Board Meeting July 25, 2025

001Calling our meeting to order for the board of directors regular meeting July 23rd, 2025, 5:30 p.m. Uh we are going to kick things off with a public hearing concerning the 2025 and 2026 budget hearing. And we've got Where is Lisa? >> I am right here. >> She she should be here. Ken, >> I I'm gonna move as soon as this starts working again. Lisa, how many years you been doing this? >> Um, >> I have been doing the accounting or the school district. >> Oh, let's get specific. Let's talk about the school district. >> 12 years. I've been working as some type of a business manager for 12 years. accounting for a little bit longer. >> Yeah, >> I'm 14. So, um tumor before I start the budget hearing. Um so, uh for the budget

002presentation, so I'm here tonight to discuss F195. So, that is a a budget report, a financial report. That's what the F stands for. Um and it is for our budget for the 2526 school year. Um, so I'm just going to do a very high overview of the budget tonight. Um, my name is Lisa Sutton. Uh, it is July 23rd, 2025. So we all made it. Um, so there's certain assumptions that we do based on the general fund budget, though they're projections that I make every year. Our projected enrollment, I I have it flat from ending last year. So we did see quite a decline in enrollment last year about 30 students. We're expecting another 15 maybe in decline. So it's relatively flat but um my projected enrollment is um at 1438 for our projected enrollment

003is at 1438 students and that's an FT FTE. So that's full-time equivalent. So we're not counting heads. we get paid based on if they're here for one period or all of a day. Um our revenues were increased in the state uh funding based on some assumptions in the F203 which is our revenue projection that's also in your board pack and we had a slight an increase in the levy based on some uh voter we had that vote that I think February 20 so those levy the levy increased slightly as well. Um the revenue increases were pretty minimal. A slight increase to MSOFT material supplies operating cost. They did take the levy or sorry the special ed off this year didn't really impact Riverside as much um because we run pretty conservatively um on on our

004expenditures. So we did we're not going to get as big of a benefit as some other districts. on the pole in the state of Washington, a good thing for special ed that has been in place since 97, which I had to go on, so it wasn't going to end. Um, and then our expenditures were increased based upon our no negotiations. So, fortunately, we're done with negotiations this year. we were done before I submitted the budget um to ESD to review and then submitted it to the board to um review and hopefully pass. Uh these and I like to let this out budgets are plans and plans change all the time and I think um especially in education they change all the time and so the biggest part that we can do as financial people in

005education is be able to e and flow with those changes. So, this is a guide for us to help us educate the students that we have next year, but definitely not anything super set in stone because we'll get more grants. Um, we'll have different expenditures. Something may break and will not uh but that can happen. So, basically what this is telling you, this is telling you um in column one the where it says 2324 that was our enrollment. So you'll notice um it says 1503.99 in column in the se the second column over it's my budget enrollment last year our budget enrollment was at 1503 as well. Uh we did we did not come in that high so I bumped the budget in enrollment down so that we can have the expenditures match the revenue

006as closely as possible. So we're at the 1438 students. Um, a summary of the general fund is on pages 8 through 10 of 159 pages. So, um, you want to read it all. That's awesome. I love it. But I just wanted to give you guys a summary of where the, uh, airplane view is, which is what what 8 through 10 does. It's a highle overview of this entire budget. So 8 through 10 basically summarizes that our total revenues in bold at the bottom are going to are estimated to be 27411,864. I like numbers. Um our budget for this year was 27 million. I think that says 101565. So we're budgeting a slight increase in revenues but nothing significant. Um and then um anything in our expenditure column where it says B under total expenditures about

007four lines from the bottom uh is our total expenditures in the fall far column for 2526 are estimated at 27,585,355. So that's based on known negotiations. all the um estimates that we've gotten, all the percentages I've gotten over the last four months from people that have said that our contract for food service is going up this much, our contract for transportation is going up this much. So, pretty good like concrete numbers. We think we're going to reduce fund balance next next year by about $173,000. And that's a good estimate. Um we have a healthy fund balance. We're sitting at about 13% which is good. Um, we have about 57 days of payroll and AP on hand. The auditors would love to see us at 60. Um, which would put us into the green on the

008OO's website if you're ever Googling us. Uh, but that's very atypical in school districts right now. We have a very healthy fund balance and I'm very confident that we can weather the $173,000 reduction. We do anticipate just incidentally talking about the job. Um well it's not on the screen. We do anticipate that the beginning fund balance will be about 3.6 million in 2526. So that would put us at about you know just over 3.4 million as a fund balance. still about 12% I would say of our revenues which is what they based off of. Um so on pages so budget and excess levy summary I gave page number four 159 the whole budget presentation was in the electronic version that was submitted to the board and it's presented also on our website um in case

009any of the community members would like to check it out. Um but I did um some kind of color coding because I like having fun. Um the first one is total revenues. That's going to be in green. Uh the second one is total appropriations or expenditures. That's what we cannot spend over. So the resolution tonight for all of the funds will describe if if it's passed what we cannot spend over in the year. So that's a guidance for us and that will be the second number which is in red. And the third one is the ending fund balance. Um by Washington state law, this must be positive and I'm sure you've seen some of the news. Not all districts are fairing as well as we are since co and mcclary. So um they go, you

010know, we're really lucky to have positive. It takes a lot of planning, hard work. So thank you for all that you do. Um so at the top that's our general fund, associated student body is the second column. That's basically student monies. It's supposed to be sent spent for students in the year the students are here unless we're saving for like a big trip for some reason. The debt service fund you'll know is all zeros because we don't have a debt service anymore. We paid off our nonvoted bond about a year five months ago and so that is zeros. We don't anticipate getting one next year but I'm looking into the future at some cash flow and potential um capital projects that we may have to do. So, we'll see about that. And then our transportation

011vehicle fund, we trans uh we contract out for transportation with their students. So, we don't have any employees and we don't have any buses. And so, you'll notice the transformation zeros. Um, basically the big one that everyone is always interested in is the money we can spend on staff and students. So, really our money and that is general fund and capital projects. Um, and like I said before, there's a RSCW and WAX that say we cannot spend over what is this um the appropriations in red on the F185 in each fund. So the revenues we've discussed a little bit. I do have a capital projects revenue in there because I believe and I'm gonna hopefully we're going to be really successful um that we may get a capital levy. Um, in addition to that, I've

