DISTRICT TEAMS. IF THERE'S A LEGITIMATE EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE FOR SOMEONE TO WANT TO USE AN UNCREWED AIRCRAFT.
MOVE TO APPROVE. I SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE.
AS UNCREWED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM. I SECOND THAT. THANK YOU.
WE DO WANT TO BE CURRENT AND UP TO DATE WITH THE MOST CURRENT LANGUAGE.
AND KEITH, FOR YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE ATHLETICS DRONES, THEY'RE.
MY ONE CONCERN I HAVE IS WE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, OF COURSE, THAT NO STUDENTS WOULD BE PHOTOGRAPHED WHOSE PARENTS HAVE OPTED THEM OUT OF THAT. SO I WOULD THINK PART OF THAT WHOLE PROCESS WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON HOW HOW CLOSE IT GETS OR WHATEVER, BUT IT MIGHT GET REALLY AWKWARD BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT AT ANY SPORTING EVENT, IF THERE ARE ANY STUDENTS WHOSE PARENTS HAVE OPTED THEM OUT OF HAVING ANY PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR. NO, THAT MAKES SENSE.
SO YEAH, ANYWAY, IT WAS AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
[01:00:02]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE NEW BOARD POLICY 4510 UNCREWED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM AND MODEL AIRCRAFT.PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.
THERE ARE 2 ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS A SINGLE READING OF A NEW.
[13. NEW BUSINESS- 7:50 pm]
IN LIEU MODERNIZATION RESOLUTION 2615. DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE WESTGATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPLACEMENT? NEW IN LIEU OF MODERNIZATION RESOLUTION NUMBER 26-15.MOVE TO APPROVE. I SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION. YEAH. THAT TIME. YEAH.
AND THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD HAVE DONE A MODERNIZATION AND SOLVED THE PROBLEMS THERE.
SORT OF. IT HAD TO BE NEW. ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT? OKAY. HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE WESTGATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPLACEMENT? NEW IN LIEU OF MODERNIZATION RESOLUTION 2615 PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE AGAINST SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? AND THE WESTGATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPLACEMENT.
NEW IN LIEU OF MODERNIZATION, RESOLUTION 2615 IS APPROVED.
DO I HEAR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF EDMONDS FOR THE EDMONDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL? I MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. I'VE HEARD A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A.
SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH CITY OF EDMONDS FOR THE EDMONDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL? PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR GARRARD.
[14. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES - 8:05 pm]
WELL, ON SATURDAY WAS THE WAS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.THERE WERE 70 POSITIONS THAT WERE UP FOR DEBATE.
24 POSITIONS WERE RETIRED, MEANING THEY WILL NO LONGER BE ACTIVE POSITIONS OF WASDA.
THERE WERE 12 THAT WERE PROPOSED TO BE RETIRED THAT WERE NOT RETIRED.
4 POSITIONS GOT CONSOLIDATED. 6 NEW POSITIONS WERE ADOPTED, 3 NEW POSITIONS WERE NOT ADOPTED, 18 WERE AMENDED AND 3 WERE NOT AMENDED IN 100% OF THE CASES.
WHATEVER THE COMMITTEE SAID THAT REVIEWED IT, THE LEGISLATIVE OR THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE THAT'S WHAT THE BODY DID. SOME OF THE VOTES WERE CLOSE, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE AMENDMENT THAT WE PROPOSED TO RELATED TO GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WAS ADOPTED.
SO WE HOPE THAT THE STATE WILL HELP CREATE A FRAMEWORK THAT WILL MITIGATE SOME OF THE POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH THAT ITS USE IN, IN K-12 EDUCATION.
OUT OF THAT THEN THE WAS THE, WANTS TO KNOW WHAT OUR TOP PRIORITIES ARE FOR THEM. SO WE KNOW, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION, THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATION'S AGENDA IS, WHAT THE PRIORITIES, WHAT THE BUSINESS OFFICERS IS.
BUT THE SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION HAS THEIR OWN LIST, SO I DIDN'T.
SO I ASKED EVERYBODY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE POSITIONS.
HAS A LIST OF YOUR BOARDS HOT TOPICS PRIOR TO LISTING OUT 5.
5 POSSIBLE PRIORITIES. SO I'M THINKING THAT WE DON'T NEED TO NECESSARILY RESTATE THINGS THAT WERE AS PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE ALREADY MARKED AS HOT TOPICS. AMONGST THE HOT TOPICS THAT WE CAN CHOOSE WOULD BE NO NEW UNFUNDED MANDATES, SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ON OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES LIST THAT WE JUST APPROVED, FULLY FUNDING MSOC THE MATERIAL SUPPLIES AND OPERATING COSTS.
[01:05:02]
THAT WAS ALSO. THAT'S ONE OF OUR TOP 3 AS WELL, FULLY FUNDING SUBSTITUTE COSTS.THIS WAS ALSO IN OUR TOP 3. SO WE COULD CHECK THOSE 3.
AND THAT WOULD IN MY MIND COVER THAT AND GIVE THEM THAT INFORMATION.
AND I'M THINKING THAT WE PROBABLY WOULD CARE ABOUT STATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOL DIRECTOR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, AS WELL AS POSSIBLY RECRUITMENT OF ATTRACT, RETAIN AND YES. THAT THAT ONE. ATTRACT, RETAIN AND RECRUIT.
DIVERSE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. WE COULD LIST THAT UNDER OTHER.
AND THEN WE WOULD STILL HAVE 5 PRIORITIES THAT WE COULD LIST.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE 1ST LIST SUPPORT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THIS IS ONE OF OUR, OUR OTHER PRIORITY THAT HAS NOT BEEN WAS NOT ON THE HOT TOPICS LIST.
