001Great. Thank you. Good evening. I'd like to call this meeting to order. We got lots of energy with us this evening. So, I'm calling this meeting to order. If you're so inclined, please feel free to join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> On behalf of the board, I welcome all members of the audience to this evening's meeting. The meeting is a working session of the board to conduct the business of the district. The agenda for today's meeting has been published and the agenda items to be discussed and or voted on have been studied by the board members. I would like to introduce the
002people participating in this meeting. We have recording secretary Peggy King, Superintendent Dr. Justin Irish, board members Elizabeth Sotek, Han Tran, Carson Sanderson, and I am Sandy Hayes, and I currently serve as president of the board. Director Kelly is unwell and is excused from this meeting. The agenda for the meeting is available online at boarddocs.com and copies are also located in the table at the back of the boardroom. There will be an opportunity for both virtual and in-person public comments to be shared during the association and portion association and public comment portion of the meeting. Community members who are interested in viewing the meeting with closed captions are encouraged to follow the link on our website to the district's YouTube channel. The YouTube stream includes closed captioning for both regular board meetings and study sessions. Visit
003nsd.org and under our district, click schoolboard, then board meeting materials and videos. If you are to here to address the board on agenda items, please sign in using the sign-in sheet on the table at the back of the room and take a number that corresponds with the line where you signed in. If you don't wish to speak, don't sign in because I'm gonna call on you. All right, first order of business is the land acknowledgement and director Sanderson will be reading that. >> We take this time to acknowledge that north the Northshore School District occupies the unseated coast Salish lands that have been here since time immemorial. We honor the ways of knowing and ways of being of indigenous peoples and tribal nations who are still here and thriving in our district community. We also
004acknowledge that this is a working land acknowledgement that will continue to evolve as our partnership with local indigenous peoples and tribal leaders expands. Thank you, Director Sanderson. Up next is the approval of the agenda. Do is there a motion to approve? >> Moved. Second. Do board members have any changes to the agenda as it has been published? Okay. Seeing no changes, I will call for the vote. Well, you are riveted to our agenda approval vote here. Okay. And the agenda is approved. Next up is the superintendent's report. Dr. Irish. >> Thank you, President Hayes. Uh, first I just want to acknowledge and thank our uh generous community for um passing our three measures that um that we proposed to the community. So, we had two uh levies. We had the EPO levy and the tech
005levy and then the bond um as well. And um all three passed at really great um rates. And um just again it's a huge um it's a huge thank you uh to our team who was out in the community uh providing information to the community and to staff um almost every night sometimes three four times in the same night. Um and that occurred for months and months and then hearing from our community and the questions and the curiosities and the wonderings. Um, and then to see the polls come in as strong as they did, um, just shows how strong our community supports our schools and, um, I'm really grateful for that, um, for that. So, huge, huge, um, win for all of our students. Um, I also want to give an update that I've had
006multiple school visits over the last couple weeks since we last met. Um, I participated in with you all the schoolboard visit uh, at Sky View Middle School. Um, I attended uh school action plan visits at Bothl High School, Crystal Springs Elementary and Canyon Park Elementary. I'm sorry, Canyon Park Middle. Um, and then um, Lockwood uh, elementary school visit and then Northshore Learning Options School Visit. I've participated in our OSPI statewide webinar to learn the updates from Chris Reichdoll. um had a great opportunity to uh visit Kenmore Lanes with President Hayes uh to see the unified bowling match uh see our kids in action. Um it was a well attended event um just brought huge smile to my face u and had a great interactions with the kids and with our with our families um we
007uh met with our superintendent student advisory board and um they provided us a lot of input u to Dr. Thomas in regards to our racial and educational justice work, getting our student voice um perspective as we're thinking about uh building and continuing to build the work across the organization. I've had a lot of fun at Innovation Lab where I got to participate in their grilled cheese competition. I ate a lot of grilled cheese that night, way too much. Um um and quite interesting um different concoctions of recipes. Uh so had a great time. And then lastly, uh right before break, we um I finalized my what matters most tour with the last event um with our black and African-American families and staff. Um it was a great turnout. Uh had good conversations and that particular
008group wants to continue to meet on a consistent basis. So excited about that um and those opportunities. So uh that is my update for now. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Any questions for Dr. Irish? Okay, so up next, once a month we have a Northshore spotlight to take a moment and acknowledge some great things that are happening that doesn't always get um the attention maybe that it deserves. So um this month we are um talking about the great work in the arts that are happening. The Washington Music Educators Association had their annual conference last weekend and um at it, Kelly Griffins at from New Orleans was inducted into the wall of honor. Elliot Gray at Crank Canyon Creek was the North North Lake Regional Music Educator of the Year. Paty Treats, the founder of
009our Northshore Music Partners, received the North Lake Region Friend of Music. Um, and then also since we last met, the Both Jazz Band qualified for the Ellington Jazz Festival and one of only three high schools in the state that received that honor. So, congratulations to them. And we have 56 students from Northshore that went um to the state PTA reflections. So, we've got quite a few. I think our art that was normally up here is not there. Is it still there? So also um some reflections of the great uh participation in the arts and our talented students. So we congratulate all of those um that we have shared this evening. And again a reminder anyone that sees some great things, please let us know so that we can share them. Okay. Um up next is
010association and public comments. So, the Northshore School District Board of Directors sets aside a period of up to 60 minutes to receive updates and comments from district association leaders and community members. As referenced in multiple policies adopted by the board, we expect all parties addressing the board to present their comments in a way that is civil and respectful. This means that whether we are school directors, district staff, students, and members of the community, or some other guest, we all must follow the same standard civility during schoolboard meetings. Please speak directly to the board and address matters related to district operations, policies, procedures, and agenda items under consideration by the board. Washington law requires that the board is limit its business and discussion at the board meeting to only those items that have been captured in
