001Good after hello. Good hot mic. Good afternoon everyone. Thank you to um we are calling to order a board retreat which is a special meeting of the board. We have three topics um that weren't necessarily directly aligned with any study session topics or with any board meeting agendas. So we have put them together in a retreat so that we can talk about them now. So we have with us today the board um superintendent Tully, Peggy King, and Dr. Ava Thomas. Um as the first topic of discussion is the land acknowledgement that the board uses in our meeting. The version that we use was um compiled several years ago. Um and the board expressed a desire to update it. So, um, unless the any board members have anything from there, maybe we'll turn it over to
002Dr. Thomas. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Um, this is loud. Okay. Yeah. Um, I just wanted to start by getting some clarity around the maybe the goals that you have with an update and what that could look like. And then I do have a list of ideas to share on some possibilities of how we could move forward. But I just want to make sure that we're kind of aligned in what we're working towards. I can start. Um, wow. It is. Yeah, I feel like a professional. Um, I think one of the things that I have noticed going into the schools is that um, when we are seeing the land acknowledgements in the schools, the language that is used is a lot more familyfriendly. um and studentfriendly. Um as well as sort of
003some of the other things I was thinking about was like specifically acknowledging things that have been done as well as things we can do. Um like the repair that needs to happen, acknowledging that piece of it. Um and then possibly naming specific tribe tribes or tribal peoples. um who are associated with this land um uh things of that nature, but then also keeping in mind that like creating that accessibility piece so that if kids are at a board meeting that they understand what we're talking about and uh yeah I think yes I agree with what Vice President Sodak has said so far. And in addition, I think there's this concept of nothing about us without us. So, I assume we're going to reach out to communities that are most impacted by something like a land
004acknowledgement. On top of that, I've also heard of a labor acknowledgement or a human acknowledgement. So kind of investigating what all needs to be there, what's appropriate, what does each each group of people that are affected need, and the last part is um and it have it be actionoriented. So to um add to that, the Spokane School Board um happens to have um a woman of of native descent on their board and and they partnered with tribes locally and have what I think is my opinion quite a a lovely people's acknowledgement is what they call it. So incorporating some aspects that director Tran was just talking about if that would be um a helpful example. So, I know we did work with um native um indigenous people in the area, particularly the Tleup tribe has
005been very good partners with us. Um I'm happy to share I don't know that we used him last time, but a tribal elder that was a judge with the TLE that this is what he does is write land acknowledgements. Um, just for everyone's edification, the reason we don't spell out specific tribes in our land acknowledgement is because it is super complicated the history in our area. Um, we have both federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribes that were on this land and it gets uh problematic within tribes if we call some out and not others. And so that's why we have gone with not spelling it out. So just FYI, that is why it is not mentioned. And yeah. Yeah. Just a quick followup. Yes. And the reason why isn't because of the indigenous folks in
006the area. It's broken treaties and all of that. So just want to make sure we're clear on that. Sorry. Use my own. Um I agree with all of this and thank you. Spokane, I think, is the one that I was trying to remember. I'm trying to find my notes in here. Um, but there have also been a a number of of um acknowledgements in the schools when we go for our school uh SIP presentations that honestly I just think are so much better than ours in that of I guess I've always felt and no no offense to anyone who was involved in the creation of it, but uh it never to me has felt that it goes far enough. you know, it acknowledges that we're on these lands, but nothing any any further than that.
