001We're going to go ahead and get our meeting started. Thank you for joining us. We'll start with the pledge of >> allegiance. I pledge >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you for joining us this evening. Uh at this time, do we need any translation? >> Nope. Okay. I will accept a motion to approve tonight's agenda. >> I'll make that motion. I'll second it. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> Motion passes five or any opposed? Sorry. Motion passes 5-0. Um, we're going to get right into it with our student rep reports. Okay, so last week was homecoming week. It was so fun. It was a success. Um, I
002want to give thank you to our leadership team. We worked so so hard to get um, homecoming week together. And we knew it was a success because the past few years we haven't been selling homecoming t-shirts. And this year we only had seven left to sell. And everybody, every student, every hallway that you walked into at OHS, everybody's dressed up. And our goal was to make it that like we had every that if you didn't dress up, then that was embarrassing. So, we kind of like made that like a thing. And I think we definitely met that goal. Um, I loved seeing admin everywhere at every event, at the powder puff, at the homecoming dance, too. Um, and they were everywhere. I love that. And I think it goes notice cuz every student has been
003talking about it, how they see them everywhere. And I think um we really appreciate that. Um so on Thursday we have our career showcase all school day and then we also have ACT testing tomorrow all day too. And then um I just want to give thank you to Miles for um advocating for the seniors for allowing us to vote um on our sorry to choose on our robe colors. Um yeah. >> Yeah, that's it. >> Okay. Thank you so much. Um we're going to move into our board member discussion. If anyone has anything to add to our our uh student representative report, now would be a great time to do that. Do you have something you want to say? >> So, uh, seven t-shirts left. That's like one for each of us, right? That's enough
004of that, >> right? Yeah. >> I got to go to a couple of the activities, the game and the powder puff and the husky Olympics. Yeah. >> Seemed like it was a success for sure. >> Mhm. >> Uh, I had a question, Pete. I don't know if this one goes to you or maybe to Joshu. Uh there was that grant that we won uh or or that we uh some of the questions that I'm getting from people around the city or I think I had brought it up last year was they're having a hard time with Mondays and that morning period of not having anybody to leave their child with. and we're getting into the time where, you know, they're not going it's going to be more of a going into factories where they are
005more set on time and and everything else. I was wondering is that program would there be any time of that program available in the mornings to be able to drop off kids at school to cover some maybe to make that hardship just a little bit easier? >> Yeah. So we actually wrote the grant to include a Monday morning part of the program. So um the it's officially listed as a before and after school program and so we intentionally put Mondays as our day that we're doing the before school programming. So at all the elementaryaries in McFarland they will have a program on Monday mornings. It'll work the same way and so parents will need to register their kid and it's a it's not just a drop in like today I'm dropping them off. It would
006be something that they would be expected to go to over the course of the year. But yes, there is a before school on Monday opportunity. So >> great. Thank you. Um we're going to turn it over to Director Gerber for our legislative report. >> So just a couple things. The Wazda elections are happening right now. Each of you should have an email that takes you to the portal so you can vote in those elections. And then they're also working on the WASDA legislative priorities right now. So, I'm going to email you the list of priorities and then we get to kind of go through and rank which ones are most important to us to tell Wazda which ones we'd like them to focus on. So, I'll send you that in the next few days. I
007think it's due at the end of the week and uh the government is still shut down so nothing's happening over there and that's it. >> Great. Thank you. Um, we have our board site visit at the high school on October 20th and that is we start at 7:30 a.m. Um, where where should we go in the >> Yeah, we'll be meeting in the library. I'm sure that's a space that would accommodate us. So, we'll start there. >> Okay, perfect. So, meet at the library at 7:30 on Monday. Director Prow, if I could uh address a question that came from Director Prenada last time we met in in a board member discussion and then also uh director Gerber's recent comment about the government shutdown. Uh you asked a question uh iso about the number of staff
008we had in sort of that early childhood ex expertise as far as a certification might go and um it's less than 10%. So if you had you know let's say we had around 50 teachers K3 less than five would be certificated in that way. I was talking with our principles earlier about some rationale behind that. I think one thing to consider when you're going to college and getting certification and trying to be marketable. The more broad you can make your certification the more likely you are to land a job. So just because someone might be certified K8 doesn't mean they don't have K2 expertise or a passion for that work. They just might have gone through a program to make them eligible for more positions if they needed it. >> Pete, after that info, would