011the previously published agenda. What that means for us today, any public comment regarding items that are included in the published agenda will be taken into consideration by the board when the topic is addressed during the agenda. Any topics brought up during public comment that are not included in the published agenda cannot by law be discussed at this meeting. and so will not be addressed or receive a response during the meeting. So just take a moment and read through the agenda. If you are here to discuss a topic and you don't see it on the agenda, we will not be able to discuss it during the board meeting. It doesn't mean we didn't hear you um or we don't care. It's by law. We're not allowed to discuss it tonight. Um in either case, depending on
012the nature of your topic or questions, a district employee or board member will follow up with your any comments related to district business. Please note that the board's silence during public comment is neutral. It's neither a signal of agreement or disagreement with the speaker's remarks. Also, please note that comment should not make reference to any employee or representative of the district by name or by identifiable reference. If you're interested in making comments or complaints regarding an individual, you may use the complaint process available through the office of the superintendent. Finally, remember that your words have an impact and you, not the district, are responsible for your words. We caution all speakers that is possible that your statements could violate the rights of others under various laws, including laws protecting privacy and laws prohibiting defamation. If
013you're unsure of the legal effect of your remarks, you should seek independent legal advice. In any case, we ask that you help us model for our students what a respective and inclusive community sounds looks and sounds like. That was a a lot of very seriousness. I'm not worried that that's happening tonight, but yes, it has happened in the past. That was okay. So, um we are going to start with any associations. I don't think I see any associations here tonight. No PTA, no foundation. So, we're going to move into um the public comment portion. You've taken a number. We're going to go in order of students. That's our practice here is to start with our students because we want to elevate student voice and recognize that sometimes there's homework to be done and you want
014to get back to that. So, oh, right because there was several. Okay. So, um I I'm calling uh by number because it turns out I was not taught how to read phonetically. So, it saves all of you the embarrassment of me misreading your name. So, I'm going to start with number two that says student. >> We thought you were going to switch around. So, I switched our numbers around so that the students were >> okay. Thank you for taking the work out for me. I will just call numbers and I'll assume that you have prioritized student voice for me. So, that's great. Thank you. Um, so when you come up, first of all, make sure the microphone is on. Okay? And then, um, you're going to state your name. >> A timer is going to
015appear behind me. You have three minutes to speak. When it gets to 30 seconds, it will be yellow and then it will go red and then it disappears, which is not super helpful. And there's no noise. So, if you look up and the timer is gone, that means that your three minutes is up. >> Okay. Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. >> I start whenever. >> You can start whenever. >> Hey. Uh, good evening. My name is John Gil and I'm a freshman at Inglemore and am on the Northshore water polo team and Englemore swim team. I'm here not just to talk about sports, but to talk about mental health. Water water polo is one of the most demanding sports you can play. And because aquatic sports are low impact, they carry a low risk
016of injury. Meaning we can build endurance and streng and and strength in a sustainable way that is incredibly rewarding. You are literally doing the hardest sport in the world and safely too. That combined is the perfect but unique tool that land sports do not provide. Particularly because you are using almost every muscle in your body. But the benefits aren't just physical, they're mental, too. For me, sports, especially water polo, have made a huge impact. For me, a lot for a lot of people my age, we live with anxiety and depression daily. They show up when we feel isolated or overwhelmed. They show up sometimes no for no reason at all. Anxiety and depression have clever ways of telling you that you're weak or not enough. When I'm the pool, when I'm in the pool, I'm
017focused and fully present. For that hour or two, the noise squats down. My breathing steadies, my mind clears. It forces me into the moment. It teaches me how to regulate my breathing. It teaches me to recover quickly from mistakes. There's no time to spiral over one bad pass or miss shot. You reset and move forward. That resilience comes with me to class and daily life. It helps me manage stress and handle setbacks. It reminds me that that tough moments are temporary. Science shows that physical activity helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. And team sports provide more potent benefits. Exercise releases endorphins that improve mood and reduce stress. It creates routine, and routine is powerful when you're struggling mentally. Having somewhere you're expected to be where people rely on you makes it harder to withdraw
018and isolate yourself. Being on a team holds you accountable and connected to a community. You belong to something bigger than yourself. The district talks a lot about supporting student mental health and that matters. One of the most important tools we already have is athletics. Sports create structure. They create belonging and build confidence. They provide a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety. They fight isolation and depression. Taking away programs like waterpool removes a structure a structured support system, a coping tool for some students. It removes the one place they feel strong, connected, and fully themselves. Not every student fits into the same mold. Some of us don't see ourselves in the traditional sports like football or basketball. But we still need a team. We still need movement, connection, and an outlet in a world that gives
019teenagers a lot to carry. Please consider what programs like this truly provide students like me. >> Thank you, John. Number two. >> Does this work? Okay. Yeah, it works. Okay. Can I go when I'm ready? >> Yeah. Just say your name. >> Hi, my name is Quinn Gillan. I'm a student at Northshore Middle School and I am here as a student athlete wanting to become a college athlete. I train year round as a water polo player and competitive swimmer. I've competed at the national level in water polo. I spend hours every week in the pool. The water is where I feel strong. It's where I built confidence and discipline. My goal is to continue competing in high school and one day compete in college. But if water polo is removed, particularly for girls, that pathway
020starts closing before I even get to high school. And that matters, especially for girls my age. According to the Women's Sports Foundation, girls are six times more likely than boys to drop out of sports by the age of 14. Right where I am right now. By age 17, 51% of girls have quit sports. That means early high school years are most important years to protect for girls, not remove them. protect to protect opportunities for girls, not remove them. Aquatic sports are especially important because they are inclusive of all body types. Some athletes are powerful shooters or fast swimmers or strong defenders. The water sports your body, making it lower impact while still demanding strength, stamina, and intensity. In the pool, your value comes from your effort and your teamwork, not from fitting a certain mold.