THAT WAS, THAT'S A POSITION FROM 1988, BUT IT WAS AMENDED JUST 2 YEARS AGO.
I WOULD ALSO LIST OUR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY AMENDMENT POSITION THAT, THAT WE AMENDED.
BECAUSE THAT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT IS JUST IN THE, JUST A WEEK AGO.
DARIO AMODEI FROM ANTHROPIC AND SAM ALTMAN FROM OPEN CHATGPT BOTH CALLED FOR THE SLOWDOWN IN GLOBAL ADOPTION OF AI. WE ALSO KNOW THAT NEW YORK CITY, AS MR. KEELER POINTED OUT AS WELL AS LOS ANGELES, HAVE BOTH PAUSED THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED THE STATE TO WORK ON SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND INCLUDING THAT IN THE TOP 5 IN OUR 5.
I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT WE LIST GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
ALSO SUPPORTING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND PREVENTING SELF-HARM FROM WHICH WAS ADOPTED LAST YEAR AND MAYBE THE CLIMATE IMPACT MITIGATION ASSISTANCE WHICH WAS 2022 MODIFIED THIS YEAR.
WE COULD OF COURSE USE, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO RECOMMEND.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO LIKE GIVE ME OTHER IDEAS THAT YOU WANT TO MAYBE INCORPORATE.
WHETHER YOU THINK THAT CHECKING THE HOT TOPICS BOX IS NOT ENOUGH, BUT WE SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE IT AS ONE OF OUR SOMETHING AS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES AND REMOVE ONE OF THESE THINGS. SO I'M, I JUST WANT SOME CLARIFICATION BECAUSE WHAT I HAD DONE HAS GONE DOWN THE LIST OF THE LINK YOU HAD SENT US AND I HAD PICKED 5 AND THEN A BUNCH OF OTHERS AS SORT OF SECONDARY THINGS.
AND SOME OF THE THINGS, I MEAN, MY MY PERSONAL FEELING AND, YOU KNOW, FROM PREVIOUS YEARS IS TO ABSOLUTELY HIT THE FUNDING ONES, JUST HIT THE FUNDING ONES. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE ONES I REALLY AMPLY FUNDED STAFFING LEVELS, BUT THAT MAY BE THE SAME AS WHAT THEY'RE CALLING FUND CLASS.
AND I THINK THE BROADER PICTURE IS LIKE FULLY FUNDED.
JUST KEEP SAYING THAT MESSAGE. I FULLY FUND US.
YES. LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO. SO BEFORE I SAW THE HOT TOPICS THING AND I WAS JUST LOOKING AT, I WAS THINKING, OKAY, AMPLY FUNDED STAFFING LEVELS, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT INCLUDES THE SUBSTITUTE STAFF, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES, FULL FUNDING OF BASIC EDUCATION, WHICH INCLUDES MSOC, ANOTHER ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES.
BUT THEN THERE'S MSOC FUNDING, WHICH IS ITS OWN SEPARATE ONE, RIGHT? WHICH IS ALSO COULD ALSO BE. AND THERE'S ALSO AN INSURANCE ONE.
[01:10:04]
SO I THINK ALL OF THOSE ARE SUBSUMED UNDER EITHER MSOC FUNDING OR GOING BACK TO FULL FUNDING OF BASIC ED, WHICH SAYS INCLUDES MSOC. THERE'S FISCAL NOTES AND UNFUNDED MANDATES.THERE'S ANOTHER POSITION THAT'S ON THAT LIST.
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE NOTE ON OUR PRIORITY PAPER, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT ONE OF OUR TOP 3, BUT WE LIST AT THE BOTTOM. NOTE NO NEW UNFUNDED MANDATES.
YEAH. SO THEY WILL BE EACH DISTRICT IS BASICALLY GETS TO, YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTE THEIR LIST OF 5.
AND THEN THEY GUESS THEY COMPILE THAT IN SOME WAY TO DETERMINE THEIR THEIR TOP.
SO SO ARE THEY SEPARATE FROM OUR TOP? LIKE WE CAN SAY TOP 5 AND THEN AND THEN THOSE ARE THE HOT TOPICS THAT WAS TO HAS PICKED TO BE HOT TOPICS FOR THE STATE. I THINK THEY KNOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED IN VARIOUS PLACES AND CERTAINLY NO ONE KNEW UNFUNDED MANDATES IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE BEEN SAYING TO LEGISLATORS IN THE PAST, BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE AMPLY FUNDED, AMPLY FUNDED STAFFING LEVELS.
OR DID THEY? WELL, THEY HAVE THE FULLY FUNDING SUBSTITUTE COSTS AND THEY HAVE FULLY FUNDING MSOC.
SO THESE ARE BOTH CONSISTENT WITH THE WASDA PRIORITIES.
SO I, I DON'T SEE UNDER THE LIST FULLY FUNDING SUBSTITUTES AS IN.
IN THIS. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. IT DOESN'T HAVE ITS OWN POSITION.
IT'S ONLY PART. IT'S A PART OF THE THE STAFFING.
OKAY. SO THOM, I THINK JUST FROM I'M LOOKING AT AT THIS LIST, IT'S A CATEGORY.
THESE CATEGORIES OF THE HOT TOPICS DON'T NECESSARILY ALIGN WITH A POSITION, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE FULLY FUNDING SUBSTITUTE COSTS. IS THAT AN ISSUE THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A POSITION.
LIKE THERE IS ONE UNFUNDED MANDATES. THERE IS ONE ON MSOC.
SO YEAH. SO DID YOU READ THIS WHOLE THING? I WOULD SAY JUST THESE WERE THE, THE OTHER SO BESIDES THE, SO I MENTIONED NO ONE NEW UNFUNDED MANDATES, FULLY FUNDED MSOC FUNDING MSOC FULLY FUNDING SUBSTITUTE COSTS.