012budgeted a little bit for getting some grants that we're excited that we've kind of started going after in the capital projects fund. So, I have budgeted um more expenditures than you would likely see normally in a year that we don't have a capital bud, but um hopefully that's something we're successful at and we get grants as well. So in the general fund we have 27,585,355 um as our appropriations at the very highest level of the air plane view. And then there we can see our beginning fund balance was 3.639 million and we anticipate ending at 3.466 in the 2526 school year. So pretty close to 3.5 million. Those are all budgeted based on things that we anticipate happening in the next two months. We still have two months left of this year. So that beginning

013fund balance may change as we either spent less or more than anticipated in overly just August now almost. So, so this is our enrollment graph which is very interesting as with a lot of districts in the state. We are seeing declining enrollment since um kind of the the boom after co everyone was really excited to get back to schools. Now they're all kind of moving around more than we think they than we thought they would. The birth rates are frankly quite as high as we thought they would be. Um but we anticipate seeing an increase. I think this graph will continue to kind of I might go out six years at some point. I don't like including the COVID year or or the year after really because they weren't real um or at least for

014all of us, but they weren't uh and they were just too hard to predict. So I like including everything from 2122 on see where our graphs in the future. And then this is a really it's kind of come off by the screen, but it's a a revenue projection. This describes where and how we get our money. Um so our state revenue covers about 55% of our our general fund. Our special purpose state revenue, so that's um revenues that they give us for different grants and things if we apply for them covers about 22%. And then there's federal grants that cover a very small portion. We do anticipate some changes in federal grants based on the climate of what's going on in the federal government right now and uh we're kind of planning for those things

015as well and trying to figure out how to um maneuver some expenditures. Also the local taxes as you can see it's in the upper right um kind of by the stop share that's basically the levy. So it covers about 10% of our general fund revenues. Those are pretty typical numbers. Oh, >> screw it up. >> No, I think you're good. Get my steps in. I'm a desk job. What else? I mean, okay. So, I think it'll work now. Yes. >> Um, so this is the expenditure projection. that that 27 million tons of change that we anticipate spending now for um Riverside because we trans contract out for transportation and for food services just for the director part of food services the management part we actually have about 76% of our expenditures are in staff and

016benefits most districts are 80 to 85 But those two are in a different category called contracted services. So it's just if you're ever looking at comparing us to other districts really district specific um I should be able to answer all those questions but it's an interesting thing. So this is where we spend our money. So the red is special education. So about 11% of our expenditures are on special education about 6% on fed. The biggest portion of course is going to be regular instruction or basic head which is 44%. And then we have some federal special purpose which is next to nothing. Um there's community services and that would be our ECAP program. Uh and then some other minor instructional programs in 70. And then support services is all the things that you would consider

017like maintenance, technology, utilities, those types of things. Um so then what happens is we have a few years ago maybe five they came up with an F195F. Uh that's a a financial 195 for a fouryear. what it stands for. So we instead of doing the airplane view and in the data within the F-195 there's all the way down to a grain of sand view. That's why it's 159 pages but the F195F is a very high level like from a satellite looking at the Earth of the four-year budget plan and this is the projected moment. So pretty stable slight declines because I don't have any information to counteract that at this point. Um, and we go all out all all the way out to 28 29 as a forecast. So, these are routine fundraisers for the

018ASB. I know these are board approved, but I like putting them on here and a shout out to the ASB and and really getting people to spend the money that they earn, the students to spend the money that they fund raise and the year that they fund raise it so that um they have access to that and really kind of learn how the businesses or districts run um fundraisers and the kids always coming up with new ones. So kind of interesting. Um and then our other funds, we discussed the capital service fund um capital projects fund really uh quickly hoping to see what happens with the levy um this next year and um hoping that it will support safety, security, technology and various heating and cooling projects. And then the debt service funds we currently

019don't have that not anticipating it for the 252 school year but should be continued in the future. I didn't put the transportation vehicle fund on um that side because it take a lot to buy buses at this point since we've been contracting it out so long. So I don't foresee us ever having one of those in my future at least because I'm um have a love of learning. I guess I put a couple of links that you could look up your portion of um on for Riverside School District or really any school district in the state of Washington. We all have so much access to information in our hands that we don't know about. So there's a link to the aortionment for all schools. There's also a link to the school district accounting manual. I'm

020not sure why, but somehow I feel like reading 590 pages on accounting should be a fun activity for people and always answers any questions that I have. I probably reference it three times today. Um, I don't know if you have any questions. That was very high level, but there's a couple hundred pages in your packet. Yes. >> Um, I I read a lot of the articles in the paper about the state funding of education. Are there unresolved issues now that are going to be resolved or is everything pretty well set in your mind for the year? >> Um, so yes, there are unresolved issues. We're working off a prototypical model that was developed or invented I think somewhere in about 2012 before I came school district finance. It fixed a lot of complaints that school

021districts have based on the old way we used to fund the revenues of school districts. But it's not it's not a good system and everyone knows it's not a good system because if for an example if we were to dig into that model even at a very high level if you have you know elementary school 400 um that would get you 04 TE of a nurse. So we're not funded for nurses, psychologist, counselors, but then we're required to have certain levels of nurses, psychologists, and counselors. So we're um adhered to it by the expenditure, but not supported by the revenue. Um which makes the it makes it a very delicate situation in school districts in the state of Washington. They could get out of hand very quickly as you're seeing some school district. So diligent

022work on the financials, good estimations are necessary and protection of fund balances relief until that's fixed. I'm hoping it will be corrected. Um, but we do have other things on the horizon. We are contracted transportation district and as soon as our contract is up for this fiveyear period, I might have to um there was a law that was passed but it's not funded that we will have to then pay for comparable insurance and retirement benefits for our contracted um employees. So, they're not our employees, the first student. So, a couple of conceptual problems I have with that that I have been continuing to talk to people about and try to get aware is that um I don't know anyone who can provide a pension system in a private agency and in a private corporation at