021That kind of environment is especially empowering for girls at an age when confidence can be fragile. Water polo is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports in the world. Olympic gold medalist Maggie Stephins has d has described it as basketball, soccer, and hockey combined while swimming the entire time. You can't touch the bottom of the pool. You're constantly thinking, communicating, sprinting, and adjusting. It builds total body strength and mental toughness. For me, this isn't just about playing a sport. It's about building a future. If I want to if I want to become a college athlete, I need to take the chance to compete in high school. I need the chance to represent my school to develop and grow. Taking away girls water polo doesn't just cancel games. It removes a development pathway for
022athletes like me. I've put in the work. I've competed against some of the best players in the country. I balance academics with intense training. As a 4.0 student, I'm serious about my goals. I want to continue pushing myself towards the dream of becoming a college athlete. If waterpool is gone, by the time I get there, that opportunity disappears. Not just for me, but for the girls coming behind me. Especially at the exact age when statistics show that they are most likely to quit. If we truly want to support girls confidence, mental health, and long-term success, we need to protect the athletic program that builds those things. Please make sure when I reach high school, girls waterpool is still there. Thank you. Thank you, Clen. Number three. Hi, John Gellen. Um, I'm here tonight to bring
023awareness and ask for your support in preserving and ultimately growing the uh Northshore girls and boys water polo. On February 10th, my family received the following email. Due to the fact that too many players dropped water polo at the beginning of the season and the increased cost of additional pool rentals, we've had to add an additional fee of $146 to each player's account to cover the cost of the 2526 season. Please make this additional payment as soon as possible in order to close the season. This will be the final season of water polo being played in Northshore. This was the first communication that we'd ever received from the administration. There had been no prior outreach warning of financial concern or indication that the program was in jeopardy. Months had passed since after the season ended
024when then we received this letter not only asking for 20% more, but then in the final sentence casually stating their intent to end the program. What seems like an afterthought to them meant devastating news for the students of five schools and a loss of confidence in the management of the organization. On February 13th, we received the accounting reconciliation in indicating approximately $3,000 season deficit. Those numbers are those numbers as presented are misleading. Not mentioned is the significant accounting error that was known by management but not investigated or escalated. Instead, the financial impact was simply passed along to families to absorb. Worse yet was that it was falsely attributed to lower enrollment and used as justification for cancelling the program. When financial oversight issues are reframed as participation problems and worse placed on student athletes, it
025quickly erodess trust and confidence in the administrative stewardship. We've also experienced a lack of administrative engagement and basic communication further illustrating the lack of care. Examples include no communication in in registration open last spring, no mention in high school sports announcements, and notably absent in um sports communications, district sports communications. No in-person district attendance um was was experienced during the season. Not at the 37 games, senior night, awards night, or 33 additional practices and team events. There were 70 opportunities for v visible leadership and support. From what we understand, this pattern has been consistent in prior seasons. Additionally, the spring 2026 girls season was cancelled in October due to lack of interest. However, was never opened in final forms, which we understand could potentially be a violation of Title 9. It's disingenuous to cite the
026lack of interest when registration was never made available and the decision to cancel was made months prior to the season starting with no communication. A coach was secured, pool space was available, students were prepared to participate. The issue before you is larger than a single season or budget line item. It's about basic leadership, communication, and stewardship for students in a program that has the potential to be a differentiator for the district. When a program receives no promotion, presence, communication, or advocacy, it's set up to fail. When financial discrepancies are not transparently addressed, families lose confidence. And when decisions are made without engagement, students lose opportunities. The current administrators who are responsible for supporting this program appear to be harmfully complacent. Northshore Water Polar does not need to be eliminated and needs rudimentary levels of leadership,
027visibility, and support. Thank you. >> Thank you, John. >> So, I'm seeing that there is one more student number seven. Hi, my name is Jax Rosen and I am both on the swim and water polo teams in NSD. I'm asking you to reconsider cutting water polo because of how great it is for my peers and I. Not every student wants to play the biggest sports like football, basketball, and soccer. Sports like water polo give us a chance to find a sport we enjoy and can stick with. These smaller sports let us try something different and they let us build confidence and be part of a team in a way that we might not be able to in some of the more crowded sports. Additionally, water polo is different from the bigger sports because it allows
028students to join later in most traditional sports and still compete compete at the same level as our peers. Unlike football or basketball, students who discover water polo in high school can develop quickly, contribute to the team, and still have a chance to join team sports. Even with the small number of students, the program matters. It keeps us active, builds teamwork and teaches us discipline. Water polo also makes us stronger swimmers. So it helps us for the swim teams. Small programs like this give give students a chance to a chance to grow. Cutting them removes opportunities for those who benefit from them. Water polo also opens doors for colleges and help students feel part of the school. For my peers and I, water polo isn't just a sport. It's a place to learn, learn, challenge ourselves,
029and express ourselves. I hope you will keep it for the students who rely on it. Thank you for listening. Thank you, Jax. Okay, I've gotten muddled with my numbers. I think we're on four. Okay, >> good evening. My name is Ashley Gillan and I'm here with my family. We're speaking tonight to bring public awareness and ask for your support in saving and ultimately growing the Northshore water polo program for both boys and girls. My husband and I are parents of four multiport student athletes. We've been parents in the district for 10 years and will be for 10 more. Our oldest son, John, a freshman at Inglemore, had the privilege of playing varsity water polo in the fall and even earned an all division honorable mention in the Puet Sound water polo league, which is a
030rare accomplishment for a freshman in any sport. He also competes for the Inglemore swim team and his younger brother and two sisters are eager to follow in his footsteps. Water polo is considered a niche sport, but is also widely recognized as one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports in the world. It builds elite physical skills, mental toughness, communication, resilience, and teamwork. It embraces athletes of many different body shapes and strengths. And most importantly, it gives students a place to belong. As you know, on February 10th, our family received the email informing us that the B the boys water polo team had been cancelled. There was no prior communication, no explanation, no opportunity for families to engage in conversation. Earlier, the spring program for the girls was canceled in a similar manner. A key