THEY HAVE TORT REFORM, REGIONALIZATION LOCAL EFFORT ASSISTANCE.
CLIFF AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS. WHAT'S CLIFF? THERE'S THE LOCAL EFFORT ASSISTANCE IS COMING.
I HAD AN EXPLANATION RELATED TO THE LEA NOT JUST A CLIFF ON ITS OWN THAT WHEN THE FUNDING GOES AWAY, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO DON'T. BECAUSE THERE IS A THING HERE ON LEA LEVY AUTHORITY AND LOCAL EFFORT.
RIGHT. ASSISTANCE. SO THAT'S SORT OF A PIECE OF IT.
CHOOSE UP TO 3. SO I WOULD SAY WE NEED TO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 3 PRIORITIES.
SPECIAL ED, MSOC AND SUBS. SO ANY OF IF ANY OF THOSE 3 IN ANY FORM ARE IN THE HOT TOPICS, I THINK WE SHOULD PICK THOSE 3 AND DO NOTHING ELSE. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I THINK LESS IS MORE BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. THEY HAVE TOO MANY.
THEY CAN'T DO EVERYTHING. THEY GOT TO STAY FOCUSED.
SO I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED, BUT THAT THAT JUST MAY MEAN WE'RE NOT PUTTING IN OUR VOTE.
THERE'S, I LOOK AT IT AS TWO BUCKETS HERE. WE'VE GOT A FUNDING BUCKET THAT WE WANT TO HIT HARD.
RIGHT. AND BE REALLY ADAMANT ABOUT, BUT I DO THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME ROOM FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE IN HERE THAT HAVE NO COST THAT WE MAY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, AND THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO BE MAKING A TOUGH ATTENDANCE, A TON OF TOUGH DECISIONS REGARDING FUNDING. AND I DON'T KNOW IN THEIR MINDS OR EDUCATION LENS ON IT.
THAT'S FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT. I KNOW WHERE I WOULD LIKE IT TO LAND, BUT THAT'S I DON'T HAVE A VOTE.
SO IF WE CAN GIVE THEM SOME, MAYBE EASY WINS TO THOSE MAY BE WORTHWHILE.
THE LOW HANGING FRUIT. YEAH, I DO LIKE AND THAT'S GOOD.
YEAH. BUT I AGREE WITH YOU. I WOULDN'T PUT TOO MANY THINGS OUT THERE.
YEAH. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED. OH, GOD.
[01:15:05]
WHERE WAS THAT? I LOST IT RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE'S ONE HERE THAT TALKS ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHICH IS THEY NEED TO REVIEW THE FUNDING FORMULAS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND UPDATE THEM.OH, THAT WAS EQUITABLE, EQUITABLE PRE-K TO 12 SCHOOL FUNDING.
AND THAT HAD BOTH THE REGIONALIZATION FACTOR, WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.
ANYWAY, THEY PULLED OUT REGIONALIZATION AS ONE OF THE HOT TOPIC POSSIBILITIES.
THAT'S GOOD. I WOULD SAY THAT'S, THAT IS A HOT TOPIC.
BUT WE CAN TAKE AS MANY AS WE WANT. OH, WE ONLY GET 3.
SO I WAS KIND OF FEELING LIKE THAT WOULD THOSE WOULD BE THE 3.
OKAY. SO SAY THE 3 AGAIN. I'M SORRY. IT'S NO NEW UNFUNDED MANDATES.
FULLY FUNDING MSOC AND FULLY FUNDING SUBSTITUTE COSTS.
OKAY. YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW LOTS OF THESE HAVE TO DO WITH FUNDING.
WE ALSO KNOW WE KNOW FUNDING IS A PROBLEM. IT'S GOING TO BE LIMITED AND MAYBE BAD EVEN.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT IF WE HAD THE $52 MILLION THAT WE'VE BEEN SHORTCHANGED IN THESE CATEGORIES, SPECIAL ED, MSOC AND SUBSTITUTE COSTS OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS, WE COULD, WE COULD SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, STAFFING AND. CLASS SIZE. YEAH, A LOT OF THINGS.
POSSIBLY. SO IS THERE NOT IS THERE NOT A HOT TOPIC AROUND SPECIAL ED THEN? BECAUSE WHY WOULD WE I DON'T KNOW, NEW UNFUNDED MANDATE MANDATES IS GOING TO KEEP US NEUTRAL.
I MEAN, IT'S YOU'RE RIGHT. RIGHT. IT WOULD BE BETTER.
SPECIAL ED FUNDING WOULD OBVIOUSLY HELP US MUCH MORE.
THAT IS SO WE COULD PUT IT AS OTHER. OR WE COULD PUT IT AS ONE OF THE 5.
MY. MY SUGGESTION WAS TO MAKE IT ONE OF THE 5 OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE COULD LIST.
I MEAN, WHILE NO UNFUNDED MANDATES IS IMPORTANT, IT'S NOT GOING TO GAIN US ANY GROUND.
IT'S JUST GOING TO MAKE US NOT LOSE GROUND. AND IF ENOUGH PEOPLE PUT FULLY FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION AS AN OTHER, MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME TRACTION THERE. I MEAN, THAT'S MOST DISTRICTS, NUMBER ONE.
OKAY. FINANCIAL ISSUE. YEAH. I'LL SEE. JUST A JUST A THOUGHT.
SOME SOME BOARD MEMBERS FROM OTHER LIKE LEDGE REPS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING SOME OF THESE.
SO I CAN PUT THAT IN THE ROOM. SO IS AI TECHNOLOGY UNDER HOT TOPICS OR IS IT.
