001Okay, good afternoon. I would like to welcome everyone to this afternoon's board meeting. Uh for those so inclined, if you would um please feel free to join us in the pledge. 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. Thank you for supporting me, holy one. Uh, all right. Yay team. Here we go. On behalf of the board, I would like to welcome all members of the audience to this afternoon's meeting. The meeting, this 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 voted on have been studied by the board members.
002I would like to introduce the people participating in this meeting. We have recording secretary Peggy King, Superintendent Dr. Justin Irish, board members Elizabeth Sotek, Hran, Carson Sanderson, Kimberly Kelly, and I am Sandy Hayes, and I currently serve as president of the board. An agenda for this meeting is available online at board docs and copies are also located on the table for the back of the boardroom. Don't everybody rush Carrie to get them. Okay. Um All right. There will be an opportunity for both virtual and inerson public comments to be shared during the 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
003board meetings and study sessions. Vid visit nsd.org and under our district click schoolboard then board meetings materials and videos. If you are 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 which corresponds with the line where you signed in. The first order of business is our land acknowledgement and director Kelly is reading that. We take this time to acknowledge that the Northshore School District occupies the unseated coalish lands that have been here since time in memorial. We honor the ways of knowing and ways of being in indigenous peoples and tribal nations who are still here and thriving in our district community. We also acknowledge that this is a working land acknowledgement that will continue to evolve
004as our partnership with local indigenous peoples and tribal leaders expands. >> Thank you, Director Kelly. Up next is the approval of the agenda. Do the board members have any changes to the agenda as it has been published? >> I'm seeing some head shaking. No. So, is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Second. >> There we go. All right. Any discussion? Then I will call for the vote. Okay. And the agenda has been approved. Uh, next up is the superintendent's report. >> Thank you, President Hayes. Since our last meeting, I've been in engaged in the following activities. I was able to um attend the Ruby Bridges for a formal school visit and then attended Cottage Lake with a specific purpose around um learning about their inclusive models and practices. Fernwood Elementary ribbon cutting
005with many of you uh here today um as well as SAS um SAP visit, innovation lab school visit, Canyon Creek SAP visit, Sky View SAP visit, Arrowhead SAP visit. um also engaged um with the highly capable what matters most to her and um and then attended the Washington network for innovative careers uh meeting as well. So that concludes my updates for this week. >> Thank you Dr. Irish. Any questions for him? >> Okay. Um so up next is the time that we set aside uh for association and public comments. We have no virtual comments this evening and there is nobody in the audience. So unless staff wants to say anything, I will just with your permission skip the multi paragraph explanation of what to do and we will move to the adoption of the consent
006agenda. Is there a motion to approve? >> I move that we accept the consent agenda as written. >> Second. >> Okay. Being moved and seconded, is there any discussion? Okay, I'm hearing none. So, I am going to call for the vote. Okay. And the consent agenda passes. Uh, next up are our action items. And the first one is resolution number 14, the 914. It's the inner fund loan. Um, Dr. Irish, would you like to explain it? >> Thank you, President Hayes. for your approval this evening is resolution number 914 which allows the district to approve an interf fund loan to cover a projected low cash balance in the general fund until August 31st 2026. The loan not exceeding 5 million from the capital projects fund is to be repaid by the end of the school
007fiscal year including interest based on the prevailing rate in King County at the time of repayment. We recommend your approval. >> Thank you Dr. Irish. Uh, is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> Okay. Any discussion or questions for Dr. Irish on this item? >> Uh, this amount is smaller than this. >> Yeah, that's fantastic. It's still there. It's still alone. Whatever. Mhm. >> But it's it's like half the size of what we were looking at. So that thank you to everyone who worked really hard to make that be able to be a smaller number. Um that's not a question. That was just a comment. >> Comments are good. Uh and my understanding is that we may not need it. This is just making it available in case we >> correct.