023this point I'm not pensions are a thing of the past. So, offering a comparable retirement system is pretty unrealistic. Also, our benefits for SE are just incredible to the price that we pay. And so, offering comparable health insurance benefits might be more real, but the price that they pay at outside contractors will be astronomical. So, we're keeping our eyes on those expenditures and what we think they're going to add to our contract of course corporation. and you know love for a student I want I want all the employees to have great benefits but on the back you know the ledge pass that's on the back of it >> well and usually what happens in that situation you have very urban districts that have private blessing they're at they're the ones that move the legislative needle

024because of their political pressure through labor unions and so on and the middleer districts get kind of caught in that crossfire so to speak because they don't have taxes. >> I presume that you run into these things every year. >> Yes, >> they may be different but there are unresolved things coming into the school. >> It's so cyclical. I still think we'll just I don't know why I still think we'll have another state salary schedule someday. Um it's I say that because my parents said we tried that on the 16th. it didn't work and we had to go to the state. So I haven't Google when all that happened but um they were teachers and apparently it happened when they were teachers. So I it's always moving and it's something that I know we work

025really hard to keep our eye on all the bills that matter to us that we stay really well. So that was great. I did want to just add and thank you Lisa publicly for all of the behind the scenes work that happened this spring around budgeting. You you recall many of the conversations Christian and Annette were involved in those as union leaders as well and I've been invol you know I've been involved over my career in other districts Spokane Riverside we all had budget reductions at one point and I think I know I'm biased because being at Riverside. But I tell you when I was just so impressed with the relationships and the trust that we built with one another where we can have honest conversations about, hey, we're down 27 kids. You know, that's

026a that's generates that's your number one revenue driver as a district. 80% of your budget goes to staff salaries and benefits. What are we going to do about this? And so the principles, the directors, the board, uh the the union leaders, the staff, you know, staff meetings, we we openly talked about that and and because you you've seen it in the news, you see what can happen in district. You can have you can have the board and the administration on the opposite side of the staff. And now all of a sudden the staff is uh we're fight inter internally fighting each other. the community is watching us. So, I just it was difficult. It wasn't an easy thing to try to make, you know, $587,000 resolution in the short term because remember what we said,

027the districts that are getting in trouble are the ones that didn't make the tight belt belt belt tightening measures early on enough to where they got in trouble and it's usually around salaries and benefits. So it's not that complicated in the sense that it's how many people you pay and how much do you pay and can you you know how much are you given by the state to to make it happen. So just really proud of all the the team culture that we've been working on really helps when you're dealing with budgetary issues because then you can at least share different ideas and we were able to have every certificated staff have a job. we did have to have a small number of them kind of take one foot team and move positions because of

028the enrollment in a different school or whatever the case may be. So I just I wanted to remind us because that was a couple months ago almost you know and it's gone by. So but all of that is behind the scenes >> and I think we are incredible. I just have to say having been in lots of districts in 101 and this will be my final one hopefully um for positive reasons I have to say I've seen a lot of bargaining and negotiated contracts that difficult relations and the relations that we would have with our unions here and people that are side are so impressive that it like that you know it's easy to sit down at the table like you you know, he built that team. So, and and the people who work here,

029it's just it's something I've never seen before. So, it really feels nice. It's not any more scary to go sit down at the table. So, and it helps with the budget because we're all here for one thing, and that's to educate students. And uh if we have too many staff, we're not going to do that very effectively. Expenditures, we're not going to do that very effectively. And so, I think we approach it great for us. The the only other thing I wanted to add in regards to the four-year plan because the four-year plan, as you know, if you if you're slightly declining, you can't plan the next four years to go up. And so you you have to do like almost like the sky is falling a little bit. and we hate to do that,

030but but I think we we've talked a lot about how we we need to really be good stewards with the community and and just have good enough relationships to talk to them. Like a perfect example is uh our homeschool partnership program. So, right now we we met with some parents. We have a actually a teacher position we're hiring tomorrow and uh we are going to continue to gather our parents together and say, "What is it that you want? what what is going well, what's not going well. We need to look at the data further around the people within the the district, the 200 almost 200 square miles of people who are choosing to go elsewhere. They might be going to Deer Park home link. They might Newport's program and we just need to do a

031better job of diving into that and getting a feel from our constituents on what what are we missing? What do we need to do a better job of? uh how could we because those we want to a serve the kids obviously anybody who lives within our boundaries but but in the in the current trends that are going on in education with choice being such a a big one we need to be a viable choice for families as well. So let's say homeschool partnership program. Maybe we need to be a more viable choice not only for the kids living in our community, but maybe there's some kids living in Deer Park or living in Eve or living in Newport around us that may be looking for a different you know maybe a smaller option. So those

032are the kind of creative innovative things that we look at to try to lead so to speak. I hate to say that but overall health of the district. I think that a lot of people don't know. I know it's doing a better job getting it out there >> because I I just on Facebook on the neighbors home neighbors group people ask all the time and it's called deer parker park and then like one person goes hey has a program >> oh I didn't know that you know so >> getting that word out there that we have it because we all know what ISB is but if you don't you're not in this room most people don't know what IP is. >> Yeah. >> And we we need to really attack the choice list because like

033I just talked to a person last week. They moved to the Wild Rose area and they put in a choice to go to meet and it was all based on the job like they wanted it to be closer to daycare and to the job. So I called her and we talked and I kind of told her what we had to offer. It's different than need and she's coming now. But if you don't like we have to kind of do that because we have this we have some interesting challenges just based on our boundaries like I don't know who came up with our boundaries but our boundaries go on the other side of 395 and so and they get really close to Deer Park and so they're like oh it's so easy for me to just

034take my kid to uh school and like work at the dentist and it's like yeah but you live in arts in this There are some factors that are really interesting, you know, just because they go into town to work for or they may not know, you know, what we have to offer, you know, whatever the case may be. So definitely something we have to work on communicating, building relationship, going to us. So >> the presenter is not in use. Please remember to remove the USB dongle. not using it. But one of the one of the major priorities of the board is to is to indicate movement in the district and each one of our board members has different skills and strengths and u every year we challenge the board to to pick something that you