009there be any way to maybe help would be the maybe I don't know if it would be help or offer an opportunity for the teachers that are in that space to allow or help get that certification >> to incentivize uh continuing education for that. >> Yes. Yeah. There there are certainly options available um through some of our state and federal partners and some of the universities and colleges in our area particularly for um ELLL services. Typically those kinds of supports that districts would provide that are funded by an entity other than the district are in really high need areas. We need multilingual teachers. For a time we needed secondary math and secondary science and those kinds of things. I'm not aware of any funding, but it's something we can look at and and see if
010there is a funding source available for that. >> I'd appreciate that. >> Yeah. >> Uh the next one is about um the federal shutdown. And this just came out today, so I think it's Is my mic working? Okay. >> Yeah, >> it's just my ears then. I I apologize. Um, uh, federal government shutdown, uh, did give the president some leeway in how he can make determinations about staffing levels in particular. There have already been some cuts at the Department of Education at the federal level. There were some more that came out um, in the last 24 hours. So, in particular, the special ed services at the federal level, I almost 500 employees were let go. What does that mean? Uh, Reichdoll put out a statement this afternoon. It probably doesn't mean a whole lot this
011year or right now around funding. The money is already there. It's going to continue to come. What it will mean is some grant things might get more difficult. We're working on a grant right now that Dr. Meek's been working on for about a week. We're not sure we're even going to get to apply because the people that would give us permission to apply aren't at work. So, there are some things about access and support that are are going to be a struggle. Compliance at the state and federal level, certainly with fewer people, fewer watching over what's happening with the work, that's not going to go away in Washington. My sense is we're we're still we're one of the leaders in the country around that stuff. So, that's going to continue. But we should we should
012expect some gaps in services until that all gets figured out. Now, it's only tied to the shutdown because that's when the cuts were made. When the shutdown's over, the cuts are still going to be in place is my understanding for this program. It's it's a different model. We're going to push the money out to the states and let them get after it. So, what we heard from Reichd Doll today was pretty consistent with what we've been hearing with him with him the last 6 months, which is uh we're going to get um we're chasing some of these things down in court. We're going to join other states in doing that. We're not going to change what we're doing in Washington. Um have he can say all that, but it does mean there might be some
013differences locally when you're trying to get support and trying to get resources and trying to get someone on the phone. So, I wanted you to be aware of that. I know it's getting a lot of media attention and if if folks are asking you what's it mean for us right now um we're just not sure. >> So So Pete, when the shutdown, let's just say the shutdown were to end tomorrow, the cuts would still be in place then? >> Yeah. the these cuts in particular, uh the cuts to the federal government and I think his initial sort of vision for the uh Department of Ed and his selection of Linda McMahon to lead that group was to to get rid of the program, right? To eliminate the entire department. Um and we're at a moment
014now where he has some more flexibility. He can move with more efficiency and more urgency. So this isn't because of the shutdown. He said it months and months ago. the shutdown just allowed him to accelerate that move. So I I don't expect those folks to come back. >> So what happens to the the money then it would go straight to the states? >> My understanding is the money will come in but that's one thing we don't know. Uh there are all sorts of rules around how they give out the money and then compliance to make sure you're doing what they have approved uh for those funds. Um I think that's the big question. How's it all going to work? >> So basically you're telling me Washington ain't getting no money. telling you what >> Washington
015isn't going to get any money then. >> Uh I I think that when the the federal government is giving out funds and they have expectations of how those funds should be used and they're within the guidelines of the law. So far, Washington has figured out how to do that. And I I hope they continue to because um in Washington, I think the cap is 16% of your students can be identified as in need of special services. And those families, and we're talking about families who need support because they're going to work and their kid has to be home alone for an hour and a half on Monday. We have lots of families whose students have needs that require expertise and extra equipment and extra support. and it's going to be a lifetime of their child