008>> Okay. Okay, any further questions or discussion? We've gotten experts at this having to do this for the last three years. Okay, seeing no further discussion, I will call for the vote. Okay. And the interf loaned um resolution passes. Next up is a memorandum of understanding from with the King County Stormwater Project at Sunrise Elementary. Everybody's favorite topic. Dr. Irish. >> Yes. Three years ago, King County partnered with Sunrise Elementary and the Northshore School District to implement the Sunrise Storm Water Retrofit Phase 1 project. This initial phase included the installation of systemns designed to capture and redistribute storm water runoff. King County is now prepared to move forward with phase two of the project. During this phase, Sunrise Elementary, Northshore School District, and King County will collaborate on the design and construction of a bio
009retention outdoor classroom facility. The planning and design phase is expected to take two to three years with the construction anticipated to take place in 2028 during the summer months. Funding for this project will be pursued and secured by King County. The county will provide training, technical assistance, and maintenance for the first three years following construction. In addition, King County will supply storm water related educational materials and curriculum development to enhance learning opportunities connected to the project. We recommend your approval. Thank you, Dr. Aish. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Second. >> Okay. Being moved and seconded. Are there any questions for Dr. Irish or discussion? >> I would love to hear just a tiny bit about the nature of the classroom. Is it something like along the lines of Brightwater? Um what
010is what are they intending that it will be? >> I can see if Will did I see Will walk in? You want to come up and give a little presentation? with PowerPoint and everything. >> Yeah, >> nice. >> I better get shadow. >> So, thank you. So, this was an initiative that was >> this was an initiative. >> Nope. >> That was started by a teacher who since last uh sunrise. Our maintenance team is heading it with King County. Uh so to the west of the site there is a strip of woodland and there's some paths that run through through there. So it wouldn't be necessarily a classroom. It would be some uh biodetention uh garden beds and they would be running along the west side uh of the school and we're currently just in
011design. So nothing slated for the next 12 months. We're just in design and this is just anou so we continue working with the county. Sorry to clarify um this space will be the students will be able to utilize the space. >> That's the idea. Yeah, >> that's really like we all know how I feel about outdoor classrooms. So, I'm very excited about this when I read that part. >> Okay. >> So, oh, one more question is so I know it hasn't been designed yet or whatever. Um, but are they anticipating do you know if there's going to be because it says bio retention and storm water is there going to be like an excess of water above ground or is this going to be something that's sort of mitigated? >> So good question. So the
012way the site was designed is that the storm water flows into the King County property goes down the hill to the west into the forest. Um that's coming from a parking lot. It's obviously was grandfathered in. So back when it was built, the the need for storm water detention and water treatment wasn't in place. Uh current code would have required uh more stringent uh water quality. Um so what we're doing is we're kind of retrofitting it, but not necessarily uh to the current code, but we're mitigating it as much as we can with funds available and that's going to be kind of hashed out as we get through the design process. Um so there won't be any water above ground. It's really just putting in uh different types of planting which uh control the water
013quality and take in and absorb those pollutants so they're not washed into the King County property. >> So like the rain gardens outside of the Bathl Public Library. >> Sure. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Any further discussion? Seeing none, I will call for the vote. Okay. And the umou passes. Next up is a donation from the Falcon Ger Iron Booster Club to Woodenville High School football program. Uh Dr. Irish >> for for your review and approval is a generous donation from the Falcon Grid Iron Booster Club to Woodenville High School for football jersey replacements. We recommend your approval. >> Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> Seconded. Great. Um any discussion on this? It's a very generous donation and I believe football jerseys cost a lot of money.
014So hopefully that will help do it all or at least do part of it. I don't know how much does a jersey cost. I'm not asking anyone to find that information. It's just out there in the ether >> given how much it costs to buy my kid a Kraken jersey as a fan. Probably a lot. Okay, seeing no further discussion, I will call for the vote. and the approval of the donation passes. Up next is a performance review for the monitoring report for superintendent parameter P6, which is relationships with students, staff, parents, and the public. Dr. Irish, >> presenting for your approval this evening is the monitoring report for super parameter superintendent parameter 6 monitoring report for the superintendent relationships with student, staff, parents, and the public. I certify that the information contained in the
015report is true as of February 9th, 2026. I also do hereby certify that with the information and evidence provided within this report that I comply with the requirements set forth within the parameter. >> Great. So this one we start with the conversation and then we'll move into a motion. Um uh let's start with a discussion. Anybody have thoughts? I'm ready to discuss. >> Excellent. >> Um, so first off, I will say Dr. Ish, you have been very busy doing a lot of things that are encompassed in this parameter. Um, and uh, based on all the meetings that you've had and all the schools that you've seen and all the parents that you've talked to and all the meetings that you've gone to um, in the last few months. Um, but one of the things that
016I really have appreciated is um sort of the the different ways that we're helping families to access English and vice versa. um and the changes that have been kind of showing up this year um so that people who speak those maybe less easily available to have an interpreter languages um are still having access to content of meetings as well as being able to ask and get answers to questions which I think is really important because that's definitely something that uh a lot of families just really don't get. Um, and so that's something that stood out to me on your report >> and it's a great shout out to executive director Campbell and the work she's doing and the vision she has for the communications department. >> We see it. >> I guess I'm up next.