007And I think some of our schools and certainly the Spokane acknowledgement um goes better. And I I think being um what's the word I'm looking for? um sensitive to peoples who may be involved um but also giving some sort of um indication that you know something needs to be done and you know I like the people's acknowledgement as opposed to a land acknowledgement aspect to it. I guess I would be curious in in working with the tribes. I've heard that this is now becoming a performative thing and that maybe it's not as helpful as we think it is. And so it'd be interesting to hear if it before we put a ton of effort into redoing it if it's really if there might be other ways that are better at acknowledging the harm that was
008done and so forth. all the signs. Um, okay. Thank you for sharing um, each of those perspectives. I took notes on it and I think it does do a good job segueing into a conversation I had with Lauren Nabahi um, last Friday and Carrie Campbell as well. and Lauren is the Native American education program coordinator and she's amazing. And we so the the individual previous to her was Mary Wilbur who was also phenomenal. We worked with Mary to develop our Northshore School District land acknowledgement and then we worked with Mary and then segueing to Lauren on an elementary adapted land acknowledgement. So, we have both of those on the racial and educational justice external website, but then there's a subtle difference with the board's land acknowledgement as well. So, I hear the piece around um
009wanting to make language accessible to the community as you're reading that. Um, and Lauren was great in the meeting last Friday and is committed to continuing to partner with the RJ department and with our school district because Lauren is serving indigenous students in Northshore as well as Belleview and Lake Washington down this uh corridor. But um we so I took notes on our conversation and I can just kind of go through them with you and we can like pause me as I'm talking too. So Lauren's initial kind of take was that there's nothing there's nothing outwardly wrong with the current land acknowledgement and she made a distinction between um kind of words and actions and talked about how the land acknowledgement isn't the statement in itself. It really is the action behind it. And so,
010um, talking about how a land acknowledgement is a verb. And so, we discussed kind of both that elementary adapted piece on the website and also framing as a land and people's acknowledgement. So, I think that ties kind of into what you were talking about. Um, I haven't heard the framing of a human acknowledgement. You were talking about people's. Okay. Okay. Yeah. And then I've also heard about the labor acknowledgements, too. So, maybe we're we could have two separate acknowledgements or kind of work through that piece. I also think it would be additional community members involved in developing the labor acknowledgement as well, which is something that we could do. Um, the second piece is that the RJ department could collaborate with Lauren to create studentfacing videos. So we could have students, potentially families, community members
011who are native in our kind of district community who um are featured in this video, but this wouldn't necessarily be to be played for a board meeting, but it could be more of that studentf facing piece. So as you're talking about the need to go deeper and extend that sentiment, I think it's through that action piece, and we really want to get it into our classrooms as well. And there's been lots of different brilliant examples of that already happening. And so if we could create maybe like an elementary studentf facing and a secondary student facing video. Um the communications department said that they could help with that and support that process. But a couple of things we could feature in that is we can include some visuals and art pieces throughout the video on how
012to show gratitude to the land as a daily practice. So not just reading the statement but how do you express that through your everyday actions and then students could ask reflection questions at the end of the video. So in the video they can be posing to the audience like questions around how do you show up or what does that look like for you to show up. So just kind of those reflective questions for the audience to be grappling with and then that could be extended um through some classroom learning. So that's one kind of idea. Another one is that we could embed um some resources under the land acknowledgement on the REJ website and a couple of ideas. So, one resource could be a slide deck on how to make a land acknowledgement meaningful in
013school and classroom context. Lauren already has a video or a slide deck that's been created and said that we could adapt that for kind of district level usage. And then another resource could be a list of ideas on how to acknowledge the land and what that actually means and practice. So not just a theor, it's not a theor theory, it's practice. And then another one would be that we could create a set of reflection questions for the school board, for our leadership, for our schools and classrooms, and for our community. And that way, we're essentially bridging the land acknowledgement with education and our responsibilities within education. So that it's not just that we're like, yes, it's the land, but what are we doing on the land? And what are we doing in our classrooms? What
014are we doing in our schools and district community to really honor that land and recognize who has been here, who still is here? Um, and so um, engaging in those reflection kind of questions. And then the last piece was actually during the board meetings, the recommendation would be that the board continues to actually read aloud that land acknowledgement and then could potentially pose two to three questions to the audience that allow the audience to reflect on how they are or could put the land acknowledgement into action and then what they're actually doing to advance change within our district community. So that recommendation extends to not just pressing play on a video at the start of a board meeting, but to actually continue to read it out loud and that that would feel like it would
015make it more meaningful. Um, and Lauren was bringing that not just from her own perspective, but with um indigenous students and families that she's communicated and collaborated with. And then I know that there's the spotlights feature that you've added this year. So we could be kind of collecting some spotlight examples of how the land acknowledgement is coming off the page in schools and classrooms and then float that to you all so that you could then um showcase that as kind of spotlighted features as you're reading that. So, you're reading the statement, um, posing two to three reflection questions, and then highlighting, uh, kind of a spotlight of what's going on in our district community. So, those are the ideas that we've generated so far. And I guess I can pause and collect feedback or additional
016ideas, too. thanks for working on that. Um, and I just love the fact that we have involved uh the indigenous community here locally because that's incredibly important to get their voice in it. Um, I I do it all. Sounds great. Have a wondering because it it's been brought up in several different locations and I haven't heard any. um to your point of action on it um both at a tribal convening as well as with our superintendent listen and learn with our native families that massive under reporting of students that are native in our district at not just Northshore um across the state. What actions are we taking to ensure that we are finding our students? So that is should be done in partnership with Lauren. And um I think sometimes it's a matter of not