016living in a home with them. Um, some of our most fragile and vulnerable students and families, we have to look out for them. And so, I'm hopeful that uh that the state will continue to advocate and we receive the funds and then um, you know, we'll just give it our best effort here when they come in. Those are my two items. Thank you for letting me share that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Pete. Um, we will move on to required approvals. At this time, I will accept a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion to approve the required approvals. >> I will second that. >> I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. 5-0. Um, at this time, I will accept a motion
017to approve accounts payable warrants 2. >> I'll make the motion to approve accounts payable warrants 2. I'll second it. >> Motion made and seconded. All in favor? >> I I >> uh motion passes 41 with one abstension. I I think I said that wrong. Sorry, but you know what I mean. >> Wait, what? >> Is that okay? >> Yeah, we're okay. >> Now, we're going to shoot it over to our superintendent for superintendent andformational items. >> Yeah. Uh two items this evening. I'm going to start with a policy one first. Uh policy approval comes up at each meeting. This will be on our agenda for our meeting on the 27th, but we did want you to be aware of it. Uh once in a while, we'll call some of these out. Uh in particular around
018high school graduation and the blending of OS and DOHS. So again, you have a couple weeks to ponder it and consider it, but we wanted you to be aware of some of the changes and adjustments we had to make to honor the commitments we made to those students who were transitioning from DOHS to the high school. The primary benefit is for those students while we work through this transition for kids who might have been freshman, sophomores, or juniors at DOHS. I I think a good way to frame it if you've had a college experience is that you started at your college with certain graduation requirements, then the college changed those requirements. They allow you to complete your course of study. It's essentially what we're advocating for here. Let the students complete their course of study,
019but we do want you to take a look at it and be aware of it. Okay. Uh the next item in the primary one for tonight is about work that's certainly going to ramp up starting today over the next several months and that's around um school finance and partic in particular the levy initially and so it's a project that Dr. Meek and I have been working on. He and and Amy Suarez have been taking the lead in in doing some of the prep work. We want to share with you that timeline, take some questions and recommendations for you and let you know what your responsibility will be here in in a few short weeks to launch that work. So, I'll turn it over to Dr. Meek. >> Thank you. So, uh we're revisiting this topic
020again. And it feels like we were just talking about it not too long ago, but uh we are uh we are at that time and uh have landed on a place where we think we have a pretty good plan going into what the what the next uh several months but longer term maybe even several years can look like uh in putting some pieces together. So, we've tagged all this um our future ready schools team. And one of the things that was really clear in our conversation that we had was that we have these all these different factors kind of playing in between a levy and a bond and a capital levy and the cycles of when they are. And so, our proposal that you'll see with this is to really think of that as a
021connected effort. So, we're not having all these different groups going in different directions, but instead have a a united front around that. So, uh the idea would be uh to establish this future ready schools um a team of people that are composed of stakeholders uh that have a some diverse perspectives across the community. Um we know that if we get all of our staff in a room or a group of staff, we'll see things a little bit differently than what the community as a large group might see. And so there's uh some perspective there uh really to give us uh input and guide our district efforts towards building uh what we need to do in relationship to levies and bonds and capital levies uh around the corner. Um those people that would be a part
022of that would be parents and family members, community members and partners. Um, obviously there would be some school staff and school district leadership and then some representative from the board as well with the idea of that being kind of a guiding coalition that would lead the work over a course of time. >> Uh, can we go back to that slide, Dr. Meek? I because I think I want to I want to be sure that what we're asking the board to consider and think about something that would be really helpful here. It's not unlike these site visits where you're reaching out to constituents and folks that are interested in the work and want to support what's happening in the schools. If you can think of folks that would be good members of this group of thinkers,