NO. NO. AND IS THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION UNDER HOT TOPICS? NO. OKAY. SO IF WE TOOK OFF THE UNFUNDED MANDATES BECAUSE I THINK DOCTOR MINER COMMENT IS WELL TAKEN.
AND SO WE HAVE SUBS THERE AND WE HAVE MSOCS THERE.
RIGHT. AND IS THERE ONE OF THOSE THAT'S JUST ONE BIG OLD FUND, US ONE.
THERE IS FULL FUNDING OF BASIC BASIC EDUCATION.
YEAH. DO THAT ONE. I THINK THAT AND THAT INCLUDES MSOC.
BUT IT INCLUDES EVERYTHING ELSE. OKAY. THAT WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD THAT'S WHAT I WOULD OPT FOR.
OKAY. WHAT ARE THE REST DO YOU THINK? I'LL GO WITH THAT.
THIS ONE IN AND TAKE THIS ONE OUT. OKAY. I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S THE, THE INPUT I NEEDED FOR THAT.
OKAY. AND WHAT ARE WE PUTTING FOR OUR 5? SO THAT WOULD BE FULL FUNDING OF BASIC EDUCATION, BUT THAT WE JUST PUT THAT UNDER HOT TOPICS. DO WE PUT THAT AGAIN UNDER OURS? IT'S NOT IT. WELL, IT DOESN'T SAY THAT UNDER THAT INCLUDESMSOCS.
[01:20:06]
BUT HOT TOPICS ARE NO NEW ARE FULLY FUNDING MSOC FULLY FUNDING SUBSTITUTE COSTS.AND WE'RE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER THAT'S FULLY FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION.
OH OKAY. THOSE ARE OUR 3 HOT TOPICS. SO WE'RE ALLOWED TO ADD ONE.
WE CAN PUT ANOTHER. THERE'S A SPOT FOR PERFECT.
OKAY, SO THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO. GOT IT.
AND THAT WOULD LEAVE THE TOP 5 AS FULL FUNDING OF BASIC AND FISCAL NOTES AND UNFUNDED MANDATES.
AI. CAN WE PUT THAT OVER TO THE SIDE? BUT LET'S HEAR THE OTHERS.
AI, TECHNOLOGY, GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, SUPPORTING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH, AND PREVENTING SELF-HARM.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT WHAT WHAT WOULD THEY GIVE US FOR DOING THAT? WELL, I MEAN, IT'S THE IT'S THE POSITION AND THE POSITION CATALOG THAT'S IT. THERE IT IS. WHAT'S THE SHALL INITIATE AND OR SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT FULLY AND SUSTAINABLY AND EQUITABLY FUNDS MEASURES TO PROVIDE AN INCREASE ON SITE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF AROUND IDENTIFYING, UNDERSTANDING AND RESPONDING TO WARNING SIGNS OR INDICATIONS OF ACT OF SELF-HARM OR SUICIDE IDEATION,COUNSELING, MEDICAL AND ONGOING SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS.
SCHOOL DISTRICT CAPACITY TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO OVERDOSES ON SCHOOL PREMISES.
CARIN. YOU'VE WATCHED THE LEGISLATURE FOR SO LONG, WHAT ARE OUR CHANCES OF GETTING THAT? WHAT I'M THINKING IS IF WE GOT SOMETHING LIKE STABILIZING DISTRICT BUDGETS OR STATE REVENUE FOR SCHOOLS, WHICH IS WE WOULD HAVE THE FUNDING WE NEEDED TO DO THIS.
MY CONCERN IS I HAVE NO IDEA, YOU KNOW, TO WHAT EXTENT THEY WOULD TELL US EXACTLY HOW TO DO IT OR EXACTLY HOW TO USE OUR MONEY, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS SO CONCERNED THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE THE MONEY THE WAY THEY THINK IT OUGHT TO BE USED. SO THIS IS JUST SO SPECIFIC.
IT'S THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS JUST WE'RE PRIORITIZING.
I MEAN, THEY ALL KNOW THAT WE WANT THE FULL FUNDING, RIGHT? SO, YOU KNOW, IF WHICHEVER ONE OF THESE POSITIONS WE THINK IN ADDITION IS THAT IMPORTANT THOUGH, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S LIKE, SO IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, GIVING A HIGHLIGHT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS, IN THIS REALM OF THINGS. I MEAN, IT'S ONE WAY TO SEND A MESSAGE.
YEAH. MY FEAR IS THAT THEY'LL SAY THAT DOESN'T COME UNDER THE DEFINITION OF EDUCATION.
AND THEN WHAT THEY GET SO LOST WHEN IF WE COULD JUST GET FULLY FUNDED, WE COULD TAKE CARE OF THIS.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL WAS TO JUST WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE 5.
AND SO WITH THE. WE HAVE ROOM TO ADD MORE, RIGHT? I MEAN, SO THIS IS JUST ONE THAT TOM WAS SUGGESTING.
KEITH WHAT DO YOU THINK? I DON'T THINK IT HURTS TO HAVE THOSE THINGS IN THERE. I DON'T THINK IT'LL BE A DISTRACTION BECAUSE WASDA WILL BE ABLE TO SORT OF PRIORITIZE IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE.
I HEAR I THINK I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE GETTING INVOLVED IN SOME OF THESE THINGS WE WANT TO KEEP LOCAL CONTROL OVER, BUT I THINK ALSO THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO DO THAT ANYWAY IF THEY WANT TO, IF THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US THIS MONEY FOR OVERDOSE PREVENTION OR WHATEVER, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD ISSUE FOR LEGISLATOR TO SAY, LOOK AT WHAT WE DID AND THIS WE'RE GOING TO FORCE THEM TO DO.
LIKE THERE'S THIS POLITICAL PIECE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE CONTROL OVER.