017Um, so I I don't have any complaints about the report. I I think just speaking to the actions that have been takings taken since you've um started your on boarding process, I really appreciate the what matters most tour and adjusting as needed and um rolling with the punches. When we don't get the audience that we need or enough people, you being able to spend time with the two or three or four people that do show up is valuable to them. Um so appreciate that time and dedication that you put towards that. >> Thank you. >> Um one of the things that I really appreciate is the fact that um we are cultivating spaces where people of different um identities um are welcomed and invited to come in and talk to the district about their experiences
018both positive and negative. um and to feel comfortable coming because it's going to be in a language that they understand and with their peer group because I know for my teenager, she doesn't want to go unless she's got a friend. And so when you invite, you know, all of the Hispanic families, they know they're going to have a friend as opposed to being the only Hispanic person who maybe shows up to a all call. >> Um so I think just making space and time for different groups is also important. Um, I also really appreciated um I appreciate the work of aligning curriculum to reflect the various different cultures and histories of our community and world. Um, it's really important for everybody to have mirrors where they see themselves and windows where they get to look
019in and learn from others. Um, and especially given the learning of this weekend, um, it is even more important that they just see all of this as lessons like like parables like we're reading Asop's fables except it actually happened and what lesson what's the moral that we take out of this as opposed to feeling bad about what happened. How do we how can we learn what can we learn from this so that we do better in the future? And so making sure that our curriculum teaches these things is important to that process. >> I I was just going to say something very similar. Um as a teacher who has worked in areas where I wasn't kind of provided curriculum that supported racial and educational justice and I had to go and do that all by
020myself. I really appreciate that as a district we are making sure that we have a racial and educational justice department that is uh collaborative um that we're working with the ethnic studies leadership network and um we're also including teachers in this through PLC's. So, um, we're not just giving them a framework, but we're giving them the opportunity to, um, kind of work within the framework and then give feedback on that and and kind of like have a living relationship with how we are making sure that our students see themselves represented in our curriculum and our classrooms. Um, so, thank you for that. >> Yeah, big shout out to Dr. Thomas and students and staff who work with her in um, making that a reality. It truly is a collaborative process and Dr. Thomas has led
021a very inclusive process to make that happen. >> Okay. Well, so much has already been said so I won't um reiterate uh other than to say the continuation of the now what matters most um from the superintendent and listen and learns. It's a modeling that continuous improvement to work that there's always more um work to do and the intentionality of connecting with families in a smaller space um where they can feel safe and heard. Um really appreciate that work. Um I just this isn't a negative but it was missing um when uh bullet point two manage and protect confidential information. I know that our technology department has done a lot of work around AI and open source platforms and training staff and and students. Um, and so it's that that deserved a shout out as
022well of that work that is being done and kind of ahead of the curve. Um, and then just a wish, I don't have any power, but just a wish if we could um increase our services to our Portuguese, Arabic, and Russianspeaking families and up to the level that we have for our Spanish speaking families. That would be lovely. But, you know, that takes money and >> time and we don't have any of those. So >> trying our best. >> Yeah. Okay, that's all I have. Anything else? Okay, so um for our policy reviews or parameter reviews, uh we have three options to choose from. Um we can find the superintendent in compliance, we can find the superintendent is making adequate progress towards compliance, or we can find the superintendent not in compliance. Do I hear
023a motion? >> I move that we find uh the superintendent in compliance with parameter P6. >> Seconded. >> Great. Thank you. Any final discussion before we vote on this? All right. So, um for audience watching, uh we are going to vote on this. So, I'm going to call for the vote for the performance review. And then we have a piece of paper that will be used in May that's just right around the corner for our superintendent evaluation. So, uh we we write some things down. So, you get to watch us write, which is always kind of like watching paint dry. Kimberly, when you're on that the vote thing doesn't show up. That's okay. So the response document goes in. You didn't say you did great. Okay. So that um monitoring report passes. Uh next up