017wanting that identity to be recognized because of fear potentially. Um it could be that they don't know where to report or how to access that. Um, and it could be families just not having the access to the resources or I guess what would go into what would be the benefit of reporting. I'm I'm sorry if I follow up. Um my understanding that we what we heard from the families it was the um the way the reporting is structured on our uh website and the way it and it OSBI is supposed to be fixing it because it's got the um multi- the two or more races that they get hidden there because very few are a pure one tribal identity and so they're checking two or more races and that's how they're getting lost in the
018system. And I know OSBI is supposed to be working on that, but I didn't know um I think Federal Way has got a a way of um getting creating an alternate way for people to identify so that they don't get lost in that two or more races. I know that there's on the student enrollment form there's kind of a a bigger list of options, but I do believe in the indigenous piece of that that it's the federally recognized tribes that are included. And so that adds another layer to it as well. So that's a continuing to work on piece. So, it sounds like we have, you know, a process and study and um is is there anything that we can do to support it at this point? Dr. Thomas, I think not at this point,
019but um if it's if I'm hearing the yes everything is that I I I see lots of nods for the yes. Of course, it depends what the final package of everything is probably, but I don't see any disagreement with any of the ideas. Okay. I think my next action item then could be to have another follow-up meeting with Lauren and have that conversation that would like to do all of the things and then kind of establish a timeline that I could then report back to the board. Does that sound okay? Thank you. Thank you so much, Dr. Thomas. Really appreciate it. So, um, and you're welcome to hang out with us, but we're going to pivot to another topic unless there's anything else the board wants to talk about for the land acknowledgement. No. So,
020we're gonna But Okay. I think that's great. I think that's great. We love the company. Excellent. So, well, yes, because so this will be an interesting topic then. So, um the next on the agenda is to talk about um supporting um the transition in superintendent leadership um which has already begun. Um and I'm going to ask superintendent Tully to give the board an update about so far what what that started to look like in terms of of your work. But the idea being supporting um a new superintendent coming to Northshore. Um, last go around we had an internal candidate who knew a lot about Northshore and our processes and our people and our schools and our history. Um and so this time around it would be nice to be thoughtful before we July 1 comes
021upon us and all of a sudden we're like oh you know and um just to put some thought into perhaps first of all goals around it and then we can start filling in the gaps over time. But um Superintendent Telly, you and I when we chatted about adding this to today's agenda, you mentioned that um you and the administrative team have thought about some ideas as well. So maybe we'll get that update so it doesn't overlap with ideas and then we'll go. So thank you. Uh so several weeks ago we initiated a process of gathering information to be shared with the new superintendent and this involved departmental reviews of their work. basically trying to produce I would call it a one-pager but it would include key pieces of information for each of our departments. Um
022it it would begin of course with the title and then the the budget for the department the staff of the department but then a SWAT analysis. What are the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities and threats within the department. The as it relates to the overall system uh what are some key initiatives that are happening currently within the department and what are we looking to do uh next year. so that every department in the in this district is actually producing those documents at this time. Uh they are due to the superintendent's office on May 22nd and so that will be compiled both in paper format as as well as electronically. Um we also have building level uh summary uh documents. The intent there is for us to have an opportunity for the new superintendent to visit schools
023but have a call it a one-page cheat sheet but basically who you know how many students who who's the principal uh what's some of the high level um initiative happening at the building um some a summary of test scores and things like that um I we we're envisioning a opportunity for the exec director school for whatever ever school he's visiting um would be taking him there and having a conversation on the way and then when arrival there's he would have that information available. So all of that also would be compiled into this what I call the my exit document his entry document in terms of um transferring some of the knowledge of the system um to uh Dr. Irish. So, uh, those are some of the things we were thinking about, but then I know
024I had a a relatively brief conversation with him last week, and I understand that he will be in in the building uh, in the district on this Friday as well as June 4th starting to do his entry into the system, and I'm looking forward to having opportunities to visit and have conversations with him. I did suggest a a great place for him to live and my understanding he visited there this weekend and said this is great. He's already got a I think he's moving in soon. Yeah. So So all those things are happening. So all of those things are moving pretty pretty quickly and we're excited uh for for him to come on board. Yes. There's a house right next to ours that's on the market. Did you suggest that house? Just kidding. Maybe in
025the future. He's uh pretty sle. Yeah. Thank you. So obviously a lot of thought already going into this, but it might be helpful to think about from the board's perspective just topics. So besides the department departmental level uh information, school level information, from the board's perspective, what are some topics? and then we can even if it's not today start thinking about how we would pull that information together. So, Director Hayes, kick us off. Um, yeah, just some of the ones um the the history um in the decisions that went behind the 22 bonds bond and levies. So why we are doing what we're doing in terms of capital and why the decisions were made around those so that there's understanding of the decision-m process that'll be going forward for the next one. Um I think
026um since we're community liaison some of those key communi key community people for him to get to know and who they might be um and get those scheduled. Um the somebody gets to explain the UG and what that means. I'm thinking Dr. McGordy would be great. Um and and why the movement of that is going to have an impact on our um district and what Yeah. just so that that that awareness is raised. Um and then some of the decisions around um programs. So the Bear Creek campus, innovation lab, the dual language program at Wooden, just some of those PACE programs, just so that he's aware of the different programs that are in the district and the decision, kind of a little history of why they are there and how those came to be. Okay.
