[00:00:08]
>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE MARCH BUSINESS MEDIA IN THE FERNDALE SCHOOL BOARD.
[1. CONVENE]
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WHETHER LIVE OR ONLINE.AS A REMINDER, THE PURPOSE OF THIS AND EVERY OTHER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IS TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE BOARD.
THAT BUSINESS IS TO MAKE DECISIONS AND POLICIES THAT REFLECT THE WISHES OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE EACH CHILD WITH NECESSARY SKILLS AND ATTITUDES COMMENSURATE WITH HIS OR HER ABILITY TO BECOME EFFECTIVE CITIZENS.
IN ORDER TO FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THAT PURPOSE, THE BOARD NEEDS TO HEAR, AND DISCUSS VARIOUS OPINIONS ON EACH ISSUE.
THAT PROCESS IS BEST SERVED WHEN ALL INVOLVED FOCUS ON THE ISSUES RATHER THAN THE PERSONALITIES.
PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S MEETING, THE BOARD RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR AN UPDATE REGARDING OUR REVIEW OF GC7, OUR CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY.
THE BOARD CONTINUES TO REVIEW GC7 AND OUR CODE OF CONDUCT AS APPROPRIATE CONDUCT IS IMPORTANT.
WE LEARNED IN THIS REVIEW PROCESS THAT WHILE WE HAVE A CODE OF CONDUCT, WE DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL POLICY OR PROCEDURE FOR ADDRESSING VIOLATIONS OF IT.
OUR LEGAL COUNSEL HAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE DEVELOP AND ADOPT A PROCESS FOR DOING SUCH AND AS SO WE ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.
WITH THAT, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH TONIGHT'S MEETING.
FIRST ORDER ON THE AGENDA IS TO RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I'D ASK THAT YOU WOULD ALL PLEASE JOIN.
WE'LL HAVE THE RECITATION OF THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
FOR THAT, I'LL TURN THINGS OVER TO KWABENA.
>> WE THE FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT ACKNOWLEDGE WE ARE RESIDING ON THE TRADITIONAL, ANCESTRAL AND UNSEATED TERRITORY OF THE LEMMY PEOPLE.
THE LEMMY PEOPLE ARE THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF WASHINGTON'S NORTHERN MOST COAST AND SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
THEY LIVED IN VILLAGES THROUGHOUT THIS TERRITORY AND CONTINUE TO HAVE AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE AREAS.
SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, THEY HAVE CELEBRATED THEIR LIFE ON THEIR WATERWAYS AND ON UNDER THE TRADITIONAL ANCESTRAL AND UNSEATED LANDS OF THE PEOPLE TO PERPETUATE THEIR WAY OF LIFE.
WE HONOR THEIR ANCESTORS AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE LEMMY PEOPLE AS THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THIS LAND.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS THE ACTUAL ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA,
[2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA [GC-4.7]]
AND AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN ANY DISCUSSION IN REGARDS TO THE AGENDA AND/OR A MOTION TO ACCEPT IT.>> I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.
THE ONE INVOLVING WHATCOM COUNTY SKILL CENTER PARTICIPATION, PLEASE.
ANY DISCUSSION OR ANY OTHER CHANGES? THEN SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION, THE CHAIR WILL ESSENTIALLY TAKE A VOTE THAT WE WILL GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED WITH THE REMOVAL OF ITEM 9.02 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO MAKE IT A SEPARATE DISCUSSION ITEM.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED AS AMENDED.
WITH THAT SAID, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM 3.01,
[3. SPECIAL PRESENTATION]
WHICH TONIGHT WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF A PRESENTATION BY THE VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL ASB.FOR THAT, I WILL GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO THE GROUP.
>> MY NAME IS TAYLOR MALLOC AND I'M THE EIGHTH GRADE REPRESENTATIVE.
>> MY NAME IS JOCELYN SWANSON, AND I'M THE SECRETARY.
>> MY NAME IS CHELSEA LOOMIS AND I'M A SEVENTH GRADE REPRESENTATIVE.
>> TODAY WE ARE COMING TO SHARE, THIS IS NEW ASB CONSTITUTION.
UPON FINDING THE OLD CONSTITUTION, WE REALIZE HOW DATED IT WAS AND HOW IT DIDN'T REFLECT HOW ASB RUNS OR HAS RUN FOR A WHILE.
[00:05:02]
DUE TO THAT, IT WAS TIME TO WRITE A NEW CONSTITUTION THAT REFLECTS OUR ASB TODAY.>> WE ADDED A PREAMBLE TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE THE INTENTIONS OF A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY.
THIS REPLACED ARTICLE 1 AND 2 OF THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION.
>> OUR NEW CONSTITUTION CLEANED UP ARTICLES 3 THROUGH 8.
ASB ELECTIONS AND DUTIES HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS SINCE THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION, SO THERE WAS A NEED TO CORRECT THAT, TO REFLECT HOW ASB HAS VOTED IN NEW MEMBERS AND WHO HOLDS WHAT OFFICE, THE REQUIREMENTS OF WHO RAN STAYED THE SAME.
>> THE DUTY STAYED THE SAME, BUT THE LANGUAGE WAS CLEANED UP TO INCLUDE THE DIGITAL WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY.
>> THE BIGGEST CHANGE WE MADE WAS TO USE PRONOUNS THAT ARE MORE INCLUSIVE SO THAT ALL FEEL WELCOME.
DEFINITELY WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF UPDATING PAPERWORK AND PROCEDURES.
GOOD TO SEE. FOR ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT CHRIS POST, THEY DID GIVE US A COPY OF THEIR ORIGINAL AND THEIR NEW CONSTITUTIONS AND IF WE CAN GET THAT ADDED.
THANK YOU. NEXT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM 4.01, WHICH IS [OVERLAPPING]
>> CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION KEVIN?
>> FOR THE CONSTITUTION, IS THAT POSTED ON THE WEBSITE FOR VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL OR WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND IT?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MY APOLOGIES.
>> JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHEN WAS THE OLD CONSTITUTION ADOPTED?
>> SOUNDS LIKE WE COULD HAVE AN ARCHAEOLOGY CLASS TOO.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT? AS WE MOVE INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF TONIGHT'S MEETING,
[4. PUBLIC COMMENT [GC-3.3]]
I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT.PUBLIC COMMENT IS A TIME WHEN THE BOARD IS ABLE TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY WHAT IS ON THEIR MIND AND IMPORTANT TO THEM.
IT'S NOT A TIME OF DISCUSSION, IT IS TIME FOR THE BOARD TO LISTEN.
BOARD MEMBERS MAY ASK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS AND OR MAY DIRECT SOMEONE, MOST OFTEN THE SUPERINTENDENT, TO TAKE FUTURE ACTIONS RELATED TO THE STATEMENTS, BUT AGAIN, IT IS NOT A TIME FOR DISCUSSION.
PLEASE DO NOT INTERPRET THIS AS A LACK OF INTEREST OR CONCERN.
IT IS RELATED TO THE RULES OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETING ACT THAT REQUIRES US TO ANNOUNCE ANY TOPIC ON WHICH THERE IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSION WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE INTEREST PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
BY DISCUSSING SOMETHING NOT ON THE AGENDA, WE POTENTIALLY DEPRIVE AN INTERESTED COMMUNITY MEMBER TO BE PRESENT FOR THAT DISCUSSION.
THOSE THAT ARE NOT COMFORTABLE SPEAKING IN FRONT OF THE GROUP ARE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO CONTACT THE BOARD VIA PHONE OR EMAIL.
OUR CONTACT INFORMATION IS READILY AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
AS I'VE MENTIONED IN MONTHS PAST, AS WE REVIEWED OUR PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY, WE NOTICED WE HAD DRIFTED AWAY FROM SOME ASPECTS OF IT.
OUR INTENT TONIGHT, LIKE PREVIOUSLY IS TO BETTER COMPLY WITH THAT POLICY.
THE MOST NOTABLE CHANGES ARE ONE, SPEAKERS WILL BE ASKED TO STATE THEIR FIRST AND LAST NAME, THEIR ADDRESS, AND THE NAMES OF ANY GROUP OR ORGANIZATION THEY ARE REPRESENTING PRIOR TO SPEAKING.
THIS DOES NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF SIGNING IN COMPLETELY ON THE PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN-IN SHEET, THIS IS STILL REQUIRED AS WELL.
SPEAKERS WILL BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
WE HAVE BEEN GRACIOUS WITH THIS LIMIT IN THE PAST, BUT WE WILL BE HOLDING MORE FIRMLY TO IT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
EACH SPEAKER'S TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN THEY STEP TO THE PODIUM AND BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
ANY SPEAKER WHOSE COMMENTS EXCEEDED THE THREE-MINUTE LIMIT, CAN SUBMIT THEIR ENTIRE OR REMAINING COMMENTS IN WRITING.
SPEAKERS WILL BE EXPECTED TO AVOID A DEFAMATORY, ABUSIVE, REPETITIVE, OBSCENE, AND OR IRRELEVANT REMARKS.
FAILURE TO HEED THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN TERMINATION OF YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SPEAKERS WILL ALSO BE DISCOURAGED FROM SPEAKING RELATED TO EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCES AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THE EMPLOYEE'S UNIONS.
SEPARATE CHANNELS EXIST TO ACCOMMODATE THESE CONCERNS
[00:10:03]
PURSUANT TO THE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AND GRIEVANCE POLICY.IN ADDITION, THE BOARD HAS ELECTED TO INVOKE, FOR THE TIME BEING, IT'S RIGHT TO LIMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS, SPEAKERS TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY, EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT, AND OR DESIGNEES OF SUCH RESIDENTS OR EMPLOYEES, CURRENT STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND GUARDIANS OF CURRENT STUDENTS, AND THOSE OWNING PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT FALL INTO ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES, THE BOARD WELCOMES WRITTEN COMMENT AT ANYTIME.
SPEAKERS WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO LEAVE ALL BAGS, BACKPACKS, AND ENCLOSED CONTAINERS AT THEIR SEATS RATHER THAN BRINGING THEM TO THE PODIUM.
IF A SPEAKER HAS ANY WRITTEN DOCUMENTS FOR THE BOARD, THEY CAN BE LEFT ON THE TABLE IN FRONT OF US.
GOING ON, I'VE GOT A LIST OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP AND FIRST ON THE LIST IS ANDREW AUGUSTUS.
>> ANDREW AUGUSTUS, 6,000 BAR TAXPAYER AND PARENT.
WELCOME, TONY, I SINCERELY HOPE YOU CAN HELP THIS DISTRICT.
I'D LIKE TO HELP YOU WITH A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE FACTS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
FIRST, YOU RECALL THAT THE VOTERS HAVE FAILED A NUMBER OF BONDS OVER THE YEARS MOST RECENTLY, THEY SAID NO IN 2018 TO 100 MILLION PLUS PRICE TAG FOR A NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
THE DISTRICT RE-RAN THE SAME BOND PROPOSED IN 2019 WITH THE PROMISE IN WRITING, THE VOTERS COULD AFFORD TO VOTE YES ON THE BOND BECAUSE THE LOCAL LEVY RATE WAS KEPT AT THE STATE DETERMINED LEVY RATE OF $1.50 PER THOUSAND OF APPRAISED VALUE.
WITH THAT IN MIND, VOTERS APPROVED THE HIGH-SCHOOL BOND IN FEBRUARY OF 19, AND THEN THE STATE LIFTED THE LOCAL LEVY RATE FROM 1.50-2.50 AS WE KNEW THEY WOULD.
THIS DISTRICT WASTED NO TIME IN BREAKING THEIR PROMISE OF AFFORDABILITY TO THE VOTERS BY RAISING THE EXISTING LEVY UP TO 2.50 AND THEN PUTTING 2.50 ON THE FEB 2020 BALLOT. VOTERS WERE OUTRAGED.
THEY OVERWHELMINGLY FAILED THAT LEVY, SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE DISTRICT CHAOS FOLLOWED AS THE THEN SUPERINTENDENT TRIED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE THE PITCH TO RERUN THE LEVY IN APRIL OF 2020.
THE PREVIOUS BOARD FEARED LOSING A SECOND LEVY, SO THEY DECIDED TO KEEP THEIR PROMISE AND RUN IT AT 1.50.
MELINDA HERE, CHANGED IT TO ONLY A TWO-YEAR LEVY SO THAT THE RATE COULD BE RAISED SOONER THAN THE NORMAL FOUR-YEAR TERM.
BUT AS YOU RECALL, WHEN INTEL COULD SHUT DOWN AND THEN THE FULL SHUTDOWN OF THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OVER COVID, THE BOARD PULLED THE LEVY FROM THE APRIL 20 ELECTION, STUCK IN THE NOVEMBER 20 ELECTION WHERE IT PASSED.
[NOISE] BUT THE PRICE OF THEIR EARLY ARROGANCE WAS THE EMERGENCY STAFFING AND PROGRAM CUTS, ALL SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS.
WISELY OR FEARFULLY, THIS BOARD DECIDED TO RERUN THE 1.50 TWO YEAR LEVY IN FEB OF 2022.
I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION NOW AS YOU WILL SOON BE REVIEWING AND VOTING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, AND WE'LL VOTE ON THE AMOUNT AND THE TERM FOR THE NEXT LEVY, WHICH WILL BE PUT IN FRONT OF THE VOTERS IN FEB OF 2024.
THE 1.50 PROMISE HAS NO EXPIRATION DATE.
IT SHOULD BE ASSUMED THAT FOR THE LIFE OF THE 20-YEAR BOND, THE LOCAL LEVY SHOULD REMAIN KEPT AT $1.50.
THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVY FUNDS, THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET OF THIS DISTRICT, $80 MILLION FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR TO EDUCATE 4,200 STUDENTS.
THE BUDGET WAS AROUND $50 MILLION A DECADE AGO FOR THE SAME NUMBER OF STUDENTS.
EIGHTY EIGHT MILLION BUCKS, THAT'S $21,000 PER STUDENT.
PER THIS DISTRICT'S OWN DATA REPORTED BY OSPI, 56% OF ALL FUND STUDENTS FAILED TO MEET THEIR GRADE LEVEL STANDARD IN SCIENCE, 53% FAILED TO MEET THEIR GRADE-LEVEL STANDARD IN ENGLISH, 64% FAILED TO MEET THEIR GRADE LEVEL STANDARD IN MATH.
DO YOU THINK EACH OF THE STUDENTS FROM DISTRICT 3 IS GETTING THE EDUCATION WORTH 21,000 PER YEAR? ARE YOUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AND TAXPAYERS IN DISTRICT 3, GETTING THEIR MONEY'S WORTH FOR THE EXORBITANT TAXES THEY'RE APPARENTLY PAYING? MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF THIS DISTRICT IS NOT TEACHING SCIENCE, ENGLISH, AND MATH TO THE LEVELS BY THEIR OWN STANDARDS, WHAT ARE THEY SPENDING $88 MILLION A YEAR ON? WHAT ARE THEY TEACHING OUR KIDS? LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO DIG INTO THE BARBARA ROBUST SCANDAL, THE WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, THE BULLYING OF VISTA ADMIN STAFF THAT LED THEM TO QUIT UNDER DURESS, AND THE CANCELLATION OF A SCHOOL RESOURCE'S OFFICER CONTRACT THAT'S LEFT THEIR CHILDREN UNPROTECTED FOR OVER TWO YEARS.
PLEASE NOTE, WELL, NORMALLY SOME OF FERNANDO'S FINANCE IS HERE TO PROTECT THE BOARD AND THE ADMIN.
TO BE FAIR, IT'S PROBABLY ONLY ONE BOARD MEMBER AND A COUPLE OF ADMIN THEY'RE AFRAID FROM WHO YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK, I SWEAR I'M NOT MAKING THIS UP, TONY, THEY'RE AFRAID OF US, THE PARENTS, THE GRANDPARENTS, VOTERS, AND TAXPAYERS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE AFRAID OF THE VERY CONSTITUENTS THEY CLAIM TO REPRESENT. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW. NEXT WE HAVE SHIRA NAHARI.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M SHIRA NAHARI, 5740 HAMILTON AVENUE, FERNDALE.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS HAVE LAUNCHED SOME DEEP THOUGHTS TO RACE AROUND IN MY HEAD ABOUT MORALITY, BETRAYAL OF TRUST, PROTECTION OF THE VULNERABLE.
EXAMINING THE STANDARDS IN OUR SOCIETY WHERE LYING, CORRUPTION, DISHONESTY, AND IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR HAVE VIRTUALLY BECOME NEW NORMS,
[00:15:02]
SUPPRESSION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH.MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF HOLDING SWAY OVER OTHERS AND THUS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING TEMPLATES HAVE PERVERTED THEMSELVES INTO DARK CARICATURES OF VIRTUE.
OUR BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS TELL US THAT FROM THE WOMB THROUGH THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS OF LIFE, A CHILD IS BASICALLY A LITTLE TAPE RECORDER, THE ACTIONS AND VALUES THEY OBSERVE ARE ETCHED INTO THEIR SUBCONSCIOUS AND DETERMINE HOW THEY WILL THINK AND ACT AS GROWN-UPS.
THEY WATCH US AND THEY COPY OUR ACTIONS REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE TELL THEM TO DO.
I INVITE EACH OF YOU MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO EXAMINE YOUR HEARTS, ASSESS HOW YOU HAVE DISCHARGED YOUR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
HOW DO YOUR OWN WORDS AND ACTIONS LINE UP WITH THE SACRED CHARGE OF SHAPING THE YOUNG LIVES UNDER YOUR CARE? YOU CAN EXPECT THE RESULTS OF DEVIATION AND FAILURE TO HAVE CONSEQUENCES, PARTICULARLY IF YOUR ACTIONS HAVE VIOLATED THE VERY STANDARDS AND RULES YOU COMMITTED TO UPHOLD TO HONOR? YES, HONOR IS THE OPERATIVE WORD HERE.
WELL, MY DESIRE AND INTENTION ARE NOT TO SHAME OR CRITICIZE YOU, I FEEL I MUST CALL YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU HAVE BROKEN THE PUBLIC TRUST PLACED IN YOU.
IT IS TIME TO OWN UP FOR YOUR MISTAKES, AND IT IS LONG PAST TIME TO MAKE AMENDS FOR FIRING YOUR LOYAL WORKERS FOR THEIR HEALTH CHOICES.
ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES AND THEY CAN BE DIRE.
THINK ON THESE WORDS AS EVENTS UNFOLD, FOR EACH OF US SHALL REAP WHAT WE HAVE SOWN.
>> HI, I'M SUSAN PROSSER, 7399 ENTERPRISE ROAD HERE IN FERNDALE.
AND VERY BUSY TODAY, SO I DIDN'T GET TO PREPARE ANYTHING FORMALLY, BUT I DO CARE, I HAVE MANY CONCERNS, AND SO HERE I AM.
IT'S BETTER THAT I SHOW UP AND TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETING, WHETHER YOU'RE FOLLOWING THOSE PROCEDURES AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPEN POSITION THAT WE HAD AND HOW THAT WAS FAILED, I'M CONCERNED MOSTLY ABOUT HOW ONE OF THE CANDIDATES WAS TREATED.
THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR HOW THAT WAS HANDLED, THERE WAS NO EXCUSE HOW HER REPUTATION WAS ASSASSINATED, ALL THE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT WERE SAID ABOUT HER.
AND THEN TO THINK THAT THERE WAS NO APOLOGY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S HORRIBLE, THAT'S TERRIBLE, SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.
THE MORALS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXAMPLE THAT WE'RE SETTING FOR THE KIDS.
WHAT WE DO, WHAT WE SAY WHEN WE SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO OUR FLAG.
WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT MEAN? AND ARE WE UPHOLDING THAT? I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE MONEY THAT'S BEING SPENT.
WE JUST BUILT THIS NEW SCHOOL AND WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
AND ALL THESE OTHER EXPENSES THAT KEEP COMING UP.
SO MANY THINGS TO BE CONCERNED WITH, BUT WE'RE STARTING A LITTLE TREND HERE THAT HOW OUR BUS DRIVERS AND OUR TRANSPORTATION MANAGER WAS HANDLED, HOW THEY WERE TREATED HORRIBLY, AND WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT THAT.
THAT HAS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED AND RECTIFIED, WHICH THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I ALREADY MENTIONED HOW ONE OF OUR CANDIDATES WAS TREATED, THAT'S HORRIBLE.
SO WE'VE GOT A TREND GOING HERE THAT YOU SAY ONE THING, ANTI-BULLYING, YOU'RE GOING TO TREAT EVERYBODY WITH RESPECT AND ALL OF THAT, BUT WHAT HAVE WE GOT GOING ON HERE? THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THAT.
WE'RE HERE, WE WANT TO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE, WE WANT YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING, NOW DO THE RIGHT THING.
>> THANK YOU, SUSAN. NEXT, WE HAVE, BRIAN HOELZLE.
>> MY NAME IS BRIAN HOELZLE, 3708 BRISTOL STREET IN BELLINGHAM.
CURRENTLY THE ASSISTANT FOOTBALL AND TRACK COACH AT FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL.
[00:20:01]
I'M ALSO PATTY HOSEL'S BROTHER, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT AND SHOCK WITH THE DECISION NOT TO RENEW HER CONTRACT AS HEAD VOLLEYBALL COACH.I REALIZE THAT HIS FAMILY, MY OPINIONS ARE EASY TO DISREGARD AS BIASED, SO I'LL READ A MESSAGE SENT TO ME LAST NIGHT BY A LONGTIME TEACHER AT FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL.