024uh is our policy review. So our practice has been that after we do the performance review, we then re re review the parameter policy. Um I'll just remind board members that uh director SOCK and director Tran are working hard to do a holistic uh look at all of our parameters and bringing them in alignment with our strategic plan. But if there's certainly anything in here that you would like to bring to their attention as work that they can do, now would be a great time to do that. Okay, I'm seeing shaking of head. So up next is our information items and we have our monthly the district budget status report for December. Dr. Irish. >> Yes. So information item number one is attached for your review and information is in the December 2025 district budget
025status report. It's uh for the district budget status report for December 2025. >> Any questions for Dr. Irish? No, but I'm going to use my new skills in my uh class on deciphering budgets to kind of poke at it and try and figure out what I've learned. >> Okay. Um, director start, did you have something? >> It's just a little one. >> Okay. It looks like we are well I already talked about this earlier but we're doing better than we have previously uh at keeping all our our money where it needs to be and having enough of it. And so, hurrah. Also, I look forward to hearing more about uh Director Sanderson's understanding of budgets because it's always a learning curve for me. It's good to see the the fund balance be positive um compared
026to last year, which was a dip from the 2023 2024. So, kudos to the team for doing that. led by the deputy Bergie and the great work that she's doing and the sacrifices that have had been made across the organization. >> Yep. And I'll just remind anyone watching why this is so important. We can do an inter fund loan so we can borrow from capital projects, but we have to pay interest on that loan. Um, and when you borrow $10 million, it's uh $100,000 $100,000 in interest that we would have to pay. So, that's a staff member that we can't hire when we have to borrow money. So, we are grateful of the work that's being done and hopeful that this is the year where we do not have to borrow money to make it
027through. And just why that's the case is because the state has chosen to provide us a smaller percentage of our um annual aotment in the months of April and May and backfill then in July and August with the amount. And so when you look at it, you can see that's why June is such a struggle because we have not received half of the funding by the time we get to June. So anyway, all right. Um, thank you for adding that for people at home that might be wondering why we have to borrow money from ourselves. >> Yes. >> And think that it might be because we didn't plan well. >> Yes. Yes. And once we get our reserve funds, that's why it's so important to have a a minimum balance so that we can get
028through those couple of months where there is not um an adequate amount of funding. Next up um because we could fuss about this all day as a board um and team. Next up is capital pro the capital project funds allocation report for December 2025. >> Yes. Attached for your review and information is the report for December 2025. As you said, President Nathan, it's okay. >> Any any comments on on many pages of numbers and dollar signs? >> How are we doing overall on the 2022 and the previous levies and and using up the bonds? Sorry. No, levy too. >> Levy. >> Yeah. um bond and levies cuz we still have a balance in 2022 which is normal cuz that's most recent. >> Yeah. And then some in 2018. So >> is that a question? >>
029Yeah. >> Yes. How are we doing on spending our promise dollars that our voters said yes, collect >> from previous bond and levies previous to 2022. >> Is Will in the audience still, but uh he can give a little bit more detail, but as far as I have told been told and see is we are spending down our money very well um and have the appropriate amount of cash on hand for projects that are upcoming and needed. >> Yeah. So, thank you Dr. Irish. So, the um 2018 bond uh dollars we anticipate being spent by September 2026. So, we're going to be spending that down pretty quickly here over the summer. And then the 2022 uh bond dollars still have substantial amounts for the ongoing Inglemore and Leota projects along with a couple of field
030projects and playground as well. Um so, the Inglemore project finishes in 2027. Um so we anticipate towards the end of 2027 once we get past punch list etc for the Engle project the 2022 will be gone but you should see that coming down pretty quickly now as we get through those projects and continue spending. >> Thank you. >> And and we're not just spending right it's it's going to what we promised and so um that's why you see uh all of our elementary schools and Sorenson doing ribbon cutings and kids in classrooms and play spaces and fields and lighting and HVAC systems and all that good work is happening. >> Yep. Kitchen modernization. >> Yes. >> Yeah. So, this is a a question I didn't know I had and maybe I should know but I
031don't know. Um is do we have a timeline like if we don't accomplish by x amount of time, is that why we're asking this question? No, it's just typically best practice for us when voters approve a certain um amount of money that we use that money for the specific purposes that we stated when we originally asked for that money. >> Okay. I mean, yes, that makes sense. But >> yeah, so we do >> there almost sounded like a sense of urgency. Oh, >> and making sure that we like accomplished it. And I wasn't sure if that was because there was some sort of deadline I didn't know about or we're just trying to make sure we're meeting the expectations of the community. >> Yeah. being good stewards of the dollars. Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah.