OKAY. I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT THIS THESE POSITIONS ARE WASDA TO POSITIONS.
LIKE WE'RE NOT ARGUING WHETHER IT SHOULD BE A POSITION OR NOT.
IT'S JUST WHETHER IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY OR NOT.
YEAH. NO, WE'RE BUT WE'RE BASICALLY TELLING THEM WHERE TO PUT THEIR EFFORTS, WHERE TO SPEND THEIR TIME, WHERE TO PUT MORE PRESSURE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, I KNOW THEY HAVE A LOBBYIST, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY EACH ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES UP.
[01:25:01]
BUT IN TERMS OF THEY'RE DOING THE BIGGER, MORE COMPREHENSIVE KIND OF ADVOCACY YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT THAT WATERED DOWN NECESSARILY. SO THIS IS TELLING THEM THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING MOST OF YOUR EFFORTS.WELL, IT ALIGNS WITH OUR STUDENTS SAFETY, HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING ALSO.
THAT'S TRUE. I MEAN, THAT IT'S KIND OF WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALIGNING WITH WHAT WE SET.
OUR PRIORITIES WERE. YEAH. SO IT ALIGNS WISELY.
PROPOSED INCLUDING THAT. OKAY. OKAY.
I THINK I HAVE WHAT I NEED THEN I'LL SUBMIT OUR RESPONSE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I KNOW ON SATURDAY HOW LONG THAT GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS, AND I JUST WENT IN AND OUT, AND I HAD THE LUXURY OF NOT HAVING TO BE THE ONE TO BE HAVING TO VOTE FOR US. AND YOU WERE THERE, YOU AND BOTH OF YOU TOOK IT.
I WILL ADMIT, I PUT CAPTIONS ON SO I CAN FOLLOW AND NOT HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT.
AND EDMONDS MADE A GOOD PRESENCE. I THINK THE THE THINGS WE ADVOCATED FOR WERE VERY WELL SAID, WELL POINTED. AND YOU KNOW, I, WE HAD OUR VOTE.
SO, BUT YOU GUYS WERE GREAT. THANK YOU. YEAH.
I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR CHASE FOR SPELLING ME SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO SIT THROUGH ALL SEVEN HOURS.
AND YOU COULD TELL AT THE END PEOPLE WERE GETTING TIRED.
IT WAS JUST LIKE, JUST WE KNOW HOW WE'RE VOTING.
LET'S JUST DO IT. I LOVED THE ONE WHEN THEY ONE SAID, CALL FOR THE QUESTION AND ONE SAID, LET'S POSTPONE IT. I WAS LIKE, JUST CALL FOR THE QUESTION.
EVERYBODY VOTE FOR CALL FOR THE QUESTION. IT'S LIKE.
THERE WAS LIKE 25 SECONDS LEFT ON THE CON. LIKE THEY COULD HAVE JUST LET THE IT TOOK TOOK LONGER TO.
TALK FOR 25 SECONDS. YEAH. THERE'S THAT. THANK YOU.
IT'S A TOUGH THING TO SIT THROUGH. SO THAT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND NEXT WE HAVE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
[15. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS - 8:15 pm]
SO FOR THE STUDENTS I'M HOPING DOCTOR MINER TALKED TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THE COMMENTS AND YOU CAN PASS IT ANY TIME IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE US A COMMENT. IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU.AND I'M SURE SHE TALKED ABOUT THE KINDS OF COMMENTS, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS OUR YOU KNOW WELL EXPERIENCED MEMBER HERE, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU FOR YOUR, SO WE DO, WE DO THE STUDENT COMMENTS AND THEN WE DO BOARD COMMENTS.
SO YOU GET TO SAY YOUR PIECE. HELLO, MY NAME IS MATT BERRY.
I'M A SENIOR FOR LYNNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND IT'S MY SECOND YEAR BACK ON AS A STUDENT ADVISOR.
I LEARNED A LOT AND JUST OVERALL, IT WAS A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
SO IT'S HOMECOMING SEASON. WE HAD A VOTE ABOUT WHAT OUR HOMECOMING THEME WAS GOING TO BE.
AND GET THIS, OUR 3 OPTIONS WERE NIGHT IN RIO, NIGHT IN PARIS, AND NIGHT IN ATHENS.
ALL VERY UNIQUE OPTIONS. OUR SCHOOL ENDED UP GOING WITH NIGHT IN PARIS.
SPORTS SEASONS HAVE FULLY STARTED. AS SOMEBODY WHO GOES TO LYNNWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, I PRAY THAT WE CAN GET A BETTER WIN TO LOSS RATIO THIS YEAR THAN THE PAST 4 OR 5 YEARS. MAYBE I CAN SEE A WINNING SEASON, HOPEFULLY, AND I JUST HAVE HOPES TO START A GOOD YEAR.
EVERYTHING'S LOOKING GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
AND WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK. CROSS, IF YOU WANT TO GO NEXT.
ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS CROSS. I'M A SENIOR AT MEADOWDALE HIGH SCHOOL.
I'LL ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON WHAT'S GOING ON AT SCHOOL, SPECIFICALLY ON THE LEADERSHIP SIDE OF THINGS. I'LL START WITH PROVIDING SOME CONTEXT ABOUT WHO I AM. I'M A PART OF THE ASB EXECUTIVE BOARD AT MY SCHOOL AS A SECRETARY.
AND THIS SUMMER WE WENT TO A LEADERSHIP CAMP KNOWN AS MOUNT TRIUMPH.
IT WAS ME AND ALL THE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL, AND A FEW OF THE SENATES.
AND THERE WERE SCHOOLS FROM ALL OVER WASHINGTON STATE THAT ALSO WENT TO THIS CAMP.