"MOST WINNINGEST TEAM COACH IN THE HISTORY OF FHS, BEST-WINNING PERCENTAGE, MOST CONSECUTIVE STATE BIRTHS, MOST TOTAL WINS ALL SPORTS, ALL TIME.
NO OTHER SPORT PRODUCED AS MANY LEADERSHIP 2 STUDENTS AS VOLLEYBALL AND HALF OF THE OUTSTANDING SENIORS AND LEADERSHIP HAVE BEEN VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS.
PLAYER AFTER PLAYER TOLD ME THAT SHE GOT THE BEST OUT OF THEM AND THE TEAM, THEY ALWAYS FELT THEY PERFORMED BEYOND THEIR REALIZED POTENTIAL.
I REFER TO HER OFTEN AS SOMEONE WHO CONTINUALLY PUSHES FOR EXCELLENCE AND GETS IT OUT OF PEOPLE." I CAN TELL YOU UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT THE PART OF THAT MESSAGE PATTY IS MOST PROUD OF IS THAT HER PLAYERS ARE GREAT LEADERS.
I'M NOT AT PATTY'S PRACTICES OR IN THE LOCKER ROOM, I KNOW SHE WOULD HAVE HAD ZERO PROBLEMS WITH ANY DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR OBSERVING HER PRACTICES OR MEETINGS, THOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE THAT EVER HAPPENED.
I AM OUT WITH HER IN PUBLIC WHEN BOTH CURRENT AND FORMER PLAYERS AND PARENTS ALIKE RUN UP TO HUG HER AND I WAS ACROSS THE HALL YESTERDAY AS THE TEAM LINED UP TO HUG HER GOODBYE AND LEFT THEIR FINAL MEETING WITH COACH HOELZLE IN TEARS.
THE ATTACKS ON HER FOR CREATING A TOXIC CULTURE COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH AND A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, INSTEAD OF THE TARGETED PREDETERMINED ONE SHE RECEIVED WOULD HAVE REVEALED THAT.
PATTY DOES MORE FOR THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF HER TEAM THAN ANY COACH I'VE SEEN IN MY ENTIRE PLAYING OR COACHING CAREER.
SHE HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND SHE HOLDS HER TEAM ACCOUNTABLE.
EVEN DESIGNING WHAT THAT ACCOUNTABILITY LOOKS LIKE WITH INPUT FROM THE TEAM.
IT IS BECAUSE OF THOSE HIGH STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT THEY'VE ACHIEVED CONSISTENT SUCCESS BEYOND EVERY OTHER ATHLETIC PROGRAM IN FERNDALE.
THE FERNDALE VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM IS SO STRONG, BOTH ON THE COURT AND IN CULTURE THAT THEY'RE ONE OF THE ONLY PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOL THAT HAS TO MAKE CUTS.
PATTY'S EVEN EXPANDED TO TWO C TEAMS IN PAST SEASONS IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THIS, BUT SOMETIMES HARD DECISIONS ABOUT PLAYING TIME HAVE TO BE MADE, AND THOSE NEED TO BE MADE AT THE COACH'S DISCRETION.
GIVING VALIDITY TO WELL-CONNECTED PARENT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE DECISIONS IS WRONG.
IT SETS A TERRIBLE PRECEDENT FOR THE FUTURE, AND IF LEFT UNCHECKED, SHE WON'T BE THE LAST GREAT COACH TO LEAVE THIS DISTRICT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, BRIAN. NEXT, WE HAVE, TRISH BROWN.
>> HI THERE. I HAVE NOTHING PREPARED BUT AFTER GOING TO A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR A 16-YEAR-OLD, I WAS DRIVEN TO COME HERE AND ASK FOR HELP.
I WAS A SECRETARY AT VISTA FOR 18 YEARS, WORK AS A SAFETY OFFICER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR I THINK THIS IS MY EIGHTH YEAR AND WE'VE GOT A BIG PROBLEM WITH DRUGS.
WE HAVE 1,400 KIDS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, ONE DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELOR, ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT BETWEEN THE TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS WITH ONE DRUG ALCOHOL COUNSELOR BETWEEN THE TWO SCHOOLS AND I DON'T THINK FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT PAYS THEIR SALARIES.
FERNDALE HAS BECOME A HUGE PROBLEM.
WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE STUDENTS GO TO THE HOSPITAL WITH OVERDOSES, NOW LOST AN X1 THAT WAS COMING BACK TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THOSE ARE THE KIDS I DEAL WITH THAT I LOVE.
I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU CONSIDER MAYBE GETTING US A LITTLE MORE HELP.
IF WE SUSPEND THE STUDENTS, HALF THE TIME THEIR PARENTS ARE AS HIGH AS THEY ARE.
I'M JUST ASKING FOR MAYBE A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVENESS ON THE DRUG ALCOHOL PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE GOING AND I ONLY SEE INCREASING AND THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU, TRISHA. NEXT IS ALLISON MOON.
>> ALLISON MOON 6,000 BARR ROAD, FERNDALE.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO SPEAK AFTER THAT.
I HAD SOMETHING PREPARED THAT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY.
I WOULD RATHER ADDRESS SOME I THINK MISCONCEPTIONS THAT I'VE SEEN IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
[00:25:05]
THERE SEEMS TO BE THIS IDEA THAT THOSE OF US WHO SPEAK FREQUENTLY HERE ARE OF A SINGLE MIND AND A CERTAIN POLITICAL BLOCK.AS A SAN FRANCISCO BARRIER NATIVE, I'VE ALWAYS LEANED A BIT TO THE LEFT POLITICALLY.
IN RECENT YEARS THOUGH, I'VE SEEN THE PEOPLE WITH WHOM I'VE BEEN ALIGNED IN THE PAST RESORT TO CHARACTER ASSASSINATION INSTEAD OF DEBATE.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE LABELED BECAUSE OF DISAGREEMENTS OVER PERSONAL HEALTHCARE CHOICES.
I'VE SEEN THE HORRORS OF THE HOLOCAUST IGNORED AS WE IGNORE THE NUREMBERG CODES THAT CAME OUT OF THAT BY FORCING PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN MEDICAL EXPERIMENTS AGAINST THEIR WILL.
YOU CAN SAY, WELL, NOBODY FORCES PEOPLE TO GET CERTAIN MEDICAL TREATMENTS, BUT WHEN THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE THREATENED BY THE LOSS OF THEIR INCOME DUE TO THEIR PERSONAL CHOICES, IT JUST SEEMS WRONG.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE SILENCED AND LABELED AS MISINFORMERS, DISINFORMERS, MALESFORMERS, FOR THINGS THEY'VE SAID.
I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN DE-PLATFORMED FOR NOTICING DIFFERENCES IN THE OFFICIAL NARRATIVE IN CERTAIN CASES AND I HAVE CITED IN MY POSTS TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITES WHERE I FOUND THE INFORMATION THAT I WAS PROVIDING THAT DID NOT MATCH WITH PUBLIC NARRATIVE AND WHEN I ASKED MODERATORS WHY MY POSTS WERE TAKEN DOWN, I WAS TOLD, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY'RE TRUE OR NOT, THEY MIGHT CHANGE SOMEBODY'S MIND.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE USED TO ALIGN WITH AND I CAN NO LONGER JUSTIFY THAT IN MY OWN MIND.
IT IS AGAINST EVERYTHING I STAND FOR AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE COME FROM A DIVERSE BACKGROUND, POLITICALLY AND OTHERWISE BUT WE'VE FOUND A COMMON CAUSE AGAINST INJUSTICE. THANK YOU.
NEXT, WE HAVE MADISON BATTEN SHOWN.
>> MY NAME IS MADISON BATTEN SHOWN AND I'M A CURRENT STUDENT AT FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL AND WE WILL BE GRADUATING THIS SPRING OF 2023.
I'M HERE TO ADDRESS MY SADNESS AND DISAPPOINTMENT AND THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE THAT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF PATTY HOSEL AS A HEAD VARSITY VOLLEYBALL COACH.
AS A THREE-YEAR VARSITY STARTER FOR PATTY, I'VE BEEN CHALLENGED IN NUMEROUS WAYS.
NOT EVERY EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD WITH ANY COACH INCLUDING HOSEL HAS BEEN PICTURE-PERFECT. I'LL ADMIT THAT.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S NO-PICTURE-PERFECT MOMENTS ARE WHAT SHAPE AND CREATE THAT DIVIDE BETWEEN GOOD AND GREAT ATHLETES.
COACH HOSEL IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT COACH REPRESENTS THAT DIVIDE.
SHE HAS ALWAYS STRIVED TO GET THE BEST OUT OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US THAT STEPS THROUGH THE DOORS ON DAY 1.
OVER THE LAST 16 YEARS, SHE HAS STRIVED FOR GREATNESS AND IS CLEARLY PROVEN THAT.
YOU ALWAYS KNEW STEPPING INTO A FRIEND OF A VOLLEYBALL GAME, YOU'RE GOING TO WITNESS, BE A PART OF, AND BE IN A CULTURE OF HIGH-LEVEL VOLLEYBALL WHICH HAS BEEN PLANTED AND STEMMED FROM PATTY HOSEL.
WITH MY YEARS BEING UNDER PATTY'S COACHING, I REALIZED THAT SPORTS IS ALSO MORE THAN JUST BEING ON THE COURT.
COACH HOSEL HAS SHAPED ME ALONG WITH MY TEAMMATES TO BECOME THE BEST VERSIONS OF OURSELVES IN AND OUT OF THE GYM AND CLASSROOM.
I KNOW I WOULDN'T BE THE PLAYER IN PERSON STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY WITHOUT HER GUIDANCE AND WISDOM THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AS THIS YEAR'S CAPTAIN THAT NO ONE EVER ADDRESSED ME ABOUT THE SITUATION AND ASKED MY OPINIONS ON THE MATTER.
I DON'T THINK FOR NOW CAN WE TAKE THIS PROGRAM IN ANY BETTER DIRECTION THAN PATTY HATTISON. THANK YOU.
IS KIM OUT THERE? THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD TO MAGGIE LOOMIS.
HOPEFULLY, I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS ASHA MITCHELL AND I'M A CURRENT STUDENT AT FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL AND WILL BE GRADUATING THIS SPRING.
I'LL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF JAKE MASON AND OTHER HIGH SCHOOL
[00:30:03]
SENIOR ON OUR RECENT DECISION MADE AT FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL.I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT AS A FORMER VARSITY VOLLEYBALL PLAYER, I'VE NEVER FELT LEFT OUT, BULLIED, OR SHAMED AS A PERSON AND PLAYER OVER THE YEARS.
BEFORE I READ WHAT HE HAS TO SAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS WROTE TODAY.
"HELLO. MY NAME IS JAKE MASON AND I AM A STUDENT AND ATHLETE AT FHS.
I AM UNABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY AS I'M PLAYING IN A BASEBALL GAME BUT I WANTED TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON A RECENT FIRING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND ATHLETICS, PATTY HOSEL.
I'VE HEARD MULTIPLE STORIES ABOUT PATTY AND WANTED TO SHARE MINE.
I'VE GONE TO VOLLEYBALL GAME SINCE MY FRESHMAN YEAR, WHETHER THAT'S HOME, AWAY OR THE STATE TOURNAMENT AND I LOVE IT.
IT IS BY FAR ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH AND OUR TEAM IS ALWAYS COMPETITIVE AND WINS A LOT OF GAMES.
PATTY HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AS A COACH THE LAST 16 YEARS, INCLUDING 10 RUNS AT STATE AND FIVE TROPHIES.
I'VE NEVER HAD A BAD INTERACTION WITH HER AND SHE IS ALWAYS SHOWN THE STUDENTS SECTION AND MYSELF KINDNESS AND RESPECT.
ADDITIONALLY, I'M VERY CLOSE WITH ALMOST ALL OF THE PLAYERS ON THE VOLLEYBALL TEAM AND I'VE HEARD LOTS OF STORIES ABOUT COACH HOSEL.
COACHING HAS ITS UPS AND DOWNS AND ALL COACHES CAN BE HARD ON THEIR PLAYERS BUT I'VE NEVER HEARD STORIES THAT PATTY BULLYING HER PLAYERS.
RATHER THAN BULLYING, SHE CHOOSES MORE AROUND BUILDING MENTAL TOUGHNESS, WHICH IS REQUIRED IN ALL ORGANIZED VARSITY SPORTS.
PATTY ALSO BUILDS A GREAT CULTURE WITH THEIR TEAM.
THEY ATTEND TEAM CAMP TOGETHER WHERE THEY ALL GROW AS PEOPLE IN PLAYERS.
THEY ALSO ATTEND TEAM DINNERS THE NIGHT BEFORE HOME MATCHES AND AS A TEAM GO AND WATCH GAMES OF OTHER FERNDALE SPORTS PROGRAMS. THESE THINGS ALL HELP BUILD CULTURE AMONGST THE TEAM AND COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR SCHOOL." THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ASHA. NEXT, WE HAVE NATALIE CHAVEZ.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS NATALIE CHAVEZ.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING.
FIRST, I WANT TO GIVE MY HEARTFELT SYMPATHY FOR THE 16-YEAR-OLD WHO DIED RECENTLY.
UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING LAST MONTH AND I MISS SEEING ALL OF YOU AND MAKING A PUBLIC COMMENT, ESPECIALLY AFTER DOING SO CONSISTENTLY FOR MANY MONTHS, PERHAPS EVEN BEEN OVER A YEAR NOW.
AT THE MEETING ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 31ST, YOU WERE ALL GIVEN ONE OF THESE HANDOUTS AND YOU'LL BE GIVEN ANOTHER ONE THIS EVENING.
AS I SAID THEN AND AS I WILL SAY AGAIN NOW, I'M HERE THIS EVENING REGARDING THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND SAFETY OF THE FERNDALE CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS.
ACTUALLY FOR ALL OF FERNDALE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THAT MATTER.
THE WEBSITES LISTED ON THE BACK OF THE HANDOUT ARE AS FOLLOWS, REALNOTRARE.COM, REACT19.ORG, C19VAXREACTIONS.COM, COVID-19CRITICALCARE.COM, ANECDOTALSMOVIE.COM, MCTLAW.COM.
THESE WEBSITES PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED BY THE EXPERIMENTAL COVID-19 VACCINES.
NUMEROUS COVID VACCINE INJURED INDIVIDUALS ARE FEATURED ON A FEW OF THESE WEBSITES.
THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO INTENDED TO INCREASE AWARENESS THAT ADVERSE REACTIONS FOLLOWING EXPERIMENTAL COVID VACCINE INJECTIONS ARE REAL, NOT RARE.
THIS EVENING, I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THE WEBSITES LISTED ON THIS HANDOUT.
IT IS WW.ANECDOTALS.MOVIE.COM.
THIS MOVIE, WHICH IS A DOCUMENTARY, WAS DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY JENNIFER SHARP, A BLACK WOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I MENTIONED THAT SHE IS BLACK BECAUSE IT WAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH LAST MONTH, AND JENNIFER IS A COURAGEOUS BLACK WOMAN WHO WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THE SYNOPSIS ON HER WEBSITE STATES, "IN MARCH 2021, AFTER RECEIVING MY PFIZER SHOT, I COULDN'T FEEL THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE FOR A MONTH.
EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER, ELECTRIC SHOCKS AND MUSCLE WEAKNESS CONTINUE.
UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE SECOND DOSE, I'M AMONGST A GROUP OF PARTIALLY VACCINATED PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN OUTCAST FROM MANY ASPECTS OF SOCIETY WITH NO EMPATHY.
WE'VE BEEN CENSORED AND TOLD, IT'S UNETHICAL TO TALK ABOUT OUR STORIES BECAUSE WE ARE JUST ANECDOTES.
THIS MOVIE PROVIDES A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIVES OF THE ANECDOTALS, THOSE OF US WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED DRASTICALLY BY TAKING THE VACCINE.
IT ALSO REFLECTS ON THE DIVISION AND POLITICS THAT PREVENTS US FROM GETTING MUCH NEEDED CARE.
ANECDOTALS IS A PERSONAL JOURNEY THAT FOCUSES ON QUESTIONS, NOT ANSWERS, AND PEOPLE, NOT POLITICS." I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL TAKE THE TIME TO WATCH THIS MOVIE IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO.
>> THANK YOU, NATALIE. NEXT WE HAVE DOM PFALM.
[00:35:05]
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DOM PFALM, AM A 6000 BAR DISTRICT TAXPAYER.
YOUR AGENDA ITEM 6.03 CALLED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENGAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY STAKE HOLDERS IS SOMETHING THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION TONIGHT.
WITHIN THIS ITEM, I WILL CONCENTRATE ON THREE SECTIONS IN PARTICULAR.
FIRST, SECTION 3.1 STATES WE MAINTAIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE THAT VALUES INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
THIS STATEMENT IS THE GLARING EXAMPLE OF EMPTY RHETORIC BASED ON THE FACT THAT SINCE LAST NOVEMBER, SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ATTENDED TO RESTRICT PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY.
YOUR ACTIONS SHOW THAT YOU WANT TO SUPPRESS DISSENT AND DON'T VALUE INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AT ALL.
THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE WAS WHEN MY SPEECH LAST MONTH WENT OVER THE TIME LIMIT BY ABOUT SEVEN SECONDS, DR. ERICKSON COULDN'T WAIT TO CUT ME OFF BY INTERRUPTING ME AS SOON AS THE TIMER WENT OFF.
SECOND, SECTION 3.2 SAYS, WE MAINTAIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE THAT VALUES DIVERSITY.
IN THE BOARD MEMBERS COMMENTS THAT FOLLOW.
MISKO CONFINES DIVERSITY JUST DEFINITION TO JUST NATIONALITIES, CULTURES, RACES, AND RELIGIONS, BUT DIVERSITY MEANS MORE THAN THOSE.
THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED AND NAMED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NOT THE DIVERSIFIED STATES OF AMERICA.
THE EMPHASIS SHOULD BE ON UNITY, NOT DIVERSITY.
MAY I ALSO ADD THAT THE COMMON THREAT THAT HAS HELD THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER SINCE ITS FOUNDING, IS FREEDOM, INCLUDING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH THAT SOME OF YOU ARE TRYING TO DIMINISH.
THIRD, SECTION 4.1 ASSERTS THAT WE PROVIDE COMMUNICATION THAT IS TRANSPARENT, HONEST, AND TIMELY.
HOW CAN YOU MAKE THAT CLAIM, WHEN ON JANUARY 5TH, A SO-CALLED STUDY SESSION WAS CONVENED ON SHORT NOTICE WITHOUT BEING BROADCAST AND RECORDED.
THE PRIOR ONLINE ANNOUNCEMENT ALSO LISTED TWO DIFFERENT STARTING TIMES AND TWO LOCATIONS FOR THE MEETING AS IF IT WAS INTENDED TO MISLEAD THE PUBLIC TO MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF ATTENDEES.
A SIMILAR PATTERN APPLIED TO ANOTHER RECENT STUDY SESSION ON MARCH THE 15TH.
BASED ON THOSE FACTS, I CAN SAY THAT THE MORE INTERACTIONS I HAVE WITH THE BOARD, THE TRUER THIS EXPRESSION RINGS.
IF YOU DOUBT THE POWER OF YOUR VOICE, JUST LOOK AT WHAT THEY DO TO TRY TO SILENCE YOU.
IN CONCLUSION, I SINCERELY HOPE THAT DR. ERICKSON AND MISKO WILL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION THIS NOVEMBER.
IT IS EASIER TO DEFEAT AN INCUMBENT WITH A KNOWN DISMAL RECORD THAN TO CAMPAIGN FOR SOMEONE WITH MANY UNKNOWNS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DOM. NEXT IS TAMMY ALEJANDRO.
>> HELLO, I'M TAMMY ALEJANDRO, A TEACHER AT EAGLE RIDGE ELEMENTARY AND PARENT OF A FERNDALE HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENT.
THESE MEETINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND THE DECISIONS THE BOARD MAKES IMPACTS ME AND MY CLASSROOM AND THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION MY CHILD RECEIVES.
TODAY, I WANT TO SHARE ABOUT MY SCHOOL'S EQUITY TEAM'S WORK.
LAST SPRING, WE MADE IT OUR MISSION TO ENSURE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN A MORNING MEETING DAILY.
THIS IS A 15 MINUTE WHOLE GROUP ACTIVITY WHERE STUDENTS GET A TIME TO BE GREETED BY NAME BY THE TEACHER AND THEIR CLASSMATES, SHARE SOMETHING WITH THE CLASS, PARTICIPATE IN AN ACTIVITY, AND ORIENT THE CLASS TO THE DAY'S PLAN.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL THE TEACHERS THE TIME IN THE DAY TO DO THAT, AND THE SUPPLIES TO SUPPORT THAT.
WE ALSO OUTLINED A PLAN FOR THE YEAR TO HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN CHARACTER TRAITS EACH MONTH DURING THIS TIME.
FOR EXAMPLE, FEBRUARY WAS FRIENDSHIP MONTH AND MARCH WE FOCUSED ON COURAGE.
AS WE TRANSITION FROM FRIENDSHIP TO COURAGE, I HAD A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MODEL HUMILITY AND HOW TO WRITE A MISTAKE AND SHOW COURAGE TO MY CLASS.
AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, I WAS READING A MATH RIDDLE.
AS THE KIDS WERE LISTENING TO THE RIDDLE, A COMMENT WAS MADE, AND I ACTED LIKE A BYSTANDER.
SEE, THE PROBLEM HAD SERIES OF PEOPLE IN IT.
ONE OF MY STUDENTS WONDERED OUT LOUD IF ONE OF THE CHARACTERS IN THE THING WAS GAY, AND ANOTHER STUDENT SAID, "EEW", AND I SAID NOTHING.
I SAID NOTHING BECAUSE I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED.
[00:40:03]
I PUSHED ON AND I IGNORED IT AND I WORRIED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, SO I FROZE.I HAD A MOMENT OF BEING AFRAID OF SAYING WHAT I BELIEVED BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF I'D BE SUPPORTED OR NOT.
I HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS TO THINK ABOUT IT, AND I MADE THE DECISION TO TALK TO MY CLASS ABOUT COURAGE, THAT IT'S EASY TO BE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE WHO YOU KNOW AND WHO ARE LIKE YOU IN THE SAME AGE, IN THE SAME INTERESTS.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO BE A FRIEND AND SHOW COURAGE AND BE AN UPSTANDER, AN ALLY, FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NOT LIKE YOU.
I MENTIONED THE MOMENT AND I TOLD THEM I OWED THEM AN APOLOGY, AND FIVE OF MY KIDS KNEW EXACTLY THE MOMENT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND THAT SAID A LOT TO ME, SO IT WAS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT I HAD THAT MOMENT TO MODEL THAT MOMENT AND APOLOGIZE, AND THAT LED US TO TALKING ABOUT COURAGE.
IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO BE AN UPSTANDER.
AT EAGLE RIDGE, WE HAD A WHOLE DAY OF MODELING COURAGE WITH PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ON FRIDAY LAST WEEK WE HAD FIREFIGHTERS, ENTOMOLOGISTS, ALL PEOPLE, ANIMALS ESSENTIAL THERAPY, LOTS OF PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAD A CHANCE TO MEET AUTHOR ERIC ODIE IN THE MORNING IN AN ASSEMBLY TAKE PLACE IN THREE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL, DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, AND WE ENDED WITH NATIVE AMERICAN STORY.
>> IT'S OVER, SORRY. I TALK TOO MUCH.
>> THAT'S EVERYONE THAT I HAVE LISTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT.
JUST AS A REMINDER, OUR CONTACT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
WE CAN BE CONTACTED BY PHONE, EMAIL, SNAIL MAIL, WHATEVER YOUR PREFERRED METHOD OF COMMUNICATION IS, AND WE DO WELCOME THAT INPUT.
WITH THAT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM 5 AND ITEM 5.01 OF TONIGHT'S MEETING,
[5. SHARING [GC-7.E.]]
WHICH IS SHARING, AND WE START WITH KRISTI.>> GOOD EVENING. I HAVE A FEW QUICK UPDATES.
WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN VERY BUSY IN THE LAST MONTH SINCE WE MET LAST, SO I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH SOME OF THOSE IDEAS, THEN I'M GOING TO TURN OVER TO KWABENA AND JAZZY TO GIVE THEIR UPDATES.
ON APRIL 19TH, I WILL ACTUALLY BE SHARING MY FIRST PRESENTATION OF MY ENTRY PLAN, THE DATA.
THE THEMES THAT HAVE COME UP, AND WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, WERE SAFETY AND BELONGING, RIGOROUS AND RELEVANT TEACHING AND LEARNING, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND GRADUATION AND BEYOND.
AS I BEGAN TO COLLECT ALL THE DATA IN THE INTERVIEWS, WHEN WE THEMED THEM OUT, THESE WERE THE FIVE AREAS THAT EVERYTHING FELL INTO.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A FINAL VERSION, IT JUST MEANS THAT'S THE DRAFT DATA THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT THEN WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WORKING OUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN FROM WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE THAT COMPLETE AS A COMMUNITY BY DECEMBER OF 2023.
IT'S GOING TO BE OPTIONAL, SO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE LISTENING TONIGHT OR IN THE ROOM ARE GOING TO HEAR THIS.
LATE AFTERNOON, EARLY EVENING OF APRIL 19TH, I'LL BE INVITING ANYONE WHO'D LIKE TO COME IN PERSON AND GET THAT UPDATE.
THEN I ALSO, FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T ATTEND THAT OPTIONAL MEETING, I'LL SEND OUT A VIDEO TO ALL THE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO WATCH THAT EVENING.
AS A BOARD, I'LL BE SENDING THAT TO YOU AHEAD OF THAT MEETING JUST SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE SAID AND HAVE THAT UP-TO-DATE.
LAST WEEK AND CULMINATING YESTERDAY, ELEMENTARY HAD THEIR GRADE LEVEL MEETINGS, SO IT WAS A TIME FOR THEM TO COME TOGETHER AND LEARN TOGETHER.
I WAS SUPER EXCITED YESTERDAY.
I GOT TO SPEND THE ENTIRE DAY WITH OUR KINDERGARTEN TEAM, PRINCIPALS, SOME OF OUR MTSS COORDINATORS, AND THEN WE ALSO HAD A JUMP-START, FIRST GRADE, SECOND GRADE, AND THIRD GRADE TEACHER THERE WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING SYSTEMS. IT WAS A FUN DAY WHERE WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT THE JOY OF LEARNING AND HOW DO WE RECAPTURE THAT FOR OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN, THE WHY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, WHY IT MATTERS FINANCIALLY, HOW IT INCREASES OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS, THE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND THEN WE LOOKED AT DATA.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS YEAR'S INCOMING KINDERGARTEN CLASS, ONLY 36% OF OUR STUDENTS ACTUALLY CAME IN DEMONSTRATING K READINESS IN ALL SIX OF SIX DOMAINS, AND SO, JUST THAT NEED TO BE PARTNERING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PRIOR TO KINDERGARTEN ENTRY, KNOWING THAT BY THE TIME A CHILD IS FIVE YEARS OF AGE, 90% OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT HAS ALREADY OCCURRED, SO THEN YOU'LL SPEND ALL YOUR TIME TRYING TO CATCH UP OR CLOSE THE GAP?
[00:45:04]
IT WAS A GOOD FIRST STEP.THEN WE IDENTIFIED AREAS THAT THE STAFF WOULD LIKE TO GROW IN.
THERE WAS A LOT OF STAFF ASKING FOR INDIVIDUAL COACHING COMING ALONGSIDE THEM, SO WE WILL BE PROVIDING THOSE SUPPORTS AS WELL.
ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO STOP THERE. KELLY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WHAT THE OTHER GRADE LEVELS TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK? SURE. GRADES FIRST THROUGH FIFTH MET LAST WEEK AND WE SPENT A FULL DAY TOGETHER AND WE DID SOME BACKWARDS PLANNING, WHICH FOR OUR ARC UNIT 4, WHICH IS OUR LITERACY CURRICULUM, AND WE FOCUSED A LOT OF OUR WORK ON THE STANDARDS, SPECIFICALLY OUR ML STANDARDS FOR OUR MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS.
FINDING A WAY OF THAT, WE ARE CREATING LESSONS AND A UNIT THAT FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF ALL OF OUR LEARNERS WHICH ONCE AGAIN, REINFORCES THAT STRONG CORE INSTRUCTION FOR ALL STUDENTS; SO WORKING ON INTENTIONAL STRATEGIES AND WORKING AS A GRADE LEVEL TEAM ACROSS THE DISTRICT TO DEVELOP THOSE.
>> THANK YOU. LAST WEEK ALSO, AND I'M GOING TO ASK TRINA TO GIVE MORE DETAIL HERE IN A MINUTE, BUT THERE'S A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS ACROSS WHATCOM COUNTY WHO CAME TOGETHER, THIS IS THEIR SECOND MEETING OF THE YEAR, TO TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
I APPRECIATE IT. TRISH'S COMMENTS TONIGHT REGARDING THE DRUG CRISIS THAT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH MENTAL HEALTH.
THAT REALLY CAME UP WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THEMES THAT CAME UP IN SAFETY AND BELONGING, THE EMOTIONAL SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS CAME UP.
IT WAS QUITE A SIGNIFICANT NEED.
IT'S ONE THAT AS AN EXACT TEAM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
PEGGY, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> YEAH. IF YOU DON'T MIND MY ASKING.
DO WE STILL HAVE THE DRUG AWARENESS D.A.R.E PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS?
>> THAT IS NOT ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
I DON'T THINK D.A.R.E'S BEEN IN SCHOOLS [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S NOT AS OLD AS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE VISTA, BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
I HAVE TO SAY, COUNCIL MEMBER AARON GUNTER PULLED TOGETHER A MEETING WITH OUR MAYOR, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, DIFFERENT AGENCIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE AS A DISTRICT CAN SOLVE ALONE, IT REALLY IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT.
WHEN I TALKED TO THE SUPERINTENDENTS ACROSS WHATCOM COUNTY, IT'S ONE THAT WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT, SO IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO FIND OUT.
THIS IS MORE ABOUT LARGE TERM.
>> JUST ONE MORE COMMENT ON THOSE LINES BECAUSE I WAS TALKING TO A DIRECTOR UP IN BLAINE AND THEY ARE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AS WELL.
IS THERE A PLACE WHERE DISTRICTS COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THIS COMMON PROBLEM?
>> YES. I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY KICK IT TO TRINA RIGHT NOW.
>> ONE EFFORT IN THAT AREA IS A GROUP OF MENTAL HEALTH LEADERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY, IN THE FALL, OUR MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATORS FROM THE COUNTY SCHOOLS BAND TOGETHER TO START THIS GATHERING OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS THAT WORK IN THE SCHOOLS AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT WE TYPICALLY PARTNER WITH.
IN NOVEMBER, WE MET IN THE LONDON SCHOOL DISTRICT AND FOCUSED ON SUICIDE PREVENTION AND REALLY SHARING DIFFERENT STRATEGIES AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS ARE USING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
THE MEETING THIS LAST WEEK WAS THOSE SAME PEOPLE WE EXPANDED TO SOME DIFFERENT COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO JOIN WITH US AND OUR DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELORS FROM SOME OF THE DISTRICTS.
EACH DISTRICT HAS SOME DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN THE AREA OF MENTAL HEALTH AND THE OTHER COUNTY DISTRICTS HAVE MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATORS IN THEIR SYSTEMS. WE HAVE NORTH MENCH, ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS REPRESENTS FERNDALE, ALONG WITH MYSELF IN THOSE MEETINGS.
THIS MONTH'S MEETING WAS FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND WHAT WE'RE DOING ACROSS SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE THAT.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A DEFICIT, THERE'S MORE NEED THAN THERE IS RESOURCE.
WE HAD A LOT OF REALLY GREAT SHARING OF IDEAS, SOME GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE COLLECTIVELY, AS WELL AS JUST LOOKING AT WAYS WE CAN PARTNER WITH PRIVATE PROVIDERS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY AGENCIES.
>> THEN WE HAD OUR MULTICULTURAL NIGHT.
[00:50:05]
THIS WAS AMAZING.IF YOU'RE IN LEADERSHIP AND I WILL ACTUALLY ASK [INAUDIBLE] KWABENA TO EXTEND ON THIS.
BUT IF YOU'RE IN LEADERSHIP, YOU TAKE ON A PROJECT, YOU WORK ON SOMETHING.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY OUR STUDENTS.
I DON'T SEE HER UP THERE, JASMINE WHO HELPED PLAN THIS AND I LOVED IT WHEN I WAS TALKING TO MARTY, OUR LEADERSHIP TEACHER, HE SAID, SHE THREW THIS IDEA AT ME.
IN A FEW MONTHS LATER SHE HAD THE WHOLE THING PLANNED.
HE DIDN'T SAY IT EXACTLY LIKE THAT, BUT IT WAS AND IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING.
AS A BOARD, YOU CHARGED ME WITH UNIFICATION.
THIS WAS A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER.
IT WAS STUDENT LED BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES GOT TO JOIN.
I'M HOPING SOME OF YOU WHO ATTENDED, WE'LL GET TO SHARE THIS EVENT AS WELL.
THEN WE HAD OUR OPEN HOUSE AND THIS WAS ALSO A HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS GOT TO HELP LEAD THIS.
THEY WERE TOUR GUIDES OR YOU COULD GO ON YOUR OWN TOUR.
IT WAS GREAT. STEVE AND MELINDA GOT TO GO INTO THE SECRET, IS THAT THE BOILER ROOM? IS THAT WHAT WE CALL IT? THE BOILER ROOM, WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO GRAB SOME PHOTOS, BUT IT WAS JUST A NICE NIGHT WHERE PEOPLE COULD COME TOGETHER AND TAKE A TOUR OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND GET TO SEE THE ACADEMIC SPACE.
NEXT, FALL IS WINTER, WHEN THE WHOLE SCHOOL IS COMPLETE, WE'LL BE HAVING ANOTHER ONE, BUT IT WAS A LEVEL EVENT.
THEN THE BOND UPDATE, I'M GOING TO ASK MARK TO SHARE ANYTHING.
>> WITH THE GOOD, WHETHER WE SHOULD BE DOING SOME CONCRETE POUR ON THE FOOTINGS FOR CTE BUILDING.
THE FOOTINGS ARE IN PLACE, ARE WORKING ON THE UNDERGROUND UTILITIES.
THE COURTYARD IS CONTINUING TO DEVELOP.
THEY'VE GOT THE COVER ON THE WALKWAY BETWEEN THE MAIN ACADEMIC WING AND THE ATHLETIC WING THAT CONNECTS VIA THE COURTYARD.
THE LAST PORTION OF THE UNDERGROUND WORK IS BEING COMPLETED AS THE ACS STORMWATER SYSTEMS GETTING PUT IN.
OLD MAIN USED TO BE, WHICH WILL BECOME PARKING LOT.
THINGS ARE PROGRESSING NICELY ON SCHEDULE.
WE'RE HOPING THIS WEATHER HOLDS FOR US BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING GOOD HEADWAY.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK STEVE REPRESENTS YOU ON THIS THE BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
EVERY TIME I GO TO A BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING, I'M SO IMPRESSED BY THE LEVEL OF CONVERSATION AND CARE THAT TRANSPIRES THERE.
THEY ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS AND WE'RE ABLE TO WRESTLE WITH DECISIONS.
I LEARNED SO MUCH IN THOSE MEETINGS AND IT'S JUST VERY HIGHLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE HELPING US REALLY THINK THROUGH OUR BUILD.
>> I'M PROBABLY GOING TO SAVE THE ASSEMBLING ASP VACCINES FOR JAZZY.
BUT ANYWAYS, SO WE HAVE ASP ELECTIONS COMING UP FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND YOU START OFF WITH THE EXECUTIVE.
I AM THE PUBLICITY DIRECTOR FOR NO HIGH SCHOOL.
THEN WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TREASURER, ASSISTANT TREASURER, PUBLICITY DIRECTOR, AND THEN PROTON FOR AND THEN YOU HAVE THE REST OF THE CLASS IS A CLASS ELECTIONS ARE THEN THE WEEK AFTER THAT.
SEVERAL WEEKS ARE DISPLACED FROM THE WEEK AFTER SPRING BREAK. THAT'LL BE FUN.
THEN WE HAVE A PEP ASSEMBLY ON FRIDAY, WHICH IS BASICALLY GOING TO BE MOSTLY YOUR TOWARD HAVING FUN.
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PARTICIPATE CAN PLAY GAMES AND STUFF AND IT'LL BE LOTS OF FUN.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO SHARE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT GOING ON IN MY LIFE RECENTLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
I THINK ONE OF THE LARGEST THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED THIS PAST WEEK IS THAT AT LEAST I USED TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S THIS IDEA THAT EVERYONE IS JUST BORN AS A CLEAN SLATE.
BUT THESE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS OF MADE ME REALIZE THAT IT TAKES A LOT.
[00:55:04]
COMBAT PEOPLE'S ENVIRONMENTS THAT THEY GREW UP AND GREW UP IN AND GENETICS AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THE CYCLE STOP.I'M REALLY THANKFUL THAT I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE WE CAN GET CARE LIKE THAT.
THERE'S JUST A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE CAN DO IN THE DISTRICT AND I'M GLAD THAT WE KEEP HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND MAKE SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH.
>> THAT TAKES GREAT COURAGE TO ADMIT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WANTED TO THANK MS. BROWN FOR COMING TODAY.
I KNEW THE STUDENT PERSONALLY AND MAKES ME THINK THAT I NEED TO HUG MY FRIENDS A LITTLE MORE.
ASP ELECTIONS, YES, THEY ARE COMING EXECUTIVE IS FIRST.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT THEY REPRESENT MOST OF THE STUDENT BODY, ALL OF HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT'S GOING TO BE AFTER SPRING BREAK, WHICH IS REALLY COOL.
THEN FOLLOWING THAT IN MAY, WE START CLASS ELECTIONS, WHICH I'M ACTUALLY THE SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT. IT'S COOL.
I'M PRETTY MUCH ORGANIZING IT, WHICH IS AWESOME.
I GET TO SEE WHAT I DIDN'T GET TO DO LAST YEAR, JUST THE BEHIND THE SCENES AND STUFF.
THEN I WANTED TO SHARE THAT THERE'S A LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP HAPPENING THIS WEEK.
MADISON BEEN SHOWN, ACTUALLY ORGANIZED THAT ENTIRE THING.
SHE'S BRILLIANT, BUT IT'S WHEN 40 STUDENTS COME FROM VISTA ON HORIZON AND THEY GET TO HANG OUT WITH US FOR THE DAY AND WE CAN JUST SHOW THEM DIFFERENT PARTS OF LEADERSHIP AND WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY GET INVOLVED.
I'M HOPING TO SEE THOSE THROUGH VISTA KIDS THERE. A FEW MONTHS BACK.
I TALKED ABOUT TEEN COUNCIL AND IT POTENTIALLY COMING TO FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL.
THEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE COMING HERE NEXT MONTH TO TALK TO US AND ME AND PALERMO JOSE DE WROTE SOMETHING UP.
I'M JUST GOING TO SHARE WHAT WE WROTE.
MOUNT BAKER TEEN COUNCIL IS A PURE LEAD SEX EDUCATION VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND ASSOCIATION WITH MOUNT BAKER PLANNED PARENTHOOD THAT WORKS TO BRING QUALITY, INCLUSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED TO SCHOOL AND WELCOME COUNTY.
THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THE MOUNT BAKER TEEN COUNCIL FACILITATOR, EMMA GEARY AND PALERMO JOSE DE AS WELL AS MYSELF HAVE BEEN SPEARHEADING THE EFFORT TO BRING THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM TO FHS.
AFTER SEVERAL PRODUCTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS WITH MR. FINS DOING OR THE HEALTH TEACHER AT PARENTAL HIGH-SCHOOL AND MS. DILLON, THE PRINCIPAL, THE FINAL STEP IS TO BRING THIS TO FERNDALE SCHOOL BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THIS TODAY TO PUT IT ON YOU GUY'S RADAR AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NEXT MEETING, SOME TEENS COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES, WELCOME TO PRESENT A BRIEF AND MORE IN-DEPTH CASE.
WHAT'S REALLY COOL ABOUT TEEN COUNCIL, WHICH YOU ACTUALLY MENTIONED IT'S BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS. THESE ARE MEMBERS.
THEY SPEND COUNTLESS HOURS, I THINK 80 HOURS IN THE SUMMER AND THEY LEARN ALL ABOUT SEX EDUCATION.
THEN THEY GET TO GO INTO DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOL HEALTH CLASSES AND SPREAD THEIR KNOWLEDGE.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES LEARNING FROM AN ADULT WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND YOU ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, OR JUST LIKE SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES ISN'T AS EFFECTIVE AS A STUDENT WHO'S AROUND YOUR AGE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED SOME OF THE SIMILAR THINGS.
IT'S NOT AS AWKWARD BECAUSE IT'S SOMEONE AROUND YOUR AGE.
PURE EDUCATION IS SUPER-IMPORTANT AND THERE WILL BE HERE NEXT MONTH.
>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD DURING THOSE UPDATES? THEN WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM 6 ON THE AGENDA.
[6. MATTERS RESERVED FOR BOARD ACTION]
THE FIRST ITEM 6.01 IS TO REVISE OPERATIONAL EXPECTATIONS POLICY 8, OE8, COMMUNICATIONS TO THE BOARD.THIS WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, AND I THINK CHRISTY IS GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT SOME PROPOSED CHANGES.
>> THE CHANGE WAS, WHEN WE HAVE OUR COMMITTEES, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A STUDENT MEMBER ON THOSE COMMITTEES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE EARLY LEARNING TASK FORCE, WE WOULD HAVE GONE OUT AND MADE SURE WE HAD A STUDENT.
JAZZY IS REPRESENTING THE DISTRICT OR THE STUDENTS ON THAT CURRENTLY.
WE WRESTLED WITH THE FACT DO WE ADD IT INTO POLICY? OR DO WE MAKE IT PART OF PRACTICE? YOU CAN LOOK HERE AND YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE A COMMITTEE APPLICATION,
[01:00:05]
AND WE DO CALL FOR A STUDENT.WHAT WE NEED TO DO, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE, INSTEAD OF ADDING THAT SPECIFIC PART INTO THE POLICY, WE MAKE IT PART OF THE PRACTICE.