027I was uh you touched on this a little bit, but um thinking about opportunities for the community to interact and get to know him. Perhaps some of our you know municipal partners andor just uh community organizations, the PTSA if we might have not exactly town halls but meet and greet kind of kind of events for him to start to get to know them and and vice versa. I think this is a natural part of the transition and might already be included. It just wasn't called out explicitly is discussing the goals and also the history behind the goals or four goals, right? Yeah. Um where it came from, how the community was involved and maybe who in the community was involved with that planning and then an introduction. It doesn't have to be formal, but with
028the two counties that we reside in with the county councils, so Snowomish and King as well as an introduction to the municipalities who we serve. So the city council and then also their respective um their equivalent of the superintendent city manager. Thank you. Putting in here wall of honor. Um. Mhm. I'm typing with one hand foundation. Um, also the although this will probably be in the one of the departmental but the history behind ethnic studies. Um, and then the history aspect I think is is helpful, but also um I think around anything around finances and the budget. I'm trying to think of really what will be really relevant on July 1 from the board's perspective. Um, obviously departmental updates are going to happen. Um, anything around there? So, I just want to note that I
029I've invited Carrie Campbell to join us at the table because several of the items that you've listed is something I failed to make reference to is that um our communication engagement department will be developing an entry plan in partnership with Dr. Irish and we'll touch base on many of many of these items as that happens. Yes. And I'll be providing access so that you can add additional information that isn't uh maybe part of a typical transition plan, but it's a phase transition plan. So it uh runs from July 1 through the end of December and focus first on those uh folks that he needs to meet in the beginning and then kind of rolling out as as needed. So, it should be I have a draft already started and uh we'll be talking to him
030more about it on Friday and making sure that everybody gets access so you can edit um the community groups like the all of the different community groups advisories that we have that um and maybe the the history Uh and um yeah, all the superintendent committees um CMAC and EDTF and student advisory. Yes. And that they are all the superintendents, not the boards. Just just saying was a thing. Well, and obviously this is a rolling project. Um, but this this was was it the last board meeting? I think this came up. So, I'm glad that we're already thinking about this. Um, and working to make this transition not too much of a fire hose for Dr. Irish. And, um, I'm sure we can add to this as we go. Okay. Any other thoughts besides housing recommendations?
031There's one in my neighborhood, too, which is okay. Great. All right. So, we'll keep going. We have one more topic. And so the last topic um and this was a suggestion I had um I was picking up perhaps um a desire for conversation around the process for how and the schedule by which we will put together as a team but ultimately the the board around the bond and levy asks of the community. So, um, you know, we're already started about talked about levy conversations, things like that, but it's because of the unique philosophy Norshore has about, um, having them as a package every four years, quite literally. That's how we talk about them to the community. I think it would just helpful just to talk about the process so everyone's on the same page and
032knows what to expect. And so, I see Deputy Superintendent Bergie is pulling up a little slide deck. Um, but if you want to, it sounds like you put some thought into this, Deputy Superintendent Bergie. So, if you want to kick it off once it's up, or would it be helpful if we query the board? I think you look like you have already prepared things. So, I'm happy to turn it over. Yes. while we're doing this and technology is happening. Um, see that? That was that was my cue right there. But really quickly back on the last topic about on board the superintendent again as superintendent telling and I were talking about this. Every year we review as a board the two sets of policies, the board superintendent relationship policies as well as the um the
033role policies. these Rs. Um, and so finding a time sooner rather than later probably because these outline history in terms of how the board and superintendent have have done work together and so probably um we'll want to find time for a retreat in August to spend some time with Dr. Irish and this would be a great framework to a lens to approach it through. There we go. See, I filled the space. Deputy Superintendent Bergie. Thank you. Well, I'm not sure what day I was on. Apparently, I was on the 23rd. Although, I do realize it's the 19th, which is what I did name this presentation, but not on the front slide. And no one else who reviewed it seemed to notice that. So, we're all So, I'll just give some in uh initial information and
034then we can go from there. So, in June, we'll have more information about the bond and the levy rate. So, we did receive some feedback from um the board about the bond sale. So, we have $75 million left to sell. How we structure that repayment will determine what our rate is in 2026. And so what we're working through are scenarios where the rate in 2025 is going to be below $3. And the issue that we're having is that you don't want your rate to fall because then it has to go back up to where you thought it was going to be when you advertised or when we go out to advertise this bond and levy because you go out assuming conservatively what the rates are. So you go out with capacity for EPO that you