035can do to individually help the schools. Last year we had the the Rotary Club at your park coming in with some contributions for programs that would not have been funded if we had not gone with them and asked for the for that funding. And I just want to say that that's my area that I weren't getting what I'm intending to do this year. I share this with him is expand the programs in terms of the number of programs that we're working with. For instance, in Chattery Elementary where we've backed the literacy programs not really a total last year. It's the first time we've we've done the whole whole literacy program for the year. We're going to extend that to the the early learning center. So when you when you go to the early learning center,

036you see a bunch of kids who are avid avid readers and although they're just beginning, what a great time to begin. So we're going to do something with the with the teachers over at Chador Elementary to expand to doing early learning literacy programs. That's just an example. I just was really impressed when I saw all of the fundraising programs that you had on that list and just how diverse that was in terms of the various organizations. So I contribute important piece. Thank you. Okay. So, we are ready to start our final meeting. I think Ken, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, calling this meeting to order and we'll start with our flag salute. Mary, would you lead us? >> Sure. To the flag of the United States of America and to the stands, one nation

037under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thanks, Gary. Okay, remarks for the good of the school. Yeah. Uh, irony, right? Total irony here. I I I haven't been able to make any of the first one that I'm finally able to make. We're going to trans policy again. And so, um, I I just want to take an opportunity to re to reattack this. I was hoping when I saw that that was on the agenda that is still here. So, um, since you represent the community, I wonder why why Steve and many African stand. Um, right now the policy allows biological mandate places. We all know that the bathrooms, the bathroom, young men are I am totally thankful to this board that you have made some accommodations protect that space a little bit. It's

038not perfect but that is totally appreciated. Um but tonight I want to talk about some revision looks like it's being made to make sure that I understand them correctly. uh because it would appear that you the board and you guys can tell me if I'm not reading this right now going to require staff to utilize comments. Well, I would love I would love to hear the poll with the board [Music] questions I had on the 321 and that was to talk about that. There's a in the policy we have to [Music] So which I think is being updated if I understand correctly that's outdated. So that's an old So the procedures all I have is okay. Um so I've had the opportunity And I have to admit that I spent a lot of time trying

039to figure out what's your motivation. Why why are you why does it seem like you're embracing and it's and it's stretched everywhere from that you actually agree with it all the way to well when you start pushing against the state. And then there's everything in between. And what I realized is that it's not really my job. That's between you and God. But tonight, I want to let you guys know my motivation of why I really stand against this policy of um 27 years in the military taught me some things. One of the things done great leadership totally indispensable. You need good leaders almost equally important as you need your followers. And I'm blessed enough as I look around this room as a Riverside quite a while. I will in this room tonight. I look at

040the principles of the school and leadership. So the problem goes down to the fact that most people aren't Follow by anyone in this room. Sorry. Bigger than anyone in this room. Bigger than the state. Bigger than our federal government. bigger than any rule. It's Jesus Christ. And he has certain rules that actually they're change. And I think we need to listen to those tonight. And just think about, right, I get it that there's a lot of people here at Riverside, maybe people in this room that would flat out say, "Well, God doesn't even exist." And if he does exist, then he certainly doesn't apply to Riverside and the public school. I would totally disagree with that. Our God is sovereign over all that are no kid sovereign overall. And to that end, I want you

041to understand why I don't think it's a good thing for us to use preferred pronouns in the name. In fact, I don't think it's just not a good thing. I think it's really I think it's perfect for us to do that. Why is that? Because for one thing, God is always good. He's flat out good all the time. And in his goodness, here's what God did. Whether you believe it or not, here's what God did. It says he created them, male and female. He knows exactly what he's doing. Why? Because his knowledge is unlimited. We don't add anything to his knowledge. He's got it all. And so when he does something, he does it perfect and he does it perfect the first time. Um, these students are struggling and they are struggling and they're hurting.

042But they're not struggling and hurting because a guy like Steve Lamb will not affirm a false identity for them. They're struggling and hurting because they don't want to that that's perfect, but they don't see it that way. Um, and so here's what I'm asking for. Instead of adding to that improper way of thinking, let's help each realize the body. It's the best. It's without something different. And so to that end, I'm not to staff, students, faculty for I think that that's a lie. It's obvious treating them treating these young people that are struggling. They are not. I appreciate you all enough. I I love you guys all enough. that I think. So what I want and the time seems kind of right this time push back. There's things going on at the federal level that

043seem to say now is making time to push back. And I get our state is going absolutely not they thought secret but I don't think that that's the best way to go and so maybe like our sister school me for maybe different reasons but they were brave enough to go okay we got to push back a little bit because right now I think the state thinks everybody's holding hands on this going this is great it's not so so please consider that maybe now is time for us to So, it's time to get get heated up and push back against this thing. Um, if you're not willing to do that, then I would ask that tonight you can answer what I think question and then share those answers with all of us. Question number one is

044what are the ramifications of this policy if somebody like me cannot turn if it's dismissal dismissal from a position that I I want you to understand something. You're not dismissing somebody. You're dismissing somebody. The second question is that this policy as agreed at the bottom says that it applies to federal law. I get it that it's only executive orders right now, but federal government anyone rapidly hard kids. Number three, as a parent, what does the training look like? What does that training look like? What are the procedures like? And and I and I get it as I as I talk with the district office, those procedures aren't written yet. Okay? But but but here's the deal. If they're not written yet, then I would encourage you to sit there and go before you adopt this

045policy and wrap your arms around it. you might want to seriously know what are the procedures and what is the training that's going to be involved with that because once you adopt a procedure it's a hard thing once you adopt the policy it's a hard thing to turn around and go h see how it's macked we're out but that's a tough thing so I would encourage you make sure you know what those are before you go yeah let's do this 321 and then I would say this make that public Every parent on the planet would want to know what is it that these teachers are going to tell my children? How are they being taught my kids? I want to know. And so I would encourage you guys to make that public. Um and then