IN THE APPLICATION THAT WE WILL BE COMMITTED, WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON IT, PARENTS, STAFF, WE WOULD ASK FOR A STUDENT TO BE ON THERE.
WHAT WE DID NOT DO WELL THIS LAST TIME WITH OUR EARLY LEARNING TASK FORCE, AND THIS WAS OUR MESS, WAS WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY GET THE COMMUNICATION OUT IN A WAY THAT THE STUDENTS WOULD SEE IT.
WE PUT IT OUT ON PARENTS SQUARE, NOT NECESSARILY IN A FORMAT.
WE WOULD NOTIFY DURING MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS SAYING THIS IS AN APPLICATION THAT YOU CAN DO, AND SO WE WOULD JUST DO A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING OUT.
OUR RECOMMENDATION MEETING WITH THE TEAM IS TO NOT PUT IT IN POLICY SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE STUDENTS, BUT TO REALLY BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE STUDENT'S PARTICIPATION AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE A STUDENT INVITED TO THE COMMITTEE.
YOU CAN SEE IN THAT APPLICATION THAT ACTUALLY IS THERE.
WE DIDN'T COMMUNICATE IT OUT WELL, SO I WOULD LOVE FEEDBACK, AND IF YOU STILL WANT THE STUDENT IN THE POLICY, WE CAN CONTINUE TO WRESTLE WITH THAT, BUT KWABENA, JAZZY, AND I, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON THE LANGUAGE ON THAT.
IT WAS TRICKY BECAUSE WE DON'T CALL OUT ANY OTHER SPECIFIC GROUP IN THE POLICY.
>> I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMITTEE.
SEEMS LIKE YOU'D WANT AN EARLY CHILD, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THERE OBVIOUSLY IS AN AGE LIMIT ON THE STUDENTS THAT YOU'RE PUTTING ON THESE COMMITTEES THEN?
>> YEAH. IT WOULD DEPEND. WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT FOR THIS ONE, WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S GOING INTO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, SO THAT WAS OF INTEREST TO HER.
WHAT WE DO HAVE ON THIS COMMITTEE ARE PARENTS WHO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE OR EXPERTISE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
>> ULTIMATELY, I THINK THE GOAL, AS WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION PRIOR, WAS TO ADDRESS ITEMS WITHIN SECTION 3 OF THE OPERATING EXPECTATIONS 8, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT ASSURING THE BOARD HAS ADEQUATE INFORMATION FROM A VARIETY OF INTERNAL, EXTERNAL VIEWPOINTS.
WE CAN SHOW EVIDENCE, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S COLLECTED SURVEY RESULTS INTERVIEWS, AND ANECDOTAL DATA FROM A DIVERSE STAKEHOLDER GROUP, AND FINALLY THAT WE CAN SHOW THE EVIDENCE OF ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF COMMUNITY, ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO ACHIEVE.
THAT WAS WHAT THEY PUT TOGETHER AS THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO IT?
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE DEPENDING ON WHAT THE COMMITTEE IS, THEN YOU WOULD PUBLICIZE IT TO STUDENTS THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO THAT? LIKE IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS OF PARTICULAR INTERESTS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE YOUNGER, MIGHT LET THEM KNOW THERE OR [OVERLAPPING].
>> OR WE MIGHT ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENT AND A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, AND AFTER MEETING SO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAD ALSO BE EQUALLY INVESTED OR INTERESTED IN BRINGING THEIR VOICE TO THE TABLE.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE FORMING A COMMITTEE, YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY FILL OUT AN APPLICATION.
YOU IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE.
YOU WORK WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT.
YOU VET IT WITH ANY DIRECTORS OR ADMINISTRATORS OR TEACHERS WHO MIGHT NEED TO BE INVOLVED JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVEN'T MISSED ANYTHING, AND THEN THAT COMES TO ME FOR APPROVAL.
ONCE THEY HAVE APPROVAL, THEN THEY CAN PUT THE APPLICATION OUT.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE CHECKPOINTS TO MAKE SURE WE'VE THOUGHT THROUGH THAT.
THE MISS THIS LAST TIME, LIKE I SAID WAS, WE JUST DIDN'T GET THE APPLICATION OUT IN A WAY THAT STUDENTS WOULD SEE IT EVEN THOUGH WE HAD THEM MARKED ON THE APPLICATION.
>> WOULD THIS REQUIRE PARENTAL OR GUARDIAN APPROVAL AS WELL?
SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO NEED A RIDE THERE, SO YEAH.
I THINK ALSO WITH THAT IS, IF PARENTS ARE MADE AWARE BECAUSE WE DO SEND OUT PARENTS SQUARE, IF YOUR CHILD'S INTERESTED, THEN THEY COULD ACTUALLY BE THE ONE, AND I THINK WORKING WITH STAFF WHO KNOW THE INTERESTS OF OUR STUDENTS THE BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY COULD BE TAPPING SOMEONE ON THE SHOULDER AND SO WE DO GET THAT DIVERSE LOOK.
[01:05:10]
>> OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> A FINAL THOUGHT THAT I HAD HAD WHICH I DIDN'T SAY, BUT I APPRECIATE SINCE WE DON'T CALL OUT ANY SPECIFIC OTHER MEMBERS THAT YOU CAUGHT THAT CALLING OUT STUDENTS SPECIFICALLY WOULD BE STRANGE, BUT MAKING THE PLACE FOR A STUDENT AT EVERY COMMITTEE IS IMPORTANT, I THINK.
>> IF NO STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED THEN?
>> WE'VE DONE OUR PART OF ASKING.
>> ESSENTIALLY, WE'VE ALREADY ADOPTED OR APPROVED THIS REPORT AT A PRIOR MEETING.
BASICALLY, THE REASON FOR BRINGING IT UP OR THE FOLLOWING BRINGING IT UP LAST MONTH AND THIS MONTH WAS, IF WE WERE GOING TO MAKE ANY REVISIONS AT THIS POINT, THOSE REVISIONS THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT AS FAR AS PUTTING A REQUIREMENT IF A STUDENT MEMBER THAT IN THERE HAS BEEN MODIFIED AND CHANGED; SO UNLESS THERE'S ANY PROBLEMS WITH THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NECESSARILY NEED TO DO ANY OFFICIAL VOTE ON THIS AND AS LONG AS WE'RE ALL IN CONSENSUS THAT THIS WAY OF ACTION IS A GOOD WAY OF DOING IT AND NOT HEARING ANY DESCENT, I WILL TAKE IT AS THAT.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING WITHIN THE POLICY JUST HOW WE'RE INTERPRETING.
6.02 IS TO LOOK AT OUR RESULTS POLICY 2.3, WHICH IS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN SCIENCE.
AGAIN, WE ACCEPTED THIS AS DEMONSTRATING REASONABLE PROGRESS LAST MONTH, AND SO IT'S COMES BEFORE US AGAIN AT THIS POINT.
IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES THAT WE WANT TO MAKE IN THE INDICATORS WE HAD WHEN WE DEALT WITH THE ACADEMIC POLICIES PRIOR TO THIS, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT CHANGING THE IMPROVEMENT GOALS BECAUSE IT WAS A MORE DEFINITIVE AND THIS HAS GOT A SHOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS MEETING OR EXCEEDING GRADE LEVEL AS OPPOSED TO A SPECIFIC NUMBER, WHICH MADE IT MORE OF A, WE CAN DEMONSTRATE REASONABLE PROGRESS AS OPPOSED TO A YES OR NO ANSWER.
ONE QUESTION THAT HAS COME UP IN THE DISCUSSION, AND I THINK IS WORTHY POINT TO DISCUSS IS, WE HAVE ALL THE VARIOUS ACADEMIC AREAS, ENGLISH, SCIENCE, MATH, ETC., ALL IN SEPARATE REPORTS, AND WHETHER OR NOT, THAT MAKES AS MUCH SENSE AS HAVING THEM ALL COMBINED.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK AS FAR AS ABOUT, DO WE COMBINE THEM INTO DOING ALL ACADEMIC AREAS AT ONE POINT, SO THAT WAY WE CAN REVIEW THEM MORE FREQUENTLY? I'LL THROW THAT OUT ON THE TABLE AS FAR AS DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT, AS WELL AS ANYTHING PARTICULAR TO THE SCIENCE REPORT.
>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF LOOKING AT ALL OF THEM TOGETHER.
WE'RE HERE TO BUILD THE WHOLE CHILD, SO SEE WHERE OUR STRENGTHS ARE AND WHERE OUR WEAKNESSES ARE I THINK IT'S VALUABLE FOR WHAT THAT'S WORTH.
DOING THEM SEPARATELY WE WOULD VISIT AT LEAST HOW IT STANDS NOW IN THE SCHEDULE.
WE'D VISIT EACH SUBJECT EVERY TWO YEARS.
CORRECT? IF WE DID DO THEM ALL ACADEMIC, HOW OFTEN WOULD THAT BE? ONCE A YEAR WE WOULD SEE EVERYTHING.
NOW, IN THAT IF YOU HAVE MATH AND SCIENCE AND HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES AND ALL OF THAT IN ONE MEETING PER YEAR.
WHAT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS MORE FOCUS? YOU NEED MORE TIME ON IT.
OR DO WE JUST HAVE AN EIGHT DAY MEETING? NOT EIGHT DAY, EIGHT HOUR.
PLEASE DON'T MAKE IT AN A DAY. [LAUGHTER].
>> EIGHT DAY. THAT WOULD BE EXCITING.
>> OH MY GOSH, IS THAT A LONG DAY.
>> I GUESS THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY DONE AND THEY WERE PUT TOGETHER AS SEPARATE REPORTS IS YOU COULD GO MORE IN DEPTH.
THEN WE CERTAINLY DID SEE SOME IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION ON TOPICS OR CURRICULUM CATEGORIES THAT WEREN'T DISCUSSED VERY IN-DEPTHLY BEFORE.
[01:10:03]
I THINK PART OF THAT IS, MY ENVISION OF IT, AND CERTAINLY I'M NOT THE END-ALL AND I'M OPEN TO ANYBODY WHO'S COMMENT EITHER FROM FRONT OR BEHIND.IS I THINK IF WE SEE THIS PARTICULAR AREA IS COMING UP AS PROBLEMATIC.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE, HEY, ENGLISH IS DOING GREAT, SCIENCE IS DOING GREAT, BUT MATH THERE'S A BIG DIP.
THE OTHER OPTION WE ALWAYS HAVE IS, LET'S PULL THAT OUT.
LET'S COME BACK TO A STUDY SESSION OR A FUTURE MEETING TO DISCUSS THAT OR DIG DEEPER INTO IT.
I THINK IT GIVES US THAT OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE MY THOUGHT PROCESS OF IT.
>> YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ROLLING IN ELECTIVES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT JUST CORE SUBJECTS IN ONE REPORT.
>> YEAH. PUT THE CORE TOGETHER.
IF WE TRY TO PUT ELECTIVES TOGETHER, WE ALREADY SAW FROM THAT THAT THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF PIE TO EAT ALL IN ONE EVENING ANYWAY.
>> WOULD THE ELECTIVES WE PUT TOGETHER INTO ONE REPORT OR WOULD THOSE STILL BE BIANNUAL?
>> BECAUSE THEN EVERY TWO YEARS YOU WOULD GET LIKE A FULL FOCUS ONTO YOUR, I DON'T KNOW, A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, LET'S SAY, OR WORLD LANGUAGES.
WHICH WOULD GIVE MORE DISCUSSION TIME.
AS FAR AS LIKE LOOKING AT THE CORE SUBJECTS AND SAYING, OKAY, WELL, WE SEE SOME PROBLEMS IN THIS ONE AND WE NEED TO PULL IT OUT.
OUR REPORT CARD, I KNOW SPI IS NOT AS GOOD AS WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.
THEN I WOULD SAY YOU'D PRETTY MUCH PULL OUT EACH OF THEM. I DON'T KNOW.
I'M LIKE, DON'T REALLY HAVE A STRONG EITHER SIDE, BUT IT'S ALSO.
WHEN YOU SAY, WE'LL PULL OUT THE ONE THAT'S GOT THE MOST PROBLEMS. WELL, WHAT IF THEY ALL HAVE PROBLEMS?
>> CERTAINLY IT IS A POSSIBILITY.
I THINK PART OF THAT IS AS WE GET MORE DATA AND WE SEE THE DASHBOARD THAT'S COMING, THAT WILL HELP US PROBABLY TO IDENTIFY THOSE.
BUT IT MAY BE THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL THAT WE NEED TO CALL OUT AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE STUDY SESSIONS OR WE HAVE THAT EIGHT DAY MEETING.
WOULDN'T BE MY PREFERENCE, BUT WE CAN BREAK IT UP.
>> COULD WE GO TO COMBINING THEM AND VISITING THEM MORE FREQUENTLY UNTIL THINGS START TO TURN A CORNER AND IMPROVE.
AT WHICH POINT YOU CAN RELAX IT A LITTLE BIT AND GO TO LESS FREQUENT REPORTING, OR WE WOULD IT BE BETTER TO JUST STAY ON TOP OF IT? I DON'T KNOW. I PERSONALLY PREFER MORE FREQUENT VISITING OF CORE SUBJECTS.
>> YOU COULD DO IT EITHER WAY. THAT SCHEDULE WAS SET UP BY THE BOARD.
IT'S THE BOARD'S SCHEDULE. WE CAN DO IT.
THE BIGGEST THING IS LOOKING AT WHAT WORKLOAD IT PUTS INTO THOSE THAT ARE WRITING THE REPORT AND GATHERING THE INFORMATION AND PUTTING THEM TOGETHER.
I THINK, AND CHRISTY CAN MAYBE COMMENT, I THINK WHEN WE HAVE A DASHBOARD THAT WE CAN LOOK AT, OKAY, WHAT IS THE TREND? WHAT IS THE CHANGE? THAT MAY HELP DIRECT US INTO WHAT AREAS OF THE CORE ARE NEEDING MORE IN-DEPTH LOOK OR WE NEED TO BE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
WHY IS THIS AREA IMPROVING AND THIS AREA NOT? OR WHY ARE NO AREAS IMPROVING? OR HOPEFULLY WHY ARE ALL AREAS IMPROVING? THAT WOULD BE THE GOOD POINT.
>> I'VE BEEN DOING SOME INVESTIGATING IN DISTRICTS WHO DO COMPILE THAT CORE ACADEMICS.
THEY TEND TO DO THAT LIKE SEPTEMBER BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE PREVIOUS YEARS AND THEN THEY HAVE THIS SUMMER REALLY TO DO AN IN-DEPTH REPORT.
IT GIVES THEM SOME TIME TO DO SOME ANALYSIS.
YOU'RE REALLY REPORTING ON THE PREVIOUS YEARS.
THEN THE ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS HAVE THIS COMPREHENSIVE REPORT TO USE AS A GUIDE FOR THAT COMING YEAR.
ALSO, THE EXEC TEAM DIRECTORS, WILL USE IT TO MODIFY ANY PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THAT WE MAY NEED TO DO.
IT REALLY BECOMES, WE DO THAT ANYWAY.
WE LOOK AT THE DATA AND WE ASK OURSELVES, WHERE DO WE NEED TO FOCUS? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO FOR THE COMING YEAR, SO WE WOULD JUST DO IT ALL IN ONE REPORT.
>> WHEN WE GET THE DASHBOARD, YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE I-READY SCORES AND STUFF.
WE CAN JUST KEEP TRACK DURING THE YEAR.
>> BUT AT LEAST IT'LL GIVE SOME IDEA OF WHAT DIRECTION THINGS ARE MOVING.
>> IT WAS INTERESTING TO ME THAT WE CURRENTLY ONLY LOOK AT THE ACADEMIC, ESPECIALLY THE ACADEMIC EVERY OTHER YEAR BECAUSE A LOT CAN CHANGE.
IF YOU'RE ONLY GETTING REPORTED ON THAT YEAR, THERE'S GROWTH THAT MAKES SENSE, BUT YOU MISS PART OF THE STORY.
[01:15:02]
IT ALLOWS THAT TO LOOK INTO IT YEARLY.>> WELL, I THINK FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT, DOING THAT ON AN ANNUAL AND DOING IT AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, IT'S PUTS IT IN NATURAL CYCLE WHERE YOU'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT IT AS OPPOSED TO PULLING IT OUT AT A DIFFERENT TIME.
THAT HELPS TO CONSOLIDATE AND MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT AS FAR AS THE REPORTING THAT'S BEING DONE BY THE EXEC TEAM.
>> MAKING SURE THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS THE TIME TO PUT IN THE EFFORT TO REALLY LOOK INTO IT.
WE PRETTY MUCH FINISH WITH BUDGET JULY.
IF WE HAD THE REPORT IN AUGUST, PRESENTED IT TO US IN AUGUST, AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT IT IN SEPTEMBER.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE USUALLY DO IN SEPTEMBER?
>> I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE, BUT IT WOULD BE A MATTER OF ROTATING THINGS.
TYPICAL OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE ARE THE OPENING OF SCHOOL REPORTS AND SUCH THAT WAY, BUT IT ALL ROLLS TOGETHER.
>> IT WOULD OPEN UP SOME OTHER MONTHS THAT CURRENTLY ARE BEING HELD BY SOME OF THESE ONE-OFFS.
I'M JUST GOING TO LOOK AT HER WHILE I SAY THIS.
CHRIS AND I CAN LOOK AT THAT TIMELINE AND MAKE A COUPLE OF PROPOSALS TO BRING TO THE NEXT MEETING AS SOME SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT YOUR TIMELINE COULD LOOK LIKE.
>> THEN IF WE DID HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS IN SEPTEMBER AND ACCEPTED THEM IN OCTOBER OR CHANGES OR WHATEVER, WOULD THOSE THINGS BE ACTIONABLE WITHIN THAT SCHOOL YEAR OR WOULD THAT BE ACTIONABLE THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR?
>> BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE SUMMER TO COME UP WITH THE REPORT AND HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.
THEN THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL BE PRESENTED IN AUGUST, TALK ABOUT IT IN SEPTEMBER, ACCEPT IT IN OCTOBER IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES.
IT'S JUST A LONG TIMELINE TYPE OF THING.
WHEN WE COME BACK, IF WE COME BACK WITH ANY PEARLS OF WISDOM OR REQUEST [OVERLAPPING] SOMETHINGS CHANGED THAT COULD BE CHANGED WITHIN THIS LAW IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT WOULD BE FORMATIVE AT THAT POINT.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT THAT DATA ALREADY, THEY'RE MAKING DECISIONS.
WE'RE PLANNING OUT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.
THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT ANYWAY, THAT'S HOW WE MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE DECISIONS.
THEN WE WOULD COMPILE IT IN A REPORT, YOU'D BE REFLECTING ON IT.
THEN IF YOU HAD THINGS FOR US TO THINK ABOUT, WE WOULD ADJUST AS NEEDED.
BUT THAT WOULD BE REALLY IN THE MOMENT OF WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING.
I THINK IT'S FUNNY, FOR SCIENCE RIGHT NOW WE'VE ALREADY BEEN TALKING AND PLANNING AND DOING THE SCIENCE WORKS.
FOR YOU TO GET THE REPORT, IT DID CAUSE A PAUSE TO PULL IT INSTEAD OF IN THE NATURAL CYCLE OF HOW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT IT.
THEN WE DO SNAPSHOTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THEN IN UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, I THINK ABOUT KELLY WILL HAND ME A REPORT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THAT CAN BE PART OF MY SUPERNAP TEND TO UPDATE.
YOU SAID THIS EARLIER. HERE'S A NEW REPORT TO JUST SHOW YOU, SIR.
THERE'LL BE CHECK-INS ALONG THE WAY.
>> WELL, AND CERTAINTY IF IT FALLS IN WITH THE FLOW OF WHAT THE EXEC TEAM AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ALIGNMENT, IT'D BE BETTER GETTING ALL OF US ON THE SAME SCHEDULE.
IT ISN'T LIKE, OKAY, WE'VE DECIDED TO GO THIS DIRECTION AND THE BOARDS HAS NO, WE WANT YOU TO GO.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE ALL THOSE ENDS.
>> IT DOES SEEM LIKE IT'D BE MORE TIMELY ON WHAT THE NATURAL PROGRESSION OF WORK IS FOR THE DISTRICT, JUST AS LONG AS THE INPUT FROM THE BOARD IS ALSO TIMELY AND THAT CAN BE WORKED INTO IT TOO.
>> WE'RE ADJUSTING AND MAKING ACADEMICS A FOCUS EVERY DAY.
WE GET THE FEEDBACK THEN WHEN WE MEET OUR STUDENTS AS WELL, AND THE ONGOING DATA THAT WE PULL ALSO.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS IN REGARDS TO THAT?
>> I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE-CHECK THAT CHRIS AND I WILL DO A PROPOSED TIMELINE.
A COUPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WITH ALL THE ACADEMIC CORE BEING YEARLY.
THEN SEE WHAT MONTHS THAT OPENS UP AND THEN BE ABLE TO ADJUST THE OTHER REPORTS IN THERE TO MAKE SURE.
THEN WE'LL LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THOSE THAT, LIKE SAFETY, I THINK CAME UP.
THERE WERE PARTS OF SAFETY YOU WANT TO LOOK AT YEARLY.