031note, Northshore Water Polo is fully parent funded, revenue neutral, and heavily supported by parent volunteers. Cancelling this program does not resolve any vaguely suggested budget shortfall or lack of participation. Instead, it eliminates an opportunity, especially for students who may not find their place in the traditional sports like football, basketball, volleyball, or soccer. The district stated commitment that actions are grounded in a strong belief in the capacity of every student to achieve success and social emotional success that to prepare them for a world that thrives yet to be imagined. Also, there's the goal of the number two goal from the strategic plan of responsible resil empathetic learners also specifically calls out increasing the percentage of students who engage in sports as a measurement of success. In a time when mental, youth health, connection, and screen dependency
032are of growing concerns, programs like water polo give kids a place to belong. We are here to collaborate. We believe this program can not only survive, but thrive. The team will be meeting with North Creek athletic director Jeff Melton Jefferson and district athletic director Heather Miller on Wednesday, February 25th at 7 p.m. in the North Creek Library. At the meeting, the team will be asking for a reinstatement and active promotion of water polo for both boys and girls, clear and accountable administrative support and engagement moving forward, transparency regarding how the program viability is determined, and a formal review of financial accounting and oversight practices. We invite you that we invite you as the school board to attend this meeting in support of students. But we do respectfully ask that at least one of you attend
033as we believe it will help facilitate a more productive discussion and quicker resolution. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. And I'll I'll just remind speakers that we ask that you not um use specific names or identifiable references in your um public comment. So up next is number five. Hi, my name is Kim Otley. My daughter started kindergarten in Northshore in 2011, graduated from Inglemore in 2024, and now she attends the University of Washington in the Foster School of Business. Our son is a sophomore at Inglemore, and he is a very proud second-year member of the Northshore School District varsity water polo team. Until recently, we've been very pleased with the education our kids have received along with the variety of school-based offerings such as sports, the arts, and clubs. When I talk to colleagues
034and friends with kids in other districts around Puet Sound, I always get the same reaction. Oh, you're so lucky your kids are in that district. Then when we talk about what activities our kids are involved in, and I say that our son plays water polo, it's an even more profound reaction of, "Wow." Imagine my complete shock then when I read the email on Tuesday, February 10th, election day, asking us for an additional $146.20 20 cents followed by the buried lead that water polo would no longer be offered with no explanation why. Sadly, our players also received this email during their school day. Goal number five in the Northshore Strategic Plan states, "Ready for lifelong success after graduation. Regardless of whether these boys have plans to go to college, trade school, military service, after high school,
035water polo sets them up for lifelong success. Imagine treading water while your opponent has his arms in your face trying to block you from throwing a ball. Then you have to defend that same opponent while they're actively trying to drown you. When that's over, then you have to sprint across the pool and do it over and over again. Water polo is a unique, demanding sport. And in the very competitive landscape of college admissions, which we learned through our daughter, it helps distinguish these boys as tough, resilient, and disciplined whether they're on JV or varsity. Academics alone will not get any Northshore student into college if that's the goal. Universities want to see what are prospective students passionate about. What did they do outside the classroom? What's their story? Admissions officers rank extracurricularly activities and water
036polo is very highly regarded. It screams this kid has character and most importantly grit. Supporting success beyond high school in this strategic plan requires us to preserve diverse opportunities for students, not take them away. Not every kid plays football, basketball, soccer, and baseball. Water polo is their sport. Five players from Inglemore earned all division honors from the Puet Sound Water Polo League this past fall. This should be a huge point of pride for the district and perhaps even a highlight to print in the NSD annual report mailed to community members like I received. If you heard nothing else that I said tonight, know that these boys over here love playing water polo and it should not be taken away for no good reason. If anyone from the district came to see them play, you would
037see that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Number six. >> Hi, my name is Peter Oughtley. My son is Samuley. Uh he's a sophomore at Inglemore. He's played two scenes since a water polo. I think, you know, I I can't say that I knew a lot about it until my son got into it, but man, I would recommend everybody come out. I mean, the lights are on the pool. You can see the splash. You can see the grit. Um, and there, you know, there's 25 kids on the team, but there was like 30 or 30 plus, and it hasn't even been marketed. Woodenville just won state in swimming. Can you imagine how many of those kids, if they actually knew there was a water polo team, would be on it. So, getting numbers actually isn't going
038to be a problem. It's it's when when kids know that this opportunity is there. He didn't know until one of Sam's friends kind of, hey, maybe you should do the team. Okay. Yeah. I mean, it's it's this is grit. This takes grit. It takes leadership. This is what colleges are looking for. Our daughter goes to University of Washington. I go the first day. I mean, there there's 10,000 people at I don't remember what they call the the intro ceremony or whatever. And guess what high school gets called out? Inglemore. every high school in the state, Inglemore, I think, had the most kids that year that got into UDub. That's the kind of district we're talking about here. It's a highlevel district, not just in this area, in the state. So, do we want to take
039away student opportunities? This is an opportunity that most school districts don't give. Now, there are a lot of teams, but this is a differentiator. Not just to be the top district in the state. must be one of the top districts in the country and we can do it. You just got to I mean this just needs to be marketed. I'm telling you come out to a game. I have not seen the athletic department come to a game. They should. I I I I went I mean these kids they play their hearts out and it's it's really cool. It's um it does need to be marketed. But what I want to see is, you know, we get this email and what grade does a teacher give this? Due to the fact that there's too many players
040dropped waterpull at the beginning of the season and increased cost of additional pool rental, we would like to add an additional fee of $146.20 to each player's account to the cover the cost of the 2025 26 season. Please make this additional payment as soon as possible in order to close the season. This will be the final season of water polo play to Northshore. Now, what grade would a student give if they sent that out? >> So, Peter, you're addressing >> the board, please. >> A C. It would not be a B. That's an F. You don't Who sends that out? We're trying to raise leaders. We're trying to. So, this is a great opportunity for these kids. This sticks out for the district. This can work. >> Thank you, Peter. >> Thank you. >> All