046finally still to stand behind this policy at the state how how are they going to because uh they've already been and we have to sit there and go how am I going to protect preserve and enhance their education because it seems like with this issue it ends up being just a singlesided issue that there's just this one group that we need to take care of and and and who knows what happens to it. We need to address both of those sides. I would also encourage that to the board. say well that's all right anything anything short of that it's just endless it's just time So, uh, love you guys. Appreciate you. >> So, good evening. My name is Andre and I'm an elder at Holy Catholic Church, which is a church studies in Delaware. Um,

047so the first thing I want to say is thank you for having us, right? for for not working in a planned best sort of way and give people the opportunity to to share what their concerns are even challenge you on some level. So that's a that's a good thing. That's that's commendable to that degree. I commend you for that. Um for my part I live in this community. I lived uh maybe three minutes there at the war tower down there never so at the same time my family homeschool here but part of my reason for being here is because we have several families at our church that are pretty active members of the riverside school so I know strange shooting the Riverside school years here because their mentors were really active in Riverside which is

048a good thing. So I appreciate that. So that's part of why I'm here. Um and so I wanted to take a moment to speak about the issue at hand, the policy furniture that I've seen it and read through it and digest it over the few days and have some concern about it. My concerns are threefold, I would say. First, um going down this road that the policy is it's advocating that we go down to is contrary to the way God made. All good education begins with training children to observe the world that God has made and then learning from that and then mirroring that and then training in that way. Right? So just think of an airplane, right? One of the main ways that you can see how we created an aircraft was by Gary

049Birds, right? So it explains all these sorts of things. So any education begins or should begin with acknowledging God, how he's created the world and then you go from there. And so this policy is moving in a direction moving a whole school district in a direction that's contrary to the way God made the world which I don't believe you want to be on the other side right there can't be any good that comes from that idea of observing how God made the world and then saying we're going to put that aside and we're going to move in this direction. Um, and to what end? Right. I think that the idea that these uh students who I would make the case are fearfully and wonderfully made uh in the image of God, that they can flourish

050in light of that is actually fine, right? to to appropriate that idea that that you can see how God made the world or see how God has made you and then you'll be able to flourish if you don't live in light of that. Let's just follow and I think that culturally, society, and our nation is actually beginning to see that which I think is a good thing. Right? one man a friend who says this the reality is is that and you can justify in so many different areas that stupid just never works in the long run right you see something that's just folly you know that in time it will be revealed to be folly but there is damage on the way to and so that's my first concern the the inclusion the sort of

051acceptance right that I think is good right you you want to be inclusive You want your students to build acceptance, right? Those are good impulses, reflexes. Um, but the inclusion and the acceptance that they need is not necessarily connected to the gender. The inclusion, acceptance that they really need is connected to their bestows value. He's the one that bestows meaning. He's the one that bestows image and and worthiness who they are. So to to take the to take the low ground or the the low bar of saying that your acceptance and inclusion is based on your gender gender is short. They need something higher than that. All humans need to be called to something higher than themselves. And so this policy is in my mind calling them and calling the teachers and everyone to something

052that's so low, so minuscule when when we need to understand that your inclusion and acceptance is basically um so when they embrace how they were made and how he created them, I have no doubt in my mind they will be better off and this community will be better off. That's my first concern. Second, um you as board members and teachers of the district uh have a tremendous responsibility. Um but that responsibility also comes with opportunity. In terms of responsibility, you are charged with overseeing uh establishing structures and which include policy which includes curriculum and resources to help and I would say to protect these young persons from that's what we do. I I I I've taught Bible and Greek and sort of things. I was an instructor in the Air Force many years. I'm an

053Air Force retire as well. I was an instructor um and I still teach now at a classical Christian school uh some courses and one of the things that you learn as a teacher one of your main jobs is to uh use your your responsibility is to help young people from father in many respects some days that's the majority of your job as as administrators and especially teachers to protect young people from falling um the Bible is clear that that that falling is in the heart of a child and you have a responsibility to help drive it out, right? Uh and so I'm afraid that this policy furthers falling instead of foralling, right? This is not forstalling uh something that should be dealt with or encouraged in the right ways. this is actually furthering that which

054is probably but alongside the responsibility you have a great opportunity the opportunity to do good is great and and so my my question my my ask of you is that you would consider the ramifications of the policy right um consider the ramifications right do the mental work and say where does this go you Where does this leave us? Where does this leave this child one year, two year, five years, 10 years? Do the work. Think um because I believe that if you think about it, I don't think that you and not only that, how will it harm other right? speakers talked a little bit about that which which I won't spend much time on but there are ramifications to other people right so and I understand that there are raations for other people as well

055so you have to you have to consider um and the next thing that I would say is this reality this this idea of responsibility and um and an opportunity. It also comes with God holds those who are in leadership liable. Holds them liable for how they use the opportunities that he gives and he holds them liable for how they discharge their responsibilities. And so I know that you're you're responsible to your constituency, but ultimately you're responsible to God as well. So I would I would leave you to consider that fact as well because that is a major factor in the whole scenario. I u just looking and watching this is my first time ever coming but one of the things that I want to say is that it looks like you guys are functioning forward

056you know just listening to you say you've had hard conversation but let us all sort of I want to commend you for that that's that's good leadership right that's good leadership um but that's not all good leadership good leadership um makes sacrifices. Good leadership makes unpopular decisions. Good leadership does all these sorts of things um that aren't related to funding, not related to uh all these other. So I want to commend you for that. But I want you to know also that that as I thought about this and and moving forward, I want to make sure that to let you know that we as a church will be uh praying. We'll add you to our prayer list because one of the things I do know about leadership or your I know about your job in

057leadership is that it's challenging. It's challenging. I'm not walking in here saying, "Oh, it's just easy. do this. Well, I know better. I know better than that. Your job is challenging because you have so many different people, so many different constituents with so many different mindsets and so many different um agencies involved from federal to state, all that sort of thing. So, I know your job is challenging. Um and I know it's even more challenging when you know these catastrophic cultural lands bring even more pressure. And so to that end, here's our prayer for you. I won't I won't make it I won't hide in secret what we're praying for. Our prayer for you is that uh God will grant you the wisdom, the strength, and the courage to be faithful and to provide true