WE'LL DO SOME WORK ON THAT AND THEN BRING SOME THINGS FOR YOU TO WRESTLE WITH NEXT MONTH.
>> ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT OR ANY OTHER THOUGHTS THAT PEOPLE HAD ON THE CURRICULUM REPORT.
>> STILL HAVE THAT QUESTION ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE OPT OUT AND WHERE WE FIND OUT ABOUT THAT, AND HOW WE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
>> I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN THAT QUESTION.
I HAVE IT WRITTEN DOWN AND WHEN I CAN FIGURE OUT WHO CAN TELL ME THAT OR HOW WE LOOK AT THAT.
[01:20:03]
THAT WILL BE A GOOD ONE AS WE GO INTO THE SPRING TO REALLY BE MONITORING IT.WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT ONE TIME RECENTLY TO JUST SAY, WHO CAN TELL US? THE DASHBOARD WILL HELP US.
WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO HAVING THAT SO OTHER PEOPLE CAN SEE IT.
>> YEAH. BECAUSE THE MORE YOU LOOK AT THAT, THE MORE FRUSTRATING IT IS.
HOW THOSE PEOPLE THAT OPT OUT.
NOT THE FACT THAT THEY OPT OUT, BUT THE WAY THEY CALCULATE THAT IN AND THE WAY IT IMPACTS THE NUMBERS.
IT DOESN'T PAINT THE TRUE PICTURE.
HAVING THE DATA WITH THEM EXTRACTED OR SOMEHOW MAKING IT SO IT MAKES MORE SENSE OR IT'S MORE ACCURATE, WOULD BE GOOD.
THAT'S WHY IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE OUR OWN DASHBOARD.
ANYTHING ELSE IN REGARDS TO THE ACADEMIC PARTS? THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND THAT BRINGS US ONTO ITEM 6.03, WHICH IS TO REVIEW AND ADOPT THE MONITORING REPORT FOR OPERATIONAL EXPECTATIONS POLICY 3OE3, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, THIS IS A REPORT WE RECEIVED LAST MONTH, HAD A CHANCE TO READ, DO THE GOOGLE SURVEY, AND WE'VE GOT THE INFORMATION THERE IN FRONT OF US.
I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO START OUT BY SAYING, I REALLY LIKED THE WAY THIS FORM WAS LAID OUT AND WITH THE DIFFERENT LINKS AND THINGS THAT WERE IN IT.
YOU COULD GO TO THINGS, GET A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION WHERE IT WAS.
RATHER THAN HAVE JUST PAGES AND PAGES AND PAGES, YOU COULD GO AND FIND THE EVIDENCE THAT WAS LINKED TO SO KUDOS TO THE PEOPLE THAT PUT IT TOGETHER.
>> I HAD MADE COMMENTS IN THIS REPORT THAT IT'S THE GENERAL ENERGY AND CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THIS YEAR FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AND CHRISTIE'S LEADERSHIP, I THINK HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD.
IT FEELS LIKE IN OUR DISTRICT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY KUDOS ON THAT ONE. APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT, SOME OF THIS STUFF IS VERY TIME-SENSITIVE.
WE ARE GOVERNED BY HIPAA LAWS AND PRIVACY AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF NAVIGATING THOSE ITEMS, AND I'VE SEEN VAST IMPROVEMENTS SINCE I'VE SAT ON THIS BOARD, SO GOOD JOB EVERYBODY FOR THAT.
>> ONE QUESTION I KNOW THAT I HAD MADE UNDER SECTION 2.1 WAS AS I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THINGS AND IT WAS TALKING ABOUT COMPLAINTS.
I FOUND A POLICY FOR EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE STUDENTS FALL UNDER THAT INTERNAL BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIND A SEPARATE POLICY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK INTO AS FAR AS COMING UP WITH OR I DON'T KNOW IF WAS TO HAS ONE.
I DIDN'T SEARCH THROUGH THERE.
BUT IT JUST SEEMED LIKE WE'D COVERED THINGS WELL WITH EXTERNAL, INTERNAL, BUT JUST THE STUDENTS DIDN'T HAVE IT, WASN'T LIKE THERE WAS A TRACK.
I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THE WEBSITE AND WHATNOT.
WELL, IN ADDITION TO THE IDEA OF A DASHBOARD, BUT TO ME HAVING SO MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES OF COMMUNICATION AND FILING A COMPLAINT ABOUT SOMETHING SEEMS TO ME TO BE CUMBERSOME BECAUSE THEN YOU DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY WHETHER A PROBLEM HAS BEEN ANSWERED OR RESOLVED.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS DONE, WHO DID IT? I WOULD LIKE JAZZY HAD MENTIONED IT BEFORE SHE RESIGNED HAVING JUST COMPLAINTS LOGGING AND HAVING THAT INFORMATION IN ONE SPOT,
[01:25:04]
AND I AGREE THAT WOULD BE I THINK, MORE EFFICIENT AND MAKE IT EASIER TO KEEP TRACK OF WHETHER WE'VE ACTUALLY ADDRESSED PEOPLE'S COMPLAINTS OR NOT.>> IT'D BE MORE TRANSPARENT AS WELL, AND ALSO, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD IF ONE PERSON COMPLAINS, THAT USUALLY MEANS THERE'S MORE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME CONCERN OR SUCH, AND SO IF THEY SEE OKAY, THESE THINGS ARE BEING DRESSED, ARE THEY LOOKING, OH, HEY, YEAH, THIS IS WHAT WAS HAPPENED.
>> THERE'S TRANSPARENCY, BUT THERE'S ALSO A CONFIDENTIALITY, AND SO IF WE HAD A COMPLAINT LOG THAT HAD EVERY COMPLAINT THAT IS MADE BY ANYBODY AND WHO HAS ACCESS TO THAT.
I KNOW OUR STAFF SIGNS CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS.
KEVIN, YOU MADE A POINT IN HERE.
THE SCHOOL BOARD DOESN'T, IT'S NOT I DON'T THINK IF I HAD MADE A COMPLAINT THAT WAS SENSITIVE FOR MY FAMILY, I WOULD NOT WANT IT OPEN TO PUBLIC RECORD.
THERE'S TRANSPARENCY AND THERE'S CONFIDENTIALITY, AND I THINK IF WE WERE TO HAVE THAT, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A BAD IDEA OR ANYTHING, BUT IF WE HAVE IT, WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE.
>> OBVIOUSLY. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WITH BOARD DOCS, WE HAVE ACCESS TO EXECUTIVE CONTENT THAT ONLY WE CAN ACCESS, AND YOU CAN HAVE COMPLAINTS SEPARATED IN THOSE AREAS WHERE YOU HAD SOME THAT YOU REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN WANTING.
IT'S A REAL BALANCING ACT AND ALSO PEOPLE'S IDEAS OF WHAT IS APPROPRIATE TO SHARE.
SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE PRIVATE ABOUT THINGS THAT OTHERS WOULD BE LIKE, WHO CARES, JUST TELL THE WORLD AND I DON'T CARE.
>> I STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT WE, AS THE DISTRICT BOARD, SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH THE STUDENTS AS A WHOLE.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO WE CAN IDENTIFY A STUDENT AND WHAT THIS ISSUE IS IN SUCH A SITE THAT IS UNLESS THE FAMILY INVITES ME INTO THAT, THAT'S NOT MY BUSINESS, AND I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY ON THAT, THE PRIVACY OF THE STUDENT AND THEIR FAMILY IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> ACTUALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.
BUT WHERE I WONDER IS NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE COMPLAINTS CATEGORIZED, AT LEAST LIKE WE HAD THIS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT SAFETY ON THE PLAYGROUND OR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IT'S LIKE IF YOU CAN DETECT A PATTERN, THEN YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM THAT YOU NEED TO FIX, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IS GETTING A SENSE OF ANY PATTERNS THAT MIGHT INDICATE THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO FIX.
IF YOU COULD REMOVE IDENTIFYING INFORMATION, THAT'S FINE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> I WOULD ADD OUR TEAM DOES DO THAT.
ELEMENTARY, AND I'LL LET KELLY TALK ABOUT THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS MEET WEEKLY, AND WHEN SOMETHING COMES UP, I SHARE IT WITH KELLY BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO GO MEET WITH THEM.
THEN SHE TAKES IT TO THE LEADERS OF THE SCHOOL AND THEY BEGIN TO PROCESS IT.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD ADD ON THAT?
>> WELL, IN ADDITION TO PROCESSING WITH THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS TOO, MOST OF OUR BUILDINGS HAVE TEAMS THAT MEET TO REVIEW A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DATA POINTS OR DATA SETS.
AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS WE USE SWISS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
SWISS IS USED TO TRACK BEHAVIORAL DATA FOR STUDENTS.
AS A TEAM, WE WOULD SIT DOWN AND ANALYZE THAT DATA AND SOMETIMES WE CAN PINPOINT OUR TARGET SPECIFIC TIMES OF DAY LIKE OH, WHERE ARE YOU SEEING SOME BEHAVIOR ESCALATIONS AT 11:45 TO 12? WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THAT TIME? OH, OUR STUDENTS ARE TRANSITIONING FROM THIS PLACE TO THIS PLACE.
A LOT OF TIMES WE WILL ANALYZE SPECIFIC DATA AND PINPOINT AREAS OF CONCERN BASED ON THAT.
WE CAN DO TIME OF DAY, WE CAN DO LOCATION, WE CAN DO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
YES, THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLACES, ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TEAMS, AND WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATION.
BUT YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SEE THAT OR PRODUCT OF THAT.
>> I THINK THERE'S JUST LOTS OF LEVELS.
THERE'S COMPLAINTS THAT YOU ALL WOULD BE MADE AWARE OF AND THEN THERE'S SOME THAT MAYBE MYSELF OR THE EXACT TEAM ARE WORKING ON, AND IF IT'S BUILDING SPECIFIC, THEN WE WORK WITH EITHER THE PRINCIPAL, THE DEAN, THE COUNSELOR, OR WHOEVER SPECIFICALLY THERE, AND THEY MANAGE THAT THERE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PRINCIPAL'S BEEN MADE AWARE OF.
IT DEPENDS. I WOULD HAVE TO THINK ABOUT SYSTEM AROUND THAT BECAUSE THAT COULD END UP BEING A FULL-TIME JOB JUST TO BE TRYING TO COLLECT ALL THAT.
I THINK WE'D WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF COMPLAINTS YOU'RE WANTING TO SEE OR THE FREQUENCY OF COMPLAINTS THAT WE SEE.
I WOULD BETTER UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THERE'S VARYING DEGREES DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, THE TIME.
[01:30:02]
I THINK YOUR POINT FAMILY SOMETIMES IT BECOMES A DISPUTE OF WHICH WE MEDIATE.SOMETIMES IT'S SPECIFIC FOR MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH EXAMPLE, AN IEP PROCESS, WHATEVER IT IS.
I WOULD NEED MORE SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT BEFORE WE CAN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH OR LEVEL BECAUSE THAT COULD BE ITS OWN A DAY REPORT. DEPENDING.
>> YOU SEE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOU'RE LIKE, OKAY, WELL, IF ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS, WHY ISN'T IT REGISTERING ANYWHERE ELSE? AND WHERE DO YOU GO TO FIND THAT? IF THEY'RE DOING IT THROUGH VARIOUS DIFFERENT AVENUES, IT'S LIKE OKAY, SOMEBODY GOES INTO COMPLAINTS TO AN ADMINISTRATOR WHILE SOMEBODY ELSE VOICE IS THE SAME CONCERN ON ONE OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND SOMEBODY WHO USUALLY [OVERLAPPING]
SOMEONE USUALLY SENDS IT TO US AND THEN WE'RE LIKE PLAYGROUNDS DOES COME UP.
THAT IS A FREQUENT ONE, AND SO I MET LAST WEEK.
THERE'S ONE THING I DIDN'T DO.
I STARTED A PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, SO A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THE SCHOOLS CAME TOGETHER AND WE TALKED ABOUT PLAYGROUNDS AND IDENTIFIED THAT IT IS AN AREA OF FOCUS IN NEED, AND SO HOW CAN WE COLLECTIVELY BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUNDS AND WHAT WOULD THAT PRETAIL AND HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THAT? THAT WAS A COMPLAINT THAT I TOOK TO THAT GROUP, AND THEN WE'RE COLLECTIVELY THINKING THROUGH THAT.
MAYBE YOU COULD THINK ABOUT IT WITH ME AND SEE IF THERE'S A WAY THAT I COULD BE SHARING THAT BACK OUT, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S FREQUENT, IF IT'S ONE THAT'S COMING UP A LOT.
>> ONE THAT I'VE SEEN FREQUENTLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE TOPIC OF BULLYING.
BULLYING SEEMS TO BE A BIG ISSUE AND I KNOW THERE'S REPORTING THAT GOES.
IF THAT'S A DASHBOARD ITEM, JUST THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AS OPPOSED TO ANY REAL SPECIFICS.
>> THAT'S ONE THAT WHEN KELLY WAS TALKING ABOUT SWISS DATA, THAT'S ONE THAT THEY TRACK THERE.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS, OTHER COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO THE REPORT?
>> THERE WAS ONE ON 2.2 WHERE IT SAYS, WHEN QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED THROUGH AN APPROPRIATE VENUE, AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ORGANIZATIONAL CHART AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS IN THE WORKS.
SOME EXPLANATION THERE AS FAR AS WHO TO GO TO WITH A COMPLAINT OR ISSUE LIKE FOLLOWING THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TYPE OF THING.
BUT I ALSO THOUGHT IN THAT ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, MAYBE AS A SIDE LITTLE CHART ON IT WOULD BE INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT ON WHO'S IN CHARGE OF WHAT THINGS.
LIKE IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT VACCINE MANDATES, THAT'S A STATE LEVEL DECISION.
NOT TO SAY YOU CAN'T VOICE IT AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, BUT IF IT REALLY IS YOUR CONCERN, VOICING IT TO LEGISLATORS, STATE LEGISLATORS, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE DECISIONS.
WHO MAKES WHAT DECISIONS AND IF YOU GO TO TALK TO.
>> YEAH, AT LEAST HAVING LEGISLATURES AND OSPF OR THAT AND MAYBE SOME OF THE BIG BUCKETS THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF.
>> YEAH. WHAT DOES FEDERAL DO? WHAT DOES STATE DO? WHAT DOES LOCAL DO, THAT THING?
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR SUCH, AND THEN IT'S A MATTER OF DETERMINING HOW WE WANT TO ACT ON THIS REPORT IN THE SENSE OF PROVING IT AND ACCEPTING IT AS COMPLIANT OR COMPLIANT WITH SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE EXACT TEAM TO ACT ON.
BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT SENSE SETS THE BENCHMARK FOR THEM AS TO WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DEALING WITH.
[01:35:08]
>> LOOKING AT THE PART PIE CHARTS IN HERE OF WHETHER WE SAID WE WERE COMPLIANT, NON-COMPLIANT, DEMONSTRATING RE-USABLE PROGRESS, ETC, IT WAS VERY COLORFUL.
I THINK KEVIN, YOU HAD FILLED IT OUT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU [OVERLAPPING] LIKE A DIFFERENCE.
DIDN'T MENTION THAT THIS BEING A OE POLICY SHOULD HAVE NON-COMPLIANT, AS OPPOSED TO REASONABLE PROGRESS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> FIXED PART WAY THROUGH, SO NOW WE HAVE FOUR COLORS INSTEAD OF THREE COLORS, BUT DEMONSTRATES REASONABLE PROGRESS, WE COULD INTERPRET THAT AS YOU SAID, IT WAS COMPLIANT.
>> IF WE TAKE OUR COMPLIANCE OR DEMONSTRATES REASONABLE PROGRESS AND ADD THEM UP THROUGH THERE, IT WAS A COMPLIANT REPORT
>> BUT ALSO SEEING ALL THOSE DIFFERENT COLORS, IT WAS A REPORT THAT HAD A LOT OF OPINIONS AS WELL.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY SPECIFIC THINGS THAT THEY WANT? THE ACTION ITEMS I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC.
>> YEAH, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC, I THOUGHT JUST CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE THINGS THAT WE HAD.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT ON THE DIVERSE. GO AHEAD.
>> EXCEPT YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY COMMENT OF.
>> IF ALL THE STAFF IS DOING THAT, WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT TOO.
IN THEORY, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, BUT IT WOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING FOR THE STAFF TO SO IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE THAT WE, IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU DISCUSSED THE FINGERPRINTING STUFF AND BACKGROUND CHECKS.
DON'T WANT TO CUT EVERYBODY OFF, BUT SILENCE IS AWKWARD.
>> I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE ACCEPT THE REPORT AS COMPLIANT AND THAT WE ADD THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO THE LIST OF THOSE THAT ARE SIGNING CONFIDENTIALITY REPORTS AS PART OF IT. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> OKAY. SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION THEN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING OPERATIONAL EXPECTATIONS, POLICY REPORT, THREE; THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENGAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY, NAY.
ANY ABSTENTIONS? THEN THE REPORT IS APPROVED AS COMPLIANT AND THAT WILL JUST ASK THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH GETTING IT SO THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE SIGNING CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS AS WELL.
COOL. AGAIN, IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO BE DISCUSSING AS FAR AS CHANGING, THEN OE3 WILL COME UP NEXT MONTH TO DISCUSS IF THERE'S ANY INDICATORS THAT WE NEED TO ADJUST OR CHANGE.
>> SORRY. I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT AND I THOUGHT ABOUT BRINGING IT UP HERE, BUT [OVERLAPPING] I GUESS.
[7. FOCUS ON DISTRICT OPERATIONS]
>> THEN THAT BRINGS US ON TO ITEM 7.01, WHICH IS THE JOULE LITIGATION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT APPROVAL RESOLUTION FOR DASH 2.0-3.
WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO MARK FOR SOME INPUT INTO INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO SUCH.
>> IF YOU REMEMBER, LAST YEAR, I THINK THE BOARD AGREED SIGN-ON TO PARTICIPATE IN A MASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE VAPING COMPANIES TO HELP PROVIDE SOME FUNDING TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS AROUND THE HAZARDS INVOLVED WITH VAPING.
THEY HAVE REACHED A SETTLEMENT.
ONE OF THE CASES WENT TO TRIAL ANYWAY, THEN DID THEIR LEGAL PROCESS CAME UP WITH A SETTLEMENT, AND THEN BASICALLY THAT EXPANDED THROUGH THE REST OF THE OF THE GROUP.
[01:40:04]
EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.ANYWAY, THIS IS THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
IF YOU ARE IN AGREEMENT, IF YOU'RE ACCEPTING THE OUTCOME, THEN YOU NEED TO AGREE, AND WHICH CASE WE'LL RETURN THE PAPERWORK AND RECEIVE THE FUNDS.
>> THERE WAS ONLY SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT AGREED TO IT, THOUGH, AND PART OF IT'S STILL IN LITIGATION, RIGHT?
>> I'M SURE THAT SOME OF THE GROUPS HAVEN'T.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, IF YOU DON'T SIGN OFF, IT'LL BASICALLY GO BACK THROUGH THE PROCESS.
>> THERE ISN'T ANY INDICATION HOW MUCH IS GOING TO BE TAKEN OUT FOR LAWYER'S FEES OR TO PAY FOR OTHER INCIDENTALS.
THAT MEANS THERE'S SOMETHING IN THERE ABOUT THAT.
>> YEAH. WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT ABOUT $90,000.
>> IS THERE ANY FEELINGS OR THOUGHTS THAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE LAWYERS AND THE LEGAL AS FAR AS ARE THEY RECOMMENDING SETTLING AT THIS POINT OR?
>> YEAH. THEY'RE RECOMMENDING AT THIS POINT THAT WE ACCEPT IT AND GET ON WITH IT.
>> THIS SETTLEMENT IS GOING TO BE USED FOR WHAT EXACTLY ONCE WE GET IT.
THAT WE HAVE NOT DETAILED OUT THE EXACT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO GET IT.
THERE'S NO RESTRICTION ON THE MONEY.
THE INTENT OF THE LANGUAGE GOING IN WHEN YOU'RE ALL IMPROVED ARE PARTICIPATION AND IT WAS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS EITHER STOP VAPING OR NOT START VAPING.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT WE WOULD COME UP WITH A PLAN TO PUT THE RESOURCES TOWARDS THAT.
>> WELL, AND FROM EARLIER IN THE EVENING, THERE IS A NEED FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL EDUCATION AND SUCH.
>> IT DOES SAY THAT OUR GROSS OFFER WOULD BE 85,669 AND FROM THAT AMOUNT, ATTORNEY'S FEES, CASE COST, COURT ORDER, COMMON BENEFIT EXPENSE ASSESSMENT WILL BE DEDUCTED, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO, IT'S MORE THAN ZERO.
>> THEY HAD A LIST ACTUALLY, WHICH WAS INTERESTING ON PAGE 11 ON OF ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAD SIGNED ON AND WHAT THEIR SETTLEMENTS WERE.
INTERESTING TO LOOK AT HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE IN SOME OF THOSE DISTRICTS AND HOW MANY STUDENTS WERE AFFECTED BY THESE VAPING COMPANIES AND THEIR WAY THEY MARKETED.
>> WHAT IS OUR EXISTING POLICY ON VAPING IN THE HIGH SCHOOL OR ANY OF THE SCHOOLS, I SHOULD SAY?