032And that was an ask back in 2018. So, as you can imagine, people are probably eager about their kitchen modern modernizations and their scoreboards and everything that they asked for back then. >> Right. Right. Yeah. >> And and a lot of um the 2018 is wrapping up of the project. The projects themselves are done and we have paid for. It's just the bills haven't all come in. um there's some final check marks and things that have to happen and walkthroughs and all that kind of stuff. So, but the projects that were promised in the 2018 bond and tech levy are all done. Um so, it's just wrapping up putting the bow on it as David Kogan used to say. >> Oh, interesting. Okay. Well, and and some of those things like um like I see
033in the 2018 bond like a fire alarm system upgrades. there's still like money available for that, but you know, those continue to age. And so there will be there are new places that need upgrades over time. And so those as it needs it, then that's available for those buildings that need it. >> Good job. >> Yeah. And great great conversation. Thank you for bringing that forward. I think there's many people that don't understand how that works. So that was good. Thank you. Okay. Um seeing no further discussion on this, this is uh director Sota's favorite one, the pictures, the capital project status report. We have eight major projects. Uh and so we get pictures of what they look like. Any uh discussion? And at this point, we're down to three schools that are still >>
034so short now. I can't wait for the next time it gets big. >> Any questions on that? >> Um, no. It's just still my favorite. >> I love it so much. I mean, as one who's living through somewhat of a home renovation now, it is always exciting to see the progress that happens um either dayto-day or monthtomonth. Um so that you can know that stuff is actually happening because sometimes you just live in the space so much it doesn't look like anything has changed, especially once the walls go up and everything's enclosed and you can't see the work. Um, so it's really nice to get to have an actual update and say this is literally what is happening even though you can't see it because you can't wear the hard hat and walk through it
035all the time cuz it's not safe yet. >> Okay, thank you. Plus, nothing freaks out staff of having a board member show up and demanding to walk through a project. Um, okay. Next up is project acceptance for those under a million dollars. Dr. Irish. >> Yeah. Three projects are under 1 million have been completed during this reporting period. And the projects consist of number one site prep and portable moves from Sorenson Early Childhood Center to East Ridge Elementary. Two, electrical and fire alarm installation for portable moves from Sorenson Early Childhood Center to East Ridge. As well as three, security fencing at Northshore Learning Options. Can I ask why um East Ridge is in need of portables at the moment? >> Well, we should just leave you up here. I'm sorry. >> And just on your
036fire alarm comment, uh a lot of those projects are slated for this summer. So that that'll be good to get done. Absolutely. Um to answer your question for Eastridge um so when uh Eastridge portables were planned Eastridge had shown on the utilization report need for portables. Uh we had portables elsewhere in the district. Uh we I believe that one came from Firmwood which were either going to be demolished or move moved elsewhere. Uh we don't necessarily have anywhere with great need for portables right now. We had a site and location at usage where they had previously had portables. And so at the time there was a need and there was a place to put it. Um and so rather than disposing it or trying to sell it, it's a really good portable. Two of them
037uh double portable and uh Eastridge um has it. Uh they will make use of it. Um there are potential plans in the next bond to move it elsewhere. Uh if we are successful in the bond, uh Coin will need potentially some additional portables. Uh and Inglemore as well. Uh so it may move in the future but for now uh it's safer es >> okay so just to summarize what I think I heard so Sorenson Yay team does not need the portable anymore and so >> that's right Sorenson yeah >> yeah um and so good job community and supporting that so we had an extra portable um they originally thought we might need it at Eastridge we're holding on to it because we've got two school at least two schools that are going to have some
038major renovation work done and we put kids in portables if we can on those sites. So, we're basically just holding storing it at Eastridge until um the need arises. >> At the time we started the work at Eastridge, there was apparent need that need went away, but rather than dispos disposing of the property, we want to be good stewards of the district's funds and so we keep that portable for future needs and uh keep it conditioned and heated so it stays in good condition and then it's ready to move in the future. That's why they're portables. And you're placing it somewhere that already had footings and such for it. So that's not a >> it had a designated area previously. Eastidge previously had them in the same spot and so we're just putting them back