058help for your students because I don't think there's a doubt about you your desire to help students. you wouldn't be doing this. I'm sure that board members have been on board. You're not on boards to make money. That's not how it that's not how it works. Boards generally take more time and money than than you gain from. So that that tells me that you desire to help students. But the question is what is the best help for these students? That's what I that's so thank you for your time. Thank you for your service to the community. Doesn't go unnoticed and we'll be thank others. How do you uh I guess I didn't know anything about this except where I mean I get all these emails and messages from the school. It seemed I don't know

059a few people. Do you guys know how you guys see? Here's the list. So, uh, see sent out to all the staff. It's sent to the group that is signed up for board packets. Uh it's posted on the It's put on the leaderboard on the highway shared with Deer Park. our secretary is not here tonight. She usually Well, I don't know. Seems like uh that's a little bit I guess I I should pay more attention to um so a little bit uh I'm Caleb W. My children attend have attended Riverside High School or Riverside School District. Uh we've recently decided to school and this is this is part of the reason why uh we we don't want our kids subject to having to live out a lie. A lie that men can be women and

060women can be men. And uh I don't want my daughter to have to uh have that possibly in the classroom and by other students and it be promoted. And then for her to have to share a bathroom with with a man, that's it's not fair to her. It's not fair to the other women. And uh and I don't think that's I don't think that's correct. Now uh see here I mean we already know that this is this is unfair for women to for men to be participating in women's sports that it's uh it's unfair in the the competing they're going to be taking scholarships they're going to the trophies you know, and it's already happening. We see it across the country happening right now. And uh I don't think that and not only that, but

061it's not good for allowing uh allowing men to be in women's bathroom. It's not safe for the women. I I want to talk about even more important is uh and more basic is it's the most basic thing of all and it's true. Uh you must keep men out of women's sports and out of their facilities for a simple reason that they are not that they are men. Men are not women. A man who claims he is a woman is still not a woman. So why should why shouldn't men play in women's sports? Because they aren't. It's it isn't true. We shouldn't allow men to women's sports for the same reason. We shouldn't go around saying 2 plus 2. It's a lie. It's just not true. And uh there. But thank you. I hope that you

062guys make I mean I don't know exactly how I I wasn't prepared at the beginning. I don't know how this is going to proceed but I know there's other schools making a stand for this. This is a small community and part of the reason why people want to come to school district and your part as well is because we hold these values that the schools in town don't. So I you guys to only number four doing this. >> No, I could just I think I just wanted >> Let's work through the Okay. Need a motion to adopt the agenda. >> Discussion. All in favor say I. >> I do have a question about the agenda. No, I think the thinking behind it at the time was we have gotten a civil rights audit finding from

063the state for our policy and we've been trying to hold off as long as we possibly can just kind of sticking with what we got. But they they they keep, you know, messaging us, sending us, so we're trying to meet a deadline, but, you know, representing the staff, I we can hold off. Like I think Steve asked some good questions about you know what if you don't meet the civil rights audit that your state does under the current laws and you fight it. You know obviously the word on the street is you get penalties and is it worth it and so on and so forth. Um but that was the thinking behind it. But if you want to delay it and process these these this information more totally totally fine. I need to contact OSBI

064and just kind of be straight up on where we're at process. So >> that's something that some superintendents have talked about in Eastern Washington. We checked to make sure that was legal. Newport did it for example and uh so that's what we we followed suit. But again, open to changing that agenda. You just just altered the agenda. So then make a second motion. So I move that we leave the first reading of the 321 gender inclusive schools on the agenda, but the second. >> All in favor say I. I >> sir. Okay. So, have we approved the agenda, Ken, or have we? >> Yes, >> with that change. Okay. With the change. >> Approval of minutes from previous meetings. Need a motion. So, >> second. >> Discussion. All in favor say I. I >> carried

065approval of consent agenda. Need need a motion. >> Second >> discussion. All in favor say I. >> I. Opposed. Carried. Superintendent report. Kim. So I don't have a formal superintendent report. Maybe I'll take advantage of some of the questions that have come up and I'll give you my perspective on it for you to think about when you get to 9B. So the tension the challenging tension and a couple of you mentioned you kind of get it is that you you try to balance the the laws that come out of the state with your local values, right? And this one is probably the number one, you know, policy that comes out that is the the the hottest one we've talked about in the past and and issues surrounding it. So, one of the things we've tried

066to do, and I'm not saying it's it's the necessarily the right perfect way to go, but we've tried not to battle with the state, okay? And tried to do it locally. So as an example, there's not a single kid out of the very small number of kids where the parent doesn't know. So we do not go around, you know, promoting you, you can have your gender, you you don't have to tell your parents. I mean, it just like we've done it we've done it locally. Try to match with just on a daytoday practical, you know, getting at working with kids. I think is one of the ways that when Steve asked, "How are we loving on these kids? How are we working on it?" It's it's there's so many teachers, staff members, principles where we've

067sat down and worked through it with the kid or with the family. Now, uh there's been times where, for example, there's privacy issues on both sides. So, as an example, we have worked magic on getting kids their own private bathroom and private locker room and we have navigated it through relationships with the families involved. So, not only have we tried to be responsive if we have kids coming to us and saying, "I'm not comfortable being in a bathroom or a locker room with a transgender student, but also the flip side, if we have a transgender student and a family who's coming in and talking to us, we work with them to try to have a private facility." And we've been, knock on wood, we've been very, very fortunate in how each of those individual things.