035may or may not need if you don't have enrollment growth. you go out for a higher maybe um assessed valuation percentage growth or a lower one and so your rates end up coming in lower than you advertised. But what it does is when you go out for the bond or levy, you need to explain what the rate was when you went out in 2022 or that you projected why it's different in 2025 and what their tax bill would be in 2026. And what we would ask for in the bond and levy is a rate beginning in 2027. So oftentimes you see this is what I paid this year as a rate. This is what my tax bill will be next year. And then you want me to ask vote for X. The board would decide
036what the X is. So when we sell the law last $75 million of the 2022 bonds, we typically would go out and the rate will come up because we're selling more bonds. And then it's about how quickly do we want that amount repaid and what does that rate look like in 2026 which will come up because we have more debt issued and how do we make capacity for something out in the future in 2030. So we'll talk a little bit more about that in June but that'll be about all three pieces. So, we've seen all three components to some degree modeling different rates and we'll bring forward some options to the board just to get a better idea of what you might want total rate to be with those factors, the levers that we that
037the board can decide and pull. Then we'll have a little bit more information too about a tech levy number. So currently tech levy is $20 million a year. Um it needs to be raised obviously because costs are going up like everything else. But what does that look like and what might that be included in a big picture kind of uh fashion? More information for the board would be decide you know available in at the end of June Cast. So around the Thank you. I didn't even have time to get that up. So around the tech levy information um would it be possible I have the board planner we can talk about the logistics of how and when that would happen but to have participation from the um technical advisory count I think that's a the
038TAC right exactly it's not a task force it's a commission but to have representatives to understand what they've been processing and kind of get that background information let let me check I I think there could be some people who were leading that work who could come and kind of give that background. Yes. So that's in June. So we have three pieces kind of coalescing. We have an idea about what we need our EPO to be. We know that rate's going to go up because the legislative change that we've uh not asked for everything we could ask even under current law and then building in some um additional capacity for those outy years or the components for the EPO levy rate which we know will be higher the tech levy then we'll have some information about
039that and then the bond capital bond package what some big numbers might be and what those components might be. So for example, the board had selected in the 2022 bonds phase one for Inglemore and Leotaa. So clearly it makes sense that there is a phase two contemplated for those projects and then is there any additional work at an elementary school or what are those other large components and how much of that can we afford to do or how much of that does the board want to go out to the voters with? So we'll talk about that uh in big picture in June as well. Dr. Hayes. Yeah. So so two parts on the process. One in in the past to President Cass's point we have had members from the EDTF the capital projects committee TAC
040come in and share the work that they've been doing and talk about what they're proposing. Um, it's really helpful for our community to see it be community members that are doing that presenting, right? Then it doesn't look like we're being directed by the district that this was a group effort saying, "Here's what we think we the community should be asking for." Um, so it it's an effective strategy to have them come in and explain to the board. And then the other um component that has been very effective again in the past because we do all three together is for us to get a breakdown of you know here's the total amount that we're asking for here's what that will buy right for um obviously not so much the EPO but for tech and capital and
041to have steps so that as we squish and squash what our total amount is going to be we can say okay we can to we can go up to this line for tech and we can go up to this line for capital and an understanding of what what those little break points are um helps us pull that together. So I will make that request to see if they're ready to come in with initial thoughts in June. Not sure all of their work will have been completed by then. Um that leads us into the next bullet which we'll talk about in a moment. Thank you. just to tack on to that. Um, I think it it's really important not just to have have the task forces, if you will, come in and tell us what they've
042been doing and what what things look like and where amounts would be, but also um for the community to tell us what they think is needed, particularly for for the bonds for the buildings, if there's anything beyond the the phase 2 construction, but also, you know, having that feedback for uh for tech and EPO. Um, you you may be about to jump into this too, but I always go back to the, you know, what what are people going to be paying in their tax bill versus what is the rate? And if if people's assessments, their valuation of their property is going up, that has an impact on the rate. But then the total amount that we're hoping to have based on what the community says we need, that can increase the rate. Um, and I
043know it's a it's a kind of a playoff between the two. So, are we definitely certain that the rate will necessarily go up or that's totally up to the board. Okay. Okay. That's totally up to the board. the uh advisory groups will come forward and kind of talk about where they where the works that they've been doing, what's being discussed, what are the kind of bigger components of what they believe is going to come forward in a final recommendation from those two groups. But the board ultimately has to decide what you want to ask for and how big you want the rate to be overall and in each of the three buckets. So each of those is an independent question and then the total rate is also something that you want to ask yourself. And