>> NO, BUT IT'S BEEN TRICKY. WE HAVE A POLICY.
IT'S HAPPENING IN THE BATHROOMS AND PLACES.
I KNOW THAT DAILY THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE MONITORING FOR.
THE PROBLEM IS IT'S LEADING TO OTHER USES.
>> WELL, MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN, YOU KNOW WHAT NOW FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN MY KIDS WERE IN THERE, IT WAS HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOMS TOO THEY WERE GOOD AT HIDING IT.
>> I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT THOUGH, IT'S A ZERO TOLERANCE, CORRECT?
>> I MEAN, RECEIVING THESE FUNDS TO HELP EDUCATE, IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE POLICY AT ALL.
>> NO. WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS IS GETTING IN FRONT OF IT BEFORE IT STARTS.
BUT AS OF LAST WEEK, I WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE AND THEY HAD COME ACROSS ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WHO ARE STARTING TO ENGAGE IN VAPING.
IT'S GETTING YOUNGER. AT LEAST WE KNOW OF IT GETTING YOUNGER.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN HAPPENING AND WE JUST WEREN'T AS AWARE.
>> PROBABLY WE DON'T PROBABLY KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT IT IS LIKE, OKAY,
[01:45:01]
YOU GET THIS MONEY AND YOU CAN DO SOMETHING WITH IT, BUT THEN IT'S LIKE THE SR FUNDS IT.YOU USE IT TO START SETUP AND AGAIN, THAT'S PROBABLY DETAILS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN WORKED OUT YET, BUT IS THAT A CONCERN OR.
>> NO BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD A PROGRAM JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE TEMPORARY MONEY, WE HAVE TO DO IT BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR SCHOOLS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT SAFETY, THAT'S PART OF IT.
THEN WHEN TRINA WAS TALKING ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH, OFTENTIMES WHAT WE SEE IS KIDS ARE TURNING TO SOME OF THESE TO COUNTERACT FEELINGS OF.
>> YEP. CLOUDINA, WERE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING? MAYBE NOT.
>> I REMEMBER THE STUDENT ADVISORY MEETING WE HAD TODAY MS. DILLON HAD BROUGHT UP HAVING SOME ASSEMBLY GATHERING, SOMETHING TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT DRUG USE AND THE RECENT FENTANYL PROBLEMS WE'VE BEEN HAVING LATELY.
I THINK MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO JUMP-START SOME PROGRAM AND IT REALLY WORKS.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE AT LEAST FOR THE HIGH-SCHOOL A GOOD WAY TO JUMPSTART REALLY LOOKING INTO STARTING TO EDUCATE KIDS ABOUT THE USE OF FENTANYL AND/OR ANY DRUG THAT IS LETHAL FOR THAT MATTER.
IN A SIMILAR MANNER TO THE WAY A BABY IS DEALT WITH.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING AND I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH ALL THE LEGAL JARGON OF THIS, BUT DO YOU KNOW IS THIS JUST A ONETIME HIT TO THESE COMPANIES OR IS THERE SOMETHING THAT CHANGES THEIR ADVERTISING EFFORTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
>> THE TOTAL FOR THE CLAIM FOR ALL THE DISTRICTS, THERE WERE 1,489 DISTRICTS AND THE TOTAL PAYOUT IS 435,675,000 SO ALMOST HALF A BILLION.
HOPEFULLY THAT HURTS. PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH.
>> IF IT DOESN'T HURT, THAT'S A HUGE INDUSTRY, WHICH I'M SURE IT IS.
ESSENTIALLY WE NEED TO AS A BOARD, DECIDE IF WE WANT TO ACCEPT THE AMOUNT THAT'S BEEN OFFERED OR MAINTAIN IN HOPES OF A BIGGER SETTLEMENT OR MORE IMPACT ON THE COMPANY OR WHATEVER OUR INTENTIONS ARE AND THERE'S NO GUARANTEES EITHER WAY.
>> I WOULD THINK THAT WE SHOULD ACCEPT IT, GIVEN THAT JUST BY THE LETTER THAT WAS WRITTEN BY THESE LAWYERS WHO REPRESENTED THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, YOU ARE FREE TO ACCEPT OR REJECT THIS SETTLEMENT OFFER, BUT WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU ACCEPT IT.
THAT WAS IN BOLD AND UNDERLINED.
GIVEN THEY'RE THE EXPERTS IN THIS, I WOULD THINK ACCEPT IT.
>> ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY KNOW THE INS AND OUTS AND ALL THE NITTY-GRITTY DETAILS.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE WITH OR WITHOUT THE FUNDING.
THIS IS AN AREA OF CONCERN AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND SO RATHER THAN DIG INTO OUR POCKETS, WE SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE THIS MONEY AND USE IT WISELY AND TRY TO FORECAST IT TO DO SOME GOOD.
>> THE TEAM AND I WILL REPORT BACK ON HOW IT'S USED.
>> BUT I THINK STEVE BRINGS OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT AND I MEAN, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED HERE TONIGHT IS IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE MONEY, IT'S NOT SO MUCH POINTING OUT THIS GROUP, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A DRUG ISSUE AND THE MENTAL HEALTH THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO GO.
[01:50:05]
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 4-2023 WITH REGARDS TO THE JUUL LITIGATION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> ALL OPPOSED. WE HAVE ADOPTED RESOLUTION 4-2023.
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM 8.01,
[8. FOCUS ON STUDENTS]
WHICH IS A PROPOSED STUDENT ADVISORY VOTE AND SO THIS IS JUST FOR SOME GENERAL DISCUSSION.I DON'T KNOW IF MELINDA, IF YOU WANT TO LEAD THAT OFF OR WE CAN JUST START IT AS FAR AS THERE ARE SOME BOARDS THAT HAVE A MORE FORMALIZED PROCESS FOR THE STUDENTS WHERE THEY TAKE A VOTE PRIOR TO ANY BOARD ACTION WHERE THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE VOTING BECAUSE THE STUDENTS ARE NOT LEGALLY ABLE TO VOTE ON MEASURES, BUT THEY TAKEN ADVISORY VOTE WITH THE EXAMPLES THAT I'VE SEEN BEING A PRO AGAINST OR AN ABSTENTION AS FAR AS ON ISSUES JUST TO SEE WHAT THE STUDENTS LEANING IS PRIOR TO THE BOARD TAKING THEIR VOTE.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION AS TO WHETHER WE FORMALIZE THAT INTO A POLICY.
WE WANTED TO HAVE A GENERAL DISCUSSION TO SEE IF WE DRAFT A POLICY THAT THEN WE'D BRING UP, DISCUSS THE POLICY AND GO THROUGH THE APPROVAL POLICY WITH IT.
WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR.
>> I HAD AT THE WAZDA MEETING IN NOVEMBER THIS PAST YEAR AND THEN AGAIN AT OLYMPIA AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, THERE WERE SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE A STUDENT ADVISORY VOTE.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT BEFORE THERE'S ANY ITEM ON OUR AGENDA THAT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ACTION BEFORE THE CHAIR WOULD ASK FOR THE MOTION.
WE GET THE MOTION ON THE TABLE AND BEFORE THE CHAIR ASKS FOR THE VOTES, TURNS TO THE STUDENTS AND SAYS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO REGISTER A PRO CON OR ABSTAIN? IT'S JUST A FORMALIZING OF THAT.
THE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE, IT DOESN'T COUNT IN THE VOTE.
BUT LOOKING AT THIS AND RESEARCHING AND SEEING WHAT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS DO WITH HAVING THEIR STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS AT THE TABLE.
IN MY MIND, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE THE TIME TO SAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK BECAUSE THE VOTES AFFECT THEM.
GROUNDS US AS BOARD MEMBERS IN WHO WE ARE HERE TO HELP AND WHO WE WILL BE AFFECTING.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE BOARD OR THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE TO WEIGH AND THEY COULD DO THE ABSTENTION IF THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THEY HAVE THE INFORMATION TO DO SO.
BUT I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF RESPECT AND GROUNDING US ALSO FOR THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS.
ALSO WITH SPENDING TIME WITH THESE TWO IN OLYMPIA THEY THINK VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND MAYBE HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE LIFE EXPERIENCE THAT THE REST OF US HAVE.
BUT THEY CERTAINLY HAVE A LOT MORE EXPERIENCE BEING IN A SCHOOL THAN ANY OF US DO.
>> I HAVEN'T CALLED ON YOU FOR YOUR VOTE YET.
>> BUT THAT IS ALSO THE OTHER THING TOO, IS IF WE DIDN'T FORMALIZE THIS FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER, EVEN STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS.
IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK AND SAY SOMETHING YOU CAN.
I JUST KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF MEETINGS WHERE MAYBE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MICROPHONES OR WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT THINGS WERE MOVING FAST.
I'VE SEEN STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY GET THE CHANCE TO SAY WHAT THEY WANTED TO SAY SO THIS WOULD JUST MAKE SURE WE PAUSE.
THAT IF THEY WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, THEY CAN.
>> WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO PULL OUT YOUR GUYS OPINION IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE IT, BUT AS YOU'VE GOTTEN MORE COMFORTABLE WITH US, SPEAKING HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE.
THAT'S A GOOD THING, THAT'S NOT A DEROGATORY, BUT WE APPRECIATE THE INSIGHT AND INPUT BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR.
[01:55:01]
OTHER THOUGHTS.>> I LIKE THE SYSTEM WHERE THEY JUST SIMPLY SAY WHAT THEY THINK AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING THEM ON THE SPOT WITH A FORMAL VOTE, BUT I'M NOT ONE OF THEM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT.
>> WELL, IT DOES PUT THEM ON THE SPOT.
THE OTHER THING BEING THEY'RE REPRESENTING THE STUDENT BODY, BUT WHEN THEY'RE SITTING HERE OFFERING THEIR OPINION, IT'S THEIR OPINION.
UNLESS YOU TAKE A POLL, UNLESS OTHER STUDENTS ARE ACTUALLY AWARE OF THE ISSUES, WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH THE STUDENT BODY, HOW DO YOU DO THIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING?
>> I THINK THEY MIGHT INTERACT WITH THE STUDENT BODY MORE THAN WE DO.
>> YES, BUT DO THEY ACTUALLY BRING UP WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE, ALL THE THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE OF INTEREST? GENERALLY SPEAKING, I CAN TELL YOU THAT LIKE MY SON COULDN'T HAVE CARED LESS IF CURRICULUM CHANGES, PROBABLY THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING. I DON'T KNOW HOW THESE THINGS GET SHARED AND WHAT FEEDBACK THEY GET FROM PEOPLE, AND WHEN, HOW FREQUENT.
>> SURE. DO YOU GUYS HAVE COMMENTS ON THAT? ALSO, WE KNOW THE QUESTION BECAUSE THAT'S ONE THING IS FOR ASKING YOU PRO, CON, OR ABSTENTION, COULD POTENTIALLY PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
DO YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE JUST VOICING YOUR OPINIONS? DO YOU FEEL A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE HAVING THAT VOTE? I DEFINITELY LIKE TO HEAR YOU GUYS' OPINION.
>> I THINK THAT IT PUTS A CHECK ON THE REST OF YOU GUYS TO MAKE SURE THAT SINCE IT'S FORMALIZED, THAT AT LEAST WE GET A CHANCE TO VOICE OUR OPINIONS.
BUT WHEN IT'S FORMALIZED, IT'S NOT THAT THE IMPACT IS NEGLIGIBLE, IT'S THAT IT ENSURES THAT THERE'S A BASE FOR US TO TALK OR IT ENSURES THERE IS A SPACE FOR US TO VOICE OUR OPINIONS, AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO ME.
THE WHOLE VOTING WHICH YOU'RE SAYING PRO OR CON OR WHATEVER YOU'RE SAYING, BUT THAT SPACE IN THE AGENDA, HOWEVER, IT WOULD WORK.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, AND IF WE DON'T WANT TO TALK, WE JUST DON'T TALK. FOR ME, THAT SEEMS.
>> I JUST LIKE THAT. I'M DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO CLASSES AND TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE GOING TO BE REVISING THE 2.3 POLICY.
[LAUGHTER] I'M NOT SAYING ANY OF THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, I DON'T CARE.
BUT I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'LL ALSO GROUND US AT THE SAME TIME TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT, AND I HAVE A TENDENCY TO NOT SAY WHAT I'M THINKING UNLESS I'M BEING CALLED ON.
YOU'VE GOT A FEW GUYS AND THEN I ACTUALLY SPEAK.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE BOARD MEMBER OR STUDENT REPS TO ACTUALLY GET MORE COMFORTABLE WITH YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT SOONER.
KONG AND I ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR AND WE WISH WE HAD IT THEN BECAUSE BOTH HIM AND I WERE VERY QUIET.
[LAUGHTER] WE THOUGHT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED THEN, BUT IT'S COOL THAT THEY GET THAT THING NOW.
>> LIKE I SAID THE SPACE FOR US TO TALK IS LESS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC POLICY AND IT'S MORE JUST ABOUT GIVING US THE SPACE TO TALK.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WHAT WE SAY DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE DICTATED BY A POLICY.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC POLICY BECAUSE IT MIGHT NOT EVEN REALLY PERTAIN TO US.
BUT IF THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE WE DON'T REALLY FEEL THE MOST COMFORTABLE TO TALK BUT WE WANT TO, THIS ENSURES THAT WE GET THAT SPACE.
THAT'S WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT SOMEWHERE WE GET A SPACE TO TALK.
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE THE MAIN TAKEAWAY FROM ALL OF YOU FROM THIS, I THINK.
>> I'M IN SUPPORT OF STANDARDIZING IT, JUST MAKING IT COMMON PRACTICE AND THAT REMOVES THE UNCOMFORTABLE ELEMENT.
IT'S LIKE THIS IS THE PRACTICE.
THEN YOU CAN ABSTAIN IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SPEAKING, BUT HOLDING THAT SPACE IS REALLY IMPORTANT, I THINK, AND MAKING IT PART OF OUR PRACTICE IS IMPORTANT. THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS.
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAREFUL THAT WHEN YOU ARE PUT TO A VOTE, SOMETIMES THOSE VOTES AREN'T VERY POPULAR.
I WOULD NOT WANT TO SUBJECT STUDENTS TO ANY CRITICISM OF CERTAIN WAY THEY MIGHT HAVE VOTED ON.
[02:00:05]
THERE'S THINGS, FOR INSTANCE, THESE OE POLICIES AND STUFF, THAT'S ONE THING, BUT THAT ISN'T ALL WE VOTE ON.WE VOTE ON SOME THINGS THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL, [NOISE] AND SO I WOULD CAUTION US TO THINK ABOUT, DO WE WANT TO PUT A STUDENT IN A SPOT WHERE THEY COULD GET PUBLICLY CRITICIZED FOR MAKING A VOTE.
IT'S ONE THING IF YOU POINT YOUR OPINION, BUT WHEN YOU VOTE, YOU VOTE AND IT MEANS SOMETHING.
I JUST LIKE TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.
>> WELL, THEY CAN ABSTAIN AT ANY TIME AND GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE APPLIED AND WERE SELECTED TO BE ON THE BOARD AS A REPRESENTATIVE, I THINK THIS GIVES THEM THE CHANCE TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE.
I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THE POINT AS FAR AS GIVING THAT SPACE AND THEN BECOMING MORE COMFORTABLE TO SPEAK FASTER.
IT'S ONLY BEEN PROBABLY THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS WHERE I'M LIKE JAZZY HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.
SHE'S BEEN PRETTY QUIET AND THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN QUIET.
IF THEY WANT TO ABSTAIN, THAT'S COMPLETELY FINE.
IS IT AN ADVISORY VOTE? THEY COULD BOTH SAY, I AM SO AGAINST THIS AND WE VOTE THE OTHER WAY.
LOOKING THROUGH HOW OTHER STUDENTS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WHAT THINGS THEY'RE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THIS IS ONE WAY, BE PREPARED FOR THE MEETING, HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION.
JAZZY IS OLD ENOUGH TO BE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.
SHE'S 18, SHE COULD BE ELECTED.
SHE, AS A STUDENT KNOWS MORE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM THAN MANY OF US.
YES, THEY'RE STUDENTS AND WE THINK LIKE WE KNOW BEST FOR THEM TYPE OF THING.
BUT AN ADVISORY VOTE OF WHAT THEY THINK, AND THEN BEING IN A REPRESENTATIVE ROLE, IT'S GIVING THEM THE SPACE TO BE THAT REPRESENTATIVE, I THINK IS A GOOD THING.
YOU GUYS HAVE PROBABLY KNOW ME SUPER WELL THAT I DO NOT HESITATE TO JUMP INTO CONTROVERSIAL PROBLEMS.
>> YOU'RE DIFFERENT QUAVANA [OVERLAPPING]. [LAUGHTER]
>> WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO VOICING YOUR OPINION ON WHAT YOU AGREE AND DISAGREE WITH, JUST VOICING YOUR OPINION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S CONTROVERSIAL, PROBABLY IS MORE IMPACTFUL THAN JUST SAYING PRO OR CON OR HOWEVER IT WOULD BE.
IF YOU'RE WILLING TO JUMP INTO A TOPIC LIKE THAT, I DON'T THINK IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE PERSON.
I DON'T REALLY THINK EVERYTHING HAS THAT MUCH.
IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON THE PERSON.
IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING AND JUMPING INTO CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RUN INTO ISSUES WITH A VOTE, INVOKES MAYBE A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF STRESS BECAUSE YOU ALREADY FEEL COMFORTABLE VOICING YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT THIS CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC AND YOU WANT TO ABSTAIN, YOU ABSTAIN.
>> I HAD A COMMENT FROM A BOARD MEMBER ELSEWHERE WHO IS READING THROUGH OUR MINUTES AND SAID SHE HAD DIFFICULTY KNOWING WHO WAS ON THE BOARD, GIVEN THAT THERE'S NO REAL DISTINCTION.
IT DOESN'T SAY STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, IT ALWAYS SAYS BOARD MEMBERS AND THEN IT LISTS ALL OF US.
FOR CLARITY AND READING THROUGH IT, IF IT SAID STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, BUT AS IT STANDS IT BLURS THE LINES BETWEEN THE BOARD AND STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES AND THAT'S A CONCERN.
>> WE CAN HAVE THAT. GOOD FEEDBACK.
I WOULD JUST ADD THAT THIS IS INTERESTING AS I'M THINKING ABOUT IT, INCLUDING STUDENT VOICE IN THE BOARD MEETING BEFORE YOUR VOTE IS EXACTLY.
PARALLELS ARE IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU'VE BEEN CHARGING ME WITH.
FROM THE BEGINNING HAVING A STUDENT ADVISORY WHICH I LOVE THE COMMITTEES MAKING SURE STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO THAT TABLE, WHICH THERE ARE VOTES IN THAT, AND THEIR VOTES DO COUNT IN THAT SPACE, IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE BOARD.
BUT JUST THINKING THROUGH, ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO IS TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW TO INCREASE STUDENT VOICE.
THIS FEELS LIKE AN EXTENSION OF THAT ASK OF ME TO THE BOARD.
I WILL SAY SELENA IN PARTICULAR, WE MEET WITH JAZZY AND QUAVANA.
WE'RE DOING A BETTER JOB OF MEETING WITH THEM AHEAD OF TIME.
[02:05:01]
IF THERE ARE TOPICS THAT WE THINK MIGHT BE CONTROVERSIAL OR SOMETHING, WE GIVE THEM.WE TALK THROUGH THE AGENDA AHEAD OF TIME TO GIVE THEM ANY BACKGROUND OR HEY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO TALK TO YOUR PEERS ABOUT THIS, OR THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING JUST SO THAT THEY ARE HAVING A THOUGHT PARTNER IN ORDER TO BE PREPARED, SO DO KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST COMING IN HERE ALL BY THEMSELVES.
THAT THERE'S SOMEONE NOT NECESSARILY WORKING WITH THEM BUT TALKING THROUGH OR IF THEY HAVE A QUESTION THEY KNOW THEY CAN CONTACT MYSELF OR SELENA AND PROCESS THAT AHEAD OF TIME JUST SO THAT THEY DON'T.
THEN WHEN WE DO GO TO STUDENT ADVISORY, THEY BOTH SIT ON THE SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY, SO WE'LL TAKE TOPICS THERE.
OFTEN LIKE THE DRUG ISSUE, THAT WAS ONE, SO THAT GOT BROUGHT UP TODAY, SO WE COULD ASK THE STUDENTS, WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWPOINTS ON THAT? ANYWAY, JUST OBSERVATION ON THAT ASK OF ME IS BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING FORTH IN AN EXTENDED WAY.
>> OTHER COMMENTS. AGAIN, THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT IS MORE AIMED AT, SHOULD WE PURSUE PUTTING TOGETHER A MORE FORMAL POLICY TO FORMALIZE THAT PROCESS, THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO COME UP FOR DISCUSSION AMONGST THE BOARD MEMBERS.
WE WOULD START WITH THE DRAFT.
WE WOULD THEN GO THROUGH THAT AND THROUGH THE APPROVAL PROCESS BASED ON POLICY AND MULTIPLE MEETINGS AS WE DO IT.
SO BASICALLY LOOKING FOR THE GROUP CONSENSUS AS FAR AS DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AND DRAFTING SOMETHING OR DO WE NOT I MEAN, I THINK CHRISTY PUT IT WELL, IS WE'RE TELLING HER THAT WE NEED SOMETHING THIS WAY.