039in the same location for the time being. >> Okay, good question. Thank you. >> Okay, I'm learning so much this evening. Thank you all. >> Okay, um that concludes our information items. Up next is our board reports and communications. And the first item is new business. Do board members have any new business? >> I do. Um, so, Superintendent Irish and I had a conversation and I just wanted him to share the conversation around attendance. Um it was a good opportunity to reflect on the intersection of attendance, unexcused ab absences, um student voice, civic engagement and safety all together. And so I wanted to invite superintendent Irish to share some of our conversation and then perhaps get feedback from the board members. If not on the dis then maybe you know President Hayes you can guide
040us on what the appropriate time would be. >> Okay. So, um, that is wonderful. Thank you, Director Trent. I will just remind board members this was not on a previously published agenda, so we can't discuss the content of it, but we can certainly be thinking about how do we want to move forward with this item. >> Thank you, Director Tran and President Hayes. So yes, we currently have a policy a board policy adopted by the board that states that uh essentially if students organize they have uh there there's been some miscommunication in the community or misunderstanding not miscommunication misunderstanding in the community around when students um organize that sometimes it's seen as a district sponsored event. It's uh in these cases uh students have been organizing and they have the right the civic right to
041be able to organize and um and protest um and so we have been there to um help supervise as much as we can keep students safe. In the board policy, it does state that um it would be marked as an unexcused absence um if they uh choose to engage in civic u civic engagement of like protesting. Um, we do have in our procedures a clause or a section that states that unless uh or if if it is mutually agreeable between the school and the parent, the parent could excuse that absence and the and the principal may consider it. Um, we want to clean up that language and we want to make it a little bit more specific. So, um, and based on some conversations I've had with director, u, director TR and others, um, I
042think we are going to explore what other districts are doing in regards to, um, attendance and, um, allow parents more choice in regards to whether or not they want to excuse their children or not, um, if they choose to protest and or go to a Seahawks game parade or something or other that comes up. So, um this will take us a little time to revise those procedures and policy and we won't be able to do it overnight. Um and it takes some engagement with our principles and understanding um the maybe unintended consequences of it as well. So, we will engage in that. I will be bringing forth in the future um some language to the board to consider for adoption um as we revise that policy. Awesome. Thank you so much. >> Okay. So, just
043to clarify again what I think I heard, we currently have a policy that requires an unexcused absence for students uh who choose to engage in a civic protest and perhaps attend a victory parade for a football team. Okay. um and that it's not clear in the language where parents have a right to excuse them. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, the next steps, if I'm hearing correctly, is that the board will receive perhaps in Friday's briefing the current policy >> so that we understand what it says. Um and then as we go forward we will receive more information of what that conversation is looking like and then at some point it will be brought and uh be have a first reading uh in some future time. >> Correct. >> Okay. Does that work for everyone? >>
044Okay, that sounds great. >> Okay. All right. Thank you, Director Tran. Any other new business? >> ENAP. Do we need to coordinate on that or Peggy has enough information? >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. And we love our acronyms. So for the viewing public, ENAP is the East Side Native American program. >> Yes. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Okay. Any other new business? Okay. Up next is board reports and we are starting with Director Kelly. Uh on the 29th uh along with Director Hayes and Director Sanderson, we traveled to Olympia for the Washington State School Directors Association Day on the Hill. We met with all nine of our school districts legislative representatives um including uh Representative April Berg, Roger Goodman, Deina Dwer, Larry Springer, Loretta Cloba, um Brandy Donahe, and Senators Derek Sanford, Maadingra, and um
045we even caught John Levik in the hallway. Um, we shared our priorities and we focused on fixing the sales tax exemption issue from last session that increased our financial burden by about $1.5 million, which is roughly the purchase of or like, you know, the contracting of 10 teachers. Um, and we um communicated that we would really appreciate no new unfunded mandates being passed this session. Uh, and and everyone seemed to be in agreeance with that. Um, and super supportive. Um, all of our legislators express support for the exemption. Uh, so hopefully if that has not already come to fruition, it is soon to be so. Um, and uh, and I think that we'll be seeing that from Representative April Burke. Um, and uh, then on February 3rd, I attended the Woodenville City Council meeting, which