[01:30:03]
AND AT THIS CAMP, WE SPENT ABOUT A WEEK THERE.WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE SCHOOL SPIRIT, BUT ALSO WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A SAFE, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS AT OUR SCHOOL. AND THE FIRST THING WE DID WHEN WE CAME BACK FROM THAT CAMP WAS WE HELD A MEETING WITH ALL THE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS AND FROM SOME OF OUR SENATE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT OUR GOALS AND PURPOSE FOR THIS YEAR.
AND WE ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH THIS LITTLE ACRONYM.
SO SINCE WE HAVE ASB, WE TURNED IT INTO ALL STUDENTS BELONG.
SO IT'S NICE AND EASY AND MEMORABLE. AND YEAH, I THINK OUR BIG DIRECTION FOR THIS YEAR IS NOT JUST TO MAKE ALL STUDENTS FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME AND TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A SECOND HOME.
BUT I THINK ANOTHER BIG THING TO HAVING A GOAL IS OBVIOUSLY, WHAT ARE THE ACTIONS YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE TO MEETING THAT GOAL? AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MEETINGS ABOUT WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO TO HELP CREATE A SELF, A SAFE, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS. WE ALSO LOOKED AT LIKE OSPI REPORTS FROM LAST YEAR AND TALKED ABOUT LIKE OUR DEMOGRAPHICS AND HOW WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS, BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO SAY TO TELL OUR STUDENTS, HEY, COME TO THIS FUNDRAISER OR COME TO THIS EVENT, IT'LL BE FUN. BUT SOME STUDENTS DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
SOME ARE LOW INCOME, SOME JUST HAVE OTHER COMMITMENTS AND THEY CAN'T MAKE IT TO THIS EVENT.
AND OUR BIG FOCUS WAS ACTUALLY SPORTS, SPORTS GAMES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID FOR OUR FIRST FOOTBALL GAME LAST FRIDAY IS WE HELD A TAILGATE.
WE ALSO PROVIDED FREE SNACKS FOR STUDENTS, AND WE ALSO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO THE GAME TO RIDE WITH ONE OF THE ASB MEMBERS, WHICH IS REALLY NICE. AND YEAH, I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING SCHOOL SPIRIT IN OUR SCHOOLS IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE AND FEEL WELCOME. AND BUT ALSO TO FULFILL THEIR NEEDS.
AND YEAH, I THINK OUR BIG GOAL FOR THIS YEAR IS TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT ALL STUDENTS BELONG.
IT'S TERRIFIC. KELTON. I AM KELTON MARQUIS. I'M ALSO A SENIOR AT MEADOWDALE HIGH SCHOOL, SO I'LL TRY TO NOT COVER TOO MUCH CROSS HIT THE BASES THERE. BEING PART OF DECA, I'M THE DECA PRESIDENT FOR MEADOWDALE.
WE HAD OUR CLUB SUMMIT FOR THE SCHOOL, WHICH IS WHERE ALL THE CLUBS MEET TOGETHER AND KIND OF DISCUSS WHAT FUNDRAISING CAN LOOK LIKE AND HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE AS CLUBS FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS AT OUR SCHOOL. RUNNING START BEGAN AT EDMONDS COLLEGE YESTERDAY.
AND SO FOR A LOT OF JUNIORS AND SENIORS, INCLUDING MYSELF, IT WAS THIS IS THE FIRST WEEK WE HAVE A FULL SCHEDULE, WHICH IS NICE IN SOME WAYS CHALLENGING IN OTHERS, BUT I THINK IT'LL BE A GREAT YEAR FOR THAT AND ACHIEVEMENT TIMES STARTED AT MEADOWDALE YESTERDAY AS WELL, WHICH IS 15 MINUTES AT THE END OF EACH PERIOD, WHERE IF YOU ARE EXCELLING IN YOUR CLASS, YOU HAVE THAT TIME TO HAVE AN EXTENDED PASSING PERIOD AND LUNCH.
AND IF YOU'RE HAVING A CHALLENGE IN THAT CLASS, IT'S A TIME FOR YOU TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH YOUR TEACHER TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND CONCEPTS AND GET YOUR WORK DONE, WHICH IS A REALLY GREAT BENEFIT WE HAVE AT MEADOWDALE.
THANK YOU. AND YOU GUYS DID A GOOD JOB OF TEAM TEAMWORK THERE.
ISABELLA. HI, MY NAME IS ISABELLA MACKENZIE. I AM A SENIOR AT EDMONDS-WOODWAY HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR AS A STUDENT, A STUDENT BOARD ADVISOR, AND I'M SO EXCITED.
AND IN TERMS OF UPDATES REGARDING EDMONDS-WOODWAY, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE IB STUDENTS, MORE SPECIFICALLY ARE TAKING THEIR OH, THEIR TOK CLASSES, WHICH IT'S EITHER IN THE AFTERNOON OR THE MORNING.
BUT OVERALL, THE IB IS GOING WELL. IT'S A LOT FOR STUDENTS.
A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE TIRED, BUT IT'S REWARDING AND THEY'RE LIKING IT.
AND A LOT OF CLUBS ARE STARTING UP, SUCH AS YEARBOOK CLUB, BEST BUDDIES AND DECA.
AND OVERALL IT'S GOING WELL. GREAT. THANK YOU.
AND I KNOW THAT TOK STANDS FOR THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE.
SO MY SON TOOK IT. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I KNOW WHAT YOU LEARN IN THERE IS WHAT I LEARNED IN COLLEGE.
I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL I WAS LIKE AN UPPERCLASSMAN IN COLLEGE FOR THE THINGS YOU'RE LEARNING IN THERE.
SO GOOD FOR YOU FOR TAKING THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING.