041right, we did seven, so now we're on to eight. Hi, my name is Dr. Dora Sherberg. I'm a computer scientist turned educator. I have been teaching computer science to adults for 17 years and I have a special appreciation for anyone working in the K to2 setting, teaching children, working with children. I have two children in Northshore and want to start today by stating how wonderful my family's experience has been with this school. district since moving to Washington State in 2021. We received a lot of support and feel this is a wonderful community. My son joined the water polo team as a freshman. I was thrilled that Northshore offered the sport he had wanted to do for a long time and struggled to find a good team that he felt at home with. And there is
042where things get less ideal. Finding out how high school athletics is set up was not easy. And water polo turned out to be extra challenging when it comes to information. What is WIAA? And why is water polo not in it? What does that mean outside of paying the full cost? Wait, what practice is at night in a private school in Kirkland? As someone who has not grown up in the US, figuring out the school system details is a challenge. But I'm happy to go the extra mile to learn all that is needed to set my kids up for success. So, we made it work. And my kid found a new community and something he really loves. He trained all year, three times a week for the fall 25 season in Northshore to be to come
043back better and stronger. Then two weeks ago, we received that message through final forms asking for some extra payment for the past season and tucked at the end a half sentence, it's canceled. No further explanation. One of the most disappointing messages from the district so far. You have already heard from the students mostly what it means to them. I'm just here to ask you to open this process and allow us as a community to find a solution. Improve how information is given out. Advertise it. Just cancelling might seem the easiest solution, but it will hurt the students current and future will rob them of opportunities, experiences, and community. Thank you. >> Thank you, Doris. Number nine. >> Hello, my name is Andrea Westerhoff and I thank you for this opportunity. I have two students in
044the Northshore School District and one is going to be a senior next year. He has played all three years of water polo. And to find out via an email at the beginning of the school day that water polo was canceled for the senior year was upsetting to say the least. He has made every game with the exception of one and every practice for three years. He's been on the varsity team for three years. Many of the people speaking today have talked about the advantages of water polo. Teamwork, community. It gets kids out of the basement, off games, and out in the physical world. It gives them mental benefits. It gives them physical benefits. It gives them emotional benefits. The list goes on and on. It is a full It is parentf funed. Fully parent funded.
045The coach does all of the games, all of the coordination. The school district does the money. It was 10 line items. That's a small cost to the district versus the benefits to these boys. Just from a business standpoint, the cost to benefit ratio, you've heard all of these people talk, is huge. So, I respectfully ask for your consideration that we don't just cancel things like this that we work together as a community to figure out to how to keep these things going because parents are willing to do it, the students are willing to do it. We would ask the district to be willing to do it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Number 10. >> Hi there. I My name is Steve Todd. Uh I'm a parent of a seventh grader at Leotaa
046Middle School. Um my daughter Mallerie has had a wonderful time playing water polo. Um my experience and kind of what I wanted to address is just my experience as um a former uh collegiate coach. I I worked for 15 years in collegiate athletics and have continued coaching and being on boards of other teams um for the last 12 years or so, 11 years or so in this district. um coaching many youth sports as well. Um and the value that I saw just the the young the young men that have stood up and addressed you guys today. I really um admire what they've done uh what they've taken on as young athletes um and expressing themselves and really supporting their team and their teammates and their coaches uh is is just tremendous. And I want my
047daughter to have that same opportunity. Um it'd be really I I believe shortsighted to not support these programs for both the uh boys and the girls. Um one of the things that I see is the voter approved not it's not a school district item but the voter from our community approved the facility that's going to be developed in Woodenville for the aquatic center. Um, and if you've been to some of these other community pools that have great water polo programs in the state of Washington, you can see tremendous value from ages of kids that are seniors in high school all the way down to youth, youth that are very beginning at maybe age eight, even younger than that, playing what water polo, USA water polo calls splash ball, which is their introduction program. and to
048have a great facility come online at the same time tipping where we have eliminated a program that has such value would be a a big mistake in my mind. So I just think that the um the creation of sport for these athletes that are able to just choose and and uh find these other sports is so tremendously important. Like I said, from my collegiate background, I brought many athletes that I so I I coached rowing and as as similar to water polo in the college level, you get many kids that have never tried it before. You introduce them to that and just the value that they learned from those sports and the times in the boat together. It's the same thing that happens in the pools. We can't take away these opportunities. So, thank you.
049>> Thank you, Steve. Okay. So, I was not as sequential as I normally like to be. I think I got through all the numbers. Okay. What? I'm so sorry. What number are you? >> You're not signed up. Well, come on up. Tell us your name. >> We'll make your number 11. >> Good evening. My name is Matt Zacharov and I'm a student athlete at North Creek. In just one week, I've gathered 21 committed players through a Google form. I believe that's nearly the 25 required to keep the program alive. That is not a lack of interest. That is clear, measurable support. Water polo has been improving every single year. Our athletes have gotten stronger, more competitive, and more recognized. We've built a real program. This sport develops endurance, discipline, resilience, and leadership in a way
050few other sports can. It gives swimmers an offseason outlet that makes them better competent competitors. It brings together athletes from multiple schools into one unified team. For me personally, I've grown every year in this program. I've improved physically and mentally, and I want to finish off strong in my final season. I want the grades below me to have the same opportunity to grow that the way I did throughout high school. Programs shouldn't be cut when they're building momentum. They should be supported when they're showing progress. There is interest, there is growth, and there is commitment. And all we're asking for is the opportunity to continue. Thank you. >> Thank you, Matt. Matt, Matt, Matt, before you sit down, because we don't have you on our signup sheet. Oh, it's back there. He wrote down. Excellent.
051Then I won't send him to Peggy. Okay. Okay. I think I got through. Oh, we got another one. All right. Come on down and just say your name and be prepared. You have to go fill out information on the back so we can get back to you. >> Awesome. My name is Macy. I go to Innovation Lab High School and that's a school. We don't even have a gym. We don't have fitness. We don't get that on the daily. Um, so what's really unique about Water Polo is I get to meet people from outside of my school and I get to build friendships. I have a friend who I have been friends with ever since I joined Water Polo and we get along so well and she's the best friend I could ever ask for.