046was very, very exciting. Um, a few highlights from that meeting included the council adopting resolution 681, um, which also reflects the opinion of King County Prosecutor Lisa Manion, affirming that everyone in the US, regardless of immigration status, has constitutional rights and local authorities have a duty to protect those rights. Um, they also adopted resolution 680 in support of the Northshore School District ballot measures. So, that was also very exciting. I had not looked at the agenda before attending. Uh so uh being a part of uh or attending that meeting to hear that was was quite wonderful. Um one of the highlights from that meeting is that all of the boards spoke in um in support of our uh our propositions. And so um by law they had to call for the audience to speak in
047opposition. One man came up. I definitely held my breath. Um and then he spoke about how he has seven children in the district and uh he thinks we're doing amazing things and he wants everyone to vote for us um for the the proposition. So the uh council once again had to just reiterate we need somebody to oppose if there's anybody and and there was nobody uh no one opposed. So um it was really great to to have the Woodenville City Council um endorsing our propositions. Um, and yeah, that that's th those are the things that I attended since last seeing you all. >> Thank you, Director Kelly. And we are just going in order down the row here tonight. Director Sanderson is up next. Okay. So, on January 28th, I had the honor of attending
048the North Urban Human Services Awards ceremony and um to present on their behalf the youth services or the youth human service leadership award to North Creek High School student um for her organization Together We Shine where um she works to help uh special needs students um be more part of communities. Um they have uh social events where um families and special needs students can come um and they also offer volunteer hours for uh other students. So you're not only making the special education or special needs students families feel welcome, but you're also teaching students who are looking for volunteer hours because there's always students looking for volunteer hours. Um about how to relate and how it's not so hard to relate to people who are different from us, which is amazing work. Um she also
049has a program where you can send in your name and address and they will send birthday cards to people across the country. and I think they also have chapters around the world. Um, so that was really cool. Uh, right after that I escaped to go to the Northshore special education PTA meeting um and uh talk to them. That was really interesting. Um, on the 29th uh I was uh at the public education day in Olympia with um directors Hayes and Kelly. Um, on February 2nd, I got to attend the Fernwood ribbon cutting um, and proudly hold one end of the ribbon while I listened to um, students talk and um, our leaders talk and watch uh, the president and vice president of the school uh, student council get to cut the ribbon um, and listen
050to their Mumba group because I always love the listening to the Mumba groups. And I got a tour from the architect which was really cool and she got to point out all the places where they added the panther pink. Um and then after that I came back here or I went well I guess I went home um to virtually attend the what matters most um meeting for high families and um listen to what they had to share. Some of which I knew and some of which was different. Um on the 4th I had the first of three sessions of the WASDA Winter Leadership Academy. Um that night I did a class on deciphering budgets. Um uh the class on the 5th was on foundations of cultural proficiency and on the 7th was advancing inclusion through
051belonging. So, I've had a lot of deep thinking about um how we talk to people who are different, think differently, have different experiences than we do, as well as trying to start to figure out all the codes for budgets. Um and then on the See, I think Nope, that's it. That's enough. >> Thank you, Director Sanderson. Up next is Director Tren. >> All right. On Wednesday, January 28th, I attended our weekly federal and state legislative meeting with President Hayes and Cliff, who is our advocate. Um, that particular meeting, we didn't have good news on the sales tax exemption. Um, but I more on that later. And then later that day, I attended the awards NUSA North urban housing. What was the essay? >> Uh social >> social alliance or something. >> Human services alliance. Thank