023we would appreciate those names from you. If you have folks that you're out there connecting with and talking to and they're we just don't know them, um certainly reach out to me or Dr. Meek or Misa and we'll we'll make sure to get them connected in the appropriate way and and gauge their interest. >> Yeah. Thank you. Uh this visual is intentionally a little bit messy because it's trying to put those pieces together. we talk about. So, um, you know, in our, uh, really since our board retreat back in June and even before then, we have these three big concepts out there between a levy that we know is right in front of us, a capital levy that may come in the near future and a bond down the road. And when really we're talking
024about this window between now and 2029, um, if you remember to our study of that, there's one bond drops off in 2027, but we're not eligible for state match until 2029. And so the timing of those pieces all work together. Um, and if we run a levy, as you know, in 2026, uh, we would be due for another levy in 2029 as well. So that word levy could almost go up on there twice if we wanted to, but we don't need to make it that confusing. Uh and so really the idea is that we blend that work together so we have a coherent plan that leads from levy today to perhaps a capital bond if that's where the board decides to go and the recommendation comes and then to a capital levy sorry and then
025to a bond. Um the levy is actually of those pieces is the most straightforward one to get started with because we um it's got some real tangibles behind it. people know in our community what it funds, but uh that one sits right in front of us. Now, uh really over the C, if you thought about it as a I hate to say this because most people won't volunteer to be part of a team that's going to have a 5-year commitment. Um but, uh it really would be potentially uh over the next four or five years, seeing those projects through or at least the planning efforts to go from where we are today uh into the future and ultimately putting a plan into action. what we're due for, which is kind of the missing metal messy
026middle in there, is that we're due for an update to our long range facility plan. Uh it's been some time since it's been updated now based on previous uh bond preparation projects. And as um few months ago, Greg Folultz was here and I think shared with you that we've started that uh study and survey process. That is um that's the first step in in kind of putting those pieces together. So, uh, ultimately what what we'd end that work with is both, uh, recommendations and plans, but also potentially even, uh, those bond initiatives or capital levy initiatives in front of our voting community, uh, when the when the time is appropriate. U, obviously, um, you know, that funding in the state of Washington is always seems to be up for conversation and discussion. And so, you
027know, the last time this the state legislature did something with funding, it was all related to levies. And so, um, there's probably some unknowns in that time frame for us that we're we're not exactly sure what's going to really happen. >> Um, questions about the Go ahead. >> Yeah. Uh, couple questions for the board and then a question for Dr. Meek. Um, when you look at this slide right here, and some people won't won't think that there's that this is the answer to this question because they have a different view of it, but which of those is not a new tax? If you're explaining to a voter, hey, that you've already been paying this, do you know which one that is? >> The first one, right? >> The levy. Yeah, we're already paying a levy,
028right? And sometimes voters will say, "Well, it is a new tax because that that levy's done and now you're asking me to do it again." But so if you think of it as a flat bill, it's just continuing that. Um, can anybody remember why we think a capital levy might make sense for a couple of years? >> Um, the bond amount that you pay, and I could be totally wrong, starts to lessen as it gets closer to being paid off. So, a capital levy would essentially keep it the same so that when we go for our bond, it wouldn't be such a huge jump because if it if it falls off between like our levy is like this and if our our our bond starts to really drop off when we go for a full
029bond, then it's a big ask to the community. But if you if you mitigate that with the capital levy from our previous bond bill to our next bond bill, it kind of bridges that gap. Unless I'm wrong. No, I think that's a great way to to think about it. >> Okay. >> Um, exactly right. So, again, communicating these phrases and terms to people and decisions that the board's making is going to be uh really important. >> There are also some experts in our state that are helping us with this project and Dr. Meek is particularly connected with a few of them. Are they going to be present at the site visit? Are they going to be able to make that happen? And and want to talk about WASDA a little bit. >> Yeah. Uh, so
030Phil Crocker will be there. Um, I think some of you may have met him before. Uh, Phil's expertise is really around the community planning, kind of planning out the different projects and how they come together. He's not a construction guy. Uh, he's really a school guy that helps districts think about, you know, how do you build a plan that takes, you know, everything we talk about and and puts it into action to move forward. Um, and so he will be um I invited him to join us. Uh I'm bringing somebody on the the Monday site visit to OS because I figure the high school is a topic of a lot of conversation anyway. So he might as well spend some time in there. Uh so he'll be with us that Monday. And then at WASDA