GRANTED, WE'RE NOT SAYING SPECIFICALLY A VOTE, BUT WE ARE TELLING HER STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THE COMMITTEE.
SAY WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER.
>> AS FAR AS WRITING A POLICY AND LOOKING INTO IT, WASN'T IT DOES HAVE EXAMPLE POLICIES OF IT AND THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT USE IT, AND THIS SENTENCE THAT EXPLAINS WHAT THE STUDENT ADVISORY VOTE IS, IT SAYS FOR AGENDA ITEMS, AND THIS IS FROM NORTH MASON SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO OVER ON THE PENINSULA FOR AGENDA ITEMS THAT INCLUDE VOTING AFTER DISCUSSION CLOSES, BUT BEFORE THE BOARD VOTES, THE CHAIR/PRESIDENT TURNS TO THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES AND ASK THEM TO PROVIDE THEIR ADVISORY VOTES OF PRO, CON, OR ABSTAIN.
AFTER TAKING THE STUDENT ADVISORY VOTES, THE BOARD TAKES THEIR VOTE, AND ALSO IN THERE TALKS ABOUT THAT THE VOTES FOR THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES DO NOT COUNT IN THE FINAL TALLY.
AS FAR AS LIKE HAVING TO RESEARCH HOW TO WRITE IT AND EVERYTHING, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
>> WE COULD USE IF WE USE THAT AS A MODEL.
>> I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT JUST AGAIN, PROVIDING THAT SPACE IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY SO THAT IT'S AN ADVISORY.
WE CAN LISTEN TO IT, TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION, AND THEN WE WOULD MAKE HER VOTE BASED ON WHAT WE'RE CHARGED AND TASKED WITH.
>> YEAH, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
I'D LIKE TO SAY SKEWS THE FATHER FIGURE.
>> WE APPRECIATE THE PROTECTION.
>> IT'S BUILT IN. BUT YEAH, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE STUDENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T PUT THEM IN A BAD SPOT IF THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY WANTED I'M ALL FOR IT.
>> I'M NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THIS ONE, QUITE FRANKLY.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE THIS.
>> ESSENTIALLY, BASED ON THAT, WE HAVE CONSENSUS TO GO AHEAD AND AT LEAST UTILIZING SOME OF THESE EXAMPLES WILL GET A DRAFT POLICY PUT TOGETHER AND THEN BRING IT UP FOR FORMAL DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU. THAT TAKES US ON TO ESSENTIALLY ITEM 9.02,
[9.02 Whatcom County Skills Center Participation]
WHICH WE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PULL THAT OUT, AND THAT IS THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE WALK CAN COUNTIES SKILL CENTER PARTICIPATION, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO KRISTI TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A RUNDOWN ON THAT AND THEN WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS.[02:10:03]
>> I'VE BEEN SENDING YOU A THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME BECAUSE THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF BEING AN EXPERT IN SKILL CENTERS.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO LEARN ALONGSIDE YOU.
I DID ASK MARK TO POSSIBLY CHIME IN BECAUSE HE HAS MORE HISTORY.
THERE CURRENTLY IS A SKILL SCANNER DOWNS GADGET.
YOU HAD BEEN INVITED TO ATTEND A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES TO GO DOWN.
WE STILL CAN GO DOWN AND SEE THAT IT'S A CONSORTIUM OF DISTRICTS WHERE THEY COME TOGETHER AND THEY'RE ABLE TO EXTEND THEIR LEARNING AND AREAS THAT WOULD NOT BE OFFERED IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE SMALL ENGINES, MAYBE AUTOMOTIVE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE SPACE TO OFFER A FULL AUTOMOTIVE PROGRAM TO THE SECOND LEVEL, AND SO WHAT CURRENTLY HAPPENS IS OUR STUDENTS THEN WOULD GO DO RUNNING START AT BTC IF IT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE OR AT WHAT CAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE THE SKILL CENTER IS A CONSORTIUM OF THE SEVEN DISTRICTS OF WHATCOM COUNTY AND OUR STUDENTS THEN COULD GO THERE.
IT'S MAYBE THEY GO OVER THERE FOR A CLASS OR A HALF-DAY.
WE DO HAVE SOME IN HERE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE, WE'VE HAD STUDENTS GO TO DIFFERENT PLACES ALREADY.
IF WE DON'T CARRY A PROGRAM, IT'S NOT IN COMPETITION WITH SOMETHING THAT WE RUN.
IT WOULD CAUSE US TO DO AN EXAMINATION OF OUR OWN PROGRAMS AND MAKING SURE.
BUT IT'S NOT IN LIEU OF WHAT WE HAVE.
IT WOULD BE THE SECOND TIER OR REPLACEMENT OF SOMETHING THAT WE'RE UNABLE TO OFFER, FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW THAT THE WALK FROM COUNTIES SKILL CENTER, WHICH WILL BE IT'S NOT MERIDIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT'S JUST WOULD BE HOUSED CLOSE TO THEIR HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY ARE PLANNING TO BUILD AN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY FUTURE PLANS OF BUILDING AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER.
WITH AN EARLY LEARNING CENTERS, SOMEONE COULD GO THERE AND THEY COULD BEGIN WORKING ON TAKING SOME COURSES ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SO THEY COULD START TO GET AHEAD IN THOSE DEGREES.
IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SOMETIMES YOU SEE NURSING BEING OFFERED AT A SCALE CENTER.
RIGHT NOW WHAT THIS LETTER WOULD ALLOW US TO DO IS ENTER INTO A FEASIBILITY STUDY.
TIME FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND LEARN.
MARK ANYTHING YOU WOULD ADD ABOVE THAT.
>> JUST SIMILAR TO THE BUILDING TRADES PROGRAM THAT MERIDIAN RAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS THAT WE HAD STUDENTS THAT WOULD ATTEND THE MORNINGS AT FRONTAL HIGH AND THEN GO OVER THERE FOR THAT PROGRAM.
BECAUSE IT WAS WHEN WE DIDN'T OFFER HERE AND DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT.
THE NICE THING IS IT'S CLOSE BY SO THEY CAN ATTEND PARTIAL DAY HERE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING TO LEAVE AND GO FULL DAY SOMEWHERE ELSE TO FIND THE NEAREST OPTION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS THAT ARE PURSUING DIFFERENT OPTIONS, DIFFERENT AVENUES THAT THEIR NEEDS ALREADY.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A HUGE IMPACT IN TERMS OF DECREASE IN ENROLLMENT.
I THINK IT JUST IS ANOTHER VALUABLE OPTION FOR KIDS THAT ARE ALREADY SEEKING ANOTHER OPTION THAT IS GOING TO MEET THEIR NEEDS BETTER.
>> IS THIS A TAG ONTO THE RUNNING START PROGRAM THEN IT'D BE TREATED THE SAME.
>> IT'S LIKE THAT. YEAH. I MEAN, EXCEPT THEY'RE GETTING TO STILL BE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL SETTING WITH HIGH SCHOOL PEERS, AND SAID WHEN THEY GO TO RUNNING STARTS THERE OFTEN WITH COLLEGE PEERS.
>> WHAT YEAR IN THE SCHOOLS WOULD YOU?
>> USUALLY AROUND THE JUNIOR YEAR, JUNIOR, SENIOR.
>> MY CONCERN IS THAT IT TALKS ABOUT BEING LOCKED INTO THIS FOR LIKE A 10 YEARS.
I MEAN, LOOKING THROUGH ALL THE PAPERS THAT WENT WITH THIS, WE'D BE LOCKED INTO IT FOR 10 YEARS, 10-YEAR COMMITMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE TO PAY INTO A FUND TO SUPPORT FACILITIES, AND THIS LOOKS TO ME LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO CREATE A FACILITY IN BELLINGHAM, AM I INCORRECT ABOUT THAT?
IT'S NOT IN BELLINGHAM, IT'S IN THE MERIDIAN SCHOOL.
IT'S CLOSE TO THE MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL.
SO NOT FAR FROM US FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND AND THAT'S WHY THE QUESTIONS I WAS SENDING THEM OFF FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS MORE, IT'S MORE THAT WE WOULD ENTER A FEASIBILITY STUDY AT THIS POINT.
WE'RE NOT LOCKED IN, AND UNLESS THE LEGISLATION PASSES THIS, THERE IS NO SKILL CENTER.
THERE'S A BILL RIGHT NOW IN THE HOUSE WHICH HAS TO GO THROUGH,
[02:15:02]
BUT THIS IS JUST TO SHOW SUPPORT TO MOVE FORWARD.>> BUT IF WE SHOW SUPPORT AND MOVING FORWARD AND IT DOES GO THROUGH, THEN WE'RE COMMITTED BY SIGNING THIS.
I KNOW INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT, BUT ALSO COMPARES THE DEFAULT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE'S A LOT STILL LEARNING TO DO.
PEGGY, WE CAN PAUSE THIS AND I CAN ASK THAT I DIDN'T WALK AWAY WITH THAT.
THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME SO I CAN GET THOSE ANSWERS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE LOCKED IN FOR LIFE.
>> WELL, I MEAN, IN READING THROUGH THE ATTACHED INFORMATION, LOOK AT THIS WHACK AND WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT INVOLVEMENT IN THESE PROGRAMS AND STUFF.
IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS MORE OF A COMMITMENT.
>> I THINK THAT'S YEAH, I DID ASK UPFRONT AND THAT WOULD COME LATER IF WE CONTINUED.
THE THING IS THE STUDENTS ARE LEAVING US ANYWAY TO GO TO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS IF WE DON'T HAVE THEM.
WHATCOM COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF AND I'M NOT SAYING FOR FERNDALE BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS WHO GO OFF TO A RUNNING START, BOTH AT BTC AND WHATCOM.
THE PART AND MARK AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS.
THE PART I LIKE IS OFTENTIMES WHEN THEY ENTER THOSE PROGRAMS, IT'S ALL DAY.
THIS WOULD BE A PARTIAL OR A CLASS OR A HALF-DAY PROGRAM, SO THEY COME BACK.
>> BUT THIS IS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THIS JUST A FEASIBILITY STUDY.
>> YES. THERE'S STILL LOTS OF WORK.
THIS IS LIKE 6-10 YEARS FROM NOW THAT THIS WOULD EVEN.
>> WELL, I WILL THROW IN A LITTLE PERK.
I HAD A SON THAT WAS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM THAT THEY RAN AT MERIDIAN.
IT WAS IN THE BUILDING WHERE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS NOW.
BUT WHY SHE DIDN'T ENGINEERING PUT ON A PROGRAM THERE AND IT WAS A STEPPING STONE TO A CAREER IN ENGINEERING AND QUITE SUCCESSFUL.
>> THE HONESTY AND I'M WORKING WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM.
WE WANT TO HAVE AS MANY ROBUST PROGRAMS HERE, AND OUR SPACES AS BIG AS IT'S GOING TO.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GO DEEP INTO, AND WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CAPTURE EVERY SINGLE PROGRAM OF INTEREST FOR A STUDENT, AND SO IF WE CAN KEEP THEM ENGAGED IN SCHOOL, AND THIS IS ONE WAY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE JUST AS MARK SAID, THAT WE HAVE OPTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
>> HAVE WE IN THE PAST, THINKING BACK WHEN MY KID WAS LIKE FRESHMAN YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, DIDN'T WE PARTICIPATE WITH THE SKETCH THAT ONE? SO THERE WAS A CLASS THAT HE IN PARTICULAR WAS INTERESTED IN BUT GOING TO SKAGIT COUNTY FOR THIS ONE CLASS, ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? NO WAY.
SO I REALLY LIKED THAT IT'S LOCAL.
I ALSO REALLY LIKE THAT THEY'D BE WITH HIGH SCHOOL PEERS.
I THINK SOME KIDS DO GREAT IN RUNNING START OR B2C OR WALK COME OR WHATEVER.
BUT SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BETTER TO BE IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN YOU'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
ONE QUESTION I HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE A PRETTY ROBUST CTE PROGRAM, I WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME THINGS IN THE SKILL CENTER THAT WE HAVE HERE.
>> THIS MIGHT BE FEASIBILITY OR FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, BUT IF WE'RE USING A SMALLER PORTION OF IT THAN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, DO WE STILL PAY AN EQUAL PART OF THE PIE?
>> I THINK THAT AS FAR AS THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT FOR THE GOOD OF WHATCOM COUNTY STUDENTS IN GENERAL, WE HAVE A GREAT CTE PROGRAM.
OTHER SCHOOLS DON'T AND LET'S NOT MAKE THEM GO DOWN TO PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
I THINK HAVING IT HERE IS GOOD FOR WHATCOM COUNTY AS A WHOLE AND ALSO EMPLOYERS TOO.
I MEAN, KIDS ARE GOING TO COME OUT OF THESE PROGRAMS AND BE EMPLOYABLE IN DIFFERENT FIELDS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR EMPLOYERS AS WELL.
>> WHY CAN'T WE JUST BEEF UP OUR OWN CTE PROGRAM AND ACT AS A DRAW STUDENTS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS IF WE KEPT THOSE FUNDS RATHER THAN SUPPORT IT?
>> THE SAME THING, IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT WHO IS AT NOOKSACK AND GOOD WITH NOOKSACK, BUT WANTS TO TAKE THAT HALF-DAY CLASS TUESDAY, THURSDAY AT MERIDIAN, WHY DO WE HAVE TO FEEL WE HAVE TO DRAW THEM TO OUR SCHOOL? WE'RE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING OUT FOR THE GOOD OF HOPEFULLY ALL STUDENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
>> I THINK PROBABLY THE KEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TO, SORRY TO INTERRUPT, I APOLOGIZE, BUT IS THE VARIETY THAT CAN BE OFFERED TO THE STUDENTS, THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE.
IT SOUNDS GREAT FOR CTE PROGRAM HERE.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE THINGS THAT AREN'T OFFERED THAT THEY COULD OFFER OUR STUDENTS,
[02:20:04]
SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER IS THAT OPTION.>> WELL, ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT PEGGY IS MENTIONING, IF THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT FERNDALE OFFERS THAT WE OPENED THOSE UP AS AN OPTION RATHER THAN DUPLICATE THEM, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT COME TO MIND AND HOPEFULLY NOT, BUT IN THIS THING IT'S REALLY THE WHATCOM COUNTY OR THEY CALL IT THE WHATCOM COUNTY BRANCH OF THE CORE CAMPUS SKILLS, IT'S NOT MERIDIAN VERSUS FERNDALE, IT'S WHATCOM COUNTY.
I THINK THAT MIGHT GET INTO PEOPLE'S MIND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IT BEING NEXT MERIDIAN.
WELL, IT'S GOT TO BE SOMEWHERE.
MERIDIAN IS FAIRLY CENTRALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY FOR ALL THE OTHER DISTRICTS.
>> I THINK PEGGY, YOUR QUESTION ABOUT BEEFING UP, SOMETIMES IF YOU ONLY HAVE TWO STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING SOMETHING, WE CAN'T RUN THAT COURSE AND PAY FOR IT.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LOTS OF KIDS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HANDFUL OF KIDS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN GOING AND TAKING SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC.
RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A BUS THAT TAKES GROUPS OF WHATCOM COUNTIES STUDENTS DOWN TO SKAGIT TO ATTEND THE SKILL CENTER FOR DIFFERENT THINGS.
IF ANYTHING, WE HAVE HAD STUDENTS GO, IT'S JUST A HANDFUL.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LOTS OF KIDS.
IT'S THE THE ONE-OFFS THAT WE CAN OFFER BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO OFFER A CLASS FOR A OR ONE STUDENT, TWO STUDENT, THREE STUDENTS, IT TAKES ABOUT 20 STUDENTS IN ORDER TO RUN IT.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE STAYING WITH HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS AS OPPOSED TO MINGLING WITH COLLEGE-AGED STUDENTS.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT TOO, BECAUSE IT TALKED ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS BEING OPEN TO KIDS WHO HAD DROPPED OUT UP TO WHAT AGE?
>> ANY STUDENT WHO DOES NOT HAVE THEIR DIPLOMA UP TO AGE 21, CAN GO TO HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.
>> HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.
THAT'S JUST PUBLIC SCHOOLS, A STUDENT HAS UNTIL AGE 21 TO GRADUATE.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE STUDENTS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL THAT ARE BEYOND AGE 18 WHO ARE STILL WORKING ON THEIR DIPLOMA.
I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT NOW A STUDENT, THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE AN OPTION TO STAY WITH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL PEERS.
WHEN YOU'RE IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'VE WORKED WITH LOTS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE BEYOND 18, THEY'RE STILL ENGAGING IN HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.
WE ALL BLOOM AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
THEY'RE JUST NEEDING A LITTLE EXTENDED TIME TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE.
DROPOUTS DON'T JUST HAPPEN AT 18.
WE HAVE EIGHTH GRADERS AND NINTH GRADERS WHO BEGAN TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL.
IF THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LURES KIDS BACK, I'M ALL FOR THAT.
>> I GUESS I HAVE CONCERNS TOO ABOUT, WE'RE NOT COMPETING AGAINST OTHER DISTRICTS FOR PROGRAMS THAT EXIST, BUT WHAT ABOUT BTC AND WHAT THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY OFFER THROUGH THEM.
WHY SHOULD WE BE COMPETING WITH THEM RATHER THAN [OVERLAPPING].
>> A STUDENT WOULD HAVE A CHOICE.
IT WOULD BE UP TO THE STUDENT THEN TO GET TO CHOOSE.
LIKE STEVE SAID, HIS SON SHOWS THAT, I'VE KNOWN LOTS OF STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE AND THEN I KNOW STUDENTS HAVE CHOSE RUNNING STARTS TO DO ONLINE OR DO IN-PERSON.
PART OF THE ENGAGEMENT IS MAKING SURE THEY HAVE CHOICE.
ONE THEME YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM STUDENT VOICE FROM ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL, MY ENTRY PLAN IS OUR STUDENTS ARE ASKING FOR CHOICE AND FLEXIBILITY.
IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT AGE, THAT CAME UP OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
>> THE CLASS THAT MY SON WAS INTERESTED IN TAKING THAT WAS OFFERED IN SKAGIT, IT'S NOT OFFERED IT RUNNING START, IT WASN'T OFFERED AT BTC.
WE ENDED UP PAYING FOR IT OUT-OF-POCKET FOR IT, AND TO HAVE IT AT A SKILL CENTER LIKE THIS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF HIS PUBLIC EDUCATION.
>> JUST TO ADD, I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF RUNNING START STUDENTS AND THEY STRUGGLED BECAUSE IT'S NOT STRUCTURED THE SAME WAY HIGH-SCHOOL IS WHICH THEY'VE GONE TO THE LAST THREE YEARS.
WITH A WORK SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THAT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE THEM, THAT'S STILL THAT HIGH SCHOOL STRUCTURE WHERE THE TEACHER IS YOU ARE MISSING THIS ASSIGNMENT, BUT YOU DON'T GET THAT IN A RUNNING START CLASS.
>> I'M JUST PLAYING DEVIL'S ADVOCATE BECAUSE HONESTLY,
[02:25:01]
I'M A SCHOOL CHOICE PERSON AND YOU KNOW THAT.>> I KNOW THAT. THAT'S WHY I'M LOVING THE QUESTIONS REALLY.
>> BUT ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT ARRIVING IN COLLEGE PREPARED TO DO COLLEGE LEVEL WORK, AND IT SEEMS WE'RE DIVERTING ATTENTION AWAY FROM BASIC EDUCATION RESPONSIBILITIES.
WHEN YOU DO THIS APPROACH WHERE YOU'RE SPREADING YOUR RESOURCES AROUND, I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS I'M JUST THINKING THAT, SHOULD WE BE FOCUSING MORE ON FUNDAMENTAL EDUCATION, READING, WRITING, ARITHMETIC? BECAUSE I'VE HEARD COMPLAINTS FROM EMPLOYERS ABOUT PEOPLE NOT HAVING THOSE BASIC IN PLACE EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE GONE THROUGH TRADE PROGRAMS.
>> IF I MAY SAY THOUGH, THERE'S A TIME AND [OVERLAPPING] PLACE FOR EVERYTHING, AND COLLEGE ISN'T FOR EVERYBODY.
TECHNICAL SCHOOLS ARE MANY TIMES THE WAY FOR THESE STUDENTS TO GO.
MY THREE CHILDREN ALL ATTENDED TECH SCHOOL.
I WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND I ENDED UP IN A TECH SCHOOL.
>> I WOULD SAY THE READING, WRITING, AND MATH THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THOSE COURSES IS QUITE RIGOROUS BECAUSE IT'S WITH APPLICATION.
THEY'RE MORE INCLINED OR INTRIGUED TO LEARN MATH IN SOME WAYS THAN JUST THE TRADITIONAL MATH CLASS.
>> IT'S JUST INTRODUCED IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
>> DON'T GET ME WRONG, I'M ALL OF FOR TRADE EDUCATION.
I'M JUST SAYING, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE IN THE TRADES SAY THEY'RE GETTING PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT COMPETENT COMING THROUGH SOME PROGRAMS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE QUALITY PROGRAMS.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE TRADES, A LOT OF THE BIG COMPANIES YOU START OFF OR APPRENTICESHIPS AND CORPORATIONS HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM SOME OF THAT, UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT THAT IS A GOOD RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND LEARN.