068I've actually had people connected to the audience here call me up on my cell phone and just say, "Hey, I heard about this kid at the high school in the locker room." And we go in, we work with the kid, we work with the family, ended up with a privacy situation. So even though it's not apparent in the policy, there are a lot of like sexed is another we do not teach uh gender identity within the sexual health education curriculum at no point in all of the sequence of the district even though some districts do and there are standards around it. we have specifically chosen not to address gender identity at any point. Um, we don't necessarily advertise that. Maybe we need to do a better job of that, but part of it is trying

069to take the kids we have and the families that we have and and provide a safe and quality education. What we've noticed in other districts that have bought the state with policy is it shines a bright light onto the district and it ends up being a battle that is even harder to navigate at a local level because they are watching you like hawks. And so if you screw up at all, you then have the the possibility of penalties. When it comes to staff training, for example, we we we do not teach any of our teachers or our staff during professional development plans, anything related to these policies. Okay? and and there's no black helicopters coming in tracking us down. The only time the black helicopters come in is when you intentionally fight the policies part.

070And I get where you're coming from, but it's not as easy as it seems like uh on on you know at the at the board level. That's just my and that's something we've talked about, right? I mean, you look at all of the districts that went into the fight at the WIAA around transgender athletes this last year. I mean, so much time and energy was put into that by it didn't change a single one iota anything in the state of Washington. What it did is it did send a message to constituents that we're going to fight that. There is benefits to that for sure. But from a law standpoint, so one of the reasons why I've advised and I'm not saying this, but I'm just what my best thinking is, do we really want to

071spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on lawyers out of a tax base that's not that huge? because I have a lot of inside information about these other districts like me and how much taxpayer dollars they're spending on that issue. And so if we had that kind of money, maybe. But we don't have a ton of legal dollars. They're expensive. And so that's another reason why we we've kind of let others in that boat. Um, so, uh, I think what I would say is these are really well done presentations and they're very respectful and they bring up some points that I think we could talk about. My first reaction to Steve's questions is no, we never dismiss this stuff. I mean, we work we work with that person. We care about that person. We honor different

072perspectives, but that doesn't mean we we've never like, you know, we haven't called up OSBI and said, "So, what happens if we pick a staff member who doesn't do it?" I don't think they have that kind of authority to do it. But those are worth more conversation. Um, anyways, so I don't want to I don't want it to be my deal only. Obviously, I'm one person of a team, but I just wanted to take the opportunity during the superintendent report that, you know, it's it like I promise we're not trying to be dishonest or or any of that kind of stuff. But it is frustrating to try to walk this damn tightly sometimes when it's like can't we just leave this alone and just keep working on it in our own little way? Um I

073just you wouldn't believe some of the magical stuff our staff has done still counseling kids. They don't just go yeah no problem. I mean we there this this perspect you know and I know that's not the perspective about our staff but our our staff navigates it really I thought I think really really well with those individual students I mean we we bring people we bring kids together talk about counsel we we bring in outside resources we bring in counseling mental health therapists there have been many examples like that it's just not always we can't go advertise it because it has kids names involved, families family names involved. So anyways, I just wanted to add that add that to the mix a little bit before before we keep talking about. So moving on to our business,

074we have a for or against committee appointment capital levy. So uh as you know in the law when because you approved the recommendation from the facilities advisory committee to run a capital levy in November, uh you've got to appoint a for and against committee. And so um from the networking that we've done, there's three up to three individuals you can have on your for committee and up to three individuals you can have on your against committee. Once those people are identified, then they have the responsibility to write the statements that go into the voter guide and they will have a four statement. There's a limit on the number of words. They will draft that. there's an again statement that has a limited number of words, then they will be able to see each other's statements

075and then be able to rebut with another shorter statement that goes into this. So that's part of the law. And from that process, we have two individuals who've been identified to be appointed on the four committee with the possibility of adding a third, but not official yet. The two are Dean Quasel, Kevin Hazel. The third that is unknown but likely is Jennifer G. The one individual for the against committee after reaching out by Matt is John Paul and I and you're not aware of a second member or third member of the committee based on your communication. John is correct. Okay. So at this point just following the procedures of capital levy uh we would be we would be signing off at the end with the appointment of Kevin Gazel, Dean Gazel with the upon confirmation

076final confirmation of Jennifer Gaffne and then John Paul as any questions that would take a motion. Need a motion. >> Second discussion. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. I'd like to address what Steve asked, which is opinions. And I just like I just like to say that I feel I feel like I I have an ability to talk about this because I've got two uh granddaughters, one of whom is a lesbian and the other one is a is going through the trans transition from being far she's going to take. Um and I I have to I have to tell you these two kids are the most screwed up kids that I've ever seen in our family. I have never seen two girls more screwed up than these girls. and u what

077I I don't have a lot of contact with them because of the fact one's in Los Angeles and just finished her undergraduate degree in in college and the other one is is 19 and lives in lives way up the south side of Spokane and is working and we just don't see that much of it but I I have gone to each one of those parents prior to what those girls are going through right now and said, "Man, you've got to do something. You got to do something because she's really screwed up." And the parents have in some cases have have done that, gotten some counseling and all, but it didn't change anything. Now, those two girls are better as human beings than I've ever seen them in terms of just their joy of life and

078their practicing of their their religious beliefs. And I don't I don't pretend to understand all of that. And it may hap happen that the girl who's a lesbian who was raped by the captain of the football team down in California when she was a sophomore in high school that probably was a contributing factor to what's going on there now. But I don't pretend to be able to tell you all of it. The other thing I do is I got a a friend of mine who's in a very unique position. I I talk to people of other faiths. I'm a Lutheran and I I belong to the ELCA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which would have to be the most liberal of all Lutheran churches in the United States. And we had, if you don't

079believe that, we've had several uh bishops, presiding bishops of the national church that are either living with someone of the same sex or or have gone through some transitions, all of that. And quite frankly, I find this stuff all really confusing. And uh I I was educated at guns prep gun and all the Catholic brain schools and that's just my background. But but I have a friend of mine who was really responsible for my career in terms of career development in financial services at least. You have to have a mentor. You have to have an advocate. This guy was my advocate and he literally every promotion I got was because of his advocacy. He retired at the same time I did and he's a a lifelong uh LDS member and he lives down in Salt