044so when we put that information together is two things. It's the rate per thousand and then we'll use the median house price right to talk about what taxes would be. if it helps as an example last cycle around um wooden the upgrades at wooden weren't included and so we talked about that because there had been several bond cycles where wooden had just not quite made the cut and the board decided to include wooden on the list because it had just happened too often. So that you know just as an example there is there is some decision- making the board does do but with um ground up idea development and vetting by community task forces and they're going to tell you what they believe the priorities should be if they select an elementary school. They'll they'll
045deci they'll give you their recommendation for in which order the size of the buckets for other work like seismic or retrofits or other things like that. So they'll provide those in large buckets and then they'll have some details underneath of what projects those would entail if they were selected. Um but that would come before the board for those for those decisions. They're in fact meeting now. The capital bond planning task force is meeting right now as well. So work still in progress. They've been meeting diligently I know going over lots and lots of different information to put different packages together to kind of scale scale up. like this would be a minimum, this would be our dream. That's kind of how it goes. So you will be hearing more from them than in September where
046they really August or September, I'm not quite clear on that yet, but they would be bringing forward final recommendations with very specific things that say, you know, like when you go to certain restaurants and there's a family style meal and you can pick these things or these things in your meal, that's what it's going to be like. every meal may may have fries and then some of them may have deluxe toppings. I don't know. So, but they'll talk about those basic things that they feel are have to be included in any proposal or recommendation that they would want to make and then they'll scale it for you and they'll be very specific and at the same time we'll also review information from TAC and what they're recommending at different levels. What is that difference in
047buy? Right? There's going to be a baseline in technology advisory too. It's going to be computer refresh, paying for staff that supports devices, paying for our software licenses. That's kind of the base level option in the technology advisory committee. And then you start thinking about the systems that need to be replaced. You start thinking about AI. You start thinking about into the future. Uh so thinking about for us what it was like five or six years ago for technology, did we know what AI was? It's going to be that same thing. So, technology is more about planning for something you don't even know how to name at this point in time. So, leaping into the great unknown. Uh, and the board will need to give us their final decisions by the beginning of October because
048then we have to run all of our resolutions, do all of the technical work with the lawyers, that sort of thing. Uh and then we have to get certain things to the county which I believe is on the next slide here in a moment. But at the same time between now all the way through January we'll have just information going out to community about what do bonds and levies do? What are those projects? What does an EPO levy do? So really just information out to community about what each of these things provides to the district and then community information sessions will get scheduled basically to any place that we can find who will want to listen to us talk about the bond and the levy and and those impacts for the district. So, in October,
049we do have the resolution that will need to be approved by the board that will name the total dollar amounts, right? And then November of 2025, I believe we have to have our resolutions on or about the end of November to the county treasurer. And then December 25, 2025, there's election materials and voter pamphlet deadlines for us, also set by the county elections, which we'll have to have um into the county. So, the information about the ballot measure, how we're going to talk about it in the ballot measure, that sort of thing. Questions about that? Do we know what other initiatives might be on the ballot at the same time? So, I believe in November, I believe the cities intend to the cities here intend to run a park and wreck initiative. I thought it
050was this November. I've been asking them and letting them know we're running ours in February. So I've told them that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Trying to be very clear also. Okay. So that's what I thought. I'll check in again, but last time I was recently at the state of the city for Kenmore and the state of the city for both. That was my specific question to them offline. When are you running and what are you running? And that was my understanding. I think there'll be lots of other school districts running with us in February as well. Shoreline's going to run their second one. They're running in August. They're going to run again in February at that point. Um so they're going to do one step up in August and then they're going to go out and
051ask for so they're going to ask for the additional money in 2026 that they can get in August. Then they'll go out in February and ask for the other however long their EPO lasts. They're doing that. But I think there's probably half a dozen school districts running in February 26th. Yes, that can be very helpful for us to know what other districts are asking for because we usually tend to be lower. So it's kind of a nice look look what a great job we're doing. Um, so just in terms of the timeline that in because really the campaign's work gets going in January and at that point we will have four if not five board members that have never gone through that process and community members are very much watching and there's been a number