052And so when we found out that for her senior year girls water polo got cut, we were heartbroken and I had just started getting into the sport. I was a freshman at the time, she was a junior. Um, and then it got cut and I was really really sad because when I joined water polo, I was coming back from an injury, a protruding disc in my back and is the only sport that my doctor would let me play because the water helped with my back injury and didn't stress my body out too much. And then it got cut and I didn't have any other sport to go to because I dropped every other sport because I fell in love with this one sport. And now seeing the same thing happening with the guys a year
053later is really rough for me. And I know it's rough for these guys behind me because water polo is such a unique sport. And like people have said, it takes grit. It takes strength. It is you're not going to find anything like it with any other sport. Like like people said, people are drowning you. You're trying to pass a ball hole and then you have to swim across pool. There's another turnover. You got to swim back to the other end. You can't touch the bottom. People are drowning you again and you're just trying to shoot. There's nothing like it in any other sport. And so I really strongly urge you, don't cut the sport. Bring it back for the girls because I've wanted it back. I had to go play on an adult league because
054I'm struggling to find another team like the one I had. Um, and I just really love the sport and I don't want to see it go away and it it's just so special to me. Okay, >> thank you. Okay, make sure you sign in so we have your information. Okay, any any other students that would like to come advocate? All right, so that concludes public comment. I really want to thank all of the students that got here and spoke so eloquently. I know how hard it is for even adults. This is a weird process because we're not engaging with you. Um and it's scary to talk to strangers. So, thank you for being here. We really appreciate it. Um more to come in our board meeting. Um as I mentioned earlier, water polo is not
055on our agenda. So, we will not be discussing it. We will not be offended if you at this point decide you are not interested in staying for the exciting consent agenda conversation that is coming up next. Okay. Uh we will continue on with our meeting. And next up is the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. being moved and seconded. Is there any discussion of the consent agenda? >> Just wanted to point out the ethical uh conduct of school directors is not a new concept for us. It's actually in our B's and Rs. >> One comment on it though. Um it has a different policy number than the file name. >> Oh, good catch. >> Wow, I love that. >> I forgot to say anything earlier. >>
056Proof reading. I is just a typo. >> Okay, we will >> I assume, but I figured it wanted to get corrected. >> Thank you. >> We'll get that corrected. Um and in and in no way is indicating that anybody's acting unethically. Okay, just bringing us up into compliance. Um any further any further that we needed to Nope. All right, seeing no further discussion, I will call for the vote. So, the consent agenda passes. Up next is a performance review of the monitoring report for goal three, which is the growth for every student, elimination of outcome and opportunity gaps. I am going to turn it over to Dr. are Irish, but um I don't need to remind you, but perhaps for anybody viewing, we did just have a very extensive and thorough study session right before
057this meeting all on this goal. Dr. Irish. >> Thank you, President Hayes. Presenting for your approval this evening is the monitoring report for goal three. I certify that the information contained in the report is true as of February 23rd, 2025. I also do hereby certify that with the information evidence provided within this report that I comply with the requirements set forth within this goal. Additionally, I would also like to thank Dr. Obi Dunham along with board member Elizabeth Sotek uh executive directors David uh Dr. Dave Wellington, Dr. Melissa Riley, Dr. Amity Butler, Dr. Ava Thomas, Dr. uh directors Dr. Crave Foster and Rick Fel for leading this work and for the thorough presentation shared in our study session earlier this afternoon. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Do um so this one flows a little differently.
058So we're going to start with a discussion and then we'll call for a motion. Um so uh maybe we'll we'll just start at the far end down there and work our way down. >> Lucky me. Um this I I all our goals encompass so much and I think you know one of the things that is clear is that you know um there are gaps however um there are gaps in in how kids are able to grow. However, I think people are aware of that and there are things being done to address them and it's really important to note that we can address them as much as we can in the school day and these kids go home at night and there are other things that are also added as barriers and um I appreciate all
059the work that our teachers and staff are doing to help these kids who are um struggling and Um although the numbers aren't perfect, there is progress being made for students and um especially given all of the ways in which a lot of our students experience instability outside of the school. Um, I'm appreciative of the clear evidence that when they are in school, there is um they're able to make progress despite the things that are happening that are affecting them outside of the school day. >> Thank you, Director Saut. ditto with what director vice president Zotac said and addressing things that are within our control which is what Dr. Ava Thomas had had mentioned in the study session is absolutely where we need to be as a school district and I take it upon the school
060board itself and understanding relationships that we have with counties and municipalities and other parts of government of how we can think a little bit creatively on how we can address some of the root causes that we don't have control of within the school district. It's just something that's been bouncing around in my head and I brought it up in the study session as well. I think there are some solutions out there that can help with some of the largest bars in the paro chart when we're looking at what's causing such large disparities. And also just for the public in the study session, yes, there are large disparities and these are repeated patterns. They're predictable. However, we as a school district as Northshore compared to the rest of the state are are actually doing very well.