080Lake. I call Ted because I like to hear from a lot of different people what what it is that their faith is doing in regards to the subjects that we're talking about tonight. And I said, "Here's a deal." And I laid it out for him as I told you. And I said, "What what position?" He he's by the way a member of the priesthood of the 70 which is just under the the uh 12 apostles of the church I believe in terms of the the way that they're structured. So he's really engaged in their theological beliefs and so forth. And he said Bob what where we stand is we say there are two things that you need to consider. There's doctrine and there's practice. And what we what we believe doctrally is that this is

081an absolute abomination. It's sin. It's not something that we that we embrace doctrally. But in practice with all of the educational systems that we have in place as a church, we just naturally run into people who are going through these things that are really foreign to to our doctrine. And where we've landed on this whole thing is that these are children of God. We don't believe that they're monsters. We believe that they that they have a place in God's kingdoms and that's the position we take. So, do we do we buy into that whole thing as a as a church doctrally? No. But in practice, we found that we have to adapt to the situations that we have that come our way. And that's what we do. I just wanted to share that with you

082because I value Ted's Ted's input and Steve asked where we stand as a board. The other thing is is that and I want to say this about the political uh climate today. I take my oath serious. When I take an oath, I believe that what I say really is where I stand. and I take it oath to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Washington. And so that's that's a serious commitment that I make publicly. and uh and so when the state mandates things that I don't do agree with, I find myself as president of a school board and I have all of these other kids to think about and and all of their welfare and well-being and a lot of it really most of it from a financial

083basis in relationship to the So, do I believe in it doctrinally, Steve? No, I don't. I don't at all any more than you do. In practice, I don't know how you get around. I really don't. Ken not only points out that that there is tremendous financial demand when you do that, which is really true, but it's also a thing where you you just take your focus away from the I believe the education of your kids towards something that is founded in a lot of fear and I don't think we have a lot of understanding. That's just my that's where I'm at. So I don't buy it from the standpoint of my beliefs, but we have to we have to be true to our to our oath to the state. That's what I that's Anybody else

084want to say anything? >> Yeah. Yeah, first I have a question. This number 3211 first reading one. Why is that one even? We already have something established now. And that is the first reading of that one. >> Yeah. Basically, in our in our civil rights audit, we were told we need to update based on the legislative session that happened after the first one. And it's still the same law. Like for example, the preferred pronouns been in it's in there before. It's written differently than the past policy, but this the law has been in effect. We haven't promoted that, but we also haven't uh we didn't originally with the previous transgender policy that was that was in the law originally. Well, I always I always known this going to come up unfortunately. Uh and uh I

085do agree mostly with what your your friend like because we love everyone no matter what someone I I believe in you know committing adultery wrong but I would never tell somebody not friend of mine who has done that. He's evil in the sight. I'll no more say that to a trained person that's problem. But after being on the board for 25 years now and one of the biggest questions I get is our standard of this and I have been very happy with the way to treat him and a little more of a revelent than my good buddy here because I I >> but I don't give a I don't care what says I do stand by the constitution of the states 100%. Uh I would be discussing that in depth at a different time. But

086were we to pass this tonight and I just barely talked two of my children to come back to side one last because we do have the gap and stripping to keep them. If we were to pass something like that, I would report and I would fairly certain that I don't pass or anything else that I'm sorry that way, but I feel very deeply inside. I would no longer recommend my children. They deal with it enough. We have people who come to church who are have gender identity issues. We treat this whole treat as far as being friendly and care like well the way they well we have sympathy for the way they feel and confusion from what my gain care But we don't go one step down. Well, I'm sorry. I'd rather I'd rather fight

087state and spend billions of dollars staying on the war side than I would stand on. >> Oh, we are not >> the first. Yes. But not the same is where we rely on and show us what it's going to discussing it because I do have specific question. So I don't want to put discussion now to discuss question. So there's two paragraphs on policy and the second sorry excuse me there's three paragraphs the third paragraph is very small the middle paragraph is complet and in the third line the one sentence in the middle third line is specific training requirements are included in the procedure we have that procedure because one thing that we have talked is we have what's happen and I would want to know what are the specific trainings and expectations in that to

088ensure that something that even if pass it becomes the way would it stay the way it has been or would we be forced to do other things that that would not be that's that's yeah we have that >> um we have the model procedure that's come up and we could use that as a starting point to have that discussion but I think I would need to do some for digging on the training part of it. I can just tell you what we've done in the past. Anything related to this area has not been explicitly outlined. We don't have that specific train. So I would need to double check on like if we don't do the training, what happens? What I would need more time to do that. So, one option you could do is table

089the whole thing and not do the first review and just table it until some of these questions are come up. You know what I'm saying? And I would just call OSBI tomorrow and say, "Listen, we we're in this process." And I have to I got to get firsthand information more specifically on how to see our >> I think Yeah, I'm okay with that because I think they're all legitimate questions. >> Are we You know what I mean? And I can find out where you're talking. I appreciate Y. >> Okay. So, are we voting on the sex discrimination, sex based harassment of students prohibited? >> I think what we're doing is table. So, I make a motion that table first schools. >> What? >> Pending more information. >> Okay. I have a second. >> Second. >>

090Discussion. All in favor say I. >> Okay. So, we're moving down to D. >> These are second readings of the first readings that I did. >> Right. So second final reading 3205 sex discrimination and sex based harassment of students prohibited a motion >> so much >> second >> discussion. All in favor say I. >> I opposed third E. Second and final reading 6220 bid or request for proposal requirements. >> Need a motion. So move. >> All in favor say I. >> F. Second and final reading. 3210 non-discrimination. Need a motion. Second. Any discussion? All in favor say I. >> G. Second and final reading. 3207. Prohibited harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students. Need a motion. >> Second. >> Discussion. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Perry resolutions fiscal year budget and the

091fouryear budget plan. Need a motion >> second >> discussion like to thank Lisa if she's here. >> You hear us? All right. I thank you for all your work. I can't even imagine. I was a terrible mess. Couldn't couldn't do any of this. Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. We are moving into executive session. Let's take a break too for let's give it a 10 minute break. Okay. >> Yeah, sure. What was that? >> Yeah. I don't feel like a