031the second part of that group um we we work with a uh construction management firm. They used to be called now they're Hary Turney Turner Townsen. I think they they splice together a bunch of names. uh there's an invitation for the board uh to come to a meeting social event with them uh at WASDA uh this November just to really interact with some of the people they they focus much more on the actual building the projects and so um the two of those two guys together basically or their two firms together really help us um go from here's what we're thinking how do we put it into a plan and then how does it fit and become a budget and how do we afford it and how do we put together a tax package and
032all those other things. Um, and they live the construction management um really lives heavily with they become the district's representative with the contractor and so that they are the person really holding the contractor's feet to the line with making sure the projects are built uh both to the specs but within the budget as well. So >> yeah, so there'll be a good chance to connect with some folks who are going to help us think through all of this. The last com question about the bond would be and I won't frame it in the form of a question this time but we typically say state match and they've encouraged us to move to a different term which is a school construction assistance program. So scap funding and I think the reason they want us to go
033that direction is when I say hey I'm going to match you what what does that mean if we're throwing money in a pot >> dollar for dollar right I'm I'm putting in Oll community is going to put in 25 million and the state of Washington's going to be put in 25 million that's not always accurate and in our case it probably won't be so if we get school construction assistance funding at the $30 million level and we throw in $60 million locally. I I think we just have to be careful about the term match. It made a lot of sense to me. So, as we move forward and think about that whole project, these guys will be able to come in and really help us think through how do we communicate uh what will be
034at that point a new tax for a new building >> and particularly related to Oll High School. what what Pete's talking about that's going to be a real um talking point for us is as you know the Oello High School campus is a very um integrated quilt of all these different buildings at different times. They weren't all built at the same time and that scap fund the construction assistance is all a time bound thing. So the reality is part of Oll High School is going to become eligible for state construction assistance and then there's other little corners that are not. that doesn't really work all that well unless you understand we're working with the construction assistants rather than the match for match dollar. So yeah and then David Bodin was the second person um he
035is definitely a state construction assistance that's his area of expertise and so I hope through WASA you get a chance to interact with him and ask some of those hard questions because it's um it is confusing is bottom line. >> Can I ask a clarifying question really quick? Mhm. >> Did I miss here? Or is somebody coming to our site visit at the high school on Monday? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, that's a really great opportunity for us to bring people is to that site visit. >> Yeah. Just like we uh our initial roll out with the um operations visit when we we were encouraging the board to bring members. Same kind of activity here. We'd love for each of you to bring someone and we had an opportunity uh Dr. Dr. Meek to invite
036uh Phil who's been to our district and spent some time in our schools and helping us think through this next iteration. So yeah, it'd be great if if you all could have someone there to be part of these small groups and maybe they turn into key communicators or members of the future ready team for sure. >> Okay. >> Yep. I also want to clarify those three white bars across the top do not align with the dates that are below there. They just they're round about the same amount of time. So, Lindsay, the the two dates that I would add to your your explanation was great. Our levy drops off in 2027. I mean, our bond, I'm sorry, I just did it. Our bond drops off in 2027. We could turn around and run another bond,
037but we're not eligible for any state construction assistance dollars until 2029. And so that that gap that you talk about, that's what a capital levy may, if we all get there, uh may be a place of kind of keeping some of those tax rates more consistent without dropping it and getting some smaller projects done in the process. Uh so we a good example um that we've talked about a lot as you know if you were around is that uh we have some unique needs that you saw at the last site visit in the food service area. you know, maybe that's something that becomes a capital levy project that we say that's what we're going to do with that and get that done in that 2027 to 2029 window. So, um so please don't try to