052of districts around the state that have been fined for violations of um using district resources. So, um making sure that uh the board is receiving training on what we can and cannot do. [Music] That's a very good point. Maybe um a couple probably there will be a couple different opportunities. Let's just say maybe um we'll need a study session probably August, September to talk about all the proposals anyways. That might be a time, but also to reiterate it perhaps in December or January like bullet points for my rules. If you're going to make me rules, give me bullet points, please. The short answer is um taxpayer resources and and elected officials cannot tell people how to vote, but we can provide information. So that's that's the and how that plays out. It gets really complicated
053as you go, but um that's the short that's the bullet. So, what around this process? Um, again, not the last time we're talking about it, but what any other questions at this point? How can the board be of service? What What would be helpful from the board? I think if you have specific questions now about uh rates or if you have like places where there's a concern. So clearly this district's never gone out for $4 a thousand. That's not an intention for us to bring that. But is there a different number that you want to explore? Is there a different situation that um ti you know timing or right now we think that we're going to be at 29 295 is about the rate this year. 306 before the bond sale will be the rate
054next year. Uh we can make that go up quite a bit another 20 cents. We can keep it at 306. it's um it's what you feel like the community would support for a total rate and how we would talk about that. So I think clearly understanding that the EPO number is going to go up a lot. It's a 30 cent probably close to a 30 cent increase just in the EPO for where this district actually needs to be and to create capacity so we don't leave money on the table in the past to get all the authority uh that we have under the new law and to be able to really balance our budget because you saw those scenarios that we put up last time. Even if we get max levy, it doesn't mean that
055we're out of the woods and just can, you know, spend money and go wild. None of that will be happening again. Uh so we just need to be cautious there. Uh I think uh if there's other certain projects that you wonder about, but I think just kind of prepping people right for what that's going to look like and how that's going to feel when we have to talk about that uh or what we would give up instead, right? It's one of those two that the board has to decide what we're willing to try for or what we're willing to say this is it and this is what we're going to be able to do this time. there will be a balance there, I think. So, just kind of getting yourself ready. Um I'm wondering if
056there's any resources an ESD or I know sometimes when we've um considered bond calculations you know some of the firms that help us do that have been tracking how initiatives have been going in other districts you know with Mercer Island faltering a little bit isa faltering a little bit like you know that's it it' be helpful for me to have information instead of just conjecture from what I've heard bouncing around you know a WASDA conference or something. So if that's possible before September just to get kind of an idea of of how things have been going that would be helpful because it it'll again give give kind of some um some community conversation as well as um temperature checking information. Yep. Would you like somebody to come here or do you want me to have
057them give me a an updated slide? So, we have slides that kind of talk about what that history has been in the last couple of years. Um, for the state, I think that we can maybe get more geographically close to us and that might be helpful. A a written report would be fine just so I I know it's not something my brain made up. So for me that that and um I think everything for me boils down to hearing what the community has to say. I mean we've been hearing a lot about you know things that we've had to cut recently over the last few years as well as what people really really think we ought to try to bring back. We've had community members coming and saying please why can't we just give you
058more money you know why can't we we you know tax ourselves or whatever on the flip side we have people who saying do not do not raise my taxes again so it'll be interesting to see what the community input is the list of things that people are really really interested in in doing for for the the students and the districts and the buildings Um, and then as you were describing, present the scenarios. Here's the best of all worlds. We can do everything that the community wants and needs, and this is what it's going to cost, and this is the kind of rate, and then, you know, worst case scenario, if we just pick a rate that keeps it really low for people, this is what we can accomplish. Um, I think at least for me
059that's that's what it's all going to going to boil down to is how much we can hope to do and how much the community wants us to do with the money that we'll be raising. I thought we got a uh thing. Okay. Yeah. All right. Cool. Um, so two things. I got a response on the different I don't know if they're bonds uh or levies, but Evergreen is going to have one August this year. So, at least we won't conflict. Uh the NPRSA, which is the the parks and wreck one, that's November of this year. So, we we it's a lot on the community to ask. We're coming in later. All of these are important, but something to consider when we're talking about the rate that we're going to settle at. Um, the other thing
060I'm curious about too is if it would be helpful for the board when we're out in the community listening, if we can also offer historical information on what the rates were before and why they were maintained because I know last time we ran the bond and levy, it was a maintain and it wasn't an increase is the way it was explained. But then also, if there was an increase, why was there an increase? Was it due to inflation? Is it due to the housing? You know, just simple cheat sheet stuff. And then my last thing is um I'm already getting asked about bonds and levies. I was going on the website and looking for information. The information that I was able to find was back in 2022, so it's a little bit outdated. I was