[01:35:02]
OKAY, DIRECTOR SMITH FIRST THING, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR STUDENT ADVISORS FOR COMING.AND FOR ISABELLA AND COLTON, WHO ATTENDED THE STUDY SESSION, I WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, DURING THAT I HAD ASKED YOUR OPINIONS ON A COUPLE THINGS. AND THAT'S SORT OF THE BIGGEST HELP THAT YOU STUDENT ADVISORS DO GIVE US IS YOU GIVE US THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN YOUR LIVES.
WE DON'T REALLY KNOW. WE CAN MAKE OUR BEST CHOICES.
LOOK AT THE DATA, ALL OF THAT. BUT YOU HAVE THE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND THAT IS SUPER HELPFUL FOR US.
SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU, BOTH OF YOU, FOR SHOWING UP TO IT.
AND ALSO I KNOW THAT MOVING FORWARD, A LOT OF YOU, AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, WILL ATTEND OUR STUDY SESSIONS IN THESE MEETINGS AND YOUR INPUT IS VERY MUCH VALUED. A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I WANTED TO HIT ON REAL QUICKLY.
I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS FOR IT, SO I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON THE SPECIFICS OF IT.
BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT ONE OF OUR GOALS IS A BOARD AND IS A DISTRICT, IS TO HAVE VERY CLEAR AND GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. AND MAYBE WE FELL SHORT BASED ON THE WAY IT WAS DESCRIBED.
WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE DONE BETTER THERE. AND I AM SORRY THAT THESE IMPACTS ARE IMPACTING YOUR FAMILY THE WAY THEY ARE, AND HOPEFULLY THAT THINGS WILL GET RESOLVED THERE IN A WAY THAT WORKS OUT WELL MOVING FORWARD.
AND THE LAST THING I WANTED TO MENTION WAS TO THE ISSUE OF TECHNOLOGY AND AI ON OUR CLASSROOMS. IT IS AN ISSUE THAT I KNOW MYSELF AND DIRECTOR CRAMER ARE VERY INTERESTED IN.
AND I KNOW IT'S A THING THAT WE ARE ALL INTERESTED IN.
I KNOW FOR MYSELF, I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE DATA THAT SHOWS THE MORE TECHNOLOGY YOU GET IN CLASS, IT ACTUALLY LEADS TO LOWER STUDENT OUTCOMES, WHICH IS NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT, BUT THERE IS SOME DATA TO THAT.
THE POINT THERE, THOUGH, IS THAT THE STATE IS LOOKING AT THAT.
MY POSITION ON THIS, AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO MENTION, IS JUST TO BE CLEAR, WHAT MY POSITION IS, IS TO LET OSPI DO A LOT OF THAT WORK FOR US, GET SOME OF THE EXPERTISE IN THERE THAT WE AREN'T GOING TO HAVE, GIVE US A FRAMEWORK THAT WE CAN WORK WITH, AND THEN WE AS A DISTRICT CAN LOOK AT THAT FRAMEWORK AND DECIDE, IS THAT WHAT WE WANT? EDMONDS DO WE WANT SOMETHING MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN WHAT OSP GUIDANCE IS? SO IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT THE ISSUE, AND IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
OTHER THAN THAT, I'M EXCITED FOR A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, AND I HOPE YOU ALL ARE AS WELL AND HAVE A GREAT YEAR, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR GARARD. I ALSO WOULD NOTE THAT SEATTLE SCHOOL DISTRICT JUST RESTRICTED SCREEN TIME IN K-2 AND REMOVED THE 1 TO 1 DEVICES IN K-2.
SO I HOPE WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT. LOOKING BACK I MADE IT TO AN EDMONDS-WOODWAY FOOTBALL GAME.
I MADE IT TO A MOUNTLAKE TERRACE FOOTBALL GAME.
IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE THE BAND, THE CHEER SQUADS.
LIKE, IT'S NOT JUST THE FOOTBALL. AND MAYBE I'LL GET TO SEE THE OTHER 2 SCHOOLS THIS FRIDAY.
I ESPECIALLY ENJOY SEEING SOME OF MY FORMER STUDENTS OUT THERE ON THE FIELD.
LOOKING FORWARD A COUPLE THINGS. THIS IS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
ON SATURDAY THERE'S AN EVENT AT LYNNWOOD ELEMENTARY, A LOTERIA SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, ENGLISH IS HAPPENING THERE. SO THAT'S SOMETHING I HOPE THAT FAMILIES WILL ENJOY.
ORANGE SHIRT DAY IS NEXT WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, AND WE PASSED A RESOLUTION ABOUT THAT LAST YEAR.
SO I HAVE MY ORANGE SHIRT READY. IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ORANGE SHIRT, THERE'S AN EVENT ON THE, ON NEXT TUESDAY AT THE ECA. SO YOU CAN GO AND MAKE A DESIGN.
THERE'S ALSO AN EVENT ON THE 3RD OF OCTOBER AT THE MONTLAKE TERRACE LIBRARY, WHERE THERE'S A FILM ON THE EXPERIENCE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO WERE TAKEN INTO THE BOARDING SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH IS A
[01:40:01]
PROFOUNDLY AND INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA. SO I HOPE TO GET TO THAT AFTER I GO TO THE FOUNDATION FOR EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT FUN RUN ON THE 3RD MORNING OF THE 3RD.AND I JUST SAW ONE MORE THING WORTH NOTING IN THE STAFF NEWS.
FAMILY NEWS IS THERE'S A GUN SAFETY WEBINAR NEXT WEEK ON WEDNESDAY ONLINE 7 TO 8 P.M..
SO CHECK THE TEXT OR THE NEWSLETTER EMAIL TO FIND OUT HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THAT.
AND THAT'S IT. THANKS. VERY NEWSY. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CHASE.
THANK YOU. AND I'M GOING TO JOIN EVERYONE IN SAYING WE LOVE HAVING STUDENT ADVISORS.