038put those with those. It's just that's kind of everything that's sitting in front of us. So, we are um we have sent out some initial invitations to some of the especially the district staff and a couple of you. Um again, would love to have some more folks join us. Um, this is one of those places where I we'd love to have people be part of the solution rather than being part of the problem. So, if there are uh voices out there that you'd love to help get them informed and and and hear it and and be involved with it from the beginning, this is a get me their names and we'll happy to reach out to them and get them invited. Our first meeting is coming up here in a couple of weeks. um where
039that means for you related to the levy is that um that team's going to work relatively quickly but uh have a couple meetings in there and we'll come back to you with a full levy recommendation we've already done this summer if you remember we did some of that preliminary levy work. Uh we feel it's that if we're going to pull a team of people together we need to hear their voices too. So we don't want to just bring them together and say, "Hey, this is what we're doing." But we want to hear from them. But because it's really only, if you remember, we're really only talking about what tax rate are we thinking and how long of a levy. I mean, those are the two big decision makers to make. They will bring a recommendation
040to you all uh for action um either at the November 24th or December 8th meeting based on how you want to handle it. We have to turn it into the county by the 12th uh to be for that February election. On February 10th, uh is election day. So that's kind of how the immediate pieces come together and for the first task for that future ready schools team. Um and again I can't stress enough if you know of people or you think of somebody that would be a good thinker uh we'd love to make invite them to come have them join us. Um, Phil especially will be uh not in not in October at this first meeting. Um, but as the plan goes on, he will be kind of co-leading that with us and that's one
041of the the things that he does. And so as we get into a phase of talking about, you know, what does a long range plan look like for us? Uh, then we get to have a blend of kind of the internal community knowledge and at the same time some external expertise to to blend that together. So we leave with a plan um that is deliverable. That's the the biggest thing is we don't want to come up with something that looks really good on paper, but it's nothing that we can ever build. So, questions about any of that. I could play Justin Johnson and say I will stop when I hear two questions, but I won't. >> Yeah, thank you for that. Uh maybe one one final comment and I think it's for all of us
042to pay close attention to the early November election. Uh particularly the um city I I believe it's a bond for the pool and the levy for the levy lift for um the fire department and whatever happens with those votes paying attention to that and hearing from voters who are considering those um taxes and uh it will help inform I think our thinking around it. So, just want to make sure we're all paying attention to that and uh coordinating our work as we move forward. Thank you for that. Thank you, Dr. Meek. >> Thank you for that presentation. Um we're going to move on to public comment. Do we have any public comment tonight? >> None. >> Okay. Um upcoming events. Um we've got the career showcase. Um, and that's on the 16th. And then on
043the 20th is our site visit that we've been talking about. And then our next regular scheduled board meeting, which is October 27th. >> Does anyone have anything to add to that? >> What? >> We're wondering uh who's planning to attend the showcase. And >> I was, but I'm actually not going to be able to be there. >> Let me check my calendar really quick. >> I will be there. I'll be there. >> I'll I'll be there at some point as well. Okay, we'll go ahead and move on to the board of self board self assessment of the meeting. put it on the screen. >> Um, well planned agenda. >> It's kind of nice on our very first cold weather getting dark early meeting that it's it's not a super late one. Um Josh, I appreciate
044your presentation and all the work that you've been putting in getting us ready for this levy and all of the the work that you've been putting into that for months and months. Thank you so much and for keeping us in the loop all along the way. It it really makes it easier for us to explain to people what we have coming and the vocabulary around it and just the depth of knowledge. So, thank you. I'd like to thank Pete uh for getting me an answer for those questions even though they were about a month month and a half ago. I appreciate that >> shorter meeting. Ken could probably make it back to the city council meeting. >> Yeah. >> To do that. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Um thank you for the federal update. Just
045that was something that was on my mind as well like thinking about the cuts for the special education. So, thank you for that. >> I I just want to say thank you to Christine and Will. Uh you guys are always here. I I know it's well after hours and everything else, but when you guys come, it it's it goes unnoticed. Just even John back there who's trying to hide at this moment. But we really appreciate when you guys come. I know it's on your own time and so we really do. Thank you guys. Okay. If there's nothing else, this meeting is adjourned.