061Um, which is sad to say that we are doing well even with these large disparities. So, there's something there where we I feel like we can take some Northshore pride and and dig into creative ways to go about addressing root cause that might be outside of the school district by partnering with municipalities and counties. despite the the complexity of being in both Snowomish and King County and at least three municipalities. >> Thank you, Director Tren. >> Um I wanted to highlight three things that are different than what were mentioned before. Um one is an immense appreciation for the fact that we have maintained mental health counselors at our schools despite that not being um considered basic education by the state. um that we have used um green uh evergreen health grants and King County best
062start for kids grants to help finance that. Um that we have expanded um the care solace program to include um social services of support for families that need help um accessing medical or dental or other services um that we are wrapping around to help with those things that as we've as was mentioned before affect students outside of the schools. um and that we are also working um to ma ensure that um discipline is applied consistently across the district regardless of where you live. So that if this would a be a thing that you know got you a particular level of discipline at one high school it would be similar at another high school regardless of you know if if the circumstances were exactly the same for the student. So you're not disciplined more because you
063live somewhere else. um that sort of focus on equity and um pilot programs to try and make change to see if we're actually finding things that worked that we can apply other places are um exemplary uh and show me how we are working hard to um go beyond just the minimum levels of this goal. >> Thank you, Director Sanderson. I not sure I can really add on to what has already been said. I really appreciate um everybody's thoughtful remarks and the amazing presentation. Um I'll reiterate some of the things I said earlier that I appreciate and um support that we are not going to close gaps by reducing the um uh top line if you will. um that we are making sure that every if we have a large proportion that can access programs. Um
064we're going to make sure that everybody has that opportunity. And yes, there are so much of this that's outside of our control, but that doesn't we have not stopped fighting. Um, and I really appreciated some of the specific um, solutions or ideas that were brought up during the study session as uh, ways to really because there there are some persistent gaps and and there's some new ideas of how to address that and I really I appreciate that we just keep keep fighting this. So, thank you for a great presentation and amazing work. Any final comments? So, hearing none, I will call for a motion. Um, so this is a goal a little different than a parameter. We have three options. We can find that the superintendent has reasonably interpreted the provisions and the district is
065making reasonable progress. we can find that the superintendent has failed to provide evidence of reasonable organizational progress um or that the information the third option is that the information was insufficient for us to decide. I move that based upon the information provided the board finds that the superintendent has reasonably interpreted the provisions of the relevant policy. The superintendent is in compliance and the district is making improvements towards this is not the right statement. Improve it towards the goals. >> Reasonable progress. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Okay. Being moved and seconded, I will call for the unless there's any last thoughts. Okay. Then I'm going to call for the vote and we'll take a minute to fill out our policy governance review page. Okay. So, uh the motion to find that the superintendent
066reasonably interpreted and has made reasonable progress on goal three has passed. So up next is an information item on the 2627 ready start preschool tuition program fee increase. Dr. Irish. >> Thank you, President Hayes. For your information this evening, we bring forward information for tuition program fee increase for Ready Start Preschool for the 2026 2027 school year. The Ready Start preschool tuition program is a blended multi-age inclusive model serving students ages 3 to five with the average class size of 16 students. Classrooms are taught and supported by a general education teacher, a special education teacher, and a PAR professional. Fees are based on the cost difference and staffing required to provide the Ready Start model for non-education students. to ensure high quality services for children. And due to the increased cost of salaries and benefits,
067fees will be increased by $15 per month for the 2026 2027 school year. >> Thank you, Dr. Irish. Any questions? So um just to clarify for myself and for others who may be listening um non-education students implies that they are not students who we have identified through um other sources needing um support to get catch up either through um special education needs or other um services that schools provide for early intervention. >> Uh yeah they are identified. Yes, they are still identified, but they're not um how can I frame this? >> They're community preschoolers. >> Yeah, >> they are not receiving special education services or other related services from the district. So, >> right. So, they haven't been identified through like child find or something. Correct. No child. That's what I mean. >> But they
068still require special education services. >> I mean, they still Well, they don't require it, but they they could benefit from >> Nope. Nope. Nope. It's just OB >> community preschoolers. Just generally kids >> just general preschoolers. Okay. >> Yep. >> Phone a friend. >> Yeah. Phone a friend. >> Educational models. >> Yeah. >> Sort of thing. >> Um right. And and that's how we get our fees. Um and we need them and we're actually really cheap. So come to preschool everybody. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And this is an information item because it is not something that we vote on as a board. So, we we're just receiving information for preschool tuition. All right. Thank you so much for all the support and getting that question answered. Um, that concludes information up items. Up next
069is new business. Do board members have any new business? More like a question. I can't remember what date did we settle on for the the one meeting where there were two options, the regional meeting. >> Oh, I I don't believe that it has been settled yet. >> Okay. I haven't heard back from everybody. Um I know that one board member would like to attend director >> and and if I'm trying to see if I can get the Snomish County Council to work better with us maybe to build some relationships with other boards up there was what I was thinking. >> Go for it. Just know we do pay and I'm not discouraging. I'm just making an awareness that we do pay for us to attend these. So >> if it makes more sense for me
070to just do that one, I could switch to just that one. Okay. Well, maybe we all want to go up to Arlington. Is that right? Is it in Arlington? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> It's Arlington or Toma. Those are your choices. >> Yeah, >> they're both nice. Um, if >> refresh my memory of what the two date options are. >> I want to say it's the April 20th and 29th. That sentence rings a bell. >> DA2, right? And DA >> DA2 is Oh, look at you using your resources to get the answer instead of just >> technology stuff >> modeling. >> DA2 is Wednesday, April 29th. >> And I'm pretty sure that was the 20th on was a Monday. >> Okay. >> So, you're looking for two and five. >> Two and one. One is
071Monday, April 20th at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 29th. >> So, I am agnostic. >> Me, too. I could do either. >> Yeah, I think it's so far out that I'm I should be fine. >> Right. I know. I don't think there's anything yet. >> Um >> 29. >> I I >> there is spring break. >> There is a spring break. What is spring break is like the first week of April. >> Oh, it's early this year. Okay. Because that >> Okay, >> thank you. Um I s let's go to DA1. >> Let's go meet our friends up north. >> Okay, >> everyone registered. >> All right, thanks. >> Okay. All right. Um any other new business? Okay. I just had one thing. Um the during the study session, the new Danielson 2022 um perhaps in
072a upcoming board briefing board members could receive that if there's a way to highlight what's new in the 2022 versus the 2011 >> or just tell all of us who don't know anything about either of them because I had that as a star that I made on my notes for myself to look that up. >> Yes. Yeah, we >> we can we can get you a little synopsis. >> Okay. Um it's it's very useful to know what it is because all of our staff are evaluate our teachers are evaluated on it. >> Well, this is the second one it's come up for, too. So, I was like, okay, that's really like >> Yep. Let's let's get that in a board briefing. Okay, great. Um then hearing no further new business, I will move to board
073member reports and first up is Director Sanderson. All right. So on February 9th, I attended um oh sorry 10th uh the meeting at visit at Sky View which was really fun. And the highlight of that for me honestly was um seeing some people I recognized as my daughter's friends and waving at them and then turning to follow the group into the library where we were all supposed to go and then hearing Carara's mom and turned around and like there's my kid sitting with them. I didn't know what lunch she had. Um so getting hug and getting to say hi to people that was really awesome. Um and then um on the 17th I uh listened to the midsession legislative conference uh webinar um to hear all of the things that have been happening in Olympia.