061wondering and I don't I don't want this to be a like go do um if it's too much effort because I can certainly try and explain it myself but if we can get a generic explainer that's not tied to a specific levy and bond that I could just direct people to so they understand you know what is a Northshore bond ask what is a Northshore um sorry the other one's also Northshore so I should say school district a uh levy ask um I that people can go out and Google this stuff. It's just helpful to have an official Northshore School District site they can land to. Yeah, I think um to your question, I think something in the slide deck on that um summarizes the strategies 360 results, particularly um the tolerance for an increase
062um today versus 2022 versus 2018. So, we can see that side by side. Um, yes. And I'll just remind just give you a levy rate 101 here. So the rate is what's required in the U resolution that goes on the ballot. We ask for a fixed amount. So unlike say um hospitals or libraries where they just get to do an amount and it goes on for infinity, we have not at all bitter. Um we have to ask every certain number of years for a fixed amount. So, our we will set that amount based on a rate to try to keep the rate either close to what it is or whatever we determine we're willing to stomach it going up. But if house value, and this is important to share with people, if your house values
063go up, the amount does not increase. So, the amount you pay won't go up. Likewise, if your house values go down, you don't get to save money. the amount you pay stays the same. The only thing that can change it is industry coming into the area or new houses being built. And that can impact the amount that you pay, which is why watching what's going on on the UG is going to be important because for years from now, we could have more houses and that could cause the amount that they pay. But that is also really an important data point for us to see in the slide deck is not just the rate, but what does this do to I don't know. We we've always used a house worth 500,000 which I don't think exists.
064We're not going to use that anymore. Yeah. Yeah. Probably somewhere north of a million. Just north of a million. But it is. So when business come so you have a a cup of water, you put your drop of levy or rate into it. You say, "I'm going to ask you for X." It's just if there's more water added, it gets spread out and the color is less, right? So then you're spreading the same amount across a much bigger pond. And if you have less water, then it gets more intense and concentrated. That's that's what I was just going to explain as well. Also, when people are researching the history, you know, for example, specifically around the bond, the the total amount the bond has gone up, but because there's so many more people in the
065Northshore boundaries than there were 20 years ago, 12 years ago, right? Like so it's we didn't um we didn't have to ask for significant tax increases for people to pay for North Creek High School for example um because we had more people to spread out the cost amongst and so that can get confusing for folks. Yeah. So I think that what you can think about I'm sorry Director Hayes. That's okay. I'll just build on that and it we don't have much in the way of industry um in our district compared to our neighboring districts and that's why our rates are going to be higher than like Washington which has Microsoft in the middle of it or the Seattle school district which has a ton of industry right so be great if we get some major
066company to move into our district that would help us out a lot but that's also an important piece of information to share with people and they're like well why is your rate so much higher. We don't Yeah, it's most it's most of our it's homeowners that provided. Yeah. So tax assessed valuation growth. So what you're going to see in the examples, I believe, is something that says with the rate that we could generate 425 million. If we kept that rate the same, we can now generate 600 million. Right? That's what tax assessed valuation does is it you can maintain your rate but you're generating more because all of the valuation has gone up and hopefully it has also diluted in the pond and kind of spread across more because there's been more growth, more build,
067more everything in the school district over those four years. Any other thoughts? Amy and I have a PhD in bond and levies at this point. We've had to explain this a little bit, but it is I mean it is true like Norshore is unusual and I'm I'm whoever decided to start putting everyone all the measures on the same cycle really helped us because we are such a bedroom community compared to our neighbors. I bet you even compared to Everett, we probably have less industry. Um so it's it's a interesting situation that we're in. Um and We're just trying to keep learning from folks before us that that were cognizant of that. So, anything anything else? So, it looks like a lot of activity a little bit in June, but come August, it's going to start
068bumping bumping up. That's right. And then it's really every night in January and and probably in October and November and half of December. Um and I'll just editorialize it was enormously valuable for us particularly in 2018 when we were putting together right after McCle supposedly fixed it. Having us ask questions on the dis as we process this is then a great resource for our community when they come to us and ask the same questions that we've asked. So don't be afraid to ask for clarity or understanding about how this is working because then it's recorded and then when you're out you can say well if you go to the September 19th board meeting in minute 33 you'll see us wrestling with that ourselves. Well, that that was our three topics. We are a high performing
069team. I'm just going to say it. Um, anything else on these three topics before we wrap it up? No. Thank you all for coming to support the conversations. It's good to try to keep the wheels going before we dive into celebration season. So, thank you very much. I will call this meeting adjourned. Thanks.