052you. Um where I had the honor of witnessing board member Sanderson give the award to the student who was so eloquent in accepting the award and so impressive. um the program that she created came with a personal story. She has a sibling who is um special needs and so that's what motivated her to create that organization. Um Wednesday, February 4th was the other weekly federal and state legislative meeting. This time with President Hayes, Superintendent Irish, and Deputy Superintendent Bergie and Cliff, our advocate. And we had some good news. Um, so the language that we were expecting, and I apologize I don't have the the uh House bill number in front of me, but the sales exemption house bill that is sponsored by Representative April Berg is going to have a language update which should um
053exempt schools. And that's largely thanks to Representative Berg as well as the work that she did, I'm sure, with the Department of Revenue and other and school districts, including the Northshore School District. So, bravo. Going to keep our fingers crossed. I'm not going to count our chickens until this is all done and session is wrapped up um in March. And then we had our meeting with the with a representative Shelby from um Congresswoman Delben's office on education. She essentially is going to the various school districts and listening and learning about what is needed within the school district. Um fun stuff. There's some horrible things happening at the federal level. I think everyone is up to date. Nothing has changed since the last time I provided the update. Um, the fun stuff is they were looking,
054she was looking for an opportunity for Adobe Benny to visit a school, an elementary specifically on Valentine's Day. So, I think we're we're figuring that out or Peggy's helping her with that. And that's >> I already have it figured out. >> Oh, yay. >> Yep. >> My turn. Okay. on January 28th. I also thank you, Director Sanderson, for joining that meeting since I was joined from my phone on Snowqual Me Pass. um the uh Northshore special education community legislative update meeting um and talked about different ways to stay informed and let them know about the WASDA bill watch which is different than the PTSA one but um there's I'm sure a lot of overlap um and then talked a little bit about different bills that might be impacting kids in different ways and it was
055very informative Um, and then attended the Fernwood ribbon cutting and got to hold the other end of the ribbon, which was very I'm honored that I got to hold the ribbon. Um, and then I went to the um, career and technical education open house on February 5th with my daughter and she saw a bunch of art courses for Innovation Lab High School and then she saw a course about being an interior designer. And so she's she wants to make a lot of money. And I was like, you got to go to a lot of school, but she's very very motivated um now because she thinks there's a lot of art classes to be had. So it uh was a really positive experience for her. And I love going every year. I always get so excited
056about all the different things that kids have an opportunity to explore and find their special place. Um, and there was tasty treats. Thank you to the culinary students. Um, and yeah, there was a lot of medals on the DECA table. A lot. So, good job to all those kids who are winning all those giant medals. And that is it. Thank you. Um, mine is pretty much all repeats. Um, I've also been attending the weekly meetings with uh our advocate Cliff and um went to Olympia and we managed to wrangle meetings with all nine of our uh legislators that represent Northshore and um they were a little more positive than I think we had heard from the previous outing to Olympia. very supportive of the sales tax exemption and did not get a lot of push
057back on no unfunded mandates. So it was we considered it a successful day that we had there. Um also attended the Fernwood ribbon cutting. Again, thank you to our community for supporting that. The kids love their new building and classrooms and um there was just a lot of joy in that space. um attended the what matters most tour for our highly capable parents. We had 85 parents um on our virtual event. So, we thank everyone for showing up and sharing their thoughts. Uh I did testify um on the financial education graduation requirements that uh Bill had a courtesy hearing. Um I testified con and the no unfunded mandates. Um, they did announce the more like an hour before I testified that they had come up with the fiscal note. It was going to cost us
058$50,000 a year, the state $50,000 a year to implement this graduation requirement. So, I might have ended my testimony about something about you get what you pay for. Um, and then meant >> 50,000 for every district in the state. >> Yes. Total. >> Yeah. and and 50,000 for curriculum, professional development, the whole thing. Yeah. >> Teacher training. >> Yes. Yes. Anyway, um also met with Shelley Cre uh Kmanich from Congresswoman Del Benny's office. It was uh just an opportunity to get to know each other and find out um how we can support that office and what they can do for us. So, um she is going to be at Morlands, I understand, um creating Valentine's for veterans with our students. So, >> appreciate that. And then I have done some signwaving in the rain over
059the weekend uh for upcoming ballots. And so, I will just sign off with reminding everyone to vote. Ballots are due tomorrow by 8:00 PM. All right. We are going to adjourn this meeting and we will um I touched something anyway.