YOU PICK UP ALL THOSE TYPES OF SKILLS THAT YOU'RE NEEDED TO DO YOUR JOB.
THAT'S AN UNFORTUNATE PART OF IT.
>> I WOULD THINK THAT ONE DOESN'T PRECLUDE THE OTHER.
I MEAN, WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT WE NEED TO GET THE RIGORS OF THE MATHEMATICS, THE SCIENCE, ALL THOSE THINGS UP THERE.
HAVING A SKILL CENTER DOESN'T PRECLUDE US FROM DOING THAT OR ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY.
I THINK THAT'S JUST, IT GIVES ANOTHER SOURCE OF OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS AND IT GIVES THAT APPLICABLE WHERE THEY CAN LEARN IT, MATH OR SCIENCE OR WHATEVER READING IN RELATIONSHIP TO SOMETHING THEY'RE MORE INTERESTED IN WHICH IS A BIG MOTIVATOR FOR THEM TO LEARN, AT LEAST IN MY THOUGHT.
>> THAT'S COMING UP IN THE INTRO PLAN.
>> I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHO WE'RE SERVING AND THEY'RE THE ONES PAYING FOR IT.
THEY KNOW WHERE THE NEED IS IN TERMS OF BUSINESSES, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR MORE FEEDBACK FROM THAT AND I'D HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THE SCHEDULED PROGRAM AS WELL.
>> GREAT. THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN PUTTING IT OUT THERE THAT WE CAN GO TAKE A VISIT BY ASSIGNING THIS.
THEN WE STAY AT THE TABLE AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO LEARN WHEN DO THE SURVEYS AND ALL OF THAT.
>> WHAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY IRONIC ON THAT ONE.
IS IT, HOW CAN WE GET DOWN TO SKAGIT BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE FULL-TIME JOBS.
>> I KNOW. WE WOULD FIND THE TIME.
>> IF WE CAN'T GET DOWN THERE TO SEE IT, THEN.
>> LIKE HOW THE KIDS COULDN'T GET THERE?
>> ONE BIG QUESTION THAT POPPED UP IN MY MIND WAS, IF THIS IS A REGIONAL NEED, IF WE'VE GOT THIS ISSUE WITHIN WHATCOM COUNTY, WHY HASN'T THE ESD SPEARHEADED THIS?
>> THAT'S WHAT JAMES HAD ANSWERED IN HIS EMAIL AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S A BILL IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION RIGHT NOW TO HELP FUND THIS FOR COUNTIES LIKE OURS THAT ARE MOSTLY MADE UP OF RURAL COMMUNITIES.
>> WELL, IT DOES SAY THAT THE END OF THAT AGREEMENT, THAT IT'S NULL AND VOID IF THE STATE DOESN'T COME THROUGH WITH THEIR FORMATION WITH THE MONEY AND IF WE CAN'T REACH AN INNER AGREEMENTS.
>> NO, BUT THAT'S GETTING IT STARTED.
ONCE THEY GET IT ROLLING, IF THEY AT SOME POINT CUTOFF SUPPORTS, THEN WHAT HAPPENS?
>> NOW, THE NEXT PHASE FOR THIS, BEFORE WE SIGN ANYTHING ELSE, IS GOING TO ENGAGE IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY AND BEGAN LEARNING AT IT, LOOKING AT THE DATA, THE SURVEYS, ALL OF THAT.
YOUR QUESTIONS, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A SPACE TO ASK THOSE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION?
[02:30:08]
THEN SINCE WE HAVE PULLED THIS AWAY FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.WE DO REQUIRE SOME FORM OF MOTION TO ACT UPON IT, SO THE CHAIR AT THIS POINT WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> CAN I MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT BEFORE A MOTION, I COULDN'T REMEMBER IF I WAS MAKING IT UP IN MY HEAD IF ACTUALLY READ IT.
BUT DR. JAMES EVER AT THE SUPERINTENDENT FROM MERIDIAN, WHO HAS ANSWERED A LOT OF OUR QUESTIONS THIS PREVIOUS WEEK.
HE SAID THERE WILL ALSO BE A SMALL AMOUNT FROM EACH DISTRICT THAT WILL BE FOR CAPITAL NEEDS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE EIGHTH DISTRICT SENDING STUDENTS TO NCTA CONTRIBUTE TO A TOTAL OF $23,000 EACH YEAR.
NCTA IS THIS GADGET, COUNTY 1.
THE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THAT, IT'S $23,000 A YEAR, SO AS FAR AS FOR THE MONETARY INVESTMENT GIVES YOU A GUESSTIMATE RANGE OF WHAT IT WOULD BE IN WHATCOM COUNTY.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED THAT WE AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WHATCOM COUNTY SKILLS CENTER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> ALL OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS?
>> THE MOTION PASSES AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE WITH LOOKING INTO THIS.
THAT DOES BRING US TO ITEMS 9 AND 10 OF THE AGENDA,
[9. SUPERINTENDENT CONSENT AGENDA [GC-2.4]]
[10. BOARD CONSENT AGENDA [GC-2.4]]
THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND THE BOARD'S CONSENT AGENDA.AGAIN, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN TO MEETINGS IN THE PAST, YOU REALIZE AND I WILL SAY AGAIN.
THESE ARE A GROUP OF ITEMS THAT THE BOARD HAS HAD ACCESS TO AND INFORMATION ABOUT AHEAD OF TIME AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO ASK ANY QUESTION OR INFORMATION.
WE ARE ALLOWED TO PASS THESE AS A GROUP OF ITEMS AS OPPOSED TO TAKING AND DISCUSSING EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY, THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE DISCUSSION OF THEM.
BUT AGAIN, WE CAN VOTE ON THEM AS ONE MOTION AS OPPOSED TO MULTIPLE ONES.
FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T HEARD OR AREN'T AWARE OF THESE ITEMS AND THE INFORMATION IS ALL AVAILABLE.
BOARD DOCS, IF YOU'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH HOW TO GET THERE, PLEASE ASK ANY OF US WE CAN HELP YOU NAVIGATE THERE AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE SEEING.
WITH THAT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THE CONSENT AGENDAS, AND THE CHAIR AT THIS TIME, WE'LL ENTERTAIN DISCUSSION AND OUR MOTION.
>> DISCUSSION ON JUST ONE QUICK TRAVEL ITEM.
HAVE WE EVER PARTICIPATED IN A PUBLIC RELATIONS, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC RELATIONS.
WHAT IS THAT? I MEAN, IT SOUNDS MORE LIKE A MARKETING.
IT'S REALLY HELPING US TO KNOW THE BOARD.
I GET INFORMATION ON HOW TO DO RE-BRANDING OR WRITE AN ENTRY PLAN OR HOW DO YOU ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
I LOOK AT A LOT OF OUR POLICIES.
THE ONE WE READ TONIGHT, THAT WOULD BE A PLACE I WOULD GO AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> THERE WAS NO DOLLAR FIGURE PUT ON ANY OF THESE THINGS FOR, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO DO THIS?
>> IT'S WITHIN THE SET-ASIDES THAT I HAVE HER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD CONSENT AGENDAS.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED TO ADOPT OR ACCEPT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED AND MADE PART OF THE MINUTES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE.
>> ALL OPPOSED AND ANY ABSTENTIONS? THE CONSENT AGENDAS ARE ADOPTED, SO THAT BRINGS US ON THEN TO ITEM 11.01,
[11. SHARING [GC-7.E]]
WHICH IS ELECTED BOARD REMEMBER SHARING, AND SO I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.[02:35:02]
>> I'D LIKE TO SHARE, AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME TO OUR MEETINGS INVITING US TO SCHOOLS, AND WE'VE HAD DR. DOMINGUEZ TELLING US, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO SCHOOLS.
I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE MY THOUGHT BACK IN 2019 WHEN I RAN FOR SCHOOL BOARD WAS LIKE, OH, SCHOOL VISITS, WHICH HAVEN'T HAPPENED UNTIL THREE AND A HALF YEARS IN.
I WANT TO THANK SKYLINE, LAST FRIDAY, I WENT AND VISITED THERE.
MR. DOWEBER, THE PRINCIPAL, HAD TAKEN ME TO THE SECOND AND THIRD-GRADE CLASSROOMS OF MRS. CROW AND MS. HASS, AM I PRONOUNCING THAT RIGHT? HASS, MS.HASS, AND IN THOSE CLASSROOMS, I SAW THE ENGLISH AND THE ARC MATERIALS THAT WE HAD PROVED A YEAR AGO.
I SAW THEM IN PRACTICE AND THAT WAS SUPER COOL BECAUSE LIKE IN ONE CLASSROOM I WALKED IN AND A STUDENT WAS READING ABOUT WHITE.
I WALKED IN THE FIRST CLASSROOM AND THERE'S ONE STUDENT THERE AND SHE HAD HER GLASSES ON.
CAN I INTERRUPT YOU FOR A SECOND AND SHE'S LIKE SURE, YES, AND SHE WAS VERY BUSINESS-LIKE AND VERY PUT TOGETHER AND VERY PROUD OF HER HUGE CHAPTER BOOK THAT THIS SECOND GRADER WAS READING, IT WAS HUGE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AND HOW SHE HAD TO FIND IT THERE, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE FIRST IN THE SERIES, BUT THEY HAD THE SECOND, AND SO WE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING BOOKS ON HOLD AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES. THAT WAS GOOD.
THEN AFTER THAT ONE, THERE WAS ANOTHER STUDENT WHO WAS READING A GRAPHIC NOVEL.
I WENT AND I TALKED TO HIM AND HE'S A LITTLE QUIETER AND STUFF BUT HE WAS LIKE, DO YOU LIKE GRAPHIC NOVELS? IS THIS GETTING INTO READING? HE'S LIKE, YEAH, I GUESS SO, HE WAS QUIET.
BEHIND ME THOUGH, WHEN I WALKED OVER TO TALK TO HIM, THERE WAS ANOTHER STUDENT WHO WAS READING A SCIENCE BOOK ON PENGUINS.
I'M TALKING TO THIS KID THAT'S READING THE GRAPHIC NOVEL THAT'S ALL ABOUT FUNNY JOKES AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DIARY OF A WIMPY KID AND EVERYTHING.
I HEAR THIS KID BEHIND ME AND HE STARTS CHUCKLING.
I TURNED TO HIM AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, THE KID READING THE SCIENCE BOOK IS FINDING IT HUMOROUS AND SO I SAID THANK YOU TO THE ONE-CHILD AND TURN TO THE OTHER ONE, AND I WAS LIKE, SO YOU'RE LEARNING ABOUT PENGUINS AND HE'S LIKE, YEP, LEARNING A LOT ABOUT PENGUINS.
WELL, I HEARD YOU LAUGHING, WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE PENGUINS? HE POINTS TO THIS PICTURE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS NEST AND THERE'S JUST ALL THIS SPRAY OUT FROM THE NEST AND APPARENTLY THESE PENGUINS PROTECT THEIR NEST BY THROWING THEIR POOP EVERYWHERE FROM THE NEST.
HE JUST THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS THE GREATEST IDEA EVER, AND I'M LIKE, DUDE, YES, THAT WOULD KEEP ME AWAY FROM THE NEST FOR SURE [LAUGHTER] HE HAD LEARNED ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS ABOUT PENGUINS AND DIFFERENT SPECIES AND FOSSILS AND WHATNOT.
ALL THREE OF THOSE KIDS IN THAT CLASSROOM VERY INVOLVED WITH WHAT THEY WERE READING VERY DIFFERENT IN WHAT THEY WERE READING, BUT EVERY SINGLE KID HAD A BOOK IN THEIR HAND AND EVERY SINGLE KID WAS FOCUSED ON READING AND MOST OF THEM ON THEIR OWN, A FEW WITH ADULTS AND SUCH WENT INTO THE OTHER CLASSROOM THEY WERE ALSO DOING READING TIME WITH THE SAME MATERIALS, DIDN'T SEE THE SAME BOOK AGAIN, BUT JUST INTERACTED WITH ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT KIDS AND THEY WERE ALL VERY MUCH AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL AND GETTING A DIFFERENT THING FROM THEIR READING, BUT THEY WERE ALL VERY ENGAGED WITH IT, SO IT WAS COOL TO SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE AND IMPROVING THAT KIND OF CURRICULUM IN THE CLASSROOM.
WENT FROM THERE TO THE MUSIC ROOM, TRIED XYLOPHONE, I'M REALLY BAD AT MUSIC, SO SORRY ABOUT THAT, MRS. BIANCO.
ALSO WENT TO MS. MORRIS SAYS CLASSROOM AWESOME TECHNOLOGY THAT SHE WAS USING WITH A QUIZ, LIKE A COMPETITION WITH THESE FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE HISTORY AND CIVICS AND SUCH, AND THEY WERE THOROUGHLY ENGAGED WITH THAT AND JUST A WEE BIT COMPETITIVE, BUT THAT WAS GOOD.
THEN WENT ON TO MRS. VARS'S CLASSROOM.
THEY WERE DOING MATH FRACTIONS AND I'M PRETTY GOOD AT MATH, BUT I APPARENTLY CAME INTO THAT LESSON A LITTLE BIT LATE BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WHAT IS GOING ON AND THEN HAD TO LEAVE, SO THANK YOU TO THE SKYLINE STAFF FOR WELCOMING ME THERE.
ALSO, WHEN I WAS WALKING IN, GOT THE PICTURE TAKEN AND RECORDED IN, AND THE SECURITY MEASURES THAT THE SCHOOLS DO IS THROUGH A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS TO SEE JUST BY TAKING AN HOUR TO GO AND VISIT THE CLASSROOM.
ALSO WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
THE MULTICULTURAL NIGHT WAS FANTASTIC AND TALKED TO A UKRAINIAN STUDENT
[02:40:04]
WHO ASSISTS WITH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS CLASS FOR BOTH RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN STUDENTS, AND JUST HER EXPERIENCES WITH THAT.I TALKED WITH THE METRO CLUB ABOUT HOW GOOD IS IT [FOREIGN], WHICH STILL ALL SORTS OF JUST SEEING DIFFERENT CULTURE AND CELEBRATING THE CULTURE.
THERE WERE SMALL GIRLS DOING MEXICAN FOLK DANCE.
THERE WAS SOME INDIAN-LIKE SOUTHEAST ASIAN INDIAN DANCE LESSONS THAT I PARTAKE, PARTOOK, PARTAKED WHATEVER IN.
IT WAS JUST GREAT TO SEE THE CELEBRATION OF THE CULTURES AND AWESOME, SO HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO GET OUT TO SCHOOLS.
IT'S FUN. YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE STUDENTS.
>> LAST FRIDAY I ATTENDED THE PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES FOR MY SON AND IT WENT WELL, IT WAS VERY NICE.
I WALKED INTO THE SCHOOL, THEY HAD PEOPLE THERE TO DIRECT ME BECAUSE I HAD BEEN A WHILE SINCE ORIENTATION.
THE TEACHERS WERE VERY FRIENDLY.
I FELT THEY GENUINELY CARED ABOUT MY SON AND WERE VERY INTERESTED IN HIS WELL-BEING AND HIS SUCCESS IN HIS STUDIES.
THEY WERE VERY THOUGHTFUL AND TRYING TO ESCORT ME AND WALK ME TO THE OTHER AREAS SO I THOUGHT IT WENT WELL CONSIDERING I HAD NOT BEEN IN THERE SINCE PROBABLY THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, TRYING TO REMEMBER WHERE TO GO.
GOOD THING I WASN'T ON A TIMER TO GET SOMEWHERE BUT IT WAS GOOD. I ENJOYED IT.
>> I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SHARE.
I WILL SHARE THAT I DID ATTEND THE OPEN HOUSE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND GOT A PRIVATE TOUR OF SOME CERTAIN AREAS IN THE BUILDING. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS NOT EVEN GOTTEN TO SEE YET.
>> IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE, I LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING SOME MORE TIME THERE HOPEFULLY AND SEE MORE.
I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF HAPPY FACES, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF INTERACTIONS AMONGST PEOPLE WHO ARE POSITIVE ABOUT AT IT SO A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
WITH THE REST OF MY TIME HERE I WOULD LIKE TO ALLOW KWABENA TO SHARE HIS WEATHER REPORT, IF HE WILL DO THAT FOR US, PLEASE.[LAUGHTER]
>> PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, THOUGH.
>> SPRING IS NOT HERE YET, UNFORTUNATELY.
WE'RE GOING TO SUFFER THROUGH.
>> I KNOW. [LAUGHTER] WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MAYBE A COUPLE OF MORE COLD SNAPS UNTIL, I DON'T KNOW.
LAST YEAR IT DIDN'T STOP TILL JUNE.
AS FAR AS I CAN SEE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COLD SNAPS THROUGH APRIL.
WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE 60S TODAY AND THEN OVER THE WEEKEND WE'RE GOING TO SOLELY PLUMMET BACK DOWN INTO THE UPPER 40S.
I CAN'T EVEN SAY THAT WE WON'T GET ANY MORE SNOW BECAUSE IT'S JUST A VOLATILE TRANSITION PERIODS SO JUST EXPECT VERY AMPLIFIED WEATHER.
NOTHING IS GOING TO STAY THE SAME.
>> THE TRACK ME THAT I HAD LAST FRIDAY, WE CAN LITERALLY SEE THE SNOW COMING DOWN BECAUSE WE WERE IN LONDON, I THINK, AND THE MOUNTAINS NEAR MOUNT BAKER, LITERALLY MAYBE A FEW HUNDRED FEET UP THERE WAS SNOW.
>> MY SON IN SCHOOL IN BOZEMAN, THEY GOT A FOOT AND A HALF THE OTHER NIGHT.
WE WOKE UP AND HE WAS LIKE, WHAT THE? [LAUGHTER] I HAVE BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF ARTICLES THAT PEOPLE KEEP SENDING ME ON HOW TO EVALUATE A GOOD LITERACY PROGRAM, WHICH I THINK WE ACTUALLY HAVE FROM THE SOUNDS IT, AND ALSO STANDARDS ON MATH.
IF YOU GUYS WANT THOSE ARTICLES, MY FRIENDS IN CALIFORNIA SEND ME MATH ARTICLES BECAUSE APPARENTLY THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF MASS DISRUPTION.
>> WELL, I THINK I'VE TALKED ENOUGH TONIGHT SO I WILL MOVE THINGS ON.
[12. MEETING EVALUATION SURVEY]
THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE IS THE SCHOOL BOARD EVALUATION OF THE MEETING, AND FOR THIS I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE STUDENTS AND CHRISTIE.[02:45:05]
>> I THINK YOU GUYS DID A REALLY GOOD JOB. HOLD ON.
I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT I HAD MARKED DOWN MAYBE WAS, I GUESS THE AGENDA IS JUST EVERY SINGLE TIME I'D COME [LAUGHTER] THE AGENDA IS JUST SO LONG.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
JUST SEEDED INTO SUPER LONG AND I THINK I'D BRIEFLY MADE A COMMENT ABOUT MAYBE HAVING A FOCUS FOR THE MEETINGS, FOCUSING ON ONE THING SO THAT WE SPEND MORE TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH A SPECIFIC PART OF THE AGENDA.
THIS IS LIKE GOING BACK TO SOMETHING YOU GUYS SAID PREVIOUSLY BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION AND THE NUMBERS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLIANT WITH THIS AND THAT, IT'S A SYSTEMIC ISSUE.
KIDS HAVE SUFFERED A LOT THESE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS NOT REALLY ADJUSTED PROPERLY TO THAT AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING, AND BY WHAT I MEAN WHAT MY MOM IS SEEING IN A COUNSELING CENTER AT WESTERN, IS THAT THE CAPACITY OF KIDS TO DO WORK IS JUST NOT THE SAME AS IT WAS AND SO A LOT OF TIMES I HEAR THAT WE ARE COMPLIANT WITH THIS AND WE CAN DO THAT BUT WE'RE SUFFERING IN THESE AREAS, WHICH IS TYPICAL BUT I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD REALLY SEPARATE THAT ISSUE BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY A SYSTEMIC THING AND I DON'T WANT IT TO HINDER US FROM MAKING POSITIVE DECISIONS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE INSTITUTION ON THE PLANET IS SUFFERING WITH THAT RIGHT NOW.
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID AND I THINK A LOT LATELY IT'S BEEN JUST MORE OF WE'RE NOT IN COMPLIANT WITH THIS WHERE WE ARE AND PRETTY MUCH I'M JUST PICKING PRETTY BACK HERE OF WHAT YOU'VE SAID BUT THERE'S MORE FACTORS THAT WE NEED TO COUNT AND WHAT YOU SAID, STUDENTS WHO DON'T PARTAKE IN SOME OF THE TESTING AND WHERE DOES THAT COME, REALLY? THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO FACTOR IN AND IT JUST GETS MORE CONFUSING THE MORE WE DIVE IN AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THAT THEN BRINGS US ONTO ITEM 13,
[13. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WHICH IS IN GET-GIVE SESSION.THIS POINT THE BOARD WILL CONVENE INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES TO GET AN UPDATE ON SOME REAL ESTATE INFORMATION.
NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN DURING THAT SESSION AND SO THAT, WE WILL GO OFF INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
YES. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BRING US BACK INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING AND WITH NO OTHER AGENDA ITEMS I WILL DECLARE THE MEETING ADJOURNED.
[NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.