AND IT REALLY IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUMMERTIME WHEN YOU ALL ARE NOT HERE JUST FEELS WRONG.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU.
IT'S LONELY. IT'S VERY LONELY. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR WONDERFUL COMMENTS TODAY.
IT CAN BE A LOT OF WORK. IT'S KIND OF DRINKING FROM THE FIRE HOSE SOMETIMES, BUT YOU'RE JUMPING RIGHT IN THERE AND I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE WELL REPRESENTED IN ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNEW THAT. AND I SAID THAT PUBLICLY BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF WORK. THAT IS A LOT OF BEHIND THE SCENES THAT YOU MAY NOT BE FOLKS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF. AND ALL THESE THINGS ARE YOU'RE WELCOME.
I'M ALSO VERY HAPPY THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON WESTGATE.
IT'S ABOUT TIME AND. ORANGE SHIRT DAY. I SEE HERE HERE I USUALLY AM 4TH IN LINE FOR SAYING COMMENTS.
SO MOST THINGS ARE COVERED. AND SO. BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT THE ORANGE SHIRT DAY DOUBT EVENT AT THE EDMONDS CENTER FOR THE ARTS IS GOING TO BE RIGHT BEFORE OUR STUDY SESSION.
SO WE COULD ALWAYS GO DOWN THERE BEFORE OUR STUDY SESSION, SEPTEMBER 9TH, SEPTEMBER 29TH.
AND THERE'S LINKS ON OUR WEBSITE, AND I WANT TO READ JUST A LITTLE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THIS IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT NATIVE EDUCATION, THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS INVITES YOU TO ORANGE SHIRT DAY COMMUNITY WORKSHOP, A SPECIAL EVENT TO HONOR THE CHILDREN IMPACTED BY INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS, DECORATE ORANGE SHIRTS IN REMEMBRANCE AND LEARN THE MEANING BEHIND THIS POWERFUL SYMBOL.
HERE, AN INDIGENOUS ELDER SHARE HER FAMILY'S PERSONAL STORY AND EXPERIENCES WITH THE BOARDING SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THIS INTERGENERATIONAL WORKSHOP WORKSHOP PROVIDES SPACE FOR FAMILIES TO DECORATE ORANGE SHIRTS AND REFLECTION AND SOLIDARITY, AND THE SHIRTS MAY BE SHOWN WORN BY STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT IN OCTOBER AS PART OF THE ORANGE SHIRT DAY, RAISING AWARENESS AND HONORING THE THE INCREDIBLE RESILIENCE OF NATIVE COMMUNITIES.
AND I JUST WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE.
JUMP ON THERE. I JUST REGISTERED FOR THIS. WHILE I WAS LISTENING TO YOUR COMMENTS.
IT'S LIKE OMEGA REGISTERED. SO. SO THERE WE ARE.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SCHOOL BACK, BACK GOING AND I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS.
KEEPING THEM SHORT BECAUSE OH MY GOSH, IT'S DARK OUT ALREADY.
IT'S LIKE I WASN'T QUITE READY FOR THAT PART. SO THANKS.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. I THINK EVERYONE'S COVERED.
JUST I'VE THANKED PEOPLE, I'VE WELCOMED PEOPLE.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO LOTS OF THINGS.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY THAT MY RESEARCHING IT MAKES IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE TIME SPENT ON SCREENS, BUT HOW THE SCREENS ARE USED, HOW THAT TIME IS USED.
JUST LIKE ALL INSTRUCTION, WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR KIDS DIGITALLY LITERATE, LITERATE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THEM RESPONSIBLE. THE MORE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STARTS GETTING OUT OF HAND, THE MORE WE HAVE TO HELP EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS AND HOW TO PROTECT OUR WORLD.
SO WE JUST HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL, AND THE MORE WE CAN DO TO USE IT WELL AND CAREFULLY AND KEEP OUR EYE ON, ON THAT PIECE OF IT AS OPPOSED TO WORRYING. I MEAN, TOO MUCH TIME ISN'T GOOD IF IT'S NOT BEING USED WELL AT ALL.
DOCTOR MINER. I WANT TO LOOK AT THE STUDENTS AND SAY I PREDICTED THIS.
I SAID PRETTY MUCH FROM THE FIRST MEETING, WHEN YOU'RE NOT HERE IN JUNE THROUGH THE MEETING,
[01:45:04]
WHEN YOU COME BACK, I HEAR HOW MUCH WE MISS THE STUDENTS.BUT I DID TELL THEM THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THEIR RETURN.
I HAVE STARTED MY DATA CHATS WITH SCHOOLS. THESE ARE KIND OF LIKE A 30 MINUTE SPEED ROUND ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR SCHOOL SUPERVISOR, THE DIRECTOR OF TEACHING AND LEARNING, AND AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE, THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AS WELL.
AND WE KIND OF GO THROUGH THEIR COHORT DATA IS WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THE IMPACT THAT THEIR SCHOOL AND THEIR TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESSES HAVE ON A VERY NARROW MEASURE, WHICH IS THE SBA. WE ALSO TALK ABOUT ATTENDANCE.
AND SO THAT'S BEEN A REALLY FABULOUS WAY TO JUST DIVE IN WITH THE PRINCIPALS.
KIND OF GET THEM GROUNDED AND HAVE A CHANCE TO BEGIN THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
THEY'RE VERY QUICK. THEY'RE 30 MINUTES IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH 34 SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE TO GO FAIRLY QUICKLY. BUT WE'VE GOT IT KIND OF DOWN TO A WELL-OILED MACHINE.
AND SO VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING OUT INTO THE BUILDINGS AND SEEING THE WORK THERE.
THANK YOU. WELCOME BACK.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.