074Um on the 18th along with um Director Hayes I met with some um community members uh about the district. On um the 19th I went to the new director network Zoom meeting and the 21st I or sorry on the 20th I listened to the in session live updates and thus because of that attended on the 21 that and the midsession legislative conference went on the 21st to the um Mil Creek YMCA to attend the town hall of representatives Berg and um Dani uh who are in the 44th. And I would love to say that I was very proud of how they handled it when people wanted to talk over them. They were great at keeping control of the room. And it just I things that I wanted to emulate um watching listening to them. um
075but also took a moment to state to them that when they consider the changes to how they fund um transition to kindergarten um that we would appreciate if they don't consider only the federal poverty level but also consider the local cost of living. Um as I understand that that was a serious issue for us during CO and I would love to like at least bring it to their attention that that might be causing future issues. Um, and then last, uh, today, right before these meetings, um, I attended the, um, district update, uh, with the Northshore Schools Foundation with Dr. Irish. >> Thank you, Director Sanderson. Uh, up next is Director Tren. >> Cool. Monday, February 9th, uh, we were all in the study session for middle school success. I that was very um eye opening
076to see all the work that has been done by the then task force I believe now it's not a task force but it has been promoted to another group advisory thank you Tuesday February 10th we had of course the schoolboard visit at Sky View Elementary um Monday February 16th h I wrote down mid- winter break Um, Saturday, February 21st, I attended the 45th LD town hall. Um, I'll go over legislative updates in that section. Um, that that was that was a lot of information. >> Okay. Did you want to do your legislative update now? >> Should I do that now? >> Yeah. >> Oh my goodness. Okay. >> Once we have um Elizabeth. >> Oh, okay. All right. All right. So it could have been done in New Business, right? Or here. >> Okay. >>
077Wherever you want to do it is fine. >> All right. So I don't think it's going to come to anyone's surprise, but there is not enough funds uh from the state to cover MSOC. So that bill h is dead um to be discussed in the next year session. Um there are cuts to running start. Um, I looked at the cuts. So, the governor, it there's alignment. The the governor and the house and the senate are all looking at roughly $14 million in cuts to Running Start, which means um restricted enrollment and other other impacts to our students. This isn't guaranteed. This is just the supplemental the proposed supplemental budget for this session. Um, and then so there's there's time for advocacy is what I'm implying. Uh, there's also something that I appreciated one of the
078reps saying at the 45th LD town hall is one of the best criminal justice reform we can make is to make sure students graduate high school. And so they're they're trying their best. Um, it's it's tough. It's bad news though all around. Um we also have um transition to kindergarten that has a cut that that is not agreed upon. Governor wants to look at 19 million. House wants does agree at 19 million. Senate is looking at 39 million and cuts there. Um and then there's run we already did running start. So in that bucket of education, you know, the state is funding education at roughly 50%, but education also includes um early childhood learning. It includes higher ed, not just K through 12. K- through 12 is roughly 41% of that 51 or 50%. Um
079the interesting thing out of the town hall too was the emphasis on the millionaire tax. um that passed. I I watched the Senate session on it. Um however, that any funding out of the millionaire tax is going to go towards working families tax credit before it comes to K through 12 or education. So, I would not count on that um to help us in in Northshore. Um and then of course LEA is getting cut, but that's not um high direct impact to Northshore. It does affect our some of our neighboring districts unfortunately. And then on the federal level um surprisingly they the the federal government is increasing IDA and um title one funding, but it's not going to meet it's nowhere near meeting the needs. it it is just a slight increase, but at least
080it's not a cut. Um, and then the um the Federal Relations Network at WASDA is looking at how they can strengthen the workforce pipeline. So, those are some of the highlights out of out of federal. Um, I did update the spreadsheet for folks to look at in terms of the bills that I find interesting. Feel free to add any bills you find interesting. That'll be sent to Peggy to go out in the Friday brief. >> Thank you, Director Tren. Director Sotek, >> I will keep mine abbreviated because it is abbreviated. Um, on Monday, February 9th, I also was at the study session about middle schools. and then on the 10th joined everyone at Sky View for a lovely visit um and agree with what everyone else has said about the the school and just um
081the ways they're meeting the needs of a variety of different kids and in variety of different places. Um and then also midwinter break. So that's that section of time and then just before now we had that great study session the end. Thank you director so um I want to start by echoing what Dr. Irish started the meeting. So I want to end with that of thanking our community for passing our EPO and tech levies as well as our bond. We are so so grateful for our community support for our students. um that is going to help us stay stable uh for the next few years. So, we appreciate the our community just continuing to come out and support our students. I will remind everyone that you cannot start collecting the tax dollars in the year
082that you pass it. So, that means that we will not be collecting the money until next year. So, kind of good news, bad news. that means your tax bill that you may have just received is not reflective of what just was passed and uh with that money will not be coming in until a year from now. So just a reminder of that but again big thank you. Um I am very repetitive of what we've already heard. I attended the Sky View Middle School visit. A thank you to Principal Mayor um for a well done presentation and just hearing how they are supporting our students, making sure they feel um safe at Sky View was very comforting. Uh and then I did attend the unified bowling match. It was delightful and there were some strikes made
083by our students and great joy over the strikes. Uh, I did attend the Washington Music Educators Association conference um and to support our Northshore folks that were receiving some welldeserved awards. And so with that,